The fund is a registered charity with the registered number 264606
The contact address is:
4 Ferrybridge Green
Hedge End
Southampton
SO30 0JX
The fund is governed by rules approved by the Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers (the Guild) in General Meeting.
The trustees of the fund are the Guild Master, The Honorary Guild Treasurer, the Honorary Guild Secretary (post currently vacant) and two additional trustees one from each diocese, elected triennially by the Guild in General Meeting.
The trustees during 2024 were:
Mr R Milford (Honorary Guild Treasurer)
Rev Canon B J Fry (Winchester Diocese area)
Mr D Mattingley (Portsmouth Diocese area)
Mrs R Barber (Guild Master)
The independent examiner of the fund is Mr Matt Donnelly.
The principal bankers are TSB Bank plc.
The activities of the Bell Restoration Fund are restricted to the area covered by the Anglican Dioceses of Winchester and Portsmouth. None of the Fund’s assets is a permanent endowment. There are no borrowing limits imposed in the governing rules. The trustees have no specific investment powers.
The main aims of the Funds are to provide financial assistance by way of grants to Churches, within the area mentioned above, incurring expenditure on the provision, maintenance or improvement of their bells and bell installations or acoustics, or for the maintenance of the fabric of their towers and belfries, to enable their bells to be properly rung in full circle.
The Fund’s income for 2024 dropped slightly compared with 2022, because of drop in investment income after releasing grants. There was a much greater increase in resources expended, because of several large grants or increases in grants. This means that the fund balances have more than halved over the year, and the Trustees are aware of several potential schemes which have not yet submitted applications. While several thousand pounds were raised during the year by District open days these were specifically for work at Ropley and Brading, and did not increase the BRF’s funds. It is likely that further fund raising will be needed in the near future if the current level of grants is to be maintained.
The Trustees acknowledge, with thanks, donations from individuals including those in memory of Derek Jackson and David Atkins.
Eight new grants totalling £24,050 were approved during the year, four of which were also released during the year:
| St Mary and All Saints, Droxford | £1,000 | |
| St Mary the Virgin, Old Alresford | £150 | - released |
| Blessed Mary, Upham | £1,000 | - released |
| St Mary, Southampton | £300 | |
| Holy Cross, Binsted | £350 | - released |
| St James, Bramley | £5,750 | |
| All Saints, Basingstoke | £500 | - released |
| SS Peter and Paul, Ringwood | £15,000 |
The proposed grant of £13,000 to St Mary the Virgin, Brading, was increased by £7,000 to £20,000.
Six grants totalling £14,100 were released during the year:
| Blessed Mary, Upham | £1,000 |
| Holy Cross, Binsted | £350 |
| All Saints, Basingstoke | £500 |
| St Mary the Virgin, Old Alresford | £150 |
| St Peter, Titchfield | £100 |
| St Edward the Confessor, Netley | £12,000 |
The Trustees agreed to withdraw the proposed grant of £800 to St Mary, Portchester, as the reason for the grant had not happened and the way ahead was unclear.
Existing grants totalling £35,750 still outstanding from before 2024 are:
| St Mary the Virgin, Brading | £20,000 |
| St Peter, Ropley | £10,000 |
| St James, Bramley | £5,750 |
The Trustees regularly review the level of reserves and wish to encourage use of the available funds.
The Trustees aim to maintain reserves to cover expected future grants for at least a further twelve months. The reserves held satisfy that requirement.
A reminder to those applying for grants that the initial application needs to be with the Guild Treasurer at least 1 month before the Trustees meet. Trustees meet three times a year, before each of the Executive meetings and before the Guild AGM. Grants can only be approved at either the Executive meeting or AGM. Any approved at the Executive meetings are required to be ratified at the next Guild AGM. The forms required are to be found on the Guild’s website or can be obtained in paper form from the Guild Treasurer. It is very important that all the documentation requested in the form is made available to the Trustees. If an application is sent by email then it should also be sent through the postal system. All applications are acknowledged so if no acknowledgement is received within two weeks then a chaser should be sent.
The Trustees would like to thank all those who have donated time, energy and money towards the aims of the Bell Restoration Fund.
For and on behalf of the Trustees:
Trustee
Trustee
15th March 2024