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Registered Charity No. 1007791
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NORTHUMBERLAND MARK BENEVOLENT FUND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Year Ended 5 April 2025
TD Taxation Services 1 Two Ball Lonnen Fenham Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 9RN
al TD TAXATION SERVICES
NORTHUMBERLAND MARK BENEVOLENT FUND Year Ended 5 April 2025
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|CONTENTS|
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|Independent Examiner’s Report|Z|
|Statement of Financial|Activities|3|
|Balance|sheet|4|
|Notes to the Financial|Statements|5|
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NORTHUMBERLAND MARK BENEVOLENT FUND Year Ended 5 April 2025
We report on the attached accounts of the fund for the year ended 5 April 2025
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner
As the Charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation ofthe Accounts. You consider that the audit requirement of section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply.
It is our responsibility to:
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e Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act:
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e To follow the procedures laid down in general directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145 (5)(b) of the Act; and
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e State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s report
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the Accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosure in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently, no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner’s statement
In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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a) To keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the Act; and
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i b) To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
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To which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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Soke aes A A eS n
Helen Taylor Gill DenaaeiouhAT Richard Northey
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Date: J D&langet “2025
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NORTHUMBERLAND MARK BENEVOLENT FUND Statement of Financial Activities Year Ended 5 April 2025
| EXPENDITURE | 2025 | 2024 | INCOME | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administration cost | Members GiftAid Contributions | 13,467 | 14,666 | ||
| Secretary andTreasurers Expenses | 14 | 12 | |||
| Investment Adviser Fee | 563 | 540 | Tax Reclaimable forYear | ||
| Accountancy Fee | 264 | 246 | Repayable afteryearend | 3,538 | 3,667 |
| Bank Charges | 1 | 96 | GiftAid over-claim (2022) | ||
| Donation received in error | 158 | ||||
| Members donations to Relief | |||||
| Festival launch gifts | 49 | Chest -MMM2118 |
730 | 585 | |
| Regaliapurchase | 664 | Taxreclaim onReliefChest | 158 | 136 | |
| Members donations to Relief | |||||
| RAM Ties | 647 | Chest -MARKFEST2031 |
455 | 110 | |
| Tax reclaim on ReliefChest | 79 | 15 | |||
| Donations to festivals& appeals | |||||
| Festival donation | 2.500 | 3,100 | Donations Received | ||
| Festivalbadges | 500 | 500 | Lodges | 2,904 | 5,233 |
| Other orders | 1,000 | Members non gift aid cont | 13,165 | 1231 | |
| Non-members | 00 | ||||
| Other Charitable Donations | Amazon Smile | 27 | |||
| Emergency Grantsto Brethren | 4,000 | Recycle4Charity | 13 | 13 | |
| Friends ofHadrian School | 800 | EasyFund | 41 | 77 | |
| Dream Holidays | 250 | Misc& OtherOrders | 265 | 800 | |
| FACET | 468 | FestivalDonations | 4,560 | ||
| Newcastle Scout Gangshow | 500 | ||||
| Friends ofRedRow First Schoo! | 500 | Misc Credit | |||
| Northumberland National ParkMountain | |||||
| Rescue | 900 | UnpresentedCheque | 200 | ||
| MBF re Patrons& Stewards (6/4/24- | Creditfrom MBF-Lodge | ||||
| 30/6/24) | 11,910 | closure | 1,490 | ||
| Christmas Foodbank Donations | 250 | 1,000 | |||
| Daft as a Brush | 850 | Sales | |||
| Friends of Scarborough Court | 800 | Ties/Regalia | 1,480 | 2,005 | |
| CHUF | 538 | 500 | Socials& Raffles | 1,838 | 3,196 |
| Lighthouse CommunityHub | 500 | Coins& Keyrings | 25 | ||
| Christmas Presents for underprivileged | |||||
| Children (viaJohnPageLodge) | 100 | 100 | Festival Badge Scheme | 322 | 321 |
| MBF re Patrons and Stewards Dues | 9.636 | 10,650 | |||
| Dec’d member charitydonations | 150 | 200 | ~ | ||
| Festival Jewel | 250 | 100 | Interest Received | ||
| ReliefChest-MMM2118 | 72 | 31 | |||
| ReliefChest-MarkFest203 | 1] | ||||
| COIF Interest | 99 | ||||
| G/A Interest | 23 | ||||
| Increase/decrease in value of | |||||
| 35,564 | 20,352 | investments | -3,329 | 13,628 | |
| Surplus (Deficit) ofIncome over | |||||
| expenditure | 5,817 | 25,860 | |||
| 41381 | 46,212 | 41,381 | 46,212 |
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NORTHUMBERLAND MARK BENEVOLENT FUND Year Ended 5 April 2025
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 5 APRIL 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNRESTRICTEDINCOMEFUND | INVESTMENT&ASSETS | |||||
| Asat5April2024 Surplusincomefor theyear |
126,267 5,816 |
100,407 25,860 |
CashandBankdeposits CashatBank |
12,799 | 15,743 | |
| ~ | Reservefordependants claims | 132,083 1,049 |
126,267 - 1,049 |
CashatCOIF Cash/chequesinhand FidelityInvestmentAccount ReliefChest -MMM2118 ReliefChest-MARKFEST2031 Held on AccountwithMBF |
2,095 993 109,359 1,974 420 11590 |
1,996 2,632 112,688 1,015 125 100 |
| MBECreditorreHonorific | 9,636 | 10.650 | OtherAssets | |||
| Taxrepaymentclaim (2024) Taxrepaymentclaim(2025) |
3,538 | 3,667 | ||||
| 142,768 | 137,966 | 142,768 | 137,966 |
Approval of Accounts and Annual Report
The Report and Accounts were approved by the Trustees on ......---------+
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
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NORTHUMBERLAND MARK BENEVOLENT FUND NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the Year Ended 5 April 2025
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
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[al These Accounts have been prepared on an accruals basis under historical cost convention in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting for Charities.
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[b] Investment income is accounted for gross in the year for which it falls due.
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[c] The Northumberland Mark Benevolent Fund is a registered charity and is not subject to taxation. Tax recoverable on income receivable for a specific year is accounted for on the accruals basis.
INCOME DURING THE YEAR FROM FUND RAISING EVENTS
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Provincial |
meetingRaffle | 1,443 394 |
2,316 880 |
| 1,837 | 3,196 |
STOCK OF TIES
At 5 April 2025 there was a stock of Mark and Royal Ark Mariner ties, the value of which is not accounted for in the financial statements.
DEPENDANTS GRANTS ACCOUNT
| GrandLodgeMBF | N'landMBF | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance b/fwd at5 April2024 | 0 | 1,049 | 1,049 |
| Received from Grand LodgeMBF | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transferfrom General Funds | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest | 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 1,049 | 1,049 | |
| Grantsto dependants | |||
| Transfer to General Funds | |||
| Balancesat5April2025 | 0 | 1,049 | 1,049 |
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NORTHUMBERLAND MARK BENEVOLENT FUND TRUSTEE’S REPORT (To 5th April 2025)
THE OBJECTS OF THE FUND, which are administered by the Benevolent Fund Committee are: -
- a) To make emergency and/or ex gratia grants for the relief of Members in need who are Mark Master Masons or Royal Ark Mariners and are or have been members of the Province of Northumberland.
Along with their widows, partners, dependants, and children pending any necessary application made to the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons’ Fund of Benevolence for assistance.
In furtherance of this object but not further or otherwise the fund shall have the following powers: -
To receive bequests, grants, donations, contributions and subscriptions from the Provincial Grand Lodge, Mark Lodges, Royal Ark Mariner Lodges, and individual Members of the Province of Northumberland.
As well as from any other Masonic organisation or Trust, or non-masonic individual organisation or Trust.
b) To make contributions from time to time to the Fund of Benevolence of Grand Mark Lodge (MBF)
c) To make grants to other approved Masonic charities.
d) To make grants to local non-masonic charities.
3. MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
A Benevolent Fund Committee duly constituted, whose function it will be to undertake the management of the fund on behalf of Provincial Grand Lodge: -
a) The Management of the Northumberland Mark Benevolent Fund
b) To deal with all matters connected with the Fund of Benevolence of Grand Mark Lodge as affecting the Province of Northumberland
4. CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMITTEE
The Benevolent Fund Committee shall consist of: -
a) The Provincial Grand Master
b) The Deputy Provincial Grand Master
c) The Assistant Provincial Grand Master
d) The Provincial Grand Secretary
e) The Trustees, to be appointed from time to time by the Committee.
f) Three other Members appointed by the Provincial Grand Lodge, who shall hold office until the next following Annual Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge.
g) One representative from each qualifying Lodge elected annually by each Lodge and to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Benevolent Fund Committee.
A Member shall not be eligible for an appointment or election to the Committee unless he is a fully paid-up subscribing member of a Lodge within the Province of Northumberland.
The Trustees are pleased to note that despite the war in Ukraine continuing the finances of the fund have not been, impacted to the same degree as in 2023 and both the value of the Funds’ Investments and Donations received have increased.
Trustee Appointments and Retirements
lan Dalgleish Daniel retired as a Trustee at the Trustee’s meeting on the 11th of July 2024 and Hugh Padruig Mcintosh MacLeod replaced him as a Trustee.
People
The fund managed entirely by volunteers who give up their time, free of charge, to perform administrative duties, for their due diligence the Trustees would like to put on record their thanks for all the administrative duties they undertake.
Investments
Since April 2015 £116,790 has been Invested with Fidelity International and £40,000 withdrawn, resulting in a net investment of £76,790. There has not been any need to make a withdrawal from the Funds investments in this financial year.
As at the 5th April the value of the Fidelity Investment was £109,359.05, a decrease from last year of £7,431, due to the recent turmoil in the Financial Markets. As at the time of writing this report, 13th May 2025, the fund recovered to £117,850.18. A review of our investment strategy will be undertaking during 2025.
Donations and Income
It is pleasing to see that donations received this year from Members and Groups have remained stable with an increase seen in overall donations due to the Province going into a period of ‘Festival’ together with a ‘one off large bequest from the Estate of a deceased member.
Unfortunately, income from Fundraising events has once again fallen despite the efforts of the event coordinators, for which the Trustees want to record their thanks.
Total Income to the NMBF in the year £43,076
Notable Grants.
The Mark Benevolent Fund (MBF) continues to be the largest beneficiary of the fund.
£29 550 to the Mark Benevolent Fund who support individuals and charities within the wider community as well as here in Northumberland.
£4,000 for Emergency Grants to Members.
£800 to Friends of Hadrian School.
£900 to Northumberland Mountain Rescue.
£538 to the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF).
£500 to support the Newcastle Scouts Gang Show
£468 to F.A.C.E.T (Fostered and Adopted Children’s Education and Therapy).
Total Expenditure by the NMBF in the year £40,318
Surplus Income over Expenditure £2,758.
Grants awarded by the MBF to Charities and Good Causes in Northumberland
Whilst not a feature of the NMBF Accounts the trustees would like to record that the MBF has made two substantial grants to worthy causes within Northumberland,
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The first a grant of £103,805 to the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) to fund the purchase of seven state-of-the-art echocardiogram machines providing medical teams with 3D high performance images, to increase diagnostic confidence and improve treatment plans for patients.
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The second grant of £63,326 to the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAAS), to purchase another vehicle to add to their fleet to help compensate for the loss of a helicopter. The vehicles play a pivotal role when the helicopters are unable to fly due to extreme weather conditions or breakdown.
Summary
In the opinion of the Trustees the fund has continued to meet its objectives in the ongoing uncertain financial climate, maintaining a good balance between income and expenditure whilst supporting local charities and the Mark Benevolent Fund. af yo st Raymond Walton, illsChairman RichardSOS Northey,TUAURE” Huswe t ees Date\,_..Decammue 2625