The Margate Masonic Centre Benevolent Fund Charity Number 1017423
) Trustees report and financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
The Margate Masonic Centre Benevolent Fund
Contents . For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| ReportoftheTrustees | 1-2 | |
| Statement offinancial activities | 3 | |
| Balancesheet | 4 | |
| StatementofAccounting Policies | 5 | |
| independentExaminer’sReport | 6 | . |
1
The Margate Masonic Centre Benevolent Fund Trustees’ report For the year ended 31 December 2024
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of The Margate Masonic Centre Benevolent Fund for the financial year from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.
Trustees
The Trustees who held office during the year were:
M. Fuller (Chairman). B. J. Kingsman N. J. Alder M. Kennett
J. Tiley
Objectives and activities
The main objectives of the charity, as set out in the governing document are:-
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to raise funds for worthy causes
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- to provide a venue for training purposes - to assist with educating the general public about the benefits of Masonry - to preserve the Masonic building in Margate to enable the other objectives of the charity to be fulfilled.
The Trustees have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
Achievements and Performance
The 2024 financial year saw the centre fully return to pre-Covid-19 Pandemic use, and having put in places procedures for the future should the need to arise should any future similar situation arise, it is expected that the centre is in a better situation than previously. The Trustees continually review the operational activities of the centre to see whether more use of the centre can be achieved to further augment the objectives of the Charity.
The centre continues to hold “Open Days” with a view to enable the General Public to view the premises, learn more about Freemasonry, and to be made aware of the charitable work undertaken by Masons, not only locaily, but throughout the United Kingdon, and in fact throughout the world supporting relief projects in disaster and conflict areas.
Funds have once again been raised and distributed to Charities to both local and to national charities, and these distributions are now at pre Covid-19 Pandemic levels, with the hope for these to be increased in future years.
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Financial review
2024 was a year of consolidation having spent heavily in 2022 on a new Air Circulation scheme, together with the installation of a new shuttering system to ensure that access to the bar was limited to those with authority. The Trustees were pleased to see that the reserves of the Charity have started to be rebuilt to enable them should the need arise to meet any future “one off” expenditure that might arise to ensure that the objectives of the Charity will continue to be met for many years to come. The maintenance of the fabric of the centre continues to be an important aspect of the Trustees to ensure that the centre can be used all year round for the purpose of the charity.
The policy of the Trustees remains to retain sufficient reserves to meet anticipated operating costs for a period of twelve months, as well as building up reserves to meet any unexpected future property expenses.
- $tructure, Governance and Management _ .
’ The charity is governed by the Charity Commission Scheme dated 4 December 2000. The appointment of Trustees is govemed by the charity's constitution. The Trustees are authorised to appoint new Trustees to fill vacancies arising through the resignation or death of an existing Trustee. Recruitment and appointment of new Trustees is by invitation based on personal knowledge of the appointee. All new Trustees are welcomed to the committee and are guided through the Trustee responsibilities document published by the Charity Commission.
Plans for Future Periods
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The Trustees will continue their existing policy of maintaining the fabric of the centre and encouraging users of the centre to generate funds for worthy causes.
2
. The Margate Masonic Centre Benevolent Fund
Trustees’ report (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2024
Trustees’ responsibilities statement
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which require a true and fair view of the affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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e select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; e observe the methods and principles in the charities SORP;
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e make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; e prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the Trustees on 10 September 2025 and signed on their behalf.
M. Fuller Chairman
MARGATE MASONICE CENTRE BENEVOLENT FUND
Statement of Financial Activities for year ended 31st December 2024
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|INCOME|
|2024|2023|
|Lodge's/Side Degrees Contributions|14,120.00|14,832.00|
|Lodge's Contributions to|Building Fund|1,000.00|1,000.00|
|Charitable|Contributions|10,296.91|10,369.03|
|Bar|Turnover|17,836.25|15,765.33|
|Sundry|0.00|0.00|
|interest|92.58|63.11|
|43,345.74|42,029.47|
|EXPENDITURE|
|Bar Costs|
|Bar Purchases|10,504.43|8,613.41|
|Stock Adjustment|-226.27|1,437.65|
|aereenen-s---=|10,278.16|--------------|10,051.06|
|Bar Honorarium|800.00|800.00|
|Bar Recycling costs|1,443.62|1,180.76|
|Bar Licence|180.00|180.00|
|Bar Card|Reader costs|49.15|82.28|
|Bar Sundries|190.78|100.25|
|12,941.71|12,394.35|
|Centre|Costs|
|Business|Rates|182.13|259.57|
|Utility Costs|3,763.24|3,349.81|
|‘Insurances|1,419.33|1,356.52|
|Cleaning Costs|2,063.01|2,092.92|
|Maintenance Cost|2,188.53|1,797.56|
|Pest Control|165.00|155.00|
|Telephone|&|Alarm|costs|.|1,154.57|1,651.76|
|Legal Costs|0.00|460.20|
|Parking permit & costs|425.00|425.00|
|Honours|Boards|0.00|335.00|
|Examiners|Fees|0.00|186.00|
|Sundries|230.75|0.00|
|Air Circulation|Units|228.00|4,395.60|
|New Bar Shutters|0.00|3,823.05|
|Kers Surge|Protector|292.36|0.00|
|wevcenneee-ne|12,141.92|aonezeae-n----|20,287.99|
|25,053.63|'|32,682.34|
|Add:- Charitable|Donations|10,426.91|11,069.03|
|wencverneensen|35,480.54|ancnencneneee=|43,751.37|
|Excess|of Income over Expenditure for Year|7,865.20|-1,721.90|
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MARGATE MASONICE CENTRE BENEVOLENT FUND
Balance Sheet as at 31/12/2024
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Assets | ||
| Funds with Grand Charity Bar Stock |
10,702.02 2,000.00 |
10,214.96 1,592.73 |
| BarBank Account | 6,705.03 | 8,237.31 |
| BarCash in hand | 2,310.75 | 1,110.20 |
| Bar Floats | 450.00 | 450.00 |
| Management Committee - General BankA/c ManagementCommittee - Deposit A/c ManagementCommittee - Medical Fund ManagementCommittee -Trustees Funds Management Committee -Building Fund |
6,337.59 1,011.55 643.60 4,414.86 13,421.17 |
4,348.15 996.64 643.60 4,414.86 7,713.53 |
| 47,996.57 | 39,721.98 | |
| Less: - Current Liabilities | ||
| Held on behalfofLodges& Side Degrees | 9,093.66 | 8,583.59 |
| 38,902.91 | 31,138.39 | |
| Reprsenting:- | ||
| Opening Balances | ||
| Trustees Funds atGrand Charity BarReserves |
1,530.69 11,390.24 |
1,577.38 12,019.26 |
| ManagementCommittee Management Committee - Building Fund |
10,403.25 7,713.53 |
12,727.07 6,536.58 |
| 31,037.71 | 32,860.29 | |
| Add:- Surplus(Deficit) foryear | 7,865.20 | 1,721.90 |
| 38,902.91 | 31,138.39 |
Approved by the Trustees on 10th September 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Led[F] ha -M FULLER CHAIRMAN
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5
The Margate Masonic Centre Benevolent Fund
Accounting policies . For the year ended 31 December 2024
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Basis of preparation of financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and Charities Act 2011.
The Trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Income and expenditure
Income arising during the year is applied primarily in meeting the objects of the Trust, and any surplus is available to meet its objectives in future years. The surplus in the year has been funded from reserves built up over a number of years.
Ail income and expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis.
Going concern
These financial statements have been prepared on a going concem basis.
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Freehold Property
The property is used by the charity. The Trustees are obligated to ensure that the premises are well maintained and “fit for purpose” and in light of this, the Trustees consider that the life of the freehold property and its residual value is such that no diminution of value is required..
The historic cost of the building and the cost of improvements since then has not been possible to verify and as such the Trustees have valued the centre at its Insurance Replacement Value which is £800,000.
Stocks
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost or resale value and relate to a bar facility which is available to users of the centre.
Cash at Bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash deposits in an appropriate liquid investment with an ability to process these funds within 3 months.
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Margate Masonic Centre Benevolent Fund for the year ended 31 December 2024
which| reportare to theset charityout on trusteespages 3 to on5. my examination ofthe accounts ofthe charity for the year ended 31 December 2024, This report is made Solely to the Charity’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part Reports) 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Regulations 2008. My work by l aw,ai | do nothot cateaccept sm in an Independhas be en t undertakenExaminer's Soreport that andI mightfor no stateother to the purpose. Charity'sTo theTruste ful es thoset excelmatt ee e rs wed| my work or for this report.or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity's Trustees as a body, for Responsibilities and basis ofreport . theAs the Charities charity's Act trustees 2011 (‘the you Act). are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of ! report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 ofthe Act and-in Carrying out the Act. my examination | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under: section 145(5)(b) of
independent Examiner's statement | have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- accounting records werenot kept in respect 2. of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act: or 3. the accounts do not accord with those records. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content ofaccounts set out in the Charities (Accounts. and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
beI have drawn no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should in this report in order to enable a Proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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Brian Portanier
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