## Annual Report and Accounts for 2023 Registered Charity No. 1156971 www.bellringing.org ## **ASSOCIATION OF RINGING TEACHERS** **Annual Report and Accounts of the Trustees for the year ending 31[st] December 2023** CHARITY NAME CHARITY NAME The Association of Ringing Teachers (known as “ART”) was founded in March 2012 CHARITY REG’D NUMBER ART was granted Charity status by the Charity Commission in May 2014. Its Registered Charity Number is: 1156971 CONTACT ADDRESS 12, The Courtyard, Bridge End, Warwick, CV34 6PD MEMBERS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Andrew Slade (T) Chairman Annie Hall (T) Secretary Sue Dixon (T) Treasurer Paul Lewis Roger Booth Clare McArdle Arthur Reeves David Sparling Lesley Boyle Dee Smith Matthew Lawrence Monica Hollows The above named are members of the Association’s Management Committee and those marked (T) are Trustees. All members were elected to the Management Committee at the Association’s AGM in March 2023 or at subsequent Management Meetings. NON-EXECUTIVE CHARITY TRUSTEES Leslie Boyce Andrew Wilby Christopher Enzor Lesley Belcher ## ADMINISTRATORS ART employs a part-time Office Manager, Monica Hollows and two part-time administrators: Rose Nightingale and Denise Tremain. PATRONS: Peter Bevis, Helen McGregor, Len Roberts, Paul Flavell, Eileen Butler WEBSITE: www.bellringing.org 1 ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** The Association’s governing document is its Constitution which was adopted at the foundation meeting in March 2012 and most recently amended at the Annual General Meeting in March 2021. ART is an unincorporated association with a membership as follows at 31/12/2023: |**Type**|**2023**|**2022**|**2021**|**2020**|**2019**|**2018**|**2017**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Full|355|334|314|330|308|247|209| |Associate|332|283|271|301|301|256|174| |Tutor|14|14|15|13|14|16|18| |Affiliate|8|15|15|16|16|11|7| |‘Trial’||16|6|15|15|35|| |**Total**|**709**|**662**|**621**|**661**|**654**|**565**|**408**| ## **Membership** Membership of The Association is offered to all those who are accredited to teach bell ringing under the ART Training Scheme and to those who act as Tutors for the scheme. Those who have completed a single Module of the Training Scheme are eligible for Associate Membership and those completing an additional Module can be Full Members. A small number of persons with particular skills or expertise are offered Affiliate Membership by the Management Committee. ## **Management** Policy and executive decisions are made by the Management Committee. The Committee and the Trustees are elected from the membership at the Association’s Annual General Meeting. A business plan is produced annually and regularly reviewed at meetings of the Committee. ART’s principal policies are published in detail on the Association’s website. These cover the following issues: 2 ## **ART Structure and Governance** - ART Constitution - ART Purpose Statement - ART Training Scheme Regulations - Reserves Policy - Code of Practice for ART Members - Equality and Diversity Policy - Poverty and Disadvantaged Policy - Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy ## **Data Protection and Privacy** - Data Protection Policy - Data Protection Impact Assessment - • Privacy Policy - • Guidance on Data Protection for ART Teachers - Handling and Safekeeping of DBS Certificate Information Policy ## **Safeguarding** These policies and codes of practice assist the Association and its members and volunteers to comply with all necessary legal practices and codes of conduct around the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. - Safeguarding Policy - Guidance Note on Safeguarding Documentation (DBS) - Photography and Video Policy - Code of Practice for Training Children and Vulnerable Adults - • Code of Practice for Organising Training and Events - • Code of Practice for Prevention and Resolution of Bullying ## **Health and Safety** - Health and Safety Policy - Code of Practice for Safety ## **Relationship with other ringing bodies and the ringing community** ART has strong working relationships with other ringing bodies, notably the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers (Reg’d Charity No. 270036) and the Ringing World (Reg’d Charity No. 287182). Regular meetings take place with these and other ringing organisations. There is extensive promotion and organisation of Training Scheme Day Courses. 3 ## **Risk Analysis** The Association maintains a comprehensive risk analysis of its activities and continues to put measures in place to mitigate the risks faced wherever possible. ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** The objects of the charity are listed in the constitution: Association of Ringing Teachers : ART Constitution Our key mission is to maintain the quintessentially English art of ringing changes on church bells and hand bells by training teachers and ringers for the future. ## **Staff and Volunteers** The Association employs a part-time Office Manager and two part-time administrators. All the trustees are volunteers and none receive any remuneration, other than expenses, for their work. Other volunteers assist the Association in its work through the provision of advice on matters such as safeguarding, recruitment, information technology, communications, tutor development, educational development, fundraising, running its merchandising arm and helping the Administrators. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** 2023 saw a return to near normal income levels with a similar number of courses being run to 2022. The administration team, essential in maintaining services while ART grows, took on additional duties during the year supporting the Central Council’s ‘Ring for the King’ campaign. While some of the costs were off set by the CCCBR additional salary costs were carried by ART. In the long term, the other additional salary costs are expected to yield corresponding increases in income but for 2023 the main operations incurred a loss of £15803 despite the continued support of our sponsors and members. Merchandising sales achieved a profit of £10751 leaving the organisation as a whole with a deficit £5052. This is quite close to the forecast for 2023 overall but with some notable variances in individual items, particularly salaries (Ring for the King overtime) and IT (additional server and licence costs). The Trustees have established a reserves policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets (the free reserves) held by the Association should be at least equivalent to one year’s expenditure, approximately £40,000 for 2023. 4 At this level the Management committee are confident that activities could be maintained in the event of a significant drop in funding and allow sufficient time to secure alternative funding or failing that, to wind up the Charity. In spite of a deficit in the year and significant increases in salary costs the free reserves remain above this target level and amount to £45,881 at 31st December 2023. The free reserves equate to the net assets of £79,832 less that committed to restricted funds totalling £16,286, (comprising the Len Roberts Award Fund of £8,700, the Recruitment Reserve of £2,315, and the Sarah Beacham Memorial Fund of £5,271), and the Designated Funds of £17,665 (comprising the Heritage Lottery Fund Project of £10,000 and the Son of SmART ringer Development of £7,665). 5 •• • • Association of Ringing •• Teachers Balance Sheet As at 31 st December 2023 Fixed A550ts Non-current M&G Investrnent AcL¥yJnt 6.350.17 6.X15.96 Cash at bank and in harHI Harnpthire TnJ51 Bank45 DayarrrAJnt LWS 32 Day Dewsrt Lws Instatrt OepD5it HSBC Treasurer a￿)Unt Tr&qsurer acccjunt 40.2￿.02 45.894.27 11.1X>2.92 5.432.97 4.437.43 4.540.27 297.1K> 71.604.86 931. 5.787.24 15.587.54 18.523.41 315.LKI .413.21 618.18 LW¥ Merchandw HSBC 50 50 Club Total Bank Balances Paypal A¢tsyJni Total Cash at Bank and In Hand 72.￿3.82 81.031.39 DebtOf5 Merchandising St(Kk Prepayments and Accrued Income Total As￿ts 2&￿.10 6.283.63 140.￿) 3.072 49 240 60 85.￿.72 .850.44 Croditors Awards P blo Youth (Sarah Beachan F￿￿J) Reuuitment ar￿ Reten TeChn￿09Y ART furvjed avrdrd5, LIR Leadership CCC8R Unwersty LIRAchievem8nt Special Avrdrds Totsl Awards Pay*)I HMRC Pay& refu￿ due 50 50 Club Re￿iP Totsl Liabiliti¥$ Accrued Expenses and Deferred income INole 31 Net Assots 250.(K> 375.1X> 72.LK> 3.016.31 1.82 297.￿) 244.(KJ 625.LX) 72.LXJ 3.189.55 -157. 315.LKI 3281.49 3.￿.73 79.238.Xl 3.346.95 1.4x1.38 86.073.11 Represented By: Restricted Reserves 8.71X). 2.314.81 5.270.73 7.SX).LX) 2.435.15 5.648.LKI R8¢ruitment Reserye Sarah Bethm V£rrK¥ial Fur¥J 16.285.54 15.583.15 Designaled Funds Heritage Lottery Fund ProFct s(￿ of SMART Rirvjer Devekwt 10.CO).CKI 10.(MX). lO.1￿.(￿j 17.66529 20.1Sb.(K) Ret8Jned Eatnings INote 41 Balance brought foT¥Ydtd Transfers to De￿gnatsI SurF4uslDefi¢it forlts .339. 70.(￿.05 .20.150.LKI 483.91 -5.052.29 45.287.67 79.238.SJ 50.339.96 86.073.11 •• • • Association of Ringing •• Teachers Income and Expenditure Account For the Year Ended 31st December 2023 2023 Incoma SubscNpb"c￿S UnreStrict￿j tlonations Gift recovery Conference receipts Cou15e and Workshop f&s Recruitment Reserve (See Note 41 50150 Club Isee Note 11 Bank Interest CCCBR- Ring Fot The lQrvJ Total Income from O rations 3,670.rx) 10,766.74 1.662.21 2.585.75 14,532.9) 120.34 759. 1.054.12 2,720.00 11,123.45 1,770.27 11.018.00 975.85 738.00 300 35 36.050 66 28.645.92 Direct Costs Conference expen5e5 Cost of Course Packs Tutor Travel Expenses Assessor Travel Hub Packs 1.924.88 5.594.44 1,526.27 203.50 615.30 5,079.47 1,403.03 173.75 LtR Events Recruitment Reserve Reg￿TraI Development ART funded A￿drdS Isee Note 21 Totsl eralional Ex nditure Neto ratlonal Income 73.48 975.85 1.￿0.00 120.34 1.000.00 126.60 11.111.33 24,939.33 8,705.58 19.940.34 Administrative Expenses Salanes IT Expenditure Meeting Expenses Insurance Paypal Fees and Bank Charges ProtrK*tional Expenses General Expenses Volunteei expenses 32,179.69 5.064.84 734.53 505.01 798.55 1.178.13 40.43 242.95 21.721.11 1.103.30 859.31 443.13 344.11 884.07 242.82 383.44 Total Administrakn've Ex nditure 40.742.13 25.981.29 Neto rational Deficiulncome over Ex nditure -15,802.80 4,040.95 Net ART Sho Income see ndix 10,750.51 6,524.86 Net Deficiulncome over Ex enditure for the Year -5.052.29 483.91 •• • • Association of Ringing •• Teachers ART Shop Income and Expenditure Account For the Year Ended 31 st December 2023 ART Shop Sale¥ ) ￿ngIng ThiTVJ5 nging Thir¥¥ 4 Teans Discover Bdl Riro4r LIR Fbrwets Guide Teathyw ￿1th siM￿alLY¥ LtR Teac*￿￿ (>JvJe LtRkhievement Lcwj Book LIR Pr¢¥ress L¢*J Bwk LIR Call ChaTwes Log LtR Hand edl Log Book LtR edl Handling DVO RaLSing & Lov￿ring DVD 548.31 2.18 731.Y) 4.872.10 97.45 581.28 137.19 217.59 1.(P7 38 9.014.05 118.35 103. 5.239 85 331.22 110.01 3.170.18 7W.07 97.05 1.204.25 1.216.25 241.70 884.25 184.10 12. 121.65 ITh$￿¢ St(ry Rwilth)￿t DVD Catry on Coutrtiry WS rknJtrAe5 orl)Jrtws PLAin Bob Minor WS Ccthe On Listen To It WS D￿￿ RtyJtvJs lo RLwwJhl WS DVD Mi5celknwu5 ￿ IrKLYne Shop thscoun15 Total ART Sho s￿e$ 147. 132.(M) 1Z(M) 51.(M) 186.0) 115.45 -302.86 13.447.(K) 2(K) 70 .949.29 Cost of Sal•s ) Son￿ng Thirgs ) Fbngng Thifv 4 Te￿$ Discover Bdl Rwv• LtR ￿r0erS Guide TeAthy￿ Simtslatrms LIR Tes¢ttrs LIR Achievernenl L(v BL¥Jk LtR ProJre55 Loj 8ook LtR Call Charw Log LtR H8Th1 Bdl Log LIR edi Handling DVD Ra￿Ing & Lu*Ering DVO 19S28 124 51 218 227.$0 113465 376.31 3.913.59 283.75 18.64 1.161_61 2d4 65 32.43 644.70 228.50 5565 86.25 91.NJ 47_69 111.25 93.75 70.40 InS￿e Stcry RÈcnthÈnl DVD C8try on C•uniry WS tknJble5 o[￿rtws PLiin Bob Minor WS e Qn Listen To Itws D) RtyJr*J$ ￿ R¢w8¥hl WS DVD 55 67.65 51 IM) 27 130. 114. 11(MJ 165.Tr) 1815] Stod¢ Shrinkaye Total ost of Sho Sales Gross Profit on Sho Sales -109.59 -28.28 6.868.86 I4.(￿.43 4.326.54 9.120.46 Other Shop Expendlture Storage QJsts Off￿e Supklie5. Ink & Shop PostèJe Packr P8hyal rets $59.$6 137 80 1.646.79 233 85 17.60 2.7103S 3.329.92 lo.7￿) 51 2.59560 6.524.86 Net ART Sh Income ## **Notes to the Accounts For the Year Ended 31st December 2023** |**Note 1**
**50/50 Club**
Balance at Bank 1/1/2023
Club Receipts for the Year
Prizes
Net Income to ART
Balance at Bank 31/12/2023
£|**£**
315.00
1,500.00
-759.00
-759.00| |---|---| ||297.00| Bank charges of £60 on the club account have been excluded and added to the main operational bank charges. |**Note 2**
**ART Awards**
Art awards for 2023
Less: Sponsorship received
Sarah Beacham Memorial Fund
Abelsim
John Taylor and Co
Talent Innovations
Len Roberts
ASCY
Anonymous Sponsor
ART funded Awards, LTR
Less: Various sundry historic balances removed from Awards Payable
**Note 3**
**Deferred Income and Accrued Expenses**
Courses after date
Course Vouchers
Accrued Expenses
E-gift cards
**Note 4**
**Reserves policy**|**Note 2**
**ART Awards**
Art awards for 2023
Less: Sponsorship received
Sarah Beacham Memorial Fund
Abelsim
John Taylor and Co
Talent Innovations
Len Roberts
ASCY
Anonymous Sponsor
ART funded Awards, LTR
Less: Various sundry historic balances removed from Awards Payable
**Note 3**
**Deferred Income and Accrued Expenses**
Courses after date
Course Vouchers
Accrued Expenses
E-gift cards
**Note 4**
**Reserves policy**|**Note 2**
**ART Awards**
Art awards for 2023
Less: Sponsorship received
Sarah Beacham Memorial Fund
Abelsim
John Taylor and Co
Talent Innovations
Len Roberts
ASCY
Anonymous Sponsor
ART funded Awards, LTR
Less: Various sundry historic balances removed from Awards Payable
**Note 3**
**Deferred Income and Accrued Expenses**
Courses after date
Course Vouchers
Accrued Expenses
E-gift cards
**Note 4**
**Reserves policy**|600.00
400.00
400.00
400.00
300.00
250.00
250.00|2,735.00







2,600.00
135.00
-8.40| |---|---|---|---|---| ||||£
£|| |||||126.60| |||||**£**
2,305.00
150.00
628.23
3.50| |||||3,086.73| |||||| ||**Restricted Reserves**
Len Roberts Award Fund
Recruitment Reserve
Sarah Beacham Memorial Fund
**Designated Funds**
Heritage Lottery Fund Project
Son of SmART Ringer Development
**Unrestricted Reserves**
**Total Reserves**|**Opening**
**Balance**
**Transfer**
**from**
**Income Expenditure**
**Closing**
**Balance**
**Retained**
**Earnings**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
7,500.00
1,200.00
8,700.00
2,435.15
-120.34
2,314.81
5,648.00
222.73
-600.00
5,270.73||| |||15,583.15
0.00
1,422.73
-720.34
16,285.54||| |||10,000.00
10,000.00
10,150.00
-2,484.71
7,665.29||| |||20,150.00
0.00
0.00
-2,484.71
17,665.29||| |||||| |||50,339.96
-4,458.94
45,881.02||| |||||| |||86,073.11
0.00
-3,036.21
-3,205.05
79,831.85||| |**4**
**ves policy**|||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||**Opening**|**Transfer**|**Income **|**Expenditure**|**Closing**| ||**Balance**|**from**|||**Balance**| |||**Retained**|||| |||**Earnings**|||| |**Restricted Reserves**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**| |Len Roberts Award Fund|7,500.00||1,200.00||8,700.00| |Recruitment Reserve|2,435.15|||-120.34|2,314.81| |Sarah Beacham Memorial Fund|5,648.00||222.73|-600.00|5,270.73| ||15,583.15|0.00|1,422.73|-720.34|16,285.54| |**Designated Funds**|||||| |Heritage Lottery Fund Project|10,000.00||||10,000.00| |Son of SmART Ringer Development|10,150.00|||-2,484.71|7,665.29| ||20,150.00|0.00|0.00|-2,484.71|17,665.29| ||||||| |**Unrestricted Reserves**|50,339.96||-4,458.94||45,881.02| ||||||| |**Total Reserves**|86,073.11|0.00|-3,036.21|-3,205.05|79,831.85| The Trustees have established a reserves policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets (the free reserves) held by the Association should be at least equivalent to one year’s expenditure, approximately £40,000 for 2023. At this level the Management committee are confident that activities could be maintained in the event of a significant drop in funding and allow sufficent time to secure alternative funding or failing that, to wind up the Charity. In spite of a deficit in the year and significant increases in salary costs the free reserves remain above this target level and amount to £45,881 at 31st December 2023 . The free reserves equate to the net assets of £79,238 less that committed to restricted funds totalling £16,286, (comprising the Len Roberts Award Fund of £8,700, the Recruitment Reserve of £2,315, and the Sarah Beacham Memorial Fund of £5,271), and the Designated Funds of £17,665 (comprising the Heritage Lottery Fund Project of £10,000 and the Son of SmART ringer Development of £7,665. ## **Note 5** ## **Course Pack Stock** A count was made of Course Pack Materials at the year end in order to allow stock levels to be monitored for the purpose of costing courses more accurately and simplifying the process to reorder items. This will result in a stock adjustment to the retained earnings in the 2024 accounts to bring in the valuation at the 1st January of £5476.09. 9 ## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of The Association of Ringing Teachers (ART)** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Association of Ringing Teachers (The Trust) for the year ended 31st December 2023. ## Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act, and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## Independent examiner’s statement I have completed my examination. I 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: (1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or (2) the accounts do not accord with those records; or (3) the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts 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. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Chris Ridley FCCA CPFA 4 February 2024 10 ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE – REVIEW OF 2023** - 60 courses were held during 2023 (59 in 2022) and similar to 2019 (64): `o` Module 1 47 Courses (48 in 2022). `o` Module 2 13 Courses (11 in 2022) - Whereas, there was a broad spread of Module 1 courses across the year, there was an unusual peak of Module 2 courses in July, with fewer across the year. - 515 delegates attended day courses in 2023 (525 in 2022). 471 on M1 and 44 on M2. - 138 teachers or mentors were accredited in 2023, higher than in 2022 (59) but still significantly lower than in 2019 (158). - 1563 new ringers were registered in the Learning the Ropes scheme in 2023 (905 in 2022) (805 in 2019). 40% of these were in the first three months of the year as part of the Ring for the King Campaign. - 1200 LtR certificates were issued in 2023 the highest ever surpassing 2019 (1191) - The total number of course delegates who have attended ART courses since the start is 5179 (4,664 as at 2022). - The total number of ringers registered on SmART Ringer since the start is 9161, (7598 as at 2022). - It should be noted, that while the numbers of ringers active in the UK has still not returned to pre pandemic levels, the number of courses run by ART has and continues to grow to support bell ringing as a whole. - The Annual General Meeting took place on 11[th] March 2023. - Investment of ART reserves has been allocated to: - Funding investment in university recruitment and training projects - Supporting people who are delivering training at ART teaching centers. - Upgrading of the ART IT systems including SmART Ringer website. - The appointment of the new Chair, professor Andrew Slade was confirmed on 11[th] March 2023. - Chairman’s Chatter continues to be published for the benefit of ringing teachers. - Tower Talk continues to be published for the benefit of all ringers on the Learning the Ropes scheme. - Sales of ART products totaled £20,949 in 2023 (£13,4047 in 2022). - ART Support for the CCCBR ‘Ring for the King’, initiative resulted in the placement of 2057 ringers with bands around the country. - Publication of books and pamphlets promoting bell ringing to the public is a major part of ARTs on going commitment. - The continued financial contributions of our Supporters have provided a firm financial base. 11 ## **DECLARATION OF THE TRUSTEES** This Annual Report was approved by the Trustees. Signed: Annie Hall (Secretary) Date: 29 February 2024 12