Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Mark Charity CIO Fund Charity Reg No: 1172516
Accounts for year ended 31[st] August 2023
The G&H Mark Charity Trustees continued to convene and have approved the presented audited accounts for the year ending the 31[st] August 2023. The trustees and I wish to express our appreciation and thanks to W Bros Mark Bennett, PPrGJW and Gary Weeks, PPrGSO, who undertook the examination and audit of these accounts.
The accounts as presented are for the year ended 31[st] August 2023 and are intended to classify the grants from the G&H Mark Charity CIO Fund and the Deposits held. These accounts are presented to provide both transparency and conform with the requirements of the Charity Commission. The General Funds relate to funds available to the Province for use within the articles of the Charity, and the Restricted Funds are for Grants received for detailed purposes.
With a return to normality following the Pandemic, I am pleased to advise that the Trustees authorised, during the period relevant to the accounts, donations of a £1000.00 to SARAID and £1250.00 the West Yorkshire 2023 Festival, together with a transfer of £859.00 to the Charity Relief Chest from donations received at the 2023 Provincial Meeting and £849.50 was transferred to a Lodge Relief Chest from funds held on its behalf.
I am pleased to report that the Relief Chest Scheme of the MCF is now being utilised by the vast majority of the Mark and RAM Lodges in the Province. A small number of Lodges are yet to take the step and open a Relief Chest and I would again recommend them to do so, so that the money raised and held, can attract a better rate of interest and be managed more effectively and efficiently together with the benefit of gift aid.
The G&H Mark Charity CIO Fund itself continues to need disposable income if we are to meet our aims and objectives in providing much needed financial support to Local Charities. I would encourage all the brethren to support the G&H Mark Charity CIO in any way they can, to allow the trustees to support Festivals and worthy causes in the name of the Province. I do wish to thank those Lodges and individuals that have made donations during this period and would urge all Lodges to consider supporting the Charity with proceeds from Raffles or designated collections at least annually. Regular giving in affordable amounts by individual Brethren is the most effective and least financially onerous way to support the Provincial Charity, details of the “Set & Forget” initiative has been circulated with the support of the PGM. This is still to be fully embraced by the Brethren. I would also request that consideration is given to supporting the MBF and the 2040 Festival. A little amount of regular giving, again will make a significant impact on the financial outcome of the Festival. I am fully aware of the current financial situation, with many families impacted by the rising cost of living and I have no doubt this is affecting our members and the Charities we wish to support. It is therefore more important than ever, that those who can support our charitable efforts, do so within their financial means. The efforts by Lodges and individuals on behalf of our 2024 chosen Charity “Cotswold Friends” is very gratifying and with a little bit more effort over the next couple of months, I believe we can raise a sum that the Province can be proud off and that will have a significant benefit and positive impact on the Charities work and support of the vulnerable.
I would like to express my grateful thanks to W Bro Richard James and the Lodge Keystone 400 Club representatives for their continued efforts in support of the Fund, which made a donation of £1800.00 to the Charity during the period of the Accounts. I would urge all Brethren to support the 400 Club. £15.00 per annum gives you a chance to win reasonable cash prizes four times a year and also contribute to both the Provincial Charity and to individuals Lodges.
Brethren, the G&H Mark Charity is your Charity, and I would welcome and appreciate any ideas or suggestions that will continue to make our charitable giving both relevant and beneficial to the recipients. I thank you all most sincerely on behalf of the Trustees and the Charities we support.
W Bro David J Hedley PAGDC , PPrGSO Provincial Grand Charity Steward
Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Gloucestershire & Herefordshire. Charity Account CIO. Income and Expenditure Account for the Year ended 31st August, 2024.
| 2023 | INCOME: | General | Restricted | Relief Chest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fund | Fund | Fund | Total | ||
| 998.00 | Regular Donations: | 463.00 | 2,552.46 | 3,015.46 | |
| 864.85 | Tax Reclaimed: | 514.99 | 295.00 | 809.99 | |
| 1800.00 | Provincial Grand Lodge 400 Club: | 1,500.00 | 1,500.00 | ||
| 4960.21 | Lodge Donations: | 800.00 | 1,511.00 | 2,311.00 | |
| 735.90 | Interest Received: | 1,038.56 | 244.53 | 1,283.09 | |
| 859.00 | Relief Chest | ||||
| Cotswold Friends | 11,160.01 | 11,160.01 | |||
| Yeleni Charity | 500.00 | 500.00 | |||
| 10217.96 | 4,316.55 | 11,660.01 | 4,602.99 | 20,579.55 | |
| EXPENSES: | |||||
| 3250.00 | Donations on behalf of Province: | 2,500.00 | 2,000.00 | 2,500.00 | |
| 849.50 | Transfer to Lodge Relief Chests | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| 0.00 | PGM Discretionary Fund | 0.00 | |||
| Transfer to Provincial Relief Chest | |||||
| 0.00 | Donation to Brother in Distress | ||||
| £4,099.50 | 2,500.00 | 0.00 | 2,000.00 | 4,500.00 | |
| Excess of Expenditure over Income | |||||
| £6,118.46 | Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year: | 1,816.55 | 11,660.01 | 2,602.99 | 16,079.55 |
| Balance Sheet as at 31st August, 2024. | Balance Sheet as at 31st August, 2024. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44406.26 | General Funds: 1st September, 2023: |
49,704.89 | |||||
| 5298.63 | Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year | Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year | 1,816.55 | ||||
| 49704.89 | 51,521.44 | ||||||
| 1685.25 | Restricted Funds: |
1st September, 2023 : | 1,685.25 | ||||
| Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year | Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year | 11,660.01 | |||||
| 1685.25 | 13,345.26 | ||||||
| 2678.45 | Relief Chest: 1st September 2023 | 3498.28 | |||||
| 819.83 | Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year | Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year | 2602.99 | 6,101.27 | |||
| 3498.28 | |||||||
| 31073.14 | Cash at Bank: Current Account: |
44,549.70 | |||||
| 20317.00 | COIF Deposit Account: | 20,317.00 | |||||
| 3498.28 | Relief Chest: | 6,101.27 | |||||
| 70,967.97 | |||||||
| 54888.42 | £ | 70,967.97 | £ | 70,967.97 |
We have examined the above Income & Expenditure Account & Balance Sheet of the Charity Account CIO of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Gloucestershire & Herefordshire for the Year ended 31st August 2024, and in our view they have been prepared in accordance with the books and records maintained by the Provincial Grand Charity Steward and comply with the regulations laid down in the Charity Acts.
| Auditors: | M I Bennett FCCA. | G J Weeks | Charity Steward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24th October 2024 |