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 2024
The G&H Mark Charity Trustees continued to convene and have approved the presented audited accounts for the year ending the 31[st] August 2024. 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 2024 and are envisioned 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.
I am pleased to advise that the Trustees authorised, during the period relevant to the accounts, donations of a £1000.00 to On Course Foundation Charity and £1500.00 the Cheshire Mark 2024 Festival, together with a transfer of £1076.46.00 to the Charity Relief Chest from donations received at the 2024 Provincial Meeting.
This year was the first occasion that the Province launched its Appeal to support a specific Charity, and on this occasion, Cotswold Friends was chosen, and though the generosity of the Lodges and the Brethren, the G&H Mark Charity was in a position to make a significant donation of £16400.00 to Cotswold Friends, which will be included in the 2025 accounts. I wish to extend my thanks to all who helped in achieving this total and especially the Brethren who organised the Charity Concert which contributed £652.01 to the Appeal, with a further £202.00 being donated directly to Cotswold Friends.
I am pleased to report that the Relief Chest Scheme of the MCF is now being utilised by the vast majority of the Lodges in the Province. A small number of Lodges are yet to take the step and open a Relief Chest and I would again advocate 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 most sincerely 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 continues to be the most effective and least financially onerous way to support the Provincial Charity, details of the “Set & Forget” initiative has been circulated and assistance is available to support any Brother who wishes to consider this initiative. I would again 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 2025 chosen Charity “National Star” is very satisfying and with a little bit more effort over the next couple of months, I believe we can again 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 and assist in their vision for a world in which people with disabilities are able to realise their potential as equal and active citizens in control of their own lives.
I would like to once again 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 £1500.00 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 generous cash prizes four times a year and contributes 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 PGJD 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, 2025.
| 2024 | INCOME: | General | Restricted | Relief Chest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fund | Fund | Fund | Total | ||
| 3015.46 | Regular Donations: | 403.00 | 2,832.00 | 3,235.00 | |
| 809.99 | Tax Reclaimed: | 498.25 | 703.25 | 1,201.50 | |
| 1500.00 | Provincial Grand Lodge 400 Club: | ||||
| Personal Donations PGL | 1,088.50 | 1,088.50 | |||
| Tax Reclaimed: | 303.87 | 303.87 | |||
| 2311.00 | Lodge Donations: | 1,540.00 | 1,823.00 | 3,363.00 | |
| 1283.09 | Interest Received: | 912.89 | 350.87 | 1,263.76 | |
| Relief Chest | 961.50 | 961.50 | |||
| 11160.01 | Cotswold Friends | 400.00 | 400.00 | ||
| 500.00 | Yeleni Charity | ||||
| National Star | 5,772.00 | 5,772.00 | |||
| 20579.55 | 10,487.64 | 0.00 | 7,101.49 | 17,589.13 | |
| EXPENSES: | |||||
| 4500.00 | Donations on behalf of Province: | 1,400.00 | 1,400.00 | ||
| 0.00 | Transfer to Cotswold Friends | 16,000.00 | 16,000.00 | ||
| 0.00 | Transfer to Lodge Relief Chests | 961.50 | 961.50 | ||
| 0.00 | PGM Discretionary Fund | 250.00 | 250.00 | ||
| 0.00 | Transfer to Provincial Relief Chest | 0.00 | |||
| Donation to Yeleni Cancer Charity 2025 | 2,000.00 | 2,000.00 | |||
| Donation to Oxfordshire Festival 2025 | 2,000.00 | 2,000.00 | |||
| £4,500.00 | 21,211.50 | 0.00 | 1,400.00 | 22,611.50 | |
| £16,079.55 | Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year: | -4,835.85 | -5,888.01 | 5,701.49 | -5,022.37 |
| Balance Sheet as at 31st August, 2025. | Balance Sheet as at 31st August, 2025. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49704.89 | General Funds: 1st September, 2024: |
51,521.44 | |||||
| Excess of Expenditure over Income | -4,835.85 | ||||||
| 1816.55 | Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year | Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year | |||||
| 51521.44 | 46,685.59 | ||||||
| 13345.26 | Restricted Funds: |
1st September, 2024 : | 13,345.26 | ||||
| Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year | Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year | -5,888.01 | |||||
| 13345.26 | 7,457.25 | ||||||
| 3498.28 | Relief Chest: 1st September 2024 | 6101.27 | |||||
| 2602.99 | Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year | Excess of Income over Expenditure for the Year | 5701.49 | 11,802.76 | |||
| 6101.27 | |||||||
| 44549.70 | Cash at Bank Current Account: |
33,825.84 | |||||
| 20317.00 | COIF Deposit Account: | 20,317.00 | |||||
| 6101.27 | Relief Chest: | 11,802.76 | |||||
| 65,945.60 | |||||||
| 70967.97 | £ | 65,945.60 | £ | 65,945.60 |
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 2025, 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.
| Zoe eeeeee | <xSleek | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Auditors: | M I Bennett FCCA. | G J Weeks | Charity Steward |
| 22nd October 2025 |