## **Report of the Warwickshire Mark Benevolent Fund** Brethren I present the Annual report of the trustees of the Warwickshire Mark Benevolent Fund. The Trustees of the Fund are as follows. ## **Ex-Officio Trustees** R. W. Brother Philip Wills, Provincial Grand Master (President). - W. Brother Andrew R. Armbrister, Deputy Provincial Grand Master. - W. Brother Howard L. Smith, Assistant Provincial Grand Master. W. Brother R. Nigel Clemson, Provincial Grand Charity Steward, (Secretary). - W. Brother Pau F. Mason Provincial Grand Almoner. - W. Brother Ian D. Belsham Provincial Grand Secretary. - W. Brother David P. Fair Provincial Grand Treasurer. (Treasurer) ## **Nominated Trustees** V. W. Brother J. Stephen Wright, Chairman. - W. Bro. J. David Evans Deputy Chairman. - W. Brother Cedric F. Stiles. - W. Brother Neil E. A. Watkin. - W. Brother G. Robert Harrison (Resigned 26/5/2024). Brethren the objectives of the Warwickshire Mark Benevolent Fund are to assist any of our brethren or their families at a time of need, owing to hardship or distress. In keeping with the ethos of The Mark Benevolent Fund this support can be given in a speedy manner. Please contact your lodge Almoner or The Provincial Grand Almoner for further information in the first instance. All applications are dealt with in the strictest confidentiality. A word brother to our Lodge Almoners at this time. Especially with winter fuel payments for many being withdrawn by the government. Please brethren be aware of your members. Masons are a proud bunch; a number of our brethren may need support but not seek it. Tact and diplomacy being the order of the day in these cases. Lets support them. Brethren this year we have continued to support brethren and their families as well as our local communities. We are now entering the final two years of our Festival in support of the Mark Benevolent Fund and the Chairman of the Festival Committee will report on that elsewhere as will our own Benevolent Fund Treasurer regarding our finances. We have this year seen how your donations have reaped benefits in the local community from our National Fund with The opening of Woodland House at The Birmingham Women’s Hospital. Your donations enabled the National Fund to promise at an early stage in their fundraising A grant of £100,000 and deliver that grant of £100,000. When it was asked for. The first Bereavement Centre at a Women’s hospital supporting those who suffer a still birth, neo natal death, miscarriage or failed IVF treatment. Opened in February this year. Remember brethren it is the whole family who suffer at this time not just the woman . You efforts are marked for all time in the fabric of the building with a plaque at its main entrance. Brethren we have continued in supporting other Provinces with their Festivals with £1000 grants going to Cheshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire Isle of White. We have supported the youth section of Berkswell an Balsall Rugby club where we hold our annual B-B-Q with £600 as well as the Bowel Oncology unit at the Hospital of the Holy St Cross Rugby in fitting out a respite area with £216.33. We Have also supported our local Samaritans group with £250. Brethren thank you for your support of me and the Benevolent Fund next year I promise will be my last and you will see the back of me W. Bro. R. Nigel Clemson P.G.S.D. P.A.P.G.M. Prov. G. Ch. Stwd. Secretary Registered Charity No: 213476 Warwickshire IAark Bonovolent Fund Trustees. Report and Financial Sfatements 31 August 2024 Warwickshire Mark Benevolent Fund 31 August 2024 Contents Pages Trustees. AnnLtal Report Independent EXamI￿S Report statement of Financial Acaivitses Balance Sheet Notes to the Accounts 7-10 War4vlckshlre Mark Benevolont Fund Trustees, Annual Report for the yaar ended 31 August 2024 The Trustees presenl their report and acuunts for ￿ year ended 31 August 2024 Reference and Admlnlstratlve Inforniation The Trust is registered with the Charity Comrnissioners No. 213476 on 6 December 1962. The main address ts contacls is.. 20 Henley Crescent Solihull Warwickshire B912JD The Trustees at 31 AugL￿1 2024 were: J S Wright DPFair N E A Watkin J D Evans C F stiles R N Clemson P Wills A R Armbrister P F Mason H L Smtth l D Belsham Structure, Governance and Management The Trustees are recruited and appointed in Iwo ways as Ex Officio Trustees, by means of The Provincial Office they hold and elected Trustees r￿Minated. as such by the Provincial Grand Master and Twstees but voted upon by the member5 at the Annual Kleeting. Objectives and Activilles The Charity's objects are to provide a relief fijnd for and support to other Masonic avenues of financial relief forthe beneficiaries and to make donations from the fijnd to Masonic and n¢)n-Masonic charities. Whilst undertaking the above-mentioned actsvities thè Trustees had due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefft issues. WaThvlckshlrn Mark BeneVol￿tt Fund TTUStees' Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2024 (Continued) Achievements and Perf0m￿nCe During the year ended 31 August 2024 the fund made grants and donations of £ 31,51812023 - £ 9,252) to Freefflasons, their dependents, and non-masonic chanties. Members contributions remained much as the previous yearfollowing the resumption of meetings. A¢¢ordingly, the voluntary donations from members show a figure £ 23,954 compared to £ 11.699 the previous year. Financial Revlew tluring the year ended 31 August 2024 the Chartty receFved donations. investment income and tax refunds amounting to £40.232 {2023 - £26.787) of which £35,270 (2023 - £12,895) was spent in pursuit of the Charty's objectives. As at 31 August 2024 £ 288,015 (2023- £ 275.777) was held as Unrestricted Funds and £191,083 (2023- £173,512) was held as Restricted Funds. Reserves Policy The reserves are carefully regulated by the Board of Trustees to ensure that adequate finanaal resour￿8 are available to support the Benevolent Fund's short-term and longer-temi commitments. ReseNes are held in both cash {bank account balances, balances held by the fund's stockbrokers, and balan￿$ held within the Masonic RelEf Chest Stheme designated as being held to the Order of The Warwtckshire Mark Benevolent FurKI} and in stocks and Sha￿ aThJ other investments managed on the fund's behalf by Redmayne Bentley LLP {stoc*brokersl. Trustees, Responsibilitles The law applicab￿ to Chanties in England & Wales r4uires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair ¥￿W of the state of affairs of the Charity and of Ihe incoming resour￿ and application of resources of the Charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements the Trustees are required to - select suitable accountirvJ policies and then apply them consistently. observe the methods arKI prinoples in the Charities SORP 2019 {FRS 102). make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and PnKlent. state whether applicable accounting Standards have teen followed, subjeci to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements. prepare the finanual statements on the going concem basis unless ￿ is inappropriate to presume that the Chanty will continue in operats'on. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounts.ng record5 that disclose with reasonable accuracy al any time, the financial posttion of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Chartties Act 2011. the Charity Accounts and Reports Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust t)eed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for ts prevenb.on and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Warwickshire Mark Benevolert Fund Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2024 (Continued) The Trustees are responsible for the Maintenan￿ and integnty of the Charity and financial information induded on the Charrty's website. Approved by the Trustees on 19th l)ctober 2024 aThJ signed on their behaff by: J S Wright Chaimmn lem Independent Examinerfs Report to the Truste￿ of Warwlckshlre Mark Benevolent Fund I report to the Charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2024 which are set out on pages 5 to 10. Responsibilities and basis of report As the Charity's Trustees you are responsibte for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with th8 requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Yhe Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charily Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Ad. Independent Examlnerfs 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 We￿ not kept in restEd of the chanty as required by sedion 130 of th8 Act,. or 2. the accounts do not accord ￿￿th those records: or 3. the a¢¢ounts do not compty with the applicable requirements concerning the form and Gontent of accounts set out in the Charrties (Accounts and ReFrf)rts) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair vtew, whith is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come a(%oss no matter5 in connection with the examinatton to which attention should be drawn in this report to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Mr K L Malyn Chartered Accountant Woodlands 254 Coleshill Heath Road Marston Green Binningham B37 7JA Date . WaThvickshtre Mark Benevolent Fund Statement of Financial Activities For tho year ended 31 August 2024 Totsl Funds 2024 Total Funds 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds Notes Incoming Resources Voluntary income Donations Gff( Aid Tax Refund5 Dividends and interesl on investments 17.653 6.301 17,653 6,301 8.352 3.347 9,313 7.025 16,368 15,088 Total Incomlng Resources 33,267 7.055 40,322 26,787 Resources Expend8d Charitable payments Grants and assistance Administration 31,518 2.143 31,518 3,752 9,252 3,643 1.609 Total Resources Expended 33,661 35,270 12,895 Net incomlng resources befoYE transfers ( 394) 5.052 13,892 Unrealised gainsl(losses) 9.917 18.745 28,662 (31,373) Realised gainsl(losses) (11) (1,305) Investment Provision (2.470) (2,128) (4,598) Sundry Creditor (250) (250) 250 Transfers between funds (5.446) Net movements In funds for the ywr 12,238 17,571 29.809 (18.5361 Total funds brought fcrfward 275.777 175.312 449,289 467,825 Total funqts carried forward 288,015 191,083 479.098 449.289 Wan¥lckshire Mark Benevolert Fund Balance Sheet- 31 August 2024 2024 2023 Flxod Assets Investments 432.318 372,820 Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand 47,930 76,469 47,930 76,469 Liabilities: (amounts frdlllng due within one year) 1,150 250 Net current assets 46.780 76,219 Net Assets 479,098 449,039 Funds of thè Charity: Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 28B.015 191,083 275.777 173.512 Total Funds 479,098 449,039 The financial statements on pages 1 to 11 were approved by the Trustees on 6 January 2024 and signed on their behalf by.. J S Wrfght Chaimian WaThvickshirn Mark knevolent Fund Notss to tho Accounts- 31 August 2024 Accountlng Policies (a) The accounts have been prepared urKler the historical cost conventron in acc