THE PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX BENEVOLENT FUND
Registered Charity No. 217065
TRUSTEES REPORT
and
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024
THE PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX BENEVOLENT FUND Registered Charity No. 217065
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Registered Charity No.
217065
HMRC Gift Aid Reference No.
X688879
Grand Charity Relief Chest Reference No.
E0121
Registered Address
148 London Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW1 1HD
2,054 84,418 0 215 500 3,000 58,000 10,000
Trustees
P. R. A. Baker, B.P.J. Cramer, S.M.Shah, I.K. Chu
Treasurer and Corespondant Trustee
Sanjiv M Shah BSc(Econ), FCA, MCMI. The Pavilion , 56 Rosslyn Crescent, Harrow, HA1 2SZ
Independent Examiner
Adrian J Houstoun FCA, FCIArb. 132 Palewell Park, East Sheen, London SW14 8JH.
327 71,827 14,860 831 47,539 63,230
Provincial Grand Almoner
I.K Chu
Bankers
Barclays Bank plc., Acorn House, 36 - 38 Park Royal Road, London, NW10 7JA
As at 31st Dec 2020
25,027 41,268 831 0
-1,896
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THE PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX BENEVOLENT FUND Registered Charity No. 217065
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The Trustees of The Province Of Middlesex Benevolent Fund present their report and independently examined financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the requirements of the Charity’s governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ issued in 2005.
Status and Appointment of Trustees
The Province of Middlesex Benevolent Fund was established by Trust Deed dated 5 October 1927 at an Annual Meeting of the Masonic Province of Middlesex, when funds held by the Province for benevolent purposes were transferred to and vested in Special Trustees.
The Province of Middlesex Benevolent Fund was registered as a charity on 27 May 1963. The Provincial Grand Master’s Fund was endowed on 28[th] June 1963.
The Trustees are appointed by the Province in general meeting, but the Provincial Grand Master, or in his absence the Pro Provincial Grand Master, has the power to appoint a Trustee to fill a casual vacancy to hold office until the next Annual Meeting.
Objects
The unrestricted general funds are to be applied for the benefit of distressed Masons and their widows and children or for the benefit of such Masonic charities , other charitable institutions or charitable purposes as the Provincial Grand Lodge (“the Province”) shall direct.
Funds
The General Fund consists of all monies payable or accruing to the Benevolent Fund in accordance with the Provincial by-laws, together with all other donations and bequests received by the Trustees for the general purposes of the Benevolent Fund. The income of the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund was applied only for such charitable purposes as the Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex, or in his absence or incapacity the Pro Provincial Grand Master, deemed fit.The purpose of this Fund is adequately met from the unrestricted general fund and accordingly the PGM's Fund was closed on 24 May 2023 and the Fund balance transfered to the general fund.
Income and resources
The main regular income is contributions from Middlesex Craft Lodges, at one pound per member, other Donations and interest on bank balances. Periodically, appeals are launched for specified charitable causes. The Trustees consider that the resources are sufficient to continue the Fund's operations for the foreseeable future.
Financial Review
Initiatives
During the past year the campaign to make men aware of prostate cancer was continued with the assistance of CHAPS, The Men's Health Charity.
Risk Mitigation
The Trustees regularly examine the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and, when a particular risk is deemed significant, this is discussed at Trustees’ meetings and appropriate steps taken to mitigate against it.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees as far as possible make donations out of income. Payments to petitioners are met from incoming resources.
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THE PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX BENEVOLENT FUND Registered Charity No. 217065
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Future Plans
In the future, the Charity will continue to make payments to petitioners and other donations in accordance with its objects.
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
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.)
Company law requires trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company 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:
Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue to operate.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities SORP. 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.
Independent Examiner
The Trustees have appointed Adrian J Houstoun FCA, FCIArb as the Independent Examiner of the Financial Statements
Approved by the Trustees on 22 April 2025 and signed on their behalf by: Peter R.A.Baker
Trustee
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THE PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX BENEVOLENT FUND Registered Charity No. 217065 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| General Fund 31 Dec 2024 £ INCOME Donations and Gift Aid Received 8,581 Legacy 20,187 Family Fun Day 2,384 Interest Received 9,518 TOTAL INCOME 40,672 EXPENDITURE DONATIONS Benevolent Grants 1,000 TLC Appeal - Parish of Christ Church Staines (Masonic Choir) - 1,000 OTHER COSTS Prostrate Awareness CHAPS- men's health chari 3,300 Rememberance Day Wreaths, Bank Charges 612 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 4,912 NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES 35,760 FUNDS Brought Forward 524,183 559,942 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 559,942 |
General Fund 31 Dec 2023 £ 13,219 - - 5,819 19,038 2,304 1,850 250 4,404 1,500 612 6,516 12,522 511,661 524,183 524,183 |
|---|---|
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2024
| CURRENT ASSETS Balance at Bank Balance at Grand Charity Relief Chest Prov Grand Lodge of Middlesex TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES Prov Grand Lodge of MMMM TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
31 Dec 2024 £ 506,475 48,916 555,392 4,251 559,642 300 559,942 |
31 Dec 2023 £ 480,349 42,529 522,878 2,984 525,862 (1,679) 524,183 |
|---|---|---|
Accounting policies and Notes to the Financial Statements
The unreistricted General Fund consists of all monies payable or accruing to the Benevolent Fund in accordance with the Provincial by-laws, together with all other donations and bequests received by the Trustees for the general purposes of the Benevolent Fund.
Grants, Income and Expenditure are accounted for in the period in which they are received or incurred.
Approved by the Trustees on 22 April 2025
Trustees : Peter R.A.Baker, B.P.J Cramer, S.M.Shah, I.Chu . Correspondent Trustee : S.M.Shah
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THE PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX BENEVOLENT FUND Registered Charity No. 217065
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX BENEVOLENT FUND
I report on the financial statements of the Fund for the year ended 31[st] December 2024, which are set out on page 4.
Respective responsibilities of the trustees and independent examiner
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and you consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (“the 1993 Act”)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
examine the financial statements (under section 43(3)(a) of the 1993 Act);
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 43(7) (b) of the 1993 Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I am not required to and do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the following requirements have not been met:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the 1993 Act; to prepare financial statements which accord with those records; and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act.
Further, nothing has come to my attention in connection with my examination that, in my opinion, should be drawn to your attention in order to enable you to reach a proper understanding of the accounts.
............................................. Adrian J Houstoun FCA, FCIArb.
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