**REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 266869**
## **THE SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS FOR THE DIOCESE**
## **OF ST. EDMUNDSBURY AND IPSWICH**
**31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **CHARITY INFORMATION**
|Charity registration number:|266869|
|---|---|
|Charity address:|7 Clearview|
||Barnby|
||Beccles|
||Suffolk|
||NR34 7BW|
|Bankers:|Barclays Bank Plc|
||4 Church Street|
||Woodbridge|
||Suffolk|
||IP12 1DJ|
|Accountants:|R & H Accountants|
||1 The Courtyard|
||Balls Farm|
||Tye Road|
||Elmstead Market|
||Colchester|
||Essex|
||CO7 7BB|
|Donations should be sent to:|T Hart|
||7 Clearview|
||Barnby|
||Beccles|
||Suffolk|
||NR34 7BW|
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **CONTENTS**
||**PAGE**|
|---|---|
|Independent examiner's report|1|
|Trustees' annual report|2 - 4|
|Income and expenditure account - General fund|5|
|Income and expenditure account - Restoration fund|6|
|Income and expenditure account - Library fund|7|
|Income and expenditure account - Jubilee fund|8|
|Income and expenditure account - Pipe Family Trust fund|9|
|Income and expenditure account - Handbell fund|10|
|Income and expenditure account - St. Peter's Sudbury fund|11|
|Income and expenditure account - Golden Bottle fund|12|
|Income and expenditure account - Centenary Dinner fund|13|
|Statement of assets and liabilities|14 - 15|
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Suffolk Guild of Ringers**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023 which are set out on pages 5 to 15
## **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 charity's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the 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 charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
- 2 the accounts do not accord with those records
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.
**A E Rutherford FCCA R & H Accountants 1 The Courtyard Balls Farm Tye Road Elmstead Market Colchester CO7 7BB**
**Date: 4 January 2024**
1
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023**
## **The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.**
## **Charity**
**The Suffolk Guild of Ringers for the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich** was registered with the Charity Commission on 10 December 1975, registration number 266869. The Charity's registered address is 7 Clearview, Barnby, BECCLES, Suffolk, NR34 7BW. It is governed under a constitution originally registered in 1977 and most recently revised in 2022.
## **Principal Objectives**
The main purposes of the Charity are: to promote and encourage the practice of bellringing within the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich; to recruit, train and encourage bellringers in the practice of their art; to cultivate the art of scientific change ringing; to promote and advise on the preservation, renovation and augmentation of bells in an efficient condition.
## **Trustees**
The Trustees during the period were: From 1[st] January to 31[st] December: K M Gill (Secretary); K J Salter (Ringing Master) From 1[st] January to 15[th] April: R P Wilson (Chairman); S A Cheek (Treasurer) From 15[th] April to 31[st] December: P M Ogden (Chairman); T P Hart (Treasurer)
## **General Policies**
The Guild has formulated the following policies, which are regularly reviewed: Safeguarding; Privacy; Bullying; Complaints; Equality & Diversity; Expenses; Financial Management
## **Review of Progress and Achievements**
## **Bellringing**
We entered 2023 with high hopes for the Guild’s centenary year, celebrating its founding in 1923 and a number of special events and initiatives were organised to reflect this
- Guild Centenary Dinner in March and the Guild Centenary AGM in April. Both events were very well attended.
- A special Guild centenary membership lapel badge was designed. This was given to all new members, and available to purchase by others.
- Recognition and achievement certificates were introduced to promote engagement by members
The Coronation of King Charles III in May gave added impetus to promoting ringing, with the national ‘Ring for the King’ initiative. Guild members and Suffolk churches were featured as part of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers publicity campaign for this featuring on BBC Breakfast and ITV ‘Love Your Sunday’ as well as local radio and footage being syndicated around the world.
Suffolk was fortunate to gain a significant number of new recruits with Guild members dedicating many hours to teaching them. Many of the recruits have now reached a sufficient level of competence to become members of the Guild. We extend a hearty welcome to these new members and wish them many years of satisfaction and pleasure with developing their ringing.
The Guild is delighted that we now have additional Association of Ringing Teachers (ART) teaching hubs, Sole Bay based at Reydon and Bellsashen based around Henley and Ashbocking.
The recruitment and training committee conducted an exercise to establish the state of ringing and experience across the Guild. The committee and other members have arranged and supported several ART M1 courses to give ringers the skills to teach new recruits, committee members attended a new M2 course to enhance their skills to teach beyond the basics. Ringing Development sessions were run, and utilised by members, alongside the visit of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers (CCCBR) in September.
The Guild was proud to welcome the CCCBR to Ipswich for their annual meeting in September, it was a busy weekend supported and facilitated by many Guild members who we thank for their support.
2
The Guild encouraged ringing to celebrate Coronation with 119 Suffolk Guild performances recorded, including 23 quarter peals and 9 peals.
Overall peal ringing has recovered to pre COVID levels with 118 peals rung for the Guild during the year.
Our Chairman, Rowan Wilson, and our Treasurer, Stephen Cheek, reached the end of their five year term. We thank them for their major contributions and hard work.
## **Restoration**
During the year, we received 2 requests for grants
- Blythburgh £1k for the refurbishment of pulley blocks and bearings, and the re-painting of the frame
- Ipswich St Mary le Tower towards the installation of training bells, this will be considered in early 2024
The much-delayed refurbishment at Stowmarket was finally completed, resulting in a new ring of 10 bells. Voluntary labour by the Belfry Advisory Committee (BAC) and others made a huge contribution.
Other on-going projects include
- Westhorpe currently 5 unringable removed to Taylor’s, a new treble bell will be cast to augment the ring to 6, the project expects to complete in the spring of 2024.
- Fornham St Martin’s 6 bells have been removed to Nicholsons, the project is rehang and augment to 8 in the spring/summer of 2024.
The GMC withdrew the grant offer from Combs as progress had stalled, however it was made clear to the parish that we would happily consider another grant application in the future.
Other restorations in their early stages include Copdock, Drinkstone, Framsden and Hoxne.
Additionally, minor works including inspections, repairs and advice were provided by the BAC to an additional 40 towers in the county.
## **Guild Finances**
## **Reserves Policy**
The Trustees have formulated a Reserves Policy, in which The Guild will expect to hold at the bank a surplus of approximately one year’s running costs. This has been reviewed during 2023 and the trustees have confirmed the policy is appropriate and being met.
## **Policies**
All money in the Guild's funds not required for day-to-day purposes is invested or deposited by the Treasurer, as directed by the Guild Management Committee (GMC). Grants from the Restoration Fund are authorised by the GMC but are only paid after completed work has been approved by the Guild Ringing Master and the Technical Advisor. Grants are normally only offered for work to restore bells and their fittings for full-circle ringing but may include augmentation and other ancillary work associated with any such project. In order to respond to the shortterm need to provide financial support to training activities, the GMC introduced a process to enable grants of up to £50 to be made immediately, at the discretion of the Ringing Master, and grants of up to £500 to be made within seven days at the discretion of the Guild Executive, in both cases subject to appropriate records being kept and presented to the GMC.
## **General Fund**
Income for 2023 increased has slightly compared to 2022, with predominant factors being a significant increase in peal fees receipts compared to 2022 and the sale of Centenary lapel badges proving very popular. Membership levels have been sustained after returning to pre-Covid levels during 2022, with many members paying early membership for 2024. Expenses increased primarily due to the cost of living; insurance premiums were higher, as were the costs of hiring halls and facilities. The handbells are now insured with a different provider, as Balens, who the Guild has used for many years, have stopped offering insurance policies for handbells. The handbells have been revalued in accordance with guidelines published by the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain and insured with Allianz.
3
## **Restoration Fund**
During the year one grant was awarded to Blythburgh for £1000. £11000 was paid to Stowmarket at the completion of their work, along with the remaining £500 to Sudbury St Gregory. The Combs £8000 grant expired and the money returned to the unallocated section of the fund. At year end the Restoration Fund totalled £72281, including £11850 already allocated for approved projects still awaiting completion. Significant sources of income for the Restoration Fund in 2023 included Rowan Wilson’s sponsored 100 Tower Cycling challenge, the Parish Affiliation scheme run by Winston Girling, as well as generous donations throughout the year by members.
## **Jubilee Fund**
The Jubilee Fund remains static after a generous donation in 2022 from the late David Salter (past Master of the Guild). All interest accrued in this capital Fund is transferred directly into the Restoration Fund.
## **Centenary Dinner Fund**
This fund was established in 2022 to deal efficiently with the volume of transactions occurring in connection with the 2023 Centenary Dinner. The balance of £67 will be transferred to the General Fund and the Fund closed in 2024.
## **Other Funds**
At year end all other funds had positive balances. Library Fund (£227), Handbell Fund (£992), Pipe Family Trust Fund (£1,003 after a grant paid for the purchase of Learning to Ring Leaflets), The Golden Bottle Trust Fund (£3,264) and the Jubilee Fund (£36217).
P M Ogden Trustee & Chairman
T P Hart K M Gill K J Salter Trustee & Treasurer Trustee & Secretary Trustee & Ringing Master
January 2024
4
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**GENERAL FUND**
**INCOME**
Donations
Subscriptions
Peal Fees
Fundraising
Report Advertising
Sundry Sales
**LESS: EXPENDITURE**
Annual Report
Members Accident Insurance
Public Liability Insurance
Property Damage insurance
Handbell Insurance
Administration
Central Council affiliation
Hall Hire (Meetings)
Wreaths/Donations in Lieu
Lapel Badges
Ringing World Adverts
**SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR**
**TRANSFERS TO RESERVES**
To Restoration fund (note 1)
**BALANCE AFTER TRANSFERS**
**GENERAL FUND at 1st January 2023**
**GENERAL FUND at 31st December 2023**|**£**
**£**
_£_
_£_
535
522
10,095
10,350
909
571
88
196
170
265
997
13
12,794
_11,917_
660
554
793
556
362
347
107
104
164
322
716
690
130
160
810
334
25
-
102
2,716
20
36
3,889
_5,818_
8,904
_6,099_
5,502
_5,461_
3,402
_639_
12,613
_11,975_
16,016
_12,613_
**2023**
_2022_|
|---|---|
||660
793
362
107
164
716
130
810
25
102
20|
|||
5
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**RESTORATION FUND**
**INCOME**
Gift aid tax recovered
Affiliation Scheme
St. Edmund Clapper income
Donations
Interest Received (note 2)
Guild Meetings and Events
Jubilee Fund interest (note 3)
Vestey Ring Donations
**EXPENDITURE**
Grants paid
**SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR**
**TRANSFERS TO RESTORATION FUND**
From General fund (note 1)
**BALANCE AFTER TRANSFERS**
**RESTORATION FUND at 1st January 2023**
**RESTORATION FUND at 31st December 2023**
**PER STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES:**
Restoration fund
Restoration grants allocated|**£**
**£**
_£_
_£_
2,017
1,674
1,075
1,310
965
-
1,292
785
1,569
952
815
349
1,385
193
225
50
9,342
_5,314_
9,342
_5,314_
11,500
_2,500_
(2,158)
_2,814_
5,502
_5,461_
3,344
_8,274_
70,090
_61,816_
73,434
_70,090_
61,584
_39,740_
11,850
_30,350_
73,434
_70,090_
**2023**
_2022_|**£**
**£**
_£_
_£_
2,017
1,674
1,075
1,310
965
-
1,292
785
1,569
952
815
349
1,385
193
225
50
9,342
_5,314_
9,342
_5,314_
11,500
_2,500_
(2,158)
_2,814_
5,502
_5,461_
3,344
_8,274_
70,090
_61,816_
73,434
_70,090_
61,584
_39,740_
11,850
_30,350_
73,434
_70,090_
**2023**
_2022_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_5,314_
_2,500_|
|||_2,814_
_5,461_|
|||_8,274_
_61,816_|
|||_70,090_|
|||_39,740_
_30,350_|
|||_70,090_|
6
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**LIBRARY FUND**|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2023**||||_2022_|||
||**£**||**£**||_£_||_£_||
|**INCOME**||||0||||_0_|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||||||||
|CC library subscription||0||||_10_|||
|Ringing World CD||0||||_0_|||
|GW Pipe Biography||0||||_0_|||
||||||||||
|**SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR**||||0||||_(10)_|
|**LIBRARY FUND at 1st January 2023**||||227||||_237_|
|**LIBRARY FUND at 31st December 2023**||||227||||_227_|
7
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**JUBILEE FUND**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2023**|||_2022_||
||**£**||**£**|_£_||_£_|
|**INCOME**|||||||
|Donations received|||0|||_30,925_|
|**SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR**|||0|||_30,925_|
|**JULBILEE FUND at 1st January 2023**|||36,218|||_5,293_|
|**JULBILEE FUND at 31st December 2023**|||36,218|||_36,218_|
8
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**PIPE FAMILY TRUST FUND**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2023**|||_2022_||
||**£**||**£**|_£_||_£_|
|**INCOME**|||||||
|Interest received|||16|||_11_|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||||||
|Grants|||137|||_0_|
|**SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR**|||(121)|||_11_|
|**PIPE FAMILY TRUST FUND at 1st January 2023**|||1,133|||_1,122_|
|**PIPE FAMILY TRUST FUND at 31st December 2023**|||1,012|||_1,133_|
9
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**HANDBELL FUND**|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2023**||||_2022_|||
||**£**||**£**||_£_||_£_||
|**INCOME**|||||||||
|Donations received||||60||||_0_|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||||||||
|Repairs||||0||||_0_|
|**SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR**||||60||||_0_|
|**HANDBELL FUND at 1st January 2023**||||933||||_933_|
|**HANDBELL FUND at 31st December 2023**||||993||||_933_|
10
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**ST. PETER'S SUDBURY FUND**||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2023**||||_2022_||
||**£**||**£**||_£_||_£_|
|**INCOME**||||||||
|Donations received||0||||_0_||
|Interest received||0||||_1_||
|||||0|||_1_|
|**EXPENSES**||||||||
|Friends of St Peter's Sudbury||||0|||_2,176_|
|**SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR**||||0|||_(2,175)_|
|**ST. PETER'S SUDBURY FUND at 1st January 2023**||||0|||_2,175_|
|**ST. PETER'S SUDBURY FUND at 31st December 2023**||||0|||_0_|
11
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**THE GOLDEN BOTTLE TRUST**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2023**|||_2022_||
||**£**||**£**|_£_||_£_|
|**INCOME**|||||||
|Donations received|||0|||_0_|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||||||
|Simulators|||0|||_0_|
|**SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR**|||0|||_0_|
|**GOLDEN BOTTLE FUND at 1st January 2023**|||3,265|||_3,265_|
|**GOLDEN BOTTLE FUND at 31st December 2023**|||3,265|||_3,265_|
12
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**CENTENARY DINNER FUND**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2023**|||_2022_||
||**£**||**£**|_£_||_£_|
|**INCOME**|||||||
|Ticket sales|||5,085|||_1,980_|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||||||
|Simulators|||6,998|||_0_|
|**SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR**|||(1,913)|||_1,980_|
|**CENTENARY DINNER FUND at 1st January 2023**|||1980|||_-_|
|**CENTENARY DINNER FUND at 31st December 2023**|||67|||_1,980_|
13
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**CURRENT ASSETS**
CAF 12mth bonds
CCLA/CBF General a/c
CCLA/CBF Jubilee Fund
Barclays Current Account
District Cash in hand
**TOTAL ASSETS**
**REPRESENTED BY**
General fund
Restoration fund
Restoration grants allocated
Library fund
Jubilee fund
Pipe Family Trust fund
Handbells fund
St. Peter's Sudbury fund
The Golden Bottle Trust
Centenary Dinner Fund|**£**
**£**
_£_
_£_
-
15,002
86,571
70,091
36,218
36,218
8,052
4,756
391
391
131,231
_126,458_
131,231
_126,458_
16,016
_12,613_
61,584
_39,740_
11,850
_30,350_
227
_227_
36,218
_36,218_
1,012
_1,133_
993
_933_
0
_0_
3,265
_3,265_
67
_1,980_
131,231
_126,458_
**2023**
_2022_|**£**
**£**
_£_
_£_
-
15,002
86,571
70,091
36,218
36,218
8,052
4,756
391
391
131,231
_126,458_
131,231
_126,458_
16,016
_12,613_
61,584
_39,740_
11,850
_30,350_
227
_227_
36,218
_36,218_
1,012
_1,133_
993
_933_
0
_0_
3,265
_3,265_
67
_1,980_
131,231
_126,458_
**2023**
_2022_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_126,458_|
|||_12,613_
_39,740_
_30,350_
_227_
_36,218_
_1,133_
_933_
_0_
_3,265_
_1,980_|
|||_126,458_|
_In the opinion of the Trustees, all of the Funds except the General Fund are restricted in nature._
## **Notes to the accounts**
Note 1. 50% of the sum of subscriptions and peal fees is transferred to the Restoration fund.
Note 2. The total interest received from: the CCLA/CBF General fund, & CAF bonds has been allocated to the Jubilee Fund, Restoration Fund & Pipe Family Trust Fund and apportioned in the ratio of their respective capital sums. The Jubilee Fund amount has been passed directly to the Restoration Fund.
Note 3: The Jubilee Fund interest is transferred directly to the Restoration Fund.
14
## **SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **ASSETS**
The Guild owns a number of gifted assets in addition to the various bank balances.
The main items (with approximate replacement costs) are:
|Handbells
Library
Vestey Ring
Stock of lapel badges
Other assets|15,000
13,000
4,900
3,500
2,700
`
39,100
Handbells revalued in December 2023 in accordance with guidelines
from Handbell Ringers of Great Britain|
|---|---|
## **Grants - Approved and Paid**
|Ipswich, St Clement
Stowmarket
Fornham St Martin
Combs
Sudbury, St Gregory
Westhorpe
Blythburgh|Approved
Approved
Date
Date of
Grants
Grants
Date
pre-2023
2023
Approved
Expiry
Paid
Unpaid
Paid
Notes
500
22/10/2017 31/12/2025
250
16/08/2018 Part Paid
11,000
17/02/2018 31/12/2025
11,000
31/07/2023 Fully Paid
5,600
17/02/2018 31/12/2025
5,600
8,000
30/06/2019 12/02/2023
Grant expired
3,000
(£2,500 paid 31/10/22) 12/02/2022 12/02/2025
500
05/01/2023
5,000
23/10/2022 26/10/2025
5,000
1,000
29/10/2023 29/10/2026
1,000
1,000
307,661
11,850
133,397|
|---|---|
## **APPROVED:**
We approve the accounts on pages 2 to 15 and confirm that the records produced, together with the information and explanations supplied to R & H Accountants, constitute a true and correct record of all the transactions of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.
…............................... ….................................. **M Ogden T Hart**
…................................ ….................................... **Date: Date:**
15