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2024-12-31-accounts

REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 266869

THE SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS FOR THE DIOCESE

OF ST. EDMUNDSBURY AND IPSWICH

31 DECEMBER 2024

SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS

CHARITY INFORMATION

Charity registration number: 266869
Charity address: 17 Jermyn Avenue
Bury St Edmunds
IP32 7LJ
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
17 Jermyn Avenue
Bury St Edmunds
IP32 7LJ

SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS

CONTENTS

PAGE
Independent examiner's report 1
Trustees' annual report 2 - 3
Income and expenditure account - General fund 4
Income and expenditure account - Restoration fund 5
Income and expenditure account - Library fund 6
Income and expenditure account - Jubilee fund 7
Income and expenditure account - Pipe Family Trust fund 8
Income and expenditure account - Handbell fund 9
Income and expenditure account - Golden Bottle fund 10
Income and expenditure account - Centenary Dinner fund 11
Statement of assets and liabilities 12 - 13

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 2024 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:

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: 31 January 2025

1

Trustees’ Annual Report for 2024

The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

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 17 Jermyn Avenue, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7LJ. 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: P M Ogden (Chairman); T P Hart (Treasurer); K J Salter (Ringing Master) From 1[st] January to 5[th] April: K M Gill (Secretary) From 5[th] April to 31[st] December: Rev D J Everett (Secretary)

General Policies

The Guild has formulated the following policies, which are regularly reviewed: Safeguarding; Privacy; Bullying; Complaints; Equality & Diversity; Expenses; Financial Management. A review of our objects, constitution and rules is scheduled for 2025.

Review of Progress and Achievements

Bellringing

The Guild held its AGM at the newly augmented 10 at Stowmarket and held striking contests at Falkenham and Felixstowe.

The Guild has had another excellent year attracting new recruits and members to ringing, welcoming 74 new members across the districts. The Guild now has three Association of Ringing Teachers (ART) teaching hubs: the long established Bardwell Teaching Hub, bellsashen Teaching Hub and Sole Bay Ringing Hub.

Recognition and achievement certificates introduced in 2023 continued to be used to promote engagement by members.

Overall 80 peals and 481 quarter peals were rung for the Guild during the year.

Our Secretary, Kate Gill, reached the end of her five year term. Additionally, Christine Knight stepped down as Peal Secretary, after 20 years of sterling work. We thank them for their major contributions to the Guild.

Guild Finances

Summary

The Guild’s finances are healthy, having increased from £131231 at the end of 2023, to £148671 at the end of 2024.

Supporting the preservation, renovation and augmentation of bells in Suffolk remains one of our key charitable objectives and £13250 of our Restoration Fund is allocated for ongoing restoration work.

In addition, St Mary le Tower Ipswich requested financial support for the installation of six dumb bells in a new training centre. We have awarded a grant of £4850 (split between the General Fund and the Golden Bottle Fund)

2

for the installation of the bells and the purchase of laptops to allow the bells to be rung together, or separately for individual practice. Although not a traditional restoration project, outside the guidelines for use of the Restoration Fund, this is an important step for the Guild, recognising the importance that technology can play in the recruitment and training of bellringers.

This overall increase in Guild finances is associated with ongoing generous donations, increasing membership and a reduction in grants required for restoration work.

General Fund

Income for 2024 increased has slightly compared to 2023, with membership levels continuing to increase year-onyear after Covid. In addition, the Guild received a generous donation from the estate of Mrs Meg Pulford, husband of the late Geoff Pulford, ringer at Otley, as well as donations given in memory of Mrs Muriel Page and Mr Adrian Knights.

Restoration Fund

During the year we had two requests for grants. Drinkstone’s original 11cwt ring of six bells are to be recast into a new six, sitting in a new eight bell galvanised steel bell frame, with new fittings, floor and a sound control system. Their £129K project was offered a grant of £11K (9.95% of allowable costs). The 2[nd] request, for dumb bells at St. Mary le Tower Ipswich, was fulfilled through other funds as explained above.

Back on 29 Oct 2023, Blythburgh was offered a £1K grant for refurbishment of pulley blocks, bearings and the repainting of the frame. At that time the GMC had limited grants to a maximum of 5% of allowable costs, which was subsequently relaxed to 10%. At the GMC’s 20 Oct 24 meeting, the Blythburgh grant offer was increased to £2K (approximately 10% of allowable costs), bringing it into line with all the other recent grant offers.

Finally, Westhorpe informed the Guild that they would no longer require their £5K grant, due to a surfeit of funding.

In 2024, two projects came to fruition. The first was Westhorpe, where an unringable 5 bell tower has been updated to a very nice 6 bell peal. Additionally, Fornham St Martin’s original 6 bells have been transformed into a new eight bell peal, with sound control, new fittings, frame and floor. Other restorations in their early stages include Copdock, Framsden and Hoxne.

In May and September, the BAC ran a total of four, half-day Belfry Maintenance Courses at Framlingham Church, attended by some 50 people. Additionally, minor works including inspections, repairs and advice were provided by the BAC to some 30 towers in the county.

Significant sources of income for the Restoration Fund in 2024 included the NW Open Tower Day (arranged by Josh Watkins), the Parish Affiliation scheme, as well as generous donations throughout the year by members.

Other Funds

The Library, Handbell, Golden Bottle (with the noted award to SMLT), Jubilee and Pipe Family Funds remain broadly static.

P M Ogden T P Hart Trustee & Chairman Trustee & Treasurer

Rev D J Everett Trustee & Secretary

K J Salter

Trustee & Ringing Master

January 2025

3

SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

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
Travel & Subsistence
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)
Closure of Centenary Fund
BALANCE AFTER TRANSFERS
GENERAL FUND at 1st January 2024
GENERAL FUND at 31st December 2024		 £
£
£
£
2,082
535
12,060
10,095
624
909
194
88
205
170
30
997
15,195
12,794
844
660
793
793
390
362
107
107
156
164
1,196
716
126
130
911
0
197
810
0
25
0
102
25
20
4,743
3,889
10,452
8,904
6,342
5,502
67
0
4,042
3,402
16,016
12,613
20,058
16,016
2024
2023
844
793
390
107
156
1,196
126
911
197
0
0
25

4

SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

RESTORATION FUND

£
£
Income
Gift aid tax recovered
2,107
Affiliation Scheme
1,140
St. Edmund Clapper income
0
Donations
747
NW Open Day
2,038
Interest Received (note 2)
5,557
Guild Meetings and Events
0
Jubilee Fund interest (note 3)
1,886
Vestey Ring donations
225
13,700
Expenditure
Grants Approved in Year
12,000
Drinkstone inscriptions (NW Open Day money)
839
(12,839)
Net income/expenditure
861
Coombs grant expired (returned from Allocated Fund)
0
Westhorpe grant returned from Allocated Fund
5,000
Transfer from General Fund (note 1)
6,342
Unallocated Restoration Fund as at 1 January 2024
61,584
Unallocated Restoration Fund as at 31 December 2024
73,787
Restoration Allocated Grants
Income
Transfer From Restoration Fund (i.e. Grants approved)
12,000
Expenditure
Grants Paid
(5,600)
Net income/ expenditure
6,400
Coombs grant expired (returned to Restoration Fund)
0
Westhorpe grant no longer required (returned to Restoration Fund)
(5,000)
Allocated Grant Fund as at 1 January 2024
11,850
Allocated Grant Fund as at 31 December 2024
13,250
Total Restoration Fund as at 1 January 2024
73,434
Total Restoration Fund as at 31 December 2024
87,037
2024		 £
£
2,017
1,075
965
1,292
0
1,569
815
1,385
225
9,342
1,000
0
(1,000)
8,342
8,000
0
5,502
39,740
61,584
1,000
(11,500)
(10,500)
(8,000)
0
30,350
11,850
70,090
73,434
2023		 £
£
2,017
1,075
965
1,292
0
1,569
815
1,385
225
9,342
1,000
0
(1,000)
8,342
8,000
0
5,502
39,740
61,584
1,000
(11,500)
(10,500)
(8,000)
0
30,350
11,850
70,090
73,434
2023
9,342
(1,000)
8,342
8,000
0
5,502
39,740
61,584
1,000
(11,500)
(10,500)
(8,000)
0
30,350
11,850
70,090
73,434

5

SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

LIBRARY FUND
INCOME
EXPENDITURE
Misc.
SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR
LIBRARY FUND at 1st January 2024
LIBRARY FUND at 31st December 2024		 £
£
£
£
0
0
30
0
(30)
0
227
227
197
227
2024
2023

6

SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

JUBILEE FUND
2024 2023
£ £ £ £
INCOME
Donations received 0 0
SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR 0 0
JULBILEE FUND at 1st January 2024 36,218 36,218
JULBILEE FUND at 31st December 2024 36,218 36,218

7

SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

PIPE FAMILY TRUST FUND
2024 2023
£ £ £ £
INCOME
Interest received 46 16
EXPENDITURE
Grants 0 137
SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR 46 (121)
PIPE FAMILY TRUST FUND at 1st January 2024 1,012 1,133
PIPE FAMILY TRUST FUND at 31st December 2024 1,058 1,012

8

SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

HANDBELL FUND
2024 2023
£ £ £ £
INCOME
Donations received 75 60
EXPENDITURE
Repairs 0 0
SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR 75 60
HANDBELL FUND at 1st January 2024 993 933
HANDBELL FUND at 31st December 2024 1,068 993

9

SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

THE GOLDEN BOTTLE TRUST
2024 2023
£ £ £ £
INCOME
Donations received 0 0
EXPENDITURE
Misc. 228 0
SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR (228) 0
GOLDEN BOTTLE FUND at 1st January 2024 3,265 3,265
GOLDEN BOTTLE FUND at 31st December 2024 3,037 3,265

10

SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

CENTENARY DINNER FUND
2024 2023
£ £ £ £
INCOME
Ticket sales - 5,085
EXPENDITURE
Transfer to General Fund on Closure 67 6,998
SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR (67) - 1,913
CENTENARY DINNER FUND at 1st January 2024 67 1,980
CENTENARY DINNER FUND at 31st December 2024 0 67

11

SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

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
The Golden Bottle Trust
Centenary Dinner Fund		 £
£
£
£
-
-
92,174
86,571
36,218
36,218
19,889
8,052
391
391
148,671
131,231
148,671
131,231
20,058
16,016
73,787
61,584
13,250
11,850
197
227
36,218
36,218
1,058
1,012
1,068
993
3,037
3,265
0
67
148,671
131,231
2024
2023		 £
£
£
£
-
-
92,174
86,571
36,218
36,218
19,889
8,052
391
391
148,671
131,231
148,671
131,231
20,058
16,016
73,787
61,584
13,250
11,850
197
227
36,218
36,218
1,058
1,012
1,068
993
3,037
3,265
0
67
148,671
131,231
2024
2023
131,231
16,016
61,584
11,850
227
36,218
1,012
993
3,265
67
131,231

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.

12

SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

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
Grants - Approved and Paid
Approved
Approved
Previous Years
This year
Ipswich, St Clement
500.00
Stowmarket
11,000.00
Fornham St Martin
5,600.00
Sudbury, St Gregory
3,000.00
Westhorpe
5,000.00
Blythburgh
1,000.00
1,000.00
Drinkstone
11,000.00
26,100.00
12,000.00		 Handbells
Library
Vestey Ring
Stock of lapel badges
Other assets
Grants - Approved and Paid
Approved
Approved
Previous Years
This year
Ipswich, St Clement
500.00
Stowmarket
11,000.00
Fornham St Martin
5,600.00
Sudbury, St Gregory
3,000.00
Westhorpe
5,000.00
Blythburgh
1,000.00
1,000.00
Drinkstone
11,000.00
26,100.00
12,000.00		 15,000
13,000
4,900
1,335
2,700
`
36,935
Date
Date of
Grants Paid Grants Paid
Grants
Approved
Expiry
Previous years This year
unpaid
Notes
22/10/2017
31/12/2025
250.00
17/02/2018
31/12/2025
11,000.00
-
17/02/2018
31/12/2025
5,600.00
-
12/02/2022
12/02/2025
3,000.00
-
23/10/2022
26/10/2025
-
No longer required
29/10/2023
29/10/2026
2,000.00
23/06/2024
22/06/2029
11,000.00
14,000.00
5,600.00
13,250.00
26,100.00
12,000.00

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 2024.

…............................... M Ogden …................................ Date:

….................................. T Hart ….................................... Date:

13