## **RINGING SUPPORT FUND – TRUSTEE REPORT** **(THE BATH AND WELLS DIOCESAN ASSOCIATION OF CHANGE RINGERS BELL FUND -** Charity registration number: 273962) Four payments were made in 2024, one of which was an interim payment recognising a significant stage completion. When taken with the new grants awarded the liabilities have risen by £10,100, however this is more than matched by the receipts into the fund during the year, resulting in an increase in the balance available of £28,454. During the year a letter about the Association and specifically this fund was sent to all PCC Treasurers, and I am very grateful to Tricia Lumley at the Diocesan office for her assistance with this. Beyond raising awareness of the fund, the letter had three ambitions: to gain new affiliations, to further encourage PCCs still paying the pre-2017 fee to increase to the present level, and to further encourage PCCs to give greater clarity in their transaction descriptions. Work on these last two challenges began in 2023, and to further explain the last item, many bank receipts show transaction descriptions of, for example “PCC St John’s”, and hence this takes much work to identify which of the many “St John’s” has paid the fee. I am pleased to report that good progress on all fronts was made during 2024, including: - - Positive matches on transactions up from 68% to 70% - Numbers paying current fee up from 43% to 60% Work will continue in 2025 to further improve the position. Following no transfers from the General Fund during 2022 & 2023 a transfer of £30,000 was agreed at the 2024 AGM, I will be proposing a further £10,000 transfer at the 2025 AGM. It will be noted that the insurance cost relating to the Tower Advisory service was paid in 2024 from the General Fund. The rational for this is twofold: it can be said 1 that the costs have traditionally been supported by the General Fund through the transfers into the fund, and it presents a much stronger position for the fund to be able to show that 100% of receipts are available for the core objective of the fund. Looking forward, the levels of grant applications remain low, both in numbers (4 in 2024) and in value, with Compton Dundon aside, the average 2024 grant was a little over £1,300. To be supporting more Churches with the restoration or continuation of ringing would be good, and we are aware of a few projects which may seek funding assistance in 2025, with at least two of these being potentially larger. Our congratulations to all of those involved in the projects completed during 2024, and our good wishes for successful outcomes to all those projects now underway. As ever none of the work we do would be possible without the income we receive from affiliated PCCs, and from all the of the generous people who have made donations this year, both as individuals and collectively through Branch fund raising, and peal ringers making very welcome contributions too. It is very pleasing to be able to record that, excluding the General Fund Transfer, income increased by 24% over 2023. Thank you to all who participated in generating revenue for the fund. Finally, I could not complete this report without recording on your behalf our grateful thanks to my fellow Trustees, and to out Tower Advisors, John Hallett and Bernard North and to our Ringing Support Fund Officer, Margaret Lee. As a fund we work very closely with the Tower Advisory Service, and we are indebted to them for all they do, but also for their generosity in time, wise counsel, and the spirit in which it is constantly given. Last year I described Margaret as simply wonderful, if I could find words to raise that I would, Margaret’s dedication to this role is extraordinary, and I am indebted to her for the support she gives me in my role. David Parfrey 2 ## **Ringing Support Fund** ## **Receipts & Payments Account for 2024** |**2023**
**£**
**Receipts**
5,915
Affiliation Fees
2,169
Donations
0
Transfer from General Fund
1,468
Interest
439
Peal Fees
9,991
**Payments**
36,875
Grants Paid
349
Insurance (paid 2024 from General Fund)
37,224
-27,233
**Surplus/(deficit)**
100,446
Cash brought forward
73,213
Cash carried forward
**Assets**
72,789
Natwest
424
CCLA
73,213
21,650
Contingent liabilities (grants not yet paid)
51,563
Cash Available for Future Grants|**2024**
**£**
6,455
3,519
30,000
2,044
386| |---|---| ||42,404
3,850
0| ||3,850| ||38,554| ||73,213
111,767
111,343
424| ||111,767| ||31,750| ||80,017| 3 ## **Balance Available** |Cash
Outstanding Grant Liabilities
Balance Available at 31st Dec
Cash
Outstanding Grant Liabilities
Balance Available at 31st Dec|**2024**
**2023**
**2022**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
111,767
73,213
100,446
100,527
31,750 21,650
49,587
19,867| |---|---| ||80,017 51,563 50,859 80,660| ||**2020**
**2019**
**2018**
**2017**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
85,519 99,194 107,026 83,853
25,152 47,406 32,095 48,180| ||60,367 51,788 74,931 35,673| |**Grants Paid in 2024**|| |---|---| |Stanton Drew|£650.00| |Cutcombe|£500.00| |Spaxton|£900.00 Interim payment| |Portishead|£1,800.00| ||£3,850.00| |**Grants Outstanding From Prior Years**|| |Compton Dando|£1,200.00 Paid January 2025| |Hinton St George|£6,500.00 Paid March 2025| |Farleigh Hungerford|£2,000.00| |Nempnett Thrubwell|£9,000.00| ||£18,700.00| |**New Grants awarded in 2024**|| |Carhampton|£1,500.00| |Compton Dundon|£10,000.00| |Spaxton|£1,800.00 £900 interim payment made| |Shepton Beauchamp|£650.00 Paid January 2025| ||£13,950.00| 4 |**Outstanding Liability**
Compton Dando
Hinton St George
Farleigh Hungerford
Nempnett Thrubwell
Carhampton
Compton Dundon
Spaxton
Shepton Beauchamp
Total Liability|**at 31st December 2025**
£1,200.00 Paid January 2025
£6,500.00 Paid March 2025
£2,000.00
£9,000.00
£1,500.00
£10,000.00
£900.00
£650.00 Paid January 2025
£31,750.00| |---|---| ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BATH AND WELLS DIOCESAN RINGING SUPPORT FUND** I report on the accounts of the fund for the year ended 31[st ] December 2023 **Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner** As the charities trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 43(7)(b) of the Act, 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 accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanation from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all 5 evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I 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: 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records - and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met; or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be - reached. 13[th] February 2024 6