## **Trustees’ Report for 2020**
## **2020 Trustees ’ Report Contents**
1. Highlights of 2020
2. Review of Activities:
- 2.1 Grants, 2.2–2.7 Ringing Activities, 2.8 Tower of the Year, 2.9 Belfry Advisers, 2.10 Peals, 2.11 Financial, 2.12 Library, 2.13 Handbells
3. Statistical information
4. Legal, Administrative and Organisation
5. Aims and Public Benefit Statement
## **1. Highlights of 2020**
2020 has proved to be a difficult year. As last year, the first half of 2020 was one of continued success for the Association, and the enthusiasm for ringing held by our members is evident from the drive from within our ranks to support and develop the ringing skills of both our existing and new ringers.
The second half of the year resulted in the effective shut down of all church bell ringing due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Some very limited, socially distanced ringing, has taken place, as has some handbell ringing and on-line through the Ringing Room app. The Spring Training day took place but without the usual social get together before and after the ringing. Business meetings have all been via Zoom.
The Management Committee have looked at the risks to the Association arising from Covid 19, see Section 2.11.. After having considered the financial liabilities of the Association and the potential impact of Covid 19 on our income, the Trustees’ believe the Association will remain viable financially for the foreseeable future.
Much good work is done by all those on the Management Committee for the Association, and by all of the Branch Officers across the Association. The MC and Branch Officers’ Meetings continue to effectively inform and shape the actions of the Association, and thanks go out to all of the Officers and MC reps for their ongoing contributions to the Association.
It is the Branches within the Association that undertake the majority of the work done in fostering our ringing community to achieve its full potential. They connect the leaves of our members to the roots of the Association, and uphold its aims and objectives.
Since 2000 our membership has been above 1300, with the exception of 2017/18 and 2020 when it slipped into the mid to upper 1200s. That it held so well in 2020 is due to most of the subscriptions being collected at the beginning of the year. In 2021 we need to convince members that even if we are not ringing their membership is still valuable in supporting belfry repair. Junior membership has remained at or just below 100 for the last five years. Against that the number of Retired members still paying the concessionary rate is still surprisingly high in at least two Branches.
With a relatively low level of grant applications in the previous two years we were able to offer grants at 20% of eligible expenditure. That resulted in our approving the highest level of grants ever. Over the last five and ten year periods we have approved grants, net of grants ultimately not needed, equal to the BRF income.
The Potential Projects List, see below, suggests that although a number of major projects will come forward over the next five years, the next two years is likely to see the lowest level for maybe a couple of decades.
Although most PCCs have increased their Tower Affiliation Fee from £10 to £20, there are still over 40 paying the old £10 rate.
We still need to continue the effort to get more members to sign up to Gift Aid; this is a useful source of income to the BRF and has shown a small drop over the last four years.
Other income has held up well particularly bearing in mind the exceptionally low rates of interest.
Saturday 14 March 2020 saw the last peal rung for the G&B before the worsening coronavirus pandemic put a hold to almost all ringing. As a result, the income to the Association from peal fees will be a fraction of its normal value. We may hope that peal-ringing will recommence at some point in 2021, but our expectation is that this, at least to start with, will be a slow process. The Peal Secretary is standing down this year, with best wishes to his successor, and the hope that, sooner or later, the G&B will once again be a thriving peal-ringing association.
## **2. Review of activities during 2020**
## **2.1 Grants**
5 grants were paid during the year:
|5|grants were paid during the year:|||
|---|---|---|---|
||Almondsbury|7,298||
||Childswickham|627||
||Temple Guiting|290||
||Tewkesbury Abbey|3,282||
||Sherston|220||
||**Total**|**11,717**||
|7|new grants were approved during the year, and the percentage award on 6 was increased from 15% to 20%:|||
||Cranham|2,474|Refurbish clappers, replace pulleys|
Highworth 1,919 Replace tenor clapper, repaint frame Moreton-in-Marsh 735 Move clock to make space for 7[th] and tenor ringers Sherston 220 Re-bush six clappers Hawkesbury 10,000 New ring of 8 bells Littleton Drew 14,037 Rehang 3 bells and augment to 6 in new frame Ebrington 1,574 Repairs to rotten bell frame Increased grant on 6 open projects 9,810 **Total 40,769** Elkstone (7,995 ) Grant not needed now added back **Net total 32,774**
One grant previously awarded, to Elkstone (£7,995) was not required and has been added back. As a consequence of low grant applications in previous years and increased BRF income we were able to offer grants of 20% in 2020. Assuming all the members continue to pay their subscriptions during the Covid 19 pandemic then our expected normal BRF income should be about £22,500 next year. We have also been able to award uncompleted projects 20%, an increase on the awards in the previous four years.
There were 6 grants approved by the Branches in 2020:
Chippenham, Sherston 120 Re-bush 6 clappers Chippenham, Littleton Drew 850 Rehang 3 bells and augment to 6 North Cotswold, Temple Guiting 140 Rebush back 5 clappers Stroud, Cranham 400 Rebush clappers, replace pulleys Tewkesbury, Abbey 300 Add extra treble to give light 10 Wotton, Hawkesbury 500 New ring of 8 **Total 2,310**
Two grants were awarded by Swindon Branch at their AGM in November, Highworth £200 and South Marston £600.
It is good to see the Branches overall giving a reasonable level of grants. Over the last 10 years their grants have totalled £23,988 against income of £20,284. Although some Branches have offered reasonable grants, the level of funds held by Branches suggests that some Branches could easily offer more.
The potential projects are summarised below:
|**Branch**
Bristol
Bristol
Swindon
Swindon
Cheltenham
Forest
Forest
Gloucester
Bristol
Bristol
Bristol
Forest|**Tower**
Southville
St Thomas
South Marston
South Marston
Cowley
Clearwell
Staunton (Coleford)
Norton
Christ Church
Stapleton
Kingsdown
Staunton (Gloucester)
**12**
4
1|**Est. cost**
**Brief description of likely work**
**£'000**
Refurbishment with possible new fittings
20
Repair to tenor
1
Retune and rehang with new fittings all 6 bells
30
Augment 6 bells to 8
25
Repairs to tenor wheel
2
New ring of 6 in new frame
70
Rehang 6 and augment to 8
60
Retune front 7, new rope guide and bearings
25
Rehang 10 bells in new frame, remove cannons
180
Rehang 6 bells
55
Rehang 8 and add 2 trebles
70
Rehang 6 bells
60
**Total**
**598**
of which possibly in 2021
76
of which possibly in 2022
2|**Est. year**
2021+
2021
2021+
2021+
2022
2023
2023+
2023+
2024+
2024+
2025+
2025|**Prob.**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||Med
High
Med
Low
Med
Low
Low
Med
High
Low
Med
Med|
With the impact Covid 19 has had on ringing and Church finances, most projects have been moved back one year. Assuming there are no unexpected large grant applications in 2021/22 our income and BRF balance should be more than adequate to offer these projects grants of 20%.
## **2.2 Training**
The excellent Spring Training Day, organised by Hazel Bridges and held in the Cirencester Branch, continues to provide second-to-none training opportunities to our members. Although Covid 19 prevented the usual meeting before and after the ringing, the day was still considered a fantastic event by the 71 students who attended. Many thanks go out to Hazel for her continued efforts and successes with the Training Day.
There was no Autumn Training Day this year due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
As ever, great thanks must go out to all those who played a part in making the training day as successful as it has been.
Additionally, our branches continue to offer a wide variety of their own training events, and are often run with the specific needs of their members in mind.
## **2.2.a The Summer School**
2
With no normal ringing possible, we held a week's Summer School on Zoom. Over the course of the week there were 39 different seminars on all aspects of ringing -- including particular methods, ringing skills, conducting, maintenance and general matters. The 39 were divided into blocks, with three taking place simultaneously each afternoon at 3.00, and three more taking place each evening at 7.30. The alternatives in each block were aimed at different audiences, and this was the first ever week-long on-line Summer School in the country.
## **2.3 Penn Trophy**
Not held this year due to Covid 19.
## **2.4 Croome Trophy**
Not held this year due to Covid 19.
## **2.5 Young Ringers**
The G & B Youth Team entered 2020 in a very strong position with ever increasing numbers of youngsters and more adults offering active support. Unfortunately the RWNYC in York had to be cancelled, due to Covid 19, after a lot of preparatory work. The pandemic also stopped youth practices from March. It is expected to take a lot of hard effort to get the Team back up to strength once the pandemic ends.
## **2.6 Peal and Quarter Peal Festival**
Not held this year due to Covid 19.
## **2.7 The Firsts Fortnight**
Not held this year due to Covid 19.
## **2.8 Tower of the Year Competition**
Not held this year due to Covid 19.
## **2.9 Belfry Advisers**
During the last year the Belfry Advisers have checked completed projects at Almondsbury, Childswickham, Elkstone, Longney, Sherston, Temple Guiting and Tewkesbury.
In addition advice and/or reports has been requested and provided at Bishop’s Cleeve, Chaceley, Cold Aston, Cranham, Ebrington, Great Somerford, Horsley, Newnham on Severn, Oaksey, Prestbury, Sevenhampton (Wiltshire), South Marston and Woodchester.
Maintenance courses have been run in the Bristol Rural and Swindon Branches. Three zoom sessions on ropes, stays and general questions and answers were run in the summer as part of the week of zoom summer school.
The Rope Bank run by Malcolm Brown is still available if anyone needs a FREE second hand rope please contact Malcolm Brown at Chedworth. Any one wanting to learn how to splice bell ropes also please contact Malcolm Brown.
Any tower requiring advice on their bell installation, including maintenance advice, please contact one of the Bell Advisors listed in the front of the report.
## **2.10 Peals**
The Peal Secretary’s Report appears later in this report, followed by details of peals rung this year by the Association and the peal compositions first rung in 2020
## **2.11 Review of Financial Activities**
The bottom line figures for the year are:
|Net income
Net grants (approved)/time lapsed
Transfers
Unrealised increase in value
Net fund movements|**BRF**
22,472
(32,774)
600
(8,280
)
(17,982)||**GMF**
108
(600)
492)|**Branches**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||2,641
(2,310)
331|
||||||
Most of this year's subscriptions would have been collected before the Covid 19 lockdown but members need to be aware that the situation could be very different in 2021. The Association's income is highly dependant on the number of members since over half the BRF income came from subscriptions and Gift Aid. If with continuing limits on ringing into 2021 a significant number of members do not renew their subscriptions, then the BRF income will be hit. A failure of, say, 25% of members to renew their membership next year would see the BRF income drop by about £4,000 to about £16,000.
The General Management Fund income will also drop – the main items of expenditure being insurance and printing the Annual Report – but if members take up the electronic version of the Annual Report the printing costs will be reduced. Also with the continuing Covid 19 pandemic, and after, there may well be fewer belfry projects, resulting in a reduced call on the BRF (see the Potential Projects list above). The risks are that church congregations may be lower, that some churches might close, and that PCCs will have more difficulty in raising funds generally.
With the increase in subscriptions and Tower Affiliation Fee approved in the last four years, and the low level of net grant approvals in the previous two years, we were able to offer grants of 20% this year, up from 15% last year. Based on the
(3
expected future income, but see above, and grant applications as listed in the Potential Projects list in 2.1 we should be able to continue to offer grants of 20% in 2021. These projections are highly dependant on subscription income and will be reviewed during the year.
Bearing in mind the risks noted above, the Trustees believe that the Association remains financially viable. The funds we have on deposit are more than sufficient to pay all the grants approved to date. They should in addition be sufficient to fund grants on the projects we have been notified about for the next two years. The GMF has a balance that is sufficient to fund the two main elements of expenditure on that fund (Insurance and Annual Report). If our income halved we should still be able to continue financially for the next several years.
Each year we review the balance held in the GMF to confirm that it is within the limits we consider prudent, any excess is then transferred to the BRF for the following year. Last year we considered that a transfer of £600 would be appropriate in 2020. Based on the balance of the fund at the end of 2020 we believe that a transfer of £300 would be appropriate in 2021, subject to review in September.
The level of grants given over the last 5 and 10 years is in line with the BRF income. The list of Potential Projects (see 2.1 above) shows further substantial calls on the BRF in the next two years, with further projects in the following three years. As noted above with qualifications, we should have the capacity safely to approve grants in total of about £22,000 per annum on an ongoing basis;
The Management Committee believe that the Branches should retain only about twice normal annual administrative expenses. In the past the Branches have retained substantially more than this. Although the position has improved over the last few years it is still possible, and furthermore expected, that where Branches have projects they should in future be more generous.
The Gift Aid tax refund claim this year is about the same as last year. It is important to keep signing up new members to the scheme to replace lapsed members. This is a useful source of income to the BRF and needs to be actively encouraged.
The Tower Affiliation scheme, at 257 affiliated towers, is a bit down on last year. This scheme produces a very useful contribution to the BRF of £4,760, up from £2,570 two years ago due to the increase in the fee from £10 to £20. Some PCCs have not yet increased their payments; it is hoped that this year they will do so. That would generate an extra £400 to the BRF.
## **2.12 Library**
Annual Reports were borrowed from the Library by Andrew Bull for scanning. Reports have also been borrowed by the Report Secretary for statistical analysis of towers. Another member also borrowed three Reports. The Ringing World DVDs were borrowed by two members. Five general enquiries were dealt with.
Six reprints of early articles on Bells in Gloucestershire and Somersetshire were donated to the Library by The Whiting Society following help with queries they had.
In addition to general interest books on bells, ringing and methods, the library also holds the old Minute Books and Annual Reports (complete apart from some of the very early years, and also including an index to obituaries) of the Association. The library also holds various manuscripts and individual documents. The searchable DVDs of the Ringing World from 1911 to 2018 are also available. (The printed copies of the Ringing World were given in 2019 to a member, Valia Battat, Swindon Branch, as being surplus to requirements.)
Obituaries for all the years in which they were included in the Reports are now available on the G&B website.
## **2.13 Handbells**
The bells were refurbished in 2015. They have not been used during 2020.
The bells are available to be borrowed by any members or Branches of the Association. Please contact the Handbell Steward on page 2.
## **3 Statistical and Other Information**
## **3.1 Membership**
|Bristol
Bristol Rural
Cheltenham
Chippenham
Cirencester
Forest
Gloucester
North Cotswold
Stroud
Swindon
Tewkesbury
Wotton-u-Edge
Total for 2020
2019
2018|**%Junior**|**%Junior**|**Senior**
93
73
120
70
95
66
46
35
74
84
56
80
882
915
833|**Junior**
20
15
2
7
6
3
8
1
20
2
2
8
94
89
91|**Retired**
9
66
17
41
15
32
23
11
13
18
17
21
283
279
311|**Associate**
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
6
9|**HLM**
0
2
0
1
3
0
2
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
11
11|**TOTAL**
122
158
139
119
119
101
79
48
108
105
75
110
12
83
1300
1253|**2019**
111
157
139
123
131
106
74
51
98
115
78
117
1300|**2018**
101
161
126
111
121
112
80
41
101
120
75
104
1253|**2017**
103
169
115
113
121
111
81
51
109
121
73
107
1274
|**2016**
102
172
119
110
124
121
87
51
117
132
75
97
1307|**2015**
102
166
110
111
135
133
84
56
118
132
79
101|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||16%
10%
1%
6%
5%
3%
10%
2%
19%
2%
3%
7
%
7
%
7%
7%||||||||||||
||||||||||||||1327|
|||||||||||||||
4
|2017||7%|831|87|334|9|13|1274|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2016||8%|847|100|333|13|14|1307|
|2015||9%|683|121|500|11|12|1327|
|2010|(10 years ago)|12%|731|162|455|5|21|1374|
|2000|(20 years ago)|16%|858|210|262|6|23|1359|
|1990|(30 years ago)|19%|729|198|105|8|20|1060|
|1980|(40 years ago)|21%|785|221||18|34|1058|
|1970|(50 years ago)|18%|780|177||29|2|988|
|1920|(100 years ago)|||||||498|
For most of last 20 years from 2000-20 the membership was about 1300. This year although Covid 19 has impacted ringing most of the subscriptions were collected before the first “lockdown”. The Retired membership, which was always a concession, introduced in 1987, is above half of the peak of 500. For the last four years retired members have been encouraged to pay the Senior subscription. Looking at the figures in the table above it is noticeable that two Branches still have about 40% of membership as Retired. The Junior membership has remained fairly static for the last four years.
## **3.2 Grants**
Over the last five and ten years grants have been approved as follows:
|**Total**
**Grants**
5 years
£111,092
10 years
£167,267|**Towers**
28
66|**Average**
**Belfry Repair Fund**
**per Tower**
**pa**
**Income**
**pa**
£3,988
£22,218
£110,330
£20,066
£2,540
£16,763
£169,668
£16,967|
|---|---|---|
The income is before grants and unrealised gains/losses. The grants are inclusive of lapsed/not needed grants.
The totals of grants given by the Branches were as follows (the income is Branch Funds income net before grants):
|5 years
10 years|**Total**
**Grants**
£9,540
£23,988|**Towers**
31
73|**Average**
**per Tower**
**pa**
£308
£1,908
£328
£2,389|**Branch Funds**
**Income**
**pa**
£11,662
£2,332
£20,284
£2,028|
|---|---|---|---|---|
## **4. Legal and Administrative information**
## **4.1 Title of the Charity**
The Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers. Charity number 281431.
## **4.2 The G overning I nstrument of the Association**
The Rules of the Association adopted by the AGM April 1965, last amended April 2006.
## **4.3 Beneficial Area**
The Dioceses of Gloucester and Bristol.
## **4.4 Trustees**
The Trustees of the charity are the members of the Management Committee and comprise:
(a) the Ringing Master, Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Peal Secretary,
(b) the Representatives on the Central Council and
(c) the Branch Management Committee Representatives (MC Reps).
Trustees (a & b) are elected by the members of the Association at the Association AGM and are listed on the title page. Trustees (c) are elected by their respective Branch AGMs; refer to the Branch information pages.
## **4.5 Principal Addresses**
Hon. Secretary, Mr. Steve Coleman, 46 Byfords Road, Huntley, Glos. GL19 3EL
Hon. Treasurer, Mr. Philip Twentyman, 8 Ampney St Peter, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 5SH
## **4.6 Principal Agents and Advisers**
The Association’s bankers are: Lloyds Bank, Swindon Branch, 5 High Street, Swindon, SN1 3EN
The Association’s independent examiners are:
## Mr C Woodd MA FIA, 3 The Paddocks, Baunton, Cirencester, GL7 7DL
and: Mrs M Harris, 3 Furzey Hill Cottage, Meysey Hampton, Cirencester, GL7 5LG
## **4.7**
## **Investment and Borrowing Powers**
The Association has no borrowing powers. Rule 7.iv gives, by implication, the Management Committee authority to invest surplus funds.
## **4.8 Remuneration of Trustees**
No remuneration was paid to any Trustees.
(5
## **4.9 Risk Assessment**
The Trustees have identified and reviewed the major risks to which they believe the Association may be exposed and have taken steps to minimise and manage those risks.
## **4.10 Organisation**
The Association is organised into twelve Branches covering the two Dioceses. The Branches have their own officers responsible for encouraging good ringing in the churches with bells within their area and working within the charitable objectives of the Association as a whole.
The Management Committee, which has three meetings each year, is responsible to the members, through the AGM, for the general running of the Association. The Branches are represented on the Management Committee. The Association is affiliated to the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers.
## **5. Aims and Public Benefit**
## **5.1 Objectives of the Association**
The objectives of the Association are as set out in Rule 2:
- 1 To promote the ringing of bells for Divine Service
- 2 To practise ringing to obtain a higher standard of ringing
- 3 To educate the public in the art and science of change ringing
- 4 To provide financial assistance by way of grants to affiliated church authorities incurring expenditure on the provision, maintenance or improvement of their bells and bell installations.
In furtherance of the first two of these objectives the Association organises and encourages training sessions and bell ringing competitions. The main Association-level training is the annual Spring training day which for a number of years has been based centrally in Cirencester. There is an advanced Autumn training day using reasonably central towers. Training at the Branch level is both ongoing and based on specific training days. There are also two week-long series of multiple Zoom seminars – the Winter School and the Summer School.
Grants to approved belfry repair and improvement projects are available from the Belfry Repair Fund. Applications are considered at the two main Management Committee meetings, in the spring and autumn. The Association Belfry Advisers are available to discuss the condition of bells and their fittings.
## **5.2 Public Benefit Statement**
Our Objects and Aims are focused towards two things. First, the preservation of the UK tradition and heritage of change ringing, and second, the support of Christian worship by promoting the ringing of bells for Divine Service. We achieve this by:
- **i** educating the public about change ringing;
- **ii** training and developing change ringers from all walks of society;
- **iii** practising the art of change ringing to improve standards;
- **iv** providing financial support for belfry repair and restoration.
The public benefits through the preservation of a uniquely UK tradition and heritage, and because we assist them to participate in an inclusive activity that significantly benefits them both physically and mentally.
The Trustees paid due regard to the commission's guidance on public benefit in producing this statement.
Approved by the Management Committee on 23rd January 2021, and signed on its behalf by
R W Haynes (Chairman)
P Twentyman (Hon. Treasurer)
6
## **Notes to the 2020 Accounts**
## **1. Accounting policies**
**General** . These Accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice on Accounting by Charities. The continued financial viability of the Association is discussed in the Trustees’ Report, Section 2.11.
**Consistency** . The Association’s accounts are prepared on a consistent basis.
**Grants** . Approved grants are transferred from the Belfry Repair Fund to the Bell Projects Fund from which Grant payments are made after completion and inspection of the project works by an Association Belfry Adviser. Grants are normally approved as a percentage of the eligible expenditure incurred up to a maximum of the same percentage of the expected eligible expenditure.
**Funds** . The Management Committee believe that all the Funds are unrestricted, that is they may be expended in furtherance of the objects of the Association and are not subject to any specific trust declared by or with the authority of the donors. The policy confirmed by the Management Committee in 1995, and since reaffirmed annually, is that the Belfry Repair Fund exists to further the primary objects of the Association, that is to fund belfry repair projects and educational/training activities. The Bell Projects Fund is designated to cover approved grant applications. The General Management Fund is to cover the administration expenses of the Association.
## **Fund Balances** :
**Belfry Repair Fund (BRF).** This fund exists primarily to support grants to belfry repair projects. In an average year the grants are covered by income. There are fluctuations and occasionally larger grants are considered. Taking note of projects in the list of future projects, the Management Committee believe that a fund balance in the region of twice the average annual grants approval of the last two years is required. (The figure for the two years 2019–20 is £38,970, average £19,485). Where the balance is likely to exceed this figure the Management Committee will adjust, as appropriate, the level of grants approved. (For 2020 the fund balance was £47,681). The list of potential projects [Trustees’ Report 2.1] indicates a number of major applications in the next three years. The percentage of grant offered in 2020 was increased to 20%, up from 15% in 2019. If the projects listed in section 2.1 of the Trustees’ Report lead to grants applications the balance of the Fund is not excessive.
**General Management Fund (GMF).** This fund exists to cover the general management expenses of the Association. The Management Committee believe that it is prudent to hold a balance equal to about 1[1] /3 of the average annual expenditure to allow for exceptional expenditure and for expenses incurred in the early part of the year (£2,005 based on 2019 and 2020, 1[1] /3 = £2,673). The Management Committee propose that where the balance exceeds this figure the excess is transferred to the Belfry Repair Fund. The balance of this fund is £2,937, above the target level. We have transferred £5,100 in the last nine years (2012–20) based on the previous years' excesses. The Management Committee propose to make a transfer of £300 in 2021 (£600 in 2020 and £300 in 2019).
**Branch Funds (BF).** These funds exist to cover the general running expenses of the Branches. The Management Committee believe that the Branches should aim over a period of years to hold a balance (currently £13,544) equal to the average of two years expenditure (about £500 normal expenditure for 2018 & 2019, £25 pa). Balances in excess of this figure should—over a period of years—be paid by the Branches to belfry repair projects in their areas. The Management Committee believe that Branches generally can and should do more to support projects in their Branch.
## **2. Subscriptions**
In 2020 members’ subscriptions were: £15 Senior & Retired (split BRF £12 : GMF £1.50 : BF £1.50), £2.50 for Junior members (split BRF £1.50 : GMF 50p : BF 50p) and £10.00 for Retired (concession) and Associate members (split BRF £9.00 : GMF 50p : BF 50p). They were last increased for 2017.
|Senior & Retired
Junior
Retired (concession)
Associate
HLM
**Total**|**20**
**20**
**No**
**.s**
**£**
892
12,209
94
215
283
2,830
3
30
1
1
-
**1283**
**15,284**|**201**
**9**
**No**
**.s**
**£**
915
13,365
89
225
279
2,810
6
60
11
-
**1300**
**16,460**|**201**
**9**
**No**
**.s**
**£**
915
13,365
89
225
279
2,810
6
60
11
-
**1300**
**16,460**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**16,460**|
There were some members with unpaid subscriptions at the end of each of the years.
## **3. Tax**
|The Tax refund of £2,206 is in respect of:
**20**
**20**
**BRF**
**GMF**
569
members subscriptions for 2020
1,958
4
members subscriptions for 2016/2019
45
50
Peal Fees
48
3
donations
100
55
-
Tower Affiliation fee paid by an
individual under Gift Aid
-
**Total**
**2,103**
**103**|**201**
**9**
**BRF**
**GMF**
2,155
(603 in 2019)
102
(17: new GA back dated)
83
(78 in 2019)
45
49
(5 in 2019)
2
(1 in 2019)
**2,304**
**132**|
|---|---|
(7
**Branches – credited (earned) 2021 (20) 2020 (19) 2019 (18)** 1 GASDS 32 127 33 (2 in 2020/19) 2 Gift Aid donations 80 80 - (1 in 2020/19) **Total 112 207 33**
The tax refund on Branch GASDS and GA is taken into account in the year following that in which it is earned.
## **4. Interest & Investment Income**
Interest is allocated to the Belfry Repair and General Management Funds based on average opening and closing cash and deposit balances.
|Interest on Gift Aid tax refund
CCLA Deposit Fund interest
Other Deposit Accounts interest
Charifund income
**Total**|**20**
**20**
2
81 (0.5%)
432 (0.7%)
1,
5
72
(5.3%)
**2,087**|**201**
**9**
2
110 (0.7%)
402 (0.8%)
1,
592
(5.8%)
**1,996**|
|---|---|---|
The bulk (£46k) of our deposits are now held in a Teachers Building Society account (interest 0.25%) with the balance (£15k) in a CCLA Deposit account (interest 0.4%). The income we earned on the Charifund units averaged 5.8% (5.3%) for the year; the average on all the “Association Funds” was 1.9% (1.9% in 2019). The interest rates on our deposits have shown a fall during the year, at less than 1%, we endeavour to find the best charity rates.
## **5. Ringing courses**
Figures for the Association Training days in the spring and autumn and Branch training days were:
|Number of Students
Income
Expenditure
Excess of Income/(Expenditure)|**Spring Course**
**20**
**20**
**201**
**9**
[71]
[71]
832
851
660
748
172
103|**Autumn Course**
**20**
**20**
**201**
**9**
-
[11]
-
88
-
72
-
16|**Branch Courses**|**Branch Courses**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||
**20**
**20**
[71]
832
660
172|**20**
**20**
-
-
-
-|**20**
**20**
62
24
38|**201**
**9**
62
24
38|
There was no Autumn Course in 2020. A week-long online Summer School was held with 500 participants. It was free to participants, and the cost was £43. A considerable number of members attended Branch Training events for which there was no financial impact in the Branch Accounts.
**6. Net Income / Expenditure**
|**Sales of badges & books etc.**
Income
Expenditure
Excess of Income/(Expenditure)|**Association Funds**
**20**
**20**
**201**
**9**
58
185
46
154
12
31|**Association Funds**
**20**
**20**
**201**
**9**
58
185
46
154
12
31|**Branch**|**Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**20**
**20**
58
46
12|**20**
**20**
50
66
(16)|**201**
**9**
50
66
(16)|
## **6a Sales of badges & books etc.**
A stock of 101 badges was purchased in 2019 at a cost of £424. 11 badges were sold in 2020, with 37 sold in 2019. We currently have a stock of 69 (1 was placed in the Library).
|**6b Annual Report**||**20**
**20**|**201**
**9**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Number||[800]|[1050]||
|Cost of printing Report||996|1,120||
|Website domain name (9 year contract,|2025)|-|-|(covered by donation under GA)|
|**Total cost**||996|1,120||
|**Less Income**
**:**|||||
|Peal Fees|158|447|||
|Report Sales|-|16|||
|Advertisements|146|83|||
|**Total Income**||304|546||
|Net cost||692|574||
|**6c Branch Newsletters**||**20**
**20**|**201**
**9**||
|Branches with no Newsletters||[4 Branches]|[4]||
|Branches with Newsletters at no cost||[8 Branches]|[8]||
|**6d Donations Received, 2020**|||||
|**£35 or more, or from Officers**|**BRF**|**GMF**|**Branches**||
|Colesbourne Gardens|150||||
|PCCs, with TAF|170||||
|Lloyds Bank, compensation|215||||
|Gloucester AGM Teas|39|||)|
|Steve Coleman (re expenses)|63|137||) covered by Gift Aid|
|Philip Twentyman (re expenses)|80|80||)|
|Various small donations|146||||
8
Forest Branch, GASDS donations 130 ) Forest Branch, Zoom fee donated anonymously 120 ) covered by Gift Aid Tewkesbury Branch, Malcolm Taylor 200 ) Forest Branch, Will Ruck 390 Stroud Branch, TSB compensation 109 Various small donations 64 **Total 863 217 1,004 6e Fund Raising & related activities 2020 2019** Branch Income 885 2,226 Branch Expenditure 170 1,506 Excess of Income/(Expenditure) **715 720 6f Donations Paid & Miscellaneous, 2020 BRF GMF Branches** Write down of Miscellaneous Assets 337 (Note 13 – Oddstruckness meters) Various small donations - **Total 337**
## **7. Association Printing, Stationery & Postage**
Includes expenses incurred by Officers on stationery, postage and phones etc. Officers’ expenses are:
**2020 2019** Hon. Secretary (2:1 GMF and BRF) 153 165 (covered by donation, note 6d) Hon. Treasurer (1:1 GMF and BRF) 154 176 (covered by donation, note 6d) **Total 341 341** Hon Secretary, Zoom licences 143 (covered by donation, note 6d)
## **(£43 courses, £100 meetings)**
## **8. Central Council**
|**Central Council**|||
|---|---|---|
|Affiliation Fee (5 x £40)
Friends of the Library
**Total**|**20**
**20**
200
40
**240**|**201**
**9**|
|||200
4
0
**240**|
Allowances are no longer paid to the Representatives for attending the CC Meetings. For 2018 the Affiliation Fee was increased to £40 per Representative (£20 in 2011, £25 in 2012/13, £30 in 2014).
## **9. Transfers between Funds**
|**9a Belfry Repair Grants Summary**
**B/fwd from 201**
**9**
**Approved**
Ruardean
2014/16
Didbrook
2016
Almondsbury
2017
Longney
2019
Longney
2019
Childswickham
2019
Elkstone
2019
Temple Guiting
2019
Tewkesbury Abbey
2019
**New Approvals in 20**
**20**
Cranham
2020
Highworth
2020
Moreton-in-Marsh
2020
Sherston
2020
Hawkesbury
2020
Littleton Drew
2020
Ebrington
2020
**Totals**
**Branch Grants Summary**
**B/fwd from 2019**
**Approved**
Bristol, All Saints
2019
Cirencester, CPC
2019
Forest, Newnham
2015
Forest, Ruardean
2015
Tewkesbury, Strensham
2018
**Approved in 2020**
Chippenham, Sherston
2020
Chippenham, Littleton Drew
2020
N Cotswold, Temple Guiting
2020|**o/s’1**
**9**
17,250
3,312
7,298
198
195
627
5,997
218
2,462
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
**37,557**
**o/s’**
**19**
900
1,000
2,000
2,000
150
-
-
-|**Approved’**
**20**
**Paid’**
**20**
5,750
-
1,104
-
-
7,298
66
-
-
-
-
627
(5,997)
72
290
820 3,282
2,474
-
1,919
735
-
220
220
10,000
-
14,037
-
1,574
-
**32,774**
**11,717**
**Approved‘20**
**Paid’20**
-
-
-
1,000
-
2,000
-
-
-
150
120
120
850
-
140
140||**o/s’**
**20**
23,000
4,416
-
264
195
-
-
-
-
2,474
1,919
735
-
10,000
14,037
1,574
**58,614**
**o/s’20**
900
-
-
2,000
-
850
-|**Expected**
**Payment**
**Grant %**
2021
20%
2021
20%
13%
2021
20%
2021
25%
15%
Not needed
20%
20%
20%
2021
20%
2021
20%
2021
20%
15%
2021
Fixed
2021
20%
2021
20%
**Expected Payment**
2021
2021|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||
(9
Stroud, Cranham 2020 - 400 400 - Tewkesbury, Abbey 2020 - 300 - 300 Wotton, Hawkesbury 2020 - 500 500 - **Totals 6,050 2,310 4,130 4,050**
The Association’s accounting policy on grants is set out in Note 1 (Grants). Details of grants approved this year are in the Trustees’ Report section 2.1. Two grants were approved by Swindon Branch at their AGM in November (total £800).
## **9b GMF to BRF**
**2020 2019 BRF GMF BRF GMF** GMF Balance above Reserves Policy Level 600 (600) 300 (300)
As noted above in Note 1. (GMF), the Management Committee propose to transfer £300 in 2021
## **10. Investments & Deposits**
The Officers and Management Committee have reviewed the position of both our investments and deposits and consider in the circumstances that no change is needed at this stage. We review where our deposits are held to ensure we obtain a competitive rate of interest; currently we hold the bulk of our deposits with The Teachers Building Society. CCLA Investment Management Ltd is regulated and authorised by the Financial Services Authority but is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The CCLA is owned by, and open only to, its faith, charity and local authority customers. It is rated AAA/V1 by Fitch, a leading credit rating agency. The Teachers Building Society account is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
## **10a Investments**
1950 units are held in the M&G Equities Investment Fund for Charities (Charifund). The units were purchased in 1989 (£5,500) and 1990 (£5,000). The units were valued at £11.69 each at close of business on 31/10/20.
|Market value at 31stOctober previous year
Net gain (loss) on revaluation at 31stOctober
Market value at 31stOctober
Historical cost at 31stOctober|**20**
**20**
31,078
(
8,280
)
22,798
10,500|**201**
**9**
30,109
969|
|---|---|---|
|||31,078
10,500|
## **10b Deposits**
At the end of the year the BRF balance on the CCLA Deposit account, of £17,271, and on The Teachers Building Society account of £46,707 (excl. accrued interest of £198), more than covered the outstanding balance of approved grants of £37,557.
## **11. Association Assets**
A list of Association property, which has not been capitalised, is included on page 20. The library (£1,476), handbells (£4,902) and Croome Trophy (£2,447) have been valued in 2019 for insurance purposes and are insured for a total of £8,825.
## **12. GMF Surplus / Deficit**
The following exceptional items are included in the GMF surplus/(deficit) of (£492), £216 in 2019:
|Transfer to Belfry Repair Fund
Increased/(Reduced) subscriptions
More/(Fewer) Peals rung
More/(Fewer) NRLM
Higher/(Lower) advertising income
Meetings costs
Lower Annual Report printing cost|**20**
**20**
(600)
(108)
(289)
(70)
63
(100)
124|**201**
**9**
(300)
83
(69)
-
(62)
213|
|---|---|---|
The underlying figures for the GMF suggest that the balance should increase each year triggering periodic transfers to the BRF to maintain the balance within the limit referred to in Note 1. A transfer of £300 in 2021 is recommended.
## **13. Miscellaneous Current Assets**
|Peal Fees due
NRLM Subscriptions due
Stock of stamps
**Total**
**Branch Miscellaneous Current Assets**
Bristol Rural
CCTV
Cheltenham
CCTV
Chippenham
Prepaid outing coach hire
Forest
Trophies etc
Gloucester
Oddstruckness meter
Tewkesbury
Training Bell at Twyning
Wotton
Oddstruckness meter
**Total**|-
-
30
75
50
50
24
7|**20**
**20**
69
10
16
**95**
4
5
2
**452**|-
-
-
90
-
50
307|**201**
**9**
327
40
26
**548**
(cost 2016 £410, w/off)
(cost 2016 £330, w/off)
(cost 2020 £307)
(cost 2014 £550)
447
(cost 2019 £307)
**447**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
10
**14. Miscellaneous Current Liabilities**
**2020 2019** Tewkesbury Abbey grant 3,282 Association Training Day 49
(11
**Statement of Financial Activities for the Year ended 31st October 2020**
|**Notes**|**Income and Expenditure**
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
Members' Subscriptions
Tax Refund on Gift Aid
Affiliation Fees
Interest & Investment income
Donations & Legacies
Non-Resident Life Members
Fund Raising and Related Activities
Ringing Courses
Sales of Books, Badges & Stationery
Peal Fees
Report Sales
Report Advertisements
Newsletters (hidden when printed)
**Total Incoming Resources**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**Direct Charitable Expenditure**
Grants Paid
Ringing Courses, Training
Cost of Badge & Book sales etc
Competition Expenses
Donations Paid and Miscellaneous
**Total Direct Charitable Expenditure**
**Fund-raising costs**
Fund Raising and Related Activities
**Management & Administration**
Insurance
Ringing World Notices
AGM
Meetings
Annual Report & Website
Newsletters (hidden when printed)
Printing, Stationery & Postage
Central Council
**Total Management Expenses**
**Total Resources Expended**
**Net Incoming/(Outgoing) Resources**
Transfers between Funds, grants approved
Transfers between Funds, other
**Other Recognised Gains and Losses**
Unrealised Gains/(Losses) on Investments
**Net Movement in Funds**
**Balance b/f from previous year**
**BALANCE C/F**|||**2020**|**2020**|**2020**|**2020**|||||||**2019**|**2019**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||Association Funds
Belfry
Bell
Repair
Projects
General
£
£
£
12,452
1,416
2,103
103
4,760
2,025
62
883
217
832
58
158
146
23,113
2,102
11,717
703
46
749
11,717
472
100
996
134
186
240
134
1,994|||||Branch
Bell
Projects
£
4,310|Branch||Funds
General
£
1,416
207
47
1,004
855|Total
£
15,284
2,413
4,760
2,134
2,104
855
832
58
158
146||Assoc.
Branch
Funds
Funds
£
£
14,936
1,524
2,436
33
4,490
1,996
68
648
851
70
2,226
939
62
253
50
447
16
83|Total
£
16,460
2,469
4,490
2,064
1,499
70
2,226
1,001
303
447
16
83|
||||||Bell
Projects
£
11,717|||||||||||
|2
3
4
6d
6e
5
6a
6b
6b
6b
6c
9
5
6a
6f
6e
6b
6c
7 / 6d
8
9a
9b
10a
12|||||||£
1,416
103
62
217
158
146|||||||||
||||||||2,102||||3,529|28,744||26,314
4,814|31,128|
||||||||472
100
996
186
240||||192
25
337|16,027
895
46
25
337||23,994
830
820
24
154
66
390
11
168|24,824
844
220
401
168|
||||749||11,717|||4,310|||554|17,330||25,358
1,099|26,457|
||||134
134|||||||||||||
||||||||||||170|170||1,506|1,506|
||||||||||||(24)
188|472
76
996
508
240||456
1
1,120
341
191
240|456
1
1,120
532
240|
||||||||1,994||||164|2,292||2,157
192|2,349|
|||||||||||||||||
||||883||11,717||1,994|4,310|||888|19,792||27,515
2,797|30,312|
||||22,230
(32,774)
600
(8,280)||(11,717)
32,774||108
(600)|(4,310)
2,310|||2,641
(2,310)|8,952
0
0
(8,280)||(1,201)
2,017
969|816
969|
||||(18,224)
65,661||21,057
37,557||(492)
3,430|(2,000)
6,050|||331
13,213|672
125,911||(232)
2,017
106,880 17,246|1,785
124,126
.|
||||47,437||58,614||2,938|4,050|||13,544|126,583||106,648 19,263|125,911|
The notes on pages 14 to 17 form part of these accounts.
## **Balance Sheet as at 31st October 2020**
||**Notes**
13
10a
10b
10b
14
9|**Current Assets**
Subscriptions Owing from Branches
The Ringing World
Accrued Interest
Stocks of Books, Badges etc
Gift Aid tax Refund Claim o/s
Prepaid Insurance
Miscellaneous Current Assets
**Investments & Cash**
Charifund (1950 units at Market Value)
CCLA Deposit Funds
Other Deposit Accounts
Cash, Bank A/cs
**Total Current Assets**
**Current Liabilities**
Subscriptions Owing to Association
Association Officers
Affiliation Fees paid in advance
Miscellaneous
**Total Net Assets**
**REPRESENTED BY:**
Belfry Repair Fund
Bell Projects Fund
General Fund||**2020**|**2020**|||**2019**|**2019**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**Association**
**£**
24
604
289
2,160
447
95|**Branches**
**£**
23
38
452|**Total**
**£**
24
23
604
327
2,160
447
547||**Association**
**£**
724
644
335
2,427
432
417|**Branches**
**£**
23
38
447|**Total**
**£**
724
23
644
373
2,427
432
864|
||||3,619
22,798
17,271
46,707
21,876|513
4,449
7,509
5,482|4,132
22,798
21,720
54,216
27,358||4,979
31,078
15,185
46,848
8,773|508
4,083
9,265
6,356|5,487
31,078
19,268
56,113
15,129|
||||108,652|17,440|126,092||101,884|19,704|121,588|
||||112,271
(3,282)|17,953
(24)
(335)|130,224
(24)
(3,617)||106,863
(166)
(49)|20,212
(724)
(225)|127,075
(724)
(166)
(274)|
||||(3,282)|(359)|(3,641)||(215)|(949)|(1,164)|
||||108,989|17,594|126,583||106,648|19,263|125,911|
||||47,437
58,614
2,938|4,050
13,544|47,437
62,664
16,482||65,661
37,557
3,430|6,050
13,213|65,661
43,607
16,643|
||||108,989|17,594|126,583||106,648|19,263|125,911|
The notes on pages 14 to17 form part of these accounts.
Approved by the Management Committee on 23rd January 2021, and signed on its behalf by
R Haynes (Chairman)
P. Twentyman (Hon Treasurer)
## **Independent Examiners’ Report to the Trustees of The Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers**
WE report to the Trustees on the accounts of the Association for the year ended 31[st] October 2018, which are set out on pages 12 to 19.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Association you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). We report in respect of our examination of the accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out our examination we have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiners’ statement**
We have completed our examination. We confirm that no material matters have come to our attention in connection with the examination giving us cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. We 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.
__________________________ __________________________ Date: 13th December, 2018
Mr. C Woodd, MA, FIA 3 The Paddocks, Baunton, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 7DL
Mrs M Harris, 3 Furzey Hill Cottage, Meysey Hampton, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 5LG
1