**PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SURREY BENEVOLENT FUND**
## **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 282659**
## **ANNUAL REPORT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
**Index**
||**Pages**|
|---|---|
|**Trustees’ Report**|**1 & 2**|
|**Independent Examiner’s Report**|**3**|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|**4**|
|**Balance Sheet and Notes to the Accounts**|**5**|
**PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SURREY BENEVOLENT FUND**
## **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 282659**
## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024**
## **Legal and Administrative**
The Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Surrey Benevolent Fund was Registered with the Charity Commission on 21 July 1981
|Registered Charity No.|282659|
|---|---|
|Trustees at 31 August 2024|John Vaughan Christopher French (Chairman) – whole year|
||William Raymond Barr – whole year|
||William Agnew Caughie – whole year|
|On 16 September 2024|John Raymond Massey was appointed as a Trustee|
|Trustee retiring in the year|Raymond Michael Scott Seeley – retired 31 August 2024|
|Principal address|Buckleigh House, Portsmouth Road, Milford, Godalming, GU8 5DP|
|Bankers|Lloyds Bank plc, 147 High Street, Guildford, GU1 3AG, and|
||Masonic Charitable Foundation, 60 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AZ|
|Independent Examiner|Andrew G Sales, FCCA,|
||Gifford, Church Road, Great Bookham, Leatherhead, KT23 3JT|
## **Structure, governance and management**
The Governing document of the Charity is its Trust Deed dated 1 April 1981. The Trustees are the Provincial Grand Master, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the two Assistant Provincial Grand Masters.
## **Objectives and activities, achievements and performance**
## **Objectives**
The objects of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Surrey Benevolent Fund are for the relief of poor and distressed brother masons or their poor and distressed widows and children, or for the benefit of such other Masonic Charities or other Charitable Institutions and objects, whether within or without the Masonic Mark Province of Surrey.
Individual petitions for relief are considered and approved by the Provincial Benevolent Committee, which comprises the Trustees and such other members as are co-opted by the Provincial Grand Master. Other charitable causes are supported with his approval, and he also has discretion to deal with urgent cases out of a special fund maintained for that purpose.
## **Activities**
The Mark Province of Surrey runs several fund-raising events during a typical year, such as a golf event, Charity dinner dance, cricket match etc, on an _ad hoc_ basis, principally attended by Mark Masons, their relatives and friends. In this year the Province held a sponsored Swimathon, a Charity Dinner Dance, a Golf Day, a Burns’ Night Supper and Lodges sponsored a member completing the four day Nijmegen walk. The activities helped consolidate the Fund’s resources, although the principal objective in the year was to raise funds for the Man Van appeal of the Prostate Project.
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## **Achievements and Performance**
During the year, net receipts into all funds totalled £25,950 (2023, £22,626). The sponsored Swimathon raised £5,039, and overall funds designated for the Man Van appeal came to £19,719. Donations to Mark Festivals were £5,000 and Strokeability Woking received £250.
The Benevolent Fund has paid over £10,000 to the Prostate Project since the year end, and further donations in excess of £10,000 are anticipated.
## **Section 4, The Charities Act 2006**
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty set out in Section 4, The Charities Act 2006, to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission _**.**_
## **General Data Protection Regulations**
The Charity’s procedures in respect of Data Protection continue to be reviewed in line with advice given by Mark Grand Lodge.
## **Financial review**
The Benevolent Fund has had no expense charges in the year. The Trustees and fund raisers make no charges to the Charity. The costs of fund-raising events are met out of the proceeds of those events. Other costs are met from the General Fund of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Surrey, which is itself funded by subscriptions received from Surrey Mark Masons.
Funds held by the Fund are held in its account with Lloyds Bank plc, and under Relief Chest Accounts at The Masonic Charitable Foundation.
## **Approval**
The Trustees’ report and accounts were approved at a meeting of the Trustees held on 2 December 2024.
## **Signed on behalf of the Trustees**
J V C French, Provincial Grand Master and Trustee
W R Barr, Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Trustee
Dated 2/12/2024
Page 2
## **PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SURREY BENEVOLENT FUND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 282659**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR TO 31 AUGUST 2024**
|Incoming resources
Donations:
General
Gift aided donations
Income tax recoverable
Cricket
Golf day
Swimathon event
Merchandise & regalia
Donation re Sutton Foodbank
Nijmegen Walk
Charity dinner dance
Prostate Project Man Van appeal
Other events and activities
Interest received
Grant income
MBF re petitioners
Total Incoming Resources
Fundraising costs :
Cricket costs
Golf day costs
Merchandise costs
Bank charges
Grants to support institutions and their
Swishes
Sutton Food Bank
MBF Cheshire Festival
MBF Hampshire Festival
Woking Strokeability
Grants to petitioners
Total outgoing resources
Net incoming (outgoing) resources
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward|**Unrest-**
**ricted**
**Funds**
**Rest-**
**ricted**
**Funds**
**Total**
£
£
£
2,112
1,191
3,303
921
921
225
476
701
0
0
4,789
4,789
4,819
4,819
836
3,000
3,836
500
500
1,115
1,115
2,015
2,015
5,400
5,400
1,704
1,704
650
650
0
0
**This year**|**Unrest-**
**ricted**
**Funds**
**Rest-**
**ricted**
**Funds**
**Total**
£
£
£
6,405
6,405
1,106
1,106
922
922
714
714
5,360
5,360
4,660
4,660
1,820
1,820
139
139
3,000
3,000
**Last year**|
|---|---|---|
||9,534
20,219
29,754|24,126
0
24,126|
||0
2,096
2,096
1,708
1,708
0
aims:
0
0
2,000
2,000
3,000
3,000
250
250
0
0|1,500
1,500
0
5,710
5,710
5,360
5,360
0
3,000
3,000|
||9,054
0
9,054|15,570
0
15,570|
||480
20,219
20,700
13,925
13,925|8,556
0
8,556
5,369
0
5,369|
||14,405
20,219
34,625|13,925
0
13,925|
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**PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SURREY BENEVOLENT FUND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 282659**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR TO 31 AUGUST 2024**
## **Balance Sheet**
**This Year Last Year**
|**Current Assets**
Sundry debtors and deposits
Short-term deposits - Grand Charity
Cash at bank
Less: Sundry creditors
**Net Assets**
Financed by :-
**Unrestricted Income Funds**
Provincial Fund of Benevolence
Provincial Grand Master's Fund
**Restricted Funds**
Prostate Project Man Van appeal
Sutton Food Bank
**Total Funds of the Charity**|£
902
19,466
15,432
35,800
1,175
34,625
9,947
4,458
14,405
19,720
500
34,625|£
677
9,851
8,642|
|---|---|---|
|||19,170
5,245|
|||13,925|
|||9,997
3,928|
|||13,925|
|||13,925|
_For and on behalf of the trustees_ _**R M S Seeley FCA** Provincial Grand Treasurer_ 3 December 2024
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
- _**1**_ **Basis of Preparation**
These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost and in accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Statement of Recommended Practice on Accounting and Reporting by Charities and with the Charities Act 2006. There have been no changes in Accounting Policies since last year and no changes have been made to previous accounts. _**2**_ **Accounting Policies**
Incoming resources are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when the Charity becomes unconditionally entitled to them or their receipt is certain. Where they have related expenditure, they are reported gross, and where tax is recoverable in relation to a gift, this is recognised at the same time as the gift. Liabilities are recognised in the period to which they relate and as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to pay out the resources.
- _**3**_ **Trustees' and Examiner’s Remuneration and Expenses**
No remuneration was paid or expenses reimbursed during the year, either directly or indirectly, to any of the Trustees or the Examiner.
- _**4**_ **Provincial Grand Master's Fund**
The Fund exists in accordance with Provincial By-laws. Page 5
Page 5
## **PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SURREY BENEVOLENT FUND**
## **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 282659**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES**
I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 August 2024.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and the examiner**
The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act
- to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
- 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 Commission. 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 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 no opinion is given as to whether the present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **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 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 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.
Andrew G Sales Relevant professional qualification or body: Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Gifford, Church Road, Great Bookham, Leatherhead, KT23 3JT Dated 3/12/2024.
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