Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for Downpatrick District Masonic Charity Committee for the yearended 315¢ December 2023 Objertives and Activltles The principal funttion of the Downpatrick Distrirt Masonic Charty Committee is to raise funds through the various Masonic Lodges situated within its District. It does so by promoting the benefits of fundraising to the Lodges, assisting them with collecting information about potential beneficiaries identrfyin8 Other source5 of income forthose beneficiaries such as rate rebates or other forms of income support. It does this through dedicated individuals within each lodge. Potential beneficiaries are identified by the respective lodges and application forms completed and forwarded to the Charity Committee. These are reviewed by the Charity Committee, collated and forwarded to the Down Masonic Widows Fund. The Committee receives all funds raised by the Lodges, collates, claim5 tax relief and distributes to respective Masonic Funds for distribution to beneficiarie5. Achlevements, Performance & Publlc Beneflt The removal of the restrictions imposed by COVID meant that all Lodges, Chapters etc. are now meeting again and so there has been an increase in gift aided donation and non-gift aided contributions. All funds raised were passed on to respective Masonic Charities the principle fund being the Down Masonic Widows Fund who supported twenty eight Widows from the District. The variou5 Lodges in addition to contributions to the Committee raSsed and dlstributed £2.250.00 to Other Non-masonic Charities as well as giving £1,630 directly to their own widows. Flnancial Review The Committee received £14.993.00 in Gift Aided Contributions and £4,093.55 in non-Gift Aided Contributions. A claim for gift aid to HMRC realised £5,450.89. E24,537.44 was distributed to seven Masonic Charities the main recipient of which was the Down Masonic Wldows Ftjnd. The Committee intends to distribute as much of its receipts as p055ible less expenses. It is not intending to levy any costs on Lodges for administration as it has sufficient funds wlthin its Committee Account to meet those costs for the foreseeable future. Golng Concern The trustees have revlewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are adequate funds in place to ensure that the The Downpatrick District Masonic Charity Commlttee can contlnue its activities and the financial statements for the year ended 2023 can be signed off as a goin8 concem. Structure, Governance and Management Governing Document and Constltution of the Charlty The Downpatrick Distritt Masonic Charity Committee is governed by the Constitution and Rules as amended and adopted at a meeting held on the 23, of March 2016 at the Ma50nic Hall. English Street, Downpatrick. Recruitment and Appointment of Commlttee Members {Trusteesl In accordance with the Constitutlon and Rule5 the members as defined in that Constitution and Rules appoint annually the following to be the Board of Trustees. President Chairman Treasurer Secretary
Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31# December 2023 (continued) Pay and remuneration The Charity Committee does not pay or remunerate anyTrustee or member of the Committee. Organlsational Structure The governance, strate8y. management and administration of The Charity Committee is the responsibility of a Board of Trustees elected in accordance with the constitution to act as trustees of the funds of The Charity Committee. The Committee meet annually and on any other occasion deemed necessary by the Board of Trustees. Compllance wlth Publlc Benefit The Charity Committee has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve The Charity Committee's objectives, as well as providing public benefit. Statement of Trustees, Responslbllltles The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees. Report and the statement of receipts and payments and statement of assets and liabilities in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland with Income of less than £250,000 requires the trustee5 to prepare 3 statement of receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year. The trustees are responsible for keeping accountSng records that are sufficient to show and explain the Committee's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the assets and liabilities of the Charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Slgned on Behalf of the Trustees Chalrman Mr. William James George Secretary Mr. Harold Bennett