SEVEN TOWERS AND MASSEREENE MASONIC CHARITY COMMITTEE ( NIC 102862 )
Trustees’ Report
Year Ended 31[st] December 2022
Trustees’ Annual Report
Statement of Receipts and Payments Statement of Assets and Liabilities For the Year Ended 31[st] December 2022
Index Pages
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Board of Trustees and Officers A Trustees Report A Independent Examiner’s Report 1-2 Statement of Assets and Liabilities 3 Receipts and Payments Account 4
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SEVEN TOWERS AND MASSEREENE MASONIC CHARITY COMMITTEE ( NIC 102862 )
Trustees;
Mr. Raymond Lynn ( Chairman ) Mr. Joey Douglas ( Vice-Chairman ) Mr. George Peden ( Treasurer ) Mr. Alan Barr ( Gift Aid Secretary ) Mr. Allen Mercer ( Events Co-ordinator ) / ( Acting Secretary ) Mr. Stephen Raine ( Registrar )
Address; Ballymena Masonic Hall 103 Mill Street Ballymena BT43 5AD
The Seven Towers and Massereene Masonic Charity Committee is governed by our Constitution document which was approved and adopted by the Committee at a Special Meeting of the Seven Towers and Massereene Masonic Charity Committee held on 16 September 2015 at the Masonic Hall, 103 Mill Street, Ballymena. The Committee was registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 18[th] January 2016 and issued the charity number NIC 102862. The Committee has been accepted as a charity by HMRC using reference number XN45375.
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SEVEN TOWERS AND MASSEREENE MASONIC CHARITY COMMITTEE ( NIC 102862 )
Trustees’ Report
Year Ended 31[st] December 2022
The objectives of the Charity Committee are detailed within their Constitution Document as follows;
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To relieve poverty amongst widows of freemasons, relatives of Freemasons or Freemasons who are experiencing financial hardship and who were or are subscribing Members of Lodges within the Seven Towers and Massereene District as defined by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim.
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At its discretion, The Charity Committee can, provide financial assistance for other exclusively charitable purposes as defined in the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Trustees have had regard to the public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
During the year ended 31[st] December 2022 the Committee oversaw activities in pursuance of their responsibility toward public benefit –
MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING £3,600 UKRAINE SUPPORT £1,050
Distributed to Masonic Charity;
M.W.F. £150 B.M.C.F. £8,300 B.M.W.F. £550 V.J.F. £1,350
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SEVEN TOWERS AND MASSEREENE MASONIC CHARITY COMMITTEE ( NIC 102862 )
Again the Covid pandemic impacted on society during 2022. Thankfully as the year progressed restrictions were gradually reduced or removed and Masonic activity resumed carefully in line with guidance. Brethren understandably made personal decisions about their return to meetings and generally throughout the year attendance at meetings increased but as with much of society the break enforced by the pandemic continues to impact Freemasonry.
Many meetings and especially Installations did not take place early in the year hence income to charities was negatively affected. We wish to record our thanks to the Lodges etc. and especially individual brethren who made personal donations during what was a difficult period. Thankfully as the year progressed more normal activity resumed. We did have to add to our Administration account and again our thanks go to the brother who organised the Fireside Quiz and to the others who contributed personally all of which helped us through.
Our annual Divine Service took place in May once again at Craigs Parish Church. A good attendance by brethren and family members meant the Service was well supported and the collection amounted to £775. Once again we are indebted to the Rector and Select Vestry for hosting us.
We were delighted to assist the local Macmillan Cancer Support team in holding a Coffee Morning in the Hall in October. The event was very well supported by brethren, their families and the wider community and as a result we were able to donate some £3,600 to assist Macmillan with their wonderful support to those dealing with cancer. A total of £1,100 was donated in support of those impacted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. A sum was forwarded to our Grand Master’s appeal in Dublin and support was also extended to a Ukrainian family living locally.
The results of the Committee’s activities during the year 2022 are contained in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities on page 3 and the Receipts and Payments Accounts on page 4. The Trustees, look forward once again to the support of all their brethren within the district. With Covid restrictions relaxed and hopefully never again needed we
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SEVEN TOWERS AND MASSEREENE MASONIC CHARITY COMMITTEE ( NIC 102862 )
look forward to a full return to activity allowing brethren to once again make the generous donations essential to further the Committee’s purposes as laid out in their Constitution.
The report was approved by the Trustees at a meeting held on 01[st] August 2023
And signed on their behalf by:
Joey Douglas
JOSEPH M. DOUGLAS ( SECRETARY )
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