Carrickfergus and District Masonic Benevolent Committee
Trustees’ Report 2023 for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
NIC Registration: 105743 Granted on 26/01/2018
HMRC Registration: XN48425
Trustees:
Mr. Samuel (Uel) Crooks (Past Secretary)
Mr. Brian Morrison (Gift Aid Secretary)
Mr. Ivor McAllister (Treasurer)
Address: Whiteabbey Masonic Centre 54 Monkstown Avenue, Newtownabbey BT37 0EB
e-mail: carrickfergusanddistrictmcc@btinternet.com
Summary
Carrickfergus and District Masonic Charity Committee is governed by the Constitution document which was approved in 2016 and is held by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
The Committee is registered as a Charity by both HMRC and the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. The objectives of the Charity Committee are outlined within the Constitution and are available to the public. Co-Vid from 2020 until the all clear was given to resume normal activities in 2022, had a dramatic impact on the Charity donations from the units within the District. However it was remarkable that some units , through innovative ideas , were able to contribute monies to various charities.
Thankfully those dark days are long gone and 2023 saw an increase in Charity contributions from the members of the Masonic Order.
Sadly, a large number of members of the Masonic Order passed away, others due to the effects of Co-Vid did not resume their Masonic activities due to long term illness,fear and vulnerability.
To all units within the District the Carrickfergus and District Charity Committee is eternally grateful for the support throughout the pandemic and into the new era.
Contributions to the various Masonic Charities and Non-Masonic Charities can be seen in the Annual Accounts for 2023 skilfully prepared by the Treasurer.
Briefly in 2023 a total of just over £23415 had been received. From this £2725 had been donated to nonMasonic Charities and went towards the Public Benefit requirment and £24205 had been donated to Masonic Charities. A total of £27042 was distributed to all Charities. With the merger of Grand Lodge Charities there had been a difficulty created by the Grand Lodge bankers which resulted in almost £9000 having to be retained until the matter had been resolved.
These monies were transferred in 2024 when things had been sorted out.
The Trustees had agreed that unallocated (unreserved) donations would be distributed as follows; 45% to VJMBF:45% to BMCF: 10% MWF. The Committee members had previously agreed to this recommendation. This allocation would be reviewed at the AGM on an annual basis in future.
The Trustees would also like to record their thanks to the independent examiner who completed the task at no cost to the Charity Committee.
This report was approved by the Trustees at a meeting held on 28[th] May 2024 and signed on behalf of the Trustees by: Brian N. Morrison Brian N. Morrison (Secretary 2024)
Secretary: Wor. Bro. Brian N. Morrison 17 Carnhill Avenue, Newtownabbey. BT36 6LE Mobile no: 079 1866 4035 Home no: 028 9083 6746 e-mail: carrickfergusanddistrictmcc@btinternet.com