## _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**