RWM STRAIN MASONIC CHARITABLE TRUST
TRUSTEE'S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2025.
Dr. RWM Strain Masonic Charitable Trust is a charity. The charity is registered with the Charity Commission in Northern Ireland and has the charity number NIC 105903.
Objectives and activities
a. Policies and objectives
In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the charity commission relating to public benefit.
The Trust was established to promote and advance by charitable means:
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¢ The relief of poverty, hardship, sickness and distress amongst members of the Fraternity of Freemasons of the Irish Constitution within the area of benefit and the wives, widows, children and other remoter issue and dependents of such members.
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e To further the education of any such persons who are in need of financial assistance by awarding scholarship exhibitions, bursars or by granting maintenance allowances tenable at any school, university or other educational establishment approved by the trustees. To assist such persons entry into a trade, profession or service or to setup in business.
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¢ To assist any other Masonic charity connected with the Fraternity of Freemasons within the area of benefit.
The trust was originally set up in 2001, when monies were bequeathed from the late Dr RWM Strain’s estate to the Queen’s University Masonic Lodge 533. Lodge 533 took the decision to set up a Trust and invest the monies. The charity continues to derive its income from investments.
b. Main activities undertaken to further the Charity's purposes for the public benefit
The charity has a number of investments, the results of the gain on investments are used to make donations listed below in the Review of Activities.
Public benefit
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charity should undertake.
Achievements and performance
Significant activities and achievements against objectives
a. Key performance indicators
During the year the charity received income from investments which has reduced from the income received in the prior year.
b. Key charitable donations
The Trust donated £4,557 to Christian Pollock, an undergraduate student at Queen’s University Belfast and £3,000 to Zoe Kerr, an undergraduate student at the University of Newcastle. £3,000 was donated to a member of the Order of Freemasonry in Belfast to assist with medical and other expenditure.
Financial review
Going concern
After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.
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RWM STRAIN MASONIC CHARITABLE TRUST
TRUSTEE'S REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
Reserves policy
The Trust at present has no policy on reserves, all income and expenditure are unrestricted.
Structure, governance and management
Dr. RWM Strain Masonic Charitable Trust is a registered charity, number NIC 105903, and is constituted under a Charity Commission Scheme. The principal object of the charity is to promote and advance the relief of poverty, hardship, sickness and distress amongst members of the Fraternity of Freemasons of the Constitution within the area of benefit and the wives, widows, children and other remoter issue and dependents of such members.
The Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Mr A Pollock
Mr J Van Hooijdonk
Prof D T Burns
Mr L Rossi
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
b. Methods of appointment or election of Trustees
The management of the Charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Charity Commission Scheme. The power to appoint new trustees is vested in the Committee of General Purposes of the Queen's University of Belfast Masonic Lodge No. 533. A trustee may retire by giving the other trustees one calendar month's notice in writing of his intention to do so.
c. Financial risk management
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the Charity, and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The Trustee's report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
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Mr J Van Hooijdonk
Trustee
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5 December 2025
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