2022-12-31-annual-report - Lisburn District Masonic Charity Fund

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LISBURN AND DISTRICT MASONIC CHARITY FUND

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2022

VCCNI 4 May 23

INFORMATION ON THE FUND

The Lisburn & District Masonic Charity Fund is subject to the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, and The Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

It is registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland,

Charity No 106216

The operation of The Charity Fund is governed by its Constitution and Rules, originally dated 13 February 1995 with subsequent amendments dated 14 September 2015, 14 November 2016, 10 September 2018, 12 November 2018 and 11 March 2019.

Its members are masonic units that have their meeting place in a masonic hall situated within the Lisburn District as defined by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim.

Craft Lodges elect three representatives, and Royal Arch Chapters, Councils of Knight Masons, Preceptory, and Prince Masons each elect two representatives to The Charity Fund Committee where they are entitled to vote at General, Special General, and Annual General Meetings. The masonic units are usually represented by their Almoner and Stewart of Charities, and in the case of Craft Lodges an additional representative is nominated.

The Charity Fund Committee elects The Charity Fund Board of Trustees at its Annual General Meeting, including the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Gift Aid Secretary.

The Charity Fund Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance, strategy, management, and administration of The Charity Fund. The objectives of The Charity Fund are:-

(A) To relieve the poverty of widows of freemasons, relatives of freemasons, and freemasons who are experiencing financial hardship, and
(B) To assist any duly constituted masonic charity, any other charitable masonic undertaking, or any non-masonic charity approved by the members of The Charity Fund Committee, and
(C) At its discretion, to provide financial assistance for other charitable purposes as defined in The Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008

The Charity Fund Committee meets monthly, apart from the summer months and December. The Charity Fund Board of Trustees meets as and when required.

The Charity Fund receives donations that have been collected by its member masonic units, and from various fund-raising events organised by The Charity Fund Committee, Tax on Gift Aid donations is reclaimed, and all of the collected monies are donated to registered masonic and non-masonic charities.

The administrative costs of operating The Charity Fund are paid for by working expense donations from the member masonic units, and by members’ ballots conducted at the monthly meetings of the Committee. The Trustees act in a voluntary capacity and receive no

remuneration other than any payments for expenses incurred in the operation of The Charity Fund.

The bankers to The Charity Fund are Danske Bank, PO Box 183, Donegall Square West, Belfast BT1 6JS. The Charity Fund operates two bank accounts, one the Charity Account for receiving charity donations and making charitable payments; and one the Working Expenses Account for the administrative costs of operating The Charity Fund.

The Charity Fund has Trustee, Public Liability, and Employers’ Liability insurance to provide cover for those involved in the various activities and functions of The Charity Fund.

The annual accounts of The Charity Fund are prepared on a receipts and payments basis, based on the transactions recorded in the Fund’s bank accounts where all monies received are lodged. The accounts of The Charity Fund are scrutinised by an Independent Examiner.

The address of the Fund is Lisburn Masonic Hall, 11 Belsize Road, Lisburn, Co Antrim BT27 4LA

TRUSTEES

Samuel Jamison Chairman

Mark Henderson Secretary

Harold White Treasurer

Brian Hampton Gift Aid Secretary

Mel Bacon

Eddie Carson

Girvin Mairs

Arthur Morgan

Joe McCullough (Resigned 6 February 2023)

Geoffrey Rea

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

With a further recovery in masonic activities through 2022, donation levels improved from the low levels of the previous year although they still remain well below pre-Covid levels. Donations from masonic units increased to £7,925 from £1,625 while total income increased to £11,466 from £2,172 in 2021. The income total was helped by the surplus of £1,704 from the Night at the Races that was held in October

. The Trustees are extremely grateful for the generous support of the brethren of the Lisburn District, and their friends who supported our events.

Donations made during the year totalled £4,745, and at the year-end we had £6,007 available for distribution in the New Year. Apart from a donation of £300 to St Mark’s Church, Ballymacash, the Unrestricted Donations continue to be distributed equally between the Victoria Jubilee Benevolent Fund and the Belfast Masonic Charity Fund. Including Restricted Donations, the amount paid in 2022 to the Victoria Jubilee Fund was £2,483, and to the Belfast Fund was £1,850. Of the balance of charity donations held at 31 December, £2,889 has been paid to the Belfast Fund, and £3,112 is to be paid to the Victoria Jubilee Fund.

Working Expense donations from our member units totalled £599 of which £178 represented arrears from previous years. The members’ monthly ballot raised £210, and the combined income of the Working Expenses Account was £809. Operating expenses totalled £541 resulting in a surplus in the Working Expenses Account of £268. Given the healthy position of the Working Expenses Account £200 was transferred to the Charity Account for distribution.

The surplus of total receipts over payments for the year was £6,178, of which £6,007 represented donations due for distribution at the year-end. The cash balance on 31 December 2022 was £6,576.

The Trustees would like to thank Joe McCullough who retired as a Trustee and Committee member in February 2023, for his wise guidance and support of our activities over many years.

With some further recovery in masonic activity expected in the current year, it is hoped that it will lead to a further improvement in donation levels and the charitable work of the Charity Fund.

The Charity Fund Board of Trustees 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 Fund’s objectives, and that they provide a public benefit.

Approved and adopted at a meeting of The Charity Fund Board of Trustees meeting on 13 March 2023

and signed on their behalf by

Samuel Jamison

Chairman, The Lisburn and District Masonic Charity Committee