BRC Report to 2005 Council
The Bell Restoration Committee met in London in February, in Colchester in May and in London in October (2004). Michael Henshaw sat in on the early part of the May meeting held in the Headquarters Hotel during the Central Council meeting weekend.
Robin Shipp was elected to the Committee at the Central Council meeting, which brought the Committee back to full strength.
Finding New Sources of Funding
Various websites, some of them Government sponsored, were evaluated for identifying possible sources of funding for bell restoration. The conclusion reached by the Committee's researchers was that if bell restoration Appeal Committees were to be successful in this area they would need to become adept at 're-packaging' their applications in terms of heritage, benefit to the community, youth work etc, to meet the differing criteria of the different sources of funding.
A restoration project in Derbyshire has been adopted as a 'trial' application for European Funding. The local MEP's research team has undertaken the task of seeking possible sources of funding.
The expertise of some experienced 'semi-professional' fund raisers was acknowledged and the Committee is planning to make arrangements to seek their advice and assistance on fund raising in general and on the thorny topic of engaging professional fundraisers in particular.
Two members of the Committee attended CharityFair 2004 held in Islington in April. A report appeared in the Ringing World of 27 August 2004.
Provision of Information and Advice
The number of parishes contacting the Committee, for the first time, for advice and assistance in 2004 was 38, which, coincidentally was the same number as in 2003.
Articles were published in the Ringing World on Gift Aiding Income Tax refunds, the position regarding Gift Aided Open Day donations, and advice on making applications to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
There continues to be a steady stream of enquiries - mostly by e-mail - about the assistance the Committee is able to offer, using the Funderfinder software, to projects seeking grant aid from Charitable Trusts. Fifteen searches were carried out during the year and many more enquiries, which will result in searches being carried out as projects reach an appropriate stage, were received.
Whilst the Committee is not able to provide detailed financial advice to Bell Restoration Fund organisers, a ringer has offered to provide unregulated advice (i.e. not needing the authorisation required for the provision of investment and other advice) as and when needed. All enquiries will be channelled through the Committee. So far no such requests have been received. We are concerned to be reliant on one person for this advice and would appreciate other offers of help.
Administration of Funds
Manifold Trust
The Committee continued to provide administrative support to the Manifold Trust. The Trust offered 8 grants totalling £27,250 during the year.
Central Council Bell Fund
It was evident at the start of the year that funds held in the CC Bell Fund were sufficient to invite grant applications. Forty one initial enquiries were received within the advertised timescale. Of these 33 submitted completed applications, 5 did not return their forms, 2 withdrew and 1 was ineligible. Applications were considered at the February 2004 meeting, at which time a total of £20,000 was available for distribution.
Grants were awarded as follows:
Balmain - £600, Brasted - £700, Brentwood - £1,500, Chearsley - £500, Crediton - £600, Crowan - £1,300, Earl Stonham - £700, East Teignmouth - £300, Ellesborough - £300, Finchampstead - £500, Fulbrook - £200, Greatworth - £800, Heighington - £800, Highgate £800, Hilmarton - £1,400, Huntsham - £1,000, Ingestre - £1,200, Loddon - £1,400, Madresfield - £600, Madron - £700, Mapledurham - £800, Moseley - £600, North Bradley - £600, Shabbington - £1,200, South Perrott - £200, St Osyth - £700
There is insufficient money available in the fund to invite applications for grants in 2005.
There are no recommendations for changes to the Criteria for allocating grants and loans, originally agreed in 1997 and 1998. These (were) attached at the end of this report.
The Fred Dukes International Bell Fund
The Fund Trustees offered grants, decided in accordance with the terms of the Fund, to:
Orange, Holy Trinity, Australia - £400, and Sewanee, Breslin Tower, University of the South, USA - £1,900.
Future work
The CC publication 'Organising a Bell Restoration Project' was last revised in 2001. A free copy of this booklet is now being sent to all parishes contacting the Committee for the first time. The appendices are in the process of being updated with current information and the whole booklet will be reviewed prior to their incorporation.
The Committee will continue to follow up and give encouragement to Millennium Fund projects currently in abeyance or abandoned, in the hope that they might be restarted.
The idea of a meeting between CC Committees and the 'trade' is still under consideration though it was appreciated that, for it to be fruitful, a set of agreed objectives will be required.
The Committee will consider whether it might be possible to produce an advice sheet on making a grant application to organisations not normally known to support bell restoration by focussing on their particular aims and objectives.
Kate Flavell (Chairman)
John Barnes
Peter Bennett
Ken Davenport
Carol Hardwick (Secretary)
David Kingman
Ian Oram
Laith Reynolds
Jackie Roberts
Robin Shipp
