BRC Report to 2006 Council
The Committee met five times in 2005; in February, June, October and November in London and in May during the Council weekend at Harrogate. At the Council meeting nine committee members were re-elected, and one new member elected, bringing the committee, briefly, back to full strength.
Peter Bennett did not seek re-election. During the autumn David Kingman ceased to be a member of Council, and therefore of the Committee. We thank Peter and David for the contribution they made to the work of the BRC during the preceding three years. We hope to fill the vacancy on the committee at the 2006 Council; we would particularly welcome someone with professional fund-raising expertise.
2005 Ringing Roadshow
From the point of view of the Bell Restoration Committee, we had a good day with a lot of visitors and were pleased with our location. David Kelly from the Keltek Trust, was also on hand to offer advice.
Visitors took away over 100 of the committee leaflets. The wooden jigsaw 'The Bell Tower at Evesham' was a great attraction: we sold all 51 jigsaws we had with us and took orders for another 20 or so. Our quiz raised a further £114 for the CC Bell Restoration Fund. However, our main aim was not to make money but to engage with people, and we certainly achieved that. So a success for us.
Provision of Information and Advice
During the year we revised the publication Organising a Bell Restoration Project and copies of the new edition will be on sale at the 2006 Council meeting.
Forty-three parishes were in contact with us with regard to fund raising, thirty-eight of them being new enquirers. The latter were sent a fund-raising pack. In addition, third parties made enquiries on behalf of three further parishes. We were also pleased to answer a number of more general queries on subjects ranging from where, in a Parish Holy Communion Service, was the best position for a bell's dedication to whether or not to establish a separate charity for a bell restoration project.
During 2005 we received twenty-six Funderfinder enquiries and made searches on behalf of fifteen projects. Feedback indicates that something in excess of £10,000 was received in grants by various projects during the year as a result of these searches (this is in addition to funding from bell restoration trusts e.g. ringers' guilds, the Manifold Trust, CC BRF etc.)
Administration of Funds
The Manifold Trust offered five grants totalling £21,000 during the year. The Committee assists the Trust by the provision of administrative support.
Applications were invited for grants from the Central Council BRF. The total amount available for distribution was £19,400, mainly due to two anonymous donations, for which we are very grateful. Thirty-five applications were received; not all the applicants were successful.
The following grants were approved: Bampton (Oxon) £300; Bolton by Bowland £300; Bridgerule £500; Buxton (Norfolk) £600; Campton £1,100; Chadlington £900; Cheltenham, St Mark £1,400; Cherington (Warwicks.) £1,000; Eldersfield £1,400; Hopton £1,400; Johannesburg, All Saints £900; Lillington (Warwicks.) £600; Mold £500; Orton-on-the-Hill £100; Plymouth - Compton Gifford £400; Prestwold £300; Puttenham £1,300; Rosscarbery £1,400; Shaftesbury, St James £700; Sheffield - Walkley £900; Sutton Cheney £400; Thurgarton £600; Tickenham £600; Weston super Mare, St John £1,000; Whitwick £500; Winford £300.
As agreed at the Council meetings in 1997 and 1998 the criteria for allocating grants and loans are attached to this report. There are no recommendations for changes.
In accordance with the terms of the Fund, the Fred E Dukes International Bell Fund offered the following grants: Australia: St Saviour's Cathedral, Goulburn, NSW - £580; South Africa: Chapel Tower, St Andrew's College, Grahamstown - £540; Canada: Cathedral of Holy Trinity, Quebec - £2,275.
Future Work
As well as continuing with our “business as usual” contacts with those who approach us for help, there is other new work planned for the immediate future:
- We are currently reviewing the new rules relating to Gift Aid, Day Membership and Open Days, and a note will shortly be published on the CC website and in The Ringing World.
- We are maintaining a list of any changes affecting the booklet Organising a Bell Restoration Project and updated versions will be published, or annexes substituted as often as is practical.
- The committee has undertaken to provide photographs and text for the 2007 Ringing World Calendar which will feature churches that have been assisted by the committee, or have received Manifold or Central Council BRF grants.
- A set of user-friendly guidance notes on applying for Landfill Tax funding will be drawn up and published on the BRC web pages.
- We intend to make greater efforts to get feedback on how completed projects raised funds. This should ensure that our advice continues to be up to date.
Committee Members:
Kate Flavell (Chairman)
John Barnes
Ken Davenport
Andrew Gordon
Carol Hardwick (Secretary)
Ian Oram
Laith Reynolds
Jackie Roberts
