OXFORD DIOCESAN BELL FUND
(Registered Charity No. 268390)

Diocesan Bell Fund Raising - 2007

Report of the Managing Trustees for the year ending 31st December 2007

Grants

5 grants totalling £12,025 have been paid during the year to:

During the year grants were provisionally allocated as follows:

One previously allocated provisional grant to Mapledurham has lapsed as the work has not started. A provisional grant to Great Brickhill has been withdrawn at the request of the P.C.C. and a new application is expected to be submitted in the future.

In accordance with the Trustees continuing policy of requiring an independent assessment of satisfactory completion of the work, before payment of a grant, members of the Towers and Belfries Committee carry out an inspection on the Fund’s behalf. The Managing Trustees wish to record their gratitude for this service.

The Managing Trustees have maintained grant allocations of 10% of the estimated costs of eligible work. If the final cost is materially different from the indicated cost at the time of application, the grant is reviewed and may be revised. The level of grant allocated depends on the number of applications and the income available for distribution and may vary from year to year.

Future Grants

Two further applications for grants were received during the year. One of these being for maintenance work was ineligible; the other was deferred for clarification of eligible work.

Three other enquiries have been received which may result in grants.

Fund Raising

New money raised in 2007 amounted to £9,020. Regular fund raising included £4,035 from branch donations, donations from P.C.C.s of £703, tower donations of £964 and £790 from the Ringing Day. Sherbourne Teaching Aids donated £170. Individual Gift Aided donations amounted to £182. Of particular note were the donations in memory of Terry Gibson (Thame) which amounted to £1,125.

The Managing Trustees again wish to express their thanks to all those who helped to arrange the Ringing Day; and to all those who have contributed to the continued success of the Fund.

Investments

Investment income for the year was £18,558 (2006: £17,401). This increase reflects the overall situation of higher interest rates that applied for most of 2007. Transactions are made on behalf of the Fund by the Diocesan authorities and the market value of the investment at 31st December 2007 was £320,721.

Ken Davenport