BRC Report to 2003 Council
The Bell Restoration Committee met in London in February, July and October (2002). Four new members were elected to the Committee at the Council meeting, and we were pleased to welcome their new ideas and expertise. Nigel Booth, Kate Cameron and Beverley Winter did not seek re-election and we thank them for their considerable services to the Committee in the past.
The Council approved our revised terms of reference and change of name, but we were disappointed that our paper outlining the challenges for the future engendered minimal debate. Nevertheless, we have continued to take the work forward over the year, and where possible involved other Council Committees in identifying where there might be joint progress towards common goals.
Finding New Sources of Funding
In summary, the paper presented to the Council meeting highlighted a number of issues including the need for research; the need to make this a project about ringers as well as bells, i.e. bells must be both ringable and rung; the need to involve not just other Council committees e.g. Public Relations and Education, but also the need for the Council to raise its profile; the need for professional advice; and the need for the Council to have a well-known figure-head or patron.
During the year we have continued our dialogue with other committees, and have been pleased to welcome representatives of the Committee for Redundant Bells and the Keltek Trust to our meetings. We have found Laith Reynolds' practical experiences of fund raising at State and national level in Australia particularly enlightening.
Our current belief is that we will not make substantial progress without professional help, and we will be seeking advice on how to approach this from various sources. We have always stated that this was a long haul project and the collection of advice and opinions continues.
The Committee continued to provide its core services to bell restoration:
Provision of Information and Advice
Once again the number of new parishes contacting the Committee for advice has fallen (1999 - 60, 2000 - 50, 2001 - 44, 2002 - 25). The early indications for 2003 are that things are beginning to pick up, and, with the possibility of a further grant from the Millennium Commission, we have continued to revise and improve the information available to the trade and to parishes, both on paper and on our web site.
John Barnes attended the dedication at Bacton, Norfolk and Jackie Roberts the rededication at Rousham, Oxfordshire.
The revised and updated booklet Organising a Bell Restoration Project was on sale at the Council meeting.
A report of the key indicators from the Triennial Survey of Bell Restoration Funds has been sent to societies.
Guidance on whether or not to register a whole society as a charity was circulated to members at the Council meeting and has since been updated and published on the web site and sent to society secretaries.
Administration of Funds
The Manifold Trust offered 10 grants totalling £39,000 during the year (2001 - 13 grants totalling £48,000). 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 £27,829. Thirty two applications were received and the following grants approved:
Abbeystrewy - £1,000, Aston Clinton - £700, Barby - £200, Carisbrooke - £500, Castlemorton - £800, Cogenhoe - £400, Charlton Horethorne - £2,000, Cold Ashby - £2,000, Hillandale - £300, Hilmarton - £600, Kingsbury Episcopi - £2,000, Kirkby Underwood - £300, Lapley - £500, Llandudno - £300, Llangattock - £200, Lockerley - £400, Lydiard Millicent - £1,000, Menangle - £1,500, Middleton - £2,000, Mottram-in-Longdendale - £300, Pickhill - £1,300, Potterhanworth - £600, St Stephen-in-Brannel - £1,000, Salisbury (St Thomas) - £2,000, Whetstone - £1,400, Wingfield - £200, Witchampton - £2,000, Wooburn - £1,800 and Camberwell - £500. 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.
The Fred E Dukes International Bell Fund offered the following grants, decided in accordance with the terms of the Fund:
To Australia: Lismore, St Andrew - £2,160, Manuka, St Paul - £850, and to South Africa: Hillandale - £1,000.
Future Work
In addition to continuing to take forward the work outlined above we are also looking at the availability of European funding. As we are unable to provide financial advice, such as the best place to hold charity accounts, we are investigating where such advice may be obtained so that we can point enquirers in the right direction. It has to be said that we do not get many enquiries of this sort, but our literature has previously suggested we can help and we need to be clear how.
Committee Members:
Kate Flavell (Chairman)
John Barnes
Peter Bennett
Ken Davenport
Carol Hardwick
Roddy Horton
David Kingman
Ian Oram
Laith Reynolds
Jackie Roberts (Secretary)
