West Riding Masonic Charities Limited (WRMCL)

Transcription

1 West Riding Masonic Charities Limited (WRMCL) The official Charity of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding Your Charity of Choice President R.W. Provincial Grand Master

2 Introduction Masonic charitable activity has been operative in the Province of Yorkshire West Riding for over 150 years. Its present governing body is West Riding Masonic Charities Limited. The elected board of Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the needs of distressed Freemasons and their dependents are met, to provide services to improve the quality of life of its more vulnerable members and more recently to provide grants for community projects and organisations. As a guide, recent years have seen approximately 500,000 being distributed per annum to many diverse and worthy causes. This can only be achieved by the continued support of Freemasons within the Province of Yorkshire West Riding. For which the Trustees wish to record their thanks and appreciation. Page 1

3 Who is it for? Beneficiaries are those qualifying, who require financial or material support. Freemasons (Members of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding) Former Members Services Available Dependents ( Partners and Children) Provision of Grants Whilst many applications are directed to the National Masonic Charities, WRMCL continues to be of assistance in those instances where there is a genuine need, an emergency or the National criteria do not match a local need. In all cases where renewable grants are applied for i.e. for children and adults, gifts are provided to bring a little extra cheer at Christmas and Birthdays. Emergency Grants To provide financial assistance in crisis situations. This can take many forms and as such each application is given full consideration. It should be noted that grants cannot be made to relieve debt. Visits to the frail and elderly The Charity retains the services of a Welfare visitor to ensure beneficiaries receive the maximum support possible and to raise awareness of difficulties being experienced. Respite Care Provision Allows for those with care needs to be supported whilst their regular carer has a break. Page 2

4 Serving the wider community Health and Housing schemes The Charity seeks to improve provision where difficulties exist. As such, the directors look to be of assistance in providing services and facilities wherever it is practicable. The Charity also works to serve the wider non Masonic community. Provincial Grand Masters Fund Provides major and smaller grants to Community causes identified by Lodges and Chapters. Major Grants are considered once a year, applications close 28th. February. Smaller Grants can be applied for throughout the year and will be considered at meetings held quarterly. Application should be made to the fund administrator. Supporting Province wide Charitable Projects Teddies for Loving Care is aimed at calming distressed children when visits to A/E hospitals are required. This scheme continues to be very popular and well received. Costing some 12,500 a year, donations are received in support of this cause and the charity presently underwrites any shortfall incurred. Community Emergencies and Major Projects The Charity responds to many such requests for help, such examples are the flooding experienced in 2007 or requests to supply equipment to the British Red Cross working in Yorkshire. A more recent initiative backed by a 100,000 allocation of funds is to help injured military personnel who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan to enhance the quality of their future life. Page 3

5 Finances Match Funding Arrangements The charity is pleased to support initiatives of the Freemasons Grand Charity when monies destined to a National Charity are to be distributed to local or regional units. Enquiries seeking support for other causes should be directed to the Chairman of the charity at its registered office. How is the finance raised? The Charity is totally reliant on contributions from members. We encourage all personal contributions to be gift aided so that wherever possible monies can be boosted when tax is reclaimed. We further support the use of Bankers Orders to ease the burden of administration for all concerned. Another source and tax efficient method from individuals is through legacies left by members. Lodges and Chapters also play a very important role by holding fund raising events throughout the year. All forms of giving to WRMCL are recognised through a patronage scheme. For Individuals (including tax recovered) is 500 for Vice Patrons and 1,000 for Patron recognition. The scales for Lodges are 2,500 for Vice Patron and 5,000 Patron. Whilst for Chapter the level is 625 and 1250 respectively or 25% of the Craft Lodge level. Page 4

6 Other little known facts WRMCL receives no funds from the National Masonic Charities or other bodies to run its services. Directors do not receive remuneration or personal expenses. No donation is used to defray running costs. Prudent investment of funds provide reliable returns. The Province meets the cost of administration services. The Province and the Charity work closely with the four National Masonic Charities and help in the raising of many millions of pounds through the festival system. How can you help? By making regular donations (gift aided whenever possible) Supporting Social events for West Riding Masonic Charities Limited. Ensuring Lodge and Chapters raise funds for the Charity. Support the valuable work of the Charity Steward Become more involved as a :- Charity Assistant contact the Area Charity Chairman or the Provincial Charity Steward. Committee or Project work contact the Chairman of West Riding Masonic Charities Limited. Page 5 Director submit your name with the required 20 supporting Masonic signatures before the Annual meeting as per the bye laws( This is for a three year term of office which is renewable).

7 Enclosures Contained in this booklet is a :- Standing Order Form Gift Aid Declaration Preference Declaration Brethren are already familiar with the first two forms and need not sign further copies unless increasing the amount donated when a new standing order will be required. n.b.all personal donations directed to West Riding Masonic Charities will cumulatively gain recognition of patronage to the charity. In addition Gift Aided donations allows for a tax reclaim thereby enhancing monies given. A new form has been introduced which all members are requested to sign. Called the Preference Declaration it ensures donor requests are honoured. In short selecting Option 1. will ensure local support continues for :- Local Freemasons and their dependents with needs, Provincial beneficiaries receiving help from the National Masonic Charities. The Provincial Grand Masters Fund. Purchase of Teddy Bears for children attending hospital. Providing assistance for local emergencies. During periods of Festival Fund Raising, monies will be directed to further support the Provincial charitable activity. Selecting Option 2. Provides the opportunity to direct funds to a particular National Masonic Charity of choice. Page 6

8 Remember... Your help today is relief for someone tomorrow West Riding Masonic Charities Limited (WRMCL)

9 Please return this form to your Charity Steward Standing Order Mandate (Please Print) Bank/ Building Society details from which payments will be made. Postcode: Please make monthly/quarterly/annual* payments from my account until further notice in accordance with the following details (*delete as applicable) Your account Number Your Name Address Postcode: Details of account to which payment is to be made: Sort Code Account Number Quoting above reference Name on Account (Insert Name of Lodge Charity Account) Please pay the sum of on the day of 20 followed by on the same day each month/quarter/annual*until the final payment on day of 20 or until cancelled by me. Account holders signature Dated Please return this form to your Lodge Charity Steward West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd Masonic Hall, Spring Bank Place, Bradford BD8 7BX. Registered Charity No Members Reference No Gift Aid Declaration Lodge Name Number My full name My full address Postcode: I hereby agree that all donations paid by me to West Riding Masonic Charities Limited (WRMCL) that I may make, on or after the 6th April 2000, should be treated as Gift Aid donations. I request that WRMCL allocate all payments made under this Gift Aid declaration to such Masonic Charities as I shall determine, or in the my absence of my determination as the Directors for the timebeing of WRMCL may determine. This declaration is to remain in force until cancelled by me in writing. I wish / do not wish* to make payments by Standing Order. *delete as applicable Tax Declaration: I am resident in the United Kingdom for tax purposes or on UK Crown service overseas. Please reclaim tax on the actual sums paid under the above declarations though they were net sums from which I had deducted income tax at the basic rate applying at the time each is paid. I confirm: I will pay to Inland Revenue for each tax year an amount of Income or Capital gains at least equal to the tax you reclaim; and I will immediately notify you in writing(via my Lodge Charity Steward) if any aspect of this declaration no longer applies, or of any change to my name and address Signed Date West Riding Masonic Charities Limited Preference Declaration 1. I wish for my personal donations submitted to the Lodge s Charity account to be forwarded to and managed by the directors of West Riding Masonic Charities Limited in accordance with their discretionary policy as determined from time to time. Please tick. Or 2. I wish for my personal donations processed through the Lodge s Charity account to be forwarded to West Riding Masonic Charities Limited for onward transmission to one of the National Masonic Charities identified below. A). The Freemasons Grand Charity B). The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution C). The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys D). The Masonic Samaritan Fund Declaration I wish my donations to be directed in favour of option 1. until further notice in writing I wish my donations to be directed in favour of option 2. until further notice in writing Lodge name & No. Name Signed Date

10 Provincial logo Registered Charity Number West Riding Masonic Charities Limited Registered Office Masonic Hall, Spring Bank Place, Bradford. BD8 7BX Tel Provincial Grand Almoner - Confidential Helpline Tel Published February 2011