Skip to content

Banbridge District Masonic Charity Committee

  • Status

    Received: on time

  • Income

    £39.5K

  • Spending

    £40.3K

  • Charity no. 101801
  • Date registered. 03/04/2015

Public benefits

Relieve the poverty of widows of Freemasons and, or, relatives of Freemasons and Freemasons who are experiencing financial hardship etc. The direct benefits which flow from the above purpose include the relief of poverty to those individuals making application to the fund in the circumstances of economic hardship. Where application has been

made on the grounds of ill health or disability, the benefits are the provision of financial assistance for the purchase of equipment or services appropriate to the individual’s circumstances. These benefits are demonstrated through feedback from the lodge almoner/charity steward who has assisted the individual in making application to the fund. There is no harm flowing from this purpose. The Charity’s Beneficiaries are:- a) Freemasons, their wives, partners and families and widows, partners and families of deceased brethren who have been diagnosed and are suffering from a life limiting or life changing illness or disability. b) Freemasons and widows or partners of deceased brethren who are suffering from economic hardship. There is no private benefit to any individual or organisation from their involvement with the charity. Raise money for the purpose of assisting any duly constituted Masonic Charity, i.e. the Masonic Benevolent Institutions or any other charitable Masonic undertaking or any other non-Masonic Charities approved by a majority of the members of the committee. The direct benefits which flow from the above purpose are an increased capacity by those charities to carry out their charitable activities. These benefits are demonstrated through feedback from the appropriately funded charity. Assistance will only be extended to other charities where there is no harm flowing from this purpose. The charity’s immediate beneficiaries are those charities obtaining funding from the charity. The ultimate beneficiaries are those individuals and organisations who are the beneficiaries of the funded charity. Assistance will only be extended to other charities where there is no private benefit to any individual or organisation from their involvement with the charity, or where the private benefit is declared to be no more than incidental.

What your organisation does

The Charity Committee raises funds through the various Masonic Lodges and other Masonic Organisations within the Banbridge District. It does so by promoting the benefits of fundraising to the Lodges, assisting them with collecting information about potential beneficiaries identifying other sources of income for those beneficiaries such as rates

rebates or other forms of income support. It does this through dedicated individuals within each lodge. Potential beneficiaries are identified by the respective lodges and application forms completed and forwarded to the Charity Committee. These forms are reviewed by the Charity Committee, collated and approved to be forwarded to the Down Masonic Widows Fund. The Charity Committee will assist widows or their families in emergency situations by providing financial assistance and fast track access and applications to other Masonic Charities or non Masonic charities.The Charity Committee receives all funds raised by the Lodges and other Masonic Organisations, collates, claims tax relief and distributes to the respective Masonic Funds for distribution to beneficiaries. In addition to this the Charity Committee organises a annual carol service and various charity competitions and events with the proceeds being distributed to Masonic and non Masonic Charities.

The charity’s classifications

  • The prevention or relief of poverty
  • The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage

Who the charity helps

  • Men
  • Older people
  • Women

How the charity works

  • Relief of poverty
  • Welfare/benevolent

Charitable purposes

The objects of The Charity Committee shall be to:- a) Relieve the poverty of widows of Freemasons and, or, relatives of Freemasons and Freemasons who are experiencing financial hardship who were/are subscribing members of lodges within the Banbridge District, as defined by Provincial Grand Lodge of Down. b) Assist any other duly constituted Masonic Charities, i.e. the Masonic Benevolent Institutions or any other charitable Masonic undertaking or any other non-Masonic Charities approved by a majority of the members of the committee. c) At its discretion, provide financial assistance for other charitable purposes as defined in the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.

Governing document

Constitution

Other name

  • 11 Trustees
  • 0 Employees
  • 0 Volunteers

Trustee board

  • W. G. Ian Ritchie
  • Michael Robinson
  • Graham Walker
  • Alan Woods
  • David Major
  • William Fulton
  • Wayne Somerville
  • Michael Hendley
  • Mr Gary Speers
  • Mr Thomas John Jamison
  • Trevor Hawthorne

Public Address

Mr W. G. Ian Ritchie, 26 Mullafernaghan Road, Dromore, County Down, BT25 1JZ

List of regions

  • Armagh City, Banbridge And Craigavon Council
  • Lisburn And Castlereagh City Council

Save