The Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham RMTGB 2021 Festival Manual
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The Provincial Grand Lodge of
Durham
RMTGB 2021 Festival
Manual
2
Foreword by the Provincial Grand Master
It was with the greatest of pleasure that I was
able to accept the privilege of our Province
hosting the 2021 Festival, in aid of The Royal
Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. A privilege
and an honour indeed as this will be the last
bespoke Festival in aid of the RMTGB, as from
2022 the 4 individual charities will have been
merged into one unit.
As a Province we have, for so many years, been
recipients of tremendous support from RMTGB.
In each and every year we receive well in excess
of £100,000 to support needy children of
distressed or deceased Brethren. The support
these families receive varies in so many ways, but is fundamentally used to improve
the education and preparation for adult life in the years ahead. Without such support,
many of these children would be missing out on essential ways of improving their lot
in life.
The Province of Durham has always risen to the occasion, whenever asked to support a
Festival or many other initiatives. I am totally confident that our Brethren and their
families will respond to this very worthwhile Festival, which will result in a final
result in 2021 of which we can all be very proud. Such an effort will not be easily
achieved but our Festival Committee is determined to involve as many Brethren and
their families as possible, and it is hoped to make all of the fund raising activities
more enjoyable than ever before.
We are planning to launch the Festival on Sunday 24th January 2016 at The Sage
Gateshead. This will be a family occasion, and it is worth putting that date in your
diaries now. Prior to that date the Festival team will be planning many events,
particularly for Charity Stewards, in order that we can eventually communicate the
facts of this Festival to every Brother in our Province.
Believe me Brethren we come across many distressing cases, in and beyond our
Province, of children who need our help in so many different ways. This is to be our
opportunity to help give them a better life and an improved outlook for the future.
Please support the various fundraising initiatives in whatever way you can.
Eric Heaviside
Provincial Grand Master
September 2015
3
Table of Contents
Foreword by the Provincial Grand Master ........................................................................................................ 3
Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................................................... 4
Message from the Festival Director ..................................................................................................................... 6
Chapter 1 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 7
The Festival & The RMTGB ..................................................................................................................................... 7
The Festival System........................................................................................................................................... 8
The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys ............................................................................................ 9
The Mission Statement of The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys .................................... 10
Recent RMTGB Case Histories ..................................................................................................................... 11
What the RMTGB can do with an individual’s donation .................................................................... 13
How to access support .................................................................................................................................... 14
Eligibility Criteria ............................................................................................................................................. 15
How to Apply for Financial Support .......................................................................................................... 17
How to Apply for a Talent Aid Grant ......................................................................................................... 19
Additional Subsidiary Grants ....................................................................................................................... 20
Chapter 2 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Festival Roles and Responsibilities .................................................................................................................... 21
The Festival Committee ................................................................................................................................. 23
The Lodge Charity Steward ........................................................................................................................... 25
Hall Ambassadors ............................................................................................................................................. 26
Chapter 3 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27
How to Donate ........................................................................................................................................................... 27
How Can I Donate? ........................................................................................................................................... 28
Effective Fundraising ...................................................................................................................................... 30
Handling objections to giving ...................................................................................................................... 32
Gift Aid ................................................................................................................................................................. 33
Using Gift Aid Envelopes ............................................................................................................................... 34
Legacies................................................................................................................................................................ 35
Chapter 4 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Targets and The Festival Jewel............................................................................................................................ 37
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 38
The Festival Jewel ............................................................................................................................................ 39
How can I commit to the Jewel qualification amount? ...................................................................... 40
Jewel Distribution............................................................................................................................................. 41
4
Have you already qualified for a Jewel?.................................................................................................... 41
Lodge Award System ....................................................................................................................................... 43
Chapter 5 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 45
Events ........................................................................................................................................................................... 45
Festival Events .................................................................................................................................................. 46
Chapter 6 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Website, Social Media & Merchandise .............................................................................................................. 47
Festival Website ................................................................................................................................................ 48
Social Media ....................................................................................................................................................... 48
Merchandise ....................................................................................................................................................... 48
Appendices .................................................................................................................................................................. 49
Appendices Index ............................................................................................................................................. 50
Appendix 1 - Your Guide to Donating ....................................................................................................... 51
Appendix 2 – How to Set Up Regular Donations by Telephone ...................................................... 55
Appendix 3 – How to Set Up Regular Donations Online .................................................................... 56
Appendix 4 - Single Donation Form ......................................................................................................... 58
Appendix 5 - Regular Donation Form ...................................................................................................... 59
Appendix 6 - Credit/Debit Card Donation Form ................................................................................... 62
Appendix 7 - Dealing with Sponsorships for Events .......................................................................... 63
Appendix 8 - Sponsorship & Gift Aid Declaration Form .................................................................... 66
Appendix 9 – How to complete a Gift Aid Envelope ........................................................................... 67
Appendix 10 - Envelope Verification Schedule ...................................................................................... 68
Appendix 11 - Gift Aid Envelope Guidance – Local Banking ............................................................ 69
Appendix 12 - Envelope Verification Schedule - Local Banking ..................................................... 71
Appendix 13 - Miscellaneous Payment Form ......................................................................................... 72
Appendix 14 - Miscellaneous Payment Form – Local Banking....................................................... 73
Appendix 15 – How to make Donations by Text ................................................................................... 74
5
Message from the Festival Director
We enter into exciting times as we embark on
our Festival campaign, and it is indeed a great
pleasure to be asked by our Provincial Grand
Master to lead the Durham 2021 Festival
Team. I have been so pleased with the
response of the Durham Brethren with their
enthusiasm towards the Festival.
We have compiled this manual to be your
guide to help you during the Festival. Our
Charity Stewards will be the key to this being
a successful and enjoyable Festival, and it is
important we give them all the help and
support. This manual together with our comprehensive website
www.durham2021.org will, it is hoped, provide all the answers you need.
Not only must our Charity Steward possess the right qualities required for the task,
but he must know what is needed of him, how he can most easily achieve that, and
who he can turn to for help and guidance. His success will materially depend on
the training he receives from the earliest stages of the Appeal – if a Lodge has a
successful launch under its belt, with Brethren making long term and Gift-Aided
pledges, the remainder of the appeal can be spent in raising additional funds in the
most fun-loving ways!
Currently, there are 51 recipients in our Province who are supported by the
RMTGB, but I’m sure others could also benefit. During our Festival it’s important
to raise funds but equally we must raise awareness to ensure the Brethren of
Durham understand how the RMTGB operates and gives that much-needed
support to those who need it the most.
We have the benefit during this campaign of taking advantage of new methods of
communication, and it’s important we take advantage of all of them but at the
same time being aware of those who like their information in the good old-
fashioned way. We will have regular newsletters distributed to the Charity
Stewards to keep Lodge members up to date, and news and events will be
constantly updated on our website, Facebook and Twitter sites.
This Festival manual takes you through all the stages of the appeal and all the
various options open to a Lodge Charity Steward to achieve a good result in the
most enjoyable fashion. I am extremely grateful to you for undertaking this very
important responsibility, and wish you every success in your endeavours!
John Thompson
Festival Director
6
Chapter 1
The Festival & The RMTGB
7
The Festival System
Understanding the system
Currently there are 47 Provinces in England and Wales of which 44 take part in the
Festival system, the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London, the Provinces of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney and the Isle of Man being excepted.
Each year 4 Provinces conclude their Festival by holding an event to announce the
total they have raised over the duration of their Festival. One Festival culminating each
year for each of the four Masonic charities, which are:
The Grand Charity www.grandcharity.org
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution www.rmbi.org.uk
The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls & Boys www.rmtgb.org
The Masonic Samaritan Fund www.msfund.org.uk
Further information about each charity can be obtained from the Internet, either direct
or via the Festival Website: www.durham2021.org
Why are Festivals Required?
On average, just over 67% of the four Charities’ income is derived from Festival
Appeals. The Charities are often faced with the misconception that additional
donations are not needed due to the income they receive from their endowments;
however this is not the case.
In 2013, the Charities spent more than £29m supporting beneficiaries, whilst income
from investments amounted to only £3m. This clearly demonstrates how much the
Charities rely on successful Festival Appeals to continue their life-changing work.
Our Province has the privilege of hosting the last Festival in its current format for the
Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys as the four charities undergo a restructure over
the coming years, to ensure that the charities are fit for use in the modern era.
8
The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys
History
The origins of the Trust date back to the 18th Century. Chevalier Ruspini, a prominent
Freemason of the time formed the Royal Cumberland Freemasons School under the
patronage of HRH the Duchess of Cumberland. The school opened with just 15 girls in
1788 in central London. Two similar institutions for boys opened 10 years later in 1798
and operated independently for 60 years providing education and clothing for the sons
of distressed Masons. The title Royal was granted to the boys’ institution in 1832.
In 1973 the Grand Master MW Bro HRH the Duke of Kent asked The Hon Mr Justice
Bagnell to review all of the Masonic Charities and, as a result of his report the two
were amalgamated as the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. The boys’ school
was sold in 1977, but the girls’ school in Rickmansworth remains and operates as an
independent educational establishment accepting both fee-paying pupils and those
supported by a petition from the RMTGB.
HRH the Duchess of Cumberland (top)
was the Trust’s first Royal Patroness.
With Chevalier Ruspini, a prominent 18th
Century Freemason, she founded the
Royal Cumberland Freemasons’ School in
1788.
This picture (bottom) of about 1802
shows Chevalier Ruspini, one of the
founders of the first school, leading the
pupils into Grand Lodge in the presence
of HRH Prince George, Prince of Wales.
The Trust deed was signed in the early 1980s, and aims to support the educational
needs of children of all ages of distressed Freemasons and, where funds permit,
children without a Masonic connection.
The Trust today has extended its remit and is now able to assist with emergency
grants for cases of financial hardship, welfare support and bursaries for gifted and
talented children. Recent years have seen applications continually rise, particularly as
a result of the recession, with the 2013-2014 annual report showing the total number
of children assisted as 1868.
The Trust is extremely proud of the fact that no eligible child or young person has ever
been refused assistance. That said, it is vital that successful Festivals continue to
support the RMTGB. Currently Festivals raise approximately 30% of the money needed
to support these young people, with the balance coming from investment income from
past generations of Freemasons. It is remarkable that 90 pence out of every £1 donated
goes direct to supporting children in need.
9
The Mission Statement of
The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys
“To relieve poverty and advance the education of children of a Masonic
family and, when funds permit, support other children in need.”
Main Aims of the RMTGB
The main work of the Trust is to assist Masonic families who have experienced a
change in their circumstances that has led to financial hardship. This could be, for
example, following the ill health or death of a parent. The main way the Trust helps is
by providing ongoing financial support to relieve poverty and advance education.
In addition to its traditional role of providing educational support for the children of
distressed or deceased Masons, the Trust today has a wide and varied role in
supporting children from all walks of life, and has implemented the following
schemes:
• Talent Aid provides both one-off and recurring grants for Masonic children and
grandchildren to aid their development in areas such as music, performing arts and
sport. These grants are means-tested and are not directed at normal educational
needs.
• Lifelites is a charitable fund (originally the Millennium Fund) which provides
assistance to children’s hospices. The charity aims to enhance the lives of children in
hospices around the country by providing equipment such as computers, games and
cameras.
• New Support for Postgraduate Students. The Burwood House and Ruspini House
Trusts have launched a new initiative to provide support towards accommodation
costs for postgraduate students who are living away from home, are from low-
income backgrounds and have a Masonic connection.
• Other Subsidiary Funds are available for the children of Masons and non-Masons
alike. Funds may be designated by a particular donor for specific purposes such as an
overseas travel allowance or they may be for emergency relief. A complete list of the
subsidiary funding is available on the RMTGB website.
The Trust Locally
As we stand today the RMTGB supports over 2000 recipients, 51 of which are here in
Durham and they received in excess of £150,000 in the last 12 months and, in the last
5 years, almost £700,000 has come into this Province to support children and young
persons.
This is the support we receive from the RMTGB and, taken collectively across all the
charities, we have received £2.1m in the last 5 years supporting our Brethren or
dependents. These figures show how important it is that we as Masons must support
these charities to ensure they can continue to give the support back to Durham.
10Recent RMTGB Case Histories
Blaze
Blaze is 11 years old. His father left the family home
shortly after he was born. In 2010, he was awarded a full
scholarship by a prestigious performing arts school. This
was a wonderful opportunity that was too good to turn
down but, being unable to work due to ill-health, his
mother could not afford the additional costs including his
daily travel and school uniform.
The RMTGB provided the extra support needed to cover these costs, ensuring that
Blaze could take advantage of the scholarship he had been offered. He was also
awarded maintenance grants to help with his other everyday expenses.
Charlie, Daniel and Aidan
Charlie, 12, Daniel, nine, and Aidan, seven, received
RMTGB support when the recession took its toll on their
father’s small business and it collapsed. This had a
devastating impact on his family’s finances, and the
RMTGB provided maintenance allowances to ensure that
the education and welfare of his children did not suffer
during this difficult time.
In our experience, families looking to cut back their spending are often forced to
sacrifice extra-curricular activities, but RMTGB support enabled the boys to continue
their favourite sports including swimming, football and cricket.
Rhonwen
Rhonwen is 16 years old. She is a promising young canoe
sprinter whose sporting career has developed significantly
since she took up the sport at the age of seven. She now
regularly competes in national competitions. Because her
parents suffer from illnesses which have reduced their
ability to work, the family income is insufficient to fully
support her promising career. The RMTGB contributed
towards the cost of a new kayak to ensure that Rhonwen is
able to compete at the highest levels.
Stephanie and Katie
Scott, a Freemason, is father to Katie aged nine and
Stephanie aged five. Scott was made redundant in 2009,
and the financial hardship and desperate search to find a
job exacerbated his existing depression and anxiety until it
11became so severe he could no longer work. When Scott’s wife had a serious back
operation that made it difficult for her to continue working as a childminder, the
family faced losing their home.
The RMTGB has provided a termly maintenance allowance for Katie and Stephanie,
which has paid for gymnastics and swimming lessons and a laptop for them to use for
school work. Scott says: “I can’t thank the Trust enough for the help and assistance.
Thanks to you, we are happy, settled and the future is looking bright.”
Skye
Skye, the granddaughter of a Freemason, is 14 years old.
She has Turner Syndrome which affects her growth and
development, as well as mild autism and Global
Development Delay which makes reading and writing
difficult. Skye’s parents introduced her to Judo when she
was seven as a positive channel for the frustration she
experiences as a result of her conditions. Since then, she
has excelled in both mainstream competitions and those
for people with physical and learning disabilities.
One of Skye’s ambitions is to compete in the Special Olympics. To qualify, it was
essential that she competed internationally, but her family struggled to meet the cost
of travelling to overseas competitions. Through TalentAid, the RMTGB has contributed
to Skye’s competition fees as well as travel and accommodation costs. Consequently,
in 2012 Skye was selected for the Special Needs International GB Squad and has since
achieved two gold and two silver medals in international competitions.
Jake
Jake is 21. He had always dreamed of working in film and
television, but the financial pressures on his family after
his parents divorced led him to believe he would never be
able to pursue his dream. The situation was made worse
when his mother was diagnosed with cancer, and was
made redundant a few years later. Jake’s grandfather, a
Freemason, put him in touch with the Trust. A week after
his grandfather died, Jake was accepted as a beneficiary of
the RMTGB, gained a place on his chosen course to study Screenwriting and
Producing, and secured a place at Ruspini House. The Trust has contributed to Jake’s
university fees, and has helped with the cost of specialist equipment for his course
including a laptop and printer. Jake is comforted by the knowledge that his grandad
knew, before he passed away, that Jake would be cared for by the RMTGB.
12What the RMTGB can do with an individual’s donation
Here are some examples of what various levels of donation will enable the Trust to provide.
£2,000 will pay for:
• A child with severe special needs, a parent and a carer to attend a respite holiday
abroad.
• A family with the means to make necessary adaptations to their home to meet the
needs of a disabled child.
• Residential accommodation enabling a young adult to pursue an area of study that
local colleges cannot provide.
• A year’s worth of singing lessons for a talented performing arts student (Talent aid).
£1500 will pay for:
• Private tuition for a year to enable a severely disabled beneficiary to complete a
college course and get accepted to university.
• A family with a childminder for school holidays throughout an academic year.
• A family with a severely disabled child to have a respite holiday at Disneyland, Paris.
• A talented singer to attend the National Youth Choir residential training course
(Talent aid)
£1000 will pay for:
• An annual scholarship.
• The necessary sports equipment to enable a child to represent Great Britain at
international level.
• A year’s worth of Guitar lessons for a talented musician (Talent aid).
£500 will pay for:
• A desktop computer to enable a boy from a low-income household to complete his
homework.
• A termly maintenance grant to allow a mother to continue to support her two girls
following the death of their father.
• A year of specialist tuition for a young boy with learning difficulties to provide him
with the same chances as his friends.
13How to access support
Support available
Most of our support is provided in the form of financial grants to assist with a range of
costs associated with child well-being and education. These grants include:
Maintenance allowances
Computer equipment
Musical instruments and lessons
Sports equipment and coaching
Educational visits
School travel
School uniforms
Course fees
School fee bursaries
Undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships
Grants are also provided to support apprenticeships and higher or further education at
recognised colleges and universities. Support towards fees for independent schools,
however, can only be considered in exceptional circumstances.
Families with a particularly low income may also receive annual summer holiday or
Christmas grants to enable them to spend some quality time together or enjoy the
festive period.
In addition, we can provide help to meet the specific needs of young people with
severe disabilities.
Family welfare
The support we provide is not just financial. Each family receives a home visit from
one of our Welfare Advisers in order to fully assess their circumstances and needs.
The members of this highly skilled team guide families through the application
process and ensure that they receive the state benefits to which they are entitled and
are able to access other services which may assist them.
The Welfare team can further support families and children in the Trust’s care using
their professional backgrounds in counselling, family therapy and educational and
careers guidance.
14Eligibility Criteria
Circumstances
To qualify for support a family must have suffered a distress which has resulted in
financial hardship. This distress could be:
Death of one or both parents
Absence of one or both parents
Disability of one or both parents
Financial distress (e.g. unemployment or bankruptcy)
Severe disability of a child in the family
Abandonment
Masonic connection
To be eligible for support, candidates must also have a connection to a Freemason
under the United Grand Lodge of England. This 'qualifying Freemason' could be the
candidate's:
Father
Step-father
Legal guardian
Grandfather
A candidate may also qualify for support if they can demonstrate that they have
received significant financial support from any other Freemason such as a relative, a
godfather or an unrelated Freemason.
The ‘qualifying Freemason’ does not have to be an active member; deceased, lapsed or
former Freemasons can qualify a candidate for support. The Freemason must have
been initiated before the distress occurred and, in cases where the Freemason is the
child’s grandfather, more stringent criteria may be applied, but the interest of the
Trust is the child’s welfare.
Financial assessment
In all cases, applications are subject to a financial assessment to ensure there is a need
for RMTGB support.
The grants are not intended to replace any state benefits to which the candidate or
their family may be entitled. The candidate or family should apply for all state benefits
to which they are entitled before an application is submitted. During the application
process, the Trust may suggest other benefits which might be available.
Support is reviewed annually and is maintained for as long as the financial hardship
continues or until the beneficiary completes their education.
15Other criteria
Full-time education: Children over the compulsory schooling age must be in full-time
education to qualify for support.
Independent children: We cannot assist young people who are financially independent
of the family of the qualifying Freemason (e.g. those who are married or living with a
partner).
We rely on Lodges and individuals for information about cases of distress that might
qualify for support and be approved by the Petitions Committee.
Whatever the circumstances, the RMTGB staff are always willing to discuss potential
cases and to give advice on how to apply. If at any stage during the application process
it becomes clear that it will not be possible to provide support, they will write to the
family to explain the reasons why we cannot help.
16How to Apply for Financial Support
Initial enquiries
Families can make initial enquiries about possible support either by contacting the
Trust directly or by speaking to the Almoner or benevolent representative of the
qualifying Freemason's Lodge or Province, if known, who will contact the charity on
behalf of the applicant.
Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys
60 Great Queen Street
London
WC2B 5AZ
Email: info@rmtgb.org
Tel: 020 7405 2644
Twitter: @rmtgb
Facebook: facebook.com/rmtgb
To begin the formal application process, a Lodge representative (usually the Almoner
or benevolent representative) must approach Province to obtain an application form
and guidance notes.
The Lodge representative will then visit the family at home to compile a short report
about their circumstances and complete a form which provides us with an overview of
their income and housing costs.
All information provided to the charity during the application and grant award process
is treated confidentially and in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2003. For
more information, please read the charities Fair Collection Statement.
Home visit
If it is decided that the application could lead to a petition for support, one of the
Welfare Advisers will visit the family home.
Each of the Welfare Advisers has a broad range of experience and can offer support
and guidance to families in need of advice.
At the visit, the Welfare Adviser will obtain further details about the family’s
circumstances and income, together with information about the cause of their
distress, to help our Petitions Committee determine whether we can accept the child or
children as beneficiaries.
A visit by one of our Welfare Advisers is not a guarantee that the charity will provide
support.
17Final decision
In every case the Petitions Committee will make the final decision on whether we can
accept the child or children as beneficiaries. In certain circumstances of extreme
distress an emergency grant from a discretionary fund can be issued until the case can
be fully considered by the committee.
The family will be informed of the decisions made by the Petitions Committee as soon
as possible.
Case Almoners
If a case is accepted, the Province sponsoring the petition is usually asked to nominate
a Case Almoner to act as the link between the charity and the family.
The Case Almoner will be asked to keep in touch with the family, help them to
complete the necessary forms, and assist in making the right decisions about how best
to support each child.
In accordance with the Trust’s policy for safeguarding children, all Case Almoners are
required to follow a clearly defined code of conduct and complete a declaration
confirming that there is no reason why they should not have contact with children.
Further information
For further information about applying for support, please contact a member of the
Petitions department on 020 7405 2644.
Other options available
Freemasonry Cares aims to promote awareness amongst Freemasons and their
dependants of the wide range of financial, healthcare and family support available
from Masonic charities. This is supported by a central enquiry service which offers
confidential guidance on the support available, who qualifies for assistance and how to
apply.
Delivered in partnership with Metropolitan and Provincial Grand Lodges, Freemasonry
Cares was launched in 2009 by the central Masonic Charities (The Freemasons' Grand
Charity, Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, The Royal Masonic Benevolent
Institution and Masonic Samaritan Fund).
The central Masonic Charities collectively provide funding, advice and a range of
services to support Freemasons and their families. The Charities operate through the
generous donations of the masonic community. Use the tabs on the left to find out
more about the support available to individuals and other charitable organisations.
Freemasonry Cares offers free and confidential
guidance on the wide range of financial, healthcare
and family help available to Freemasons and their
dependants.
Contact Freemasonry Cares on 0800 035 60 90
18How to Apply for a Talent Aid Grant
Grants may be awarded to assist with ongoing costs such as sports coaching, advanced
music lessons and the purchase of one-off items such as a musical instrument or
sports equipment.
All grants are income-assessed and candidates are expected to apply for all other
sources of available funding such as other grants, scholarships and sponsorship.
Support is agreed for a set period of time and subject to an annual financial review, as
well as confirmation that the candidate's talent continues to develop.
In appropriate cases, assistance with school or college fees will be considered. Fees
will only be supported for those attending specialist institutions or schools that have a
national reputation in a particular field. In most cases where fees are agreed as part of
our support, parents will be expected to make a contribution.
Further information
Talent Aid applications for each academic year are considered together at one Petitions
Committee meeting.
Applications requesting support for this period will open in November and close in
April. Application forms will be available on the RMTGB website during this time and
eligible applications will be considered at a Petitions Committee meeting in the July.
Further information
If you have any questions about the Talent Aid scheme, please contact a member of the
RMTGB’s Case Adviser team on 020 7405 2644
19Additional Subsidiary Grants
As well as their main funds, the RMTGB administers many subsidiary funds and
charities which can offer further support to children and young people.
Most of the subsidiaries are distinct funds that have been designated by their donors
to be used for specific purposes.
Through these subsidiary funds and charities the RMTGB is able to provide further
support to a limited number of young people to enable them to embrace life-changing
opportunities which cannot be supported from the main funds.
Support available
Subsidiary funds can help to support young people with the cost of overseas
educational travel or undertaking charitable activity abroad.
They can provide safe, affordable accommodation at Ruspini House in central London
which can accommodate up to 27 students or young people wishing to undertake work
experience in the capital. Support for other accommodation costs away from a young
person's usual place of residence can also be considered in some instances. Preference
is always given to our existing beneficiaries, but when space is available, rooms are let
to other young people with a Masonic connection. For more information on Ruspini
House, please contact the charity.
Eligibility
The majority of the support available from the subsidiary funds is used to benefit
young children and young people with a Masonic connection, but some funds are
available to support any boy or girl as well as those with a Masonic connection.
All applications made for the subsidiary funds are considered on individual merit and
the applicant's circumstances. As with all support, applications to the subsidiary funds
are assessed on the basis of financial need.
Further information
For further information about the support available from the subsidiary funds, please
contact Kerry Whitford on 020 7405 2644.
20Chapter 2
Festival Roles and Responsibilities
2122
The Festival Committee
The principal co-ordinating committee to support the Provincial Grand Master and the
Province in their efforts is as follows:
Festival Director: John Thompson
E-mail: john.thompson@durham2021.org
Tel: 07970388809 / 01642 863572
Secretary: Paul Quinn
E-mail: paul.quinn@durham2021.org
Address: 8 Bank Top,
Bishop Middleham,
Ferryhill
Co. Durham
DL17 9AW
Tel: 07946419224 / 01740 655147
Festival Treasurer: Edwin Jeffery
E-mail: ejeffrey@sky.com
Tel: 07789096334
Raby Gala Director: Andrew Foster
E-mail: andrew.foster5@ntlworld.com
Tel: 07768661266
North Area Director: Ian Turnbull
E-mail: jeanian@blueyonder.co.uk
Tel: 0191 4566193
South Area Director: Keith Schaible
E-mail: keith.schaible@gmail.com
Tel: 07775321354
East Area Director: David Hanson
E-mail: daveandmalla@hotmail.co.uk
Tel: 07920227201
West Area Director: William Hobson
E-mail: bmhobson@yahoo.com
Tel: 07557739424
23Creative Manager: Jamie Campbell
E-mail: jamiewisdom@googlemail.com
Tel: 07977235 590
Events Manager: Andrew Thompson
E-mail: info@compost-uk.co.uk
Tel: 07583134218
Comms Manager: Phil Grieveson
E-mail: phil_grieveson@hotmail.co.uk
Tel: 07711336162
Steward Lodge Liaison: Dave Green
E-mail: davegreen599@hotmail.com
Tel: 07913685355
It was always my intention that the team selected to help, support and run this
Festival would be Brethren from all areas of our Province. For us to be successful we
need to connect with every man in every Lodge and communicate clearly about the
charity and the support it can provide to the children and their families within our
Province.
Each area of the Province - North, South, East and West - will be led by an area
director supported by his secretary together with the hall ambassadors.
It is the intention of the hall ambassadors to be the primary source of support for the
Masonic hall and the Lodge Charity Stewards to whom they are assigned.
Due to work and family commitments the team will inevitably change over time, but it
is our intention to be in constant communication with the Lodges and the Charity
Stewards at all times throughout the Festival campaign via newsletters, emails and
regular updates on the website www.durham2021.org
John Thompson
Festival Director
24The Lodge Charity Steward
The most important person in this Festival campaign will be the Lodge Charity
Steward.
You, Brother Charity Steward, should be proud of your appointment - you have a very
important and worthwhile task to fulfil.
In order to be successful you will find it necessary to contact every member of your
Lodge, whether they are a regular attendee or not, and not forgetting new Brethren
inducted during the Festival period. Each conversation should be done in a manner
that will not cause offence, should be private and the result kept confidential.
Remaining positive and upbeat about the work of the RMTGB and the Charity may help
a Brother to decide that it is worthy of support. You may also find it useful to seek out
the assistance of your Lodge Almoner and Mentor. Don’t forget that each incoming
Worshipful Master can play a vital role in supporting your work. Seeking the approval
of your Lodge committee to present the progress of the Lodge to them will be of great
benefit. Your hall ambassador will keep in regular contact with you and please contact
them in the first instance for support.
Keeping accurate and confidential records is a vital part of your role. You will receive
constant updates on the progress of your Lodge fundraising efforts every couple of
months.
These reports will assist the Festival Executive in identifying if a Brother or Lodge has
achieved a Festival Jewel Honorific, and so allow them to receive their appropriate
recognition.
Please always remember that the committee is here to help you. If at any time you
require a support visit or a Festival presentation / talk please make a request via the
Festival Secretary.
The website is updated weekly, please use this to find the latest news, promote your
events or learn how to access support from the RMTGB
Assessing your own performance can be difficult, but remember that we are here to
help and assist you. If, after a period of two years, you are finding it difficult to
persuade your Brethren to support our Festival, please consider asking for an assistant
or allowing someone else to try. There is no shame in this decision and you will receive
our respect in recognising any need to take this decision.
Regular attendance at all training seminars and other events organised by the Festival
Committee will keep you up to speed and enable you to discuss issues with your fellow
Charity Stewards, Hall Ambassadors and the Festival Committee – thus ensuring that
best practice quickly spreads.
25Hall Ambassadors
Each area director has appointed Festival Hall Ambassadors for their geographical
areas. It is the Hall Ambassador’s role to give direct support to the Lodges assigned to
him and to work closely with the Lodges to ensure that they have the necessary
information and support during the Festival period.
The Hall Ambassador should work closely in co-operation with fellow ambassadors in
their area to ensure good lines of communication and to share best practices.
The Hall Ambassadors will report to their area director and the festival committee
The role of the Hall Ambassador is to:
Promote the Durham 2021 Festival to the Lodges assigned to him.
Enthuse Brethren to take out Gift Aid direct debits (regular payments) for the
Festival
Organise, or assist in organising, Lodge fund-raising events each year.
To monitor and communicate the Lodge target and assist the Lodge with the
area director to achieve its target.
Assist his area director with any area fund-raising events.
Act as the main point of contact for the Lodges assigned to him, relaying
communications when they are received.
Feed information back to the Festival’s Communications Manager, to ensure all
events and functions are advertised fully.
To provide news items and photographs of Lodge activities, so that they can be
publicised on the Festival website and newsletter.
To report progress of the Lodges on a regular basis so that the success of the
Festival can be monitored by the Festival Committee.
Ensure that RMTGB charity literature and promotional materials, as well as
regular payment forms, Gift Aid envelopes and donation boxes, are available to
all Lodges and Masonic centres
To attend Festival stewards’ meetings.
A typical Festival Ambassador is likely to be a Brother who:
Is interested in, and enthusiastic about, the work of the RMTGB.
Is known and respected within the Lodges assigned to him.
Can enthuse and encourage others.
Is a good communicator.
Is discreet.
Is willing to devote time to the Festival and to work with his area director and to
ensure the Lodges receive support when required and called upon.
26Chapter 3
How to Donate
27How Can I Donate?
Since our last Festival which ended in 2010, technology has come a long way,
increasing our options and making it easier to donate. There is still the familiar
Continuous Giving form which has been in use since its inception in 2010, but this can
now be completed easily on the internet or by telephone.
There is the option to use Gift Aid envelopes in place of the regular collection; this
allows the charity to increase the donation by up to 25%.
You can donate by credit / debit card, we have the
ability to have online donating pages for those
organising sponsored events e.g. walks, runs etc.
All the work is done for you, no need to collect the
money. It is all processed by the charity.
All the documentation and forms you require, with
the exception of Gift Aid envelopes, are available to
print from our website www.durham2021.org/downloads . But if you require any stock
please contact your local Hall Ambassadors or the Festival Secretary who will provide
them to you.
As our PGM keeps telling us “The dripping tap will fill the bath”
We have detailed your options below.
Regular Donation
The most commonly used method is the continuous giving donation over the period of
the Festival campaign, you now have three options:
By Post
Complete the Continuous Giving form (Appendix 5) gives it to your Charity Steward or
send it directly to the Relief Chest. Do not send it to the Provincial Office.
By Telephone
You can call the Relief Chest team directly on 020 7395 9313 and give your details over
the telephone, please use the guide in (Appendix 2)
Online
Follow this link https://www.grandcharity.org/dd_setup.php and complete the online
instructions. When prompted for the Relief Chest number please type E0124.
28Single Donation
If you wish to make one large donation instead of the monthly amount you have two
options; either complete the single donation form or take the online option as detailed
below
By Post
Complete the single donation form (Appendix 4) give it to your Charity Steward or post
it directly to the Relief Chest.
Credit / Debit Card
If you don’t have a cheque book then use the credit / debit card from in Appendix 6
and post directly to the Relief Chest, full details are on the form.
Online Donation single donation
Everyday Hero is an online donation page; this gives you the option to make one-off
donations in your name. http://www.everydayhero.co.uk/event/E0124
Text Donation
Text giving allows you to donate to our festival campaign at any time using your
mobile phone, to donate £5 text the code “DURHAM” to 70500. For more information
please refer to appendix 15.
SPONSORED FUNDRAISING
Everyday Hero also gives you the option to set up an online giving page if you are
doing a sponsored event in aid of the Festival. Use the link immediately above, once on
the Home Page, click on “START FUNDRAISING” to set up your page, it only takes a
couple of minutes.
Or if you wish to do it the traditional way with sponsorship forms, you will find these
in Appendix 7 and on the website. Please use these forms it will allow the charity to
reclaim the Gift Aid tax and enhance your contribution to the Festival by as much as
25%. Remember, everything you raise will be credited against your Lodge target.
29Effective Fundraising
Usually, Freemasons, like other donor groups, can be divided into thirds:
• 1/3 will give readily, almost without asking
• 1/3 will give if prompted (and possibly reminded again)
• 1/3 will only give if they are really persuaded (and sometimes not even then)
Different strategies - one for each of the groups above - are likely to be more
successful than a single strategy which assumes that all potential donors have the
same approach to charity.
It is important that you know the Brethren of your Lodge, and understand how each
Brother should be approached without offending him, whilst ultimately securing a
donation from him.
Separate strategies may also need to be employed to encourage other groups to donate
to the appeal:
• Regular, irregular and non-attendees
• Younger or older members
• Working, non-working or retired members
• Wives and partners
Hall ambassadors will need to solicit the assistance of their Lodge Charity Steward,
Almoner and Mentor to access and encourage all of these groups to participate in your
Lodge’s fund raising effort.
Sell the Charity
Charity fundraising professionals talk about “differentiating the mission” or defining
the unique selling point of a particular Charity. The aim is not to denigrate other
charities, but to help potential givers to identify with the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls
and Boys (RMTGB). Try to explain the vital nature of the work of the RMTGB and
persuade people that this Charity is worthy of their support.
People like to know what is happening to their money. Too often, donors feel that their
donation simply disappears into a ‘black hole’. To gain commitment, it is therefore
vital that people know what the RMTGB does and how their donations will be spent. If
they understand the good work that the charity does they will be more likely to give.
It will be important that you explain to each of your Lodge members, the vital nature
of the work that the RMTGB fulfils. Give them the examples of what different levels of
donation will enable the Charity to do.
Use Personal and Subtle Approaches
Remember the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 approach. It is those in the last 1/3 who represent the most
significant challenge because they are unlikely to respond to a general approach.
30Donating to a charity is voluntary, but experience shows that to reach those who are
reluctant to give at the first time of asking, a more subtle approach can be effective at
persuading them to give willingly.
• Try to approach members and ask them to make a donation, preferably through
regular giving and Gift Aid, when it is possible to speak to them in person (returning if
necessary).
• If a face-to-face approach is not possible, an individually addressed letter may
achieve the desired response.
• Never write anyone off for the entire length of the Festival. Keep going back to them
at intervals, because circumstances do change.
• Bear in mind that some Brethren may have been very generous in the past, but their
current circumstances may preclude their continuing to do so. Aim to get the balance
right.
Start early and aim for regular donations
Although raffles and social events have an important part to play in raising funds, the
overwhelming contribution has to come from individual donations. Therefore, secure
as many regular donations that are eligible for Gift Aid tax relief as early in the appeal
as possible. The earlier that a member starts to give regularly, the smaller the monthly
amounts will be needed to achieve a desired total over the period of the Festival.
Break the monthly amount down into small easily understood everyday amounts i.e.
“£10 a month is less than a pint of beer a week”.
Most important of all – MAKE IT FUN!
One of the great benefits of Festival appeals is that fundraising events can
substantially improve the social life of your Lodge, and the Province in general. These
events are unlikely to raise the majority of the funds and may only represent a
relatively small contribution to the final total, however, these events can add a sense
of fun to the Appeal, and provide an opportunity for your Lodge members, and their
wives, partners and families to enjoy themselves.
Records and Forms
To help you to record your fundraising effort, and keep track of your conversations
with Brethren and their pledges. If a Brother wishes to keep the amount of his
donation to the RMTGB confidential then that is to be respected, but at least ask him
to confirm that he has made a donation. Appendix 5 is a copy of the RMTGB Gift Aid
form for regular and one-off donations with an example of how it should be
completed at Appendix 4.
It is important that you and your Treasurer keep full records of all Gift Aid donations
made through your own Lodge. Pay particular attention to how Gift Aid Envelopes
should be managed and recorded.
The Executive Committee will be updated monthly by the RMTGB with each donation
and pledge received, and an ongoing total of amounts received and pledged will be
maintained. The Executive Committee will keep you regularly updated on your Lodge’s
progress.
31Handling objections to giving
The following table provides a list of objections which are often given as reasons for
not donating to the Festival. Next to each objection is a suggested response:
Objection Possible Response
Consider paying monthly to ‘spread the
“I can’t afford £x as a lump sum”
giving’.
Encourage the individual to become a
Festival Steward and elect not to receive a
Jewel.
“I won’t wear a Jewel” Alternatively, remind him that the
wearing of a Jewel shows support for the
PGM, the Appeal in general and your
Lodge’s effort in particular.
Break down the amount to £s per month
and relate it to the cost of everyday living
“I can’t afford what I am being asked to
such as a pint of beer or a glass of wine a
donate”
week. It is a question of choice and
priority.
Confidentiality is completely respected.
“I don’t want the members of my Lodge Ask the member to post a cheque or
to know about my donation” bankers order form with a Gift Aid
declaration direct to the Charity.
To be assured of complete confidentiality
then a single donation is the best option,
“I don’t want my wife or family to know
any monthly direct debits created will be
how about my donation”
acknowledged by the relief chest by post
to the address on the direct debit form.
The money spent by the Charities is used
to benefit Freemasons and their
dependants across the country; a fellow
“These are ‘London’ Charities and don’t
Lodge member may benefit in future.
affect us in Durham”
There are many individuals in the Durham
Province who currently benefit and more
will benefit in the future.
Spread donations monthly and budget for
“I belong to more than one Lodge and
the cost of multiple memberships. Your
can’t afford it”
total donation will be recognised.
32Gift Aid
Gift Aid increases the value of donations to charities by allowing them to reclaim basic
rate tax from UK tax payers.
Festival Stewards and Lodge Charity Stewards should take full advantage of the
scheme by encouraging as many members as possible to ‘sign up’ in order to
maximise their donations.
Completing a simple declaration form is all that is required to ensure that all future
donations to the RMTGB via the relief chest are treated as Gift Aid donations.
Making such a declaration will not cost a member:
- But will enhance the value of all future donations.
Donations will be regarded as having had basic rate tax deducted and the relief chest
can reclaim the value of that basic rate tax from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
(HMRC), enhancing the value of the member’s donation at no extra cost to the
member.
For example:
With a basic tax rate of 20 per cent (at Sept 2015), every £10 donated through Gift Aid
would be worth £12.50 to the charity. This is derived from a member’s gross earnings
of £12.50, on which basic rate tax of £2.50 would have been deducted.
Tax can be reclaimed through Gift Aid wherever the amount of Income or Capital Gains
Tax paid by the donor in any tax year (6 April to 5 April) is at least equivalent to the
amount of tax reclaimed on all Gift Aid donations made in the same year. This applies
to tax paid in the UK only. If tax is paid outside the UK, Gift Aid cannot be claimed.
The donor does not necessarily have to be working to pay tax. Besides Income and
Capital Gains tax, other forms include tax on savings interest, on state or other
pensions and on investment or rental income.
It is the responsibility of every donor to notify the charity if the tax recoverable
exceeds the tax paid and reclaimed under the Gift Aid Scheme. HMRC may require any
shortfall to be repaid.
Appendix 9 gives guidance on obtaining more detailed information on Gift Aid, via the
HMRC website ‘Giving to charity through Gift Aid’. The information contained on this
website has not been reproduced in this handbook as tax rules and rates will change
over time. Before responding to more complex enquiries from members, you are
advised to consult the site, or direct members to it.
If you have any concerns regarding Gift Aid or the process please contact our Festival
Treasurer Edwin Jeffrey. ejeffrey@pgldurham.org
33You can also read
