Sussex 2017
Festival for The Freemasons’ Grand Charity
“Your financial support is greatly
appreciated and it is this central
fundraising within the Masonic
community which enables the Grand
Charity to help so many people.”
“We are fortunate to have a good team
of Brethren who will administer this
project. They will only succeed
however, by the wholehearted effort of
the Province.”
The President of the Grand Charity
Grahame N. Elliott, CBE
Each year the Grand Charity is fortunate to receive substantial funds raised by a Province
as it comes to the end of a Festival Appeal on our behalf. We recognise that an incredible
amount of hard work takes place and hundreds of Brethren and their families work
effortlessly for a number of years to raise money for the causes we support.
Today, as we stand at the beginning of the next Festival to be held by the Province of
Sussex, I should like to thank the Provincial Grand Master and all the members of his
Province for having already established such dedication and commitment to the Grand
Charity’s 2017 Festival.
Your financial support is greatly appreciated and it is this central fundraising within the
Masonic community that enables the Grand Charity to help so many people.
The Grand Charity provides assistance for Brethren and their families who are in financial
need, as well as supporting hundreds of national charities with much needed funds for
the benefit of the wider community, which helps thousands of people to achieve a better
life.
Without your help we simply could not continue to do the good work we aim to achieve.
I therefore express my gratitude for all your hard work, which will undoubtedly unfold in
the coming years.
This booklet has been prepared as part of our launch of the 2017 Festival of the
Freemasons’ Grand Charity and I am delighted to contribute this foreword to the
arrangements.
Those of you who attended one of the Launch Celebrations will have heard of my
commitment on behalf of the Province to endeavour to raise in excess of £2,017,000 and
to present a cheque to the President of the Grand Charity when Sussex hosts the Festival
of the Freemasons’ Grand Charity in Spring, 2017.
The Brethren and Companions of Sussex have shown their generosity over the past five
years in supporting our innovative Appeal for Sussex4Sussex and I am sure this
enthusiasm will continue into this new venture for GC 2017. Thus, come 2017, we can
proudly show that the long held reputation that ‘a Sussex Mason is a caring Mason’ is
ever present throughout the Province.
We are fortunate to have a good team of Brethren who will administer this project. They
will only succeed however, by the wholehearted effort of the Province. This must be a
complete team effort and I am confident we will achieve our objective and celebrate this
with an outstanding Festival in 2017.
Kindest regards
Yours sincerely and fraternally
Grahame Elliott
President of the Grand Charity
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Ken Thomas
Provincial Grand Master for Sussex
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“It is with this support in mind that
we constantly seek to achieve the
aims of the Brethren, by continuing
to find new ways of helping those in
need.”
Chief Executive of the Freemasons’ Grand Charity
The Sussex ‘Pledge’
Laura Chapman
I have had the honour of working for the Grand Charity for a number of years now, yet I
never cease to be impressed at the dedication of the Masonic community in their support
of the Grand Charity and its work.
It is with this support in mind that we constantly seek to achieve the aims of the Brethren,
by continuing to find new ways of helping those in need.
This past year saw us issue a one-off fuel payment to all recipients of Masonic Relief
Grants, following a prolonged and cold winter. This special grant provided invaluable
extra warmth and security to our beneficiaries, many of whom are elderly and therefore
much more likely to be affected by both the cold and increased heating costs.
We would not be able to fund grants such as this, and to find new ways of supporting our
Brethren, if it were not for the diligent fundraising efforts of the Provinces in Festival on
our behalf.
I recognise that in the current financial climate it is harder than ever to fundraise, and yet
the Province of Sussex has been full of encouragement and enthusiasm from the outset,
for which I am extremely thankful.
Our ‘Pledge’
On behalf of the Province, the Provincial Grand Master has pledged to give the
Freemasons’ Grand Charity not less than £2,017,000 at the Festival in Spring 2017.
However, additional income and donations are expected to increase the final sum to a
greater figure. To achieve this we must make a concerted effort throughout the entire
seven year period of the Appeal.
What should I give?
Every Brother has committed himself to support our charities to such an extent as befits
his circumstances. The level of donation must be your own decision - the lifestyle, needs
and comfort of you and your family/dependants must be taken into consideration. The
equivalent of the cost of a pint of beer each week has traditionally been viewed as a
general guideline. If such a level of support is not available from a Brother please
remember that smaller donations are still appreciated, and highly valued, especially if
paid regularly by banker’s order.
How should I pay?
Some Brethren might want to do this by making one large donation early in the Festival,
which would immediately qualify them to wear a Steward’s Festival Jewel. Many, however,
are more comfortable with paying monthly or quarterly by a banker’s order. A banker’s
order form is included on page 11. Your Lodge Charity Steward will be pleased to advise
you on choosing the payment method that best suits you.
How does Gift Aid boost my donation?
Laura Chapman
Chief Executive of the Freemasons’ Grand Charity
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We strongly encourage Brethren who are UK tax payers to make all donations under a
Gift Aid declaration. Sussex Masonic Charities is able to reclaim the tax paid on that
donation from the UK government. All the Gift Aid reclaimed on every donation will be
credited to each individual and his Lodge. A Gift Aid declaration is included on page 10.
Your Lodge Charity Steward can answer any questions you may have about Gift Aid.
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Since 1981:
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£8 million has been donated to hospices
£8 million to fund medical research
£2 million has been given for disaster relief
£18 million for vulnerable people
£4 million for youth opportunities
£759,000 has been given to the Air Ambulances
About The Freemasons’ Grand Charity
How the wider community is supported
The Grand Charity is funded by Freemasons and their families and is continuing a
commitment to charitable support that began nearly 300 years ago in the earliest days of
organised Freemasonry.
The charities and projects funded by the Freemasons’ Grand Charity are chosen because
they deliver vital services and support issues of interest, concern and relevance to
Freemasons and their families. Grants range from £500 to £1 million.
Since 1981, the Freemasons’ Grand Charity has made grants totalling over £85 million to
support people in need.
Grant Categories:
How the Provinces are supported
Masonic Relief Grants
Grants are provided to help Freemasons and their dependants who are in financial need.
Assistance is given towards:
• Essential daily living costs - for example, the costs of food, clothing, heating, lighting
and home repairs (after taking income and some state benefits into account).
• Unexpected needs – for example, paying for outstanding funeral bills or the cost of
replacing a broken boiler.
Typically the grants range from £500 to £7,000 per applicant per year and can be
renewed for as long as the need lasts.
Since 2004, over £500,000 has been distributed to applicants in Sussex.
• Medical Research: research into the cause and treatment of illness and disease
• Youth Opportunities: opportunities for disadvantaged 11-25 year olds
• Vulnerable People: care for vulnerable people of all ages including the elderly,
impoverished, sick and/or disabled.
• Hospices that receive less than 60% government funding
• Air Ambulance and equivalent services
• Emergency grants for disaster relief worldwide
Charities and projects supported in Sussex:
Queen Alexandra Hospital Home received £35,000 to help care for disabled ex-service
men and women.
Canine Partners has received £20,000 to help fund a trainer who deals with young people
with behavioural problems.
A branch of SSAFA Forces Help in Sussex has recently received £5,000 as part of a new
national initiative.
Sussex Air Ambulance has received £34,000.
Thirteen hospice services within the Province of Sussex have received a total of £422,210.
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“Tax paying Brethren who sign a
Gift Aid declaration form will
become Festival Stewards after
donating a minimum of £400.
For non-tax payers, or tax payers
who have not signed, the minimum
donation is £500.”
“Each Lodge will be set a target,
which will be calculated pro rata to
the membership of the Lodge.”
Honorifics
Lodges’ Festival Badges
The following honorifics will be awarded for donations made to the Sussex 2017 Festival
for the Freemasons’ Grand Charity:
Each Lodge will be set a target, which will be calculated pro rata to the membership of
the Lodge. Festival badges will be awarded upon a Lodge reaching the following
percentages of its target:
Brethren
Lodges
Grand Patron
£1,200
£2,400
Patron
£600
£1,200
Bronze Badge – when a Lodge reaches 50% of its target
Silver Badge – when a Lodge reaches 100% of its target
Gold Badge – when a Lodge reaches 150% of its target
In addition, Grand Charity Festival Jewels will be awarded by the Province to Brethren
who qualify as Festival Stewards.
Upon presentation, the badge may be attached to the Lodge Charity Steward’s collar
throughout the duration of the Festival Appeal.
Festival Stewardship
Tax paying Brethren who sign a Gift Aid declaration form will become Festival Stewards
after donating a minimum of £400. For non-tax payers, or tax payers who have not
signed, the minimum donation is £500. Festival Stewardship entitles the donor to
purchase a Grand Charity Festival Jewel upon payment of a further £12. The Provincial
Grand Master has agreed that all qualified Brethren may wear the Festival Jewel at all
meetings within the Province of Sussex up to and including the Festival in the Spring of
2017.
Brethren who attain Festival Stewardship will be invited with their Ladies to attend the
Festival upon payment of the dining fee, the cost of which will be announced when the
Festival arrangements have been determined.
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Sussex Masonic Charities
Sussex Masonic Charities
Registered Charity No. 212979
Registered Charity No. 212979
Banker’s Order – Donor to complete
Declaration
Full Name:
Office Use Only
Donor’s Name:
Address
Member Number:
Donor’s Bank, Please insert your Bank Details including your Account Number & Sort Code
To:
Please complete in
Bank PLC
Bank Address:
black ink and block
Postcode
County
capitals
Account Number
Sort Code
Postcode
Charity Stewards: Insert name of Lodge Charity Account & Bank details below
I declare that all donations I have made to Sussex Masonic Charities, since 6th April,
2000, and any payments I make hereafter, are to be treated as Gift Aid Payments.
Please Pay to:
Bank Address
Signed:
Account Number
Notes
Please return the Declaration to your Charity
Steward, who will send it to the Sussex Masonic
Charities office for registration. Please keep a copy
of this form for your own records.
Under the HM Revenue & Customs rules, applying
from 6th April, 2000, which treat all donations made
from that date as Gift Aid, it is necessary to make the
above declaration before we can reclaim tax.
Tax currently claimed is £25 for every £100 donated,
equivalent to a 20% tax rate.
The donor must be satisfied that sufficient tax has
been paid on income, or tax deducted at source, or
capital gains tax, to cover the amount of tax
recoverable by Sussex Masonic Charities.
Donors paying higher rate tax can claim relief on
their higher rate of tax for such payments. This
means that they can make a relatively higher
donation at no greater cost to themselves. Charities
can only claim tax at the standard rate.
SMC must keep adequate records to trace payments
back to individual donors who will themselves be
responsible for the repayment of any tax reclaimed,
which is not covered by tax already paid.
Declarations can be cancelled at any time by notice
in writing.
Donors must advise their Lodge Secretary of any
change of address so that the Provincial records can
be kept up to date.
You can obtain this Declaration form from your Lodge Charity Steward. If you have previously completed a
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Postcode
Date:
Declaration form there is no need to complete a further form.
Sort Code
Donor to complete
The sum of £
per year
One payment of £
per annum
commencing on
Or
By payments of £
per half year
commencing on
Or
By payments of £
per quarter
commencing on
Or
By payments of £
per month
commencing on
Please insert the amount you wish to donate & method/frequency of payment (DELETE THE REMAINDER)
Until Further Notice in Writing
Signed:
Date:
Please return the completed form to your Lodge Charity Steward, not Sussex Masonic Charities.
Charity Steward – please keep a copy for your records.
You can obtain this Bankers Order form from your Lodge Charity Steward
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Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex
Sussex Masonic Centre
25 Queen’s Road
Brighton
BN1 3YH
Tel: 01273 325917
Fax: 01273 779020
www.sussexmasons.org.uk
The Freemasons' Grand Charity
60 Great Queen Street
London WC2B 5AZ
Tel: 020 7395 9261
Fax: 020 7395 9295
E: [email protected]
www.grandcharity.org
Registered charity no. 281942