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PRESS
RELEASE, August 2008
At their most recent meeting, the Trustees decided that the time has come to once again raise the profile of the Mallerstang Charities in the community, the most recent previous press release having been issued in 1996.
The occasion for the 1996 press release was the decision of the Trustees to discontinue payments that had been made for a number of years to pensioners in the parish, under the heading of the “Bread Fund”. The Trustees indicated that they were seeking to find new ways of using the limited funds available to the Charities, ways that would benefit a wider cross - section of the Mallerstang community while at the same time adhering to the rather strict rules of the scheme. There was no positive response to this appeal, confirming the difficulties which the Trustees were facing in keeping the Charities in active use.
The Charities date back to the eighteenth century when Lancelot Hunter and George Middleton made provision for charitable activity to be undertaken. Two further schemes were instituted in the nineteenth century by John Waller and Sarah Waller. All four were joined together as Mallerstang Consolidated Charities in 1913.The purpose of the charity is to use its funds for the benefit of the poor, or deserving residents, of Mallerstang. It is worth noting that the charity is specifically excluded from providing funds “so that any individual … may become entitled to a periodical or recurrent benefit therefrom.”
Notwithstanding the poor response to the 1996 Trustees’ appeal for fresh ideas for using the funds at their disposal, the Trustees have continued to make a number of payments every year. While the names of the beneficiaries must naturally remain confidential, it is possible to categorise certain recent grants. Grants have been made in recognition of an individual’s service to the community, or more commonly, to provide comfort to individuals who are experiencing difficulties, often health related, either personally or in respect of a family member.
The Trustees have come to the view that while poverty in the strict sense is a very rare occurrence in Mallerstang and when it does occur is in any case alleviated by the various safety nets provided by the State, there nevertheless exists a kind of poverty that cannot be measured by the balance sheet. Such poverty can generally be described as poverty of circumstance: inability to travel independently, mobility problems, a life that is never free of pain or disability, or emotional distress due to bereavement and loss. These are the kinds of problems which the Trustees are increasingly trying to alleviate in a modest way, by providing a gift which they hope will provide comfort. It is hoped that the beneficiary also gains comfort from the knowledge that friends in the parish are thinking about him/her at a difficult time.
The Mallerstang Consolidated Charities is a registered charity and while the value of its fund has increased over the last decade, any donations would be gratefully received. The Trustees would be very pleased to receive any suggestions for the future distribution of funds and in particular, for any cases which could be brought to their attention in confidence, for their consideration.
The current Trustees are:
Gordon Hutton (Chairman) telephone 017683 71792,
Ian Wade telephone 017683 72479,
Stephen Alderson telephone 017683 71610,
Richard O’Connor telephone 017683 71617,
Greta Naysmith telephone 017683 72080
James Kidd telephone 017683 71669,
any of whom would be delighted to receive ideas for consideration.
The Trustees
August
2008
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History and Rules of the
Mallerstang Charities
At the Parish Meeting on 20 June 2002,
Mr Gordon Hutton, Chairman of the Trustees, made a presentation on the current state of the Mallerstang Charities.
This was a very full report which also gave background information about
the history and rules of the Charities. A slightly abbreviated copy is
appended below.
Since the previous formal report
was made as far back as December 1966, it seems sensible to start by giving a brief background of the history and rules of the charities, and to remind the Meeting of the position as it had been at the end of 1996.
HISTORY
On 8 April 1913, the Charity Commissioners merged together four small charities, which all had the basic purpose to benefit Mallerstang residents, under a new scheme which was to be called Mallerstang Consolidated Charities. The four original charities were:
a) The Charity of Lancelot Hunter – foundation about 1731
b) The Charity of George Middleton – his will, dated 8 May 1784
c) The Charity of George Waller – his will, dated 13 July 1808
d) The Charity of Sarah Waller – her will, dated 19 July 1861
In addition to these, compensation which had been agreed by the Courts and paid by the Midland Railway Company for the extinguishing of Common Rights over those parts of Birkett Fell which lie over Birkett Tunnel, was included under the control of the Charities.
RULES
The rules are laid down in the Charities Scheme, and cover the appointment of Trustees, the conduct of meetings, the proceedings of Trustees, the management of Real Property and, most important, the application of income. (In fact, the last Real Property, in the form of land owned by the Charities, was sold approximately ten years ago).
The Scheme states that the purpose of the Charities is to apply the annual income to make payment.-
“for the benefit either of the poor of the Ancient Township of Mallerstang generally, or of such deserving or necessitous persons residing therein.”
Examples of the way such payments can be used are then laid down.-
- subscriptions or donations to - dispensary, infirmary, hospital, convalescent home or other institutions or Societies
- contributions towards – nurses, midwives, or travelling expenses involved in hospital visits.
- augmentation of the income of a person.
- assistance with the costs associated with people under 21 entering a new trade or occupation.
- helping with the proper care and supervision of poor people who ‘need a change of air or special protection or treatment’.
- Supplying cloths, fuel, tools, medical supplies and food.
- Providing temporary relief by loans or otherwise in cases of unexpected loss or sudden destitution.
However, the funds must not be used “in aid of any rates for the relief of the poor or other purposes in any Parish or place, or so that any individual or institution may become entitled to a periodical or recurrent benefit
therefrom”.
PRESS RELEASE – August 1996
This explained the decision to discontinue the practice of distributing “Bread Money” to pensioners in Mallerstang, which had been carried out for a number of years. It had reached a point where this was imposing an undue strain on the income of the Charities and it was, anyway, in breach of the prohibition of “periodical and recurrent” payments.
The Press Release also asked for suggestions for other uses for the funds, or indeed for new cases for consideration by the Trustees. There was no positive response to this exercise, confirming the difficulties which the Trustees were finding in keeping the Charities in active use.
DEVELOPMENTS 1996 - 1999
Several small disbursements were made in the next two years.
- gifts to children who were starting at a new school
- a one-off payment to the Ambulance Service
- Christmas hampers for Mallerstang pensioners
But none of these was seen as being a fully satisfactory use of Charity money, all having a sense of contrivance.
The Trustees then decided to seek advice from the Charity Commissioners. They suggested three options for the Trustees’ consideration.
1. Amalgamation with another Charity
2. Wind up the Charities and spend the capital
3. Modify the Scheme to bring its provisions up to date, in line with modern conditions.
The Trustees rejected the first two options, and no conclusions about the third had been reached when circumstances brought about a complete change in the Trustees, in November 1999 and March 2000.
PRESENT TRUSTEES of the MALLERSTANG CHARITIES
Representative Trustees: Representative Trustees are elected by the Parish Meeting
for a period of 3 years.
The present Representative Trustees, are:
Gordon Hutton appointed November 1999
Marnie Atkinson appointed November 1999 (Mrs Atkinson resigned in March 2002)
Ian Wade appointed November 1999
Stephen Alderson appointed March 2000
Cooptive Trustees:
The appointment of Cooptive Trustees by a Meeting of the Trustees is for a period of 4 years.
James Kidd was appointed at the Trustees Meeting in May 2001, and assumed the position of Secretary and Treasurer of the CharityTrustees.
Greta Naysmith was appointed at the Trustees Meeting in June 2002.
DEVELOPMENTS 1999 Onwards
The Trustees considered whether the Charities had a role to play in either the Millennium celebrations, or during the Foot & Mouth crisis, but decided that no action should be taken in either case.
They have continued to look at the future functions of the Charities, and once again discussions took place with the Charity Commissioners.
Our problem is common to many other small charities. The three options suggested by the Charity Commission in 1996 still remain – plus the possibility that the operative area of the Mallerstang Charities could be widened geographically, subject to the approval of the Commissioners of any proposal submitted by the Trustees.
Future actions should be looked at in the context of the financial position of the Chatities.
FINANCIAL POSITION (As at June 2002)
The capital value of the Fund is in the region of £16,000. This is largely held in two Investment Funds which are managed specifically for charities. One of these is mainly invested in Equities, the other in more stable Bonds. The balance of the Fund is in Bank and National Savings accounts.
The annual income is approximately £500, representing a return of about 3% on the capital.
For comparison, the capital value in 1995 was just under £8000, but at that time the income was achieving a return of 6%. Therefore from 1995 to early 2002 there was an excellent appreciation in the capital value of the fund. This was reduced somewhat between March and June 2002, reflecting the state of the Stock Market during the current period.
At their June 2002 meeting the Trustees resolved to withdraw from the two Investment Funds, and the monies are currently held in an interesting earning cash account, until some improvement returns to financial markets.
It is one of the responsibilities of the Trustees to review the investment policy on a regular basis, and they continue to aim at avoiding future loss to the capital value of the fund.
At the June meeting of the Trustees, they identified two cases worthy of consideration by the Charity. The expenditure of £500, in line with the previous year’s income, was approved and sums were distributed to the two recipients.
THE FUTURE
The Trustees have an on-going dilemma – whether to continue to act in response to any approaches or suggestions that are made to them - or to continue to research a more proactive way ahead, by some amendment to the Rules of the Scheme. In either case, realistically, it is unlikely that the annual income available to be spent will exceed £500 in the foreseeable future.
Nevertheless, the Trustees would be most grateful for any suggestions, whether general or specific, for the future of the Scheme – and, in particular, for any cases which might be brought to their attention in confidence, for their consideration.
G.
Hutton June 2002
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UPDATE
At the November 2002 Parish Meeting, Gordon Hutton and Ian Wade were reappointed, and Richard O’Connor was appointed, as Representative Trustees for a period of three years to November 2005.
All three were re-elected at the November Meeting 2005, to serve until
November 2008
At the March 2003 Parish Meeting, Stephen Alderson was reappointed as a Representative Trustee for a period of three years to March
2006. He was then re-elected for a further three years, to March 2009.
The Co-opted Trustees at present are: James Kidd and Greta Naysmith.
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