Bell Restoration Fund

The Rules, as updated at the Annual General Meeting of the Chester Diocesan Guild, are below. These form Rule C of the Guild Rules.  Any questions should be emailed to the BRO.

The purpose of this Fund is to further the OBJECTS (constitution para. 2) by offering financial help where needed and requested, subject to the available resources of the fund.
1. The Bell Restoration Fund (BRF) shall be controlled by the Executive Committee, with grant/loan recommendations and liaison performed by the BRF sub-committee, comprising of the Guild Bell Restoration Officer (BRO) and up to one Branch BRF Representative from each branch.
2. The Fund shall be financed as follows:
a. By transfer from the Guild General Fund as provided for in rule G.2.
b. By transfer of a proportion of peal booking fees as provided for in rule E.3.
c. By donations, gifts and bequests or any other means thought fit by the Guild.
3. Grants from the BRF will be considered for the following general purposes, prior to work commencing:
a. Installation of a ring of bells in the Guild’s area previously without.
b. Augmentation, recasting or replacement of a ring of bells in the Guild’s area.
c. Restoration of a ring of bells in the Guild’s Territory, either in whole or in part.
d. Preservation of heritage bells and/or frames in the Guild’s area when required to be preserved by English Heritage or other relevant body.
e. Improvements to a ring of bells in Guild area to give better sound and/or mechanical performance including sound control.
4. Loans from the BRF will be considered for the purposes outlined in rule C.3, for a fixed sum over a fixed period of time. Terms are to be negotiated between the BRF sub-committee and the Applicant, and a written contract agreed to by the PCC/responsible authority and the Executive Committee. Copies of the contract will be retained by the BRO, Honorary Treasurer and the Applicant.
5. Grants or loans from the BRF will not normally be considered for the following items:
a. Expendable items such as stays or ropes unless part of works covered by rule C.3.
b. Routine maintenance.
c. Clocks, including striking mechanisms.
d. Training equipment, including simulators and associated equipment.
e. Lighting, furnishings and other miscellaneous items not essential to enable or continue the ringing of bells in that location.
Grants or loans will also not normally be considered when work has already taken place; exceptions for emergency works may be made at the agreement by majority vote of the Executive Committee.
6. Applications not meeting the criteria in C.3 or C.5 will be referred to the Executive Committee for discussion.
7. Grants or loans shall be applied for by the PCC or Responsible Authorities (the Applicant) to the BRF sub-committee by completing the application form available from Branch BRF Representatives, the BRO or the Guild website. The Applicant will then submit the Application to the relevant Branch BRF Representative or the BRO, who will discuss the Application with the BRF sub-committee. The BRF sub-committee will then decide a recommendation on the form and value of the grant or loan, taking into account the cost of the works, whether VAT is to be reclaimed, the amount available in the fund and the potential demands to be made on it in the future. The BRO will then take this recommendation to the Executive Committee who, subject to a two-thirds vote in favour, will approve the grant or loan.
8. Any church in receipt of a Grant and/or Loan from the Fund is expected to offer reasonable access and use of their bells by the Guild.
9. Payment of a grant or loan will be made upon the BRO’s receipt of a contractor invoice following completion of the works on the application. To authorise payment, the BRO must be satisfied that the work has been completed as per the application; the BRO and/or Executive Committee reserve the right to appoint a suitably competent person to inspect and report on the work done before payment is made. The Honorary Treasurer will only release payment on the BRO’s written request.
The Executive Committee may, subject to a two-thirds vote in favour, adjust the amount of a promised grant, if given through a percentage calculation, if the cost of the works is different to that quoted on the original application.
10. All documentation regarding live applications and loans shall be kept by the BRO in paper or electronic form. Documentation regarding completed projects shall be passed to the Guild Archivist for filing at the earliest opportunity.