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The Blundeston Charity Trustees are responsible for the administration of three separate charities, the Towns Estate, the Bays Charity and the Poors Allottments. The assets of these charities consist of land, plus investments received from the sale of land in the past. For an example the land on which Meadowlands is built used to be allotments which belonged to the Charity Trustees.
There are five Trustees, four of whom are appointed by Blundeston and Flixton Parish Council whilst the other is ex-officio and is the incumbent parish Priest of Blundeston. They are served by a Clerk who receives an honorarium for her services.
The current Trustees are:
Pauline Read (Chairman)
Graham Wade
Reverend Leslie Hobbs (Ex-officio)
Charlotte Read
John Nichols
The clerk is Iris Mayes.
Some of the Charity Trustees land is rented out on long term agricultural leases, whilst the remainder, like the nine acres of marshland, is let on an annual basis. The annual lets are advertised in September each year and the land then leas
ed to the highest bidder for the following year. The shooting rights over the Trustees land are let separately on an annual basis to the highest bidder.
Income from the rents and the interest from investments is the responsibility of the Trustees to use in accordance with the Deeds of the Trust. In this respect they are responsible to and are monitored by the Charity Commissioners. They are a national body which oversee the finances, business and probity of all Charities in England and Wales.
The first responsibility of the Trustees is to the maintenance of their property in good order. For an example the marshes have to be managed to comply with the requirements of an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) status for which the Trustees receive a grant from DEFRA. The dykes have to be kept clear, thistles cut down, gates and fences maintained in good order and the input of phosphates and nitrates to the land controlled. Because of ESA grazing restrictions the marshes are only let from March to October. This maximises their benefit to both the flora and fauna of these precious wetlands.
Investments also have to be made in accordance with the requirements of the Charity Commissioners in approved bank accounts and bonds.
The second responsibility of the Trustees is one of care for the poor and needy of the parish of Blundeston. In the past this has taken the form of an annual distribution of vouchers to old age pensioners, widows and widowers. In recent years book tokens have also been given to full time university students living away from home. Since 2003 the Trustees have been trying to widen the net to include individuals in need whatever their age or marital status. This is very much in line with the spirit of their Trust Deed. They have attempted to achieve this by asking people to complete a simple form requesting either the vouchers or book tokens, whilst avoiding any suggestion of means testing.
The Trustees meet about four times a year depending on the business requirements. During 2007 they are in the process of amending their Trust Deed and putting it into language more appropriate for the 21st century. Once that has been completed it should be available on this website.
If anyone has any queries regarding the work of the Trustees then they can be addressed through this website or direct to any one of the Trustees listed above.
Latest News: Christmas Distribution 2009
The Trustees again tried to target their resources, for the annual distribution, to the most deserving people in the village irrespective of age or marital status. Anyone could apply provided that they have lived in the Blundeston for at least the last three years. The Trustees want the vouchers to go to homes where their receipt really will make a difference to Christmas.
As a general guidance, pensioners existing solely on the state pension, single parent families, those on sickness benefit, income support or job seekers allowance should definitely apply. This list is not exhaustive but gives a general idea of those who we expect to be helping. This guidance is in keeping withthe aims of the Charity, and the terms of the Trust Deed, to look after the poor and needy of the Parish.
Forms were distributed to all homes in the village and application had to be made, with some supporting evidence, to the Trustees by 5 December
The Trustees also continuied to offer book tokens to students at University or College, who are studying on a full time course and living away from home. In order to qualify the student must not be in receipt of an income or a bursary.
Applications for vouchers and book tokens had to be made by 5 December. Any supporting information supplied was treated in strictest confidence
News Update
The annual distribution of vouchers and book tokens took place during the weeks leading up to Christmas 2009.
A total of £6,285 was distributed in the form of Tesco Vouchers to all those who applied. The Trustees were again rather dissappointed by the lack of supporting coments or evidence of need. They are now looking at additional ways to identify and help the needy of the Parish.
Small grants have been made to the local school to help genuine cases of need in relation to school trips. A small grant was also made to the Holiday Rock club which benefits many children in the village
A total of £630 worth of Book tokens was distributed to students on full time University Courses who applied for the annual grant
Purchase of a proporty for rent
In February 2010 the Charity Trustees acquired a new 4 bedroomed hopuse in the village, Plot 2 The hedgerows, for rent. Under thje terms of our trust deed we are required to let the property at current rental prices in order to maximise our asset and further the main cauises of the Charity. The property rental will be handled through our agents Messrs Durrants of 10 New Market, Beccles IP19 8AH. Tel: 01502 712122
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