ART becomes a registered charity

We are pleased to announce that the Association of Ringing Teachers has been awarded charity status this week after satisfying the Charity Commission on issues of its constitution, safeguarding and public benefit purpose. This status is formal recognition that ART’s mission is for public benefit and that our procedures and policies are in good order. ART has now been entered onto the Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1156971.

The ART Management Committee submitted an application to the Charity Commission at the end of 2013, and have been working with them to gain registration for ART. Following notification to all Members, a Special General Meeting was held on Sunday 4 May to approve a minor modification to the ART constitution that facilitated the granting of charity status.

We are very pleased to have achieved this milestone, which marks a significant moment in the development of ART. This recognition reinforces our credibility as an organisation – despite our ‘youth’ – and we will now be able to claim gift aid on donations and doors will be opened for discounts on some purchases and activities. This should assist our future funding and allow us to use educational facilities and programmes of other organisations at reasonable cost.

We also hope that our charitable status will facilitate local branches, districts, associations and guilds that are also registered charities in financially supporting the work of ART and its ART Training and Learning the Ropes schemes.

Our special thanks to Graham Nabb who has led this project on behalf of ART.

Onward and upwards!

The ART Management Committee