Belford Development Trust

Trust Statement May 2010

Belford Charity Shop

The shop will open every Friday from 10.00 – 13.00 in the Old Bank Building in the Market Square and all donations such as books, clothes, toys, plants, general goods and bric-a-brac will be gratefully received.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are available and all customers are most welcome.

AGM for the Development Trust is Monday 2nd August.

Belford Development Trust

Minutes of Trustees Meeting held on

Wednesday 16th June 2010

•Present: HeatherWestcott, Phil Nicholson, Lindsay Nicholson Judith Thurland, Ros Simpson

•Minutes of last meeting approved

•Charity Shop. PN advised the meeting that since start of trading on 23rd Aprl 2010, the shop has raised £450 for the Trust. Our aim is to continue with this as long as possible and should the Bank Building no longer be available then it is the Trust’s intention to seek alternative accommodation. LN suggested that the shop be opened on a Saturday morning in addition to Fridays. Trustees agreed that this would require additional volunteers and efforts to be made to enlist more help and open two mornings a week.

•The French Market visited Belford again on 10th June. The organisers were very happy with the turnout and will return again in November. It was agreed that the Trust would spend a small amount of money to produce posters for display at the entrance to Belford on the day of the market in future.

•Parish Council Representative. The Trust has heard informally that Mrs Brenda Jackson has been elected as Parish Council Representative to the Development Trust. Trust is currently awaiting formal notification of this arrangement and all the Trustees agreed that once this is clarified in writing by the Parish Council, we will be happy to invite Brenda along to Trust meetings and will welcome her involvement.

•Sale of the Bank Building. Trustees were informed that an offer has been made for the purchase of the building, subject to planning and necessary approvals. This is currently in the hands of the Estate Agent, Solicitor and Building Trustees.

•Accounts. At the time of the meeting the 2008/9 accounts were still with the accountants. It was agreed that RS to chase these up in order to have them prior to the AGM. Since this meeting the draft accounts have been received and as soon as they are signed off they will be sent to the Charities Commission as a matter of urgency. The Trust wishes to extend its thanks to the Accountant, Mr Peter Ayre of Berwick, who continues to carry out this service ‘Pro Bono’.

•Other Business. HW reported that John Harris from Belford Hall, and Marjorie Dodds have approached her to enquire whether, if the old Spar building is sold, the Trust would be willing to accommodate the ‘Hidden History of Belford’ exhibition in the Banking Hall. The Trust is very keen to assist in any way possible, but unfortunately cannot do so at this time as the Charity Shop is now well established in the Banking Hall and is raising badly needed funds to help support the Trust prior to the sale of the Bank Building.

•Next meeting. AGM Friday 25th June at 6.00. Bank Building.

COMMA fund end of project detailed form

Belford Development Trust was formed as a result of the closure of Barclays Bank in Belford some ten years ago. As a gesture of good will Barclays gifted the Bank Building to the community and the Development Trust was formed as a result.

BDT is a charitable organisation which aims to improve the social and economic wellbeing of the population of the Parish of Belford and Middleton.

Over the years the Trust has helped young people with music lessons and ocean going sailing trips. It has successfully run a Christmas market for many years and has helped to fund and maintain the village Christmas lights, as well as hosting regular visits from a French market and many other popular events.

Funding has been granted for two new developments this year. The first has seen the Bank Building adapted to allow for disabled access and the second to develop the Belford Village website.

The President of the Trust is Lord Walton of Detchant

The Development Trust exists to solely for the benefit of the community and we are always happy to hear fromanyone who has ideas for projects which can achieve this goal or who wishes to become involved with the trust in any way.