Thomas Bullock Trust
The Thomas Bullock Charity oversees the distribution of funds resulting from a bequest by Thomas Bullock in 1735 for teaching the poor of the parish of Shipdham. Nowadays, as well as its main aim of providing additional money to support the work of the local Thomas Bullock Primary School (for items not normally provided by the L.E.A.), it also gives grants to individuals and organisations to further the wider education and social and physical development of young people under 25 who live in the parish. In recent years, increasing numbers of grants have been given to support Further Education and University students.
Who are the Trustees?
There are seven Trustees who meet regularly to consider requests for financial assistance (meetings must be held at least biannually and are currently held about five times a year.) The A.G.M. is in the first week in May.
1. The Rector of Shipdham (ex officio) Rev. Louise Alder
2. The two Churchwardens (ex officio)
John Larwood Ruth Alder
3. Two Parish Council Nominees (elected for a period of 4 years)
Brian Hughes (Minutes Secretary) To serve until 1 May 2012
David Kent To serve until 5 May 2014
4. Two Co-opted Trustees (elected for a period of 5 years)
Geoff Hinchliffe(Treasurer) To serve until 1 May 2014
Barbara Scott To serve until 5 May 2014
Each new Trustee must sign an agreement to abide by the terms of the Trust upon their attendance at their first meeting with the Trustees. A short report is submitted to the Parish Council at their A.G.M.
What are the Trust’s Sources of Income?
The Trust currently has over £1 million in Charity investment funds, plus £50,000 on deposit and working capital in operative accounts. In addition, it owns a total of 27.02 acres of agricultural land, currently generating £2000 rental income p.a. The Trust also owns the Shipdham Playgroup building which is insured for over £65,000. Annual income, which is available for distributing as grants, averages more than £40,000p.a. but is dependent upon the state of the stock market.
How does the Trust use its income?
1. Grants to the Thomas Bullock Primary School:
The Headteacher, on behalf of the Governors, submits a ‘wish list’ to the Trust at the start of each financial year, enabling the Trustees to set aside adequate funds to cover those items they have agreed to finance (currently some £20,000). Additional requests may also follow! Regular annual requests currently include peripatetic music tuition, gospel-singing workshop, curriculum enhancement week, bible purchase, Thomas Bullock prizes for achievement, residential and other visits, ICT development, library refurbishment and the development of an outdoor play area.
2. Individual Grant Allocations:
Grants are made available to young people resident in the parish of Shipdham. They must be under 21 years of age at the first time of application but may benefit up to the age of 25. Formal applications must be made to the Chairman or Treasurer using the forms available and must be re-submitted annually where applicable. To ensure that all applicants are treated fairly, the Trustees have evolved the following pro rata responses to requests for funding:
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School Student grants:
1. School Trips– 25% total cost
2. Transport to Sixth Form College– £150
3. Musical instrument/Singing/ Dance/ Sports tuition 25% total cost
4. Lease then purchase of musical instruments – full cost (based on written estimate provided by music tutor) but instrument remains the property of the Trust to which it is returned when no longer required. It is then passed to the school. Instruments must be insured by the applicant. An instrument may be leased for a term by the Trust in the first instance. Instruments (and tuition) supported include, piano, flute, clarinet and violin.
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University Student grants – £1000 p.a. for each year of study.
eg. BA(Hons) or BSc(Hons) at Reading, Sheffield, UEA, Lincoln,
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Further Education College Student grants
(a) (for degree-equivalent courses) – £250 for each year of study (students usually live at home) eg Student on Child Nursing HND at King’s College
(b) for sub- degree level courses ie A Level, or NVQ Levels 2 or 3 – £150 for each year of study (including books/travel cost) eg.applicant to attend NVQ Business Admin. at Norwich City College
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One-off applications are considered on their individual merits.
eg. Towards cost of attending Easter World Jamboree; To pay for speech therapy sessions for a little boy with Down’s Syndrome; Towards cost of Judo training for an Olympics hopeful; To go with Southburgh Choir on trip to Exeter Cathedral
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Grants to organizations catering for the needs of local young people
One-off payments are sometimes made in response to requests from organizations providing educational, social and/or physical activities befitting young people from the village. Such organizations may not be solely Shipdham-based.
For example, Contribution towards cost of new Shipdham Community Church minibus for use with after-school club etc.; Tables for Shipdham Brownies; Towards cost of tents for Shipdham Guides; Support for both Dereham High Schools’ submissions for Specialist Subject Status.
Application deadlines are April 30th, August 31st for university applicants and 30th Sept. for other H.E. applicants, December 31st. Grants will not be retrospective.
How do local people find out about the Trust?
The Trustees have placed advertisements in the school and local shops, explaining what financial assistance it can offer and providing telephone and internet contact details. In addition, a full-page advertisement appears in the parish magazine twice yearly. There is also this detailed entry on the village website.
How does an individual make a claim for funding?
Application forms are available from the Chairman, Rev. Louise, at the Rectory Tel. 01362/821593 or Treasurer, Mr Geoff Hinchliffe, at 5A Greenwood Way Tel. 01362/820897. Alternatively, you can print and submit one of the linked Application Forms. Forms must be completed by the applicant or their parent and submitted by the stated deadline, to be considered at the Meeting of the Trustees following that date. Cheques will be provided by the Treasurer for successful applicants (each made out, where applicable, to the appropriate company/organization)
Total spending is over £54,000. In addition to some £30,000 to the school, over £20,000 has gone directly to individual young people from the village.
Forms
Instrument or equipment funding agreement