Benevolent Fund

Background

The BRDC Benevolent Fund was established by way of a Charitable Trust in November 2000 and its registration number is 1084173. Currently the Trustees of the BRDC Benevolent Fund are David Richards CBE, Chris Bliss and Michael MacDowel, who are all Members of the BRDC. The Fund was fortunate that two generous benefactors provided initial funding, the late Ken Tyrrell and the late John Britten, both Members, who donated £25,000. The Club also made an initial contribution of £25,000 as did then President, Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, who generously donated £25,000 in May 2002.

Objectives

The name of the Trust is the `BRDC Benevolent Fund' The object of the charity is the relief of need by reason of youth, age, ill health, disability or financial hardship, for the public benefit, amongst persons involved in the participation, promotion, or administration of motorsport, whether or not for remuneration, and their families and dependants. “participation” shall mean persons involved in the participation, promotion or administration of motorsport, including but not limited to, competitors, marshalls, officers, employees at motorsport venues and those involved in the design, construction, testing, repair and supply of parts for vehicles intended for competition use.

Administration and procedures

The Trustees are conscious of the fact that most people are reluctant to ask for help if they are in difficult financial circumstances due to ill health or bereavement within the family circle. Pride plays a pivotal role in this reluctance as does a dislike of one's personal affairs becoming widely known. For this reason confidentiality is assured for those who make contact with the Trust Fund and the Trustees are hopeful that `word of mouth' will play an important role in bringing possible cases to their attention. Initial contact should be made to the Trustees via the addresses shown below rather than the BRDC Club Office. Our facilitator, Mrs. Ruth Ritchie, who has over 30 years experience in Social Services, will on a case by case basis, visit and discuss details with potential beneficiaries and prepare a report for the Trustees consideration and action. Ruth Ritchie is fully conversant with the benefits available from statutory or voluntary bodies and her experience is proving invaluable when advice and practical help have been required in a number of cases. Experience to date clearly indicates that the practical help and advice provided by Ruth Ritchie has been of considerable benefit to people, illustrating that the provision of financial assistance is not the only aspect of the work the Benevolent Fund can undertake. We wish to emphasise that living overseas is no barrier to our ability to assist. Please use the Benevolent Fund. It is here to help people who, for whatever reason, may need it.

On-going funding

A significant number of Members waived their entitlement to the Club's dividend in the years when one was paid and this generosity helped build up the fund, along with regular donations from the Club and fund raising at events. The viability and success of the Benevolent Fund will, of course, ultimately rely on adequate funding and the Trustees are anxious to receive donations for the general purposes of the Benevolent Fund, however small, from Members and other charitable bodies. Legislation has greatly simplified the Gift Aid scheme and in conjunction with a donation this scheme will allow the fund to reclaim tax on the gift.  Please see Gift Aid Donation form for details. Legacies are also an effective and appropriate method of supporting your favoured charity and hopefully Members and fellow motor sport enthusiasts may decide to plan to support our Benevolent Fund in this manner. A simple codicil to one's will is all that is necessary to achieve this. There are a number of different legacies, e.g. a specific legacy where a specific item of personal property can be involved, a pecuniary legacy which is in the form of a specific sum of money, or a residuary legacy where a share of the remainder of an estate is bequeathed, after all other payments and legacies have been made. Please specify that any legacies to the Benevolent Fund are made for the charity's general purposes. We can arrange for advice to be offered in this regard if requested, or alternatively please seek advice from your solicitor.

Assistance and advice for potential beneficiaries

Please make initial contact by writing to: 
The Trustees, BRDC Benevolent Fund 
c/o Mrs. Ruth Ritchie (Facilitator) 
42 Baskerville 
Malmesbury
Wiltshire
SN16 9BS
Tel: 01666 825901 or 07714 701351 
ruthnanrit@yahoo.co.uk

For specific queries on Gift Aid or donations please contact: 
Christopher Hawley 
Rawlinson & Hunter 
Eighth Floor 6 New Street Square 
London 
EC4A 3AQ 
Tel: 0207 8422000 
christopher.hawley@rawlinson-hunter.com

If a Member gains knowledge of a potential problem with a fellow Member please let us know and we will, as outlined above, deal with the matter in a confidential and sympathetic way. Additionally, of course, we will welcome direct enquiries for help and advice from any relevant source.