The Sussex Young Ringers Fund

Details

Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

In 2015, the Reg Johnson Fund for young ringers was renamed "The Sussex Young Ringers Fund (the Reg Johnson and Harold Wood Memorial Fund)", following a substantial gift from the executors of Harold Wood's estate.

This fund is available to support Sussex Young Ringers under 25 years of age who have started to learn to ring. This includes tower or mini-ring or change-ringing on handbells.

The funds are available to support SCACR young ringers to develop their personal skills and for SCACR group activities. This may include developing ringing, organisational or team building skills, ringing and social events, striking competitions, forums, discussion groups, training courses and provision of books, software programmes, or other learning resources.

Applications for funding should be made in writing to the Association Secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) who will seek approval or otherwise from the Association Trustees and the Association Treasurer. 

To make a donation to the Young Ringers fund, please see the main Charity Overview page. 

Find out more about the Sussex Young Ringers. The Young Ringers' events are listed in the calendar.

Charity Overview

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Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

The Sussex County Association of Change Ringers is a registered charity (number 268588). The registered address is 1 Southdown Terrace, Steyning, BN44 3YJ.

The Charity has three funds:

• General funds – to support the day-to-day running of the Association;
• Bell Restoration Fund (BRF) – to provide financial assistance for the restoration, maintenance and improvement of existing church bells, towers and belfries;
• Sussex Young Ringers’ Fund – to support SCACR young ringers (under 25) in group activities and to develop their personal skills.
• Development Fund – to support any project that meets the Aims of the Association and encourages or develops change ringing or handbell ringing in Sussex, and which does not fall within the guidelines of the BRF or SYRF.

Making a Donation

In order to continue supporting bell restoration projects in particular, but also the Young Ringers and other Association activities, the SCACR relies on donations, including legacies.

Donations - if you are a UK taxpayer, you can increase your gift by 25% at no cost to you by sending a Gift Aid Form with your donation.
Legacies – of course family and friends come first when you’re making a Will, but perhaps you can also spare a gift to the SCACR. This will help the Association to continue our activities to support and promote change ringing in Sussex.

Donate Now

If you are interested in leaving a legacy, please contact the Treasurer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Gift Aid Form

Financial Policy

The SCACR financial policy details the roles and duties of the Finance Committee  Officers (Master, General Secretary, Treasurer, BRF Secretary and District Secretaries). The policy also describes the three specfic funds, including their purpose and restrictions. It also includes the financial reporting requirements, together with our banking & investment policy.

The expenses policy covers travel, administration and events organisation costs and describes how these may be claimed from the Association. The expenses form should be completed and submitted to the treasurer.

If you have any questions about the financial and expenses policies, please contact the Treasurer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Bell Restoration Fund

Details

Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

The Bell Restoration Fund (BRF) is with the Association, which is a registered charity (268588). The BRF provides financial assistance for the restoration, maintenance and improvement of existing church bells, towers and belfries. The fund also supports preservation of bells from redundant churches. All the fund's activities are within the Diocese of Chichester in Sussex. 

The fund is administered by the BRF Committee, which comprises the Association Master, General Secretary, BRF Secretary, Treasurer, Trustees and four other appointed members of the Association. The committee coordinates fund-raising for the BRF. Applications for a grant for financial or other assistance must be made to the BRF Secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) using the Application form. To make a donation to the BRF, please see the main Charity Overview page.

The BRF report and accounts are published in the Annual Report (at the AGM) each May for the previous calendar year. A copy of the Bell Restoration Fund Bye-laws can be found below:

Bell Restoration Fund Bye-Laws

BRF Application form (PDF) [Word version]

Bell Maintenance Course Notes

Grants for Tower Simulators

Funds for are available for helping towers in Sussex install simulator and training equipment such as dumb-bells. The money comes from a legacy left to the Association by Brian Burrough (who learned to ring at Itchingfield in the 1950s and latterly rang at St Leonards), who died in 2006. It was his wish that the legacy be used for the advancement of ringing in Sussex. It is hoped that by offering some financial support, a wide mix of towers across the county might consider installing equipment. An application form is available below. Please contact a member of your local committee for guidance. 

Simulator & Dumb-bell Grant Application Form

About the Association

Details

Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

The Sussex County Association of Change Ringers (SCACR) was formed in 1885 and currently has about 1000 members and 136 towers. The SCACR is a registered charity, and is affiliated to the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers.

The Association is arranged into four Districts (North, South, East and West). Each District has an elected group of volunteer officers (Committee) who organise activities and events in their District.

The overall running of the Association is managed by the General Committe (elected volunteer officers). There are also four teams of volunteers who help with particular aspects:

• Communication and Events
• Training and Recruitment
• Bell Maintenance and Restoration
• Administration, Records and Library

You can find out more about the Committees and Teams, including contact details.

Association Aims

• promoting the ringing of church bells to call people to worship
• encouraging the recruitment and training of all ringers and advancing the art of change ringing
• supporting the proper care and use of church bells and belfries
• providing support to projects to restore, maintain or improve existing bells and the towers and belfries housing them, and seeking the preservation of bells from redundant churches for the purpose of ringing in churches

Become a member

SCACR Rules

If you are interested in making a donation or leaving a legacy, please contact the Treasurer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

District Newsletters

Details

Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

The Association produces two different types of news publications. The SCACR magazine, Soundbow, is produced quarterly, and each District also produces regular newsletters.

The newsletters include District news and information about upcoming practices, social events and meetings. Each of the four Districts produces regular newsletters: Northern News, Sally Forth (West), Look To! (East), and Southern News.

All four newsletters are available by email or by post. All SCACR members should automatically receive their District's newsletter, which is included in the SCACR annual subscription. Any member can request to be added to the email list for any or all of the District newsletters (contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Please send articles and photos to the relevant Newsletter Editor or Publicity Officer:

Northern News: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sally Forth: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Look To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Southern News: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you have not received the relevant newsletter(s), please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Codgers

Details

Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

'Codgers' is a group of ringers across Sussex of all ages who get together to for a 'mini-outing' once a month.  Although members are predominantly from Sussex there are several from other counties. The group will happily ring rounds and call changes as well as more difficult methods. Ringers of all ages and skills are welcome as long as they can handle a bell safely by themselves with reasonable striking.

The 'Codgers' meet once a month, usually on the third Thursday (check the calendar for details). The usual arrangement is to ring at two towers with a pub lunch between towers.

Please get in touch if you wish to join the group, or could help with organising events: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Handbook & Annual Report

Details

Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

The Annual Report & Handbook is usually prepared around the time of the AGM (May);  The Handbook lists all Sussex towers, including practice and Sunday ringing details, members, and contact details for the Tower Correspondent and/or Tower Captain. Also included are lists of Association Officers and District Committee Members, including contact details. The Handbook includes the following:

• Association & District Officers & Team members
• Useful information (e.g. Young Ringers, Publicity Materials, Odd-struckness Meter, and more!)
• Tower details
• Annual Reports:
  • Master
  • Association (General) Secretary
  • Treasurer & Association Accounts
  • Bell Restoration Fund
  • District Secretaries
  • Communication & Events team
  • Training & Recruitment Team
  • Safeguarding
  • Library
  • Peals
  • Bell Restoration Fund
• Quarter peal list
• Peal list and analysis
• List of Honorary Life Members & Long Service Members
• List of unattached members
• Past officers
• Belfry prayers

All association members are entitled to request a printed copy of the Annual Report & Handbook when renewing their membership. The report is included in the annual subscription. The Handbook is available via Membermojo.

Non-members can request a copy from the Association Secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.); a small charge applies to non-members to cover printing and postage costs.

What is Bellringing?

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Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

Bellringing is a team activity for people of all ages and from all walks of life. Although some ringers are members of the church where they ring the bells, many ringers are not - you don't have to be Christian to ring the bells at a church. Many consider ringing to be their contribution to church life, others do it for the pure pleasure and the company it brings.

Bellringing is an excellent way to keep both mind and body fit and active. Ringers are part of an inclusive and extensive community - at their local tower, within the county, across the UK and even internationally. 

"When I’m ringing I forget all the tensions and frustrations of the day. Even better: I couldn’t wish for a nicer group of friends!"

Read on, or contact us and learn more about opportunities to ring near where you live.

Change Ringing

The origins of change ringing lie in the sixteenth century when church bells began to be fitted with a full wheel. This gave ringers control of their bell, allowing sets of bells (rings) to be rung in continously changing patterns.

Music is created by altering the order in which the bells sound. This is done in defined sequences of changes called methods. Learning a few simple methods allows ringers to join in with other bands in towers around the world. Changes can be rung on tower (church) bells or on handbells.

Find out more about the history of ringing in Sussex.

Interested in learning to ring? Bellringers in Sussex would welcome you as a new recruit! Read on to find out more about learning to ring.