HANDSTAND – The Appeal for Marshall Janson, was launched on 05 March 2009.

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

The Organising Committee of the Appeal is made up of: Gerry Reilly, Co-ordinator, Jane Schneider, Treasurer, Christine Reilly, Secretary & Bookkeeper, Stephen Harris, Sandra Harris, Samantha Harris, Kathleen Janson & Douglas Janson. The Organising Committee also act as Trustees of the Fund set up on Marshall’s behalf.

No one on the Organising Committee is paid a salary and Bennett Jones & Co and Coodes Solicitors generously provide financial and legal advice, on a ‘pro bono’ basis.

FINANCES

Our fundraising target is £850,000-£950,000 in approximately 16 years. Much will depend on Marshall’s rate of growth and developing needs.

£50,000 was raised by the end of July 2009.  £80,000 was raised by mid September. We had hoped to reach £100,000 by Christmas 2009, but did in fact reach the astonishing amount of £135,000. This gave us hope that we might reach £150,000 by 05 March 2010 - the anniversary of the launch of the Appeal. In reality, we reached £158,886.18 which, again, exceeded our wildest expectations.   

The rate at which funds have to be disbursed will, of course, be determined by Marshall’s rate of growth and developing needs. Given the current economic climate, and given how precious Marshall’s Fund is, we have chosen to adopt a position of ‘risk aversion’ with the investment of Marshall’s Fund.

So, in August 2009, £50,000 was transferred to a Post Office Fixed Rate Growth Bond. At a guaranteed interest rate of 3.85% this will generate £1,950 of additional funds at the end of one year. In December, a further £50,000 was transferred to another Post Office Fixed Rate Growth Bond. Additional funds, as they are received, will be transferred to a higher interest earning account with Lloyds TSB (or suitable alternatives to the Post Office Fixed Rate Bond will be sought - £100,000 is the maximum possible to have invested through the Post Office). 

Necessary operating expenses are kept to an absolute minimum and we are proud of the fact that, currently, these constitute less than 1% of money received against, as we understand it, the national average of 8% for charities.

ACCOUNTS

Bennett Jones & Co, Chartered Accountants, will be conducting an independent examination of the Appeal records to verify them.