The following frame work sets out what Guild Officers will work towards over the next few years. Having an Action Plan in place will enable ideas to develop, provide continuity and ensure the Guild is striving to be a relevant entity for its members.
The vision is of a central administration which can provide resources, educational initiatives and public relations representation advice and support, using resources to best advantage whilst encouraging Districts to be more independent and flexible in what they offer in terms of local day to day ringing.
The Action Plan can be developed in detail as appropriate and will significantly take into account members’ feedback including matters of budget. It will be reviewed annually to monitor progress.
actively seek feedback from members
hold at least 2 all-Guild ringing events each year to encourage all ringers to come together
encourage young ringers to come together to ring, socialise and to participate in ringing contests; advise and remind them of the available financial support via the Training and Development Fund
encourage the districts to be more independent of central control and be flexible in their own ringing programmes and events; support local efforts as required, including reminding Officers and members of the available financial support via the Training and Development
encourage more members to be involved in Guild volunteer efforts resulting in a gentle shift in age profile in the Guild’s activities and administration
offer various training courses, reminding potential applicants of the available financial support via the Training and Development Fund; encourage ‘relevant experience’ volunteer assistance for the courses including administration support
update the website generally, including the inventory of Guild resources available to members, and their location
encourage much wider engagement of the Guild’s website and social media and uptake of the electronic newsletter ‘Weekly News’ to:
enable ‘fresh’ information to be displayed and circulated
ensure enhanced communication with ringers and community
offer positive benefits to visitors to the sites including such as Learning to Ring, information of training events, ringing activities, by taking up the electronic newsletter ‘Weekly News’
continue to consider and work towards the Guild Database of Members
review and support the work of all Committees and Young Ringers’ groups; seek out potential ‘relevant experience’ volunteers and encouraging them to offer help
be a point of contact for all ringing matters for Diocesan and national bodies, the community and the media
review areas of Guild administration and responsibilities to improve effectiveness and remain accountable, including to third parties
Budget: £700
Seek out and encourage more ‘relevant experience’ volunteer assistance for the website Timescale: ongoing
{discuss at the AGM} It is suggested to replace the existing W&P website with something more modern? We propose to investigate the options and present alternatives with budgets at the November 2021 Executive meeting Timescale: November 2021
To hold a series of forums with district secretaries and treasurers to discuss the Guild membership database and the Guild communications database, how it will be used at various levels and how data is securely stored including the implications of GDPR.
Seek out and establish a small group of ‘News Ambassadors’ in local areas to work alongside the Communications Team. Timescale: ongoing
Review GDPR policy and provide relevant training and guidance to key district and guild officers. Timescale: June 2020
Budget: £0
Support the Safeguarding Officer to review the Safeguarding policy and seek its approval by the Executive Committee. Once approved, push out the policy to all towers. Timescale: Completed- Policy approved at March 2021 Executive Committee. Guild Secretary disseminated the Policy to Districts for onwards distribution to all towers.
Work with the safeguarding officer to provide available training for protection of young and vulnerable people. Timescale: March 2022
Gain knowledge of young ringers groups and work with these to maintain and increase easy access to the Young Ringers’ groups training and events, and available financial support. Timescale: June 2022
Assist districts with strategies for recruitment of young ringers at a local level and creation of local young ringers groups. Timescale: June 2022
Work with young ringers to develop a programme of Guild events specifically designed for them (outings, competitions etc.) Timescale: Dependant on situation when returning to ringing after covid pandemic.
Budget: £40
Garner available and appropriate resources, including financial, to ensure there is a continuous supply of new ringers and that they are well-trained and motivated for the long term benefit of all. Timescale: June 2022
Consider new opportunities for recruitment initiatives at local level. Timescale: Sept 2021 - Action - Districts
Learn to ring events. Timescale: March 2022
Investigate opportunities to assist with funding of recruitment and retention. Timescale: March 2022
Identify and publish towers able to train new ringers on behalf of struggling towers, as well as for their own benefit. Timescale: March 2022
Develop ‘new ringer welcome pack’ and ‘Welcome Back to Ringing pack’. Timescale: September 2021 - Viv Nobbs & Pete Jordan
Budget: £0
Following covid-19 Lockdown, provide a support raft of resources to equip districts and towers to ensure that bells and fittings are in a safe condition to restart ringing activities and to provide support and retraining where required to returning ringers. Timescale: June 2021
Each district to plan how they can support recruitment and training new ringers once in a legal and safe position to resume one to one training. This to be based on local resources available to give a secure path for retaining new recruits. Timescale: June 2021
Across the Guild area, support educational initiatives, especially those improving the quality and sustainability of ringing and ringing teaching. Timescale: June 2022
Encourage ‘relevant experience’ volunteer assistance at local training events. Timescale: June 2021
Develop strategies to provide key support for training at district level. Timescale: June 2021
Budget: £150
Consider further action to protect our heritage, including undertaking and archiving audio recordings of bells for future generations, and photographing peal boards and other significant historic artefacts. Timescale: To seek a volunteer or more to gather firstly the audio by end of 2021 and then the peal board pictures using lessons learned from the initial action by end 2022. Help may also be needed from the Comms team.
Develop local training for Steeple keepers to help maintain bells for the future. There is support for this from the S&M workgroup of the Central Council. A spanner’s group is thought to be possible as each towers requirement has a different engineering challenge. Timescale: end 2022
Investigate ways to support local tower maintenance through the BRF, maintenance groups or centralised resources. Timescale: see above
Continue with update and completion of the bell stock survey. A trial is in place to link this to the Dove website Timescale: June 2022
Budget: £0
To consult with the membership with regarding to reviewing the operation of the Guild and make recommendations for the years ahead.
BRF focus
Investment of surplus BRF funds to maintain capital value
BRF grant levels
Likely implications of Covid-19 and reduction in parish income
Belfry Stewardship focus
Updating and completion of bell stock survey to inform future decision making. Data consistency.
How maintenance inspection scheme should work in practice. Professional / internal inspection? Training?
Review rule 23 (Redundant bells), especially in light of possible future redundancies and the activities of the Keltek Trust
Guild membership focus
Consultation (survey) membership to establish what benefits they value from their membership - how would they like to see their subs used? What benefits would they like?
Encouraging Districts to use their surplus funds (Rule 16)
Use of the Training & Development Fund
Fund-raising ideas from other Guilds & Associations - existing - district practices / 200 club. What do we need this for? Fund raising at local level for local projects. Do the members want this?
Subscription levels in the light of the above
Would charitable status of whole Guild (not just BRF) be of benefit - gift aid & more flexibility etc.
Timescales
To report back to the Executive committee and AGM 2022.
‘Firsts Fortnight’ - Autumn 2019 (October 11th - 27th) Complete
‘First Peal 2022’
Open Day with Mini Ring 2022
Any other significant events to be considered and arranged.
Rev 1.4 07/06/2021