Closure of the Charitable Trust
It is with regret I have to announce that at a recent Extraordinary meeting of the Durham City Freemen Charitable Trust, the following resolution was agreed unanimously by the Trustees to close the Charitable Trust.
Resolution
Due to the mounting difficulties of retaining sustainability and maintaining the ethos of the Charitable Trust, it is proposed that the Durham City Freemen Charitable Trust be dissolved and that the assets of the Charity be distributed in accordance with clause 20 of the Declaration of Trust dated the 23rd of January 2015, made by Roger Charles Norris, Stewart Atkin, Alan Ribchester and John Heslop and that the Charity Commission for England and Wales be notified in accordance with the said Declaration of Trust.
22nd July 2025
A decision was reached following an extended period (18 months), that was fraught with difficulties, whilst the Trustees grappled with a range of issues that would determine the future of the Charitable Trust.
The following was instrumental in determining the Trustees decision to close.
Future of the Charitable Trust
Sustainability of the Charitable Trust and the ethos in which it was in envisaged when Alan (Ribchester) established the charity in 2015, has increasingly come under mounting pressure.
As issues continued to unfold it became essential that the Trustees addressed the fundamental problems that blighted its ability to sustain its standards and objectives.
The major issue was sustaining the Charitable Trust and to maintain the ethos under which it was established in 2015. During the past 12 months, the composition of the Trust (Trustees) has been depleted by over 50%, and although we have attempted on a number of occasions to recruit new Trustees from the ranks of the Freemen, we have been unsuccessful.
During this period, the Trust experienced a fundamental change in the funding arrangements from our sole sponsor, that ran counter to the objectives of the original rationale when the Trust was established in 2015.
The discussion that proceeded the resolution to close, focused on the ability to maintain the standards in accordance to the original ethos under which the Charitable Trust was formed and the way it has developed during the past decade. We considered what was in the best interests of the Trust, as we moved into an unpredictable and uncertain future and decided to take the decision to close.
Issues that determined the decision to close the Charitable Trust
1. Ethos of the Charitable Trust
2. Sustainability of the Charitable Trust
a. Composition of Trustees.
b. Financial viability
If the maintenance of standards are jeopardised, then the ethos developed over the recent past would be compromised. This issue needed to be addressed.
The Trust considered the following rationale:
Ethos of the Charitable Trust.
The ethos that had developed over the decade, has been one of close interaction with charities and worthy causes that the Trustees have supported and one they wished to maintain.
This involved a major commitment from the Trustees in time, energy and empathy with those organisations that were successful in applying for support. The example that had been set was the standard that should continue to be delivered.
Sustainability of the Charitable Trust
Composition of the Charitable Trust
Sustainability of the Trust had become a major concern.
During the past 18 months, we lost two Trustees, one resigning due to ill health and sadly the person who established the Trust and a major influence in its development, died in January 2025.
Unfortunately, we lost a further member of the Trust in July 2025 due to relocation.
We have subsequently been informed that another two Trustees are seriously ill, which will undoubtedly impact on the remaining three Trustees.
During the past 12 months, we have attempted to recruit new Trustees from within the ranks of the Freemen on numerous occasions, but have been unable to increase the membership of the Trust.
When you place this issue alongside the current average age (75 years) of the remaining Trustees, it is plain to see the major concern of sustaining the Charitable Trust in its present form.
Financial Position
Although the Trust has constantly developed and expanded its charitable giving, the funding it receives from its only source of income (the Freemen), is diminishing and it received no funding for 2024/25.
From discussions with our sole funder, it could be anticipated that future funding will be curtailed for a variety of reasons, causing continual concern for the Trust.
Eric Bulmer (Chairman - Charitable Trust)
27th July 2025