Honington Charities, (also known as Honington Fuel Allotment Charity
Current Committee, (March 2019) ;
Sally Fogden, (Chair/Trustee),
Linda Howe, (Secretary/Trustee),
Trustees : Doreen Avenell, Josie Goddard, Robin Howe, Ian Patterson Parker, and Sue Reeve.
Background :
Honington Charities is an ancient organisation dating back several centuries. Originally the fund related to land owned by the village but spread around West Suffolk – including plots in Stanton, Great Barton and Ixworth. Over time these random pieces of land were either sold or exchanged, (e.g. Honington exchanged their Stanton holding for land owned by Stanton in Honington). The money from these sales was placed in The Bishops of Lincoln’s Fund, (known as COIF investments), and produces a disposal income each year.
In more recent times there have been some small land sales to local residents.
The remaining land held by the charity in Honington consists of :
Honington allotments,
the allotment field, (let to the Blackbourn Tree group),
the play meadow, (let to Honington cum Sapiston Parish Council, and
the grazing land and parking area at the bottom of Mill Road.
Purpose of charity :
The Charity primarily exists to provide support for older residents of Honington towards winter fuel costs.
The land which remains in the Charity’s ownership is rented out with a priority given to use which benefits the local community.
Current position :
Each year the charity gives a sum of money to households in Honington containing at least one resident who is over 65 and has lived in the village for at least 5 years. This money is paid from the fund’s income and does not reduce the capital assets.
Income is obtained from : COIF investments, agricultural grants, rents, and a small amount of bank interest.
The Rectory Field became vacant and has been rented to the Tree Group with extra allotment plots created behind residents’ properties. The Mill Road grazing has been let for use by cattle and the Charity hopes to be able to provide an off road parking area for local residents.
Summary :
The Charity is in a healthy position being able to mainly meet its expenditure from income;
Land currently held by the Charity continues to benefit local people and provides community facilities on the Allotment and Village Playing Fields.
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