About Us
The Ringing Foundation was established in late 2007 as an autonomous charitable company of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. It is led by a Board of Directors, all change ringers, from varying backgrounds. The Ringing Foundation works closely with the Central Council and all established ringing organisations, individual towers and groups and is a registered charity (number 1145804).
Our vision is to ensure learning to ring is a positive, professional experience and that the learning process includes ready access to the broader aspects of ringing: heritage, social activity and special interest areas. Ringing can be regarded equally amongst other hobbies as a performing art and a team activity, just like playing in an orchestra.
The Ringing Foundation now supports the national implementation of the Integrated Teacher Training Scheme for best practice in teaching bell ringing, alongside a progressive learning scheme known as Learning the Ropes. In addition to promoting the benefits of change ringing and improving recruitment, the Ringing Foundation continues to seek donations and grant funding in order to deliver a vision for the future of change ringing.
Chairman of the Ringing Foundation
The remit of the Ringing Foundation is to support the human resources of change ringing by delivering structured training programmes and youth development through professional funding and modern techniques.
Business Plan
The plan sets out that case for setting up a new structure and organisation for the teaching and training of change ringers bringing it into line with modern theory and practice. Overall, the desire is to raise the quantity and quality of change ringing and by bringing financial resource into the equation, recruit and train 700 ringers each year from a budget of £k135 per annum. Our plan sets out the strategy, policy and actions to implement and deliver this outcome over the next seven years starting with an annual outlay of £k18 in 2014.
Sources of external funding will only provide a portion of an annual funding and as evidenced in organisations with activities similar to ringing the budget for recruitment and training, to pass skills to succeeding generations, has to be largely met from within.
This plan advocates the case for immediate action to preserve changing ringing nation wide through the creation of a funded professional structure leading to a step change in recruitment and training methods. It asks for and requires the support of the ringing community.
Key Points
- Community involvement in stimulating interest and attracting recruits.
- Using the model of Youth Groups as the focus for education and training.
- Adopting accredited training schemes for ringing instructors and a ringing curriculum for students.
- Getting better reward for the voluntary time and effort put into ringing training.
- Recognition of achievement and celebration of success.
- Establishing a paid staffed structure to organise, administer, monitor and deliver.
- Creating a pathway for young people to progress and retain involvement with change ringing.
- A national standard by 2020.
Contact Us
Use the links to the right to contact each Director. General enquiries should usually be addressed to the Chairman.
The registered address of the Company, for written communication, is 10 Willingham Road, Lea, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 5EH.
