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2025-08-31-accounts

CHARITY NUMBER: 1127327

THE METHODIST CHURCH, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE DISTRICT THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE (WEST) CIRCUIT OF THE METHODIST CHURCH

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31[st] August 2025

THE METHODIST CHURCH, NEWCASTLE DISTRICT THE NEWCASTLE (WEST) CIRCUIT OF THE METHODIST CHURCH

The Circuit Stewards, who are the treasurers of the Circuit fund:

Mr M Brown Mr N Bates Mr A Anderson Mr D Forrester

The Managing Trustees

Revd. T woolley (Chair) Revd. K Albans Mr A Anderson Mrs C Armstrong Mr B Ashford Mr M Athey Mr P Ballard Revd. C Barrick Mrs A Bates Mr N Bates Mrs E Bell Mrs A Boyson Revd P Brooks Revd R Brooks Mr M Brown Mrs B Carss Mrs W Chinery Mrs G Clennell Mrs A Cooper Revd. L Coulthard Mr A Cowan Mr G Dent Mr J S Austen Dodds Mrs C M Ford Mr D Forrester Mrs L Forrester Miss S Gimson Mr A Golphin Mrs R Gray Mrs P B Groves Mrs A Harbottle Mr A Harle Mr R Harle

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THE METHODIST CHURCH, NEWCASTLE DISTRICT THE NEWCASTLE (WEST) CIRCUIT OF THE METHODIST CHURCH

Managing Trustees continued…

Mrs Y Hart Mrs B Lanyon Mrs L Lightfoot Revd M Lloyd Mr P Michell Mrs V Myers Deacon M Patchett Miss S Renner Mrs J Scott Prof. R Stephenson Mrs K Tapson Mr M Van Niekerk Mrs P Varley Mr R Varley Mrs R Vickers Mrs E E Warren Mr P Willey Mrs J Wilson Miss R Wood Revd T Woolley Revd G Wynne

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THE METHODIST CHURCH, NEWCASTLE DISTRICT THE NEWCASTLE (WEST) CIRCUIT OF THE METHODIST CHURCH

Principal Address

Ponteland Methodist Church Bell Villas Main Street Ponteland Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 9BE

Independent Examiner

Mr J Lyall c/o Willey & Co 379 Stamfordham Road Westerhope Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 2LH

Bankers

Lloyds TSB Bank plc 3 Wesley Court Blaydon Tyne & Wear NE21 5BY

Solicitors

Sintons LLP, Solicitors The Cube Barrack Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6OB

Custodian Trustees

The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes Central buildings Oldham Street Manchester M1 1JQ

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THE METHODIST CHURCH, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE DISTRICT THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE (WEST) CIRCUIT OF THE METHODIST CHURCH

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st August 2025

Financial statements

The Trustees submit their annual report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31st August 2025. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in 2005 in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the Charity.

Preamble

The Methodist Church is said to have been created after John Wesley’s conversion on 24th May 1738, it is a Free Church. The calling of The Methodist Church is; Worship, to increase awareness of God’s Presence and celebrate God’s love. Learning and caring, to help people to grow and learn as Christians. Service, to be a good neighbour to people in need and challenge injustice. Evangelism, to make more followers of Jesus Christ.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Charity’s treasurers of the Circuit Fund are the lay Circuit Stewards. Of the Managing Trustees listed above all are lay people excepting the four Ministerial staff all of whom are employed by The Methodist Church. Circuit Meetings are held three times per annum and include representatives of all the Societies in the Circuit. The Superintendent Minister (who supervises the work of the other Ministers in the Circuit) reports to this meeting as do the Circuit Stewards.

The governing body of the Circuit is the annual conference of The Methodist Church. The Methodist Church Act 1976 gives the authority under which The Methodist Church acts. The constitution practice and discipline of The Methodist Church together with The Deed of Union (Act of 1929 adopted 1932) govern the activities of the Circuit.

The Methodist Church was previously excepted from the need to register as a charity by the combined effects of Section 46(4) (A) of The Charities Act 1993 and Paragraph 4(2) (C) of the Charities (exception from registration) Regulations 1996 as amended by Statutory Instrument 2005 No2655. However changes to this exemption mean that on 30th December 2008 the charity registered at the Charity Commission with the reference number 1127327.

The Trustees who have served during the year and since the year-end are set out on pages 1 and 2. The treasurers (Circuit Stewards) are appointed annually by the Circuit Meeting and the Managing Trustees are appointed either by (a) the Societies of which they are members (b) the Preachers’ Meeting (c) by being ex-officio (Ministers in good standing or holding a District Office). In practice, up to four Circuit Stewards are appointed who serve for a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6. The principal address of the Circuit’s advisors are given on page 4.

The Trustees are responsible for the detailed examination of the Financial Statements and for recommending their adoption by the Circuit Meeting.

The Circuit is one of 12 of the Newcastle District and has 9 Churches, of which 1 is an LEP within shared building. They are contactable via the principal address of the Circuit.

Funds are transferred to the Circuit on a quarterly basis to meet the commitments to the District and the upkeep of the Circuit.

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THE METHODIST CHURCH, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE DISTRICT THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE (WEST) CIRCUIT OF THE METHODIST CHURCH

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st August 2025 (continued)

Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities

Charity Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its’ financial activities for that period together with its assets and liabilities at the end of the period, and adequately distinguish any material special trust or other restricted fund of the Charity. In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to:

and

Manses

In accordance with the recommendations made under Charities SORP 2015 (FRS102) the value of the Circuit manses have been shown at their original purchase cost of £394,479. These properties are currently insured for £1,740,067.

Former Bond Manse

The cost of this property amounted to £726. It is insured for £430,670. This property is regarded as income generators for the Circuit to help with the operation and aims of the charity.

Objectives and activities

The Circuit is constituted to advance the effective deployment of the resources of ministry, which include people, property and finance, as they relate to the Methodist churches in the Circuit, the District and Connexion, to Churches of other denominations and to participation in the communities served by the Circuit and in ecumenical work in the area. The Constitution and Enumeration of Circuits is set out year by year in the Stations appointed by the Conference.

Activities during the year and achievements

The Circuit has continued to fulfil its basic role of providing ministers for the Societies (Local Churches) which make up the Circuit and to support the churches in various ways including providing financial help for their work. We provide ministers with manses and see that, through The Methodist Church of Great Britain, they are paid their stipends and allowances.

There were three Circuit Meetings held, the Circuit Mission Statement is at the centre of the Circuit’s mission

‘OUR CIRCUIT SEEKS TO PROMOTE THE AWARENESS OF GOD’S LOVE FOR ALL PEOPLE, TO FOSTER AND SUSTAIN THE REALISATION OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE AND ENCOURAGE ECUMENICAL COMMUNITY LINKS’.

The Circuit Stewards are the Lay Leaders of the Circuit, they are Managing Trustees as are all members of the Circuit Meeting and as stewards they are responsible for managing the day to day operation; of all Circuit affairs in consultation with the Superintendent Minister.

The Circuit continues to be blessed with the continuing ministry of our Supernumeraries.

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THE METHODIST CHURCH, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE DISTRICT THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE (WEST) CIRCUIT OF THE METHODIST CHURCH

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st August 2025 (continued)

To support Our Mission Statement we report as follows:

In August 2024 our superintendent minister left the circuit to become chairman of the district.We had to manage one year with only two ministers. In April 2025 our administrator emigrated to New Zealand. These departures meant that our ministers costs reduced substantially over the year.

To further boost our income we received a refund of a contribution to the ministers pension fund made in 2022 of £30,000 + interest. During the spring of 2025 we concluded phase 1 of our project to house the Food bank , Clothes bar at Lemington Church.

Expenditure during the year amounted to £182,641 following on from £45,620 spent in the previous year.

Newcastle city council provided us with grants totalling £129,767. We are extremely grateful for their tremendous support towards our mission outreach in Lemington. The balance of the funds was taken from our reserves.

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THE METHODIST CHURCH, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE DISTRICT

THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE (WEST) CIRCUIT OF THE METHODIST CHURCH

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st August 2025 (continued)

Internal financial controls

The Trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that there is in place an appropriate system of controls, financial and otherwise, to provide reasonable confidence and assurance that:

Investment policy

Surplus funds of the circuit are held in a Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church (CFB) deposit account. The Model Trust (previously the ‘Circuit Advance Fund’) is administered by the Trustees for Methodist Church purposes.

The policies and procedures adapted by the CFB and TMCP are agreed by Conference.

Reserves policy

The definition of “Reserves” is:

“Income which becomes available to the Charity and is to be expended at the Trustees’ discretion in furtherance of the Charity’s objects, but which is not yet spent, committed or designated.”

This definition therefore excludes restricted funds, designated funds, and funds already invested in fixed assets.

The reserves policy of the Circuit agreed by the Trustees is to hold the equivalent of the relevant annual expenditure, plus an estimate of any known fluctuations. These reserves are held in the Central Finance Board deposit account. The unrestricted funds are currently above this limit.

Policy on the Induction and Training of Trustees

There are no specific policies in place for training trustees, although all are nominated by their own churches and have considerable practical experience of church activities.

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THE METHODIST CHURCH, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE DISTRICT THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE (WEST) CIRCUIT OF THE METHODIST CHURCH

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st August 2025 (continued)

Safeguarding, working with vulnerable people

Children : the Circuit has a full policy on work with children and young people, in accordance with the policies of the Methodist church which requires that DAB checks be made on those people who work with children. These checks have been made.

Vulnerable people : the Circuit has reviewed the policy and subsequent to the year under report in these accounts adopted a policy, as approved by the Methodist Connexional body, on the 16th February, 2012. In the policy the

Revd. J Sewell was appointed as Complaints Officer and Safeguarding Officer.

The DAB checks are held in a locked safe under the personal control of the Superintendent Minister.

Risk Management

The Circuit‘s risk management policy is designed to identify and analyse operational and other risk and ensure that it is controlled, monitored and steps taken to mitigate the risks. The Trustees have examined the main risks and are satisfied

that proper controls are in place for monitoring and mitigating these risks. The main risks the Circuit faces can be categorised as follows

  1. Strategic and Repetitious Risks

  2. Financial Risks

  3. Compliance Risks

  4. Operational Risks.

The Trustees will monitor these risks and report regularly to the co-ordinating group. The Circuit Stewards regularly review the insurances held to ensure that adequate cover is in place.

Managing Trustees

The Managing Trustees who have served during the year were as set out on pages two and three of this report. The Officers, (Circuit Stewards), being the Treasurers of the funds who served during the year were as follows:

Mr N Bates

Mr M Brown Mr A Anderson

Mr D Forrester

Independent Examiner

A resolution to appoint Mr J Lyall of Willey & Co as Independent Examiner for the ensuing year will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.

The Trustees who were in office on the date of approval of these financial statements have confirmed, as far as they are aware, that there is no relevant audit information of which the Independent Examiner is unaware. Each of the Trustees have confirmed that they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as Trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that it has been communicated to the Independent Examiner.

This report was approved by the Trustees on 18th March 2026

Revd T Woolley Mrs E Hajimohammadi

T Woolley E hajimohammadi

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