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2023-08-31-accounts

Fareham Methodist Church

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT for the year ended 31 AUGUST 2023

Fareham Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2023

Objectives and activities

In setting our objectives and planning our activities, the Church Council Meeting has given careful consideration to the Charity Commissioners’ general guidance on public benefit and, in particular, to its supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing our objectives and conforms to the Charities Act 2011.

Our Mission as a local church of the East Solent and Downs Circuit is to pursue the mission of God through worship, learning and caring, service and evangelism.

This is done for as many people as possible within the Fareham area through the provision of Christian Worship, spiritual development and pastoral care both to church members and to the wider communities in which the church is located.

Fareham Methodist Church supports the advancement of the Christian Faith through ecumenical liaison with other Christian groups in Fareham.

Achievements and performance

Current year

The year started in September 2022 with the news that a long hire by the Trinity Pre-School would cease as the Pre-School was closed by its Trustees due to its non-viability. Although this outcome was expected it had a major effect on letting income during the financial year 2022-2023. It has not been possible to find an equivalent replacement hire resulting in income from lettings being £5,600 lower than the previous year.

Attendance at Sunday services normalised at an average of approximately 65 per week. The majority of regular church attendees now donate by standing order which has meant that income from giving is now more predictable. Church services are normally streamed onto Facebook enabling a number of people who were unable to get back to church to enjoy feeling part of the service through the live stream.

Various weekday activities continue to take place in the life of the church with many offering outreach opportunities to the local community.

Faced with increasing energy costs the Managing Trustees approved the installation of a heating management system. The system was installed in May 2023 so there has been no data available during this financial year to demonstrate its effectiveness. Benefits have been seen, however, in the management of hall hire and control of use of the various rooms.

It has become apparent that the current audio system is not fit for purpose and is starting to fail. A grant of £5,000 towards a new system was made by the Circuit. The property group has identified two potential suppliers and there is an anticipation that the installation of a new system will take place early in the next financial year.

The Church continues to make donations to other charities and through social events raise money for various appeals.

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Fareham Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2023

Future years

Financial review

Income and expense

During the year the Church received total income of £102,387 (2021-22: £85,757) and made payments of £88,267 (2021-22: £82,498). A grant of £5,000 was received from Circuit to support the new AV system to be installed in 2023-2024. Bequests were received in the year totalling £9,700 and these are held in the church accounts. Funds held at TMCP in Trust Number 21694 stands at £8,807. Total restricted reserves held in endowment funds at TMCP amount to £15,965. The interest from these funds is paid into the General Fund as it is received.

Unrestricted reserves carried forward were £105,939 (2021-22: £91,089). £65,031 of these reserves are designated: £500 for benevolence payments; £8,024 in the Organ and Keyboard Fund; £31,000 in the Major Property Repair Fund; £11,700 bequests held within church accounts, £5000 grant from Circuit(restricted to AV equipment) and £8,807 as bequests held at TMCP for longer term or specific use.

The trustees of the Church have every reason to believe that the Charity is a going concern, principally because the majority of the donated income is not reliant on attendance within the church building but is paid directly to the church accounts by standing order. There are no subsidiary undertakings. The proportion of income that is from lettings has reduced from previous years and the Trustees are aware that this income cannot be relied on as fully secure, especially as the cost of living crisis potentially affects user groups. However the Trustees are confident that there are sufficient reserves to cover any continued reduction in lettings in the medium term.

Remuneration policy

The church currently has one employee, a cleaner working 11 hours per week. The cleaner post is paid at the Real Living Wage set annually by the Living Wage Foundation. Pay reviews are normally undertaken with effect from 1[st] April each year with rates set by the Managing Trustees at the Church Council prior to this date. In 2022-2023 the pay review date was brought forward to November 2022 to reflect the challenges of the cost-of-living crises. It is expected to revert to the usual pay review date in future years.

Investment Policy and Performance

To comply with Methodist Standing Orders, monies for long term investment are lodged with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP).

Short term deposits are lodged directly with the Central Finance Board (CFB) and attract interest. The Trustees are not minded to invest in higher risk funds.

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Fareham Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2023

Reserves level and policy

The General Fund contains three designated funds, the Benevolence Fund, a fund for Organ and Musical Instruments and a fund for Major Property Repair. It also contains unrestricted bequests held in Trust number 21694 at TMCP and in the church accounts.

Withdrawal of money from the three Designated Funds and unrestricted bequests requires Manging Trustee approval.

The remainder of the funds are held as Free Reserves. The target is for free reserves to cover approximately 6 months of operating costs with a target range of 40%-60%

Designated Funds:
Benevolence £ 500
Organ and Keyboard £ 8,024
Major Property Repair (target £40k) £31,000
Unrestricted bequests@ TMCP £ 8,807
Unrestricted bequests held in accounts £ 11,700
Grants from circuit not yet expended (restricted for AV equipment) £ 5,000
Free Reserve: £40,908 - 50% operating
costs [forecast operating
costs 2023/24 = £81,650]

Trustees’ responsibilities

For each financial year ending on 31[st] August the Trustees are required to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view of the Church’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees must:

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Fareham Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2023

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Church and enables them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Church and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The Church’s policy is to adhere to the Methodist Church’s policy on Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults. A Safeguarding Officer is appointed. The Circuit provides regular safeguarding training that can be accessed by the church as required. The Safeguarding Officer keeps records of training and ensures that this is up to date.

The Church does not hold any funds as custodian trustees on behalf of others.

Structure, governance and management

The Church is an unincorporated association and is governed by the Methodist Church Act 1976, the Deed of Union and the Model Trust Deeds of the Methodist Church and was registered with the Charity Commissioners on 2 February 2009. Prior to this the charity had an excepted registration.

Structure

The Church is one of a number that make up the East Solent and Downs Circuit.

The Circuit is the coordinating charity and pay the stipends of the ministers and employ lay staff to serve the Churches in the Circuit; most decisions are made at or ratified by the Circuit Meeting.

The Circuit is part of the Southampton District which is the coordinating charity for a group of contiguous Circuits. District decisions are made at the half yearly synod to which the Circuit appoints both lay and ordained representatives. The Methodist Conference meets once each year as the supreme denominational body for all Methodist Churches.

  1. Overall regulatory authority rests with the Methodist Conference.

  2. The Connexional Office implements decisions made by Conference and is also responsible for the stationing of presbyters and deacons (collectively known as ministers) in individual Circuits.

  3. Connexional decisions are passed via Districts to Circuits for local implementation by the Superintendent Minister, ministerial staff and Circuit Stewards, and authority is delegated to the Circuit Meeting for certain matters.

  4. The Circuit Meeting passes regulatory control down to Church Councils for local implementation by the presbyter, the Church Stewards, and other officers, and this regulatory authority is then exercised by Church Councils as Managing Trustees of their charity.

Governance

The Church operates within a statutory framework of regulation and seeks to ensure that it follows Methodist Standing Orders. It relies on the Connexional Office at 25 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SF to provide guidance on changes that could affect the Church.

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Fareham Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2023

Reference and Administrative Details

Name of the charity

Fareham Methodist Church.

Charity registration number

1127814, registered in England and Wales

Principal Office

Fareham Methodist Church Kings Road Fareham PO16 0NU

Minister with pastoral oversight

Revd Pauline Crispin

Church Treasurer

Mr Michael Petter

Names of trustees

The following served as trustees throughout part or all of the year 2022-23 or were trustees at the time of this report being approved:


Mrs
Brenda
Bennett
Mrs Sally Bland
Mr Mark Brooks
Mr Nigel Cox
Revd Pauline Crispin From Sept 2023
Mrs Patricia Croker
Mrs Linda Foster
Mr Kevin Foster
Mrs Jill Groom
Mrs Shirley Henderson
Mrs Julie Kettle
Mrs Edith Livingstone
Mrs Audrey Mann
Mr Peter Moody
Mrs Jean Petter
Mr Michael Petter
Mrs Jill Race
Mrs Margaret Shepherd
Mr Michael Shepherd
Revd. Claire Simpson Left Aug 2023
Mrs Catherine Stevenson
Mrs Roberta Watson
Mrs Margaret Wheeler

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Fareham Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2023

Mr Andrew Wilcock
Mrs Elizabeth Wilcock
Mr Christopher Woodhams
Mrs Lin Woodhams
Mrs Linda Young

No trustee claims exemption from disclosure of his or her name here.

Bankers

CAF Bank Ltd Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church 25 Kings Hill Avenue 9 Bonhill Street Kings Hill London West Malling EC2A 4PE Kent ME19 4JQ

Investment managers and custodian trustees

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

Independent Examiner

Mrs Joanne Gregory 19/21 High Street Emsworth Hants PO10 7AQ

Approvals

The Trustees’ Report and the Financial Statements were approved by the Church Council Meeting on 18[th] January 2024.

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CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Fareham Methodl$t Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2023 East Solent & Downs Clrcult Clrcult no. 26107 Registered Charlty - Charlty Reglstratlon number 1127814 If not a registered charity Her Majestys Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to See evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Melhodisl charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) Minister: Rovd. Pauline Crispin Church Stewards.. Mrs Maggle Wheeler Mrs Jlll Groom Mrs Brenda Bennett Mr Mlke Shepherd Illr Chrt6 Woodhams Mrs Jean Petter Mrs Audrey Mann TreasU￿r.. Mik• Pett•r SFA 2022-2023

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Fareham Methodist Chur¢h Ro8trlcted Fund• Incl Unr••trl¢tad Trust No Totals thF* Funds 21654 yeor Totals la•t ear 8ECTION A a1 RECEIPTS a2 Offerin $ and Tax recove Bank and CFB interest and Investment incf)me 59.619 59,619 57,806 a3 2,308 13,564 26,891 102,383 2,308 13,564 26,895 102.387 236 Lettin a5 Other receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 8,568 85,757 117) SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Sha 46,815 3,019 46.815 3.019 47,306 10,805 2,361 b3 Donations Re airs and Mainlenan¢e Ub'lilies Ilnsurances, water char es, heatin hlingl 12,316 b5 11,808 9,457 4,852 88,267 9,052 10,155 2,819 82fv98 Caretakin & Cleanin 9857 4,852 88,267 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS b8 {b91 SECTION C NEf RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 a64 14,116 14,120 3,259 Total fvnds brought forward from Lgst year c2 83,016 8,803 91,819 87,830 Sub total ¢1+c2 97,132 8.807 105.939 91,089 Transfers and ad'ustments c7 730 ¢5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+¢4) 97,136 8.807 105,943 Ic8) 91,819 Ic61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS {Ihese amounts are nol to be Included In total r8¢•iptslpa ments fi d1 Balance brou ht fowdrd from last d2 Offerin sIGWts- received for exiemal o anisations 2,436 1,967 d3 OfferingslGifts - passed to extemal organisation$ 2,436 1,967 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d243} SFA 2022-2023

Fareham Melhodisl etwrch CH 8ECTIQN E Summaryoftho Chureh 2ceauntr 31 M¥uit 2023￿ ktsmal f￿nIS•ti￿¥ rep¢i)n9 toth• Churth CtyJ￿VChUr¢h M¥bty. Not¢ Mthefvrtd¥of an Intemal 0r9an4satsc￿ TAl￿ tÉ Restr%a funds tedewty thaitfv ctyJbJ Le used forany Mettrth151 purrrtw This t ANDA DIFFEREFIT FORPI bo Iiw f40880 refer¥)bh •Mdanm notss ryrth'rK4 tr￿llerS betthw Ihe f'tstrK ttfflneGted Disthd 0rwlsat￿f INTERNNL ORGANISATKINS OFWIryJ Cthn P￿?￿ FuTrJ 70 249 1.415 JunrChur¢h 18 Mlnl ma￿•t 1857 1.194 ej Parwrt & 7oddlllTr 372 420 201 ¢7 ub nwtionsfunds 4.ry15 011 639 •12 Church accoun1• It￿ 2- tota￿ eolumn 102J87 14120 ICT) 91,819 Ic6 105,943 BY CMURCH lo1￿25 1&144 106.682 rt[￿resSary and bmg TOTAL RE¢EIPTS TOTAL SE¢rnON F CLQS eHURCH-CA8H FUNDS HELD •t31 t 202J Catsh in hand Bank Current￿rn B•nk Centr FInaT￿ 8oard 52.188 Trustees meth&y￿1C￿U￿ P 8.807 Otherfund5 SLB TOTAL.Ch¥r¢h O￿O￿ni1 Totsifunos by Intem81 organ￿alk￿lS bal4nce wtal frorn aOov¢l18121 1.615 839 912 TOTALCA$H FUNDS MELD ey CHURCH 93.434 Ix) 108,682 SEenoN O At 31 Augu812￿3 OTHER ￿SET$ ar￿ Lart & 8ui 3 242 246 3339511 L(n Other f4 IWUOO Fu￿9 althe Central F￿•1￿ f5 Fu￿8 atTl￿tee5 ts Va￿LS1 Puw 91 kndude any¢￿￿¥¢¥bmts lThthe c¥th8lwwtc4TMCPtrL trA• ty ￿15

FAREHAM METHODIST CHURCH Note5 Au 202 Both the General Fund and Trust No. 21694 are unrestriL#ed. Trust No. 21694 conwsls of ￿l￿Se1 Tnjst tequ88ts. Oth?r Recolpts and Other pa￿entS Recei Weekday xbvity 6,535 Mini market.. £2609 Messy Churth.. £123 Hdiday at Home.. £127 Shiws Stall.. £6ts) Coffee Centre.. £545 Friday lunch.. £710 Fashion ¥hw. £759 Film night.. £245 Bazaar. £775 Organ & Keyboard lund clwtions Sunday lunch donati¢)n$ Sunday coffee donations Bequests(Long. Bright. w￿￿￿er, 88shforthl Grants from urcLtit Hampshire Historic Churd Atyum SLFPPJrt Cther Claire Gift d￿ation Claire party lkntior 830 792 215 9,700 6.094 215 567 208 1,620 26,891 Me$$y chU￿h Copying. Copyr4ht & Web86te 8ank fees Benevolance pa￿nents Claire gift Claire paty Other ind expenses 343 1,709 78 295 1,620 470 337 4,852 Donatlon8 Advance payment Gift Worfd Missions Mission in 8rit8ln ProFety Fund Ministers, Houwng Swety Fund tor the SupF#Yt of preSb￿e1S and Oeacon$ Leaders of Worship and PreaGhers' Trust MWIB Christian$ Tcgether in Fareham Fareham Masoni¢ Club {for use of car parkl 208 900 550 450 220 85 250 50 120 3,018 Repairs Boiler seryice Fire extinguishers Fire alami seNce General electn.cal Decorate Larg• Hall Computer upJrade Defib pads New heater conlrol system General expense$ <£110 177 100 321 142 1.158 9,874 109 .31

FAREHAM MEfHODIST CHURCH Notes accompanying Accounts for Year ended 31st August 2023 continued Utilities Broadband Ga5 Ele¢Wcw (now on quartety p8ymei BT Insuran 298 796 6.914 65 3.733 11.807 Caretaking and cleaning Wages Janitorial Supplies PHS 7.759 534 785 220 159 Window ¢lean Trade Waste General Fund at 31st August 2023 Restricted grant from ¢ircuit Running Costs Reserve Benevolence Reserve Major Repairs ReseNe Organ & Keyboard ￿$¢The Unrestricted Wuests @ TMCP Unrestricted b4uests in attount 5C(I 310CKJ 8807 11700 105939 Appeals for Extemal Organisations A¢tion for Chiklren Iwecan Ukraine Christians Christian Aid Week Children in Need Step by Step World Mission Fund JMA 461.25 691.10 563.00 205.15 241. 247.50 26.87 2435.87 The investment shtxwn in Section G is T￿￿t No. 17W and Tnjst No. 22184 wilh the Tru5tee5 for Methc*Jist Church Purposes {Charity No. 1136358}. 10. The Buildings and "other assets" (contents and organ) are valued at the sums for which they are insured. The sums insured are increased annually according to appropriate indices.

Independent EXamine￿S Report to the Trustses of the Far6ham Methodist Church Charity Number 1127814 Responslbllltles and basls of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Fareham Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2023 set out on pages 1 to 3. As the Church's trustees. you are responsible for th8 preparalion of the aC￿UnIS in a¢¢ordan¢e wilh trte requirements of the Charities Act 2011 Cthe Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the Chur¢h's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in earrying out my •Mamin2tion, I havé followed 211 tha 2ppIic2blA Diréetiong oivén by thé Charity Commi22ion under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Indepandont Examinovs Statomont I have completed my examination. I confimi that no malerial matters have Come to my attention in connection wth the examination {other than that disdosed b8lovf) which give me ￿use to believe that in. any material respect.. the a¢countinq records were not kept in accordance with ¥e¢tFon 130 of the Act.. or the accounts do not accord with the accountinq re￿rds. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in thi8 report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I have obtained independent verification of all inveslments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of thè Methodist Church vthich are indivKlually in eX￿sS of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of ind8P8ndent examiner Name of independent examiner Rèlevant professional qualification of independent examiner Name of fimi {Vh￿re appropriate) Address Fa [0 ..IA• Post Code .. Date SFA 2022-2023 5of5

Charlty Number 1127814 Declaratlon by Treasurer I confimi that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2023 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church trustees. Signature of treaSu￿r ............ Date..7.. tL 2.IS Name and address of treasurer Mike Petter 4 Romyns Court Fareham P014 1NB Presentstlon to the Church trustees I confimi that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 were presented to the meeting of the Church tNstees held on ..l..S4. 1.w￿.?> Signature of the Chair of the meeting Date jÉ.<J, IO'L4 Name of the Chair of the meeting Revd Pauline Crispin SFA 2022oorJ 4ofS

Independent Examinerfs Report to the Tru8ts88 of the Farèham Methodist Church Charity Number 1127814 Responslbllltlos and ba$ls of roport I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Far8ham Methodist Church for the y8ar ended 31 August 2023 set out on pages 1 to 3. As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in a¢¢ordan¢e with the requirements of the Charities A¢t 2011 {Ihe A¢Y). I report in respect of my examination of the Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in earrytng out my ox2min2tion, I havè followod 211 tho applie2blo Diréctiong giv8n by Iho Chgrity Commission under section 14515){b) of the Act. Indopondent Examlno¢s Statsmont I havo completod my ¢xamination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in ¢onnection wth the examination (other than that di￿10$ed belowl which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounlino reGord$ were not keDt in accordance ￿th Section 130 of the A￿.. or the accounts do not accord wth the accountino records. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to whtch attention should b• drawn in this r•port in ord•r to •nab￿ a propw undwgtand¥ng of th• accounts to be reachèd. I have obtain8d independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and fund$ at tho Central Finan¢e Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10.000 {ten thousand pounds) at the balancè sh88t dat8. Signalur8 of ind8p8ndent examiner Name of independent examiner ReFevant professional qualification of Indepéndant examlner Name of fimi (where appropriats) Fc!.10 ..IAQ Date SFA 2022-2023 Sof5