2024-08-31-accounts - Alton Methodist Church

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date 01 Septembe 2023 31 August 2024 r

From

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name

Alton Methodist Church

Other names charity is known by

Registered charity number (if any) 1129465.

Charity's principal address Draymans Way

Alton Hants

Postcode GU34 1AU

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

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Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
Rev P Simpkins Minister Methodist Church UK
Mr A Robb Steward Annual Church Meeting
Mrs C. Woodruffe Steward Annual Church Meeting
Mrs A Mitchell Representative Annual Church Meeting
elected by Church
Annual Meeting
Mrs A. Simpkins Steward Annual Church Meeting
Mr H. Smith Steward Annual Church Meeting
Mrs C. Stovold Steward Annual Church Meeting
Mr G Titterington Treasurer Church Council
Mrs D Titterington Church Council Church Council
Secretary
Miss J Nicholls Family Committee Church Council
representative
Mr D Allan Steward and Church Council
Property Committee
representative
Mr N. Hughes Finance Committee Church Council
representative
Mr L. Sheridan Lighthouse Church Council
representative
Mrs J. Marlow Church Family Church Council
Visitors
representative
Mrs L. George Safeguarding Church Council
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TAR

September 2023 – August 2024

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Mrs A Hughes Representative Annual Church Meeting
elected by Church
Annual Meeting
Mrs J Meager Representative Annual Church Meeting
elected by Church
Annual Meeting
Mrs D. Wright Representative Annual Church Meeting
elected by Church
Annual Meeting
Mrs N Buck Representative Annual Church Meeting
elected by Church
Annual Meeting
Mrs G Bentley Representative Annual Church Meeting
elected by Church
Annual Meeting
Mr M. Morrice Representative from Circuit Stewards
Circuit Stewards
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Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

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Name Dates acted if not for whole year
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
(custodian trustees of our building)
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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Alton Methodist Church is governed by Statutory Instruments 1996 Number 180, Type of governing document as amended by Statutory Instruments 2007 Number 2655. (eg. trust deed, constitution)

How the charity is constituted

Trust

(eg. trust, association, company)

Election by the Church’s Annual Meeting. Vacancies that arise during the Trustee selection methods year can be filled by election at a Church Council meeting. (eg. appointed by, elected by)

TAR

September 2023 – August 2024

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Alton Methodist Church is part of The Hants-Surrey Border Circuit (36/1) in the South East District of the Methodist Church, UK.

Alton Methodist Church is managed by the Church Council (Managing Trustees). A number of committees are responsible for specific facets of the Church’s work.

These include: The Family Committee The Finance Committee The Property Committee.

The Church Council meets three times per year or more often if necessary. It receives reports from groups and reviews their work providing guidance and direction and authorises policy and is ultimately responsible for the activities of the groups.

Much of the day to day running of the church is entrusted to a team of stewards elected by the church membership. In addition, there is an annual church meeting where the whole of the church membership is able to meet and review the work of the church over the previous year.

The Church works to manage and limit risk as far as practicable. It reviews its practices against the Charity Commission’s “Internal Financial Controls for Charities” document regularly. It only pays for services in cash in exceptional services (and no such occasions occurred in the year under review). All cheque and electronic payments require 2 signatures. All receipts are banked promptly. Operational risk is managed by servicing all fire extinguishers, electrical equipment, and sliding doors regularly. Personal and reputational risk is managed by adopting best practice, as recommended by the Methodist Church nationally, to safeguarding.

Section C Objectives and activities

The objective of the Church is summed up in our mission statement which states:

The calling of Alton Methodist Church is to respond to the Gospel of God’s Love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

This can be summarised in four key areas, i.e. worship, learning and caring, service and evangelism.

Worship: Increase the awareness of God’s presence and celebrate God’s love. Learning and Caring: Help people to grow and learn as Christians. Service: Be a good neighbour to people in need and challenge injustice. Evangelism: Make more followers of Jesus Christ.

TAR

September 2023 – August 2024

The Church comprises 92 members plus young people and others who have not entered into membership. One service meets each Sunday. In addition, there are normally many activities during the week. These include: Girls and Boys Brigades, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Monthly Lunch Club, and Child Contact Centre. Many of these groups involve people and young people who are not members of the church. We value and wish to develop our links with the local community and the provision we are able to make, particularly for the elderly, vulnerable and young people with special needs who are welcomed into our various groups. In addition, there are a number of groups from the community who use these premises.

Our paid staff comprises the Minister, and an “Anna Chaplain” (Chaplain to older people in the town and surrounding villages.) Grant applications and fund raising towards this role in the last year has proved successful and adds a degree of financial security to the post over the next 3 years plus. The work of the Anna Chaplaincy is highly respected and commended by grant making bodies for its work.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

All other activities are undertaken by volunteers. There are over 70 volunteers involved in some way in the activities that take place at the church.

For administrative purposes the Methodist Church in the country (the Connexion) is divided into 33 districts. Each district is further divided into Circuits. The Alton Methodist Church is one of eleven churches in the local Circuit. Circuit assessment is a sum paid quarterly to the circuit treasurer to cover Ministers salaries and a contribution towards District and Connexional running costs. Our Minister is employed and paid by the Circuit. The Hants Surrey Border Methodist Circuit is in consultation with the Berkshire Surrey Border Methodist Circuit with a view to becoming one larger circuit from Sept. 2025. The name of the amalgamated circuit will likely be ‘The Blackwater Valley Circuit’

The church signed a covenant with the local Anglican parish in 2009 to work more closely together. The project known as the Greater Alton Project (GAP) currently funds with others a Chaplain to the elderly (particularly those in nursing homes, and known as the “Anna Chaplain”) as mentioned above.

The trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit, and believe this is illustrated by the Church’s service to the welfare of the elderly members of the surrounding community (outside our church) and to the younger members through the youth organisations. Generosity from Church members through a gift day, and ongoing giving have enabled the churches finances to remain sustainable post pandemic.

TAR

September 2023 – August 2024

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

Restrictions on Activities:

The regulations governing the Church do not permit the consumption of alcohol, and allow only very limited forms of gambling, on the premises.

Policy on grant making

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

The Church does not make grants to organisations outside the Methodist Church from its own funds, but it does often provide a channel for its members to make contributions to other charitable organisations working in the local community or globally to further objectives that are complementary to our own objectives. This year our chosen charity for particular support was ‘Mission Aviation Fund’.

Investment policy

The Church does not engage in speculative investment activity and all of our reserves are held in an interest bearing bank account operated by the UK Methodist Church.

Volunteers

Most of the work of the Church is performed by volunteers. Currently about 70 volunteers work for the church on a regular basis.

TAR

September 2023 – August 2024

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

Worship

The church offers one worship service per Sunday with an average attendance of 50-70 people each week. Special services have been held including funeral/thanksgiving services. We continue to develop strong relationships with the Parish churches through the greater Alton Project (GAP) and have held a number of well attended joint services. We hold “Messy Church” services aimed at family worship once a month. We also provide a recorded online service.

Learning and Caring: The minister, along with the Pastoral Secretary and members of the congregation offer strong pastoral support to one another and to the wider community.

Service: Members of the church run a weekly coffee morning and a monthly lunch club at the church. These are both well attended by mainly older people some of whom are members of the church but many are not. This helps to reduce the sense of loneliness and isolation that some of these folk tell us that they experience at times. We run successful children’s activities in the form of Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade companies, and members lead very successful Duke of Edinburgh groups leading to bronze, silver and gold awards.

Evangelism: Members share their faith through friendship and service.

Together with the GAP churches we have employed a chaplain to older people (Anna Chaplain). This ministry has been very much appreciated by individuals and by local care home staff. She has led communion services, participated in funeral services, attended coffee morning and lunch clubs and, where appropriate, has shared her faith as a means of encouragement to those who she spends time with.

We have worked with other churches in the town on projects like community carols, lent courses and supporting organisations like Foodbank.

TAR

September 2023 – August 2024

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

Church Reserves Policy for Alton Methodist Church which is part of the Hants-Surrey Border Circuit 36/1

Trustees Annual Report Church Reserves Policy

The Charity’s Reserves Policy deals with:

(a) Our General Fund

Other funds also held which are NOT required to be included in our reserves are:

(b) Internal organisations (Restricted)

(c) GAP funds (Restricted)
(d) Special collections, where the Church collects money on behalf of other charities to facilitate giving by our members (Restricted)
(e) Benevolent Fund (Restricted).

Our Reserves:

(a) Our General Fund

We aim to hold in reserve sufficient money in our general funds to cover a minimum of 6 months expenditure i.e. £40,000.

The reason for this is twofold:

(i) The Church needs a minimum of 3 months average expenditure in reserve as working capital to cover normal running costs.

(ii) Maintenance of church buildings. Funds need to be available to meet unexpected repair bills.

This Reserves Policy has been approved by the Church Council (Managing trustees) on 27[th] February 2020.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

None

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

The Church derives most of its income from donations of its members. A small amount of income is derived from letting out rooms within our building.

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
The Church has been successful in winning external grants to support
how expenditure has the provision of an “Anna Chaplain” to support elderly people of all denominations in the Alton area. Currently support is coming from East
supported the key objectives Hampshire District Council Communities Fund, The Mercers’ Company,
of the charity; The Complins Memorial Trust, the Methodist Church HSB Circuit, and
investment policy and individual donations. objectives including any ethical investment policy Regular giving from church members has continued. A very good gift day adopted. has reflected the generosity and commitment of our church members and friends.

TAR

September 2023 – August 2024

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Graham Charles Titterington Full name(s) Philip Mark Simpkins Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Minister Treasurer etc) Date 12[th] November 2024

TAR

September 2023 – August 2024

CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Alton Methodlst Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 Hants and Surrey Border Clrcult Clr¢ult no 3611 Reg5stered Charfty- Charlty Reglstratlot) numb•r If not a r8gi81ored charity Her Majestys Revenue and Customs Glft Ald number (The HMRC number is equivalent lo a registersd charity numbor in torm8 of evidènce of charilabye status and m8y tjsed to give lo donors or grant lunders wshing to see evidene8 of thè org8ni8alion'5 charrtable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charthes aro excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) 1129465 Minister.. Rev Phili Sim in$ Church Stewards.. Mr David Alan Mrs Christine Stovold Mrs Carol W05x4rnffe Mrs An8ei8 Simpkin$ Mrs Helett Smith Mr Alan Robb MT5 Liz Stiain Treasurer. Mr Graham Titterington Pffjw1of7

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 ton Methodist Church Unr8Irftt Total&thlb Fut Fundts Yotsll l••1 SECTION A RECEIPTS Offeiin s and Tax recovered Bank and CFB interest and Investment In¢ome 73,683 81.728 84.330 3.089 3,529 3.965 266 2.090 2.5(K) 22.304 111,224 Lettin Other recwpts TOTAL RECEIPTS 13.000 21.1)44 16.965 105.310 la71 SECTION 8 b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 53,000 4.IM7 b3 Donab"ons 1,000 5.047 2,155 airs and Maintenance utilit Ilnsurances, water cha s, heati hb"n 14,301 14301 9,071 b5 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYME5 6,7 85.264 17.261 18,261 24,058 103,526 22,410 Ib91 SECTION NET REceiPTPAYENTs FOR THÉ YEAR c1 998 2,783 16.684 Total funds broughtforward from Last yoar 66,035 37,413 103A47 86.783 ¢3 Sub total e1¢2 65,036 40,196 106,232 103A47 Transfers and ad'ustments ¢5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR 65.036 40,196 105,232 103A47 Ic61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY.. MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS the8• amounts ar• notto b• In¢lu¢J8d In total re¢•1 d1 Balanc8 bro ht fowatd last 276 685 d2 sIGifts. recew•l for extemal nisab.ons 7,563 d3 OfferingslGrfts - passed io externaf organisati¢)ns 3,149 7,972 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID Idl+d2-d31 276 Page2of7

Aton Meth(>ak5t Chureh CH SEenCIE smeOfPCLrth rAxxxmtyfortsyeaFend 31 NOtgUtetUnd1O1In DIFFERENT FOPklfflUgl DlsVKX4nd IIITERN•L ORGIMSATIONS 464 GlYl& DLOOfEdintyJ hA4 978 497 2.t¢t81• 1,7M (¢7J IOW7 105,232 EYCHVRCH 110,9]3 13BI IOW7 TOYLRECE TOTAL PAYAIENT¥ 5EGTIOMF ATEdlEIIT OPÈN CLOSING 8ALANCES CTrlK¢CH.CA6HFIWD$tr)aISI e77J7 Otharknr B TOTAL.ChurthaE¢ouThts qOJA47 trAkntotal Tr5)1012) 8Y 10W7 109,119 BEN0 Si NJwt2024 OTHERAS8ETS4nd LL4BILThES la&B P4y¥oT7

Note8 on 888818 The church building is vested with Trustees for Methodist Church PurFue5 (TMCPI who are the custodkan trustees, while we are the rnan8ging trustee$ of tt)e prop*. Natlonal In8uranco contrlbutlon During the course of thi5 year. the Trustees became aware tsl an error th&wdy in which Natk)nal Insurance conthbutions had been cakulatod. ThB was immedk3tely dedared to HMRC and the Trustees are currenly awaitrng HMRC'S determination of this rnatter. Our expectats.on is tt)atwe I11 b8 requir to pay HMRC £4271. Of thB £4,254 reae5 to Ihe 8mploym8ntof th8 Anna Chaplain, and £17 to unrestricted fund5. Nots8 on r•strf¢t•d funts The Boys Brwade, the Duk8 of Edinburgh Award Scheme and the Gi115 Brigad8 rnaintain their independent bank accounts and hav8 their account$ examti)ed independentty. Th9 Anna Chaplaincy 18 part of the missK)n of the GreaterAtton Proj8c( and it5 finances ar8 rnanaged by Ajton MethrMIi5t Church. Somo years ago, an Alpha D)urse was run at which the was a surplus oldonations maInIng. Thse have now been moved into the Anna Chaplaincy Fund. The operation of Ihe Tuesday Coffee Clut) has been moved wihin the r85trioted lund of th8 Church for th058 accounts, having previously been rerK)rted as an extemal organisati)n. Fund Openlno Income Transfor from Trnn8fwB Exp•ndtturg ¢I1n• balancg unr•strl¢t•d btheen balan¢• fund$ rostrf¢tod fund• 0.00 1000.(K) 0.00 -1000.00 0.00 Anna ChapPatncy Tuesday Coffee Club Benevolent Fund 37231.72 18889.21 42.38 2155.28 138.50 17119.42 40001.51 1142.07 55.59 138.50 Totsl 37412.60 21044.49 0.00 0.00 18261.49 40195.60 Sp•¢lal eolt•¢tlon Fund Oponlnll Incorno Expandu ¢lo•lng balart¢• bolon ShetteF Box Iwecan Misslon Aviation Felkywship 278.21 0.00 3QO.00 0.00 61XK>.00 276.21 300. 5000.Ix> Tot81 278.21 53C(). 5576.21

Explanatlon of "othor r•e•lpts- and-other p•ym¢nt•- In S•¢tloM A and othor f•ceSpts In vnrn8trlctod funds in Tafiff payments Events MiscelLaneous 1,632.15 1.557.65 775.00 Totsl 3,984.80 Other payments In ynrostrlthd poym•nts c0nsurnmab8 Copyrigm payments 8ank chaoe$ Website hosting Of8 expen585 Worship rnatefi81s 2,872.84 1,020.37 143. 489.60 1.556.17 713.34 Total 6,7.28 other rncelpts In Anna Chaplalncy If1cl* paymfrntsl Grants from." The Mercers Company 5000.QKI EHDC Communities Fund 5000.(X) Complins Memorfal Trust 3,(XX).(M) Total 13,000.00 othor pAym8nts In Anno Cknoplolncy1rn8trl¢t•d paym8ntsl Pension5 and HMRC Expenses Salary 2,184.72 699.43 14,235.27 Totsl 17,119.42

DECLARATIONS TraasuAr l ¢onfimi that I have pffjpared the accounts from the re¢ord8 of the Church that they include all lunds under the control of the chUh COU11 &gnature of Ttgasurer 121h November 2024 Name Graham char rrtteringlon Addr888 24 Haydock Clo88, Mton. Hampshire, GU34 2TL Presentatlon to the'church Councll for apptoval. I confimi that the A¢¢ounts have been wesentod lo the Church Council on 12th Nov8mber and were approved. SignatUf8 of thè Chair of the m88ting Name of the Chairof the meebng R•v Phillp Slmpkln8 12th Novambor 2024 Indèpèndent Examln?r'J Report to thg Trustsès of th• Alton M•thodlst Church Chur¢h Thls Report k4 on the Church Account¥ for th8 yearended 31 Aullust 2024 Respectlve responslbllltle5 of Trustees and Ex8mln•r Th8 charitys tru8te8s are re8pon8ibl8 for tt)e pparation of the accounts. The chartys trustoes con8id8r Ihat an audit is not required forthis year under section 144 of the Charitsas Act 2011 It ¢haritie$ Act) and that an independent examination k5 needed. It Is my responsibility to.. Examlne the accounts untler Sectv)n 145 of th8 Charitie8 Act to follow the prOdureS laid down in the g8n8ral Dsreclions gwen by thè Chanty Commk45ion lunder Section 145ISllbl of Charitiès Act). and to 8tat&whether p8ty"¢ular matters havo come io my attontwJn. Pag86of7

Basis of IndepBndent EAaffl1nè5 RBPDrt My examination was Carried in accordan general Directions gDien by the Charity CorTTrmission. An examination indudes a review of the accounting records kept by the charty an¢ a compari50n of thtr accounts presented wlth those records. It also indudes nSideration of any unusual Ilems ordisclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations frotn the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do nDI prowde all the evidencè thai would b& reouired In an audrt. and consequently no opinion Is given 8$ to whetrer the accnts present a Irue and fai view and the repDrt is limiltd lo those matters sel outin the slalemanl below. Independgnt Examlnor's Statsment In c¢nnecthn wh my examination. no matter h85 corne to my attention (other than thai disclosed belo%VI.' which gives r re8sonae cause to believethat in atry rnalerial respÈctthè . lo keep attounting rewds In ac¢ordance wth secliDn 130 ofthe Charities Ad.. . le prepare accounts which 8ccofLI wlh the a(counling records and comtyy with th6 acwunting requir8men15 ofthe Charthes Act have not been m61." or to wl)th. in my opinion, attention shouk1 be (8wn in wderto enable a proper untterslanding of the ac()unts to be reached. 'Pleasè dèl&t& th& wo$ in the brfjck iflhey do nofappfy apprDpNtale 131 I ba*éh8ve not. obtained independent werificalion of all investments with the Trustee5 for Melhodisl Churdi Purposes CTMCP,) or held in olherTnJsts. Bank baL8n¢es and Funds al the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church I"CFB"l. which are individually in èxc8ss of £iO.000 Ilen thousand pounds) at the balance sheetdate ' P&$6 8S 8ppfopFiatp Nam8 SI QVOTI Signature Relevant Prt)f8ssv)nal qualification or body Address Date