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2020-08-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statement

Year Ending 31[st] August 2020

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

1 Objectives and activities

The Trustees form the District Executive (District Policy Committee - DPC) and meet at least quarterly to consider our objectives and to plan our activities. The District Synod, under the leadership of the District Trustees, meets twice each year and recognises the Charity Commissioners’ general guidance on public benefit and conforms to the Charities Act 2011.

Our primary purpose is to advance the mission of the Church in the region, by supporting the Circuits by providing opportunities to work together and by offering resources of finance, personnel and expertise that may not be available locally. Our mission is to be a powerful spiritual influence in the District and a visible expression of God’s inclusive love. We aim to achieve this by encouraging the worship, social, and outreach activities and by seeking new ways to extend to others the fellowship of the Church family. In a time of pandemic and lockdown we have sought to remind the circuits of the resources they already have and have encouraged and supported the churches and circuits to be flexible in their outreach particularly in terms of digital presence and engagement during lockdown. We are offering support to circuits as the Church begins to emerge from a sustained lockdown.

2 Achievements and performance

In furtherance of these aims the District has this year:

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

3 Financial review

During the year, the District received total income of £505k (2018-19: £493k) and dispersed £301k (2018-19: £682k).

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were significant from March 2020 and resulted in considerable cost savings due to the restrictions on travel and meetings. In addition, the circuits and churches postponed some of their intended projects which caused a reduction in applications for grants.

The trustees of the District have every reason to believe that the District is a going concern, principally because Circuits continue to meet their assessments and the District has adequate funds in the District Advance Fund to cover a shortfall in anticipated income. There are no subsidiary undertakings. Trustees do not foresee any factors that will significantly affect the financial performance or position in the next year or two.

The District has the following principal sources of funds:

These sums are used to administer the District and to provide grants to Circuits, Churches and individuals in the District so that they may embark on, or continue with, projects that fulfil the mission of the District by bringing more people to Christ or by providing facilities that might enable this to happen.

3.1 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). TMCP acts as custodian trustee for all real estate held by Districts and for all large (over £20k) bequests and for the proceeds of sale of any property formerly owned by the District. These sums are invested in unitised investments or held on deposit. The investment returns are close to tracking the movements in the FTSE100 index. The deposit income mirrors the deposit rates available elsewhere. The investment policy of the Northampton District is aligned with that of the Central Finance Board (CFB) and TMCP because these organisations take into consideration the social, environmental and ethical considerations, both negatively and positively, that make investments suitable for the Methodist Church.

Short term deposits are lodged directly with the CFB and attract good rates of interest.

There are no bench marks for the expected returns or appreciation on investments at TMCP and CFB. It is the District’s policy to manage the cash and investment resources of the District so that a rate of return on investment – both by way of dividend and capital appreciation – is obtained at least as good as market rate considering the District’s low appetite for risk.

3.2 Reserves level and policy

Although grants are made annually out of the District Advance Fund (DAF), it is recognised that some grants will be paid by annual instalments. The trustees ensure that there is sufficient in the DAF to meet these instalments and the trustees recognise future approved grants as liabilities on the balance sheet.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT

Year ended 31 August 2020

Excluding the value of the manses, the reserves held in the General Fund at 31.08.20 are £37,799 (£9,289 at 31.08.19). This is 89% more than the sum stated in our Reserves Policy and is a result of the Covid-19 pandemic causing a significant reduction in our expenditure.

The reserves held at the end of the year were as follows:

rves held at the end of the year were as follows:
£ £
Unrestricted funds
General Fund 589,799
District Advance Fund 178,891
768,780
Designated funds
Manse Fund 13,764
Training Fund 7,547
Education and Youth 554
21,865
Total unrestricted funds (including designated) 790,645
Restricted funds
Local Preachers Fund 12,009
Ministerial Training Fund 8,154
Benevolence Fund 1,595
21,759
Total Funds 812,404
Total undesignated and unrestricted funds 790,645
Less invested in the manse -552,000
Uncommitted reserves 238,645

All funds are separately invested either with CFB or TMCP. No money is directly invested in property, securities or other forms of investment.

3.3 Collaborative arrangements with connected charities

The District’s main source of funding was the assessments obtained from each Circuit within the District based on the staffing levels of the Circuit and this was used to defray most of the cost of administering the District. This sum amounted to £157,000 (2018-19: £130,700).

Each year the District is allocated a sum by the London Mission Fund (LMF). In 2019-20 this amounted to £19,705 which was used to pay for, or contribute towards, the cost of certain activities within the District. This sum is not remitted to the District and does not appear in the accounts of the District because the District acts as agent for the LMF. Instead, the District nominates some grant applications which can be met by the LMF and passes these to the LMF so that the LMF can pay the grant directly to the grantee. Grants were awarded to various projects in the District.

The District also obtained from each Circuit with a reserve, known as a Circuit Model Trust Fund (CMTF), a levy based on the size of the Circuits’ CMTFs at the start of the connexional year (01 September). In 2019-20 this sum was £223,608 and was credited to the District Advance Fund.

The District holds no funds as custodian trustee. However, it does receive quarterly contributions from Circuits for the Methodist Church Fund (MCF). These sums are collected as agent for the MCF and are passed to the MCF later in the same quarter. Funds received by the District as agent are not recognised as an asset in the financial statements because the funds are not within its control. No fee is earned in respect of this and the District incurs no cost through this arrangement.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

4 Trustees’ responsibilities

For each financial year ending on 31 August the Trustees are required to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view of the District’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:

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

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the District’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Training in the responsibilities of trustees is offered to all new trustees soon after their appointment.

4.1 Risk

The District is largely risk averse but, especially in making grants to entities embarking on new and imaginative initiatives, the District is prepared to underwrite considered risks.

Risks are managed by being aware of them, quantifying their impact not only in cost terms but in possible reputational or structural damage, laying them off through an insurer and minimising them by not taking them or by setting up control systems that timeously report any significant change in the risk.

The Trustees have examined the major strategic business and operational risks which the Charity faces, and confirm that systems have been established to enable regular reports to be produced so that the necessary steps can be taken to monitor these risks.

5 Structure, governance and management

The District 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 Commission on 26 June 2009.

5.1 Structure

Circuits are the coordinating charities for local groups of Churches and they 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 regular Circuit Meetings. A District is the coordinating charity for a group of contiguous Circuits and makes its decisions at the half yearly synods. 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 offices implement decisions made by Conference and are also responsible for the stationing of presbyters and deacons (collectively known as ministers) in individual Circuits within the District.

  3. Connexional decisions are passed to the Chair of the District and the appropriate officers of the District for implementation.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

  1. The District passes control down to Circuit level for local implementation by the Superintendent Minister, ministerial staff and Circuit Stewards, and authority is delegated to the Circuit Meeting for certain matters.

  2. 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.

5.2 Purpose of the District

The District is an expression, over a wider geographical area than any Circuit, of the Connexional character of the Church.

The purposes of the Methodist Church are, and shall be deemed to have been since the date of the union, the advancement of:

The primary purpose of this District is to advance the mission of the Church in Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire and Oxfordshire together with parts of several adjoining counties. This is achieved by

The District serves the Local Churches and Circuits and the Conference in the support, deployment and oversight of the various ministries of the Church, and in programmes of training.

5.3 Governance

The District operates within a statutory framework of regulation and seeks to ensure that it follows Methodist Standing Orders. It relies on the connexional offices at 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR to provide guidance on changes that could affect the District.

The members of the District Executive (DPC) are annually appointed by a vote of the Synod for a continuous term not normally exceeding six years. The Chair of District is ex officio chair of the District Executive. When a position becomes vacant on the District Executive, nominations are invited from ministers and lay members of Circuits within the District. The Chair of the District then shares with nominees what the roles involve. If they wish to be considered for a role, their names and reasoned statements are taken to the District Executive and the District Synod for appointment. Members may be either ministers or lay people attending Churches in the area covered by the District.

The District Executive normally meets four times per year and deals with routine and exceptional matters. It oversees the work of the Grants Committee, finance, property, the District office, the District manses, stationing, safeguarding, the work of the District Mission Enabler, authorisations to preside at communion and extensions to local preacher training.

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Year ended 31 August 2020

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT

5.4 Responsibilities of the District Executive (DPC)

6 Reference and Administrative Details

6.1 Name of the charity

The Northampton District of the Methodist Church.

6.2 Charity registration number

1130373, registered in England and Wales

6.3 Principal Office

District Office Bouverie Court 6 The Lakes Bedford Road Northampton NN4 7YD

Tel: 01604 630128 E-mail: northampton.distoffice@gmail.com

Web-site: www.northamptonmethodist district.org.uk

6.4 Chair of the District

Revd. Canon Helen Cameron

6.5 Secretary of the Synod

Revd. Alan Bolton (Presbyteral) Mr Derek Beaumont (Representative)

6.6 Assistant Secretary of the Synod

Mrs Sue Bayliss

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

6.7 District Treasurer

Mr Andrew Lewis

6.8 Names of trustees

The following served as trustees during the year 2019-20 or were trustees at the time of this report being approved:

Revd. Canon Helen Cameron (Chair) Revd. Alan Bolton (Presbyteral Synod Secretary) Mrs Sue Bayliss (Secretary and Assistant Synod Secretary) Mr Andrew Lewis (Treasurer) Mr Chris Linford (Property Secretary) Revd. Jill Marsh (District Mission Enabler) Revd. Andy Fyall (Ecumenical Officer) Revd. Novette Headley (Methodist Council Representative) Mr Derek Beaumont (Representative Synod Secretary) Mr David Sparks to 31 July 2020 Mrs Wendy Curtis to 31 July 2020 Revd. Martin Wellings to 31 July 2020 Revd. Kim Shorley Revd. Romeo Pedro Deacon Richard Goldstraw Revd. Dawn Saunders from 16 August 2019 to 31 July 2020 Revd. Andrew Farrington from 01 May 2020 Revd. Rose Westwood from 21 August 2020 Mr James Blackhall from 21 August 2020 Ms Janet Hinds from 21 August 2020 Mr Charles Levitt from 21 August 2020

The Managing Trustees for the District are the members of the District Executive (DPC). No trustee claims exemption from disclosure of his or her name here.

6.9 Bankers

TSB Bank plc Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church Town Hall Square 9 Bonhill Street 17 Horsefair Street London Leicester EC2A 4PE LE1 5PD

6.10 Investment managers and custodian trustees

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

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

6.11 Independent Examiner

Mr David Briscoe 11 De Montfort Road Hinckley Leicestershire LE10 1LQ

Approvals

The Trustees’ Report and the Financial Statements were approved by the District Executive Committee on 14 June 2021.

Signed on behalf of the District Executive Committee

Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron District Chair Date: 14 June 2021

Andrew Lewis District Treasurer Date: 14 June 2021

9

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020 Statem•nt of Flnanclal Actlvltl•$ (SOFA) for lh• yoar onded 31 August 2020 Dlstrkt Lkn•lgnat•d Athfane• Funds O•n•rnl Fund Fund lunrn•trkt•d R•trlct•d Endawrn•nt Total •¢¢ounts IUnrn•td¢t•dl IUnr•¥¢rfd•dl Funds Fund¥ 201940 Ilot•% to Income from 1 Oonations and 18gxies 2 conne￿on AdvaThc• & ProF4rty FuThl 3 IrKorne frcrfn investmnts kncorne ch•fftle •ctkdt1•5 4 Assossmonts on ¢lirJilS 5 Frw Circuit Flodol Trust Fmds 6 ContritAJlion to Ih• cost of th• C￿"r 7 0lh8r tharilabla actMti8s 8 IrKomè frcrfn other tr•thng athitses 9 Olh•r irKom8 38,747 432 38,747 703 174 158 157.000 1W,000 2ZJ,608 40,825 223.608 40.825 2.1 200.708 35.U)O 35,526 37,180 0 $05,196 268,788 174 Expondftum 9 Grnnts and don#￿1)ng 98 Grnnls and dorooons kn 202￿21 * Grnnls and dOr￿￿"on8 8￿r 202fy21 10 Sakri8s and assockgtsd costs 11 Cost Oft￿ Char 12 Property MaintenwK 13 Offic• •xpen¥es 14 S￿d¥. committees, Confenne• 15 TrninirvJ 16 Prof8ssbr4wl 1088 17 Olhw fMJtgoing8 Tot*1 •xwndltur• .216,350 197.1 31,100 416,350 200,777 56,100 138,360 44997 11,733 14376 4976 7,351 4.323 25.000 138.360 45,997 11.733 14.134 5.976 7.351 1,242 10 33.178 2S2A06 34948 301287 13,012 3S.770 Il•t In¢om•ll•Ap•ndllur•l b•lorn galns and loss•s on Inv•slrn•nts 18 N8t g8ins1ll￿Se¥I on imiestmenl¥ Il•t Incom•ll•xp•ndltur•l 19 Tra￿ferS betsvaan funds 20 Olher gains1ll0s￿5I N•t mov•m•nt In fund• 41.898 2SS.696 174 443 203.929 41.69B 80.207 255,696 .77,474 174 443 203,9 28,510 1n322 4,$59 443 203,929 Total lunds brought forwArd Totsl fvnds lorwar 1289 589.799 24.424 21.865 608N7fj 012,404 1n,981 21.759 io

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 14[th] June 2021.

Signed:

Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron District Chair

Andrew Lewis District Treasurer

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

1 Accounting framework and accounting policies

i Accounting framework

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the 2014 version of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective from 1 January 2015) – (the Charities SORP (FRS 102) as amended by Update Bulletin 1) – in replacement for the SORP’s 2005 version specified in its related 2008 Regulations and in accordance with the “true and fair override” provision contained therein.

ii Public benefit entity

The Northampton Methodist District meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes below.

iii Basis

These accounts have been based on historical cost except that investments are shown at their market value at the end of the year, on the accruals basis to show a true and fair view of the District’s financial position and activities.

iv Content

The financial information presented is relevant, reliable, comparable and complete. Where estimates are used, these are based on experience, research and judgement. The accounts are expressed in £Sterling, rounded to the nearest pound.

v Going concern

Based on the monetary assets and human resources available at 31 August 2020, the trustees believe that the District is a going concern.

vi Consolidation

The District oversees the work of ministers and lay workers in Churches and Circuits within the District but does not have control over those Circuits or Churches, ministers or lay workers except in extreme circumstances, none of which were applicable. For this reason, the financial statements of the Churches and Circuits within the District are not consolidated into these financial statements.

vii Income recognition

Income is brought into account when it is more likely than not that the economic benefit of the income will accrue to the Northampton District. No attempt is made to measure the value of services donated by volunteers. Details of how the contribution to the cost of the District Chair has been determined are in Note 3 and the same figure also appears in the Expenditure at Note 6.

Individual amounts categorised as Other income in the SOFA will be shown separately if they are considered material.

The District acts as agent in three matters:

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

In all these matters the transactions are not reflected in the SOFA because there is no obligation on the District to make up any shortfall in assessments from Circuits. Sums received as Circuit assessments cannot be recognised as income in the District as they are the income of the MCF.

In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the time of volunteers is not recognised.

viii Expenditure

This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, that results in the payment being unavoidable. Liabilities are recognised as soon as an outflow of economic benefit is considered more likely than not under the legal or constructive obligation committing the District to pay out resources.

ix Grants

Grants are recognised annually only as and when any performance conditions attaching to the award are met, even when the award is for a recurrent grant over more than one year. All grants awarded for payment in future financial years are conditional on the Grants Committee being satisfied, based on progress reports from the grantee, that the grant's achievements to date justify the payment of further instalments of that grant. Such commitments are noted as contingent liabilities and included within the District Advance Fund or other relevant designated fund in these accounts.

x VAT

Since the District is not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers.

xi Tangible fixed assets

These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and individually cost at least £1,000. The freehold property (291 Billing Road East) is shown in the accounts at 2015 deemed values, of which the land component is deemed to be £64,000. The value of the manse purchased during the year 2017-18 (9 The Elms) is shown at the valuation figure provided at the time of purchase. The land component is deemed to be £58,000, being the difference between the valuation figure and the recommended building insurance figure. No depreciation is provided on the building because the trustees consider the current residual fair value of the manse buildings (on the assumption that it had reached the end of its useful economic life by the year-end) to be not less than its current value. Any depreciation would not be material. The property has been reviewed for impairment.

xii Investments

The investments of the Northampton District are held by the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP) as custodian trustees. The valuations, at market value, are those provided by TMCP. The unrealised gains arising on investments at the end of the year are shown in the SOFA.

xiii Debtors and Creditors; Bank and Cash

Debtors are stated at the amounts owed to the District or prepaid. Creditors are initially recognised at settlement amount after any trade discounts, where normal credit terms apply, or

amount advanced to the District. Subsequently creditors that are current liabilities are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid. The liquid funds of bank balances and deposit account balances are shown at the realisable values.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

xiv Loans

Where concessionary loans ( i.e. free of interest) are made to (or received by) the District to further its charitable purposes, and are repayable after more than one year, they are initially recognised at the amount paid [or received], with the carrying value adjusted in subsequent years to reflect repayments and any accrued interest, adjusted for any impairment, if necessary.

Where there is objective evidence of impairment, an immediate impairment loss is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities. Subsequent reversals of an impairment loss that objectively relate to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised, are recognised immediately in the Statement of Financial Activities]

xv Methodist Church Fund

The District acts as agent for the Methodist Church Fund (MCF) by collecting its assessments on Circuits and does not, therefore, include the assessments in the SOFA. If a Circuit is late in paying its MCF assessment to the District but such sum is received before the quarterly transfer to the MCF, the amount paid late will be shown as a debtor in the District’s accounts.

xvi Ministers’ manse costs

The District is required to provide accommodation for each Minister and his / her family. The District bears the cost of repairs, maintenance, building insurance, Council Tax and water charges. These costs are not shown separately as benefits-in-kind for Ministers as HMRC does not seek to tax these receipts in the hands of the Ministers.

2 a) Assessment on Circuits

All Circuits (see list given below in this note) paid their assessments to the District and to the MCF during the year. The assessment on Circuits is annually determined by an agreed formula.

1 Oxford 2 Wantage & Abingdon
3 Witney & Faringdon 4 Chipping Norton & Stow
5 Banbury 6 Buckingham, Bicester & Brackley
7 Leicester Trinity 9 Leicester West
10 Loughborough 11 Hinckley
12 Melton Mowbray 13 Northampton
14 Rugby & Daventry 15 Stamford
19 Kettering & Corby 20 Market Harborough
21 Peterborough 23 Nene Valley
26 Milton Keynes 27 High Wycombe
28 Amersham 29 Vale of Aylesbury

b) Contribution to Methodist Church Fund (MCF)

In addition to the assessments on the Circuits to help defray the costs of running the District, the District acted as agent for the Methodist Church Fund which levied assessments on the Circuits in this District totalling £687,485 (2018-19: £659,447) all of which were collected or shown as debtors at the end of the year and paid over to the MCF in the year. No balance was held at the end of the year; no fee is received for this service which is performed at nearly nil cost to the District. These sums collected for and remitted to the MCF do not appear elsewhere in these financial statements.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

3 Cost of Chair and trustees

District Chair

The Chair of District chairs meetings of the District Executive Committee (District Policy Committee or DPC). The members of the DPC are the trustees of the District. The stipend, employer’s NIC and employer’s pension contributions of the Chair of District are paid by the Methodist Connexion. The Chair’s other costs are met mostly by the District.

2019-20 2018-19
£ £
Stipend of Chair of District, Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron 31,065 30,298
Employer's National Insurance contributions 3,075 3,026
Employer's pension contributions 6,685 8,023
Chair's expenses (including travel costs) 2,689 6,167
Housing Costs (Insurance, Water and Council Tax) 2,482 2,864
Total 45,997 50,378
Stipend cost paid by the Connexion (see SOFA, line 6) 40,825 41,347
Total Cost 5,172 9,031

Since the stipend-related costs above (£40,825) are borne by the Connexion, they appear both in the Income of the District and the Expenditure of the District (See Note 6). It should be noted that the chair is required to occupy the District manse. The manse is provided by the Northampton District and the District maintains the property.

No accrual is made for the Chair’s entitlement to a sabbatical as her functions are undertaken by a Deputy Chair at minimal extra cost to the District.

District Mission Enabler

The District Mission Enabler (DME) is employed by the District to concentrate exclusively on supporting and resourcing circuits and churches for their mission. All costs of employment are met by the District as follows:

mployment are met by the District as follows:
2019-20 2018-19
£ £
Stipend of DME, Revd. Jill Marsh 27,207 26,523
Employer's National Insurance contributions 2,579 2,510
Employer's pension contributions 6,685 6,501
Miscellaneous 165 0
Housing Costs (Insurance, Water and Council Tax) 2,751 2,306
Total 39,388 37,840
DME's travel expenses 2,065 3,745
DME’s other expenses 737 3,149
Total Cost 42,190 44,734

Payments to trustees

It is District policy to offer to reimburse members of the District Executive Committee and others involved in the administration of District affairs for expenditure properly incurred in carrying out their duties. The Chair of the District undertakes the primary executive role within the District. Apart from the Chair of District and the District Mission Enabler, no member of the District Executive Committee was in receipt of any payment for work undertaken on behalf of the District, although certain travelling and administration costs were reimbursed whenever this was requested.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

4 Other income

The District does not undertake fundraising.

The District Synod invited donations from the members of synod for All We Can. The amount donated and paid over in the year was £506.70.

5 Grants and donations and related support costs

Grants and donations totalling £194,124 were made during the year (2018-19: £325,607).

2019-20 2018-19
£ £
From District Advance Fund for Mission and Ministry 101,150 193,695
From District Advance Fund for the DME 46,000 45,000
From District Advance Fund for Safeguarding 12,000 20,000
From District Advance Fund for Property 24,000 58,512
Ecumenical Sponsorship 10,974 8,400
Total 194,124 325,607
Grantspaid from DAF
Mission and Ministry
Property
Start UpGrants
Total
Less Grants committed at 31.08.19
Total to SOFA		 2019-20 2018-19
£ £
84,000 173,950
24,000 58,512
2,650 2,495
110,650 234,957
327,000 282,712
-216,350 -47,755

Details of the recipients of grants paid by the District during the year may be found on the District website: www.northamptonmethodistdistrict.org.uk/for-ministers-and-office-holders/finance/

Funds held for District Projects

Description Balance
at
01.09.19		 Balance
at
31.08.20		 Increase
£ £ £
General Fund
Extending Discipleship Exploring Vocation (EDEV) 1,374 1,374 0
Training Officer/DevelopmentEnabler 8,076 6,876 -1,200
Bikes for Ghana 100 100 0
Young Leaders’Scheme 525 1,223 697
Together Mission 3,047 3,047 0
Trichy Visit 0 2,180 2,180
Schools ConsultancyWork 6,000 0 -6,000
Totals – General Fund 19,122 14,800 -4,323

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

Restricted Funds
Overstone Chaplaincy 22,500 47,500 25,000
Young Leaders’Scheme Bursaries 0 8,000 8,000
**Totals – Restricted Fund2 ** 22,500 55,500 33,000

Expenditure on charitable activities through the District Advance Fund (DAF)

The DAF receives formulaically determined contributions from the Circuit Model Trust Funds held by Circuits within the District and redistributes the monies to grantees in the District through relevant grants as assessed by the District Finance and Grants Committee.

The total income to the fund during 2019-20 was £274,788.

The Grants Committee is aware that grant applications must demonstrate public benefit.

6 Salaries and associated costs

Gross salaries paid to seven (2018-19: eight) part time employees were as follows:

2019-20
£
Gross pay 87,766
Employer's National Insurance contributions 5,538
Employer's pension contributions to defined contribution schemes 7,356
Payroll Costs including the Apprenticeship Levy 1,064
Total costs of 7 staff 101,723
Cost of District Mission Enabler (see Note 3) 36,637
Total (excluding the Chair) 138,360
Cost of Chair (see Note 3) 40,825
Total staff costs 179,185
Total weekly contractual hours for 7 staff n/a

No employees received employee benefits that totalled more than £60,000. There is no accrual for holiday pay as it is immaterial; the holiday year ends on 31 August. All staff are paid at or above the living wage.

Two of the seven part-time employees were engaged exclusively in safeguarding matters, two provided administrative assistance at the District office and three were involved in the District Young Leaders’ Scheme.

Pensions

Most ordained presbyters and deacons are members of the Methodist Ministers’ Pension Scheme (MMPS). This is a defined benefit scheme. The Supreme Court held in 2014 that Methodist ministers (which term includes presbyters and deacons) are not employees of the Church. For simplicity, however, when dealing with National Insurance Contributions and pension contributions, the terms ‘employer’ and ‘employee’ are used as they would be in an employing body.

Lay employees are contractually employees and may join the Pensions Trust, NEST or some other arrangement.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

7 Property Maintenance

2019-20 2018-19
£ £
Chair’s manse 10,409 8,124
DME’s Manse 1,324 1,490
Total 11,733 9,614

8 Office expenses (General fund)

2019-20 2018-19
£ £
Printing, postage and stationery 3,508 6,155
Telephone 1,985 2,258
Bouverie Court 8,640 8,640
Recruitment 0 1,434
Other 0 567
Total charged to General Fund 14,134 19,054
TMCP Charges 1,242 1,285
Total 15,376 20,339

9 Synods, Committees, Conference

2019-20 2018-19
£ £
Synods 1,485 3,316
Committees 4,491 7,967
Total 5,976 11,283

10 Training

Training
2019-20
£
Further Ministerial Training 3,927
Education and Youth 175
Young Leaders’ Scheme (excl. Salaries) 1,706
Development Expenses 1,200
Other Training 342
Total charged to General Fund 7,351

18

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

11 Other outgoings

Other outgoings
2019-20
£
District Mission Enabler Costs (excl. Stipend) See Note 3. 5,553
Safeguarding Costs (excl. Salaries) 9,743
Ministers’ meetings (including Superintendents, new 6,228
ministers and District Retreat)
Ecumenical Sponsorship 10,974
Other District Office Costs 440
Independent Examination of Accounts 240
Total charged to General Fund 33,178

12 Transfers between funds

The following transfers to the General Fund were made during 2018-19.

The followingtransfers to the General Fund were made during2018-19.
£
From the District Advance Fund to contribute to the funding of the
District Mission Enabler		 46,000
From the District Advance Fund to contribute towards the increasing
cost of the SafeguardingTeam.		 12,000
From the District Advance Fund to fund Ecumenical Subscriptions 10,974
From the District Advance Fund to fund the Young Leaders’Scheme. 14,500
To the DAF – repayment of fundingfor the Schools Work Project -6,000
Total from the District Advance Fund 77,474
From the designated Manse Repair Fund 2,733
Total from Designated Funds 2,733

13 Manse and other property

Land Buildings Others Total
£ £ £ £
Cost or valuation
Balance brought forward at
1 September 2019		 122,000 430,000 552,000
Additions in theyear
Revaluations in theyear
_Less:_Disposals in theyear
Transfers between categories
Balance carried forward at
31 August 2020		 122,000 430,000 0 552,000

19

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

14 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes

The funds that support the District Advance Fund are held by TMCP in Trustees Interest Funds on which interest is credited to the accounts each month. These are regarded as medium and long term investments.

TMCP is the legal owner and Custodian Trustee of all Methodist Model Trust property, including Legacies, Endowments and Accumulated Funds. Trust property is held for and on behalf of local Managing Trustees who are responsible for the day to day management of trust property. TMCP ensure that, through providing guidance and acting under their direction, the Managing Trustees comply with charity law and Methodist law and policy as determined by the Methodist Conference.

15 Central Finance Board (CFB) and Cash at Bank

The District has a current account at TSB, an authorised institution. The sums held are immediately available. In addition, the District has seven deposit accounts at CFB, a common deposit fund. Interest is earned on these accounts and credited monthly; the sums deposited can be withdrawn without notice and without loss of interest. These sums are viewed as being liquid.

16 Debtors and prepayments

All sums paid in advance at 1 September 2019 were for work carried out during 2019-20. Similarly, all payments in advance at 1 September 2020 will be used in 2020-21

Prepayments:

Prepayments:
2019-20 2018-19
£ £
Stipends and Allowances 2,892 3,038
Synod Deposit (Action Centres UK) 287 280
Books for Synod 0 250
CPD 2020-21 617 0
District Chairs’ Retreat – Postponed to 2021 435 0
Launde Abbey – Retreat (2021) 2,241 1,024
Books for Acts 29 (Postponed) 493 0
Launde Abbey - Deposit for Supers’ Conference
(Postponed to 2021) 665 550
Flights to Trichy 2,839 0
Total 10,468 5,142
17 Creditors and accrued expenses
2019-20 2018-19
£ £
Creditors:
Expenses reimbursement and stationery costs 292 1,010
Total 292 1,010

20

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

18 Grant Commitments and the District Advance Fund

Expenditure on charitable activities: District Advance Fund

Where grants are payable in annual instalments, it is necessary for the grantee to provide a satisfactory report on the achievements of activities funded by previous instalments of the multi-year grant award before any further instalments are paid. These reports are reviewed at the July meeting of the Finance and Grants Committee and the commitments for the following financial year are confirmed at that meeting subject to the approval of the District Executive (DPC). It is the District’s policy to recognise these committed grants as expenditure out of this fund and thus accrue the unpaid amounts at the year-end as liabilities. Payments for all subsequent years are included even though they remain subject to a satisfactory progress report.

The sum of £327,000 was committed to be spent during the 2019-20 year, but delays in certain project meant that the sum paid out was £194,124 resulting in a negative figure for the expenditure during the year.

19 Unrestricted Funds

19.1 General Fund – balance £589,799 at 31 August 2020

The purpose of the fund is for use at the discretion of the trustees in the furtherance of the general objectives of the District and which have not been designated for other purposes. £552,000 of this fund (94%) is held as freehold property, the District manses for the Chair of District and the District Mission Enabler.

19.2 Designated Funds – balance £21,865 at 31 August 2020

These funds are to serve specific purposes but are not restricted by any document or deed to that purpose alone. These funds comprise:

20 Restricted Funds - balance £77,259 at 31 August 2020

There are five restricted funds:

*The funds for the two new projects are held in the General Fund account and not in separate bank accounts.

21

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

21 Summary of movements on significant individual funds

Fund
General Fund
District Advance Fund
Manse (Designated)
Training (Designated)
Education and Youth
(Designated)
Total designated
Local Preachers Fund
(Restricted)
Ministerial Training Fund
(Restricted)
Benevolence Fund (Restricted)
Overstone Chaplain
(Restricted)
Young Leaders’ Scheme
Bursaries
Total restricted
Total Funds		 Balance at
01.09.19
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
Gains/
Losses
Balance
at
31.08.20
£
£
£
£
£
£
561,289
200,708
252,406
80,207
28,510
589,799
759
268,788
13,092
-77,474
178,222
178,981
16,381
117
-2,733
-2,616
13,764
7,493
54
54
7,547
550
4
4
554

24,424
174
-2,733
-2,559
21,865
11,923
85
85
12.009
8,096
54
58
8,154
1,982
383
770
-387
1,595
0
25,000
25,000
0
0
10,000
10,000
0
22,002
35,526
35,770
-243
21,865
608,475 505,196
301,267
0
203,929
812,404

22 Connected organisations and related parties

Connected organisations include the Methodist Connexion, other Methodist Districts in Great Britain, the Methodist Ministers’ Children’s Relief Association, the Northampton District of Methodist Women in Britain CFB and TMCP. All these entities have their own trustees or directors and autonomous administration such that this District has no significant influence over any of them, nor they over any District. Therefore, they are not considered related parties.

The related parties of the District are the twenty-two Circuits, their Chapels and Manses, which are based in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire together with parts of several adjoining Counties. They are contactable by the District web site www.northamptonmethodistdistrict.org.uk. Funds are transferred from Circuits to the District on a quarterly basis.

During the year, the following transactions took place with related parties (as defined by Financial Reporting Standard No 8) Expenses were reimbursed by the charity to Revd Canon Helen D. Cameron, Revd Jill Marsh and other trustees in respect of motor and travel expenses, postage, supplies and repairs and have been included in the figures set out above.

22

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2020

23 Volunteer contributions

Every entity (Connexion, District, Circuit, Church) within the Methodist Church in GB is heavily reliant on volunteers who contribute their skills, time and money in the furtherance of the work of the Church. Principally this contribution is by serving on committees of the District that deal with mission, manses, finance, policy, grants, training, development. We are grateful to all of them for their help and commitment.

24 Capital commitments and contingent liabilities

There were no capital commitments or contingent liabilities at 31.08.20

A C Lewis District Treasurer April 2021

23

Name of District: Northampton

District No.23

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2020

District
Notes to Advance Designated
the General Fund Fund Funds Restricted Endowment Total
accounts
(Unrestricted)		 (Unrestricted) (unrestricted) Funds Funds 2019-20
£ £ £ £ £
Income from
1 Donations and legacies 368 368
2 Connexional Advance & Property Fund 38,747 38,747
3 Income from investments 703 6,432 174 158 7,468
Income from charitable activities
4 Assessments on circuits 2 157,000 157,000
5 From Circuit Model Trust Funds 223,608 223,608
6 Contribution to the cost of the Chair 3 40,825 40,825
7 Other charitable activities 0
8 Income from other trading activities 0
9 Other income 5 2,180 35,000 37,180
Total income 200,708 268,788 174 35,526 0 505,196
Expenditure
9 Grants and donations 5 -216,350 -216,350
9a Grants and donations in 2020-21 5 -4,323 197,100 8,000 200,777
9b Grants and donations after 2020-21 5 31,100 25,000 56,100
10 Salaries and associated costs 6 138,360 138,360
11 Cost of the Chair 3 45,997 45,997
12 Property Maintenance 7 11,733 11,733
13 Office expenses 8 14,134 1,242 15,376
14 Synods, committees, Conference 9 5,976 5,976
15 Training 10 7,351 7,351
16 Professional fees 0
17 Other outgoings 11 33,178 2,770 35,948
Total expenditure 252,406 13,092 0 35,770 0 301,267
Net income/(expenditure) before
gains and losses on investments -51,698 255,696 174 -243 0 203,929
18 Net gains/(losses) on investments 0
Net income/(expenditure) -51,698 255,696 174 -243 0 203,929
19 Transfers between funds 80,207 -77,474 -2,733 0
20 Other gains/(losses) 0
Net movement in funds 28,510 178,222 -2,559 -243 0 203,929
Total funds brought forward 561,289 759 24,424 22,002 608,475
Total funds carried forward 589,799 178,981 21,865 21,759 0 812,404

Name of District: Northampton

District No.23

Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2020

Fixed Assets Notes to the
Accounts
General Fund
(Unrestricted)
£		 District
Advance Fund
(Unrestricted)
£
Designated
Funds
(Unrestricted)
£		 Restricted
Funds
£		 Endowment
Funds
£		 Totals
2019/20
£		 Totals
2019/20
£		 Totals
2018/19
£
Tangible fixed assets 13 552,000 552,000 552,000
Investmentproperties 0 0
Investments 0 0
Total fixed assets 552,000 0 0 0 0 552,000 552,000
Current Assets
Debtors 16 10,468 10,468 5,142
Loans bythe District 0 0
Investments with TMCP 700,381 700,381 620,959
Central Finance Board Deposits 39,626 21,865 77,259 138,750 86,454
Cash at Bank and in hand 2,796 2,796 6,752
Total current assets 52,891 700,381 21,865 77,259 0 852,396 719,307
Current liabilities
Creditors (due in under 1 year) 17 292 28,000 28,292 1,010
Grantspayable in 2020-21 5 14,800 329,800 27,500 372,100 368,622
Total current liabilities 15,092 329,800 0 55,500 0 400,392 369,632
Net current assets/liabilities 37,799 370,581 21,865 21,759 0 452,004 349,675
Total assets less current liabilities 589,799 370,581 21,865 21,759 0 1,004,004 901,675
191,600
191,600
0
0
589,799
178,981
21,865
21,759
0
812,404
589,799
589,799
178,981
178,981
21,865
21,865
790,645
21,759
21,759
0
0
589,799
178,981
21,865
21,759
0
812,404
Long term liabilities
(due after more than oneyear)
Grantspayable after 2020-21 191,600 191,600 293,200
Loans to the District 0 0
0 0
Net assets 589,799 178,981 21,865 21,759 0 812,404 608,475
Funds of the District
General Fund(Unrestricted) 589,799 589,799 561,289
District Advance Fund (Unrestricted) 178,981 178,981 759
Designated Funds(Unrestricted) 21,865 21,865 24,424
Total Unrestricted Funds 790,645 586,472
Restricted Funds 21,759 21,759 22,002
Endowment Funds 0 0 0
Total Funds 589,799 178,981 21,865 21,759 0 812,404 608,475

Name of District: Northampton

District No: 23

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2019

Notes
to the
accoun
ts
Income from
1 Donations and legacies
2 Connexional Advance & Property Fund
3 Income from investments
Income from charitable activities
4 Assessments on circuits
2
5 From Circuit Model Trust Funds
6 Contribution to the cost of the Chair
7 Other charitable activities
8 Income from other trading activities
9 Other income
Total income
Expenditure
9 Grants and donations
5 & 18
9a Grants and donations in 2019-20
5
9b Grants and donations after 2019-20
10 Salaries and associated costs
6
11 Cost of the Chair
3
12 Property Maintenance
7
13 Office expenses
8
14 Synods, committees, Conference
9
15 Training
10
16 Professional fees
17 Other outgoings
11
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure) before
gains and losses on investments
18 Net gains/(losses) on investments
Net income/(expenditure)
19 Transfers between funds
20 Other gains/(losses)
Net movement in funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 General Fund
(Unrestricted)
District
Advance
Fund
(Unrestricted)
Designated
Funds
(unrestricted)
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total
2018-19
£
£
£
£
£
466
466
35,050
35,050
345
5,893
184
156
6,578
130,700
130,700
206,154
206,154
41,347
41,347
0
0
50,000
22,500
72,500
172,392
297,098
184
23,122
0
492,796
8,400
-47,755
-39,355
947
184,800
22,500
208,247
252,700
252,700
124,817
124,817
50,378
50,378
9,614
9,614
19,054
1,285
20,339
11,283
11,283
11,492
11,492
0
30,789
1,292
32,081
266,774
391,030
0
23,792
0
681,596
-94,382
-93,932
184
-670
0
-188,800
0
-94,382
-93,932
184
-670
0
-188,800
84,931
-82,250
-2,681
0
0
-9,451
-176,182
-2,497
-670
0
-188,800
570,741
176,941
26,921
22,672
0
797,275
561,289
759
24,424
22,002
0
608,475

Name of District: Northampton Methodist District No. 23 Declarations and Scrutiny I confinn that these accruals-based accounts for the year to 31 August 2020 have been prepared from the records of the District and that they include all funds under the control of the District Policy Committee. Signature of treasurer. Date: 23 April 2021 Name and address of treasurer: Andrew Lewis. °Ca&siopeia', 3 Kings Lane, Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire Post Code: NN6 6LX Presentatlon to th• Dl$trf¢t Policy Commlttee I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2020 were presented to the District Policy Committee held on 14 June 2021 Signature of the Chair of the meeting: Name of the Chair of the meeting: Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron Date: 14 June 2021 Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees ofthe Northampton District Charlty Number 1130373 Responslbllhlos and baslB of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Northampton MethodistDistrict for the year ended 31 August 2020 set out on pages ... As the District's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,). I report in respect of my examinats'on of tha District's accounts carried out undar section 145 of the Act and. in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. delete or circle as appropriate

Name of District: Northampton Methodist District No. 23 Indepondont Examlnerfs Statsment trhe District's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of (insert name of applicable listed body)]. Delete [ ] rf not applicable. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters hav8 come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below.) which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act: or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records: or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination Delete rf not applicable ie all R&P accounts the trustees, annual report is not consistent with the accounts Delete if not applicable ie all R&P accounts. I have no con¢ems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper under8tsnding of the accounts to be reached. I havelhave not. obtained independent verification of all investments wtth the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner: D.J. Briscoe Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner: ACMA Name of finn: AIMS Accountants for Business Address . 11 De Montfort Road, Hinckley. Leicestershire Post Code .' LE10 1LQ Date 06./.05./2021.......... delete or cirde as appropriats