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2021-08-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statement

Year Ending 31[st] August 2021

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

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 2021

3 Financial review

During the year, the District received total income of £500k (2019-20: £505k) and dispersed £546k (2019-20: £301k).

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic continued to affect the work carried out and caused further cost savings due to the restrictions on travel and meetings. The circuits and churches were unable to commence some of their postponed projects resulting in fewer 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 any shortfall in 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 2021

Excluding the value of the manse, the reserves held in the General Fund at 31.08.21 are £100,997 (£37,799 at 31.08.20). This is more than five times the sum stated in our Reserves Policy (£20,000) and is a result of the Covid-19 pandemic causing a significant reduction in our expenditure. The savings are being passed onto the Circuits by reducing the annual assessments and it is anticipated that the reserves will reduce significantly over the next 24 months.

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 560,977
District Advance Fund 350,478
911,475
Designated funds
Manse Fund 17,346
Training Fund 7,557
Education and Youth 555
25,458
Total unrestricted funds (including designated) 936,933
Restricted funds
Local Preachers Fund 12,026
Ministerial Training Fund 8,166
Benevolence Fund 2,089
Overstone Chaplain Project 48,602
Young Leaders’ Scheme Bursaries 2,000
72,882
Total Funds 1,009,814
Total undesignated and unrestricted funds 936,933
Less invested in the manse -460,000
Uncommitted reserves 476,933

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 £167,900 (2019-20: £157,000).

Each year the District is allocated a sum by the London Mission Fund (LMF). In 2020-21 this amounted to £19,530 which will be 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 2020-21 this sum was £180,690 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

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

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.

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.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

  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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

The District Executive normally meets at least 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.

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

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

6.5 Secretary of the Synod

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

6.6 Assistant Secretary of the Synod

Mrs Sue Bayliss to 25 August 2021 Mr Paul Spray from 08 December 2021

6.7 District Treasurer

Mr Andrew Lewis

6.8 Names of trustees

The following served as trustees during the year 2020-21 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) to 25 August 2021 Revd. Lesley Dinham from 13 August 2021 (Secretary from 14 October 2021) Mr Andrew Lewis (Treasurer) Mr Chris Linford (Property Secretary) Revd. Jill Marsh (District Mission Enabler) to 28 February 2021 Mr Matthew Forsyth (District Mission Enabler) from 02 August 2021 Revd. Rose Westwood (Deputy Chair) Revd. Andy Fyall (Deputy Chair) Revd. David Alderman (Deputy Chair) from 08 December 2021 Revd. Romeo Pedro (Deputy Chair) Revd. Novette Headley (Methodist Council Representative) to 31 July 2021 Dr. Hellen Okello (Methodist Council Representative) from 13 August 2021 Mr Derek Beaumont (Representative Synod Secretary) Revd. Andrew Farrington (Ecumenical Officer) Revd. Kim Shorley to 31 July 2021 Deacon Richard Goldstraw to 31 July 2021 Mr James Blackhall Ms Janet Hinds Mr Charles Levitt to 31 July 2021 Mr Paul Spray from 13 August 2021 (Assistant Synod Secretary from 08 December 2021) Revd. Miriam Moul from 13 August 2021 Mr Philip Jones from 13 August 2021

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.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

6.9 Bankers

TSB Bank plc (To 08 February 2021) Town Hall Square 17 Horsefair Street Leicester LE1 5PD

CAF Bank Ltd (From 08 October 2020) 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ

Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church

9 Bonhill Street London EC2A 4PE

6.10 Investment managers and custodian trustees

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

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 22 March 2022.

Signed on behalf of the District Executive Committee

Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron District Chair Date: 22 March 2022

Andrew Lewis District Treasurer Date: 22 March 2022

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021 Statement of Financial Activities ISOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2021 S￿¢1 Notes to Advance Designatsd the General Fund Fund Funds Regtrl¢ted Endowment T¢)tsl counts Iunrestrictsdl Iunrestrictsdl lunrestrictadl Funds Fund 2020-21 Income from 1 Donati£￿5 and189aci8s 2 conn9￿Onal Advanc8 & Pmperty Fund 3 Income from inveslmtrnts Incomefrom charitable artI￿tIeS 4 AsSeSsm￿ts on arcuits 5 From Cirojit Mc¥Jel Trust Fu￿$ 6 Contributs"cv) to the cost ol the Chair 7 Other Charitab￿ actiwlies 8 Irrthie from other tradlng athttbes 9 Other irwne Total Incoma 491 100,855 11x1,855 3,119 195 30 167.9]0 167.900 162,993 42,151 162,993 42.151 22,￿0 23,021 22,500 500,009 210,246 266,712 Expenditure 9 Gran15 and d￿8￿n$ 98 Grdn15 and d(￿atIonS in 2021-22 9b Grants and d￿al￿)n$ aftef 2021-22 10 Salaries arvj associated costs 11 Cost of Chair 12 Property Maintèna 13 Offt£ expenses 14 sync￿$. o)mmittees. Conferen 15 TrainirKJ 16 Profesgonal fees 17 Other oulgoings T¢)tsl wndllure -132.200 145,8to 330,7UJ -134,200 118,846 308,200 155,526 45,981 6,437 14,994 1,273 6,107 314 22,388 $45.866 -1,954 -25,ori) -22,5UJ 21,L 134,465 45.981 6,437 13.593 1.273 6,107 314 22.051 228,267 1,401 10 12 337 48.102 345,701 Net lncomellexpendfjtu￿) befor• galns and Ios58s on Inv851m8fhts 18 Nel g8insllthsesl on inve5tm8nts Net Incomellexpendtturl 19 Trartsf8rs ￿￿VeeTh funds 20 Other gainslllossasI- MarB88 Net movemwrt In fund$ -18,021 -78,989 51,123 45,857 -18,021 81,219 -92.000 -28.802 -78,989 -84,782 335,268 171A97 51,123 45,857 13 14 243268 197.411 3.593 51.123 Total funds brought forward Total fund5 carrSed forward 178,981 350.478 21,865 25.458 21,759 72.882 812A04 0 1.009,814 560,997 io

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 22 March 2022.

Signed:

Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron District Chair

Andrew Lewis District Treasurer

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

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 2021, 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 the following matters:

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

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, was valued in August 2019 and is shown in the accounts at the 2019 deemed values plus an allowance for inflation over the subsequent 24 months. The land component is deemed to be £100,000. 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. The second manse, 9 The Elms, was transferred to the Methodist Connexion during the 2020-21 year and the sum of £335,268 was paid into the District Advance Fund by the Connexion.

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 2021

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 their families. 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 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 £715,304 (2019-20: £687,485) 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 2021

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.

ethodist Connexion. The Chair’s other costs are met mostly by the District.
2020-21 2019-20
£ £
Stipend of Chair of District, Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron 31,905 31,065
Employer's National Insurance contributions 3,211 3,075
Employer's pension contributions 6,866 6,685
Computers for Ministry 169 -
Chair's expenses (including travel costs) 836 2,689
Housing Costs (Insurance, Water and Council Tax) 2,994 2,482
Total 45,981 45,997
Stipend cost paid by the Connexion (see SOFA, line 6) 42,151 40,825
Total Cost to District 3,830 5,172

Since the stipend-related costs above (£42,151) 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. The DME is a member of the District Executive Committee and a trustee. Remuneration of the DME is legally authorised as provided in the governing document as described in the Model Trust Deeds of the Methodist Church (Book II, Part 2)

Revd. Jill Marsh was employed as DME until 28[th] February 2021 and all costs of her employment were met by the District as follows:

mployment were met by the District as follows:
2020-21 2019-20
£ £
Stipend of DME, Revd. Jill Marsh 12,762 27,207
Employer's National Insurance contributions 1,178 2,579
Employer's pension contributions 3,433 6,685
Computers for Ministry 169 165
Housing Costs (Insurance, Water and Council Tax) 1,791 2,751
Total 19,333 39,388
DME's travel expenses 72 2,065
DME’s other expenses 237 737
Total Cost 19,642 42,190

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

Mr Matthew Forsyth was employed as DME from 2[nd] August 2021 and all costs of his employment were met by the District as follows:

mployment were met by the District as follows:
2020-21
£
Salary of DME, Mr. Matthew Forsyth 3,548
Employer's National Insurance contributions 388
Employer's pension contributions 213
Total 4,149
DME's travel expenses 294
DME’s Office equipment 768
DME’s other expenses 47
Total Cost 5,259

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.

4 Other income

The District does not undertake fundraising.

The District Synod invites donations from the members of synod for All We Can. The District Synod did not meet in person and no donations were received during this financial year.

5 Grants and donations and related support costs

Grants and donations totalling £282,382 were paid from the District Advance Fund during the year (2019-20: £194,124). £197,600 was paid in grants to churches and circuits in the District and £84,782 was transferred to the General Fund as shown in the tables below.

Transfers from District Advance Fund 2020-21
£
To District General Fund for the DME 46,000
To District General Fund for Safeguarding 10,000
To District General Fund for Ecumenical Sponsorship 14,782
To District General Fund for YoungLeaders’ Scheme 14,000
Total transferred to District General Fund 84,782

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT

Year ended 31 August 2021

Grantspaid from DAF
Mission and Ministry Grants
PropertyGrants
Start-UpGrants
Total Paid
Less Grants committed at 31.08.20
Total to SOFA– Line 9		 2020-21
£
61,300
136,000
300
197,600
329,800
-132,200
Grants to bepaid during 2021-22
Mission and Ministry Grants
PropertyGrants
Total to bepaid
Less Grants committed at 31.08.20
Total to SOFA – Line 9a		 £
146,400
113,500
259,900
114,100
145,800
Grants to bepaid after 2021-22
Mission and MinistryGrants
Less Grants committed at 31.08.20
Total to SOFA – Line 9b		 £
408,200
77,500
330,700

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
01.09.20		 Balance
at
31.08.21		 Increase
£ £ £
General Fund
ExtendingDiscipleshipExploringVocation(EDEV) 1,374 1,374 0
Training Officer / Development Enabler 6,876 6,876 0
BikesforGhana 100 0 -100
Young Leaders’Scheme 1,223 1,549 326
Together Mission 3,047 3,047 0
TrichyVisit 2,180 0 -2,180
Totals – General Fund 14,800 12,846 -1,954
Restricted Funds
Overstone Chaplaincy 47,500 48,602 1,102
YoungLeaders’SchemeBursaries 8,000 2,000 -6,000
Totals– Restricted Funds 55,500 50,602 -4,898

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

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

6 Salaries and associated costs

In addition to the District Mission Enabler, gross salaries were paid to one full time and nine (2019-20: seven) part time employees as follows:

019-20: seven) part time employees as follows:
2020-21
£
Gross pay 113,448
Employer's National Insurance contributions 8,289
Employer's pension contributions to defined contribution schemes 7,490
Miscellaneous Payroll Costs including the Apprenticeship Levy 1,568
Total costs of 10 staff 130,625
Cost of District Mission Enabler (see Note 3) to February 2021 19,642
Cost of District Mission Enabler (see Note 3) from August 2021 5,259
Total (excluding the Chair) 155,526
Cost of Chair (see Note 3) 45,981
Total staff costs 201,507
Total weekly contractual hours for 10 staff n/a

No employees received employee benefits that totalled more than £60,000. All staff are paid at or above the real living wage.

Two of the nine part-time employees were engaged exclusively in safeguarding matters, four provided administrative assistance at the District office and three were involved in the District Young Leaders’ Scheme. The full-time employee was employed as a Community Chaplain.

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 are automatically enrolled in NEST if eligible.

7 Property Maintenance

Property Maintenance
2020-21 2019-20
£ £
Chair’s manse 3,292 10,409
DME’s Manse 3,145 1,324
Total 6,437 11,733

18

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

8 Office expenses (General fund)

2020-21 2019-20
£ £
Printing, postage and stationery 965 3,508
Telephone 1,923 1,985
Bouverie Court 8,640 8,640
Secretarial Assistance 1,152 0
Office Equipment 913 0
Total charged to General Fund 13,593 14,134
TMCP Charges 1,401 1,242
Total 14,994 15,376

9 Synods, Committees, Conference

2020-21 2019-20
£ £
Synods 78 1,485
Committees 1,195 4,491
Total 1,273 5,976
10 Training Training Training
2020-21 2019-20
£ £
Further Ministerial Training 3,885 3,927
Education and Youth 0 175
YoungLeaders’ Scheme(excl. Salaries) 1,023 1,706
Development Expenses 1,200 1,200
Other Training 0 342
Total charged to General Fund 6,107 7,351

11 Professional Fees

Professional Fees
2020-21
£
Bank Fees 74
Independent Examination of Accounts 240
Total 314

19

Year ended 31 August 2021

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT

12 Other outgoings

Other outgoings
2020-21
£
Safeguarding Costs (excl. Salaries) 2,743
Ministers’ meetings (including Superintendents, new 2,245
ministers and District Retreat)
Ecumenical Sponsorship 14,782
Repayment of contribution to cancelled trip to Trichy 2,180
Donation to All We Can (Bikes for Ghana) 100
Total charged to General Fund 22,051

13 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.		 10,000
From the District Advance Fund to fund Ecumenical Subscriptions 14,782
From the District Advance Fund to fund the Young Leaders’Scheme. 14,000
Total from the District Advance Fund 84,782
To the designated Manse Repair Fund 3,563
Total to Designated Funds 3,563

14 Manse and other property

Land Buildings Others Total
£ £ £ £
Cost or valuation
Balance brought forward at
1 September 2020		 122,000 430,000 552,000
Additions in the year
Revaluations in theyear 32,000 108,000 140,000
_Less:_Disposals in the year (9, The
Elms,Blaby)		 58,000 174,000 232,000
Transfers between categories
Balance carried forward at
31 August 2021		 96,000 364,000 0 460,000

20

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

15 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.

16 Central Finance Board (CFB) and Cash at Bank

At 21[st] September 2020, the District held a current account at TSB which was closed following the opening of an account with CAF Bank, another 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.

17 Debtors and prepayments

Prepayments:
2020-21 2019-20
£ £
Stipends and Allowances 0 2,892
Action Centres UK - Synod Deposit 287 287
CPD 2021-22 667 617
Yorks N&E - District Chairs’ Retreat 435 435
Launde Abbey – Retreat (2022) 907 2,241
Chesford Grange – Supers’ Conf. – Oct. 2021 822 0
The Belfry, Oxford – Supers’ Conf. – March ‘22 1599 0
Books for Acts 29 (Postponed) 493 493
Launde Abbey - Supers’ Conference 0 665
Launde Abbey – Probationers’ Retreat 1334 0
Flights to Trichy 0 2,839
Total 6,543 10,468

21

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

18 Creditors and accrued expenses

Creditors:

Creditors:
2020-21 2019-20
£ £
Expenses reimbursement 3,776.53 292
Development Expenses 1,200.00 0
Supervision Fees 240.00 0
Supervision Administration 427.75 0
Total 5,644 292

19 Grant Commitments and the 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.

20 Unrestricted Funds

20.1 General Fund – balance £560,997 at 31 August 2021

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. £460,000 of this fund (82%) is held as freehold property (the manse for the Chair of District).

20.2 Designated Funds – balance £25,458 at 31 August 2021

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

21 Restricted Funds - balance £72,882 at 31 August 2021

There are five restricted funds:

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

22

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

22 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) See Note 1. below
Young Leaders’ Scheme
Bursaries (Restricted) See
Note 2 below
Total restricted
Total Funds		 Balance at
01.09.20
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
Gains/
Losses
Balance
at
31.08.21
£
£
£
£
£
£
589,799
210,246
228,267
81,219
-92,000
560,997
178,981
266,712
345,701
-84,782
335,268
350,478
13,764
19
3,563
17,346
7,547
10
7,557
554
1
555

21,865
30
3,563
25,458
12.009
17
12.026
8,154
11
8,166
1,595
493
2,089
0
22,500
-26,102
48,602
0
0
-2,000
2,000
21,759
23,021
-28,102
72,882
812,404 500,009
545,866
0
243,268
1,009,814

Note 1. The Overstone Chaplain project had been delayed and the Balance Sheet at 31 August 2020 indicated a zero balance as it had been anticipated that the grants would be used more quickly. The sum of £48,602 represents the sum held in the General Fund accounts for this project.

Note 2. It was anticipated that all the £2,000 YLS bursaries (4 No.) would be paid during the year 2020-21, but one was unclaimed. The balance of £2,000 is held in the General Fund accounts.

23 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-one 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 Mr Matthew Forsyth and other trustees in respect of motor and travel expenses, postage, supplies and repairs and have been included in the figures set out above.

23

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2021

24 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.

25 Capital commitments and contingent liabilities

There were no capital commitments or contingent liabilities at 31.08.21

A C Lewis District Treasurer March 2022

24

Name of District: Northampton

District No.23

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2021

District
Notes to Advance Designated
the General Fund Fund Funds Restricted Endowment Total
accounts
(Unrestricted)		 (Unrestricted) (unrestricted) Funds Funds 2020-21
£ £ £ £ £
Income from
1 Donations and legacies 491 491
2 Connexional Advance & Property Fund 100,855 100,855
3 Income from investments 195 2,864 30 30 3,119
Income from charitable activities
4 Assessments on circuits 2 167,900 167,900
5 From Circuit Model Trust Funds 162,993 162,993
6 Contribution to the cost of the Chair 3 42,151 42,151
7 Other charitable activities 0
8 Income from other trading activities 0
9 Other income 22,500 22,500
Total income 210,246 266,712 30 23,021 0 500,009
Expenditure
9 Grants and donations 5 -132,200 -2,000 -134,200
9a Grants and donations in 2021-22 5 -1,954 145,800 -25,000 118,846
9b Grants and donations after 2021-22 5 330,700 -22,500 308,200
10 Salaries and associated costs 6 134,465 21,062 155,526
11 Cost of the Chair 3 45,981 45,981
12 Property Maintenance 7 6,437 6,437
13 Office expenses 8 13,593 1,401 14,994
14 Synods, committees, Conference 9 1,273 1,273
15 Training 10 6,107 6,107
16 Professional fees 11 314 314
17 Other outgoings 12 22,051 337 22,388
Total expenditure 228,267 345,701 0 -28,102 0 545,866
Net income/(expenditure) before
gains and losses on investments -18,021 -78,989 30 51,123 0 -45,857
18 Net gains/(losses) on investments 0
Net income/(expenditure) -18,021 -78,989 30 51,123 0 -45,857
19 Transfers between funds 13 81,219 -84,782 3,563 0
20 Other gains/(losses) - Manses 14 -92,000 335,268 243,268
Net movement in funds -28,802 171,497 3,593 51,123 0 197,411
Total funds brought forward 589,799 178,981 21,865 21,759 812,404
Total funds carried forward 560,997 350,478 25,458 72,882 0 1,009,814

Name of District: Northampton

District No.23

Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2021

Fixed Assets Notes to the
Accounts
General Fund
(Unrestricted)
£		 District
Advance Fund
(Unrestricted)
£
Designated
Funds
(Unrestricted)
£		 Restricted
Funds
£		 Endowment
Funds
£		 Totals
2020/21
£
Tangible fixed assets 14 460,000 460,000
Investmentproperties 0
Investments 0
Total fixed assets 460,000 0 0 0 0 460,000
Current Assets
Debtors 17 6,543 6,543
Loans bythe District 0
Investments with TMCP 1,018,578 1,018,578
Central Finance Board Deposits 106,514 25,458 72,882 204,853
Cash at Bank and in hand 6,430 6,430
Total current assets 119,487 1,018,578 25,458 72,882 0 1,236,404
Current liabilities
Creditors (due in under 1 year) 18 5,644 5,644
Grantspayable in 2021-22 5 12,846 259,900 272,746
Total current liabilities 18,490 259,900 0 0 0 278,390
Net current assets/liabilities 100,997 758,678 25,458 72,882 0 958,014
Total assets less current liabilities 560,997 758,678 25,458 72,882 0 1,418,014
Long term liabilities
(due after more than oneyear)
Grantspayable after 2021-22 408,200 408,200
Loans to the District 0
Net assets 560,997 350,478 25,458 72,882 0 1,009,814
Funds of the District
General Fund(Unrestricted) 560,997 560,997
District Advance Fund (Unrestricted) 350,478 350,478
Designated Funds(Unrestricted) 25,458 25,458
Total Unrestricted Funds 936,933
Restricted Funds 72,882 72,882
Endowment Funds 0 0
Total Funds 560,997 350,478 25,458 72,882 0 1,009,814

Signed

District Treasurer

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 157,000 157,000
5 From Circuit Model Trust Funds 223,608 223,608
6 Contribution to the cost of the Chair 40,825 40,825
7 Other charitable activities 0
8 Income from other trading activities 0
9 Other income 2,180 35,000 37,180
Total income 200,708 268,788 174 35,526 0 505,196
Expenditure
9 Grants and donations -216,350 -216,350
9a Grants and donations in 2020-21 -4,323 197,100 8,000 200,777
9b Grants and donations after 2020-21 31,100 25,000 56,100
10 Salaries and associated costs 138,360 138,360
11 Cost of the Chair 45,997 45,997
12 Property Maintenance 11,733 11,733
13 Office expenses 14,134 1,242 15,376
14 Synods, committees, Conference 5,976 5,976
15 Training 7,351 7,351
16 Professional fees 0
17 Other outgoings 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 0 812,403

Name of District: Norlhampton Methodist District No. 23 Declarations and Scrutiny I confinn that these accruals-based accounts for the year to 31 August 2021 have been prepared from the records of the District and t they include all funds under the control of the District Policy Committee. Signature of treasurer.. Date: 3° March 2022 Name and address of treasurer: Andrew Lewis. "Cassiopeia., 3 Kings Lane, YelvertofL Northamptonshire Post Code: NN6 6LX Pres•ntatlon to the Dlstrlct Pollcy Comrnlttoe I confinn that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 will be presented to the District Policy Committee held on 22- March 2022 Name of the Chair of the meeting: Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron Date: 22" March 2022 Independent Examlnerfs Report to the Trustees of the Northampton Dlstrlct Charlty Number 1130373 Responsibilltles and basls of rnport I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the ... District for the year ended 31 August 2021 set out on pages . to As the District's twstees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Acr). l.o.Th hrt.p.r6￿j I report in respect of my examination of the District's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and. in carying 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 cirde as appropriate

Name of District: Northampton Methodist District No. 23 Independent Examlnerfs Statemont trhe Districvs 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 [ ] if not applicable. I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have 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 fomi 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 if not applicable ie all R&P accounts the trustees, annual report is not consistent with the accounts Delete rf not applicable ie all R&P accounts. I have no cnncems 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 understanding of the accounts to be reached. I havelhave not. obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for MethcJJist 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 thousarKI 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 firm: AIMS Accountants for Business Address . 11 De Montfort Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire Post Code: LE10 1LQ Date delets or circle as appropriats