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2022-08-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statement

Year Ending 31[st] August 2022

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2022

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 2022

3 Financial review

During the year, the District received total income of £616k (2020-21: £500k) and dispersed £942k (2020-21: £546k).

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were less significant, but continued to affect the work carried out. The circuits and churches were unable, or unwilling in the uncertain and difficult circumstances, to commence 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.

Excluding the value of the manse, the reserves held in the General Fund at 31.08.22 are £69,517 (£100,997 at 31.08.21). This is more the sum required by our Reserves Policy (£20,000), but is

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2022

significantly reduced from the previous year as the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic continues. 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 591,517
District Advance Fund 42,544
634,061
Designated funds
Manse Fund 23,554
Training Fund 7,589
Education and Youth 2,837
33,980
Total unrestricted funds (including designated) 668,041
Restricted funds
Local Preachers Fund 11,835
Ministerial Training Fund 8,200
Benevolence Fund 2,167
Overstone Chaplain Project 27,179
NPNP – FEAST 28,000
Methodist Women in Britain 438
77,819
Total Funds 745,860
Total undesignated and unrestricted funds 668,041
Less invested in the manse -522,000
Uncommitted reserves 146,041

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 £139,750 (2020-21: £167,900).

Each year the District is allocated a sum by the London Mission Fund (LMF). In 2021-22 this amounted to £19,830 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 2021-22 this sum was £275,969 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 2022

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 2022

  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 2022

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 2022

6.5 Secretary of the Synod

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

6.6 Assistant Secretary of the Synod

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 2021-22 or were trustees at the time of this report being approved:

Revd. Canon Helen Cameron (Chair) Revd. Alan Bolton (Presbyteral Synod Secretary) Revd. Lesley Dinham (Secretary from 14 October 2021) Mr Andrew Lewis (Treasurer) Mr Chris Linford (Property Secretary) Mr Matthew Forsyth (District Mission Enabler) Revd. Rose Westwood (Deputy Chair) Revd. Andy Fyall (Deputy Chair) Revd. David Alderman from 08 December 2021 (Deputy Chair) Revd. Romeo Pedro (Deputy Chair) Dr. Hellen Okello (Methodist Council Representative) Mr Derek Beaumont (Representative Synod Secretary) Revd. Andrew Farrington (Ecumenical Officer) Mr James Blackhall Ms Janet Hinds Mr Paul Spray (Representative Synod Secretary from 01 September 2022) Revd. Miriam Moul Mr Philip Jones Revd. Sara Cliff (from 15 August 2022) Revd. Langley Mackrell-Hey (from 15 August 2022) Revd. David Speirs (from 15 August 2022) Revd. Kate Strange (from 15 August 2022)

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 2022

6.9 Bankers

CAF Bank Ltd 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 14 February 2023.

Signed on behalf of the District Executive Committee

Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron District Chair Date: 14 February 2023

Andrew Lewis District Treasurer Date: 14 February 2023

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2022 statement of Financial Activities (SOFA} for the year ended 31 August 2022 N•tO$ to Gonral Fund Athance Fund Funds •¢¢thlnts ILlnrostrl¢t•dl (Unrn8trfthd) lunr•l¢tsdl Rostrlctsd Endowm•nt Funds Funds Total 2021-22 Income from 1 Donalk)ns and legaues 2 ConnexvJnal Advance & PYop¢rty Fund 3 In¢omtr from invtsimtrnts kn¢omelrom tharfjtable artlvfjlles 4 Assessments on circuits 5 From Circuit Modd TTUSt Funds 6 con1rib￿n tothg cost ofthe Chalr 7 Olhartharitable 8 Income from other tradng 248 98,242 98242 575 93 8,579 199,750 139,750 275.969 275,969 42.151 42.151 g Other incom Total In¢•m 14,169 394199 38,438 38,779 S2.627 615.5 182,476 Expenditure 9 Gfants and donations 98 Gfants donations in 2022- 23 9b Gonts a￿j donationts after 20Y2-23 10 S818d88 and 8s¥odal8d cos18 11 C•51 of the Chair 12 Propety MaintwanGO 13 Office expenses 14 Synods. ¢ommitteo8. Conferer 7,630 179 47.4SI 10,742 350,1B9 0,931 335.050 335,050 159.641 46.863 369 20,801 28.137 187,778 46.863 2,￿3 23.704 4,359 15TYalning 16 Professional fee8 17 Other C￿tgoingS Total oxpondlturn 10 7.101 333 23.358 273,567 240 7.341 333 41.644 941,520 12 15,000 836.112 3.285 31,841 N•t IncomellexpvndMur•l galns and loii•s on 18 Nel gain61110ssesI on Not It)¢oM￿l0Xp•ThdMU1•1 19 Tran$feT¥ btlw*trn fjJnds 20 Other g￿1￿111055e5)- Man88 Net fflovomont In lunds 1,091 Q41,913 6,938 42S.gS4 Q41,913 46.022 6,938 -2.￿0 425,954 13 14 59.611 62,000 30,520 8.410 62.000 Q63,934 407,934 4938 Total funds brought forward Totsl funds ¢aYrfjed fornard 560.997 591,517 350.478 25.456 33,9BO 72.882 TT,819 1.009,814 745,800 io

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2022

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 14 February 2023.

Signed: Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron District Chair

Andrew Lewis District Treasurer

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2022

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 2022

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. In August 2022, an offer of £522,000 was accepted for the purchase of the freehold property, 291 Billing Road East. It is shown in the accounts at £522,000 and the land component is deemed to be £110,000. The manse will be sold and replaced by a more suitable property during 2022-23.

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.

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 2022

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 £707,922 (2020-21: £715,304) 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 2022

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.
2021-22 2020-21
£ £
Stipend of Chair of District, Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron 31,905 31,905
Employer’s National Insurance contributions 3,211 3,211
Employer’s pension contributions 6,866 6,866
Computers for Ministry 169 169
Chair’s expenses (including travel costs) 1,576 836
Housing Costs (Insurance, Water and Council Tax) 3,136 2,994
Total 46,863 45,981
Stipend cost paid by the Connexion (see SOFA, line 6) 42,151 42,151
Total Cost to District 4,711 3,830

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)

Mr Matthew Forsyth was employed as DME from 2[nd] August 2021 and all costs of his employment in 2021-22 were met by the District as follows:

2021-22
£
Salary of DME, Mr. Matthew Forsyth 44,000
Employer’s National Insurance contributions 5,019
Employer’s pension contributions 2,640
Other Payroll costs including Apprenticeship Levy 375
Total 52,034
DME’s travel expenses 3,867
DME’s Office equipment 230
DME’s other expenses 1,415
Total Cost 57,546

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2022

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.

5 Grants and donations and related support costs

Grants and donations totalling £324,314 were paid from the District Advance Fund during the year (2020-21: £282,382). £258,292 was paid in grants to churches and circuits in the District and £66,022 was transferred to the General Fund as shown in the tables below.

Transfers from District Advance Fund 2021-22
£
To District General Fund for the DME 55,000
To District General Fund for Ecumenical Sponsorship 11,022
Total transferred to District General Fund 66,022
Grants paid from DAF 2021-22
£
Mission and MinistryGrants 147,422
PropertyGrants 108,000
Start-UpGrants 2,870
Total Paid 258,292
Less Transfers to District General Fund -66,022
Less Grants committed at 31.08.21 -259,900
Total to SOFA – Line 9 -67,630
Grants to bepaid during 2022-23 £
Mission and MinistryGrants 199,889
PropertyGrants 274,500
Total to be paid 474,389
Less Grants committed at 31.08.21 124,200
Total to SOFA – Line 9a 350,189
Grants to be paid after 2022-23 £
Mission and MinistryGrants 619,650
Less Grants committed at 31.08.21 284,000
Total to SOFA – Line 9b 335,650

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT

Year ended 31 August 2022

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
01.09.21		 Balance
at
31.08.22		 Increase
£ £ £
General Fund
Extending Discipleship Exploring Vocation (EDEV) 1,374 1,374 0
Training Officer/DevelopmentEnabler 6,876 6,876 0
Young Leaders’Scheme 1,549 0 -1,549
Together Mission 3,047 3,047 0
ManseImprovementProject 0 -3,199 -3,199
Totals – General Fund 12,846 8,098 -4,748
Restricted Funds
NPNP–FEAST 0 28,000 28,000
Overstone Chaplaincy 48,602 27,179 -21,422
Young Leaders’Scheme Bursaries 2,000 0 -2,000
MethodistWomen in Britain 0 438 438
Totals– Restricted Funds 50,602 55,618 5,015

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.

6 Salaries and associated costs

In addition to the District Mission Enabler, gross salaries were paid to one full time and nine (2020-21: nine) part time employees as follows:

020-21: nine) part time employees as follows:
2021-22
£
Gross pay 104,384
Employer’s National Insurance contributions 6,490
Employer’s pension contributions to defined contribution schemes 21,952
Miscellaneous Payroll Costs including the Apprenticeship Levy 2,917
Total costs of 10 staff 135,744
Cost of District Mission Enabler (see Note 3) 51,659
Miscellaneous Payroll Costs including the Apprenticeship Levy 375
Total (excluding the Chair) 187,778
Cost of Chair (see Note 3) 46,863
Total staff costs 234,641
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.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2022

Three of the nine part-time employees were engaged exclusively in safeguarding matters, five provided administrative assistance at the District office and one was responsible for HR matters. 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
2021-22 2020-21
£ £
Chair’s manse 369 3,292
DME’s Manse 0 3,145
Total 369 6,437

8 Office expenses (General fund)

2021-22 2020-21
£ £
Printing, postage and stationery 1,438 965
Telephone 1,560 1,923
Bouverie Court 8,640 8,640
Secretarial Assistance 5,956 1,152
Office Equipment 3,207 913
Total charged to General Fund 20,801 13,593
TMCP Charges 2,903 1,401
Total 23,704 14,994

9 Synods, Committees, Conference

2021-22 2020-21
£ £
Synods 2,688 78
Committees 1,671 1,195
Total 4,359 1,273

18

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2022

10 Training

2021-22 2020-21
£ £
Further Ministerial Training 5,847 3,885
Education and Youth 1,000 0
YoungLeaders’ Scheme(excl. Salaries) 0 1,023
Development Expenses 0 1,200
Other Training 254 0
Total charged to General Fund 7,101 6,107
11 Professional Fees
2021-22
£
Bank Fees 93
Independent Examination of Accounts 240
Total 333
12 Other outgoings
2021-22
£
Safeguarding Costs (excl. Salaries) 6,911
Ministers’ meetings (including Superintendents, new 9,463
ministers and District Retreat)
DME Expenses (see Note 3) 5,512
Acts 29 493
HR Costs (excl. Salaries) 979
Total charged to General Fund 23,358

13 Transfers between funds

The following transfers between funds were made during 2021-22.

From the District Advance Fund to the General Fund £
Contribution to the fundingof the District Mission Enabler 55,000
Ecumenical Subscriptions 11,022
Total from the District Advance Fund 66,022
To Designated Funds £
From the General Fund for Manse Repairs 6,131
From the General Fund for Education and Youth 279
From a restricted fund(unused bursary)for Education & Youth 2,000
Total from the District Advance Fund 8,410

19

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2022

14 Manse and other property

Land Buildings Others Total
£ £ £ £
Cost or valuation
Balance brought forward at
1 September 2021		 96,000 364,000 0 460,000
Additions in theyear
Revaluations in the year 14,000 48,000 62,000
Transfers between categories
Balance carried forward at
31 August 2022		 110,000 412,000 0 522,000

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

The District holds a current account with CAF Bank, 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.

17 Debtors and prepayments

Prepayments 2021-22 2020-21
£ £
Action Centres UK-Synod Deposit 287 287
CPD 2021-22 0 667
Yorks N&E - District Chairs’ Retreat 0 435
Launde Abbey– Retreat(2022) 0 907
Chesford Grange–Supers’Conf.–Oct. 2021 0 822
The Belfry, Oxford–Supers’Conf.–March‘22 0 1,599
Books for Acts 29(Postponed) 0 493
Launde Abbey– Probationers’ Retreat 0 1,334
Total 287 6,543

20

Year ended 31 August 2022

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT

18 Creditors and accrued expenses

Creditors and accrued expenses
Creditors 2021-22 2020-21
£ £
Expenses reimbursement 693 3,777
Development Expenses 0 1,200
Supervision Fees 0 240
Supervision Administration 253 428
Total 946 5,645

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 £591,517 at 31 August 2022

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. £522,000 of this fund (88%) is held as freehold property (the manse for the Chair of District).

20.2 Designated Funds – balance £33,980 at 31 August 2022

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 £77,819 at 31 August 2022

There are six restricted funds:

accounts.

21

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2022

Year ended Year ended 31 August 2022 31 August 2022 31 August 2022
22
Summary of movements		 on significant individual funds
Balance Balance
at Expen- Trans- Gains/ at
Fund 01.09.21 Income diture fers Losses 31.08.22
£ £ £ £ £ £
182,47
General Fund 560,997 6 273,567 59,611
62,000		 591,517
394,19
District Advance Fund 350,478 9 636,112 -66,022 42,544
Manse (Designated) 17,346 77 6,131 23,554
Training (Designated) 7,557 32 7,589
Education and Youth
(Designated) 555 3 2,280 2,837
Total designated
25,458		 112 8,410 33,980
Local Preachers Fund
(Restricted) 12,026 49 240 11,835
Ministerial Training Fund
(Restricted) 8,166 34 8,200
Benevolence Fund
(Restricted) 2,089 258 179 2,167
Overstone Chaplain
(Restricted) 48,602 10,000 31,422 27,179
Young Leaders’ Scheme
Bursaries (Restricted) - See
Note 1 below 2,000 -2,000 0
FEAST (NPNP) (Restricted) 0 28,000 28,000
Methodist Women in Britain
(Restricted) – See Note 2
below 0 438 438
Total restricted 72,882 38,779 31,841 -2,000 77,819
1,009,81 615,56
Total Funds 4 6 941,520 0
62,000		 745,860

Note 1. One of the bursaries was unclaimed and the outstanding £2,000 was transferred to the general Youth Work funds under the terms of the original donation. Note 2. The MWiB does not have any officers in the District and it was decided that the HSBC bank account should be closed. The District has agreed to hold the MWiB funds until they are required.

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, 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.

22

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2022

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, 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.

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 31.08.22

A C Lewis District Treasurer February 2023

23

District No.23

Name of District: Northampton

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2022

Notes to District Designated
the General Fund Advance Fund Funds Restricted Endowment Total
accounts
(Unrestricted)		 (Unrestricted) (unrestricted) Funds Funds 2021-22
£ £ £ £ £
Income from
1 Donations and legacies 248 248
2 Connexional Advance & Property Fund 98,242 98,242
3 Income from investments 575 5,800 112 93 6,579
Income from charitable activities
4 Assessments on circuits 2 139,750 139,750
5 From Circuit Model Trust Funds 275,969 275,969
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 14,189 38,438 52,627
Total income 182,476 394,199 112 38,779 0 615,566
Expenditure
9 Grants and donations 5 -67,630 179 -67,451
9a Grants and donations in 2022-23 5 10,742 350,189 360,931
9b Grants and donations after 2022-23 5 335,650 335,650
10 Salaries and associated costs 6 159,641 28,137 187,778
11 Cost of the Chair 3 46,863 46,863
12 Property Maintenance 7 369 369
13 Office expenses 8 20,801 2,903 23,704
14 Synods, committees, Conference 9 4,359 4,359
15 Training 10 7,101 240 7,341
16 Professional fees 11 333 333
17 Other outgoings 12 23,358 15,000 3,285 41,644
Total expenditure 273,567 636,112 0 31,841 0 941,520
Net income/(expenditure) before
gains and losses on investments -91,091 -241,913 112 6,938 0 -325,954
18 Net gains/(losses) on investments 0
Net income/(expenditure) -91,091 -241,913 112 6,938 0 -325,954
19 Transfers between funds 13 59,611 -66,022 8,410 -2,000 0
20 Other gains/(losses) - Manse 14 62,000 62,000
Net movement in funds 30,520 -307,934 8,522 4,938 0 -263,954
Total funds brought forward 560,997 350,478 25,458 72,882 0 1,009,814
Total funds carried forward 591,517 42,544 33,980 77,819 0 745,860

Name of District: Northampton

District No.23

Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2022

Fixed Assets Notes to the
Accounts
General Fund
(Unrestricted)
£		 District
Advance Fund
(Unrestricted)
£
Designated
Funds
(Unrestricted)
£		 Restricted
Funds
£		 Endowment
Funds
£		 Totals
2021/22
£		 Totals
2021/22
£		 Totals
2020/21
£
Tangible fixed assets 14 522,000 522,000 460,000
Investmentproperties 0 0
Investments 0 0
Total fixed assets 522,000 0 0 0 0 522,000 460,000
Current Assets
Debtors 17 287 287 6,543
Loans bythe District 0 0
Investments with TMCP 1,136,583 1,136,583 1,018,578
Central Finance Board Deposits 68,836 33,980 77,819 180,635 204,853
Cash at Bank and in hand 9,438 9,438 6,430
Total current assets 78,561 1,136,583 33,980 77,819 0 1,326,943 1,236,404
Current liabilities
Creditors (due in under 1 year) 18 946 946 5,644
Grantspayable in 2022-23 5 8,098 474,389 482,487 272,746
Total current liabilities 9,044 474,389 0 0 0 483,433 278,390
Net current assets/liabilities 69,517 662,194 33,980 77,819 0 843,510 958,014
Total assets less current liabilities 591,517 662,194 33,980 77,819 0 1,365,510 1,418,014
619,650
619,650
0
0
591,517
42,544
33,980
77,819
0
745,860
591,517
591,517
42,544
42,544
33,980
33,980
668,041
77,819
77,819
0
0
591,517
42,544
33,980
77,819
0
745,860
Long term liabilities
(due after more than oneyear)
Grantspayable after 2022-23 619,650 619,650 408,200
Loans to the District 0 0
0
Net assets 591,517 42,544 33,980 77,819 0 745,860 1,009,814
Funds of the District
General Fund(Unrestricted) 591,517 33,980
77,819
0		 591,517 560,997
District Advance Fund (Unrestricted) 42,544 42,544 350,478
Designated Funds(Unrestricted) 33,980 33,980 25,458
Total Unrestricted Funds 668,041 936,933
Restricted Funds 77,819 77,819 72,882
Endowment Funds 0 0 0
Total Funds 591,517 42,544 33,980 77,819 0 745,860 1,009,814

Signed

District Treasurer

Name of District: Northampton

District No.23

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

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
3
7 Other charitable activities
8 Income from other trading activities
9 Other income
Total income
Expenditure
9 Grants and donations
5
9a Grants and donations in 2021-22
5
9b Grants and donations after 2021-22
5
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
11
17 Other outgoings
12
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure) before
gains and losses on investments
18 Net gains/(losses) on investments
Net income/(expenditure)
19 Transfers between funds
13
20 Other gains/(losses) - Manses
14
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
2020-21
£
£
£
£
£
491
491
100,855
100,855
195
2,864
30
30
3,119
167,900
167,900
162,993
162,993
42,151
42,151
0
0
22,500
22,500
210,246
266,712
30
23,021
0
500,009
-132,200
-2,000
-134,200
-1,954
145,800
-25,000
118,846
330,700
-22,500
308,200
134,465
21,062
155,526
45,981
45,981
6,437
6,437
13,593
1,401
14,994
1,273
1,273
6,107
6,107
314
314
22,051
337
22,388
228,267
345,701
0
-28,102
0
545,866
-18,021
-78,989
30
51,123
0
-45,857
0
-18,021
-78,989
30
51,123
0
-45,857
81,219
-84,782
3,563
0
-92,000
335,268
243,268
-28,802
171,497
3,593
51,123
0
197,411
589,799
178,981
21,865
21,759
812,404
560,997
350,478
25,458
72,882
0
1,009,814

Name of District: Northampton Methodist District No. 23 Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that these accruals-bas8d accounts for the year to 31 August 2022 hav8 been prepared from the records of the District an¢that they include all funds under the control of the District Policy Committee. Signature of treasurer. Dats: 1 February 2023 Narne and address of treasurer: Andrew Lewis, 'Cassiopeia", 3 ￿'ngS Lan6, Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire Post Code: NN6 6LX Presentatlon to the Dlstrlct Pollcy Commltt I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 will b8 presented to the District Policy Committee held on 14 February 2023 Signature of the Chair of the meeting: Name of the Chair of the me8ting". Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron Date 14 February 2023 Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of the Northampton District Charlty Numbgr 1130373 R•8ponslbilltles and ba8ls of r•port I report to tha trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Northampton District for the year ended 31 August 2022 set out on pages ... As the District's trustees, you are ￿Sponsible for the preparats'on of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,). 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 Commi&sion under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. . ddete or circle as appropriate

Name of District: Northampton Methodist District No. 23 Ind•pond•nt Examlnorfs Statsmont 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 l)ody)]. Delete [ ] rfnot applicable. I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in nnection with the examination (other than that disclosed below.) which give me ￿use to believe that in, any matsrial respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance wlth 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 fairf view. which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination Delete rfnot applicable ie all R&P accounts the trustees, annual report is not consistent with the accounts Delete rfnot applicable ie all R&P accounts. I have no concems 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 wtth the Trustees for Methc>list 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. B Relevant professional qualificats'on of independent examiner: ACMA Name of fimi: AIMS Accountsnts for Business Address . 11 De Montfort Road, Hinckley. Leicestershire Post Code: LE10 1LQ Date ' delete or cirde as appropriate