2023-08-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statement

Year Ending 31[st] August 2023

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

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 recovery after the pandemic and lockdown we have sought to remind the circuits of the resources they already have and we have encouraged and supported the churches and circuits to be flexible in their outreach particularly in terms of digital presence and engagement.

2 Achievements and performance

In furtherance of these aims the District has this year:

• Drawn together representatives of the circuits responsible for the deployment of ministry resources, finance, property, leadership and oversight to enable them to learn from and support each other principally by zoom.

• Provided training for the above people relevant to their posts and responsibilities.

• Provided consultancy for the above people through district officers.

• Paid grants of £227,928 to circuits and churches in support of mission projects and property schemes with a clear priority for mission.

• Committed £411,157 to be paid in under 12 months to provide financial support of projects including £163,502 towards property schemes.

• Committed £265,415 for future years where a satisfactory monitoring and evaluation report has been received.

• Appointed a new member of the Mission team to support circuits in engaging with New Places for New People focusing primarily on small group nurture.

• Made grants to ministers and lay people engaging in training relevant to their role in the church.

• • Supported 4 candidates for ordained presbyteral ministry (3 of whom were accepted for preordination training)

• Supported 3 probationer ministers in the early years of their ministry and moving to ordination.

• Provided leadership in the development of regional co-operation with neighbouring Districts especially as regards the nurturing of 9 probationer ministers across the region through a Shared Districts Probationers Committee.

• Identified 3 new lay pioneers and encouraged them to join the Pioneer training Pathway.

• Filled all our vacant ministerial vacancies.

• Continued with learning and development opportunities for lay and ordained people through study days and learning groups all on zoom.

• Developed further the work of the Justice, Dignity & Solidarity Group within the District leading to the appointment of members of the group as circuit link persons.

• Revived the eco-summit gathering of green champions in each circuit.

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Year ended 31 August 2023

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT

3 Financial review

During the year, the District received total income of £626k (2021-22: £616k) and dispersed £666k (2021-22: £942k).

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 (DAF) 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:

• Interest on investments

• Levies on the Circuit Model Trust Funds of Circuits within the District

• Contribution from the Connexional Advance and Property Fund

• Assessments on Circuits within the District

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 31.08.23 are £34,971 (£69,517 at 31.08.22). This is more the sum required by our Reserves Policy (£20,000) but is approximately 50% of the reserves held 12 months earlier. The surplus funds are being passed onto the Circuits by reducing the annual assessments and it is anticipated that the reserves will reduce significantly over the next 12 months.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

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	559,971
District Advance Fund	53,502
		613,473
Designated funds
Manse Fund	29,392
Training Fund	6,848
Education and Youth	2,124
FEAST	26,457
Overstone Chaplain	-3,958
		60,863
Total unrestricted funds (including designated)		674,336
Restricted funds
Local Preachers Fund	12,246
Ministerial Training Fund	4,971
Benevolence Fund	2,204
Methodist Women in Britain	438
MAPJ Grant	14,604
		34,464
Total Funds		708,799
Total designated and unrestricted funds		674,336
Less invested in the manse		-525,000
Uncommitted reserves		149,336

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 for general expenses is the assessments obtained from each Circuit within the District based on the staffing levels of the Circuit and their reserves. This was used to defray most of the cost of administering the District. This sum amounted to £148,963 (2021-22: £139,750).

Each year the District is allocated a sum by the London Mission Fund (LMF). In 2022-23 this amounted to £19,705 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 2022-23 this sum was £157,729 and was credited to the District Advance Fund.

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

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

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:

• select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently using the accruals method

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

• follow applicable accounting standards

• prepare accounts to comply with the Charities SORP

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

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

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

4.1 Risk

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

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

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

5 Structure, governance and management

The District is an unincorporated association and is governed by the Methodist Church Act 1976, the Deed of Union and the Model Trust Deeds of the Methodist Church and was registered with the Charity Commission on 26 June 2009.

5.1 Structure

Circuits are the coordinating charities for local groups of Churches and they pay the stipends of the ministers and employ lay staff to serve the Churches in the Circuit. Most decisions are made at, or ratified by, the regular Circuit Meetings. A District is the coordinating charity for a group of contiguous Circuits and makes its decisions at the half yearly synods. The Methodist Conference meets once each year as the supreme denominational body for all Methodist Churches.

1. Overall regulatory authority rests with the Methodist Conference.

2. The connexional offices implement decisions made by Conference and are also responsible for the stationing of presbyters and deacons (collectively known as ministers) in individual Circuits within the District.

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

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

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

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

5.2 Purpose of the District

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

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

• a. the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church

• b. any charitable purposes for the time being of any connexional, District, Circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church

• c. any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church

• d. any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary of the Methodist Church.

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

• providing opportunities for Circuits to work together and support each other

• offering to Circuits resources of finance, personnel and expertise.

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 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SF to provide guidance on changes that could affect the District.

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

The District Executive normally meets 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.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT

Year ended 31 August 2023

5.4 Responsibilities of the District Executive (DPC)

• i to formulate and promote policies which will advance the mission of the Church in the Circuits and Local Churches and to supervise the use of resources of personnel, property and finance and to assist Local Churches and Circuits having exceptional problems

• ii to encourage inter-Circuit and ecumenical co-operation

• iii to act in an executive capacity in matters remitted to the Committee by the Synod

• iv to keep within its purview all District concerns not dealt with elsewhere

• v to contribute and respond to the development of Connexional policies as reflected in the work of the Conference and the Methodist Council, and to carry out its other responsibilities with any such development in mind

• vi to be aware that the stipend of the Chair of the District is set – currently by reference to the change over a year in the Consumer Price Index and to the annual change in the Average Weekly Earnings Index – using a formula that was agreed by the Methodist Conference for all ministers within the Connexion

• vii constantly to be aware of the public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission

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: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]

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

6.4 Chair of the District

Revd. Canon Helen Cameron

6.5 Secretary of the Synod

Revd. Alan Bolton (Presbyteral) Mr Paul Spray (Representative)

6.6 District Treasurer

Mr Andrew Lewis

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

6.7 Names of trustees

The following served as trustees during the year 2022-23 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 to 31 October 2023 (Secretary) Mr Andrew Lewis (Treasurer) Mr Chris Linford (Property Secretary) Mr Matthew Forsyth (District Mission Enabler) Revd. David Alderman from (Deputy Chair) Dr. Hellen Okello (Methodist Council Representative) Mr Derek Beaumont (to 19 December 2022) Revd. Andrew Farrington to 22 April 2023 (Ecumenical Officer) and from 21 August 2023 Ms Janet Hinds Mr Paul Spray (Representative Synod Secretary) Revd. Miriam Moul Mr Philip Jones Revd. Sara Cliff Revd. Langley Mackrell-Hey Revd. David Speirs Revd. Kate Strange (Deputy Chair) Revd. Andrew Hollins from 22 April 2023 (Ecumenical Officer) Mrs Jennifer Oliver from 09 September 2023 (Secretary)

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

6.8 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

6.9 Investment managers and custodian trustees

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

6.10 Independent Examiner

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

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

Approvals

The Trustees’ Report and the Financial Statements were approved by the District Executive Committee on 16 April 2024.

Signed on behalf of the District Executive Committee

Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron District Chair Date: 16 April 2024

Andrew Lewis District Treasurer Date: 16 April 2024

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 16 April 2024.

Signed:

Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron District Chair

Andrew Lewis District Treasurer

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

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 on 31 August 2023, 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:

• the collection of quarterly assessments from circuits which are paid to the Methodist Church Fund (MCF).

• the payment of expenses of delegates from the District to the Methodist Conference.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

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 Finance and 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 manse (291 Billing Road East) was sold during the year for £522,000 and a replacement (289 Billing Road East) was purchased for the sum of £525,000. It is shown in the accounts at £525,000 and the land component is deemed to be £110,000. No depreciation is provided on the building because the trustees consider the current residual fair value of the manse buildings 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.

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.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

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	West Oxfordshire	5	Banbury
6	Buckingham, Bicester & Brackley	7	Leicester Trinity
9	Leicester West	10	Loughborough
11	Hinckley	12	Melton Mowbray
13	Northampton	14	East Mercia
15	Stamford	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 £704,602 (2021-22: £707,922) 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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Year ended 31 August 2023

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT

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.

	2022-23	2021-22
	£	£
Stipend of Chair of District, Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron	33,630	31,905
Employer’s National Insurance contributions	3,442	3,211
Employer’s pension contributions	7,244	6,866
Computers for Ministry	176	169
Chair’s expenses (including travel costs)	2,312	1,576
Housing Costs (Insurance, Water and Council Tax)	3,294	3,136
Total	50,128	46,863
Stipend cost paid by the Connexion (see SOFA, line 6)	44,522	42,151
Total Cost to District	5,606	4,711

Since the stipend-related costs above (£44,522) 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)

All costs of his employment in 2022-23 were met by the District as follows:

		2022-23
		£
Salary of DME, Mr. Matthew Forsyth		45,864
Employer’s National Insurance contributions		5,151
Employer’s pension contributions		2,752
Other Payroll costs including Apprenticeship Levy		354
	Total	54,121
DME’s travel expenses		4,280
DME’s Office equipment		361
DME’s other expenses		691
Total Cost		59,453

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

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 £346,930 were paid from the District Advance Fund during the year (2021-22: £258,292). £252,958 was paid in grants to churches and circuits in the District and £93,972 was transferred to the General Fund as shown in the tables below.

Transfers from District Advance Fund	2022-23
	£
To District General Fund for the DME	57,500
To District General Fund for Ecumenical Sponsorship	8,472
Total transferred to District General Fund	65,972
Grants paid from DAF	2022-23
	£
Mission and Ministry Grants	209,172
Property Grants	128,498
Start-Up Grants	9,260
Total Paid	346,930
Less Transfers to District General Fund	-65,972
Less Grants committed at 31.08.22	-474,389
Total to SOFA– Line 9	-193,431
Grants to be paid during 2023-24	£
Mission and Ministry Grants	247,655
Property Grants	163,502
Total to be paid	411,157
Less Grants committed at 31.08.22	170,750
Total to SOFA– Line 9a	240,407
Grants to be paid after 2023-24	£
Mission and Ministry Grants	667,850
Less Grants committed at 31.08.22	448,900
Total to SOFA– Line 9b	218,950

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT

Year ended 31 August 2023

Details of the recipients of grants paid by the District during the year may be found on the District website: https://www.northamptonmethodistdistrict.org.uk/lib/daf-report-2022-23-F793350.pdf

Funds held for District Projects

	Description	Balance at 01.09.22	Balance at 31.08.23	Increase
		£	£	£
	General Fund
	Extending Discipleship Exploring Vocation (EDEV)	1,374	1,374	0
	Training Officer / Development Enabler	6,876	6,876	0
	Together Mission	3,047	3,047	0
	Manse Improvement Project	-3,199	0	3,199
	Totals – General Fund	8,098	11,297	3,199
	Designated and Restricted Funds
	NPNP–FEAST	28,000	26,457	-1,543
	Overstone Chaplaincy	27,179	-3,958	-31,137
	MAPJ Funding for Grants (Restricted)	0	14,604	14,604
	Methodist Women in Britain (Restricted)	438	438	0
	Totals– Designated and Restricted Funds	55,618	37,541	-18,076

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 eight part time employees as follows:

rt time employees as follows:
	2022-23
	£
Gross pay	126,339
Employer’s National Insurance contributions	7,298
Employer’s pension contributions to defined contribution schemes	28,325
Miscellaneous Payroll Costs including the Apprenticeship Levy	1,068
Total costs of 9 staff	163,030
Cost of District Mission Enabler (see Note 3)	53,766
Miscellaneous Payroll Costs including the Apprenticeship Levy	354
Total (excluding the Chair)	217,151
Cost of Chair (see Note 3)	50,128
Total staff costs	267,279

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 2023

Three of the eight part-time employees were engaged exclusively in safeguarding matters, four 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
	2022-23	2021-22
	£	£
Chair’s manse	0	369
Total	0	369

8 Office expenses (General fund)

	2022-23	2021-22
	£	£
Printing, postage and stationery	995	1,438
Telephone	1,599	1,560
Bouverie Court	8,640	8,640
Secretarial Assistance	3,583	5,956
Office Equipment	673	3,207
Total charged to General Fund	15,489	20,801
TMCP Charges	3,239	2,903
Contribution to Overstone Office	160	0
Total	18,889	23,704

9 Synods, Committees, Conference

	2022-23	2021-22
	£	£
Synods	843	2,688
Committees	3026	1,671
Total	3,870	4,359

18

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

10 Training

	2022-23	2021-22
	£	£
Further Ministerial Training	7,102	5,847
Education and Youth	1,146	1,000
Other Training	0	254
Total	8,248	7,101

11 Professional Fees

Professional Fees
	£
Bank Fees	60
Independent Examination of Accounts	288
Total	348

12 Other outgoings

Other outgoings
	£
Safeguarding Costs (excl. Salaries)	6,364
Ministers’ meetings (including Superintendents, new	9,377
ministers and District Retreat)
DME Expenses (see Note 3)	5,332
HR Costs (excl. Salaries)	198
Ecumenical Subscriptions	8,472
Total from General Fund	29,743
Cost of purchasing replacement manse	532,038
Manse proceeds after deduction of costs	516,936
Total from District Advance Fund	15,092
Payment to Nene Valley Circuit for Rev’d. Kim Shorley	21,600
Housing for Rev’d. Kim Shorley	11,931
Expenses for FEAST and Overstone	1,777
Total from Designated Funds	35,308

13 Transfers between funds

The following transfers between funds were made during 2022-23.

	General Fund	DAF	Designated Funds	Restricted Funds
	£	£	£	£
FEAST			28,000	(28,000)
Overstone Chaplain (not restricted)			27,179	(27,179)
Ministerial Training (not restricted)	2,500			(2,500)
District Mission Enabler	57,500	(57,500)
Ecumenical Subscriptions	8,472	(8,472)
Manse Maintenance	(5,000)		5,000
Totals	63,472	(65,972)	60,179	(57679)

19

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

14 Manse and other property

In November 2022, the District Chair’s manse at 291 Billing Road East was sold for £522,000 and replaced by the adjacent property, 289 Billing Road East. The purchase price of No. 289 was £525,000.

	Land	Buildings	Others	Total
	£	£	£	£
Cost or valuation
Balance brought forward at 1 September 2022	110,000	412,000	0	522,000
Sale of 291 Billing Road East	(110,000)	(412,000)	0	(522,000)
Purchase of 289 Billing Road East	110,000	415,000	0	525,000
Transfers between categories	0	0	0	0
Balance carried forward at 31 August 2023	110,000	415,000	0	525,000

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

7 Debtors and prepayments
Prepayments	2022-23	2021-22
	£	£
Action Centres UK-Synod Deposit	0	287
Chesford Grange–Supers’Conf.–October 2023	982	0
Launde Abbey–Probationers’Retreat–February 2024	2,530	0
Chairs’Retreat 2024	120	0
Benevolence Fund Payment	300	0
Total	3,932	287

20

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

18 Creditors and accrued expenses

Creditors and accrued expenses
Creditors	2022-23	2021-22
	£	£
Expenses reimbursement	980	693
Training Course Expenses	571	0
Printing	12	0
Deposits for Probationers’Retreat–February 2024	5,783	0
Leaving Collection–to be forwarded	100	0
Total	7,447	946

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 £559,971 on 31 August 2023

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. £525,000 of this fund (94%) is held as freehold property (the manse for the Chair of District).

20.2 Designated Funds – balance £60,863 on 31 August 2023

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

• The Manse Fund – balance £29,392 (2022: £23,554) is available to meet the costs of maintenance and improvements in the accommodation at the District manse.

• The Training Fund – balance £6,848 (2022: £7,589).

• The Education and Youth Fund – balance £2,124 (2022: £2,837).

• NPNP (FEAST) (see note 5) – balance £26,457.

• Overstone Chaplaincy (see note 5) – balance -£3,958.

21 Restricted Funds - balance £34,464 on 31 August 2023

• The Local Preachers’ Fund – balance £12,246 (2022: £11,835)

• The Ministerial Training Fund – balance £4,971 (2022: £8,200)

• The Benevolence Fund – balance £2,204 (2022: £2,167)

• • Methodist Women in Britain – balance £438 (2022: £438)
• • Funds from the Connexion for MAPJ Grants £14,604.

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

accounts.

21

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2023

22 Summary of Fund General Fund District Advance Fund Manse (Designated) Training (Designated) Education and Youth (Designated) FEAST (NPNP) (Designated) *Overstone Chaplain (Designated) Total designated Local Preachers Fund (Restricted) Ministerial Training Fund (Restricted) Benevolence Fund (Restricted) *Overstone Chaplain FEAST (NPNP) Methodist Women in Britain (Restricted) MAPJ Total restricted Total Funds	movements on significant individual funds Balance at 01.09.22 Income Expen- diture Trans- fers Gains/ Losses Balance at 31.08.23 £ £ £ £ £ £ 591,517 164,441 262,458 63,472 3,000 559,971 42,544 361,187 284,257 -65,972 53,502
	23,554 838 5,000 29,392 7,589 260 1,000 6,848 2,837 96 810 2,124 33,000 34,543 28,000 26,457 31,137 27,179 -3,958
	33,980 34,194 67,491 60,179 60,863
	11,835 411 12,246 8,200 271 1,000 -2,500 4,971 2,167 537 500 2,204 27,179 -27,179 0 28,000 -28,000 0 438 438 0 14,604 14,604
	77,819 15,823 1,500 -57,679 34,464 745,860 575,645 615,706 0 3,000 708,799

Note 1. The Overstone Chaplain project was initially funded by external grants that were restricted. The project is now being funded from the District Advance Fund and therefore, the funds are not restricted. The funds have been transferred from Restricted to Designated. *Note 2. The FEAST project was initially funded by an external grant that was restricted. The project is now being funded by a combination of District funds and an external grant and therefore, the funds are not restricted. The funds have been transferred from Restricted to Designated.

23 Connected organisations and related parties

Connected organisations include the Methodist Connexion, other Methodist Districts in Great 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 nineteen 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 2023

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 31.08.23.

A C Lewis District Treasurer April 2024

23

Name of District: Northampton

District No. 23

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2023

Notes to the accounts 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 2023-24 5 9b Grants and donations after 2023-24 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) - Manse 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 2022-23 £ £ £ £ £ 453 453 163,754 163,754 4,181 39,704 1,194 766 45,845 148,963 148,963 157,729 157,729 50,128 50,128 0 0 11,297 33,000 14,604 58,901 214,569 361,187 34,194 15,823 0 625,773
	-193,431 1,810 1,500 -190,121 11,297 240,407 251,704 218,950 218,950 187,858 29,293 217,151 55,734 55,734 0 15,489 3,239 160 18,889 3,870 3,870 8,248 920 9,168 348 348 29,743 15,092 35,308 80,142 312,586 284,257 67,491 1,500 0 665,834
	-98,018 76,930 -33,297 14,323 0 -40,061 0 -98,018 76,930 -33,297 14,323 0 -40,061 63,472 -65,972 60,179 -57,679 0 3,000 3,000 -31,546 10,958 26,883 -43,356 0 -37,061
	591,517 42,544 33,980 77,819 745,860 559,971 53,502 60,863 34,464 0 708,799

Name of District: Northampton

District No. 23

Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2023

Fixed Assets	Notes to the Accounts	General Fund (Unrestricted) £	District Advance Fund (Unrestricted) £	Designated Funds (Unrestricted) £	Restricted Funds £	Endowment Funds £	Total 2022-23 £	Total 2022-23 £	Totals 2021/22 £
Tangible fixed assets	14	525,000					525,000		522,000
Investmentproperties						0			0
Investments							0		0
Total fixed assets		525,000	0	0	0	0	525,000		522,000
Current Assets
Debtors	17	3,932					3,932		287
Loans bythe District							0		0
Investments with TMCP			1,132,509				1,132,509		1,136,583
Central Finance Board Deposits		44,034		60,863	34,464		139,361		180,635
Cash at Bank and in hand		5,749					5,749		9,438
Total current assets		53,715	1,132,509	60,863	34,464	0	1,281,550		1,326,943
Current liabilities
Creditors(due in under 1year)	18	7,447					7,447		946
Grantspayable in 2023-24	5	11,297	411,157				422,454		482,487
Total current liabilities		18,744	411,157	0	0	0	429,901		483,433
Net current assets/liabilities		34,971	721,352	60,863	34,464	0	851,649		843,510
Total assets less current liabilities		559,971	721,352	60,863	34,464	0	1,376,649		1,365,510
			667,850 667,850 0 0 53,502 60,863 34,464 0 708,799 559,971 53,502 53,502 60,863 60,863 674,336 34,464 34,464 0 0 53,502 60,863 34,464 0 708,799
Long term liabilities (due after more than oneyear)
Grantspayable after 2023-24			667,850				667,850		619,650
Loans to the District							0		0
							0		0
Net assets		559,971	53,502	60,863	34,464	0	708,799		745,860
Funds of the District
General Fund(Unrestricted)		559,971			34,464		559,971		591,517
District Advance Fund (Unrestricted)			53,502				53,502		42,544
Designated Funds(Unrestricted)				60,863			60,863		33,980
Total Unrestricted Funds							674,336		668,041
Restricted Funds					34,464		34,464		77,819
Endowment Funds						0	0		0
Total Funds		559,971	53,502	60,863	34,464	0	708,799		745,860

Signed

District Treasurer

Name of District: Northampton

District No.23

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

Notes to the account s 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 2022-23 5 9b Grants and donations after 2022-23 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) - Manse 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 2021-22 £ £ £ £ £ 248 248 98,242 98,242 575 5,800 112 93 6,579 139,750 139,750 275,969 275,969 42,151 42,151 0 0 14,189 38,438 52,627 182,476 394,199 112 38,779 0 615,566
	-67,630 179 -67,451 10,742 350,189 360,931 335,650 335,650 159,641 28,137 187,778 46,863 46,863 369 369 20,801 2,903 23,704 4,359 4,359 7,101 240 7,341 333 333 23,358 15,000 3,285 41,644 273,567 636,112 0 31,841 0 941,520
	-91,091 -241,913 112 6,938 0 -325,954 0 -91,091 -241,913 112 6,938 0 -325,954 59,611 -66,022 8,410 -2,000 0 62,000 62,000 30,520 -307,934 8,522 4,938 0 -263,954 560,997 350,478 25,458 72,882 0 1,009,814 591,517 42,544 33,980 77,819 0 745,860

Name of District: Northampton Methodist District No. 23 Declarations and Scrutiny I confinn that these accruals-based a¢xounls for the year to 31 August 2023 have been prepared from the records of the District and that they include all funds under the control of the District Policy Committee. Signature of treasurer Date Q7 Name and address of treasurer Andrew Lewis, "Cassiopoia", 3 Kings Lane. Yelvertoft. Northamptonshire Post Code: NN6 6LX Presentstlon to the DIBtrlct Pollcy Commlttoo I confirni that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 Augusl 2023 will be pr6sent8d to the District Policy Committee held on 16th April 2024 Signature of the Chair of the meeting: 4lkkn J Cwjd Name of the Chair of the meeting: Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron Date.. 16th April 2024 Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of the Northampton Dlstrlct Charlty Numbor 1130373 Responslbllltles and basls of rnport I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the NORTHAMPTON METHODIST District for the year ended 31 August 2023 set on pages ... to . As the District's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Acf). I report in respect of my examination of the District's ac￿Unts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under secb'on 145(5){b) of the Act. delete or cirde as appropriate

Name of District: Northampton Methodist District No. 23 Indepgndont Examln•rfs Statèment rrhe District's gross income exceeded £250.000 and l am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of (insert name of applicable listed body)]. Delete [ ] if not applicable. I have completed my examination. I confinn thal no material matters have com8 to my atten￿￿ in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below.) which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulab'ons 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 8xamination Delete rfnot applicable ie all R&P accounts the trustees, annual report is not consistent with the accounts Delete if not applicable ie all R&P accounts. I have no 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 havelkntrrt obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusis, 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 ind8pend8nt examiner Name of independent examiner. D.J. Briscoe Relevant professional qualffication of independent examiner. ACMA Name of fimi.. AIMS Accountants for Business Address ". 11 De Montfort Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire Post Code . LE10 1 LQ Date delete or circle as appropriate