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← Northampton Methodist District

2024-08-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statement

Year Ending 31[st] August 2024

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2024

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:

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2024

3 Financial review

During the year, the District received total income of £928k (2022-23: £626k) and dispersed £1,019k (2022-23: £666k).

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:

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 31.08.24 are £27,455 (£34,971 at 31.08.23). This is more the sum required by our Reserves Policy (£20,000).

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2024

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 552,455
District Advance Fund -25,814
526,641
Designated funds
Manse Fund 17,919
Training Fund 7,207
Education and Youth 10,063
FEAST 21,359
Overstone Chaplain -3,862
Digital Enabler 4,274
56,960
Total unrestricted funds (including designated) 583,602
Restricted funds
Local Preachers Fund 12,888
Ministerial Training Fund 5,231
Benevolence Fund 834
Methodist Women in Britain 668
MAPJ Grant 14,544
34,164
Total Funds 617,766
Total designated and unrestricted funds 583,602
Less invested in the manse -525,000
Uncommitted reserves 58,602

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 £198,907 (2022-23: £148,963).

Each year the District is allocated a sum by the London Mission Fund (LMF). In 2023-24 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 2023-24 this sum was £160,323 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 2024

4 Trustees’ responsibilities

For each financial year ending on 31 August the Trustees are required to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view of the District’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees must:

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

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

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

4.1 Risk

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

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

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

5 Structure, governance and management

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

5.1 Structure

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

  1. Overall regulatory authority rests with the Methodist Conference.

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

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT

Year ended 31 August 2024

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

  2. 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.

  3. 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 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 Team, authorisations to preside at communion and extensions to local preacher training.

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT

Year ended 31 August 2024

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. Dr. Sonia Hicks

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 2024

6.7 Names of trustees

The following served as trustees during the year 2023-24 or were trustees at the time of this report being approved:

Revd. Canon Helen Cameron (Chair) to 10 June 2024 Revd. Dr. Sonia Hicks (Chair) from 03 August 2024 Revd. Alan Bolton (Presbyteral Synod Secretary) Revd. Lesley Dinham to 31 October 2023 (Secretary) Mr Andrew Lewis (Treasurer & Grants Officer) Mr Chris Linford (Property Secretary) Mr Matthew Forsyth (District Mission Enabler) Revd. David Alderman (Deputy Chair) Dr. Hellen Okello Revd. Andrew Farrington Ms Janet Hinds Mr Paul Spray (Representative Synod Secretary) Revd. Miriam Moul to 31 July 2024 Mr Philip Jones to 31 July 2024 Revd. Sara Cliff Revd. Langley Mackrell-Hey Revd. David Speirs Revd. Kate Strange (Deputy Chair) to 31 July 2024 Revd. Andrew Hollins (Ecumenical Officer) to 26 April 2024 Mrs Jennifer Oliver from 09 September 2023 (Secretary) Rev’d Ian Suttie (Ecumenical Officer) from 27 April 2024 Rev’d Edson Dube from 20 August 2024

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 Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church 25 Kings Hill Avenue 9 Bonhill Street Kings Hill London West Malling EC2A 4PE Kent ME19 4JQ

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 2024

Approvals

The Trustees’ Report and the Financial Statements were approved by the District Executive Committee on 12 June 2025.

Signed on behalf of the District Executive Committee

Revd. Dr Sonia Hicks District Chair Date: 12 June 2025

Andrew Lewis District Treasurer Date: 12 June 2025

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2024

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2024

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 12 June 2025.

Signed:

Revd. Dr. Sonia Hicks District Chair

Andrew Lewis District Treasurer

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2024

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 2024, 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 the cost of the District Chair 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 2024

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 (289 Billing Road East) 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 2024

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.

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 £768,016 (2022-23: £704,602) 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 2024

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.

£
Stipend of Chair of District, Revd. Canon Helen D. Cameron 31,020
District Chair Allowance 7,755
Employer’s National Insurance contributions 4,096
Employer’s pension contributions 6,204
Chair’s expenses (including travel costs) 7,502
Housing Costs (Insurance, Water and Council Tax) 3,650
Total 60,227
Stipend cost paid by the Connexion (see SOFA, line 6) 49,075
Total Cost to District 11,152

Since the stipend-related costs above (£49,075) 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 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 2023-24 were met by the District as follows:

2023-24 2022-23
£ £
Salary of DME, Mr. Matthew Forsyth 49,458 45,864
Employer’s National Insurance contributions 5,570 5,151
Employer’s pension contributions 2,967 2,752
Other Payroll costs including Apprenticeship Levy 337 354
Total 58,332 54,121
DME’s travel expenses 4,638 4,280
DME’s Office equipment 442 361
DME’s other expenses 651 691
Total Cost 64,063 59,453

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2024

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 £420,455 were paid from the District Advance Fund during the year (2022-23: £346,930). £286,278 was paid in grants to churches and circuits in the District and £134,177 was transferred to the General Fund as shown in the tables below.

Transfers from District Advance Fund 2023-24
£
To District General Fund for the DME 60,000
To District General Fund for Ecumenical Sponsorship 8,661
To District General Fund for Circuit Assessments 18,016
To District General Fund for Safeguarding 47,500
To District General Fund for FEAST 56,000
To District General Fund for the Overstone Chaplain 35,000
To District General Fund for the Digital Enabler 30,000
To District General Fund for Education & Youth Work 8,750
Total transferred to District General Fund 263,927
Grants paid from DAF 2023-24
£
Mission and Ministry Grants 295,887
Property Grants 107,168
Start-Up Grants 17,400
Total Paid 420,455
Less Transfers to District General Fund -263,927
Less Grants committed at 31.08.23 -411,157
Total to SOFA– Line 9 -254,629
Grants to be paid during 2024-25 £
Mission and Ministry Grants 365,972
Property Grants 70,600
Total to be paid 436,572
Less Grants committed at 31.08.23 214,700
Total to SOFA – Line 9a 221,872

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT
Year ended 31 August 2024
Grants to be paid after 2024-25 £
Mission and Ministry Grants 945,932
Less Grants committed at 31.08.23 453,150
Total to SOFA– Line 9b 492,782

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-2023-24-F895410.pdf

Funds held for District Projects

Description Balance
at
01.09.23		 Balance
at
31.08.24		 Increase
Decrease
£ £ £
General Fund
ExtendingDiscipleshipExploringVocation(EDEV) 1,374 1,374 0
Training Officer / Development Enabler 6,876 6,376 -500
Together Mission 3,047 0 -3,047
Totals – General Fund 11,297 7,750 -3,547
Designated and Restricted Funds
NPNP–FEAST 26,457 21,359 -5,098
Overstone Chaplaincy -3,958 -3,862 96
Digital Enabler 0 4,274 4,274
MAPJ Funding for Grants (Restricted) 14,604 14,544 -60
MethodistWomen in Britain(Restricted) 438 668 230
Totals– Designated and Restricted Funds 37,541 36,983 -558

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 three full time and eight part time employees. Of these employees, three left and were replaced during the year and an additional full-time employee was recruited. Their total costs were as follows:

2023-24
£
Gross pay 138,385
Employer’s National Insurance contributions 11,833
Employer’s pension contributions to defined contribution schemes 31,130
Miscellaneous Payroll Costs including the Apprenticeship Levy 1,052
Total costs of 11 staff 182,401
Cost of District Mission Enabler (see Note 3) 57,995
Miscellaneous DME Payroll Costs including the Apprenticeship Levy 337
Total (excluding the Chair) 240,732
Cost of Chair (see Note 3) 49,075
Total staff costs 289,807

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2024

All lay employees are paid at or above the real living wage.

The lay employees provided services for safeguarding, administration, Human Resources, Mission and one 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
2023-24 2022-23
£ £
Chair’s manse 18,998 0
Total 18,998 0

8 Office expenses (General fund)

2023-24 2022-23
£ £
Printing, postage and stationery 1,935 995
Telephone 2,042 1,599
Bouverie Court 8,640 8,640
Office staff costs (excluding salaries) 3,465 3,583
Office Equipment 1,870 673
Total charged to General Fund 17,952 15,489
TMCP Charges 3,228 3,239
Overstone Office 1,222 160
Total 22,402 18,889

9 Synods, Committees, Conference

2023-24 2022-23
£ £
Synods 1,727 843
Committees 4,501 3026
Total 6,228 3,870

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2024

10 Training

2023-24 2022-23
£ £
Further Ministerial Training 7,470 7,102
Education and Youth 0 1,146
Other Training 912 0
Total 8,382 8,248

11 Professional Fees

11 Professional Fees
£
Bank Fees 60
Independent Examination of Accounts 288
Total 348
12 Other outgoings
£
Safeguarding Costs (excl. Salaries) 8,059
Ministers’ meetings (including Superintendents, new 6,016
ministers and District Retreat)
DME Expenses (see Note 3) 5,731
Co-Chairs 5,000
Ecumenical Subscriptions 8,661
MCF Assessment 18,016
Total from General Fund 51,483

13 Transfers between funds

The following transfers between funds were made during 2023-24.

General
Fund		 Designated
Funds		 DAF
£ £ £
District Mission Enabler 60,000 (60,000)
Ecumenical Subscriptions 8,661 (8,661)
To General Fund for MCF Assessment 18,016 (18,016)
To General Fund for Safeguarding Costs 47,500 (47,500)
FEAST 56,000 (56,000)
Overstone Chaplain 35,000 (35,000)
Digital Enabler 30,000 (30,000)
Education & Youth 8,750 (8,750)
Manse Repair Fund 12,998 -12,998
Totals 147,175 116,752 (263,927)

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NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2024

14 Manse and other property

The District Chair’s manse at 289 Billing Road East.

Land Buildings Others Total
£ £ £ £
Cost or valuation
Balance brought forward at
1 September 2023		 110,000 415,000 0 525,000
Balance carried forward at
31 August 2024		 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 2023-24 2022-23
£ £
Chesford Grange–Supers’Conf.–October 2023 0 982
Launde Abbey–Probationers’Retreat–February 2024 0 2,530
Chairs’Retreat 2024 0 120
Benevolence Fund Payment 0 300
Ministerial Stipend (incl. Pension and NIC) 3,367 0
Total 3,367 3,932

20

NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2024

18 Creditors and accrued expenses

Creditors and accrued expenses
Creditors 2023-24 2022-23
£ £
Expenses reimbursement 3,118 980
Training Course Expenses 0 571
Printing 0 12
Deposits for Probationers’Retreat–February 2024 0 5,783
Leaving Collection–to be forwarded 0 100
Youth Event 665 0
Telephone Costs 113 0
Office Maintenance (IT Recycling) 93 0
Supervision Sessions 60 0
Total 4,049 7,447

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 £552,445 on 31 August 2024

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 is held as freehold property (the manse for the Chair of District).

20.2 Designated Funds – balance £56,960 on 31 August 2024

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

*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 2024

21 Restricted Funds - balance £34,164 on 31 August 2024

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

22 Summary of movements on significant individual funds

Fund
General Fund
District Advance Fund
Manse (Designated)
Training (Designated)
Education and Youth
(Designated)
FEAST (NPNP) (Designated)
Overstone Chaplain
(Designated)
Digital Enabler (Designated)
Total designated
Local Preachers Fund
(Restricted)
Ministerial Training Fund
(Restricted)
Benevolence Fund
(Restricted)
Methodist Women in Britain
(Restricted)
MAPJ - Grants
Total restricted
Total Funds		 Balance
at
01.09.23
Income
Expen-
diture
Trans-
fers
Gains/
Losses
Balance
at
31.08.24
£
£
£
£
£
£
559,971
259,074
413,766
147,175
552,455
53,502
647,864
463,252
-263,927
-25,814
29,392
1,526
-12,998
17,919
6,848
359
7,207
2,124
510
1,320
8,750
10,063
26,457
61,098
56,000
21,359
-3,958
34,903
35,000
-3,862
0
2,097
27,823
30,000
4,274
60,863
4,491
125,145
-116,752
56,960
12,246
641
12,888
4,971
260
5,231
2,204
347
1,717
834
438
374
145
668
14,604
15,390
15,450
14,544
34,464
17,013
17,312
0
34,164
708,799
1,058,192
1,149,226
0
617,766

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 2024

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 31.08.24.

A C Lewis District Treasurer May 2025

23

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2024

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 2024-25
5
9b Grants and donations after 2024-25
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)
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
2023-24
£
£
£
£
£
250
250
397,292
397,292
5,337
73,966
2,394
999
82,696
198,907
198,907
160,323
160,323
49,075
49,075
0
0
5,755
16,284
2,097
15,764
39,900
259,074
647,864
4,491
17,013
0
928,442
1,665
-254,629
1,320
15,450
-236,194
7,750
221,872
229,622
492,782
492,782
240,732
113,764
354,496
60,227
60,227
18,998
18,998
17,952
3,228
1,222
22,402
6,228
6,228
8,382
2,000
10,382
348
348
51,483
6,839
1,862
60,184
413,766
463,252
125,145
17,312
0
1,019,475
-154,692
184,612
-120,654
-299
0
-91,033
0
-154,692
184,612
-120,654
-299
0
-91,033
147,175
-263,927
116,752
0
0
-7,516
-79,315
-3,902
-299
0
-91,033
559,971
53,502
60,863
34,464
0
708,799
552,455
-25,814
56,960
34,164
0
617,766

Name of District: Northampton

District No. 23

Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2024

Fixed Assets Notes to the
Accounts
General Fund
(Unrestricted)
£		 District
Advance
Fund
(Unrestricted)
£		 Designated
Funds
(Unrestricted)
£		 Restricted
Funds
£		 Endowment
Funds
£		 Total
2023-24
£		 Total
2023-24
£		 Total
2022-23
£
Tangible fixed assets 14 525,000 525,000 525,000
Investmentproperties 0 0
Investments 0 0
Total fixed assets 525,000 0 0 0 0 525,000 525,000
Current Assets
Debtors 17 3,367 3,367 3,932
Loans bythe District 405,000 405,000 0
Investments with TMCP 951,690 951,690 1,132,509
Central Finance Board Deposits 22 33,928 53,724 34,164 121,816 139,361
Cash at Bank and in hand 5,195 5,195 5,749
Total current assets 39,123 1,356,690 57,091 34,164 0 1,487,069 1,281,550
Current liabilities
Creditors(due in under 1year) 18 3,918 130 4,049 7,447
Grantspayable in 2024-25 5 7,750 436,572 444,322 422,454
Total current liabilities 11,668 436,572 130 0 0 448,371 429,901
Net current assets/liabilities 27,455 920,118 56,960 34,164 0 1,038,698 851,649
Total assets less current liabilities 552,455 920,118 56,960 34,164 0 1,563,698 1,376,649
945,932
945,932
0
0
-25,814
56,960
34,164
0
617,766
552,455
-25,814
-25,814
56,960
56,960
583,602
34,164
34,164
0
0
-25,814
56,960
34,164
0
617,766
Long term liabilities
(due after more than oneyear)
Grantspayable after 2024-25 945,932 945,932 667,850
Loans to the District 0 0
0 0
Net assets 552,455 -25,814 56,960 34,164 0 617,766 708,799
Funds of the District
General Fund(Unrestricted) 552,455 34,164 552,455 559,971
District Advance Fund(Unrestricted) -25,814 -25,814 53,502
Designated Funds(Unrestricted) 56,960 56,960 60,863
Total Unrestricted Funds 583,602 674,336
Restricted Funds 34,164 34,164 34,464
Endowment Funds 0 0 0
Total Funds 552,455 -25,814 56,960 34,164 0 617,766 708,799

Name of District: Northampton

District No. 23

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

District Designated
Notes to Advance Funds
the General Fund Fund (unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total
accounts
(Unrestricted)		 (Unrestricted)
)		 Funds Funds 2022-23
£ £ £ £ £
Income from
1 Donations and legacies 453 453
2 Connexional Advance & Property Fund 163,754 163,754
3 Income from investments 4,181 39,704 1,194 766 45,845
Income from charitable activities
4 Assessments on circuits 148,963 148,963
5 From Circuit Model Trust Funds 157,729 157,729
6 Contribution to the cost of the Chair 50,128 50,128
7 Other charitable activities 0
8 Income from other trading activities 0
9 Other income 11,297 33,000 14,604 58,901
Total income 214,569 361,187 34,194 15,823 0 625,773
Expenditure
9 Grants and donations -193,431 1,810 1,500 -190,121
9a Grants and donations in 2023-24 11,297 240,407 251,704
9b Grants and donations after 2023-24 218,950 218,950
10 Salaries and associated costs 187,858 29,293 217,151
11 Cost of the Chair 55,734 55,734
12 Property Maintenance 0
13 Office expenses 15,489 3,239 160 18,889
14 Synods, committees, Conference 3,870 3,870
15 Training 8,248 920 9,168
16 Professional fees 348 348
17 Other outgoings 29,743 15,092 35,308 80,142
Total expenditure 312,586 284,257 67,491 1,500 0 665,834
Net income/(expenditure) before
gains and losses on investments -98,018 76,930 -33,297 14,323 0 -40,061
18 Net gains/(losses) on investments 0
Net income/(expenditure) -98,018 76,930 -33,297 14,323 0 -40,061
19 Transfers between funds 63,472 -65,972 60,179 -57,679 0
20 Other gains/(losses) 3,000 3,000
Net movement in funds -31,546 10,958 26,883 -43,356 0 -37,061
Total funds brought forward 591,517 42,544 33,980 77,819 745,860
Total funds carried forward 559,971 53,502 60,863 34,464 0 708,799

Name of District: Northampton Methodist District No. 23 Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that these accruals-based accounts for the year to 31 August 2024 have been prepared from the records of the District and that th y include all funds under the control of the District Policy Committee. Signature of treasurer: Date: 13th May 2025 Name and address of treasurer . Andrew L "Cassiopeia. 3 Kings Lane, Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire Post Code: NN6 6LX Presentatlon to the Dlstrlct Pollcy Commlttee I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 were presented to the District Policy Committee held on 12th June 2025 Signature of the Chair of the meets'ng: Name of the Chair of the meeting: Rev'd. Dr. Sonia Hicks Date: 12th June 2025 Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Northarnpton District Charity Number 1130373 Responslbllltles and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Northampton District for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out 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 Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the District's accounts 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 section 145(5)(b) of the Act. delete or circle as appropriate

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