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2025-08-31-accounts

Cockerton Methodist Church, Darlington Registered No: 1132763

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNT Year Ended 31/08/2025

Address: Cockerton Green, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 9EG Phone: Circuit Office: 01325 96701

Independent Examiner: Jan Sams

Public benefit:

Cockerton Methodist Church has a seven-day a week Christian ministry to the West and North West Darlington neighbourhoods. The premises are used intensively for a wide range of activities with all ages. All activities are open to the whole community.

Overview of the year:

The Leadership team alongside the Presbyter oversee the ongoing needs of the church and continue to serve the members, Friends of the Church and the local community of Cockerton.

Structures:

Cockerton Methodist Church is part of Darlington and Teesdale Methodist Circuit, which includes Town and Rural churches in the Darlington and Teesdale area plus Fellowship groups. It is governed by a Church Council meeting three times per year, and there is also an Annual General Church Meeting at which others may attend. Representatives of our Church Council also attend the Circuit Meetings which convene three times per year.

Detailed work on property and finance is carried out by the relevant committees which report to the Church Council. The day-to-day running of the church is through the regular Stewards/Leadership Team meetings which reports to the Church Council.

This is the established pattern set out in the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church, approved by the annual Methodist Conference, under the Deed of Union, 1932.

Trustees of the registered charity from the date of registration to 31[st] August 2025. Trustees are appointed by the General Church Meeting and the Church Council. On induction, new trustees receive a copy of the booklet “The Essential Trustee – An Introduction” and the latest Church Council minutes, plus verbal instruction as necessary. They sign a declaration of eligibility.

Decisions are made by the Church Council as the managing trustees, on the basis of a majority vote and as defined in the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church.

Activities:

Our premises are a valued resource for the wider Methodist Circuit and District.

Cockerton Methodist Church supports all ages with various groups for friendship, support, fellowship and instruction, meeting on a weekly or fortnightly basis including house-group fellowships catering for the needs of family and friends

Our work with pre-school children and parents/carers is carried out one day a week. This provides the children, parents/carers with social interaction.

Girls Brigades groups Aged 5+ meet one evening a week on the site. The Girls’ Brigade is particularly numerous.

The church supports a Ladies Group and the Wesley Guild. The Ladies Group meets weekly and on alternate weeks becomes the Cockerton Ladies’ Choir. The choir has a good reputation in the region

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and performs many times a year in various venues. The Wesley Guild is a long-standing group that invites speakers on a fortnightly basis.

On a monthly basis the church provides a lunch for elderly local residents. This is proving to be a time of great fellowship for those who come as well as those church volunteers who prepare, serve and wash up. There is also a monthly bacon bap coffee morning for food and fellowship. The church are also forming strong links with schools in the local community and often have children visiting for activities and Godly Play sessions.

The church has a variety of worship services which cater for various preferences and age groups. Baptisms, weddings and funerals are part of the ministry of the church to the wider community. External groups use our premises for their meetings as agreed by the Church Council. The Cockerton Silver Band usually holds a concert annually in the church, raising funds for church-identified charities, the Band’s own funds and for the church. These are highly popular, drawing people from the town and beyond.

Our pastoral system engages Pastoral Visitors and group leaders who are responsible for coming alongside the membership of the church, some of whom are infirm and in residential care homes.

Performance / achievements over the last year:

Cockerton Methodist Church continues its work alongside Presbyters, Circuit Staff and Community Development Worker to meet the needs of its members and wider community. Closer links to the rest of the Darlington and Teesdale Methodist Circuit continue to be fostered.

The Community Development Worker continues to work closely with our own pastoral team to ensure best practice and provide services to Care Homes and home communions. Cockerton continue to support Circuit and Darlington Area Churches’ Youth Ministry.

Cockerton Methodist Church has continued to provide valuable outreach to the local community through weddings, funerals and baptisms.

We have also installed a Defibrilator which can be used both by the church and the community when the church is open.

The church family enjoyed sharing events such as harvest thanksgiving and our Anniversary. Christmas services were also enjoyed by the community as well as ecumenical Lent and Easter gatherings.

A team continues to supply catering for the funerals of church members and this is very much appreciated.

Church members continue to support special appeals both locally and abroad and members continue to supply food for the Food Bank operated from St Mary’s Church hall as ecumenical outreach. They also help with the distributing the goods.

Aims and objectives for the coming year

To continue to offer support to our members and friends and to continue to evaluate what we are doing to meet the needs of our church and wider community.

To continue to support the Presbyters and the Community Development Worker.

To provide varied, relevant and inclusive worship.

To continue to develop our work with young people and their families.

To encourage deeper discipleship of the members of the church.

To continue active support of the wider Circuit and of voluntary and charitable work around the UK and beyond.

To nurture and encourage new Christians.

To ensure that our pastoral care is as effective as possible.

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To support the Circuit Vision initiative and to welcome and support new clergy in our church community.

To seek appropriate ways to engage with our community.

To support the Leadership Team who are working to uphold the day-to-day running of the church.

Safeguarding Policy

The Safeguarding Policy is made known to all group leaders and helpers and user groups. It is displayed on the notice boards and kept up to date.

The list of DBS-checked helpers is kept constantly updated as are the safeguarding records.

GDPR

The GDPR policies that Cockerton Methodist Church adheres to are overseen by the Leadership Team and the Church Council and are made available for public viewing.

Health and Safety

The premises are regularly checked for Health and Safety purposes by our own Health and Safety Officer. Additionally they have been inspected by the Local Authority responsible officer and all recommendations have been acted upon.

Finance

The independently examined accounts are submitted with this Annual Report.

As part of our comprehensive insurance policy, insurance is in place and is considered adequate to cover the range of known risks. In line with Charity Commission and Methodist Connexion guidelines we have a Reserve Policy and hold a Reserve Fund.

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CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH

STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

Cockerton Methodist Church
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 August 2025
Circuit Circuit no. 13/1
Registered Charity - Charity Registration number 1E+06
1132763

If not a registered charity His Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number

(The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242)

Minister:

Rev C Roberts

Church Stewards:

Miss A Hunter

Mrs D Pearson

Mrs G Kane

Mrs S Soulsby Mrs S Allison

Mrs M Roberts

Treasurer:

Mr B Cooper

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Cockerton Methodist Church

SECTION A Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
£ £
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings and Tax recovered 44,348
a3 Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 1,719 1,495
a4 Lettings 4,738
a5 Other receipts 30,182
a6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 80,987 1,495
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 43,000
b3 Donations Donations 1,400
b4 Repairs and Maintenance 8,359
b5 Utilities (Insurances, water charges, heating &
lighting)
10,314
b6
b7 Other payments 13,991
b8 TOTAL PAYMENTS 77,064
SECTION C
c1 NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR
(a6-b8)
3,923 1,495
c2 Total funds brought forward from last year 68,840 36,266
c3 Sub total
(c1+c2)
72,763 37,761
c4 Transfers and adjustments
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR
(c3+c4)
72,763 37,761
SECTION D
d FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
(these amounts are not to be included in total receipts/payments figures above)
Balance brought forward from last year
Offerings/Gifts-received for external organisations
Offerings/Gifts-passed to external organisations
BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3)

£
1,959
1,959
£
d1 Balance brought forward from last year
d2 Offerings/Gifts-received for external organisations 1,959 2,053
d3 Offerings/Gifts-passed to external organisations 1,959 2,053
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3)

SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL

SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross income and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the District and connected District Organisations.

Net Receipts/ Opening
INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances Closing balances
Girls Brigade 9,699 7,987 1,712 3,075 4,787
Ladies Group 1,204 1,220 (16) 832 816
Ladies Group[ Choir 180 206 (26) 84 58
Lunch Club 3,201 3,263 (62) 420 358
Wesley Guild 538 533 5 9 14
Mother& Toddlers 1,107 1,369 (262) 472 210
SaturdayFellowship 1,294 1,294 23 23
Sub total of Internal Organisations
funds 17,223 15,872 1,351 4,915 (e11) 6,266
Church accounts (totals
brought forward from page 2 -
totals column) 82,482 (a7) 77,064 (b9) 5,418 (c7) 105,106 (c6) 110,524
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY
CHURCH 99,705 92,936 6,769 110,021 (x) 116,790
Continue on a separate sheet if
necessary and bring the totals
forward
TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL
PAYMENTS

SECTION F

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

CHURCH- CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2025
Cash in hand
Bank Current Account
Bank Deposit Account
Central Finance Board
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Other funds
SUB TOTAL- Church accounts
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing balance total
from above) (e12)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH
CHURCH- CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2025
Cash in hand
Bank Current Account
Bank Deposit Account
Central Finance Board
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Other funds
SUB TOTAL- Church accounts
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing balance total
from above) (e12)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH
OPENING
BALANCES
(c6)
(e11)
(x)
CLOSING
BALANCES
Cash in hand
Bank Current Account 42,599 43,064
Bank Deposit Account
Central Finance Board 28,886 32,344
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 33,621 35,116
Other funds
SUB TOTAL- Church accounts 105,106 (c6) 110,524
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing balance total
from above) (e12)
4,915 (e11) 6,266
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 110,021 (x) 116,790
SECTION G
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES
At
1 September 2024
At
31 August 2025
Investments (include Endowments)
Land & Buildings (see notes re Insurance value) 2,504,163 2,580,402
Other Assets
Loan(s)-show amount outstanding at year end

Other Liabilities

f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board

f5 Include only Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes

g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trusts accounts this is included in line f5

Name of+A2:K35 Church

…………………………………………………………… No………..

Cockerton METHODIST CHURCH

1132763

Declarations and Scrutiny

I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church trustees.

Signature of treasurer B. Cooper……………………… Date 8/11/2025

Name and address of treasurer 14 Pentland Grove DL3 8BA

Presentation to the Church trustees

I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 were/will be* presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on ……………..

Signature of the Chair of the meeting Rev Gavin Hume

Name of the Chair of the meeting …Rev Gavin Hume Date 11/11/25

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the

Cockerton Methodist Church

Name of Church

………………………………………………………………………… No

………….

Cockerton Methodist Church

Independent Examiner’s Statement

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:

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 understanding 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 ……………J Sams…………………………………………………….

Name of independent examiner

……………………………………………………………………….

Janet Sams

Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner ……Retired Chartered MCIPD…………………………………

Name of firm (where appropriate) ………………………………………………………………………

Address

…………………………………………………………………………………… 5 Faversham Park ……………… Darlington ……………………………………………………………………………….. Post Code DL3 0UN

Date ………………………………………… 06/11/2025

CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH

STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

Cockerton Methodist Church
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 August 2025
Circuit Circuit no. 13/1
Registered Charity - Charity Registration number 1E+06
1132763

If not a registered charity His Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number

(The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242)

Minister:

Rev C Roberts

Church Stewards:

Miss A Hunter

Mrs D Pearson

Mrs G Kane

Mrs S Soulsby Mrs S Allison

Mrs M Roberts

Treasurer:

Mr B Cooper

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Cockerton Methodist Church

SECTION A Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
£ £
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings and Tax recovered 44,348
a3 Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 1,719 1,495
a4 Lettings 4,738
a5 Other receipts 30,182
a6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 80,987 1,495
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 43,000
b3 Donations Donations 1,400
b4 Repairs and Maintenance 8,359
b5 Utilities (Insurances, water charges, heating &
lighting)
10,314
b6
b7 Other payments 13,991
b8 TOTAL PAYMENTS 77,064
SECTION C
c1 NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR
(a6-b8)
3,923 1,495
c2 Total funds brought forward from last year 68,840 36,266
c3 Sub total
(c1+c2)
72,763 37,761
c4 Transfers and adjustments
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR
(c3+c4)
72,763 37,761
SECTION D
d FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
(these amounts are not to be included in total receipts/payments figures above)
Balance brought forward from last year
Offerings/Gifts-received for external organisations
Offerings/Gifts-passed to external organisations
BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3)

£
1,959
1,959
£
d1 Balance brought forward from last year
d2 Offerings/Gifts-received for external organisations 1,959 2,053
d3 Offerings/Gifts-passed to external organisations 1,959 2,053
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3)

SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL

SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross income and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the District and connected District Organisations.

Net Receipts/ Opening
INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances Closing balances
Girls Brigade 9,699 7,987 1,712 3,075 4,787
Ladies Group 1,204 1,220 (16) 832 816
Ladies Group[ Choir 180 206 (26) 84 58
Lunch Club 3,201 3,263 (62) 420 358
Wesley Guild 538 533 5 9 14
Mother& Toddlers 1,107 1,369 (262) 472 210
SaturdayFellowship 1,294 1,294 23 23
Sub total of Internal Organisations
funds 17,223 15,872 1,351 4,915 (e11) 6,266
Church accounts (totals
brought forward from page 2 -
totals column) 82,482 (a7) 77,064 (b9) 5,418 (c7) 105,106 (c6) 110,524
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY
CHURCH 99,705 92,936 6,769 110,021 (x) 116,790
Continue on a separate sheet if
necessary and bring the totals
forward
TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL
PAYMENTS

SECTION F

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

CHURCH- CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2025
Cash in hand
Bank Current Account
Bank Deposit Account
Central Finance Board
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Other funds
SUB TOTAL- Church accounts
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing balance total
from above) (e12)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH
CHURCH- CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2025
Cash in hand
Bank Current Account
Bank Deposit Account
Central Finance Board
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Other funds
SUB TOTAL- Church accounts
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing balance total
from above) (e12)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH
OPENING
BALANCES
(c6)
(e11)
(x)
CLOSING
BALANCES
Cash in hand
Bank Current Account 42,599 43,064
Bank Deposit Account
Central Finance Board 28,886 32,344
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 33,621 35,116
Other funds
SUB TOTAL- Church accounts 105,106 (c6) 110,524
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing balance total
from above) (e12)
4,915 (e11) 6,266
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 110,021 (x) 116,790
SECTION G
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES
At
1 September 2024
At
31 August 2025
Investments (include Endowments)
Land & Buildings (see notes re Insurance value) 2,504,163 2,580,402
Other Assets
Loan(s)-show amount outstanding at year end

Other Liabilities

f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board

f5 Include only Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes

g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trusts accounts this is included in line f5

Name of+A2:K35 Church

…………………………………………………………… No………..

Cockerton METHODIST CHURCH

1132763

Declarations and Scrutiny

I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church trustees.

Signature of treasurer B. Cooper……………………… Date 8/11/2025

Name and address of treasurer 14 Pentland Grove DL3 8BA

Presentation to the Church trustees

I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 were/will be* presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on ……………..

Signature of the Chair of the meeting Rev Gavin Hume

Name of the Chair of the meeting …Rev Gavin Hume Date 11/11/25

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the

Cockerton Methodist Church

Name of Church

………………………………………………………………………… No

………….

Cockerton Methodist Church

Independent Examiner’s Statement

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:

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 understanding 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 ……………J Sams…………………………………………………….

Name of independent examiner

……………………………………………………………………….

Janet Sams

Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner ……Retired Chartered MCIPD…………………………………

Name of firm (where appropriate) ………………………………………………………………………

Address

…………………………………………………………………………………… 5 Faversham Park ……………… Darlington ……………………………………………………………………………….. Post Code DL3 0UN

Date ………………………………………… 06/11/2025