2024-08-31-accounts

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THE METHODIST CHURCH NORFOLK BROADS CIRCUIT Registered Charity No 1133008

Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st August 2024.

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CONTENTS

Title Page and Name of the Charity 1 Contents 2 Legal and Administrative Details of Charity 3-4 The Report of the Trustees 5-8 Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities 9

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LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Trustees Norfolk Broads

The Trustees are appointed according to the constitution of the Methodist Church (see page

5).

The following Trustees have served during the period covered by this report: (NB Names in italics indicate individuals holding more than one appointment to the Circuit Meeting)

Superintendent Minister: Revd Andrew King All Ministers/Probationers: Deacon Sheralee Devitt Revd Judith Bell (from 1[st] September 2023) Revd Donna Dodson Revd Katy Adams Circuit Employees Mr Shaun Cushion (Lay Worker) Circuit Stewards: Jane Mackay (until 31[st] August 2024) Gordon Smith Glenda Tooke Adrian Turner Tim Alexander Secretary of Circuit Meeting: Vacant Secretary of Local Preachers: Shaun Cushion Elected Church Stewards: Frances Brady Alan Riches Audrey Bensley (until 1[st] February 2024) Paul Bacon Brenda Green Diana Jones Alan Croft Val Shreeve Paul Cooper Paul Monsey Alan Cooke Elected Church Treasurer: Rosemary Davis Gill Riches Dorothy Ward Andrew Moll Ben Milner Michael Blake Liz Draper Michael Farnsworth Gordon Smith Alan Moore Heather Westrup Brenda Monsey Jean Cooke Elected Church Representatives Christopher Palmer Jean Moy (1[st] September 2023) Ann Holland Linda Peers Jane Mackay Andrew Ingram (until 31[st] August 2024) Sarah Small Greta Brown Beryl Jones Sandra Jones (1[st] March 2024) Peter Draper

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Other Trustees:

Suzanne Gunton Andrew Sayer Terri Eaden (3[rd] November 2023) Rosemary Whitmill Maureen Turner Josephine Wooltorton Linda Monsey Tim Alexander Sheila Farnsworth Colleen Palmer Linda Gibbons (until 2[nd] August 2024) Marian Teager (until 31[st] August 2024) Isobel Ashworth Geoff Harding Toni Haase

Trust Address

c/o 2 Bensley Close Acle NR13 3RD

Auditors Independent External Examiner

Fairhead Bradford Chartered Certified Accountant 5 Queen Street, Gt Yarmouth, NR30 2QP

Bankers

Barclays Bank plc 40-42 Market Place, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 1LX

Lloyds Bank plc 1-2 King’s Street, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2BA

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report for the year ended 31st August 2022 under the Charities Act 1993, together with the audited financial statements for the year. We confirm that the latter comply with the requirements of the Act, the Trust Deed and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 2005.

The Trust was registered on 1[st] February 2009 in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. Particulars of the charity’s Trustees and professional advisers are given on pages 3 and 4.

Structure, Governance and Management

The charity is operated under the regulations of the Methodist Church as stated in The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church with advice from Officers of the Methodist Church.

Governing Body

The Trustees are the Governing Body of the Trust.

Recruitment and Training of Trustees

The Charity Trustees are appointed to the roles identified on pages 3 and 4, for a designated period, either by direct election at the Circuit Meeting for Circuit Office Holders, or by individual Church Councils who elect their representatives to the Circuit Meeting.

Organisational Management

The management of the Trust is the responsibility of the Trustees. It is conducted through the Circuit Leadership Team and Finance and Property Committee. Circuit Staff and employees assist in the implementation of policies. Each Committee includes Trustees among its membership.

The day to day administration of the Circuit is the responsibility of the Superintendent Minister, the Secretary of the Circuit Meeting, the Circuit Treasurer, the Circuit Property Secretary and the Circuit Stewards.

Aims, Objectives and Activities

The objectives of the Norfolk Broads Circuit are those as set out for the Methodist Church of Great Britain in the Deed of Union 1932 and the 1976 Methodist Church Act.

The charitable objects are the purposes of the Methodist Church and these are the advancement of:

• (a) the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church;

• (b) any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, district, circuit, local or other organization 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 to the Methodist Church.

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The Norfolk Broads Methodist Circuit 14/10

Mission Statement

TO FURTHER THE VISION AND PURPOSE OF THE NORFOLK BROADS CIRCUIT

OUR VISION: God’s will for us is for us is not to be stuck, but to be lifted up to God’s glory and drawn closer to God and closer to each other in loving service and fellowship.

OUR PURPOSE: To offer God’s invitation to our world and our church to be drawn closer to God and closer to one another in acts of loving kindness.

(Matthew 22 vs 34-40)

Achievements and Performance

The Norfolk Broads Circuit has sought to advance its aims and objectives during the year under review by continuing its life of worship and mission within communities in The Norfolk Broads Circuit and by providing support to local churches. Particular highlights include:

• continuing to support the Churches so that resources can be more effectively shared,

• providing resources to local churches by enabling the deployment of appropriate ordained and lay staff and by making specific grants in order to support pieces of work that advance our charitable objects and Circuit Policy.

• ensuring that the Circuit is sufficiently resourced for its mission by reviewing the annual budget and preparing a budget for 2024-25. This includes the recognition that rising costs for Circuit Staff plus maintenance of Circuit Properties.

• ensuring that all those who have contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults undertake an appropriate training course - the Foundation Module or Refresher of Creating Safer Space .

• holding of training events as and when appropriate.

• Supervision programme is held for all ministers (lay and ordained) in a pastoral role.

• Continuing to offer particular support (personnel, skills, finance) to agreed projects around the Circuit.

• The Circuit Administrator Mrs Annette Lown helps the Methodist Circuit fulfil its Administrative functions. .

• At Magdalen Way Methodist Church, the Rev Donna Dodson remains as an Associate Presbyter

• The Circuit continued with weekly zoom / on-line worship and were able to provide worship at home sheets and YouTube videos of the services.

• The Chapel buildings at Lingwood and Sutton were sold, as well as the manse at Burgess Close, Caister-on-Sea

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• In August, a Circuit service was organised to celebrate 40 years of Local Preaching by Mrs Sheila Farnsworth, and by Mr Andrew Moll. The Revd Neville Khambatta was the Preacher

• In August, at Christchurch the wedding of Jane Mackay and Hermann Rhode took place, and the following week the final service took place at Christchurch, Great Yarmouth, both services led by the Rev Judith Bell

Financial Review

The Trustees report net incoming resources of £408,589. (Please refer to the notes of the accounts for explanation).

The net movement in funds for the year increased by £311,842

The Trustees are pleased to report that there were no special items relating to income or expenditure during the year. Details of this can be viewed under Circuit Model Trust Fund (unrestricted) funds reported in the SOFA for year ended 31 August 2024

The Trustees continue to keep all financial policies under review.

Investment Policy

In accordance with the Trust documentation, the Trustees have the power to invest in such stocks, shares, investments and property as they consider appropriate. The Trustees have used this power to invest in the funds of the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church. In common with many other investment funds, the valuation of the funds showed a modest increase over the year.

The Trustees continue to monitor the funds of the Circuit to enable clear and prudent policy decisions on expenditure.

Risk Assessment and Management

During the year under review, the Trustees have maintained oversight of the major risks to which the charity is exposed, resulting in risk management strategies being implemented.

Risks to which the organisation may be exposed are identified by the Trustees and kept under regular review.

Reserves

It is the policy of the charity to hold reserves in its unrestricted funds which have not yet been committed or designated for any particular purpose. The Trustees have set aside these reserves in order to protect the future operations of the charity from the effects of any unforeseen variations in its income as part of a policy of good financial practice.

The Circuit Reserves Policy was reviewed during the year.

Public Benefit

The Trustees have reviewed the activities of the past year in line with the Charity Commission guidance on public interest benefit.

The aims and objectives of the Norfolk Broads Circuit are within those guidelines and are interpreted by the District as providing specific benefit to those who are members of the Methodist Church.

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Future Plans

In addition to an ongoing commitment to provide effective resources for the members, local churches and within the Norfolk Broads Circuit, the Trustees are committed to:

• Further development of the Circuit Mission Policy

• Ensure the appointment and deployment of lay and ordained ministry throughout the Circuit.

• Aim to continue to employ a Circuit Administrator.

• Provide support for those who have oversight of safeguarding procedures for children, young people and vulnerable adults.

• Develop partnerships with other churches.

Auditors

A resolution proposing that Fairhead Bradford Chartered Certified Accountants be reappointed as the independent external examiner of the charity will be put to the Annual General Meeting.

Revd. Andrew King Trustee

Mrs Glenda Tooke Trustee

Date: 7[th] April 2024

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STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), and that they show a true and fair view of the state of the Norfolk Broads Circuits affairs. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

• Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.

• Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP.

• Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

• State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.

• Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Norfolk Broads Circuit will continue in operation.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the Norfolk Broads Circuit and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the Trustees are aware:

• There is no relevant audit information of which the charity’s auditors are unaware.

• The Trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

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