**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1133077** 

## **Report of the Trustees and** 

## **Unaudited Financial Statements** 

**for the Year Ended 31 August 2022** 

## **for** 

**GORDANO VALLEY METHODIST CIRCUIT** 



**GORDANO VALLEY METHODIST CIRCUIT TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31[ST] August 2022** 

The Trustees present their report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] August 2022. 

## **1 Objectives and activities** 

In setting the objectives and planning our activities, the Circuit Meeting (under the leadership of the Circuit Leadership Team (CLT), meets twice in each year, has given careful consideration to the Charity Commissioners’ general guidance on public benefit and, in particular, to its supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing our objectives and conforms to the Charity Act 2011. 

Our aim is to encourage and enable people of all ages to become followers of Jesus Christ, and to learn and grow in Christian faith. 

The Gordano Valley Circuit is committed to celebrating and sharing the good news of the Gospel; that God loves us, Jesus died for our sins and is risen, and the Holy Spirit gives us strength and inspiration in our daily lives. We seek growth and renewal through the centrality of prayer and scripture, worship, and sacrament. 

We aim to do this by: 

Passing it on 

- By encouraging mission and outreach as an integral part of the life of every Christian and every congregation. 

- By offering appropriate pastoral care to those inside and outside the Church. 

- By continuing to develop God-glorifying worship and teaching which is engaging and relevant to people of all ages and abilities. 

## People 

- By recognizing that everyone is valuable and has something to offer and by encouraging everyone’s gifts. 

- By placing a priority on the work with children and young people, while recognizing the needs of all generations. 

- By working in local communities to build bridges with those outside Church lives. 

- By resourcing ministers and lay staff to work in mission alongside Circuit Stewards and the congregation of the Circuit’s churches. 

- By working ecumenically and with other circuits where appropriate. 

- By identifying and resourcing training needs within the Circuit. 

## Property 

- By prioritising ‘good practice’ in all things including the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, risk assessment, health and safety, employment and trusteeship. 

- By making sure that churches in the Circuit are well maintained, well resourced, and welcoming to all through good stewardship of the money and buildings which have been entrusted to us. 

- By linking into District and Connexional resources of the Methodist Church. 

Page **1** 



**GORDANO VALLEY METHODIST CIRCUIT TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31[ST] August 2022** 

## **2 Achievements and performance** 

Over the last year the churches in the Circuit have gradually and cautiously been returning to pre-Covid activity, reopening the buildings and resuming activity. Sunday worship has gradually been resumed on site, with various restrictions being lifted in carefully monitored stages, with some online presence continuing. Midweek activity has also gradually been returning, and lettings to community groups has slowly started to return. Many members have been very slow to return but have been very carefully watched over pastorally. Conversely, a lot of new people have started coming to some of the churches and are entering into active membership. Challenges remain, not least financial, having suffered much under lockdown, but there are also signs of new growth. 

One person has been accredited as a local preacher and is now about to offer for ordination in the Methodist Church. The Circuit continues to train three others – one of whom has just commenced in the last year. 

The building project at Portishead, creating a community café and hub on the High Street, has now been completed and is starting to get up and running. 

## **Volunteers** 

Almost all of the work undertaken by the churches is that of volunteers, from preaching and leading worship to youth and children’s work, pastoral visiting, stewardship of finance and buildings, right through to administration and forming of mission policy. The Circuit continues to seek to engage everyone in the churches to discern their own sense of calling and to live it out in local service. 

## **2.1 Plans for future years** 

1. The circuit has a Mission Action Plan around the four aspects of the Methodist Church ‘Our Calling’ statement, and this will be used to continue to monitor ongoing work. 

2. Over the next 12 months, to strategically evaluate the size of the staff team, its deployment and the configuration of churches, with a view to maximizing the most effective mission strategy, mindful that two of the staff are due to go through the invitations process towards the end of this next year. 

3. To continue to develop the growing culture of being outward looking as churches. 

4. To help support Portishead High Street in implementing new outreach work now the new building project has been completed. 

5. To help support Kenn Road Church in Clevedon as it appoints a new Community Outreach Worker. 

6. To ensure that new community engagement / outreach initiatives are sustainable. 

7. To continue to grow leadership especially though the vocation of local preachers and worship leaders. 

8. To continue to ensure that the Circuit and all the churches within it are kept updated with training and resource for safeguarding. 

9. To continue to focus on the priority of growing the work with children and young people across the Circuit, resourcing the churches and making the most of opportunities both in District and Connexional Methodism and the wider Church. 

10. To support all eight churches in seeking ways to be Church effectively in a post-lockdown world. 

Page **2** 



**GORDANO VALLEY METHODIST CIRCUIT TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31[ST] August 2022** 

## **3 Financial review** 

During the year, the Circuit received total income of £295,724 (2020-21 £279,712) and dispersed £291,794 (2020-21 £283,419).  The Trustees believe that the Circuit is a going concern. Churches meet their assessments, and the Circuit has reserves to cover a shortfall in anticipated income. The ongoing financial effects of Covid 19 and the subsequent energy crisis on individual church finances is uncertain with some loss of income from giving and lettings and the effects of rising inflation. 

The Circuit has the following principal sources of funds: 

- Assessments on churches within the Circuit 

- Contributions towards the cost of Lay Workers by churches 

## **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 circuits and for all large (over £20K) bequests and for the proceeds of sale of any property formerly owned by the Circuit. Currently, the circuit has no funds lodged with TMCP. 

Short term deposits are held in a deposit account at the Central Finance Board (CFB)at rates of interest that reflect the financial market. 

## **3.2 Reserves** 

The Circuit has agreed to maintain a minimum reserve based four months’ expenditure (excluding Ministers’ stipends), half of which to be held by the Circuit with half to be held by circuit churches, plus approximately one year’s budgeted expenditure on manse maintenance, a £1,000 allowance for mission initiatives and an allowance for future stationing costs. The reserves at 31[st] August were 

||2022|2021|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Minimum Reserves|£46,612|£45,494|
|Actual Reserves|£62,929|£58,998|



## **3.3 Collaborative arrangements with connected charities** 

The Circuit’s main source of income is the assessments obtained from each church within the Circuit based on free will giving plus Gift Aid and membership, split 60% on income and 40% on membership worked on a three-year average. Part of the assessment paid by churches includes the District assessment on the Circuit in respect of central costs of the Connexion and the District’s own costs. 

Page **3** 



**GORDANO VALLEY METHODIST CIRCUIT TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31[ST] August 2022** 

## **4 Trustees’ responsibilities** 

## **4.1 Risk** 

The Circuit is largely risk free, insofar as its costs are covered by the assessment on local churches. The main financial risk would be a shortfall in income should a church be unable to meet its assessment. During the year the Circuit has reviewed its policies for 

- Safeguarding 

- Conflict of Interest 

- Risk Management 

- Social Media 

- Complaints 

- Reserves 

- Lay Employment 

- Methodist Church Privacy Notice 

- Privacy Notice and Data Mapping 

- Volunteer Management 

## **5 Structure, governance, and management** 

The Circuit 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 Commissioners on 2[nd] December 2009. 

## **5.1 Structure** 

Circuits are the coordinating charities for local groups of churches; Circuits pay the stipends of the ministers and employ lay staff to serve the churches in the Circuit; most decisions are made or ratified at the Circuit meeting. 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 Office implements decisions made by Conference and also is responsible for the stationing of presbyters and deacons (collectively known as ministers) in individual Circuits and Districts. 

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

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

5. The Circuit meeting passes regulatory control down to church councils for local implementation by the presbyter, the Church Stewards, and other officers, and this regulatory authority is then exercised by Church Councils as Managing trustees of their charity. 

Page **4** 



**GORDANO VALLEY METHODIST CIRCUIT TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31[ST] August 2022** 

## **5.2 Purpose of the Circuit** 

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, and 

- b. Any charitable purposes for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church, and 

- c. Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church, and 

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

The primary purpose of the Circuit is to advance the mission of the Church in the Gordano Valley area of North Somerset; 

- By providing opportunities for churches to work together and support each other 

- By offering to churches resources of finance, personnel and expertise. 

The Circuit serves the local churches and the District and the Conference in the support, deployment and oversight of the various ministries of the Church, and in programs of training. 

## **5.3 Governance** 

The Circuit operates within a statutory framework of regulation and seeks to ensure that if follows Methodist Standing Orders. It relies on the Connexional Office at 25 Marylebone Road London NW1 5JR to provide guidance on changes that could affect the Circuit. 

Trustees are members of the Circuit meeting and are appointed as per the Constitution Practice and Discipline (CPD) of the Methodist Church, Standing order 510. The officers and representatives of the constitutive churches are elected from those respective churches. The circuit officers – namely Circuit Stewards, Treasurer, Secretary, Property Secretary, Safeguarding Officer, Local Preachers Secretary, and any other officers that may be appointed are nominated and elected by Circuit Meeting members. 

The membership of the Circuit Leadership Team includes the ministers of the Circuit, the Circuit Stewards and Circuit Treasurer who are appointed by vote of the Circuit Meeting for a continuous term not normally exceeding six years. The Superintendent Minister is _ex officio_ chair of the CLT. When a position becomes vacant on the CLT nominations are invited from the ministers and lay members of the churches they represent. The Superintendent Minister then shares with them what the role involves. If they wish to be considered for the role, their names are taken to the Circuit Meeting for approval. 

The CLT normally meets every two months and deals with routine and exceptional matters. It overseas finance, property, stationing, safeguarding and training. 

Page **5** 



**GORDANO VALLEY METHODIST CIRCUIT TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31[ST] August 2022** 

## **5.4 Responsibilities of the Circuit Leadership Team** 

1. To formulate and promote policies which will advance the mission of the Church in local churches and, in particular, to supervise the use of resources of personnel, property and finance and to assist local churches having exceptional problems. 

2. To encourage ecumenical co-operation. 

3. To act in an executive capacity in matters remitted to the Team by the Circuit Meeting. 

4. To keep within its purview all circuit concerns not dealt with elsewhere. 

5. To contribute and respond, as the case may be, 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. 

6. To be aware that the stipend of ministers 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. 

7. 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 Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit, sometimes abbreviated to GVMC. 

## **6.2 Charity registration number** 

1133077, registered in England and Wales on 2nd December 2009. 

## **6.3 Principal Office** 

The Office Christchurch Chapel Hill Clevedon BS21 7LL 

Tel. 01275 871483 www.gordanovalleymethodists.info 

## **6.4 Names of Trustees** 

The following served as trustees throughout part or all of the year 2021-22 or were trustees at the time of this report being approved: 

Page **6** 



## **GORDANO VALLEY METHODIST CIRCUIT TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31[ST] August 2022** 

|**West Town,**<br>**Backwell**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Miss V Sowerby|CH||Mrs C Lomas|CH||
|Mrs H Bentley||||||
|**Christchurch L.E.P.**||||||
|Rev R Herbert|Min||Mr A Pett|CH||
|Rev C Jennings|Min||Mrs K Dommett|CH|To 15/9/2021|
|Mrs M Sutherland|CS||Mr J Richards|Add||
|Mr D G White|CT|To 15/9/2021|Mrs C Gale|CMS||
|Mrs J McManus|CH|||||
|**Kenn Road,**<br>**Clevedon**||||||
|Mrs J Bailey|CH||Mr P Evans|CH|To 14/3/2022|
|Mr C G Mills|CH||Rev P Andersen|Sup||
|**Nailsea**||||||
|Mr N Hardman|CS||Mr R Lancaster|CH||
|Mr P Todd|CH||Mr A Emery|CH||
|Mrs M Emery|LP||Rev D Mallett|Min||
|Rev D Sharp|Sup||Rev M Pullan|Sup||
|Mr D Markall|CT|||||
|**Pill**||||||
|Mrs L Powell|CH||Mrs E Marsh|CH||
|Mr M Burnett|CH|||||
|**Portishead**||||||
|Rev N Moxon|Min||Mrs B Thompson|CH||
|Mr K Gathergood|CH|To 9/8/2022|Rev H Noel-Smith|Sup||
|Rev P Mortlock|Sup||Rev B Hunt|Sup||
|Mrs J Morris-<br>Thurgood|CH||Rev A Owen|Sup<br>NV||
|**Redcliffe Bay**||||||
|Mr D Uncles|CH||Mrs S Mason|CH||
|Rev D Harris|Sup||Mrs J Clote(Davis)|CH|To 9/8/2022|
|Mr A Reddrop|CS|||||
|**Yatton**||||||
|Mr T R Calderbank|CH||Rev I Bowley|Sup||
|Mr M Buckley|Add||Rev J Flowers|Min||
|Rev A Price|Sup||Mr K Woodham|CS||
|Mrs B Hook|Add||Mr B Patch|CH|To 1/2/2022|
|Mr M Pryke|CH|To 31/8/2022|Mr Malcolm Fisher|CH|From 24/2/2022|



|Add|Additional Member|CH|Church Steward/Rep.|CMS|Circuit MeetingSecretary|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|CS|Circuit Steward|CT|Circuit treasurer|Min|Minister|
|LP|Local Preachers Rep.|Sup|SupernumeraryMinister|NV|Non-Voting|



Page **7** 



**GORDANO VALLEY METHODIST CIRCUIT TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31[ST] August 2022** 

## **6.7 Superintendent Minister’s PA** 

Mrs Kathryn McManus-Jones 

## **6.8 Bankers** 

National Westminster Bank PLC Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church 89 High Street 9 Bonhill Street Weston-super-Mare London North Somerset EC2A 4PE BS23 1HJ 

## **6.9 Investment managers and custodian trustees** 

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

## **6.10 Independent Examiner** 

Andrew Jordan ICAEW Haines Watts, Chartered Accountants Bath House 6-8 Bath Street Bristol BS1 6HL 

## **7           Approval** 

The trustees report was approved by the trustees on 28th September 2022 and signed on its behalf by: 

Revd Dr Russell Herbert David Markall Superintendent Minister Circuit Treasurer 

9[th] January 2023 

9[th] January 2023 

Page **8** 



## **Gordano Valley Circuit** 

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

||**Notes**|**Unrestricted Funds**|**Unrestricted Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2021-22**|**2020-21**|
|**Income from:**<br>Charitable Activities - Assessment on churches<br>Income from charitable activities<br>Investments<br>Grants<br>Other Income<br>**Total Income and Endowments**<br>**Expenditure on charitable activities-**<br>**Management of the Circuit**<br>Grants and donations<br>Salaries and associated costs<br>Property<br>Office Expenses<br>District Assessment<br>Other outgoings<br>**Total charitable expenditure**<br>**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers**<br>Other gains/losses<br>**Net movement of funds**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>**Total funds carried forward**|2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>7<br>10|**£**|**£**|
|||249,180|230,982|
|||||
|||242|86|
|||||
|||46,302|48,644|
|||**295,724**|**279,712**|
|||||
|||||
|||900|100|
|||208,519|206,809|
|||26,867|19,848|
|||4,873|4,158|
|||48,456|51,792|
|||2,178|712|
|||**291,793**|**283,419**|
|||||
|||**3,931**|**(3,707)**|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||**3,931**|**(3,707)**|
|||||
|||2,046,854|2,050,561|
|||||
|||**2,050,785**|**2,046,854**|



Page 9 



## **Gordano Valley Circuit Balance Sheet as at 31st August 2022** 

|**Fixed Assets**<br>Circuit Manses<br>**_Total fixed assets_**<br>**Current Assets**<br>Debtors and prepayments<br>Central Finance Board Deposits<br>Cash at Bank and in hand<br>**_Total current assets_**<br>Creditors (due in under 1 year)<br>_Net Current assets/liabilities_<br>**_Total assets less current liabilities_**<br>Creditors and Accruals including any loans<br>(due after more than 1 year)<br>**_Net assets_**<br>**Funds of the Circuit**<br>General fund (Unrestricted)<br>Circuit Model Trust Fund (Unrestricted)<br>Designated Funds (Unrestricted)<br>**_Total Unrestricted Funds_**<br>Restricted Funds||**Unrestricted Funds**|**Unrestricted Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|**2022**|**2021**|
|||**£**|**£**|
|||||
||BS1|1,987,856|1,987,856|
|||||
|||**1,987,856**|**1,987,856**|
|||||
|||||
||BS2|14,748|20,810|
||BS3|62,728|58,355|
||BS3|5,695|4,588|
|||**83,171**|**83,753**|
|||||
||BS4|20,242|24,755|
|||||
|||62,929|58,998|
|||||
|||**2,050,785**|**2,046,854**|
|||||
|||||
|||**2,050,785**|**2,046,854**|
|||||
|||||
|||2,050,785|39,551|
|||||
||||2,007,303|
|||**2,050,785**|**2,046,854**|
|||||
|**_Total Funds_**||**2,050,785**|**2,046,854**|



The financial statements were approved by the Circuit  Trustees on 28th September 2022 and were signed on its behalf by: 

Revd Dr Russell Herbert 

David Markall 

9th January 2023 

9th January 2023 

Page 10 



**The Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit Notes to the accounts for year ending 31 August 2022** 

## **1 Basis of accounting and accounting policies** 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. 

The statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair view'. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities Preparing their Accounts in Accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn. 

## **I. Public benefit entity** 

The Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit 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 note(s) below. 

## **II. Basis** 

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost. The accruals basis has been used and trustees present accounts that show a true and fair view of the Circuit’s financial position and activities. 

## **III. 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. 

## **IV. Going Concern** 

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern. The trustees consider that the charity has sufficient cash reserves to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from the date on which these financial statements are approved. 

## **V. Consolidation** 

The Circuit has denominational regulatory oversight in respect of the work of the churches within the Circuit but has no legal or operational control of those churches and their governing bodies except in extreme circumstances. For this reason, the financial statements of churches within the Circuit are not consolidated into these financial statements. 

Page 11 



## **The Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit Notes to the accounts for year ending 31 August 2022** 

## **VI. Income recognition** 

Income is brought into account when there is entitlement, and the amount is reliably measurable once it is more than likely than not that the economic benefit of the income will be forthcoming. 

The Circuit acts as agent in the collection from churches and payment over of their contributions to various Funds controlled and administered by The Methodist Church – “Connexional Funds” In all these matters the transactions are not reflected in the SOFA because they are the income of either the Connexion or churches as appropriate. Instead, the transactions are disclosed in the Notes to the Accounts. 

In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102), the time of volunteers is not recognised. If goods are donated, a value will be shown in the SOFA or Notes where the value is considered material. 

## **VII. Expenditure** 

This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, where the amount is reliably measurable, and it is considered more likely than not that there will be an outflow of economic benefit. 

## **VIII. VAT** 

The Circuit is not VAT registered. VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers. 

## **IX. Tangible fixed assets** 

- a. These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and individually cost at least £1,000. 

- b. The Freehold property (4 manses) were valued at a deemed cost of £1,945,000 as at 1st September 2015 by professional valuation, plus subsequent additions at a cost of £42,856. No depreciation is provided on the buildings because the trustees consider the current residential fair value of the manse buildings (on the assumption that it had reached the end of its useful economic life by the year end) to be not less than its cost to date. Any depreciation would not be material. The property has been reviewed for impairment. 

## **X. Basic Financial Instruments** 

The charity has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value. 

## **XI. Debtors and Creditors** 

- a. Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid. 

- b. Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will normally result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount. 

Page 12 



**The Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit Notes to the accounts for year ending 31 August 2022** 

## **XII. Short term liquid investments and cash** 

Cash at bank is held to meet short-term cash commitments as they fall due rather than for investment purposes and includes all cash equivalents held in the form of short-term highly liquid investments. Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and that are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. 

## **XIII. Methodist Connexional Funds** 

The Methodist Church Connexion raises assessments against circuits, and these are paid monthly to their districts. The circuits raise assessments against churches in the Circuit. The District remits to The Methodist Church Fund most of the sum received from circuits. A small sum is retained by the district to meet its own costs. The Circuit may act as agent for ad hoc collections for various funds controlled and administered by The Methodist Church. 

## **XIV. Ministers’ manse costs** 

The Circuit is required to provide accommodation for each minister in the Circuit and their families and this is seen as a benefit to the Circuit. Ministers are expected to occupy the manse provided for them. The Circuit bears the cost of repairs, maintenance, buildings insurance, council tax and water charges. These figures are not separately disclosed as benefits-in-kind for ministers as HMRC does not seek to tax these receipts in the hands of ministers. 

## **XV. Funds** 

Up to 31[st] August 2021 funds held constituted unrestricted general funds held for any charitable purpose of the Circuit, and unrestricted designated funds held for specific purposes. The trustees have reconsidered the need for separate funds and concluded that designation is no longer required. 

## **XVI. Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty** 

No judgements (apart from those involving estimates) have been made in the process of applying the above accounting policies. 

## **2 Assessment on Churches** 

The Circuit comprises eight churches and each is assessed for a contribution to meet the overall net costs of the Circuit. In making its assessment the budgeted income from investment income and property letting, confirmed external grants and contribution from churches towards the cost of lay employees is considered. The Circuit aims to cover all its core costs from the assessment. 

An Assessment on churches is determined by the Circuit each year, using a formula which takes into account the relative number of members in each church and its freewill giving plus gift aid receipts. Assessments on churches are generally paid monthly in advance and treated as pre-payments in the balance sheet. 

Page 13 



## **The Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit Notes to the accounts for year ending 31 August 2022** 

## **3 Grants Received** 

No grants were received by the Circuit during this period. 

|**4 Other income comprises the following:**<br>Contribution from churches towards lay workers<br>Contribution from Ministers for private use of telephone and broadband<br>Other<br>**Total Other income**|**2021/22**<br>£|**2020/21**<br>£|
|---|---|---|
||45,895|48,334|
||257|310|
||150|-|
||46,302|48,644|



## **5 Grants and Donations** 

Grants are recognised in full when the award is made once the Circuit accepts that there is a legal or constructive obligation to make the payment and that payment is probable. 

Grants totalling £900 to two organisations were made in the year. 

## **6 Model Trust** 

The Circuit does not have a model trust fund balance. During the year, arising from a right of light issue at Nailsea, compensation of £3,000 was received from a property developer. The Circuit meeting agreed that this sum could be retained by the Nailsea Methodist Church towards lighting improvements. To comply with Standing Orders the £3,000 was passed by Nailsea MC to TMCP, withdrawn from TMCP by the Circuit and paid back to Nailsea MC by the Circuit. 

## **7 Stipends and Salaries and Associated Costs** 

|**Staff Costs paid during the year were:**<br>Gross wages, salaries, and benefits in kind<br>Employer's National Insurance costs<br>Pension costs<br>Other employment costs<br>**Total Staff Costs**|**2021/22**|**2020/21**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
||155,449|156,813|
||14,105|13,921|
||30,252|30,364|
||8,713|5,711|
||**208,519**|**206,809**|



No employees received employee benefits of more than £60,000. No accrual for holiday pay as it is immaterial. The holiday year ends on 31 August 2022. Staff are paid at or above the living wage. 

|Total number of staff<br>Full time equivalent|**2021/22**|**2020/21**|
|---|---|---|
||7|7|
||6.33|6.33|



Page 14 



## **The Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit Notes to the accounts for year ending 31 August 2022** 

Four trustees are presbyters of the Circuit in receipt of a salary, costs of £144,416 (2021 - £141,795), travel costs of £2,911 (2021 - £1,508), telephone and broadband costs of £2,654 (2021 - £2,463) and training of £300 (2021 - £0). 

## **Pensions** 

Most ordained presbyters and deacons are members of the 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 the terms ‘employer’ and ‘employee’ are used as they would be in an employing body. 

Lay employees are contractually employees and have the option of joining a pension scheme which the Circuit has arranged with NEST. This is a defined contribution scheme, and the Circuit contributes as employer to this scheme. 

The MMPS is in deficit. The Methodist Conference has put in place a plan for addressing the deficit and is undertaking a review of the scheme during 2022-23. 

## **8 Payment to Trustees** 

Payments made to trustees for additional services provided to the Circuit by agreement with the Circuit Meeting, excluding stipends are as follows: 

|Number of Trustees<br>Total amount|**2021/22**<br>0<br>£0|**2020/21**|
|---|---|---|
||0|0|
||£0|£0|



## **9 Fee for examination of the accounts** 

|Independent Examiner for reporting on the accounts<br>Other fees (e.g.: advice, accountancy services) paid to the independent<br>examiner or auditor: Accountancy Software|**2021/22**<br>£<br>2,520<br>152|**2020/21**<br>£|
|---|---|---|
||2,520|2,496|
||152|144|



## **10 District Assessment** 

The District Assessment is calculated relative to the number of Presbyters and full time equivalent lay staff, less administrative staff, of all Circuits in the Bristol District. 

## **11 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. In the Circuit the principal contribution is by serving on committees of the Circuit that deal with mission, manses, finance, policy, training, and safeguarding. We are grateful to all of them for their help and commitment. No attempt has been made  to value the non-monetary contributions to the Circuit in monetary terms. 

Page 15 



**The Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit Notes to the accounts for year ending 31 August 2022** 

## **12 Connected Organisations and Related Parties** 

None of the Circuit trustees made donations direct to the Circuit during the year or the preceding year. All the Circuit trustees are members of a Church within the Circuit and may be trustees of their Churches. Connected organisations include the Methodist Connexion, the Bristol District and Churches within the Circuit, other Methodist Districts in Great Britain, CFB and TMCP. All these entities have their own trustees or directors and autonomous administration such that the Circuit has no significant influence over any of them, nor they over the Circuit. They are therefore, not considered related parties. 

## **13 Comparative Statement of Financial Activities** 

|**Income and Endowments from:**<br>Charitable Activities - Assessment<br>on churches<br>Income from charitable activities -<br>lettings<br>Investments<br>Grants<br>Other Income<br>**Total Income and Endowments**<br>**Expenditure**<br>**Expenditure on charitable**<br>**activities**<br>**Management of the Circuit;**<br>Grants and donations<br>Salaries and associated costs<br>Property<br>Office Expenses<br>District Assessment<br>Other outgoings<br>**Total charitable expenditure**<br>**Net incoming/(outgoing)**<br>**resources before transfers**<br>Transfers between funds<br>**Net movement of funds**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>**Total funds carried forward**|**Notes**|**General**<br>**Fund**|**Designated**<br>**Funds**|**Total**<br>**2020-21**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>7<br>10|£|£|£|
|||230,982|-|230,982|
|||-|-|-|
||||86|86|
|||-<br>48,644|-<br>-|-<br>48,644|
|||**279,626**|**86**|**279,712**|
||||||
||||||
||||||
|||-|100|100|
|||206,809|-|206,809|
|||14,839|5,009|19,848|
|||4,158|-|4,158|
|||51,792|-|51,792|
|||712|-|712|
|||**278,310**|**5,109**|**283,419**|
|||1,316|(5,023)|(3,707)|
||||||
|||(11,750)|11,750|-|
|||**(10,434)**|**6,727**|**(3,707)**|
||||||
|||49,985|2,000,576|2,050,561|
||||||
|||**39,551**|**2007,303**|**2,046,854**|



Page 16 



**The Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit Notes to the accounts for year ending 31 August 2022** 

## **BS1 Manses & Other Property** 

Buildings comprise of 4 manses located in Clevedon, Nailsea, Portishead and Yatton. 

||||**Property**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Cost or valuation**|||£|
|Balance brought forward on 1stSep 2021<br>at 2015 valuationplus additions at cost|||1.987,856|
|**_Balance carriedforward_**|||1,987,856|
|**BS2 Debtors and Prepayments**|||**2021**<br>£<br>11,949<br>1,970<br>6,360<br>531<br>**20,810**|
||**2022**||**2021**|
|**Prepayments**|£||£|
|Stipends, Pension & NI|12,589||11,949|
|Insurance|2,159||1,970|
|Council Tax|-||6,360|
|Otherprepayments|-||531|
|**_Totals_**|**14,748**||**20,810**|



## **BS3 Central Finance Board (CFB) and Bank Balances** 

Balances held at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church and at National Westminster Bank plc are available on demand without loss of interest. 

||**2022**|**2021**|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Central Finance Board|62,728|58,355|
|National<br>Westminster<br>Bank plc|5,695|4,588|
|**_Totals_**|**68,423**|**62,943**|



## **BS4 Creditors, Accruals, and Income in Advance** 

All sums accrued as at 31[st] August 2022 are expected to be paid during the year to 31[st] August 2023. 

||**2022**|**2021**|
|---|---|---|
|**Income in advance**|£|£|
|Assessments in advance|17,440|16,693|
||||
|**Creditors and Accruals**|||
|Accounts Examination|2,500|2,500|
|Accountspayable|302|5,260|
|Other|-|302|
|**_Totals_**|**20,242**|**24,755**|



Page 17 



## **The Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit Notes to the accounts for year ending 31 August 2022** 

## **BS5 Summary of fund movements** 

|**Fund**|**Balance at**<br>**31/8/2021**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**Transfers**|**Gains/**<br>**Losses**|**Balance at**<br>**31/8/2022**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|£|£|£|£|
|General|39,551|295,724|291,793|2,007,303||2,050,785|
|Designated-Manse<br>maintenance|16,332|-|-|(16,332)||0|
|Designated - Mission|865|-|-|(865)||0|
|Designated-<br>Stationing|2,250|-|-|(2,250)||0|
|Designated- Manses<br>Property|1,987,856|-|-|(1,987,856)||0|
|**Total funds**|**2,046,854**|**295,724**|**291,793**|**0**|**0**|**2,050,785**|



**BS5a Comparative movements in funds** 

|**Fund**|**Balance at**<br>**31/8/2020**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**Transfers**|**Gains/**<br>**Losses**|**Balance at**<br>**31/8/2021**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|£|£|£|£|
|General|49,985|279,626|278,310|(11,750)||39,551|
|Designated-Manse<br>maintenance|10,255|86|(5009)|11,000||16,332|
|Designated - Mission|965|-|100|||865|
|Designated-<br>Stationing|1500|-|-|750||2,250|
|Designated- Manses<br>Property|1,987,856|-|-|-||1,987,856|
|**Total funds**|**2,050,561**|**279,712**|**283,419**|**0**|**0**|**2,046,854**|



## **BS6 Comparative analysis of net assets between funds** 

||**General**|**Designated**|**Total 2021**|
|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|£|
|Tangible fixed assets|-|1,987,856|1,987,856|
|Current Assets|64,306|19,447|83,753|
|Current liabilities|(24,755)||(24,755)|
|**_Totals_**|**39,551**|**2,007,303**|**2,046,854**|



Page 18 



## **The Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit Notes to the accounts for year ending 31 August 2022** 

## **Funds handled on behalf of others.** 

None of the figures tabulated below appear elsewhere in these accounts. 

|**Related Party**|**Party**|**Balance at**<br>**31/8/21**|**Receipts**|**Payments**|**Balance at**<br>**31/8/2022**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||£|£|£|£|
|World Mission Fund|Connexion|654|1,936|2,590|0|
|Mission in Britain|Connexion|-|566|566|0|
|**_Totals_**||**654**|**2,502**|**3,156**|**0**|



Page 19 



**Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit** 

## **Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit** 

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Gordano Valley Methodist Circuit (the Circuit) for the year ended 31 August 2022. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity trustees of the Circuit 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 Circuit's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act. 

## **Independent examiner's statement** 

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of ICAEW which is one of the listed bodies. 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Circuit as required by Section 130 of the Act; or 

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

3. 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. 

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. 

Andrew Jordan ICAEW Haines Watts Chartered Accountants Bath House 6 - 8 Bath Street Bristol BS1 6HL 

Date: ...27[th] January 2023.......................................... 

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