**Trustees' Annual Report for the period 01/09/2021 to 31/08/2022 Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor Methodist Circuit** ## **Objectives and activities** The purposes of the Methodist Church are the advancement of: - a) The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and discipline of The Methodist Church; - b) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit. local or other organisation of The Methodist Church; - c) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church; - d) Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church. **The mission statement of TDSS Circuit is** ‘To be Pilgrim People – on a journey: honouring God, sharing our faith, respecting and helping all.’ Our circuit priorities: worked out through the Circuit Meeting and the Circuit Leadership Team are: - God-centred worship and prayer - Action to help where there is need - Developing confidence to share our faith with others - Encouraging fresh ways of being church - Care, respect, inclusion and love for all - Belief that we have a future The Circuit acts as an umbrella body for the 7 Methodist Churches, which fall within the Circuit’s area. The Circuit produces a quarterly preaching plan to ensure regular acts of worship take place at each of those 7 churches. These are open to all people without charge. ## **Achievements and Performance.** The trustees have taken note of the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and in particular their guidance on charities for the advancement of religion, when planning their activities. The actions taken by the circuit meet the requirement for there to be an identifiable public benefit or benefits and that such benefit is to the public or a section of the public. During the 2021/22 financial year the Circuit has used its funds raised from the churches in the following ways: - Our ministers together with local preachers provide regular Sunday worship in our churches. Such services are freely available to their local communities and every effort is made to make the experience of worship welcoming and meaningful to visitors. - The Circuit encourages its churches as they continue to rebuild and recover from the challenges of the Covid pandemic, reviewing their position in their communities, and envisioning new ways of engaging and connecting with new people. - The Circuit has provided courses for those requiring Safeguarding training, and has ensured that DBS checks have been completed for those whose voluntary posts require them. The Circuit has adopted and regularly reviews its Safeguarding Policy - covering both children and vulnerable adults - and has ensured it is rolled out to the churches. - The Circuit continues to support local churches in their work with young people. - • The Circuit has carried out its oversight of the churches through 4 meetings of the Circuit - There is a regular review process carried out by the Leadership Team to ensure that the Charity is fulfilling its objectives. - Risks to the Circuit are considered by the Circuit Leadership Team (*see below) who oversee the day to day running of the charity and report to the full meeting of Trustees. Professional advice is taken as required. - A Church and Community worker isi employed by one of the churches, to manage the lettings of the building, to engage with the local community, and to support the minister in the day to day life of the church. - The Circuit continues to prioritise the commitments of Our Calling as it encourages its members to grow in discipleship and share God’s love in their contexts. ## **Financial review** During the year the Circuit received total receipts of £142,063 (2020-21 £139,241.00) and dispersed £151,306 (2020-21 £144,478.00) The trustees of the Circuit have every reason to believe that the Circuit is a going concern, principally because churches continue to meet the assessments required of them. The Circuit has adequate reserves to cover any unforeseen events. Trustees do not foresee any factors that will significantly affect the financial performance or position in the next year or two. The Circuit holds 5 freehold properties, 2 being used to house the Ministers of the Circuit and 3 being rented out to supplement the income produced by assessment. The Circuit has the following principal sources of funds: - Assessments on Churches within the Circuit - Interest on investments - Rents paid for the 3 additional houses owned and rented out. These sums are used primarily to cover the various expenses of the Circuit budget, including the ministers’ stipends. ## **Reserves Policy** - The Reserves Policy for the Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor Circuit is to hold liquid assets equivalent to 6 months' average expenditure. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure on manses and to be able to continue in the short term funding planned activities in the event of the closure of a large church or an inability to raise the full Circuit Assessment from churches. - It is necessary to hold sufficient working capital to enable the quarterly payment of stipends and business expenses for 2 paid ministers, to fund any lay workers, and to cover our contribution to the District and the Connexion. • Details of funds materially in deficit. There are none. ## **Structure governance and management** ## **Description of the charity's trusts** _Type of governing_ Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church _document_ Act (1976) _How the charity is_ Act of Parliament _constituted Trustee selection methods_ Appointed by local churches and existing trustees. Ministers are automatically trustees _Additional governance_ None _issues Induction/Training_ A range of guidance is produced by Methodist Connexion. Leaflet 'The Role of a Trustee in The Methodist Church' is given to each trustee. _Structure_ Part of the Plymouth and Exeter Methodist District. Accountable to the Methodist Conference. _Related Parties_ None **Reference and administration details** _Charity Name_ Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor Methodist Circuit. _Registered Charity Number_ 1133126. _Charity's Principal Address_ Temple Methodist Church, Upper High Street, Taunton TA1 3PY ## _Names of the Charity Trustees who manage the charity_ . The Charity Trustees are the members of the Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor Circuit Meeting. This comprised during the year of this report. Some of these need to be adjusted for 21-22 *Rev Christopher Brown *Peter Thomas *Rev Deborah Kirk *Carol Stowe *Richard Sillett *Ian Rossiter Hazel Burnett Joanne Pinguenet Francis Lewis Chris Downing **----- Start of picture text -----**
Brenda Lamberton Elaine Dew
Marlene Burnell Janet Sillett
Virginia Pearson Merlyn Brown
Roy Crouch Jane Allin
Margaret Walters Barbara Poole
Sue Parker Kevin Boseley
John Haines Peter Crew
Graham Dickinson Anthony Huxtable
Doreen Marks Robin Hutt
Lynda Kazer Tony Cox
David Clitheroe Michael Parsons
Anne Jordan Lynne Mayers
Christopher Mitchell Valerie Pearson
Glenys Allinson Denise Eggington
**----- End of picture text -----**
* indicates a member of the Circuit Leadership Team, who as a group manage the Circuit between full Circuit Meetings. _Custodian trustees_ Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes Manchester ## **Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees ## **Deborah Kirk Natalie Knight** Full name(s) Deborah Kirk Natalie Knight Position Chair 2023 Secretary Date 31.05.23 Appended to this report is the Statement of Financial Activity for the year concerned together with the Balance Sheet at year end. CIRCUIT RECEJFryS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE MEfHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Taunton D••n• •nd Circurt FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022 24115 A•gIrt•r￿ Charlty. C￿lIty Rog1￿•t10n nwnb•T 1133128 If n(rt a regbts•J c￿lity H•r I￿•￿8￿$ and Cu•tuns Glft Akl numb¢r HMRC numb￿ is w4uivaSent to a wist8r8d charity number in tem￿ ofe¥wJ8nce of Charitab￿ status Kl may b8 US8d to gi￿ to donoTr LY grant fuThJws vAshiro to see eVKIan￿ Of￿ cffganisation's charitsb ststus. Methodist tharths in EThJIa￿l aThJ Walés thal thantss are exceOed from registrabon Strknrt￿ Instr￿￿ 2014 No.2421 Ministers: Cirrwit Stw4MThlB.' Rw*ard Silkntt 2015CW R*>J PJ SECTION A al RECEIPTS 105,427 1Cv3237 Ca ital r8¢* k *vJ CFB Internst ¥NI 158 103 281 138 29.879 1Jg364 TOTAL RE¢Em 1A137 103 136341 SE¢Tk)N 8 b1 b2 PAYIIEK Sbp8ndg. 581¥ies. NIC. 82.3 16 75,159 14294 4.056 b3 Manse Costs 15.435 AdkThThslratw * ts5 29.971 87 29.807 b7 11,178 11247 IH4n 8.047 138.668 TOTAL PAYIAENTS SECTION ¢ NET RECEIPTSIPAYIEYfs FOR THE YEAR ¢1 702 16n 110.938 110.3S2 Sub totjl ¢1+¢2 1•1701 110938 TOTAL FUNOS AT ENO OF YEAR 1¢3+¢41 10.146 41AS7 101.701 110,938 secT￿N O FOR INFORX4TW)M ONLY: I￿NEy RECEIVED AMD PASSED 011 TO EXTERIIAL ORGAMISATIOMS c51 Balance brou 1.471 1.471 d3 1.471 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID d1+d2-d3 1.471 3)1SCWRvrtP** 110 1•2Jn 110.•3• SECTf*l F 41.2Y 110.131 101,701 1lQ.•J• 101 701 Name of C*vJit Taunton Dea￿ arKI S¢JJlh Sadgemcor... No 24115 Declarations and Scrutiny l eonfirn) that th9s8 Receipt arKI Paymenl based for th8 ￿ar to 31 Awusl 2022 have begn prepar8d from ihe records of Its Cmirt and thal th8y all funds Lnder tha control of tho Circuit mfyètsng. Signature of treasurer ..... 1111112 Name and address of tf8aSWer......... 8 Irwell Green. TAUNTON TA2 1TA Presentation to the Circuit me•tin9 I confwrn Ihat the annual reKxxt and accounts fc* the year ended 31 A￿ust 2022 werela. f)QLo￿kn 1" 202L presented lo Ihg circurtmeebnghekl￿................, Signalure of tho Chair of the m8èb" Name of the Chair of the meelirvj ...D&Lmh Kirk 1/12122 Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor Circuit Charity Number 1133126 Responsibllhies and basis of report I rewrt to th9 trustees on my examination ol the accounis of the Taunlon Dearn and Souih Sedgemoor Circuit for the year èndod 31 Augu512022 set out on pages 1 to 3 As Circuit's tnjslèes, you are resp)nsible for Ihe weparats.on ol the accounts in accordan￿ wth thè rewrements of the Charities Aci 2011 I'the Acl'l. I retM)rt In respect of my examinatmin of Ihe CifciiII's accounts carried out urKlor s￿tion 145 of the Act and. in caT￿ng out my examination. I have followed all Ihe appIl￿ble Directk>n¥ given by Iho Charity Comrniss￿n under section 145{5)Ibl of the Acl. delele or cirde as appropnale ISCr¢x* R P.>ts 4d5 Name of Circuit Taunton Deane and South S•Jpnw No 2915 Indowndont Examlnorf• Statement I have o)mpleted my examination. I confirn Ihat no matsrial matters have com8 to my attention In connection vAth the examinatK)n (other than that disdosed belo￿> give me cause to believe that in. any material resi*d: the accounting records vftre not kept in a¢￿[danI% wih section 130 of the Act: or Ihe accourrts do not accord vmth ts accountirrfj records. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wtlh the examination to ich attention should be drawn in this in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Ihav ave nor ined iThJepeThknt ¥erif#alK)n of all *i¥eslments with the Trustees for Methodist Church uTpo3es or held in other trusts, bank balarKX and funds at the Centrdl Finan(* Board of the MetlKxlist Church are indi￿lUa1￿ in ex(￿ of £10,OLK) (ten Ihousand pounds) at the balancé sh8&t date. s￿nature of irKleperthnt examiner Name of independent examiner .........Dav*J H￿￿Ing5 .... Relevant profe88ional qualificat￿ of Indynd8nt examlner ............C Math............................. Nameof fimi (where appropriate) .................................. Address .................................5 Hither Acre, ILMINSTER.................................... Post Code TA19 9DA Data ' delets or cirdè as appropr&ts Sep22 2015C*oAR * Pjlts