22/12 National Forest East Circuit Charity registration number: 1133460
TRUSTEES' REPORT
and
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 AUGUST 2021
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
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Administrative Information
Circuit Ministers
Rev Sally Ratcliffe (Superintendent) Rev Jacky Goaten Rev Phil Snelson (from 1[st] September 2021)
Children’s & Family Worker
Mrs Claire Claringbull
Circuit Stewards
Mr Mark Bennett Mrs Julie Bromell Mrs Sarah Chadwick Mr Mark Dale Mr Alan Jones Mr Matthew Lee (Treasurer)
Circuit Meeting Secretary
Ms Allison Gilliver
Circuit Administrator
Mrs Teresa Godwin c/o Marlborough Square Methodist Church Coalville Leicestershire LE67 3WD
e-mail address: nfe.circuit@btconnect.com Telephone number 01530 830112
Independent Examiner
Mr John Harrison FCA 8 Farnham House Loughborough Road Quorn Loughborough LE12 8XH
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
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Trustees’ Report
Governance and Management
The Circuit is governed by the Methodist Church Act 1976, the Deed of Union and the Model Trust Deeds of the Methodist Church.
The purposes of the Methodist Church are, and shall be deemed to have been since the date of Union, the advancement of:
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a the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church, and
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b any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church, and
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c any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution or subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church.
The Circuit is a group of local churches. Circuits combine to form 30 districts in Great Britain. Although there is some autonomy, all Methodist organisations in Great Britain are governed by statutes determined by the Methodist Conference and which are published in the Constitution, Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church. Conference is the supreme body within the church: it delegates much of its authority to the Methodist Council. Both Conference and Council consist of lay and ordained members.
In setting objectives and planning activities, the Circuit Meeting, held three or four times each year, has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and, in particular, to its supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing our objectives as set out above.
During the year the Circuit Leadership Team (CLT) - the Circuit Ministerial Staff and Circuit Stewards - met regularly to keep the life of the Circuit under review and to take forward the decisions of the Circuit Meeting.
Activities
Our mission is to be a powerful, spiritual influence in the community and a visible expression of God’s inclusive love. We aim to achieve this by encouraging worship, social and outreach activities that currently exist within the churches in our Circuit, and also by seeking new ways to extend to others the fellowship of the Church family.
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Organisational Structure
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Overall control rests with the Methodist Conference
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The Connexional Office implements decisions made by Conference and is also responsible for the stationing of Ministers in individual Circuits
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Connexional decisions are passed to the Chair of the District and the appropriate Officers of the District for regional implementation
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The Districts pass the control down to Circuit level for local implementation by the Superintendent Minister, Ministerial staff, Circuit Stewards and others. Authority can be delegated by the Connexion and District to the Circuit Meeting for certain matters
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The Circuit Meeting passes control down to Church Councils for local implementation by the Minister, the Church Stewards and other officers. The Church Councils act as Managing Trustees.
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The Circuit Superintendent chairs meetings of the Circuit Leadership Team (CLT) and the Circuit Meeting, which trustees are expected to attend. Policy decisions are taken at the Circuit Meeting which is the supreme body for deciding matters at Circuit Level. Some powers are delegated by the Circuit Meeting to the CLT and other groups.
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Churches, Circuits and Districts are able to pass matters upwards for consideration, ultimately to the Conference, for consideration and implementation where appropriate.
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The Methodist Connexional year runs from 1 September to 31 August.
Charity Registration
The National Forest East Methodist Circuit was created on September 1[st] 2012 when the Castle Donington Circuit joined the Ashby & Coalville Circuit, which was already registered as a charity (registration number 1133460).
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty under the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. Specifically:
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many churches make their premises available to other organisations that need somewhere to meet
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some churches have long term tenants
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uniformed organisations (scouts, cubs, beavers, guides, brownies and rainbows) are affiliated to some of our churches and meet at church premises
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other outreach activities
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raising money for other charities
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Trustees
The following Trustees attended the Circuit Meeting during the course of the year:
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Trustee Name
Office Church based
Revd Sally Ratcliffe Superintendent Minister
Revd Jacqueline Goaten Presbyter
Rev Janet Tanner Presbyter (until 30/8/21)
Mrs Sarah Chadwick Circuit Steward Ashby
Mrs Claire Claringbull Children’s Worker Ashby
Mr Ronald Davies Ashby
Mrs Linda Francis Ashby
Mrs Rosemary Jameson Ashby
Mr Paul Blackmore Methodist Homes Rep Aston & Weston
Mrs Margaret Blackmore Aston & Weston
Mrs Beryl Hallam Aston & Weston
Mrs Daryl Dawson Aston & Weston
Mrs Diane Jeffries Aston & Weston
Mrs Joan Hill Castle Donington
Mr John Rutter Castle Donington
Mr Mark Bennett Circuit Steward & Hall Lane
Safeguarding Officer
Mrs Josephine Fisher Hall Lane
Mrs Allison Gilliver Hall Lane
Mrs Maureen Godfrey Hall Lane
Revd John Hudson Supernumerary Minister Hall Lane
Mr John Stent Hall Lane
Revd David Haywood Supernumerary Minister Hugglescote
Mr Alan Jones Circuit Steward Hugglescote
Mrs Irene Jones Hugglescote
Mrs Claire Pickering Hugglescote
Mr Ian Stanton Hugglescote
Mrs Rosslyn Harding Ibstock
Mrs Shirley Reid Ibstock
Mrs Norma Chapman Kegworth
Mrs Cheryl Heyes Kegworth
Mrs Gillian Jones Kegworth
Miss Margaret Mellors Kegworth
Mrs Wendy Werrell Kegworth
Mrs Joan Wills Kegworth
Mrs Pamela Goodenough Marlborough Sq.
Mrs Christine Hunt Marlborough Sq.
Mrs Elspeth Myles Marlborough Sq.
Mr Mark Dale Circuit Steward Melbourne
Mr Steven Draper Melbourne
Mr Andrew Jansen Melbourne
Mr Matthew Lee Circuit Treasurer Melbourne
Dr Will Smith Melbourne
Revd Dennis Smith Supernumerary Minister Melbourne
Mrs Pamela Worrall Melbourne
Mrs Ellen Beard Moira
Mr Michael Sherratt Moira
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National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 5 of 9
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Mrs Sandra Bennett New Sawley
Mrs Linda Buesnel Action For Children Rep New Sawley
Mr Adrian Buesnel New Sawley
Mr Godfrey Graver New Sawley
Mrs Pauline Smart New Sawley
Mrs Julie Bromell Circuit Steward Sutton Bonington
Mr Martin Crawford Sutton Bonington
Mr David Franklin Sutton Bonington
Mrs Erika Goode Sutton Bonington
Mrs Elizabeth Hartley Sutton Bonington
Mrs Angela Wilson Sutton Bonington
Mrs Ena Illidge Thringstone
Deacon Barbara Crockett Supernumerary Minister Whitwick
Mr John Peace Whitwick
Mrs Jean Whitmore Whitwick
Mr Derek Whitmore Whitwick
Revd Jill Bryant Supernumerary Minister Worthington
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Safeguarding
The Church of England and the Methodist Church work in partnership with other Christian Churches and other agencies in delivering safeguarding. The Circuit supports the following statement of principles agreed by the denominations:
Commitment to:
The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and all adults
The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and all adults
The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where victims of abuse can report or disclose abuse and where they can find support and best practice that contributes to the prevention of abuse
Each church in the Circuit is requested to appoint a safeguarding representative and the Circuit appoints a Safeguarding Officer to coordinate policies, practices and training which promotes safe practice amongst children and vulnerable adults.
Staff Responsibilities & Changes
Revd. Sally Ratcliffe became the Superintendent Minister of the Circuit on 1[st] September 2020 and has pastoral care of the churches at Melbourne, Aston & Weston, Sutton Bonington, Kegworth and New Sawley.
Revd Janet Tanner joined the Circuit on 1[st] September on 2016 and had pastoral care of the following churches: Hugglescote, Thringstone, Hall Lane (Whitwick), Whitwick, and Marlborough Square (Coalville). She retired at the end of August 2021 and has been replaced by Rev Phil Snelson.
Revd. Jacky Goaten joined the Circuit as a Probationer Minister on 1[st] September 2016 and now has pastoral care of Ashby, Worthington, Moira Centenary, Castle Donington, Ibstock and the Measham Garden Fellowship. She also has oversight of members in Oakthorpe. The society at
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Oakthorpe ceased to meet in 2020 and consideration on how the building will be used and what ongoing activity will be undertaken in the village is continuing.
A number of retired (“supernumerary”) ministers live and worship within the Circuit and carry out varying activities on behalf of the Circuit from time to time. Four of these Ministers accepted duties at specific churches with effect from October 2019 and were each paid the equivalent of 20% of a regular stipend during the 2020-21 year. Two of these Ministers (Rev David Haywood and Rev John Hudson) retired again from paid work at the end of August 2021.
Mrs Claire Claringbull joined the Circuit in February 2017, working 15 hours a week during term time as Worker With Children & Families.
Mrs Teresa Godwin continues to carry out the part-time paid role of Circuit Administrator based in an office rented from the Marlborough Square Church.
Risk Management
Through its CLT, risks faced by the Circuit have been considered. Where appropriate risks are insured – currently with the Methodist Insurance Company. The security and safety of our churches is largely for those churches to determine and to mitigate, taking advice from Circuit Officers and Insurers as appropriate.
All churches and manses are the subject of quinquennial inspections and the reports on each are reviewed by the Circuit as well as the local trustees. Action is taken to reduce the risks of injury to all who have a legitimate purpose to be on those premises.
All Churches have been surveyed for the presence of asbestos, mainly by Insulation & Environmental Services Ltd of Wigston in 2013. Reports were sent to each church for consideration in November 2013.
During the course of the year advice regarding actions to be taken with regard to the covid pandemic were circulated to all churches, and the Circuit met all costs related to testing for legionella.
We have considered the resilience of churches and the risk that they will not meet their assessments. We judge that there are sufficient resources to cover any possible shortfall in the following year.
The Circuit operates within a statutory framework of regulation and seeks to ensure that it follows Methodist standing orders. It relies on the Connexional Office to provide guidance on changes that could affect the Circuit.
Trustees’ Expenses
With the exception of the ministerial staff and supernumerary ministers who can claim for travel and administrative expenses, and a very small number of claims for reimbursement of small-value administration costs, members of the Circuit Meeting received neither payment nor reimbursement of their expenses in connection with their function as trustees.
Trustees’ Responsibilities
The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the Circuit’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees have:
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selected suitable accounting policies and applied them consistently using the receipts and payments method
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made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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followed applicable accounting standards
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prepared the financial statements on a going concern basis.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Circuit and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Circuit and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Trustees have a right to advise the independent examiner of their concerns but none has done so. The CLT concludes, therefore, that there are no issues to be advised to the independent examiner.
Financial Review
The Circuit prepares receipts and payments accounts. They are not a consolidation of the accounts of churches in the Circuit. The Circuit budget is prepared by first anticipating the expenditure for the forthcoming year and then determining how that sum will be raised.
The Circuit adopted the following policy for the reserves in the 2020-21 year:
For general funds - Sufficient funds will be maintained to meet day-to-day operating expenses, including stipends and manse costs. They will be topped up as required by withdrawal from the Model Trust Fund
For the Model Trust Fund - No more than 15% of the Model Trust Fund will normally be allocated as grants to churches or to circuit activities in any Connexional year. The Circuit Meeting may decide to exceed this limit if special needs or opportunities arise.
The Circuit plans to keep a high level of reserves in the 2020-21 Connexional year so that it is in a position to meet challenges posed by the covid virus, and plan for future mission & outreach activities.
The Circuit will seek ways to balance its income with expenditure and then maintain a minimum of £150,000 in reserve to be ready to meet Ministry and other expenses, and to be able to respond favourably to requests to support from Churches which prioritise mission and outreach.
For Endowment Trust Funds - The funds will be maintained as they are as investments, and provide a small income to general funds.
Capital Assets
The proceeds of sale of the premises of any Methodist Church or manse within the Circuit is generally credited to the Circuit. There is, however, a substantial levy paid to the Connexion (the Methodist Church in GB) so not all of the proceeds are received by the Circuit. No capital assets were bought or sold in the year.
The Circuit received rent for the hire of the Old Schoolroom at Griffydam and the unused manse at Castle Donington during the year. The Church building at Griffydam was sold in the 2014-15 year and the Old Schoolroom has subsequently been sold in November 2021.
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CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
National Forest East
Circuit
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
| District Nottingham & Derby |
Circuit no | 22/12 |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Charity - Charity Registration number | ||
| 1133460 |
If not a registered charity Her 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 )
Ministers: Rev Sally Ratcliffe Rev Jackie Goaten Rev Phil Snelson
Circuit Stewards: Julie Bromell Mark Bennett Sarah Chadwick Mark Dale Alan Jones Treasurer: Matthew Lee
page 1 of 4 pages
| SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note £ £ 20ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Un - restricted Funds Circuit Model Trust Fund |
SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note £ £ 20ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Un - restricted Funds Circuit Model Trust Fund |
SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note £ £ 20ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Un - restricted Funds Circuit Model Trust Fund |
SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note £ £ 20ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Un - restricted Funds Circuit Model Trust Fund |
SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note £ £ 20ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Un - restricted Funds Circuit Model Trust Fund |
SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note £ £ 20ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Un - restricted Funds Circuit Model Trust Fund |
National Forest East | National Forest East | National Forest East | Circuit | Circuit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ Restricted Funds |
£ 180,056 3,863 32,507 Totals this year |
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| SECTION A | ||||||||||
| a1 | RECEIPTS | Note | ||||||||
| a2 | Assessment/Share | 180,056 | 180,056 | 192,092 | ||||||
| a3 | Capital receipts | 58,724 | ||||||||
| a4 | Bank and CFB interest and Investment income |
285 | 1,137 | 2,441 | 3,863 | 4,112 | ||||
| a5 | Grants | |||||||||
| a6 | Other receipts | 32,507 | 32,507 | 19,467 | ||||||
| a7 | TOTAL RECEIPTS | 212,848 | 1,137 | 2,441 | **216,426 ** | (a8) | 274,395 | |||
| SECTION B | 154,372 19,767 9,404 41,936 13,238 1,576 50,270 |
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| b1 | PAYMENTS | |||||||||
| b2 | Stipends, salaries, NIC, Pension and travel costs |
154,372 | 154,372 | 150,983 | ||||||
| b3 | Manse Costs | 19,767 | 19,767 | 16,130 | ||||||
| b4 | Administration etc | 8,643 | 704 | 57 | 9,404 | 7,611 | ||||
| b5 | District Assessment | 41,936 | 41,936 | 49,468 | ||||||
| b6 | Grants & donations | 13,238 | 13,238 | 48,338 | ||||||
| b7 | Preaching related | 1,576 | 1,576 | 2,503 | ||||||
| b8 | Otherpayments | 32,603 | 17,666 | 50,270 | 53,819 | |||||
| b9 | TOTAL PAYMENTS | 272,135 | 18,370 | 57 | **290,562 ** | (b9) | 328,852 | |||
| (74,136) | ||||||||||
| SECTION C | ||||||||||
| c1 | NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR |
(a7-b9) | (59,287) | (17,234) | 2,385 | (74,136) | ||||
| c2 | Total funds brought forward from lastyear | 108,073 | 352,213 | 28,336 | 488,623 | (c6) | ||||
| 414,487 | ||||||||||
| c3 | Sub total (c1+c2) |
48,786 | 334,980 | 30,721 | 414,487 | |||||
| c4 | Transfers and adjustments | 500 | (500) | (c7) | ||||||
| c5 | TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4) |
49,286 | 334,480 | 30,721 | **414,487 ** | (c8) | **488,623 ** | (c6) |
| SECTION D | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| d | FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS 3,482 3,482 Offerings/Gifts -passed to external organisations BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1 + d2 - d3) Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations Balance brought forward from lastyear (these amounts should not be included in total receipts/payments above) |
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| d1 | Balance brought forward from lastyear |
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| d2 | Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations | 4,236 | |
| d3 | Offerings/Gifts -passed to external organisations | 4,236 | |
| d4 | BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1 + d2 - d3) |
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National Forest East
Circuit
SUMMARY OF CIRCUIT ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATION REPORTING TO THE CIRCUIT MEETING
SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page Summary of the Circuit accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Circuit 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 receipts and payments totals of the Circuit. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold of £250,000, 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 Circuit and connected Circuit Organisations.
| SECTION E | SECTION E | SECTION E | SECTION E | SECTION E | SECTION E | SECTION E | SECTION E | SECTION E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary of the Circuit accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Circuit 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 receipts and payments totals of the Circuit. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold of £250,000, 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 Circuit and connected Circuit Organisations. |
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| INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS |
Adjustments | Opening balances |
Closingbalances | ||||||
| e1 | Oakthorpe Church | (1) | with receipts | 1,878 | |||||
| e2 | |||||||||
| e3 | |||||||||
| e4 | |||||||||
| e5 | |||||||||
| e6 | |||||||||
| e7 | |||||||||
| e8 | Sub total of Internal Organisations funds |
1,879 | (1) | (e11) | **1,878 ** | (e12) | |||
| e9 | Circuit accounts (totals brought forward from page 2 - totals column) |
(74,136) | (c7) | **488,623 ** | (c6) | **414,487 ** | (c8) | ||
| e10 | TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT |
(72,257) | (1) | **488,623 ** | (x) | **416,365 ** | (y) | ||
| SECTION F |
SECTION F STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
| SECTION F STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES |
SECTION F STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIRCUIT - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2021 | OPENING BALANCES |
CLOSING BALANCES |
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| f1 | Cash in hand | |||||
| f2 | Bank Current Accounts | 21,853 | 18,760 | |||
| f3 | Bank Deposit Account | |||||
| f4 | Central Finance Board | 86,219 | 30,525 | |||
| f5 | Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes | 380,550 | 365,201 | |||
| f6 | Other funds | |||||
| f7 | SUB TOTAL | **488,623 ** | (c6) | **414,487 ** | (c8) | |
| f8 | Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing balance totals above) (e12) |
(e11) | 1,878 | (e12) | ||
| f9 | TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT | **488,623 ** | (x) | 416,365 | (y) | |
| SECTION G | At | At | ||||
| OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES New Sawley Loan(s)- show amount outstandingatyear end Land and Buildings(see notes re Insurance value) Other Assets Other Liabilities Investments(include Endowments) |
1 September 2020 1,042,375 63,390 |
31 August 2021 1,068,427 68,400 500 |
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| g1 | Investments(include Endowments) | |||||
| g2 | Land and Buildings(see notes re Insurance value) | 1,042,375 | 1,068,427 | |||
| g3 | Other Assets | 63,390 | 68,400 | |||
| g4 | Loan(s)- show amount outstandingatyear end | 500 | ||||
| g5 | Other Liabilities |
f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board
f5 Include only CFB Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trust accounts this is inserted in line f5)
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