22/12 National Forest East Circuit Charity registration number: 1133460
TRUSTEES' REPORT
and
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 AUGUST 2022
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
page 1 of 9
Administrative Information
Circuit Ministers
Rev Sally Ratcliffe (Superintendent) Rev Phil Snelson Rev Louise Morrissey (from 1[st] September 2022)
Children’s & Family Worker
Mrs Claire Claringbull
Circuit Stewards
Mrs Julie Bromell Mrs Sarah Chadwick Mr Mark Dale Mr Alan Jones Mr Matthew Lee (Treasurer)
Circuit Meeting Secretary
Ms Sue Draper
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
Mrs Christine Fox 5 Windsor Avenue Melbourne Derby DE73 8FN
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
page 2 of 9
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 (some with dual roles) were listed as current as at November 2022. Records are held of the Trustees in post and attending meetings during the course of the 2021-22 year.
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Name Surname Representing Role
Ellen Beard Moira Centenary steward
Mark Bennett Hall Lane steward
Sandra Bennett New Sawley treasurer
Sandra Bennett Circuit LWP secretary
Julie Bromell Castle Donington treasurer
Julie Bromell Circuit circuit steward
Adrian Buesnel New Sawley steward
Linda Buesnel New Sawley representative
Sarah Chadwick Circuit circuit steward
Barbara Crockett Circuit supernumerary minister
Mark Dale Circuit circuit steward
Tina Dale Melbourne representative
Ron Davies Ashby treasurer
Daryl Dawson Aston & Weston treasurer
Steve Draper Melbourne representative
Sue Draper Circuit CM secretary
Linda Francis Ashby representative
Erika Goode Sutton Bonington representative
Pam Goodenough Marlborough Square representative
Ro Harding Ibstock treasurer
Liz Hartley Sutton Bonington steward
David Haywood Circuit supernumerary minister
John Hudson Circuit supernumerary minister
Christine Hunt Marlborough Square steward
Rosemary Jameson Ashby steward
Diane Jeffries Aston & Weston representative
Alan Jones Circuit circuit steward
Irene Jones Hugglescote representative
Matt Lee Circuit circuit treasurer
Matt Lee Melbourne treasurer
Louise Morrissey Circuit minister
Elspeth Myles Marlborough Square treasurer
John Peace Whitwick treasurer
Claire Pickering Hugglescote steward
Sally Ratcliffe Circuit superintendent minister
Shirley Reid Ibstock representative
John Rutter Castle Donington representative
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National Forest East Methodist Circuit
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Michael Sherratt Moira Centenary treasurer
Dennis Smith Circuit supernumerary minister
Will Smith Melbourne steward
Becky Snelson Circuit safeguarding officer
Phil Snelson Circuit minister
Ian Stanton Hugglescote treasurer
John Stent Hall Lane treasurer
Derek Whitmore Whitwick representative
Jean Whitmore Whitwick steward
Angela Wilson Sutton Bonington treasurer
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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 and New Sawley.
Revd Phil Snelson joined the Circuit on 1[st] September 2021 and has pastoral care of the following churches: Hugglescote, Hall Lane (Whitwick), Whitwick, and Marlborough Square (Coalville).
Revd. Jacky Goaten joined the Circuit as a Probationer Minister on 1[st] September 2016 and had pastoral care of Ashby, Worthington, Moira Centenary, Castle Donington, Ibstock and the Measham Garden Fellowship. She also had oversight of members in Oakthorpe and Worthington – in both cases the church buildings were sold early in the 202-23 year. Revd Louise Morrissey joined the Circuit in September 2022 and took over the responsibilities of Revd Goaten who moved to another Circuit.
National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 6 of 9
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 but Rev Dennis Smith and Deacon Barbara Crockett continue in part-time paid roles.
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 2020-21 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:
National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 7 of 9
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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 2021-22 year:
For general funds – Sufficient funds will be maintained to meet day-today 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 20% 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. General expenditure currently exceeds income by approximately £50,000 per year and assessment income is declining - so at least £300,000 needs to be kept in reserve to ensure current activities can continue for a five year period.
The Circuit will donate £50,000 from the MTF to the Connexional Appeal to help top up Pension Funds’ Reserves.
In addition the Circuit is considering recruitment of paid employees to oversee change management / mission, property and other activities. lt is likely that some capital receipts will be received following sale of properties e.g. Griffydam Schoolroom, Thringstone, Long Whatton, Worthington & Kegworth Churches.
This policy will be reviewed when recruitment decisions and the sales of properties are more advanced.
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
National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 8 of 9
| 2022 | NATIONAL | FOREST EAST | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Un- | Circuit | |||
| restricted | ModelTrust | Retdcted | Totalsthis | Totalslast |
| Funds | Fsnd |
Funds | year | year |
| €e | tf | f | ||
| 174.6U | 180,056 | |||
| 56"170 | ||||
| 1.736 | 3,863 | |||
| 26,600 | 32,507 | |||
| 259,199 la8l | 216,426 |
| SECTIONB | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| b'l | PAYUENTS | |||||||
| b2 | Stipends, salaries, NlC,Pension and | |||||||
| travel costs | 149,373 | 149.373 | 1*.372 | |||||
| b3 | ManseCosts | 't5.869 | 15.869 | 19,767 | ||||
| b4 | Administration etc | 9.292 | 953 | 88 | 10.333 | 9.404 | ||
| b5 | DistrictAssessment | fi,572 | 56,572 | 41,935 | ||||
| b6 | Grants &donations | 32.360 | 50.000 | 82,360 | r3,238 | |||
| b7 | ||||||||
| 1"576 | ||||||||
| b8 | Other payments | 39,545 | 23,570 | 63,{15 | fi,270 | |||
| b9 | rOTALPAYTET{TS | 303_0tt | 71.523 | 88 | 377,621 | 290,562 | ||
| c2 | NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTSFOR THE YEAR Total fundsbrouoht forwardfromlast |
vear I | 49.28€ | 334,480 | 30.721 | 414 | t;; I.s8sr3l |
|
| c3 | Subtotal | lcf+c2l | {51.0401 | 317.112 | 29.792 | 7-4n4,48;l | ||
| A | f ransfers and adiustments | 166.916 | ('t66.916) | tcn | ||||
| c5 | ToTALFUI{DSATEI{DOFYEAR | (c3+c4}l | 115,8761{50,3961 | 29,792 | 296,061 | tcSl | 4 |
| NTERilAL | NetReceiptsl | Opening | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ,RGAHISATIOI{S | Pavmenls | Adiustments | balances | Closino balances | ||||
| )1 | Oakthorpe Church | (3191 | 1.878 | 1-559 | ||||
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| '8 | )qanisationsfunds | (319' | 1,878 | te11l | 1,559 | le12) | ||
| (btalB | ||||||||
| I | 'ircuftaccounts brougmbrrerd ftofli pqp2-btabcolulrm) |
(118,423t | lc7, | 111A87 | (c6l | 296,(E4 | (c8l | |
| rl( | IIELD BY CIRCU]T | (118.7421 | 416,36! | xl | 297.62X | IYI | ||
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