**22/12 National Forest East Circuit Charity registration number: 1133460** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT** and ## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** for the year ended **31 AUGUST 2023** National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 1 of 9 ## **Administrative Information** ## **Circuit Ministers** Rev Louise Morrissey (Co-Superintendent) Rev Sally Ratcliffe Rev Phil Snelson (Co-Superintendent) ## **Children’s & Family Worker** Mrs Claire Claringbull ## **Property Manager** Mr Steve Rice ## **Circuit Stewards** Mr David Allsop Mrs Jackie Allsop 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: - a the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church, and - b any charitable purpose 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 or subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church. The Circuit is a group of local churches. Circuits combine to form 29 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. National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 3 of 9 ## **Organisational Structure** 1. Overall control rests with the Methodist Conference 2. The Connexional Office implements decisions made by Conference and is also responsible for the stationing of Ministers in individual Circuits 3. Connexional decisions are passed to the Chair of the District and the appropriate Officers of the District for regional implementation 4. 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 5. 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. 6. The Co-Superintendents share responsibility for chairing 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. 7. Churches, Circuits and Districts are able to pass matters upwards for consideration, ultimately to the Conference, for consideration and implementation where appropriate. 8. 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: - many churches make their premises available to other organisations that need somewhere to meet - some churches have long term tenants - uniformed organisations (scouts, cubs, beavers, guides, brownies and rainbows) are affiliated to some of our churches and meet at church premises - other outreach activities - raising money for other charities National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 4 of 9 ## **Trustees** The following Trustees (some with dual roles) were listed as current as at August 2023. Records are held of the Trustees in post and attending meetings during the course of the 2022-23 year. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Name Surname Representing Prime Role
David Allsop Circuit circuit steward
Jackie Allsop Circuit circuit steward
Sandra Bennett New Sawley treasurer
Julie Bromell Circuit circuit steward
Adrian Buesnel New Sawley steward
Linda Buesnel New Sawley representative
Sarah Chadwick Circuit circuit steward
Val Chadwin Sutton Bonington representative
supernumerary
Barbara Crockett Circuit
minister
Mark Dale Circuit circuit steward
Tina Dale Melbourne representative
Ron Davies Ashby treasurer
Daryl Dawson Weston representative
Steve Draper Melbourne representative
Sue Draper Circuit CM secretary
Linda Francis Ashby representative
Pam Goodenough [Marlborough ] representative
Square
Liz Hartley Sutton Bonington steward
supernumerary
David Haywood Circuit
minister
supernumerary
John Hudson Circuit
minister
Marlborough
Christine Hunt steward
Square
Rosemary Jameson Ashby steward
Diane Jeffries Weston representative
Alan Jones Circuit circuit steward
Irene Jones Hugglescote representative
Matt Lee Circuit circuit treasurer
Natalie Missenden Hall Lane representative
Louise Morrissey Circuit co-superintendent
Marlborough
Elspeth Myles treasurer
Square
John Peace Whitwick treasurer
Claire Pickering Hugglescote steward
Sally Ratcliffe Circuit minister
John Rutter Castle Donington representative
supernumerary
Dennis Smith Circuit
minister
Will Smith Melbourne representative
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National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 5 of 9 **----- Start of picture text -----**
Becky Snelson Circuit safeguarding officer
Phil Snelson Circuit co-superintendent
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 Louise Morrissey joined the Circuit in September 2022 and took over pastoral responsibility for Ashby, Moira Centenary, Castle Donington, Ibstock and the Measham Garden Fellowship. In March 2023 Revd Ratcliffe’s wish to step down from the role of Superintendent was communicated to the Circuit Meeting and it was subsequently agreed that Revds Snelson and Morrissey should become Co-Superintendents. 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. National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 6 of 9 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. Mr Steve Rice was appointed in July 2022 to carry out the role of part-time Property Manager. ## **Risk Management** Risks faced by the Circuit have been considered by its leadership team. 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. 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: - selected suitable accounting policies and applied them consistently using the receipts and payments method - made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent - followed applicable accounting standards - 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 National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 7 of 9 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 2022-23 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 -_ General expenditure currently exceeds income by at least £60,000 per year and assessment income is declining – so at least £350,000 needs to be kept in reserve to ensure current activities can continue for a five year period. A higher level than that will be retained to allow for the possibility of employing additional personnel for outreach and/or funding major projects in the Circuit. This policy will be reviewed when the number of churches in the Circuit and the number of active ministers and employees has been stabilised. _For Endowment Trust Funds –_ If possible the trusts will be closed and transferred 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. During the course of the year the Circuit received the net proceeds for the sales of church buildings at Thringstone, Oakthorpe, Worthington, Long Whatton, Kegworth and Aston. A small area of land next to the ‘Schoolroom’ at Griffydam was also sold. The net proceeds from all these sales totalled £842,040. ## **Funding of the Circuit’s Costs** This is achieved primarily by making an assessment on each church within the Circuit. If any church closes that church’s assessment ceases to be paid to the Circuit. The Circuit’s costs – principally the stipends and housing costs of the ministers – would continue and there would be a need to draw on reserves to meet the shortfall in income. ## **Annual costs** The Circuit believes that it should ensure that it has income and reserves sufficient to cover the stipends and manse costs of three ministers. The costs of other paid staff are currently met from reserves. National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 8 of 9 ## CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS National Forest East Circuit FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2023 Nottingham & Derby District Circuit no 22112 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 ex￿pted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) Ministers.. Revd Sally Ratcliffe Revd. Phil Snelson (C￿SUperintentent> Revd. Louise Morrissey 1Cc￿sUperIntentent) Circuit Stewards.. Julie Bromell Sarah Chadwick Mark Dale Alan Jones David Allsop Jackie Allsop Treasurer.. Matthew Lee page1 of4 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2023 National Forest East Circuit Circuit restricted Model Trust Restrictsd Fund5 Fund Funds Totals this year Tota15 last year SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note a2 Assessmenvshare 151.085 151,085 1.173,424 174,694 56,170 a3 a4 Capital receipts Bank and CFB inlere$l and Investment income 1,173,424 2,367 22,010 14481 23,930 1,736 a5 Grants a6 Other receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 43.538 12,316 11,868 55,854 1,404,293 26,600 259,199 a7 196,991 1.195,435 la81 SECTION B b1 b2 PAYMENTS Stipends, salaries, NIC, Pension and travel costs 169,525 12,528 169,525 12,528 7,890 52,608 36,524 149,373 15,869 10,333 56,572 82,360 b3 Manse Costs Administration ttlc 7.890 b5 District Assessment 52,608 36,524 Grants & donations b7 b8 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 30,527 309,601 336,833 336,833 153 367,513 646,587 63,115 377,621 b9 153 Ib91 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ¢1 a7-b9 112,610 858,602 11,715 757,706 118,423 c2 Total funds brou ht forward from last ear 115,876 150,396 29,792 296,064 Ic61 414,487 c3 Sub total Ic1+c2 3,265 1.008,998 41,507 1,OS3,770 296,064 Transfers and adjustments 177,480 1164,2511 113,2291 Ic71 ¢5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR 1¢3+c41 180,745 844,747 28,279 1.053.770 296,064 1¢61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS these amounts should not be included in total rècei tslpayments above) d1 Balance brou ht forward from last ear d2 OfferingslGifts received for external organisations OfferingslGifts - passed to extemal organisations BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID Id1 + d2- d31 3,291 3,364 3,364 d3 d4 3,291 page2of4 National Forest East Clrcu UMMARY F CIRC ACC ANDINTERNAL RGANI ATK)N RE RNN THE CIRC IT MEETIN SECTION E Sutnm?ry ol the Circut accounts lor th8 yearended 31 August 2023 and Inlemal OrgaDis8lions reporting to the Circuit Meeting Note th31 the furhds ol an Internal Org2niS8tion would normally be Restrided funds unless It Could be dearty shown thaithey cou￿ be used forany Methodist purpose. This sectiDn musl be CoMp￿ted lo arrive al the gross ￿e￿Ip1S arbd payments lolals of the Circuit. 11 gross Income exceeds IheAccruals threshold of £250.000, then the Accwals rnelhod ol aGwunling AND A DIFFERENT FORM tnusl lo wort thè a￿oUnt&(s￿8 Mtih￿l5l w*b$iltl. Plea* ratsr to lh$ guidanco nO￿S re9arding ir8nsfers between the Cifcuii and connected Cireuil Organisalions. om INTERNAL ORGANISAIIONS Net Receiptsi Payments Openlng b&l8neeg Rec*pts P2yments Adjustmentg Ckn$ing b&l8nceg 08klho e Church 52 42 42 11,5691 1,559 Ircultaccounts (totals br(>ughtfornard from pag8 2-totaL4 column) 1004,293 64fi￿87 757.706 c7 296,064 1,053,770 HELD BYCIRCUtT 1,404,J45 646,629 757,716 1,569 297,623 1,053,770 (yl TQTAL RECEIPT5 TOTAL PAYMENTS sheel rfnecessaryand bring sec1￿￿ F OPENING BALANCES CLOSING BALANCES CIRCUIT-CASH FUNDS HELD at31 Au ust2023 Gash In hand Bank Cuirent Account 5.733 B8nk De $itAct￿rnt Centr￿ Finsnce Board 101,532 175.012 Trustge$foY bjeihodist chU￿h Pu￿$ 180,189 873.026 (Xherfunds SUB TOTAL 296,064 1,053,770 Totalfunds had by IrnterTr￿ OrganisatlDllS Ithe closing b¥JathEeiotal8abovel le121 1,559 912 TOTAL CASH FUND5 HELD BY CIRCUIT 297,623 1,053,770 SECTION G At OTHER ASSETS and U4BIUTIES 1 5epiombor2022 31 Z023 Inve*ments Include Endovvments Land and Buldin see nDtes re Insuiance vdue 11.559.812 CAh9rA¥$•s 76.881 252.177 Loon - shw amount ￿$t￿ndin earend New Savley 500 her Li#￿1￿$ fA Indude only Funds hald atthe G8nlral Finan￿ 8oard f5 Indud* offlly GFB Funds he￿ atTrustge$forbJeihodist ch￿￿h Purpo$&& g1 Indude anyoiherinvesfftenis (not Ihe ¢ash element ofTMCP trU5taccounis ihis Is inserfed in lin&f51 ## ## ## ##