**22/12 National Forest East Circuit Charity registration number: 1133460**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT** and
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
for the year ended **31 AUGUST 2024**
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
page 1 of 9
## **Administrative Information**
_(current at the date of the signature on this report)_
## **Circuit Ministers**
Rev Louise Morrissey (Co-Superintendent) Rev Phil Snelson (Co-Superintendent) Rev Nikki Geeson
## **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 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 24 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 (‘CPD’). 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 bring people into a relationship with God, through Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
**We want to:** encourage discipleship, enable gifts, and transform individuals, reaching out with God's love to the lost and hurting, whilst seeking to be relevant in our local communities.
**We desire to:** support and be visible at local community activities. We recognise that individuals are at different points in their faith journey, and need to encourage people of all ages to fully participate in the life of the church, enabling our people to reach their full potential in Christ.
National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 3 of 9
**Our policy on leadership and ministry is:** to work as a collaborative team, taking opportunities to work ecumenically. There are formal staff meetings each month, and leadership team meetings at least quarterly.
A five year Mission Plan, updated annually, is shown on the Circuit’s website (www.nfecircuit.org)
## **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) served during the course of the 2023-24 year. Records are held of the Trustees in post and attending meetings during the course of the year.
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Name Surname Representing Prime Role
David Allsop Circuit circuit steward
Jackie Allsop Circuit circuit steward
Sandra Bennett New Sawley treasurer
Dawn Bishop Whitwick representative
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
Mark Dale Circuit circuit steward
Tina Dale Melbourne representative
Ron Davies Ashby treasurer
Steve Draper Melbourne representative
Sue Draper Circuit CM secretary
Linda Francis Ashby representative
Pam Goodenough [Marlborough ] representative
Square
Liz Hartley Sutton Bonington steward
Katie Hawkins Circuit LWP Secretary
supernumerary
David Haywood Circuit
minister
supernumerary
John Hudson Circuit
minister
Marlborough
Christine Hunt steward
Square
Rosemary Jameson Ashby steward
Melbourne (@
Kay Jeffries representative
Weston)
Alan Jones Circuit circuit steward
Irene Jones Hugglescote representative
Angela Kirk Castle Donington representative
Christine Lee Melbourne 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
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National Forest East Methodist Circuit
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supernumerary
Dennis Smith Circuit
minister
Becky Snelson Circuit safeguarding officer
Phil Snelson Circuit co-superintendent
Ian Stanton Hugglescote treasurer
Gillian Stent Hall Lane representative
John Stent Hall Lane treasurer
Melbourne (@
Deborah Stevenson representative
Weston)
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 had pastoral care of the churches at Melbourne, Weston, Sutton Bonington and New Sawley. From 2023 the Weston Church merged with the Church at Melbourne. Sally moved to another Circuit on 1[st] September 2024 and pastoral care for these churches was taken over from that date by **Revd. Nikki Geeson,** a Probationer Minister, who has been welcomed with her family to the Circuit.
**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. The Ibstock Church has since closed
National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 6 of 9
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.
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.
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.
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
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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 Arrangements**
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 reserves in the 2023-24 year:
## **Reserves policy for General Funds**
General funds will be used for the day-to-day running expenses of the Circuit and will be supplemented as required by transfers from the Model Trust Fund.
## **Policy for Restricted Funds**
The Circuit Meeting has agreed that a request should be made to close all Trust Funds (other than the Model trust Fund) and transfer the proceeds into general funds. This will save administrative effort and the original purposes of the trusts have largely been forgotten.
## **Terms relating to Endowment Funds & Model Trust Fund held**
Transfers from the Model Trust Fund into the General Fund are required to maintain the current level of activity. The funds are also available to use for new projects or mission initiatives, especially any opportunities which are identified by the New Projects Researcher appointed in September 2023. The reserve level will therefore be maintained at the highest possible level to allow current activity to continue as appropriate for at least 3 more years.
If total reserves fall below £200,00 a further review will be held.
In December 2021 the Circuit donated £50,000 to the Central Pension Reserve Fund. The 2024 Methodist Conference decided that such donations could be returned following a review of Pension Funding so the amount given was returned to the Circuit’s Model Trust Fund on 1[st] August 2024 with additional interest of £4,279.58
## **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 proceeds from the sale of the church buildings at
Ibstock.
The Circuit continues to own a house in Castle Donington, formerly a manse, which is let out through letting agents.
National Forest East Methodist Circuit page 8 of 9
The Circuit took over responsibility for the Castle Donington Church when the decision was made to stop using the buildings and the congregation moved to rented premises for Sunday worship. The Church buildings were subsequently sold in November 2024.
## 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 Circuif'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 shorifail 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.
## Approvals
This Financial Statements of the Circuit were approved by the Circuit Meeting held on 19 September 2024, subject to inspection by the independent examiner. The examiner signed the Financial Statements on 5 January 2025 to confirm she had completed the inspection satisfactorily. The written report was approved at the Circuit Meeting held on 12 March 2025.
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Signed on behalf of the Trustees
|
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Co-Sufperintendent Minister
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Date
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MKS...
Treasurer
Date
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page 9 of 9
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
**CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS**
# **THE METHODIST CHURCH**
# **STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS**
## **National Forest East**
Circuit
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED**
## **31 August 2024**
Nottingham & Derby **District Circuit no** 22/12 1133460
**Registered Charity - Charity Registration number**
## If not a registered charity **His 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:**
Revd. Nikki Geeson Revd. Louise Morrissey (Co-Superintentent) Revd. Phil Snelson (Co-Superintentent)
## **Circuit Stewards:**
Julie Bromell Sarah Chadwick Mark Dale Alan Jones David Allsop Jackie Allsop **Treasurer:** Matthew Lee
page 1 of 4
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ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 National Forest East Circuit
Un - Circuit
restricted Model Trust Restricted Totals this Totals last
SECTION A Funds Fund Funds year year
a1 RECEIPTS Note £ £ £ £ £
a2 Assessment/Share 137,481 137,481 151,085
a3 Capital receipts 167,691 167,691 1,173,424
a4 Bank and CFB interest and
Investment income
5,342 46,357 51,699 23,930
a5 Return of gift to pension reserve fund with interest 54,280 54,280
a6 Other receipts 28,951 1,795 30,746 55,854
a7 TOTAL RECEIPTS 171,773 268,327 1,795 441,895 (a8) 1,404,293
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Stipends, salaries, NIC, Pension and
travel costs 166,412 166,412 169,525
b3 Manse Costs 16,028 16,028 12,528
b4 Administration etc 7,631 84 7,715 7,890
b5 District Assessment 54,924 54,924 52,608
b6 Grants & donations 128,358 128,358 36,524
b7
b8 Other payments 24,012 100,090 124,102 367,513
b9 TOTAL PAYMENTS 397,364 100,090 84 497,538 (b9) 646,587
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FOR
c1 THE YEAR (a7-b9) (225,591) 168,237 1,711 (55,643) 757,706
c2 Total funds brought forward from last year 180,745 844,747 28,279 1,053,770 (c6) 296,064
c3 Sub total (c1+c2) (44,846) 1,012,984 29,990 998,128 1,053,770
c4 Transfers and adjustments 184,490 (154,500) (29,990) (c7)
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4) 139,644 858,484 (0) 998,128 (c8) 1,053,770
SECTION D
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
d (these amounts should not be included in total receipts/payments above)
d1 Balance brought forward from last year
d2 Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations 2,372 3,291
d3 Offerings/Gifts - passed to external organisations 2,372 3,291
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1 + d2 - d3)
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page 2 of 4
**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 2024 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 Net Receipts/ Opening
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances Closing balances
Sub total of Internal
Organisations funds (e11)
Circuit accounts (totals
brought forward from
page 2 - totals column) 441,895 (a8) 497,538 (b9) (55,643) (c7) 1,053,770 (c6) 998,128
TOTAL CASH FUNDS
HELD BY CIRCUIT 441,895 497,538 (55,643) 1,053,770 (x) 998,128
Continue on a separate TOTAL
sheet if necessary and bring TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS
the totals forward
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
OPENING CLOSING
CIRCUIT - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2023 BALANCES BALANCES
Cash in hand
Bank Current Accounts 5,733 6,167
Bank Deposit Account
Central Finance Board 175,012 133,477
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 873,026 858,484
Other funds
SUB TOTAL 1,053,770 (c6) 998,128
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing
(e11)
balance totals above) (e12)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT 1,053,770 (x) 998,128
SECTION G At At
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES 1 September 2023 31 August 2024
Investments (include Endowments)
includes CD
Land and Buildings (see notes re Insurance value) Church 11,559,812 11,000,277
Other Assets 252,177 175,000
Loan(s) - show amount outstanding at year end Moira 10,111
Other Liabilities
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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)
page 3 of 4
Name of Circuit:
National Forest East
No. 22/12
Charity No.
1133460
## Declarations and Scrutiny
| confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2024 have been prepared from the records of the Circuit and that they include all funds under the control of the Circuit meetina. 2 Signature of treasurer...ects Ao Date: 1st November 2024 Name and address of treasurer: 80 Derby Road, Melbourne, Derby DE73 8FL Presentation to the Circuit meeting | confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 were presented to the Circuit meeting, subject to independent examination, held on 19th September 2024 Signature of the Chair of the meeting ..........\..5°.7 LONI cece cee eeeeeeeteteeteenenas Name of the Chair of the meeting ...... PK. SNECSON wore. Date wt [pas
## Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the Circuit
## Responsibilities and basis of report
| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the National Forest East Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages 2 and 3. As the Circuit's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
| 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, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
| have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below*) which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- e the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or e the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
| 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.
| have/have not* obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. a
|
Signature of independent examiner... wt FASS... oc cecueeeseeeueeeseutereeeetetnetens
Name of independent examiner Christine Fox
Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner
Retired Accountant
Name of firm (where appropriate) n/a
Address 5 Windsor Avenue, Melbourne, Derby DE73 8FN
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