2025-08-31-accounts - The Fens Circuit

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1[st] September 2024 To 31[st] August 2025

Charity name: The Fens Methodist Circuit

Charity registration number: 1133790

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The purpose of the Methodist Church is and shall be deemed to have been since the Date of the Union the advancement of: a) The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards of discipline in 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. These objectives are interpreted at Circuit levels through the ‘Circuit Mission Statement and Policy’ document (available on request).
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	The Circuit produces a quarterly plan to ensure that regular acts of worship take place in each of the eight Circuit Churches. These are open to all without charge. All the Circuit churches serve their local community through their availability for baptisms, marriages and funerals. The properties are variously used by community organisations. Some properties were specifically built to serve both as a worship and as a community centre. The trustees encourage all Circuit churches to use their buildings, where suitable, for the benefit of the community. Where appropriate, grants are made available to promote this community engagement. Examples of such are: Parent and Toddler Group, community lunches, a daily coffee bar, women’s fellowship, youth groups, uniformed organisations, professional advice services. These are open to all, irrespective of Church allegiance.

		We seek to address the spiritual needs of those in residential care.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	The Circuit continues the process of each church undertaking a mission and vision review. September 2024 continued with a settled team consisting of a Hospitality Lay Pastor to support the Superintendent Minister, in addition to a part-time Administrator and Coffee Bar Manager for Trinity Coffee Bar. Staffing levels have remained consistent. The Hospitality Lay Pastor interacted across the churches, with congregations and local communities, to encourage working towards the principles of the Social Gospel and the Methodist Church doctrine that: All need to be saved All can be saved All can know they are saved All can be saved to the uttermost. The churches have updated and will continue to monitor their Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults procedure training and DBS checks. We have three redundant buildings, one of which remains on the market (Tydd St Giles). An offer has been accepted for Terrington St John, and we are finalising the agreement with solicitors. St Andrews Outwell has been valued for sale; outstanding issues with the Ministry of Justice are delaying progress.

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The Circuit accounts are available for inspection. The Circuit Advance Fund is used to subsidise the Connexional assessment, to provide grants towards the cost of major repairs and to cover any shortfall in the assessments from local churches. On the 1stSeptember 2024, the Fens Circuit held total cash funds of £207,771 and on the 31stAugust 2025, had a closing balance of £120,702.

Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	It is necessary to hold sufficient working capital to facilitate the payment of Connexional and District assessments, business expenses and the services of a part-time Circuit Administrator and Lay Employees.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£27,914
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as an ongoing concern	Para 1.23	N/A

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document	Para 1.25	Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976)
How is the charity constituted?	Para 1.25	Act of Parliament
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Appointed by local churches and existing trustees. Ministers are automatically trustees.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	The Fens Methodist Circuit is part of the East Anglia Methodist District. It has 8 churches that were served by the Superintendent Minister.
Other		Statistical returns for 1stNovember 2024 showed a membership of 138. The Methodist/URC Local Ecumenical Partnership Church in March had an additional 8 URC members.

Reference and Administrative details

Charityname	The Fens Methodist Circuit
Other name the charityuses
Registered charitynumber	1133790
Charity’s principal address	The Fens Circuit Office, Trinity Methodist Church, 17 Church Terrace, Wisbech, PE13 1BL

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Lorna Valentine	Superintendent Minister
Nicola Warden	Lay Pastor
Karren Tibbs	Circuit Steward
Roger Dack	Circuit Steward
Susan Dack	Circuit Steward
Timothy Dewdney	Circuit Steward
Mary Jane Hurst	Circuit Steward
Linda Vincent	Circuit Steward
Sylvia Ringham
Rosemary Marchant
Evelyn Hamps		01/09/2024 - 14/08/2025
Elaine Thornton
Christine Horn
Mavis Ashcroft
David Thompson
Joyce Dobson
Anne Emmerson
Roy Askew
Eric Cross
Christopher Coates
Trevor Vincent
Robin Vincent
Diana Burling
Janice Powers
David Fairbrother
Gwendoline Dewdney
Mary Gibbs
Joy Smalley
Joan Thompson
Wendy Chandler

Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held	N/A
in this capacity
Name and objects of the	N/A
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for	N/A
safe custody and segregation
of such assets from the
charity’s own assets

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees on behalf of the charity's trustees Signature(s) Signature(s) ~~Ras~~ ae ® | Full name(s) Full name(s) LORNA AEA TING (pev0) | Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Position (eg Secretary, yp Gthe OF Okwitr HeeTING THe ReAS ~~a~~ etc) Date

CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH

STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

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Registered Charity - Charity Registration number 1133790
If not a registered charity Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number LC”
(The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used
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ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

				5
	SECTIONA	Un- restricted [Circuit Model Restricted TOTALS	TOTALS
	Funds Trust Fund Funds 202425 faa (RECETS——SSC~“‘~~~*~CNte‘	=S SC	SC	COTTE ja2_
	Bank and CFB interest and Investment
	income 2,455 4,683 7,138 8,762 jas	crants ——SC~C~—‘—~SC~C~SSSC<‘TSSSSSC~—TSCTTTCtTSTTTTCTSCiYC‘dTssi(itéi ja6_	Other receipts _——— 99903]	_(99,9083 131,965 TOTALRECEIPTS
	SECTION B
		Un -restricted	CircuitModel	Restricted TOTALS
	b1 PAYMENTS	Funds Trust Fund Funds 202425	2023-24
	b2 Stipends, salaries, NIC, Pension and travel
	costs	108,225		97,376
	b3__	ManseCosts	6268)Oo] 268 b4_[Administrationeto———S~dSSC 5525	538] 0
	SECTION C
	NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FORTHEYEAR
.	cl	-27,296 -87,069		-4,914
	Totalfunds broughtforwardfrom lastyear		-126,269 333,994] = 46	_—«-207,771){c8)
	3 Subtotal sete)53,568 274,221] 46]_120,702			207,771
	ca [Transfersandadjustments	a
	TOTALFUNDSATENDOFYEAR	(c3+c4)	-153,564) 274,221]= 46] :120,702	(c8)
	FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEYRECEIVEDANDPASSEDONTO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
	(theseamountsshouldnotbeincludedintotalreceipts/paymentsabove) Leaze		inoe-2e	noe-2e
	Balancebrought forwardfrom lastyear	a)	FY
	Offerings/Gifts - received for external
	d2 organisations	3,390
	Offerings/Gifts - passed to external
	d3 organisations	3,390

SUMMARY OF CIRCUIT ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATION REPORTING TO THE CIRCUIT MEETING Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page

Summary of the Circuit accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 and internal Organisations reporting to the Circuit Meeting Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unjess 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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Net Receipts/ Opening
a) a) a)
Oe |_ 34,034 hr ae| Oa =
Oe a: ee /
a a eeee esee a)
(26 .J——__} || [L.. ___ ee ee ee eee a)
2 sO ee) 0 ee | ae)
es omarSubCircuit totalaccounts of Internal(totals ol | [spelen]
- totals column) 203,479 290,548 -87,069 207,771] (e11) 120,702
cee2 eel |e |) al||lal nal
TOTALCASH FUNDS HELD | ssae | ae ee ee
Continue on a separate
sheet if necessary and bring
the totals forward
eS
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
OPENING CLOSING
CIRCUIT - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2025 BALANCES BALANCES
| ee)
a) aT)
rT ee re)
| [207,771]] a||120,702!(cB) |
ae
Er |
OTHER ASSETS and ASSETS and and LIABILITIES
[gi [investments (include (include Endowments)
le3 |OtherAssets a) en)
[g4 [Loan(s)- show amount outstanding at yearend at yearend yearend | a) a)
a) ee)
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eS

OTHER ASSETS and ASSETS and and LIABILITIES [gi [investments (include (include Endowments) le3 |OtherAssets [g4 [Loan(s)- show amount outstanding at yearend at yearend yearend |

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)

INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS’ REPORT FORM- Trinity Coffee Bar

This form should be used in conjunction with the STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS (Church, Circuit & District)

A separate Report Form should be prepared for each Internal Organisation

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|||||||||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |RECEIPTS AND|PAYMENTS|ACCOUNT|Note| |SECTION|H| |RECEIPTS| |ha||eittsadonations|ee|—SYT| |—SSCSC~C~“~“~~~‘“—~~~“‘“‘~s~s~sSsSsS~YSCSCSC~«CEC«|ORB| |na|otnerreceiste| |a|[TOTAL|RECEIPTS|to Recoipts|cal|page|in|the main accounts)|——SSSSCdYCSSSCSCd|EE|C«|OT.| |SECTION|I| |PAYMENTS| |ia_|Donationsja|loterpaymentsCYT| |[3|[TOTAL—SSSCS~—SC—~—~SsS~—~SsSCSCSCSsSsSYPAYMENTS|to Payments|colpage|Sin|the|mainaccounts)|———=SS|SS|SC«;CSC|S|SC|S|SCC|d|CSC«E_—=«|O88.| |SECTION|J| |ja_[NET RECEIPTS (PAYMENTS)|Tha)| |2|[2|6.00||| |[2|[AdjustmentsOPENING|BALANCE (show|anynegat ve adjustmentsinbrack ts)(to|Open|i|ng balance column|pag|e|3|inthemain|accounts)iY||£10,718.03| |£|__ 10,712.03| |SECTION|K| |HOW THE|FUNDS ARE|HELD| |fkka||cashatBank/crBetc|cashinhandCSTTf|£10,712.03| |CE| |£|_ 10,712.08| |SECTION|M| |FOR|INFORMATION|ONLY:|MONEY|RECEIVED AND|PASSED|ON TO|OTHER|EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS| |(These amounts|should|not|be|included|in|total|receipts/payments|above)| |Balance brought forward from|last year|mh| |Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations|Pf| |Offerings/Gifts - passed to external organisations|Pf|

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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the

FENS CIRCUIT

Charity Number 1133790

Responsibilities and basis of report

| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the FENS Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2025 set out on pages attached.

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’).

Name of Circuit FENS No 14/22

Independent Examiner’s Statement

| 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.

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| 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 aw L La /
Name of independent examiner Jan Udneoler
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Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner

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Name of Circuit FENS

No 14/22

Declarations and Scrutiny

| confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 have been prepared from the records of the Circuit and that they include all funds under the control of the Circuit meeting.

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Signature of treasurer
—_ Eye eee
DATE 4ala [2s.
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Name and address of treasurer

Rachael Atkins

20 Gosmoor Lane, Eim, Wisbech Cambs PE14 OAJ

Presentation to the Circuit meeting

| confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 will be

presented to the Circuit meeting held on

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LAT Ke “Za
Name of the Chair of the meeting LORNA VALENTINE
DATE V]\2}202S
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