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← The Methodist Church - Sherwood Forest Circuit

2024-08-31-accounts

22/23 Sherwood Forest Circuit Charity Registration Number: 1133801

Trustees’ Report and

Financial Statement for the year ended 31 August 2024

Page 1 of 12

Administrative Information

Circuit Ministers

Rev Stuart Ellis (Superintendent) Rev Debbie Keegan Deacon Dave Keegan

Children & Families Coordinator

Mrs Danni Coles

Circuit Stewards

Mr Keith Bonsall Mr Matt Cullen Mrs Wendy Ince

Rev Bob Jones (Circuit Treasurer)

Independent Examiner:

Mr Geof Lawton

Page 2 of 12

Trustee Report

Governance & 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:

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 the 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 a 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 (consisting of the Circuit Stewards, Ministers and Circuit Treasurer) 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 equip the people of God for works of mission and service so that they can hear, tell and be the Good News of Jesus Christ”

Page 3 of 12

We aim to achieve this through encouraging Christian discipleship individually and collectively through the following of the Methodist Way of Life in order to follow Our Calling:

Our Annual Mission Plan sets out aims and objectives under these headings for the Circuit and its member churches to aim to and is regularly reported to and evaluated by the Circuit Meeting and the Circuit Leadership Team.

Page 4 of 12

Organisational Structure

  1. Overall control rest with the Methodist Conference

  2. The Connexional Office implements decisions made by Conference and is also responsible for the stationing of Ministers in the 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 down the control 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 down control to church councils for local implementation by the Minister, the church stewards and other officers. The church councils act as managing trustees.

  6. 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.

  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 annually from 1 September to 31 August.

Charity Registration

The Sherwood Forest Methodist Circuit is registered charity whose registration number is 1133801

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:

Page 5 of 12

Trustees

The following Trustees (some with dual roles) were listed as current as at August 2022. Records are held of Trustees in post and attending meetings during the course of the 202122 Connexional Year.

Members of Circuit Meeting at 5[th] April 2023

Name Office Appointed by
Rev Stuart Ellis Chair Methodist Conference
Rev BarrySmith Circuit
Rev Chris Briggs District
Rev Debra Keegan Methodist Conference
Deacon Dave Keegan Methodist Conference
Rev Robert Jones Interim Circuit Treasurer Circuit
Rev Linda Williams WorshipLeaders Secretary Methodist Conference
Rev John Williams Methodist Conference
Mr Keith Bonsall Property Circuit Meeting
Mr Andrew Shewen Connexional Giving Circuit Meeting
Mrs Joyce Cree Minutes Secretary Circuit Meeting
Mrs WendyInce Circuit Steward Circuit Meeting
Mr Matt Cullen Circuit Steward Circuit Meeting
Mr Barrie Richmond Local Preachers Secretary Circuit Meeting
Mr PhilipShead Circuit Safeguarding Circuit Meeting
Mrs Ann Jones MMC Nottingham Raod Church Council
Mrs Pam Clarke MMC BBL Church Council
Mr Colin Baird MMC BBL Church Council
Mrs Maz Allsop MMC BBL Church Council
Mr Alan Darlington MMC BBL Church Council
Mrs Anne Clayton M/W Church Council
Mr Steve Cree M/W Church Council
Mr Robert Vickers Bilsthorpe Church Council
Mrs Michelle Shead The Meden Church Council
Mr Neil Younger The Meden Church Council
Mrs Anne Ayodele The Meden Church Council
Mrs Doreen Jackson Ollerton Church Council
Dr S Head Ollerton Church Council
Mr Simon Crane Blidworth Church Council
Mrs Elizabeth Crane Blidworth Church Council
Mr Alan Mosley Rainworth Church Council
Mrs Enid Marsh Farnsfield Church Council

Page 6 of 12

Mrs Maggie Westby Farnsfield Church Council
Mr David Wilmot Farnsfield Church Council
Miss Ann Griffiths CRS Church Council
Mr John Berrington CRS Church Council

Page 7 of 12

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:

We share a commitment to:

Each church in the Circuit is required to appoint a safeguarding representative and the Circuit appoints a Safeguarding Officer to coordinate polices, practices and training which promotes safe practice amongst children and vulnerable adults.

Staff Responsibilities & Changes

Rev Stuart Ellis became the Superintendent Minister on 1 September 2021 and held pastoral oversight of the following churches:

Rev Debbie Keegan joined the Circuit on 1 September 2016 and held pastoral oversight over the following churches

Page 8 of 12

Deacon Dave Keegan joined the Circuit on 1 September 2016 and is responsible for outreach and pioneer projects within the Circuit area and was particularly focused on supporting work within the Meden Vale community.

Mrs Danni Coles, joined the Circuit on 1 September 2020 and is employed as a Children and Families Coordinator supporting the outreach and pioneer work within the Circuit area. She was involved in a range of projects focused on children and families, including toddler groups, bespoke outreach and school chaplaincy.

A new project led by Rev Debbie & Deacon Dave Keegan - “The Sanctuary - Christian Spirituality & Wellbeing Centre was started, being housed at Trinity Methodist Church, Mansfield Woodhouse.

Risk Management

Through its CLT, risks faced by the Circuit have been considered and ongoing mitigation strategies discussed and enacted where possible. Where possible appropriate risks are insured – currently with the Methodist Insurance Company. The security and safety of our churches is largely for local churches to determine and to mitigate, taking advice from Circuit Officers and Insurers as appropriate.

All churches and manses are subject to quinquennial inspections and the reports on each are reviewed at a Circuit Level as well as by local trustees. Action is taken to maintain premises and reduce health and safety risks to all who have a legitimate purpose to be on those premises.

All churches have been surveyed for the presence of asbestos and reports made available to local churches for appropriate action if and when required.

We have considered the resilience of churches and the risk that they will not meet their assessments payments to cover central and staffing costs. We put together a financial plan for the Circuit and judge that there are sufficient resources to cover possible shortfalls in the foreseeable future.

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 and its churches.

Page 9 of 12

Trustees’ Expenses

With the exception of ministerial staff, supernumerary staff and staff employed by the Circuit, who can claim for travel and out-of-pocket expenses, members of the Circuit Meeting received neither payment or reimbursement of their expenses in connection with their role 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:

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 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 payment accounts. They are not a consolidation of the accounts of the accounts of the churches in the Circuit. The Circuit budget is prepared by first anticipating the expenditure for the forthcoming year and then by determining how that sum will be raised.

The Circuit adopted the following policy principles for the reserves in the 2022-3 Connexional Year:

Page 10 of 12

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 proceeds are received by the Circuit. The sale of manses requires proceeds to be spent on new manses or capital improvements to existing manses. No capital assets were bought or sold during the year.

The Circuit received rent for the use of Forest Town Methodist Church by the Redeemed Church of God and from two unused manses within the Circuit boundaries.

Funding of the Circuit’s Costs

This is achieved primarily by making an assessment on each church within the Circuit using a determinative formula agreed by the Circuit Meeting. If any church were to close, that church’s assessment would not be paid to the Circuit during the remainder of that year, unless it had liquid assets to do so. The Circuit’s costs, principally stipends, salaries, housing and insurance costs would continue and there may be a need to draw upon 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 its current staffing of three ministers (including one deacon) and a lay employee. The CLT and Circuit Meeting ensure that spending from reserves is kept at a sustainable level.

Page 11 of 12

Approvals

This report and the Financial Statements of the Circuit were approved by the Circuit Meeting held on 5 June, subject to inspection by the independent examiner. The examiner signed the Financial Statements in [June 2024] to confirm that they had completed the inspection satisfactorily.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees:

Stuart Ellis ………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………….. Rev Stuart Ellis Rev R Jones Superintendent Minister Circuit Treasurer

Page 12 of 12

Name of Circuit Sherwood Forest Methoidst Circuit

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended

Notes to
the
accounts
Income
1 Donations and legacies
2 Income from monetary investments
3 Income from investment properties
4 Assessments on Churches
5 Capital Receipts
6 Grants received
7 Other charitable income
8Total income
Expenditure
9 Grants and donations
10 Salaries and associated costs
11 Property maintenance
12 Connexional assessment & model trust levy
13 District Assessment & Levy
14 Depreciation
15 Office expenses
16 Other outgoings
17Total charitable expenditure
18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments
19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties
20Net income/(expenditure)
21 Transfers between funds
22 Other gains/(losses)
23Net movement in funds
24 Total funds brought forward
25 Total funds carried forward
General Fund
(Unrestricted)
Circuit Model
Trust
(Unrestricted)
£
£
1,762
241
11,642
29,331
179,679
29,812
240,825
11,642
9,878
152,554
47,856
59,517
8,824
24,049
646
293,854
9,470
-53,029
2,172
30,213
30,000
-
564
-22,816
-27,264
782,399
226,488
759,583
199,224

Circuit No 22/23

d 31 August 2024

Designated
Funds Restricted Endowment Total
(unrestricted) Funds Funds 2023-24
£ £ £ £
1,762
229 12,112
29,331
179,679
0
0
- - 229 252,696
9,878
152,554
47,856
0
68,341
0
0
16 24,711
0 0 16 303,340
0
0 0 213 -50,644
- 213
 0
270 834
0 0 270 -49,810
- - 5,629 1,014,516
- - 5,899 964,706

Name of Circuit Sherwood Forest Methoidst Circuit…………… No 22/23

Declarations and Scrutiny

I confirm that these accruals-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 meeting.

Signature of treasurer ……R H Jones…………………………… Date: 10.02.24..

Name and address of treasurer …Revd. Robert Howard Jones

HEDDWCH, 9, Blakeney Driver, Mansfield. ……………. Post Code NG18 4DN

Presentation to the Circuit meeting

I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 were presented to the Circuit meeting held on: 19t[h] February 2025

Signature of the Chair of the meeting: Revd. S W Ellis………………

Name of the Chair of the meeting: Revd, Stuart Ellis……………………… Date: 19.02.25

……………………

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the

Sherwood Forest Methoidst Circuit

Charity Number 1133801

Responsibilities and basis of report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the …………………………………. Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages … to …. 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’).

I 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, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Name of Circuit Sherwood Forest Methoidst Circuit…………… No 22/23

Independent Examiner’s Statement

[The Circuit’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of ( insert name of applicable listed body )]. Delete [ ] if not applicable.

I have completed my examination. I 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:

I 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.

I 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.

Signature of independent examiner G Lawson…………………………………………….

Name of independent examiner: Mr. Geoff Lawson………………………………….

Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner: ………………………………………

Name of firm (where appropriate): ………………………………………………………………………

Address: 2, Second Avenue, Forest Town, Mansfield. Notts... Post Code: Ng19 0BG………………

Date: 16[th] June 2025……………