Sherwood Methodist Church (Registered charity, number 1133934) Financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2024 Page Contents Trustees, annual report Independent examiner's report Re￿iptS & payments account Statement of assets & liabilities Notes to the accounts 9-10 capLUS OMMUNITY ACCOLi'N IIN(", Sherwood Methodist Church Trustees, annual report for the year ended 31 August 2024 Full name Sherwood Methodist Church Registered charity number 1133934 Principal address Sherwood Methodist Church, Devon Drive, Sherwood, Nottingham. NG5 2EN Trustees Rev Richard Byass Helen Snowball, from 1810612023 Anthony Farr Susan Cooper Josephine Williams Alice McGregor Jane Lewis Paul Lewis Robert Rattigan Paul Osborne Rachel Tavener,from 0411012023 Dave maware.from 1810612023 Brian Shaw Jane Whiting Julie Compton Jane Edwards Gregory White Robert Chandler Marguerite Carter Independent examiner John O'Brien, employee of Community Accounting Plus. Units 1 & 2 North West. 41 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG15GL Governance and management The charity is operated under the rules of its Deed of Union (1932) and The Methodist Church Act (1976). Some trustees are appointed by being approved into specific positions of office by either the General Church Meeting or the Church Council; other trustees are elected from the church membership at the General Church Meeting. Objectives and activities The purposes of the Methodist Church are the advan￿rnent of: The Christian faith in accordan￿ with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist church- Any charitable purpose for the time being of any connexional, district, circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist church; Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist church. Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary to the Methodist church. Sherwood Methodist Church Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit As one of the largest Christian faith congregations within the community of Sherwood, SMC provides a significant focal point in the local community for the spiritual needs and social development of local people. By actively promoting values of inclusiveness and welcome, SMC encourages the local community and seeks to minimise conflict. By making its building available to the wider public and local groups, SMC enables community groups to function and flourish and provides a base for community activities. By its support for people in need, such as through the Food Bank and the Nourish Community food program. it helps redu￿ the impact of poverty in the neighbourhood. Central to our existence is our offer of a wide variety of acts of public worship. These include, traditional, contemporary, reflective, all age. communion services, and worship associated with our Messy Church. at various times during the week. The main Servi￿ is at 10.30am on Sunday mornings each week attracting a congregation of approximately 60-80 people. As a Christian body we encourage and embra￿ diversity. This is demonstrated by the wide range of our community in tems of age (1 yr-1 Ooyrs). physical ability and ethnic background (Ghanaian Fellowship) who regularly attend activities and worship at our church. The church relies on and re￿iVeS tremendous levels of voluntary support from members and friends so that its ministry and Servi￿ to the community can be delivered. A number of church members are actively involved in the meetings and work of Nottingham Citizens, a multi-faith and multi-agency group that campaigns on subjects and issues of social justice on behalf of the residents of Nottingham. Through the provision of training to appropriate volunteers and staff. the church is able to maintain its high level of commitment to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. Events are organised to focus on specific n￿dS and charities, operating locally or world-wide, and money raised to support their work. The church provides for a wide variety of local needs, including; Sharing Sherwood, healthy eating group. a Methodist Ghanaian Fellowship, various choirs, several health-based initiatives, an after-school education program, Guides and Scouts groups, craft groups, knit and natter (including making prayer shawls for distribution to those in pastoral need). In addition to these we have new bookings from other user groups and external organisations. Sherwood Methodist Church Summary of the main achievements during the period The Mission plan for the church. continues to be developed and implemented. This has been based in part on the Our Calling statement of the Methodist Church and also the Methodist Way of Life material from the national denomination. Our church continues to act as a drop-off point for collections for our local food bank. This has helped to maintain our link with the local community and also to assist those struggling with food poverty. Together with several other local churches members of our community continues to support and run a food initiative called Nourish which provided freshly cooked meals to those in the community who were struggling with isolationlfood poverty. As the cost of living crisis hits many people, this remains a much needed resource within the local community. As part of our creative outreach we have continued to improve our award winning Quiet Garden to offer a Spa￿ of refuge and reflection for members of the church, user groups and local community. We have continued to use and develop our roadside noti￿ boards to offer messages of hope for all. As a church we continue to reach out into a community to be a visible sign of God, s gra￿ and love. We are an active part of Nottingham Citizens with members of our congregation participating in theii current work plan. Our church also has Fairtrade status and it is important that all church based groups use Fairtrade products, other users of the building are also encouraged to comply. We know from previous experience that prodU￿r groups in developing countries benefit immensely from the Fairtrade premium. The church has maintained a place of Confiden￿ in its presence in the community and the activities offered. This has been evidenced in the range of ventures that have been supported by members and wider community both on-site and beyond over the last 12 months, which has allowed us to feel established in our worship and social action as well as in our fellowship and shared faith. We have also established a new Well-being drop in, and we have continued to refresh our understanding of being an Eco Church. Public benefit ststement The Trust&s confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit, Sherwood Methodist Church The charity's policy on reserves The church's policy on reser4es is to aim to hold a level of uncommitted free reserves equating to six months of General Fund expenditure. These reserves are held in case of unbudgeted expenditure on repairs to property, replacement of damaged or faulty equipment, or additional investment in church activities and initiatives. Reserves are also required in case of a short term shortfall in income. The policy is reviewed annually. Financial risks Reduction in income due to members leaving or having reduced circumstances. or an increase in outgoings which are most likely to be due to unexpected repairs to buildings or equipment Signed on behalf of the charity's tTUStees: Signed Rev. Richard Byass, Tru Date I Is ee Sherwood Methodist Church Independent examiner's report to the trustees of for the year ended 31 August 2024 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Sherwood Methodist Church (the charity) for the year ended 31 August 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,). I report in Tespect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act" or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no con￿rnS 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. Signed John O'Brien M Employee of Community Accounting Plus Date 7a Sherwood Methodist Church Receipts & payments account for the year ended 31 August 2024 2023 Total 2024 Total Funds Unrestrlcted Restrlrted Funds Funds Funds Note Receipts Grants & donations Gifts & legacies Fundraising & events Lettings Coffee bar Bank interest Sundry income Total receipts 82455 5000 4865 17692 291 3914 5154 119371 65851 50 65901 10 18653 456 6633 2656 94259 10 18653 456 6633 2656 94309 50 Payments Cleaner's wages Cleaning materials Donations Encounter groups Equipment, repairs & renewals Events & fundraising Hospitality & coffee bar Independent examination Insurance Licences & music, worship resources Messy & junior church activities Nottingham North East Circuit Contribution Premises maintenance & improvements Publicity StationerylphotocopyingllT Sundry expenditure Training Utilities Benevolen￿ fund expenditure Total payments 8885 1738 7195 520 1201 4169 371 726 2997 996 14346 1905 6847 440 1858 14346 1905 6847 440 1858 406 726 3071 903 108 53688 6263 427 2227 350 230 11758 406 726 3071 903 108 53688 6263 427 2227 350 230 11758 40 105593 38769 8434 487 2216 660 12496 40 40 91860 105553 27511 115199 142710 Net receiptsl(payments) Cash funds at start of this period Cash funds at end of this period {11294) 137450 126156 10 5260 5270 (11284) 142710 131426 Sherwood Methodist Church Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 August 2024 2023 2024 Cash assets Bank accounts Note 142710 142710 131426 131426 Other monetsry assets Debtors & prepayments 10840 10840 9177 9177 Assets retsined for the charity's own use Land & buildings at insured value, £2,350,000 Chairs purchased January 2019, cost £534 Storage units purchased September 2020. cost £1,300 Liabilities Creditors {5495) (5495) (5139) (5139) These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the charity by: Signed Brian Shaw. Trustee Dated 12-FL Sherwood Methodist Church Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 1. Receipts & payments accounts Receipts and payments accounts contsin a summary of money re￿IVed and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Usually, cash re￿iVed and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand. 2. Grants & donations Unrestricted Restrlcted Total Gift aid Sundry grants & donations 12434 53417 65851 12434 53467 65901 50 50 3. Funds analysis Opening Receipts (Payments) balance Closing balance Restricted funds Benevolen￿ fund Church weekend Family worker Ladies Fellowship 205 (26) 4401 680 5260 50 (40) 215 (26) 4401 680 5270 Unrestricted funds General fund Gifts & legacies 45861 91589 137450 88971 (105440) 29392 5288 113) 96764 94259 (105553) 126156 The Benevolen￿ Fund is for the purpose of holding funds given or designated to be used for the benefit of people in financial need. The Church weekend fund is for the purpose of holding funds paid for attending the church weekend away. The Family worker fund is for the purpose of holding funds designated to support the family worker. The Ladies Fellowship fund is for the purpose of holding funds raised by members of the Church Ladies Fellowship to be spent on events and other items for their meetings. Sherwood Methodist Church 4. Debtors & prepayments Grants & donations - Gift Aid Sundry income Insurance Licences & music, worship resources Premises maintenance & improvements Utilities 5471 634 1843 437 765 27 9177 5. Creditors Independent examination Utilities Charity Donations Premises maintenace Cleaning materials 726 3369 81 179 5139 6. Trustees, remuneration Trustees re￿iVed no expenses. remuneration or benefits in this period. 7. Related party transactions There were no related party transactions in this period. 8. Glossary of tenns Creditors: These are amounts owed by the charity, but not paid during the accounting period. Debtors: These are amounts owed to the charity, but not re￿iVed in the accounting period. Prepayments: These are services that the charity has paid for in advance, but not used during the accounting period. Restricted funds: These are funds given to the charity, subject to specific restrictions set by the donor, but still within the general objects of the charity. 10