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2025-08-31-accounts

Sherwood Methodist Church

(Registered charity, number 1133934) Financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

Page Contents

2 - 5 Trustees’ annual report

6 Independent examiner’s report 7 Receipts & payments account 8 Statement of assets & liabilities 9 - 10 Notes to the accounts

Sherwood Methodist Church Trustees’ annual report for the year ended 31 August 2025

Full name Sherwood Methodist Church

Registered charity number 1133934

Principal address

Sherwood Methodist Church, Devon Drive, Sherwood, Nottingham, NG5

2EN Trustees

Rev Richard Byass Rachel Tavener

Helen Snowball Dave Maware Anthony Farr Brian Shaw Susan Cooper Jane Whiting Josephine Williams Julie Compton Alice McGregor Jane Edwards Jane Lewis Gregory White

Robert Chandler Margret Jones, from 14/10/2025 Paul Osborne Paul Lewis, until 14/10/2025 Marguerite Carter Robert Rattigan, until 14/10/2025

Independent examiner

Eva Stevens, employee of Community Accounting Plus, Units 1 & 2 North West, 41 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GL

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 advancement of:

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Sherwood Methodist Church

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit

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 continue to support and run a food initiative called Nourish, which provides freshly cooked meals to those in the community who were struggling with isolation/food 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 space of refuge and reflection for members of the church,

user groups and local community. We have continued to use and develop our roadside notice 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 grace and love.

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 producer groups in developing countries benefit immensely from the Fairtrade premium.

The church has maintained a place of confidence 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 continued to refresh our understanding of being an Eco Church.

3 Sherwood Methodist Church

Summary of the main achievements during the period

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 inclusivity 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 programme, it helps reduce 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 service is at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday mornings each week, attracting a congregation of 45- 65 people.

As a Christian body, we encourage and embrace diversity. As well as being registered with Inclusive Church (which means the church is available for same sex marriages and blessings), this is demonstrated by the wide range of our community in terms of age (1-100 years), physical ability and ethnic background. (Ghanaian Fellowship) who regularly attend activities and worship at our church.

The church relies on and receives tremendous levels of voluntary support from members and friends so that its ministry and service to the community can be delivered.

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 needs and charities, operating locally or world-wide and money is 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 programme, knit and natter (including making prayer shawls for distribution to those in pastoral need) and self-help groups for those with addiction issues. In addition to these, we have new bookings from other user groups and external organisations.

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Sherwood Methodist Church

Public benefit statement

The Trustees 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'

The charity’s policy on reserves

The church’s policy on reserves 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 review

We are in a fairly strong financial position and the church's reserves are at a healthy level.

Financial risks

Reduction in income due to volunteers or 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 trustees:

17/06/2026

Signed ______ Date _ Brain Shaw, Trustee

5 Sherwood Methodist Church Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of for the year ended 31 August 2025

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Sherwood Methodist Church (the charity) for the year ended 31 August 2025.

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 respect 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 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.

17/06/2026

Signed _______ Date

2024 2025

____ Eva Stevens BSc, CPFA Employee of Community Accounting Plus

6 for the year ended 31 August 2025 Sherwood Methodist Church

Receipts & payments account

Total Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds Funds £ Note £ £ £ Receipts 65901 Grants & donations 2 69169 680 69849 10 Fundraising & events 4041 - 4041 18653 Lettings 19962 - 19962 456 Coffee bar - - - 6633 Bank interest 5107 - 5107 - Electricity generation 1965 1965 2656 Sundry income - - - 94309 Total receipts 100244 680 100924 Payments

14346 Cleaner's wages 14675 - 14675 1905 Cleaning materials 2064 - 2064 6847 Donations given 2930 - 2930 440 Encounter groups - - - 1858 Equipment, repairs & renewals 452 - 452

53688 Nottingham North East Circuit Contribution 54384 - 54384 6263 Premises maintenance & improvements 23617 - 23617 427 Publicity - - -

105593 Total payments 122190 680 122870 (11284) Net receipts/(payments) (21946)

104184 5296 109480

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Sherwood Methodist Church at 31 August 2025 Statement of assets and liabilities

2024 2025 £ Cash assets Note £ 131426 Bank accounts 109480 131426 109480 Other monetary assets

9177 Debtors & prepayments 4 11566

9177 11566 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Land & buildings at insured value, £2,350,000 Storage units purchased September 2020, cost £1,300 Liabilities

(5139) Creditors 5 (1433) (5139) (1433)

These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the charity by:

17/06/2026

Signed _____ Dated _____ Brian Shaw, Trustee

8 Sherwood Methodist Church Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025

1. Receipts & payments accounts

Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Usually, cash received and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand.

2. Grants & donations

Unrestricted Restricted Total £ £ £

Gift aid 11690 - 11690 Sundry grants & donations 57479 680 58159 3. Funds analysis Restricted funds Opening Receipts (Payments) Transfers Closing 69169 680 69849 balance balance £ £ £ £ £

Benevolence fund 215 - - - 215 Church weekend (26) - - 26 - Family worker 4401 - - - 4401 Ladies Fellowship 680 680 (680) - 680 Unrestricted funds 5270 680 (680) 26 5296

General fund 29392 96611 (122054) (26) 3923 Gifts & legacies 96764 3633 (136) - 100261 126156 100244 (122190) (26) 104184

The transfer from the general fund to the Church weekend fund was to cover the deficit on this fund.

The Benevolence Fund is for the purpose of holding funds given 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 restricted 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.

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Sherwood Methodist Church

4. Debtors & prepayments

£ Debtors - Grants & donations - Gift Aid 7098 Debtors - Utilities 1826 Prepayments - Licences & music, worship resources 450 Prepayments - Premises maintenance & improvements 293 Prepayments - Insurance 1899 11566

5. Creditors

£ Independent examination 840 Utilities 404 Cleaning materials 189

1433

6. Trustees’ remuneration

Trustees received no expenses, remuneration or benefits in this period.

7. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in this period.

8. Glossary of terms

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 received 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.

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