This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

NORTH CUMBRIA METHODIST CIRCUIT TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

For the year ended 31st AUGUST 2024

Introduction

The Trustees are pleased to present the Annual Report of The Trustees of the North Cumbria Methodist Circuit (hereinafter referred to as “The Circuit” ) for the year ending 31st August 2024. The new Circuit continues to grow and develop together as we work towards a single circuit. The new Circuit Mission and Vision Plan was agreed.

The Charity chosen by the Circuit for this year was “Release International.”

Staffing

Staffing has seen the beginning of many changes throughout the year. Reverend Phil Jackson was was offered a re-invitation for 4 years. He remains CoSuperintendent and is still based in Wigton, Cornerstone churches. Reverend David Newlove based in Carlisle, Carlisle Methodist Churches remains CoSuperintendent. In May 2024, David was appointed Mission Area Lead for the Cumbrian Mission Area. He will be half time in Circuit and half time Mission Area Lead from September 2024. Subject to Synod and Connexional agreement to a Single Cumbria Circuit, David will become Superintendent for the new Single Cumbria Circuit and no longer have pastoral charge of any churches.

Reverend Tokunbo Asogbon remains in Brampton, Borders Methodist Churches. He was received into Full Connexion at the Methodist Conference in Leeds on 30th June 2024. The ceremony was watched on line at a joint service for the Borders Hub held at Brampton Church.

Deacon Mark, Mission Enabler requested and was granted a Sabbatical from May to August. His role as Mission Enabler, which is grant funded, will come to an end September 2025. He stated a desire to remain in Cumbria.

Stationing:

The Circuit Invitation Committee met throughout the year to look at stationing requests for Deacon Mark Attwood’s role and a Presbyteral replacement for David Newlove to cover the churches of which he has pastoral charge.

New Appointments.

Vicky Logan was appointed as Circuit Meeting Secretary.

Jennie Crawley was appointed as Children and Family worker by Cornerstones.

The Leadership Team.

The leadership team consists of the Presbyters, Deacon and four Circuit Stewards who represent all Hubs.

Much work has been undertaken to develop the Hubs even further. In Carlisle there is now one Carlisle Methodist Church on three sites, Wigton Road, Upperby and Newtown/ Refresh.

Solway Methodists: Dalston, Monkhill, Thurstonfield, Port Carlisle, four churches who join together for some events.

Cornerstones, incorporating Wigton, Caldbeck, Abbeytown, Silloth, Aspatria.

Borders Methodist Church on three sites, Brampton, Gilsland, Longtown at present with Wetheral due to become a member 1st September 2024.

The Mission Enabler has continued his work with Estate Ministry and Children and Families work. On-line and Zoom meetings continued as well as Bible studies, Lent meetings, Prayer workshops, fellowship groups and training programmes.

Aims and organisation .

The Governing Document of the Charity is the Deed of Union of the Methodist Church 1932 and the Methodist Church Act 1976. The purposes of the Methodist Church are, and shall be deemed to have been since the Date of Union, the advancement of:

The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and 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;

There are now 13 places of worship in the area covered by the Circuit and they are all open to anyone who may wish to visit them without any charge.

The Circuit continues with a quarterly preaching plan to ensure that regular acts of worship take place at all the churches and chapels in its geographical area and that the following activities take place to further the objectives set out above:-

The teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups.
The resourcing of pastoral work including visiting the sick and bereaved.
Taking religious assemblies in local schools.
Promotion of Christianity through the staging of events and services.
Provision of chaplaincy services where appropriate.
Public Benefit
The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission!s guidance on public benefit.

Brief financial review of the year

The main source of income in this and every year is the assessment paid by the churches within the Circuit area. In the year to 31st August 2024, the assessments totalled £174,186.

Grants:

The Circuit received grant funding of £32,000 from the Connexion in respect of the employment of our Mission Enabler.

£500 from Cumbria District for computer equipment for a minister

£10,000 from District, setting up costs for the new circuit

£3,000 from District towards employment costs of Children and Families Worker

Total grants: £45, 500.

Expenditure re Stipends etc

The main expenditure relates to the stipends of presbyters and the salaries of lay employees, together with related employment costs, including the provision of manses to presbyters and the reimbursement of travelling and other costs, totalling £262,484. Stipends have increased annually in line with conference approved percentages and lay employees are paid, in accordance with Methodist Standing Orders, no less than the hourly rates set by the Living Wage Foundation.

Other costs include the contributions to the District £43,725

manses. This There had been significant expense in relation to faults in the year the costs include £12,367 for a new bathroom for Wigton Manse.

At 31 August 2024 the net current, unrestricted, assets of the Circuit were £295,679 compared with total expenditure for the year of £345,615 . Plans for the 2024/2025 Circuit finances for the coming year have been prepared on the basis of our current staffing figure, with anticipated cost of living stipend and pay increases combined with an increase in the assessments paid to the District and Connexion but with a knowledge of how costs will be affected with the move into the New District and the formation of a Single Cumbria Circuit the following year.

Levels of assessments requested from the churches in the Circuit have been discussed with all churches as some churches were still unable to meet the level of assessments requested by the Circuit.

Structure, Governance and Management

The governing document for the Circuit is the Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976). De- tailed governance arrangements are outlined within the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church by order of the annual conference (CPD). Day to day management of the Circuit is undertaken by the Circuit Leadership team comprising the presbyters , deacon and circuit stewards.

Trustee Training

A range of guidance is produced by Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the Circuit, including the leaflet !The Role of a Trustee in " The Methodist Church .

Related Partners

The Circuit is part of the Cumbria District and is also accountable to the Methodist Conference. 13 Churches are linked to the Circuit and are listed in Appendix B to this Report.

From September 1st 2024 the District will be part of North West Methodist District incorporating Cumbria, Bolton and Rochdale, Lancashire and Liverpool in a single district.

From September 1st 2025 a single Cumbria Circuit will be formed combining the currant 9 circuits across the District.

Risk Management

Major risks, both physical and financial, are identified and recorded and professional advice taken as required. There is a regular annual review process undertaken and recorded.

Income and Expenditure is monitored in total and is compared with the approved annual budget to detect trends as part of the risk management process to avoid unforeseen calls on reserves.

Safeguarding

Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God#s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God$s re-creation of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.

This year a Safeguarding audit was carried out and extra training sessions organised.

There was also EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) training for those who had not already done it.

Methodist Connexional practice outlines commitment to the following principles:

The care and nurture, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and adults.
The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they
are vulnerable.
The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where there is informed vigilance as to the dangers of abuse.
The Circuit will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the Church, in line with Safer Recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes.
The Circuit will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and local authority in any investigation.
The Circuit will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.
The Circuit will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust.
The Circuit will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.
In all these principles the Circuit will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice.

The Circuit commits itself to ensuring the implementation of Connexional Safeguarding Policy; government legislation, guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches. The Circuit commits itself to the provision of support, advice and training for lay and ordained people that will ensure people are clear and confident about their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults who may be vulnerable. The Safeguarding Policy for the Circuit was renewed and signed and distributed to all churches as was an accident book.

Reserves Policy

s The Reserves Policy for the Circuit is to hold approximately two quarter average expenditure. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure on manses and / or to be able to continue, in the short term, funding planned activities in the event of the failure of churches to meet their quarterly assessment liabilities in full.

Legal and Administrative

The Circuit$s financial statement for the year ended 31 August 2024 has been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the 2014 version of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller EnIIes(FRSEE) applicable in the UK (effective from 1st January 2015)

– the Charities SORP – in replacement for the SORP#s 2005 version specified in its related 2008 Regulations and in accordance with the !true and fair override” provision contained therein.

Full Name of Charity: North Cumbria Methodist Circuit Registration Charity Number: 1134232 Date of registration 2014 Main communication address: 42, Kirkland Fold , Wigton. CA7 9LL The members of the Circuit meeting are the Managing Trustees, membership being made up of circuit office holders, ministers and representatives appointed by the local churches.

A full list of Trustees is shown in Appendix B to this Report. Circuit Ministers

Active Circuit Ministers : Rev David Newlove, Rev Phil Jackson, Rev Tokunbo Asogbon, Deacon Mark Atwood

Circuit Stewards

Mr George Denholm - Steward with financial responsibility and Primary User for access to on-line banking.

Mr Alan Fearon

Mr Selby Harrison

Mrs Rita Yeowart

Administrator and Circuit Meeting Secretary : Miss Vicky Logan

Saints and Co accountants were to be used for Circuit accounts.

Independent examiner Mr Malcolm Uppard, 1 Green Lane, Houghton, Carlisle. CA3 0NT. Investment Bankers Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church Trustees for Methodist Church purposes

Bankers H.S.B.C. 29 English Street, Carlisle. CA3 8JX.

APPENDIX B

LIST OF CHURCHES IN THE NORTH CUMBRIA CIRCUIT Cornerstones Hub:

Aspatria, Abbeytown, Wigton.

Silloth Church was sold - the members now meet as a house group.

Caldbeck was valued last year.

Solway Hub:

Dalston, Monkhill, Thurstonfield.

Thursby Chapel sold June 2024.

City Hub:

Newtown, Wigton Road, Upperby.

Border Hub:

Brampton, Gilsland, Wetheral

Longtown Methodist Church meet in Community centre.

Port Carlisle ( Circuit resource centre)

Port Carlisle (Now renamed Port Carlisle Community Chapel) and is run by a management committee of volunteers.

MANSES:

Charlton Way, Grange Drive, Kirkland Meadows, Manor Gardens.

Etterby Street Manse was sold, completed 27th August 2024.

The Manses have needed a lot of work this year which has taken a significant slice of the budget.

List of Trustees up to 31st August 2024

Role	Church	First Name	Surname
Church Rep	Brampton	Di	Armstrong
Minister	Circuit	Tokunbo	Asogbon
Deacon	Circuit	Mark	Attwood
Church Steward	CMC,Upperby	Jean	Baron
Church Treasurer	Longtown	Christine	Batey
Supernumerary	Circuit	Paul	Beard
LP Meetingrep	Brampton	Wendy	Beard
Church Treasurer	Monkhill	Harold	Bowron
Church Steward	Monkhill	Kathleen	Bowron
Church Treasurer	CMC, Wigton Road	Mary	Caddle
C&F worker	Cornerstone	Jennie	Crawley
Finance Steward	Circuit	George	Denholm
Church Rep	Cornerstone	Rosalind	Denholm
Church Steward	CMC,Re:Fresh	Clare	Driffield
Safeguarding	Circuit	Margaret	Drury
Circuit Steward	Circuit	Alan	Fearon
Hub Steward	Cornerstone	Margaret	Ferriby
Supernumerary	Circuit	Joan	Gooding
Church Steward	Monkhill	Lynne	Graham
Hub Steward	CMC, Wigton Road	Janice	Gray
Supernumerary	Circuit	Gilbert	Hall

Supernumerary	Circuit	Colin	Harbach
Hub Steward	Cornerstone	Steve	Harding
Hub Steward	CMC Upperby	Betty	Harrison
Circuit Steward	Circuit	Selby	Harrison
Hub Treasurer	Cornerstone	Abigail	Hartshorne- Bell
Supernumerary	Circuit	Margaret	Jackson
Superintendent	Circuit	Phil	Jackson
Church Treasurer	Brampton	Linda	Johnson
Church Steward	CMC,Newtown	Ken	Holmes
Church Rep	Thurstonfield	Archie	Kelly
Manse Secretary	Circuit	Christine	Kelly
Hub Steward	Upperby	Jennifer	Kendall
Supernumerary	Circuit	Ruth	Kershaw
Hub Steward	CMC Wigton Road	Susan	Kidd
Church Steward	Longtown	Dorothy	Lamb
M.W.i.B. Rep	Dalston	Margery	Little
Church Steward	Dalston	William	Little
LP MeetingRep	Dalston	Margery	Mallinson
Church Treasurer	CMC Upperby	Leo	Mann
Church Steward	Wetheral	Millie	McKey
Church Rep	Monkhill	Glynis	Milburn
Supernumerary	Circuit	John	Millard
LP&WL Secretary	Circuit	Chris	Mitchelson
Superintendent	Circuit	David	Newlove
Church Treasurer	Dalston	John	Oldman
Church Steward	Dalston	Ann	Oldman
LP MeetingRep	Thurstonfield	Mary	Pattinson
Church Steward	Thurstonfield	Nathan	Pattinson
Hub Steward	Cornerstone	Janet	Porterhouse
Hub Steward	CMC,Newtown	Marion	Proudfoot
Church Rep	Longtown	Pauline	Robson

Church Steward	Brampton	Nancy	Simpson
Hub Steward	CMC Wigton Road	Pat	Staley
Hub Rep	CMC Upperby	Ian	Stewart
Church Rep	Gilsland	Evelynne	Whatmough
Church Secretary	Gilsland	Melvyn	Whatmough
Church Treasurer	CMC, Re:Fresh	Stuart	Wilkinson
Hub Rep	CMC Wigton Road	Moira	Wilson
Church Steward	Dalston	Janet	Wright
CircuitSteward	Circuit	Rita	Yeowart

Signed on behalf of the Circuit by David Newlove

..............................................(signed) Rev David Newlove Superintendent Minister

..............................................(signed) George Denholm Circuit Treasurer

CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS North Cumbria Circuit FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 Efy16LAAJb hJoAfi4 w É s- District Circuit no Registered Chaiity - Charity Registration number 1134232 If not a regislered chatlty His Majestys Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number {The HMRC nUMr is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used lo give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisalion's charitable status. Methodist chariti'es in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Inslrument 2014 No.242 } Ministers- Rev. David Newlove Rev. Phi!ip_Jackson Rev. Tokunbo ASbOn Dcn. Mark Attwood Circutl Stewards". Mr Man Fearon Mr Selby.. Hamson Mrs Rita Yeow8rt Treasurer. Mr Geor e Denholm NCMC SFA 2024 1015

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 North Cumbria Circuit CircLtit restricted Model Trnt R85trithd Tolals thés Funds Fund Fvnds year Totals last SECTION A year a1 RECEIPTS a2 A55esStnenVShare 174.186 174,186 777,248 a3 a4 Ca Stal receipts Bank and CFB interest and Investment inc4)me 121.045 121.045 2.824 7,765 10,588 45.500 24.789 8,496 a5 Grants 42,500 16.629 3,000 33.792 a6 Other ieceipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 8.159 25,169 a7 236.139 128,810 11.159 376.108 la81 244.705 SECTION B b1 b2 PAYMENTS Stipends, salaries, NIC, Pension and travel costs 181,415 17,426 198,841 171,456 b3 Manse Costs 37.887 37,887 25,015 Administration etc 25,207 549 25.756 24,323 b5 Distsict Assessment 7.125 43,725 65,811 b6 b7 Gran15 & donations 5,000 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 9.988 24.418 34.406 36,081 b9 296,097 32,091 17,426 345.615 Ib91 322,686 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 la7491 $9,959) 96.718 6,267 30A93 77,981 c2 Total funds brou ht fotward from last ear 59.22D 169,494 3.101 231,816 {( 309,798 Sub total 1¢1+c21 39 266,212 {3,1661 262,309 231.817 Transfers and ad'ustmerits 89.337 {kn.3371 7.000 Ic71 c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR {¢3+c4) 88,599 169,875 3,834 262,309 Ic81 231,817 Ic61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEDIED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS these amounts should not be included in totsl recèi tslpayments above) d1 Balartce brou ht foard from last ear 3,913 1,626 d2 Offerin sIGifts - re¢eived for extemal or anisalions 3,913 1,626 3,913 d3 OfferingslGifis- passed to extemal organisations BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID d1 +d2-d31 7,419 d4 NCMC SFA 2024 2¢AS

North Cumbria SECTr E Pwewknwthe Gutsjapce Ncies io¢om Summary ofth8 Circurf ar10r the year ended 31 Awu5t 2024 atvj OrganLsal rpwxbng tollje Ciwl Ileeting Note that the fiJnd9 of an Internal Organi$8lK)n rKKmalty be RestDoed funds un rt 0xJu b8 deaty o¥xJld bp forany M&thodist purpDse. This lon musl be ty)mpWd to arnve al thegFDSS tE(Hpts atKJ SEYrT kJtas ofthE Cwvjrt. K gtD55 wy>ThexLE8J5 ts ALrnJaL% threswd 0150.{N), Ihen Ihe A(xwals meilKwJ Ofa)jub AND A DIFFERENT FORM nvjst be LWJ to rekryt the >ju[ {SEe MetFKwthstYEb5itel. PaSe fer to the gIMdan INTERNAL ORGMSATM)NS e5 c7 Sub total of Intem olgaNs$ (unds e8 Circurtaccounts (IDtsI brou9htfon¥ard frnrn g8 2-totals co1urn} 376,1 315&15 30,493 f¢ 231.816 262,309 HELD BYCIRCUIT 376.108 345.615 30.493 231.816 262,309 Continueon a serAr sheeirfne¢essaty arvj TofAL RÉCEIPTS TOTAL PAThIEFUS SE¢M¢)N F STATEMENTOF ASSETS AMDUABLF OPENtNG ¢LOSlk4G BALANCES ¢IRCLiif. CASH FUMDS MELDa131 W12024 ¢a¥h In k CutthAc¢xyJrt 2.851 69.939 169.494 169.875 SUB TOTAL 231.815 262,308 lufvJ$ by Itrtetn4 (the ckwng lol e) le121 012 TOTAI CASH FUIIDS HELD BYCRCiAT 231,815 262,308 (yl SECrnN G OTHER ASSETS LiIBLmES 31 s12024 2 089 849 (Aherlith f4 Indud8 ontyFunds heklstthe Cer f5 Indud2otfy CF8 FUsh* atTfttsiees toi 11ncthdeany the[

Name of Circuit . . North Cumbria Declarations and Scrutiny I 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 Ihey include all funds under the control of the Circuit meeting. Signature of treasurer . Date... Name and address of treasurer .... Post Code.LAy Ci LL Presentation to the Circuit meeting I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 werelwilb" 3.1?.ILk- presented to the Circuit meeting held on Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting .1 tIILI I 19 12 ?1 Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the North Cumbria Methodist Circuit Charity Number . 1134232 Responsibilities and basis of report C)L T/ I reportto the trustees on my examinab'on of the accounts of the........................................ Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages Z to £ As the Circuit's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charits"es Act 2011 ('the Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the Circuit's accounts caffled out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all Ihe applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(51{b) of the Act. delete or circle as appropriate NCMC SFA 2024 4ofS

Name of Circuit ... North Cumbria Independent Examinerfs Slatement I have completed my examinats"on. I confimi 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". the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of Ihe Act; or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no wncems and have come across no other matters in connects.on 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 havelhave not" obtained independent verificab.on of all investments wth 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 Name of independent examiner Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner Name of firm (where appropriate) Address *< .2A ¢VC Pr/2 LiJtC Post Code Date delete or circle as appropriate NCMC SFA 2024 5of5

2024-08-31-accounts