~~~~ ## Grantham & Vale of Belvoir Circuit (22/15) Registered Charity no 1134260 ## **Managing Trustees Report Sept 2022 – August 2023** ## **Governance** The Grantham and Vale of Belvoir Methodist Circuit operates under the governance of the Methodist Conference. Conference is regulated by the Deed of Union 1932 and the Methodist Church Act 1976 ## **Registration with the Charity Commission** The Grantham and Vale of Belvoir Methodist Circuit has been registered with the Charity Commission since 11th February 2010 with the number 1134260 ## **Circuit Mission Statement** Our Calling is to respond to the gospel of God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission. We will seek to do this by - Offering the very best in WORSHIP - Introducing JESUS as FRIEND and SAVIOUR - Working with OTHER CHURCHES - Respecting those with a DIFFERENT OUTLOOK - Sharing RESOURCES and NEEDS - Thinking GLOBALLY ## ## Standing Order 500 of the Constitutional Discipline and Practice of the Methodist Church states that the circuit is the primary unit through which churches express their inter-connection in the Body of Christ for the purposes of mission, mutual encouragement and help ## **Responsibilities** - provision of ministerial oversight and pastoral care to its 10 churches (9 from April 2023) through a team of 2 presbyteral ministers, 1 authorised minister, 4 supernumerary ministers, 3 supernumerary deacons and 3 lay workers (2 from Dec. 2022) - supply of lay preachers to lead worship - allocation of financial and other resources - provision of advice though lay officers - organisation of training opportunities and other special events - maintenance of 3 circuit manses ## **Organisation** The circuit is an umbrella organisation serving our congregations with 329 members and with an additional number on the community roll. One congregation is a Local Ecumenical Partnership between the Methodist and United Reformed Churches The Circuit meeting is responsible for the affairs of the Circuit and the development of policy. It exercises spiritual leadership and administrative efficiency and acts as a focal point for the working fellowship of the churches, overseeing their pastoral, training and evangelistic work. Currently 3 meetings are held each year when officers are appointed, accounts adopted, reports on circuit work received and the business of the circuit taken forward. Between Circuit meetings the Circuit Leadership Team is responsible for the affairs of the circuit. It meets as required and consists of **Rev. Tim Morris and Rev. Neil Maynard** , (presbyteral ministers), **Rev. Dr Peter Stevenson** (authorised minister) **Brian Mellors** (senior circuit steward and treasurer), **Susan Sulston, Marion Hingey-Hickson, Pat Hiley and Frank Hedley** (circuit stewards) **Hilary Taylor** (circuit administrator) ## **Trustees** The members of the Circuit meeting act as Trustees of the Circuit property. There are currently 47 trustees, being the presbyteral ministers, the supernumerary ministers and deacons, the Circuit stewards, the Circuit treasurer and other Circuit office holders, Circuit lay workers and the treasurers and stewards of each church together with representatives of its constituent congregations. The circuit administrator acts as meeting secretary Trustees are- Rev. Tim Morris Rev. Neil Maynard Rev. Dr Peter Stevenson Brian Mellors Marion Hingley Hickson Susan Sulston Pat Hiley Pamela Harrison Deacon Lois Bell Rev. Graham Coleman Rev. Peter Sulston Hilary Taylor Sarah Hobbs Eleri Bristow (until Dec 2022) Peter Broekhuizen Lynn Mellors John Eagles Hazel Wallis Audrey Cawthorn Max Teare Jean Breckenridge Denhys Lambley Chris Morgan Mark Harrison Helen Scorror Wendy Winfield (until April 2023) Roger Winfield (until April 2023) John Crookes David Woodcock Anne Woodcock Jane Bancroft Paul Bancroft David Atkins Mavis Beeson Cynthia Prater John Prater Richard Scoffield Janet Thacker Dorothy Jacklin Carole Boyle Amy Kirton Christine Whittle Val Henstock Pat Whyte John Hunter Frank Hedley Geoff Cawthorn Elaine Robinson David Taylor Louise Ritchie ## **Contact address** Rev. Tim Morris 32 Mallow Way Bingham Nottingham NG13 8TZ ## **Related Parties** The Circuit forms part of the Nottingham and Derby District of the Methodist Church and is also accountable to the Methodist Conference The Circuit comprises the following local churches Bingham Bottesford ChristChurch Local Ecumenical Partnership Grantham Colsterworth Cropwell Bishop (until April 2023) Cropwell Butler East Bridgford Great Gonerby Harrowby Lane Grantham Skillington ## **Policies** The following Circuit policies are in place: Mission, Reserves, Safeguarding, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Disability, Data Protection ## **Outturn** Over the year the Circuit received £183,491.56 in income and incurred £180,294.16 expenditure, thereby achieving a surplus of £3197.40 Total assets stand at £720,512. A reduction of1009.18 on 2021- 22 ## **Income** The Circuit derives its income chiefly through assessment payments from circuit churches, contributions from some churches towards the employment of a lay worker, the sale of property and the renting out of one former chapel and one manse ## **Reserves Policy** The Circuit Reserves Policy is appended to this report ## **Independent Examiner** Mr Chris Annan ## **Bank details** **Virgin Money Formerly The Yorkshire Bank 11 Smithy Row Nottingham NG1 2AU** ## **Review of activities Sept 2022 – Aug 2023** ## **Worship** There has been a full return to worshipping in person and a full range of activities and various styles of worship take place across our churches. Live streaming/YouTube continue to be used and printed worship material is emailed weekly to members and posted to those not on-line. Weekly worship material is also uploaded onto the Circuit website. The Circuit followed the Bible Month studies in the book of Revelation when 4 Sundays were given to studies in this book ## **Staff** In September 2022 we welcomed Rev. Tim Morris as Circuit superintendent and presbyter in the west of the Circuit. Tim has oversight of Bingham, East Bridgford, Cropwell Bishop and Cropwell Butler churches The Circuit now employs two lay workers, one administrator and one Youth and Families worker The lay pastoral worker (East) working chiefly in Bottesford and Orston served until she left the circuit in December, 8 months before they end of her contract to take up a similar post nearer home. We are grateful for all she achieved in 2+ years The Families and Youth worker (Bingham East Bridgford and Flintham) has had a successful year running Bible explorers lunch clubs in 3 schools and taking assemblies in another. Contact has also been made with the recently opened Bingham Primary School. Church-based “Messy Church” activities continue with good attendance in Bingham and East Bridgford as also the Board Games Club(11-18 year olds) and Who Let the Dads Out (male carers and small children) at Bingham. The Flintots mother and toddler group has been discontinued in favour of concentrating on special events in Flintham. Sarah continues to work ecumenically with Anglican colleagues in East Bridgford and in Bingham where she supports the monthly all-age worship. In addition to training and networking days Sarah has undertaken a Coaching for Christian Leaders course run by the Methodist Connexion During the year we began compiling documentation to recruit an outreach worker based at Harrowby Lane church in Grantham In September senior steward Brian Mellors took on the role of Circuit treasurer and Frank Hedley was appointed as an additional Circuit steward ## **Plan/Local preachers** A full preaching plan continues to operate across the Circuit, despite some local preachers now not able to take appointments. Local arrangements now figure quite frequently and trustees are grateful to the worship leaders who undertake them. We welcomed one additional worship leader at Bingham who is also to continue her training as a local preacher ## **Churches** Following a very well-attended final service of thanksgiving and celebration permission to cease worship at Cropwell Bishop was obtained at the April District Synod ## **Trusteeship** The Circuit has continued to address issues raised by the Conference resolution to raise the required number of church trustees to 12. Conversations have continued exploring ways churches with small memberships might join with others or be more closely linked ## **Mission** Based on the responses to a previous questionnaire sent to the churches a Circuit Mission Plan 2023-6 has been drawn up and will go for approval/ adoption to the next Circuit meeting ## **Safeguarding** The Circuit safeguarding officer and the superintendent have completed a safeguarding audit as recommended by the District and the issues high-lighted are being addressed. The Circuit Safeguarding policy was adopted for another year and that recommended for churches was circulated to church councils Within the Circuit 47 have undertaken advanced level Creating Safer Space training as obligatory for the positions they hold ## **Further compliance** Data protection - the circuit and all its churches have completed the now annual checklist for submitting to the District who in turn make an annual return to the Trust for Methodist Church Purposes. This ensures good practice under GDPR regulations Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - training has recently been introduced and is currently being rolled out to the Circuit with good initial take up. Again this is obligatory for some roles ## **Giving** A grant of £1,000 was made to the Lightspace organisation which works with Grantham schools. This enabled 2 further volunteers to be taken on and more training provided A further Easter offering collection was organised resulting in £929 for the Methodist World Mission Fund Methodist Homes Sunday was observed in July and from donations received and other fundraising £991 has been sent to MHA ## **Warm Spaces** As a response to high utility bills and the general cost of living crisis 6 circuit churches opened to offer a warm environment through the winter months ## **Circuit events** A gathering of our young people was held this year in Bottesford and the annual circuit family outing to Sutton on Sea took place in August. Both were very successful THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Qfthnlhim ind Vil• ol B•lvolr CifN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 Augu8t 2023 ham and Dorb Dlltrlet Clrcult r 2215 RegS¥t¢Ad Charfty-Ch•ilty Rogl$iratlon numbor 1134280 If not a rBgk*l8r8d rxerfly Nor Maiestvs Rovenue an¢J Custom$ Glft Ald nuMb8r (1Th8 HMRC number Is 9qulva￿nt lo a reg161eied charity nUm￿r In tertns of evidenGé of charllable stslus and may bè us8d to glve to donors orgrantfuThders wlshlng lo see evidgncè of the oigan18alion'5 charilaNe slabJs. MelhLKIi5t GharilBs In England 8nd Waks Ihal are not iÈgislÉred charities are excepted from fegistratkn under Stslulory Inslromenl 2014 No.2421 Mlnisters.. REVEREND TIMOTHY MORRIS REVEREND NEIL MAYNARD Ciicull Stewards.. MR BRIAN MELLORS MRS MARIDN HINGLEY HINKSON MRS SUSAN SULSTON RS PATRICIA HILEY MR FRANK HEDLEY Tiaasurer.. 2134CCOUNTS FOR THF YCAR ENDED 31 Auqv•t ￿lj Gr#nth•m 4nd V•h of Bolvolr r•iIrlo￿S Mod•l Tr￿*1 A•*irh)tsd Fundi lotylv th1• SECTION A RECEIPTS Nvl 1329WJ 157,901 218.992 a3 Ca I rec•1 Bank ITNI CFB Ini•r••l •nd lnw08in￿l vKy)rne f J,6•0 1,3YJ as Gran 7.412 17.135 OllieT I*Lx41 41,249 TOT AL RECEiprs 195.545 7,J74 202.919 la61 2,780 SECTION B bl b2 PAYMENTS Sliperth. salanes, NIC. PenS￿n and ra%'d cosls I(￿.?24 108,224 05.948 v.anse Costs 17.487 17.487 19.177 b4 IminEtrttion etts 8.798 8.798 D15trfcl Assessment 36,540 9,439 45.979 39.242 Grants & donalthis Church Sale8 Levy 1,000 1.000 b7 61597 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 11,083 11,7fj4 11.810 181.132 10,120 191.252 224.TTa SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR a7.b9 14,4t3 2.746 11.667 178.002 c2 T￿al funds brou ht loThvard from last ear 39S,544 238,783 634.327 45S,497 ¢3 Sub total c1+c2 409,957 236 Q37 645.994 634.499 TTansfers and ad U5tmen15 232,881 32.8611 ¢7 172 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR 1¢3+c41 177,096 23e,o37 413,133 634,J27 SECTION FOR INFORMATION ONLY.. MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS these Bmounts should not ba In¢lud¢d In total reeel t81p0yments tsboval Ba13nce brou hl forward Irom last ear d2 Ofl8rln 81GIts received for external o 8nlsallons 1.e86 d3 Offerlng￿GlftS- Pa5Bed to èxternal organlgallons BALANCE ST1LL TO BE PAID d1+d2-d3 1,686 The adJuslma)l of£232,861 rclates to re-cl&ssifi¢aiion of inveslments previously incl￿ded ￿ cash deposits IEcfKJN -%uwNnNiyofihèC (I JI ALWVII ?Wrynnd ki1M¢It¢L￿1 Pl4•lkw Nol•lh•llhofLmdsdin l* Flo&lrkt•dfiinds ￿lIbil cknaity s11￿￿1h￿l IhyGouldb•uMd pJip>s1 Thb WTE14NAL 2fjl919 32,881 6J4,327 113.133 H&D8YCIRcurr 11,667 2J2.861 6U.327 413.13J 5hèèiKnet￿&Iry ar TOTALRÈGWPYS TOTAL PA)WENTS sEcT￿P1 F TOF opEMh B￿lAN￿Es CLOSY*3 ￿￿￿NICE5 CI￿lI7-¢ASHFUHDB HELD•tJlAw wt2D13 BthkcWr•ntAC￿rtt IBIEufoT1ldhtsdknlGh￿thPU 533,OtsS 298,617 hwfunrfF tswiTQTAL 634.327 41J.123 T¢JfALCASH FUNW PIELDBYCIR¢urr 6Y.J2Y A13.123 tyi gECTIQHQ U¥ILlnES LryIWk3 600 LO¢D ri 14 Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that those Recelpl and Payment boled 8ccounl$ lor the year to 31 AuGvst 2023 have b*en preparad from tho record6 of th8 Clr¢uit and IhAt Ihey Ino4ude all funds under the control of Ihe Circuit rneetino. Slgnatur& of Ir683urer . 001•.... Name and addr689 of treastsrar.Tri..lAiJ...Tr.k.wkn￿..............Tr.. lYJo¥th￿..b2i￿ ,.FJ.o.f.<1A￿￿rtrK.......,.......... Po$tCode.. tr4LIL Zf Pre8entatlon to the Clr¢ult mgeting I confirm that th8 annual report and a￿￿nts for lle year onded 31 August 2023 werelwilw presented to th& Circuit meetlng hdd o Slgnature of the Chalr of thg me8tlng Nam8 of the Chair of the rneetino Independent Examlner's Report to the Trust9es of the Grantham and Vale of Bglvolr Clrcuit Charfty Number 1134260 Rèsponslbllltie8 and basis of roport I report to the trustees on rny examlnatlon of the accounts of the Grantham and Vgle of Belvolr Circuit for tha year endèd 31 August 2023 set out on pag88 .1. to .6. As the Clrcuit's trustees. you are responsible for th8 prepardlion ol the 8ccounls in accordance with the r8quirements ol the Chariti&s Acl 2011 I'lhe Acl'l. I report In respect ol rny trxarnlna￿0￿ ol the Cir¢uil's a¢wunts Carried out under section 145 of the Aol nd. in ¢arrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicab￿ Directions given by the Charity Commi$slon under Section 14515llb} of the Act. deiele or circle as approprtate 2Q2& NaM8ofCl￿ult. Grantham andvalo018elvolr.....................,..................,.... No . .22115.. Indgpgndent Examln•T'¥ Statement I have completed my ex&mln•lion. I conllrm that no mat•rlal m8ller8 havo coma to my 8ttenlion in connectton with the examlnallon lothar than Ihgt dl8do8ed below'l whlch olve m8 Cause lo believe that In, eny malerSal respocl.. tho 8¢ctsunling records wero not kèpl In accordanc• with section 130 01 the Act., or the accounts do not accord wllh accounting record3. I h8ve no concerns and have come across no other m811ers in connection with the examinalion to which attention should be drawn in this report in order lo enable a proper understanding of the ac¢¢unts to be re8ckned. I ha¥•lhave not. obtalned independent veriflealion of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purpusg8 or held in other trusts, bank bal8llC85 and funds 8t the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which 8r8 indivldualty in ex￿55 of £10,000 Iten thousand pu)undsl at the balance Sheet dale. Stgnalure of indepgndenl examiner Name of independ9nl examiner .ChristophtsrAnnan........,..-.... Relevant professional qualific8don of independent exarniner ..FCA......,....................,........ Nam6 of firm {whera appropriatel .Not ApplicobJ&.. Addrgss .The Old Dairy, Main St￿¢1, SudbrDOk............ Granlham. Lincolnshire...............,............ Post C¢xle .NC32 3RY... Dale * delete or ¢irde 88 appropriate M¥*23 GRANTHAM AND VALE OF 8ELVOIR METHODIST CIRCUIT Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 Income and Expendlture Account INCOME 2022-23 Budget 140,(th.00 22,3CIJ.00 2021-22 Assessment5 132,9Mr).Ix) 22,3W.IXJ 623,41 147,901.00 22,￿￿.00 415.79 Contdbutions for Youth Worker TMCP Trust dividend5 Interest 2,164.96 153.55 3￿.00 189.76 Sundries Ifnc Pr•¥er Manualsl Bin8ham loan interest Corby Glen rent net Income Bcittesft)rd Manse net Income Orston Surplus Cash A Stoth¥ell bequest 1,474.10 15,546.84 7,348.70 4C(I.Crf) 9,OC¥).¢XI 9,0(X).00 11,2COA4 12,221.351 8.155.62 £183,491.56 £181.ILK).(X) £187.941.26 1,856.1J) 29.50 Donatio￿ collected for leavlng Bift Collectkln for The MethodTst Church Fund Totsl Income £183,491.56 £181,1￿.00 É189.826.76 EXPENDrruRE Ministers Stipends linc Layworker 20221 Youth Worker 80,985.97 22.617.64 4,622.52 86.540.Q) 1.046. 23.094.58 .ow.00 21,8CX).C 3,71J). 37.038.00 2,5(X.(KJ 15,OW.00 85.948.17 20.885.75 3,956.59 37.040.(K) Administrator District Assessment Supernurnerary expenses Manse Eypenses Manse Refurbishment Admin, P & stat, photocopler hire Youth Fund expenses Orston ins and refund Sundrles 9%.01 19.177.01 (7,402.411 2,99&32 1.131.93 1,272.39 2,587.56 3,5￿.00 2,5(￿.00 732.44 7,527.50 4,6￿.00 203.65 £180,294.16 £180,638.00 £165,625A6 1.856.(XJ 29.50 Leavlng Gift5 Pald to other Organlsatlons £180,294.16 £180,638.00 £167,510.96 Excess Income over expenditure £3,197.40 £462.t £22,315.80 rn illi, Illi 11 Grantham and Vale of Belvoir Circuit Year ended 31st August 2023 Reserves Polscy Circuit Reserves Policy Thèse account5 disclose all the funds held by tli@ Clrcult Meeting a5 Charity Trustees. Our Reserves Policy relates to ou r General luni'estric.tedl fLJnds, whlrh are freely av2ilable to be used for any or all the purposes of the Circiilt. Unreslricted fuiid5 comprlse a curient account with Virgin Money and CFB deposit accoiii)t to CL)vpI' I'eRular expenditure and longer term funds are Invested in the CFB Mixed Maiiaged Fiind. I lie cit pit'iil elemp.nl of the fund has decreased in value during the year due to Imarket volatllity but is still 51iowlnB a hea Ithy gain since the original Investment was made. Aims Ouraim 15.. to secure and sustain the Circuit's viability and future. to give reassurance that the Circuit, which is a charityi intends to use all the money coming into its care for the purpose of the charity. Mission policy To encourage, enable and equip the Churches of the Grantham and Vale of Belvoir Circuit to hare in the callings of the Methodist Church (and at Christchurch LEP, Grantham, also the URC Vision2020 and the five Marks of Mlssionl and to regularly ask the question, "what is our mission in this place?iJ To promote a community of churches who worship God, learn to know Jesus Christi proclaim His love and serve their local community in partnership with other5 wherever possible. Our mission policy to this end provide5- the ministerial oversight and pastoral care of the nine local congregatlon5 in the Circuit. the support of the ministry team of two presbyteral ministers, 45% of a URC minister who is AP, Six SL5pernumerary presbyters, three supernumeiary deacons and two lay worker5. the maintenance of three circuit manse5 - one has been available for rent since October 2020. Financial Plans The Circuit Assessment Is reviewed annually and covers the costs assoclated with the Clrcuivs mission. Under Standing Orders, the Circuit must meet its financial obligations in relation to the support of its minlsters and the maintenance of its manses. The total cost last financial year was £180,29412022 was £165,625). We make annual provision for our Manse maintenance programme to maintaln each Manse. Unrestricted Funds: General Fund: Our reserves Policy is to hold at least six month5 expenditure in hand for regular expenditure, a minimum of £90,000. As well as the General fund, the Circult malntalns designated funds whlch are also of an unrestricted nature. Thèse designated funds are for the following purposes: Clrcuit Property To meet regular, cycllcal maliitp.nai)c.e aiid rpi)Ali'% f(Ir Ilirpp inansps, ralculaled at about 7.5% of Insured value. Thls year, the Mansps r.nriiblnD¢l Viiliiiillon fur Insurance purposes was EI,008,095. Therefore wo nocd lo maSiilulii # i￿S¥rVe fur Mai?Je% of £"15,600. In addltlon the Clrcult Is IE5ponslble for Corby Glen Chapel whlch Is let out on a long term ful r•palrln8 lease. The rEcèiit qulnquennlal Identlflos remedlal work whlch Is recommended to be completed wltl)In the next 5 year5. Some of these Temed lal requlremeTrts will be historic and It Is not clear at thls point whether the tenant has the resources to fund these, Youth Worker The contract for our youth worker for the western section has one year to run at a c05t to the drcuit after contributions frorn other churche5 of circa £10,000. Restrlcted Funds: The Circuit Model Trust Fund Thls fund derives from the 5ale5 of chapels and manse5 and Its use 15 restricled by Conference. This restriction is a Methodist connexional regulation. but the nd may be used for a varlety of purposes wlth approprlate approval. Other Trusts These comprise various small funds which are historic and which all are Invested through TMCP. Charity Commission The Circuit is re8lStered wlth the Charlty Comm15slon, reference 1134260. The Annual Report and the annual Financlal Statements for the Circult under th15 reglstration have been filed during the year, as requlred.