~~~~ ## Grantham & Vale of Belvoir Circuit (22/15) Registered Charity no 1134260 ## **Managing Trustees Report Sept 2023 – August 2024** ## **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 ## **Nature and purpose** 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 9 congregations through a team of 2 presbyteral ministers, 1 authorised minister, 4 supernumerary ministers, 3 supernumerary deacons and 2 lay workers - 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, one of which is currently let ## **Organisation** The circuit is an umbrella organisation serving 9 congregations with 323 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 2 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 50 trustees, being the presbyteral ministers, the supernumerary ministers and deacons, the Circuit stewards, the Circuit treasurer and other Circuit office holders, 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 Frank Hedley Pamela Harrison Deacon Lois Bell Rev. Graham Coleman Rev. Peter Sulston Rev.Christine Fox Hilary Taylor Sarah Hobbs Peter Broekhuizen Lynn Mellors John Eagles Hazel Wallis Audrey Cawthorn Max Teare Jean Breckenridge Denhys Lambley Chris Morgan Mark Harrison Helen Scorror 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 Louise Ritchie Terry Kavanagh-Greene Brian Bowes ## **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 Butler East Bridgford Great Gonerby Harrowby Lane Grantham Skillington ## **Policies** The following Circuit policies are in place: Mision, Reserves, Safeguarding, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Disability, Data Protection ## **Outturn** Over the year the Circuit received £ 182284 in income and incurred £198661 expenditure, resulting in a deficit of £16377 over the year ## **Income** The Circuit derives its income chiefly through assessment payments from circuit churches, rental income from one leased manse and one former church, contributions from some churches towards the employment of lay workers and the sale of property ## **Independent Examiner** Mr Chris Annan ## **Bank details** **Virgin Money (current account) Formerly The Yorkshire Bank 11 Smithy Row Nottingham NG1 2AU** ## **Central Finance Board (deposit account)** ## **Central Finance Board Mixed Managed Fund** ## **Review of activities Sept 2023 – Aug 2024** ## **Lay staffing** The Circuit continues to employ 2 lay workers, ie one administrator and a Youth and Families worker in Bingham and East Bridgford. The latter has continued her outreach work through monthly Messy Church sessions in Bingham and East Bridgford and in Bingham a Board Games Club (11-18 years) and Who let the Dads Out(male carers). Both continue to flourish. As a new venture monthly Youth Groups in Bingham and East Bridgford have made encouraging beginnings. Strong ecumenical links are maintained with St Peters East Bridgford as Sarah helps lead outreach events there and organises Messy Church events in Flintham. Links with schools are well established and Bible Explorers groups in 2 junior schools are well attended. Copies of “Jesus the living W ay” have been given to those moving on to senior school. The Circuit took up the shortfall in the funding of this post caused by the Bingham Anglican church withdrawing from the scheme During the year we began the recruitment process for a Community Evangelist to be based at Harrowby Lane church in Grantham. This culminated in 2 rounds of advertising, the second resulting in the appointment of Richard Thomas who will begin work in September 2024. We warmly welcome Richard to our Circuit ## **Worship** With the help of visiting preachers and worship leaders offering local arrangements it has been possible to provide a full plan throughout the year. Some Circuit churches now join together for worship on some Sundays and one links with the local Anglican church We are well served by a team of 15 qualified local preachers and 1 currently “on trial” and 7 worship leaders linked to individual churches During the year long service certificates for 50,60 and 70 years were presented to 3 of our preachers and their contribution to our Circuit worship duly recognised ## **Stationing** In anticipation of the retirement of our associate minister in Grantham in April 2025 consultation began as to the way forward and profiles drawn up for a part-time presbyter/deacon to serve the ChristChurch Local Ecumenical Partnership. The papers were submitted in September 2024 ## **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 Preliminary conversation took place with the leadership of 2 neighbouring circuits to consider the possibility of merger as a means of making better use of resources available but each was discounted ## **Mission** The Circuit Mission Policy 2023-6 was formally adopted at the beginning of the year. The Circuit Easter Offering collection in aid of World Mission realised £1260 ## **Safeguarding** The Circuit Safeguarding policy was adopted for another year and that for churches recommended by the District circulated for consideration by Church Councils A record of DBS clearance issued to members of all churches is kept and reminders to renew on expiry are sent. During the year a further 2 members completed the Advanced Safeguarding training as appropriate to their roles The District Safeguarding Conference on the theme of the safety in churches of minority and marginalised groups included a video prepared by a Circuit member on her positive experience and welcome as an immigrant from Hong Kong ## **Equality, Diversity and inclusion** In line with our policy 18 people completed training as appropriate to their roles ## **General Data Protection Regulations** The Circuit and all churches completed the annual Data Protection Checklist by the stated deadline. This is required by the Connexion and the District and confirms our practices and compliant with regulations ## **Charitable Giving** The annual Circuit-wide collection for Methodist Homes for the Aged (MHA) realised £1376. In addition churches gave financial support to All We Can (Methodist Relief and Development) Christian Aid, Action for Children and MacMillan nurses. It is the policy of some churches to respond to the regular Disasters Emergency Committee appeals for world-wide situations as they occur ## **Property** Preparations for the marketing of Cropwell Bishop Chapel where worship ceased last year have continued, resulting in 2 auctions on line. Neither of these were successful During the year £15,000 was drawn down from the Model Trust Fund for refurbishment in both occupied manses, in line with our duty of care to our ministers ## **Circuit events** A study Day was organised by the Local Preachers group led by Canon Gale Richards. This was well attended and much appreciated The annual Circuit family outing to Sutton-on-Sea in August, was once again organised by the Circuit Education and Youth committee which supports outreach in 5 of our churches The Easter Offering dedication service was a good time of fellowship with members from all 9 churches taking part Hilary Taylor Circuit Administrator, on behalf of the Trustees June 2025 Grantham and Vale of Belvoir Circuit Treasurer’s Report Year ended 31[st] August 2024 I am pleased to report that the Circuit finances remain in a relatively satisfactory state in spite of ending the financial year with expenditure exceeding income by £16,377.28 whilst our assets have increased by just short of £6000. Turning to the Income and Expenditure account our total income was slightly below budget which can be explained by the rent receivable from the tenant of Corby Glen being currently in arrears. This has been slightly offset by higher income on our CFB and TMCP investments and deposits than we expected. This financial year was the first year in which we have used the income from the general reserve account to help keep the increases in church assessments to a manageable level. During the year we also lost the contribution from Bingham Parish Church towards the cost of the Youth and Family Worker. The overall higher expenditure can be attributed to increased employment costs and improvements to both of the occupied manses. The Bingham manse has had a new patio and steps constructed to address concerns raised in the quinquennial report and the Harrowby Lane manse has had new fencing and gates to improve security. A final amount in respect of the Bingham work has been paid since the year end and it is proposed that a sum of £15,000 be drawn down from the Model Trust Fund to cover this expenditure. Our total assets now stand at £726,210.19 an increase of £5,698.07. In addition to the loss on the general account, Nottingham & Derby District MC raised a levy of £9,301.85 on the Model Trust Fund for the District Advance Fund during the year and the amount of interest transferred from the reserve account was £9,574.61. However the increase in the value of investments contributed to the overall increase in asset value I would like to thank all church stewards, leadership teams and treasurers for supporting the work of the circuit with particular regard to finances. You have made my job far easier than it may otherwise have been. Brian Mellors ## **Circuit Treasurer** ## **GRANTHAM AND VALE OF BELVOIR METHODIST CIRCUIT Accounts for the year ended 31[st] August 2024 Income and Expenditure Account** |**INCOME**
Assessments
Contributions for Youth Worker
TMCP Trust dividends
Interest
Sundries (inc. Prayer Manuals)
Bingham loan interest
Corby Glen rent net income
Bottesford Manse net income
Orston Surplus Cash
Total Income
**EXPENDITURE**
Ministers Stipends (inc Lay worker 2022)
Youth Worker
Administrator
District Assessment
Investment Property Expenses
Supernumerary expenses
Manse Expenses
Manse Refurbishment
Admin, P & stat, photocopier hire
Youth Fund expenses
Orston ins and refund
Sundries
Excess Income over expenditure|**2023-24**
**Budget**
**2022-23**
121,433.65
126,000.00
132,980.00
20,000.00
22,300.00
22,300.00
10,287.80
6,000.00
623.41
3,587.92
600.00
2,164.96
(37.25)
-
153.55
1,476.65
350.00
1,474.10
10,564.97
15,000.00
18,091.00
14,970.00
14,820.00
11,397.69
-
-
900.00| |---|---| ||£182,283.74
£185,070.00
£190,084.71| ||£182,283.74
£185,070.00
£190,084.71| ||83,660.38
82,000.00
80,985.97
24,238.80
23,400.00
22,617.64
4,534.80
4,875.00
4,622.52
42,012.00
42,012.00
36,540.00
6,140.06
2,856.00
6,593.15
772.50
1,500.00
1,046.00
18,015.37
20,000.00
23,094.58
11,478.67
-
-
214.95
3,000.00
1,272.39
1,858.06
2,500.00
2,587.56
-
-
-
5,735.43
2,500.00
7,527.50| ||£198,661.02
£184,643.00
£186,887.31| ||£198,661.02
£184,643.00
£186,887.31| ||-£16,377.28
£427.00
£3,197.40| ## **GRANTHAM AND VALE OF BELVOIR METHODIST CIRCUIT Accounts for the year ended 31[st] August 2024 Balance Sheet** |**Funds**
**Balance 01.09.23**
Income
Expenditure
Movement In Valuation
District Levy
Loan Repayments/Loan Granted
Transfers
**Balance 31.08.24**|**Total**
**General Fund**
**Reserve Fund**
**Model Trust Fund**
**Endowments**
**Bingham Loan**
720,512.12
114,516.31
292,420.64
236,036.98
45,038.19
32,500.00
196,714.32
171,995.94
10,408.01
12,291.34
2,019.03
-200,293.04
-198,661.02
-833.40
-672.71
-125.91
18,578.64
17,250.59
1,328.05
-9,301.85
-9,301.85
0.00
6,765.00
-10,000.00
0.00
10,287.80
-9,574.61
-713.19| |---|---| ||£726,210.19
£104,904.03
£309,671.23
£238,353.76
£47,546.17
£22,500.00| |**Cash,Investments and Assets at 31.08.24**|| |---|---| |Virgin Money Current Account|35,703.13| |CFB Deposit|69,200.90| |Tmcp|595,571.16| |Bingham /Skillington Loan|25,735.00| ||£726,210.19| THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Qr•ntham •nd V•1• of Belvolr Circutt FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 ham arKI Derb Dl•trlct Clrcult no 2W15 ReglJteY•d Charfty. Charlty Regl8tratk>n nUffi￿r 11342eo ff T*)t a ￿K￿ler￿￿ charity Her MaJ85ty's Revgnue and Customs Gfft Ald number lThe HMRC numlH is equivalent to a register&J charty number in ternis of eviden￿ of charIta￿e Sts￿s and may be to gr¥e to donors or grantfvnders wshing to see eVIden￿ of the organisation's charrtable sths. Methodist charrtses in EnglaTrJ and wa￿ fhat are not registered tharities are excepted from fg3istratson urKJer Stsbjtory Instrument 2014 No.242) Ministers." REVEREND TIMOTHY MORRIS REVEREND NEIL MAYNARD Circuit Stewards.. MR BRIAN MELLORS MRS MARION HINGLEY HINKSON MRS SUSAN SULSTON MRS PATRICIA HILEY MR FRANK HEDLEY Tre88urer'. IQA¢¢OVIrt8 FOR THE YEAR EIIDEO 31 Auou•t 2024 Gr•nth•m and Val• ol B•l¥olr Clfcult Un- r••trf¢l•d Ilod•l Tn*l R••tthtsd Yol•l• th1• Fund FUTh T¢*al• l••1 SECTION A RECEIPTS Nol• 132.>00 C• B•n* •ThJ CF8 Intsrn*l and 13. 48,974 48,974 46,249 TOTAL RECEIPTS 189,048 1Z.291 201.339 202.919 SECTION B PAYRIENTS Stipends, s818ri0¥. NIC. Pension and travel costs b1 110790 110,790 24,196 106224 Manse Costs 24.196 7,157 17A87 8.79 Administrth"on etc 873 District Asses6ment 9,301 4S.979 Grdnts & donab.ons Church Sales Levy 1.000 b7 bs Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 13,508 194661 13.SO6 11.7PA b9 9,974 (b9) 19125 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ¢1 47-b9 .296 11.667 Totsl funds brou ht forward from last ar 177,098 236,037 413,133 634.327 Sub tatsl c1+c2 167,483 23B,364 405,837 645.994 Transfers and ad. c7 232 881 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR {c3+c4? 167,483 238.354 405,837 Ic81 413,133 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO &YfERNAL ORGANISATIONS th•80 amounts should nol ￿ Included In lotal recel payments abowl Balan(￿ I￿j ht forward from last d1 ear rln 81Gifts - recelved for oxtemal o ringslGifts- passed to extemal C￿nIsationS NCE STILL TO BE PAID d1+d2.d3 anbsabons d3 ANfJ A tMrrrRrNT FtJftMrpM￿ iiw l•••Alththl*TWI Pwp• ELDtrte4icurr 413133 TOTALRECWPTS TOTAL SECIION F OPENIWG CLOWG IXUIT.¢A8H FLIMDB HELD•tJl A Z4 298.617 81NTOTAL 413,133 405,137 T&AfUrthh￿dty Ir*¢m*¢knnknth(thg TOT*L¢A8H FUIIDBHELDBYaRCLvr 413.133 406 31 274 879 Aud•*CF8 Furth 22MS Declarations and Scrutiny I conflm that Ihese Receipt and Payment b83ed accounts for the year to 31 Augugt 2024 have been prepared from the records ol the Circuit 8nd Ihal they indude all fund$ uThler ts c￿￿01 of m8etlng. Signature of treasurer . Nameandaddressoftreasurer................................................................ Prasentatlon to the Clrcult megting I confim that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 wer•th¥"Ill te" presented to the Circuit meettng held on .. .. ... ..... . Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting ..fy.u..: .J..iM....sL. Q..Q.Q£i£. Date.. ..... Independent ExamineWs Report to the Trustees of the ¥￿￿OF1￿￿1￿c1rCU1t Charlty Number.............. Ra8pon8lbiliti08 and basis of rnport I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the ..v F tskrfo.Tr-... Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages ! to 4 As the Cirojifs trustees. you are responsible for the preparats'on of the accounts in accordance ￿th the reqU1￿ments of the Chanljes Ad 2011 ('the Act,). I r8POrt in respect of my examination of the Circuit's accounts carried out under sethon 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Direcb'ons given by the Chanty Commission under section 145{5)Ib) of the Act. . delets or circl9w appropriate Gr•nlhm •nd V•1• ol B•l¥olr 22115 Ind•p•nd•nt Ex•mln•e• 8t•t•m•nl I hav• compl•t•d my •xamin•tlon. I ccnfimi that no mAtorlAI m8tt•r• have come to my attentirni In in. any mat•riAI ￿p￿Cl. the acthunllng r•cord8 not kopl In accordanr* with 130 d lh• Pd. ¥Y ar￿UnIS do not 8ccord ￿th tho aecountin9 Fvudi. I have no conwnts and have come across no oth•r mattern in connection wilh th• examinati￿ to ¥thich attentson sI￿1d be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understaThling rrt the acowrts to be reached. i knave nor obtsined independenl verifieation of all investmonts the Tr￿te8$ for MethL¥list Church Purpose$ or hekl in other tTUSts, bank balances and funds at the Cerrtral Finance Board ￿ the Methodist Church which are individualEy in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance Signature of indepertht exwniner" ...... Name of independent examiner ..ChristopherAnnan..................... Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner .NlA.... Nameoffirm {whereappropriate) ...NlA........................................................................ .. Address ..The Dairy, Main Street, SudbrooK Grantham,Lincotsnshire.................. ............ . Posi Code .NG32 3RY Date dekk or cirde as appropriate M*t23 x24