## **United Stockport Circuit Trustees’ Annual Report for year ending 31[st] August 2020** 

## **Introduction** 

Welcome to our Trustees’ Annual Report, where we will set out our achievements and plans for the future, as well as updating interested parties on a number of other important issues, such as finance, safeguarding and the public benefit we provide. 

During 2019/20 the Pandemic put paid to many of the activities of the churches, however the staff team were able to offer online worship and other activities across the Circuit. In December 2019 the worshipping community at Tiviot Dale (Connect)  made a decision to leave the Methodist Church. This coincided with the start of the pandemic and a request from the local authority to use the Tiviot Dale Building as a COVID-19 test Centre. With the departure of Connect, Tiviot Dale was taken into the trusteeship of the Circuit and it was agreed to allow the building to be used for this purpose. Plans to unite the Circuit with the Romiley Circuit continued to move ahead. 

## **Aims and organisation** 

The circuit's mission statement is: 

_The United Stockport Circuit seeks to encourage and support local churches and communities so that people of all ages may become followers of Jesus Christ, grow in faith and deepen discipleship._ 

_The United Stockport Circuit believes in celebrating the love of God and the forgiveness of sin through the sacrifice which Jesus made, by sharing the good news of the gospel with the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit._ 

_We seek renewal and growth recognising the importance of worship, prayer, bible study, fellowship and caring as vital ingredients for that growth._ 

We are an active, creative and dynamic Circuit that reaches out to all, sharing the Love of God through **Our Calling** , the Methodist Church’s statement of its purpose. 

The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission. 

The Church exists to: 

- Increase the awareness of God’s presence and celebrate God’s love (Worship) 

- Help people to grow and learn as Christians, through mutual support and care (Learning and 

- Caring) 

- Be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice (Service) 

- Make more followers of Jesus Christ (Evangelism 

- (Our Calling Conference Report 2000) 



## **Brief financial review of the year** 

## _**Income trends**_ 

The income from the church assessments was as expected, even with the church at Tivot Dale ceasing to worship, this did not affect the income, as they had been exempt from assessment due to it being a church plant.  There were no additional revenue streams for the circuit beyond the monies collected from the churches and rental of a manse. 

## _**Expenditure trends**_ 

Stipend expenditure has increased each financial year in line with conference approved `increases. Due to the pandemic and the closure of the worship church at Tivot Dale there were some additional costs that hadn’t been budgeted for. This resulted in a withdrawal from reserves to meet the shortfall. 

## _**Fund balances**_ 

As at 31 August 2020 the net current assets of the Circuit were £ 320,796.57 , giving approximately 24 months cover for expenditure. 

## **Plans for 2020/21** 

A union with the Romiley Methodist Circuit will result in the Circuit increasing from 11 churches to 16. We will welcome a new member of Staff to minster in Woodley, Romiley and Windelhurst Churches. Formal plans will be brought to the Circuit Meeting to give delegated authority to the Circuit Leadership Team for most governance matters in between Circuit Meetings. 

Circuit financial plans for the coming year have been prepared on the basis that there remains 5 full time ordained staff with anticipated cost of living stipend increases combined with an  increase in the assessment paid to the district, no increase has been applied to the assessment , any shortfall will be met by circuit reserves. This was agreed to reflect the affect that the pandemic may have on church income . 

## **Basis of preparation and legal framework** 

The Charity’s annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2020 have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice 2015 as applicable to the Financial Reporting Standard(FRS) 102 

Full Name of Charity:  United Stockport Circuit 

Registration Charity Number:  1134270 

Date of registration:   11 February 2010 

Main communication address   Tiviot Dale Methodist Church, Tiviot Dale, Stockport SK1 1TA 



The members of the United Stockport  Methodist Circuit meeting are the Charity Trustees, membership being made up of circuit office holders, ministers and  representatives appointed by the local churches. 

Full membership is shown as Appendix A to this report. 

Active Circuit Ministers            Rev Catherine Bird Rev Raj Patta Rev Lindsay Kemp Rev Luiz Cardoso (until December 31[st] 2019) Circuit Lay Workers               Miss Christine Hufton Circuit Stewards                     Mr David Bryant Mr Frank Dean Mrs Sharon Heginbotham Mrs Liz Morrell Mrs Jayne Quinn Mr Barry Shillito (Treasurer) Administrator:                      Miss Christine Hufton 

Name of treasurer acting as the principal officer overseeing the day to day financial management and accounting for the circuit during the year. Mr. Barry Shillito 

Independent examiner:    Alan Brekin, ACA. 10 Prospect Place, Bury BL9 8EX. 

Investment Bankers: Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church 9 Bonhill Street, London EC2A 4PE Trustees for Methodist Church purposes Central Buildings, Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JQ 

## **Aims and organisation** 

The Charity objective is to act as a Resource provider within the area around the Greater Manchester Borough of Stockport for the Methodist Church. 

1)The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the Date of Union the advancement of: 



a) The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and discipline of The Methodist Church; 

b) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit, local or other organisation of The Methodist Church; 

c) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church; 

d) Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church; 

2) The organisation and resourcing of regular public acts of worship open to members of the church and non members alike. 

3) The teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups. 

4) The resourcing of pastoral work including visiting the sick and bereaved. 

5) Taking religious assemblies in local schools. 

6) Promotion of Christianity through the staging of events and services. 

7) Provision of chaplaincy services where required. 

## **Public Benefit** 

We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. 

## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

"The governing document for the circuit is the Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976) 

Detailed 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 along with the Local Preachers meeting, both reporting to the Circuit Meeting. 

## **Trustee Training** 

A range of guidance produced by Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the circuit , specifically the leaflet ‘The Role of a Trustee in The Methodist Church’ is given to all new Circuit meeting members as induction to their role as trustees. 

## **Related Parties** 

The Circuit is part of the Manchester and Stockport District of the Methodist Church and is also accountable to the Methodist Conference. 



The following Methodist Churches are linked to the circuit: 

Windlehurst Methodist Church, Windlehurst Road, High Lane, Stockport, SK6 8AF 

Hazel Grove Methodist Church, Wesley Street, Hazel Grove, Stockport, SK7 4JQ 

Dialstone Lane Methodist Church, 161 Dialstone Lane, Offerton, Stockport, SK2 7LQ 

Davenport Methodist Church, Garners Lane, Davenport, Stockport, SK3 8QS 

Trinity Methodist Church, Trinity Gardens, Stockport, SK3 8TL 

St. John’s Methodist Church, Stockport Rd, Stockport, SK3 0HZ 

Christ Church, Reddish Methodist Church, 7 Lillian Grove, Reddish, Stockport, SK5 6EQ 

Tiviot Dale Methodist Church, Tiviot Dale, Stockport, SK1 1TA 

Heaton Moor Methodist Church, Stanley Road, Heaton Moor, Stockport, SK4 4HL 

Heaton Mersey Methodist Church, 49 Cavendish Road, Heaton Mersey, Stockport, SK4 3DP 

Edgeley Methodist Church, Edgeley Road, Stockport, SK3 9NB 

## **Any other specific organisations with specific linkage.** 

None 

## **Risk Management** 

The major risks have been identified and recorded by the Circuit leadership Team with professional advice taken as required. 

There is a regular annual review process undertaken and recorded. 

Income and Expenditure is being monitored in total and is compared with the approved annual budget on a half yearly basis 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. 

Methodist Connexional practice outlines commitment to the following principles: 

- the care and nurture of, 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. 

• We 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. 

• We 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. 

- We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care. 

- We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust. 

• We 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 we will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice 

The  United Stockport 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  United Stockport 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. 

## **Reserves Policy** 

The Reserves Policy for the Circuit is to hold a minimum sum equivalent to 6 months’ 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 any inability to raise the full Circuit Assessment from churches. 



**A** 

## Church Representatives on Circuit Meeting (Trustees) 

||**Church Leadership **|**Treasurer**|**One Other**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Christ Church|TBC|LesleyDean|Neville Rands|
|Davenport|Judith Mottram|Eddie Partington|Mildred Spooner|
|Dialstone Lane|Susan Conlon|Jane Hollins|Andrew Mason|
|Edgeley|Barbara Aspinall|PennyOllerenshaw|Margaret Foley|
|Hazel Grove|TBC|Ian Chesters|TBC|
|Heaton Mersey|Julia Dickson|Sue Ainsworth|Anne Cowlishaw|
|Heaton Moor|Barbara Lowe|Jim Lowe|Sue Jones|
|St. John’s|Janice Hempsall|BarryShillito|Sue Shillito|
|Trinity|Margaret Cavanagh|Stewart Coates|Jean Tudge|
|Windlehurst|Muriel Shepley|Graham Clarke|Bernie Rowlands|



## Trustees 

|Trustees||
|---|---|
|Ministers|Cathy Bird<br>Lindsay Kemp<br>RajPatta|
|Circuit Leadership Team (+<br>Ministers)|David Bryant<br>Frank Dean<br>Sharon Heginbotham<br>Liz Morrell<br>Jayne Quinn<br>Barry Shillito (Treasurer)|
|Supernumerary Ministers|Rev’d Andrew Palmer|
|Circuit MeetingSecretary|Judith Adshead|
|Complaints Officer|CathyBird|
|Property|Alan Stephens|
|Local Preachers Secretary|Frank Dean|
|Local Preachers Representative|Ann Dawber|
|Connexional Funds|Eddie Partington|
|MWiB – Secretary|Marguerite Hall|
|Public Issues|Liz Turner|
|Mission in Britain|Janet Partington|
|World Church|Eddie Partington|
|SafeguardingOfficer|Hugh McLaughlin|





**Name of Circuit** 

**Circuit No 19 02** 

## **UNITED STOCKPORT CIRCUIT** 

## **Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2020** 

|**Fixed Assets**|**Notes to the**<br>**Accounts**||||||**Totals**<br>**2019/20**<br>£<br>1,449,246<br>0<br>0<br>**1,449,246**<br>0<br>0<br>258,188<br>0<br>84,523<br>**342,711**<br>0|**Totals**<br>**2019/20**<br>£<br>1,449,246<br>0<br>0<br>**1,449,246**<br>0<br>0<br>258,188<br>0<br>84,523<br>**342,711**<br>0|GN<br>**Totals**<br>**2018/19**<br>£<br>742,082<br>R<br>R<br>**742,082**<br>S<br>186,442<br>T<br>49,694<br>**236,136**<br>U<br>V<br>**0**<br>**236,136**<br>**978,218**<br>V<br>**978,218**<br>W<br>807,391<br>166,103<br>W<br>**973,494**<br>**4,724**<br>**978,218**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**General Fund**<br>**(Unrestricted)**<br>£|**Circuit Model**<br>**Trusts**<br>**(Unrestricted)**<br>£|**Designated**<br>**Funds**<br>**(Unrestricted)**<br>£|**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>£|**Endowment**<br>**Funds**<br>£|**Totals**<br>**2019/20**<br>£|||
|||||||||||
|Circuit Manses & Equipment||1,449,246|||||1,449,246|||
|Investmentproperties|||||||0|||
|Investments|||||||0|||
|**_Total fixed assets_**||**1,449,246**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**1,449,246**|||
|**Current Assets**||||||||||
|Debtors|||||||0|||
|Loans bythe Circuit|||||||0|||
|Investments with TMCP||15,578|232,110||10,500||258,188|||
|Central Finance Board Deposits|||||||0|||
|Cash at Bank and in hand||84,523|||||84,523|||
|**_Total current assets_**||**100,101**|**232,110**|**0**|**10,500**|**0**|**342,711**|||
|**Current liabilities**||||||||||
|Creditors (due in under 1 year)|||||||0|||
|Grantspayable within 2018-19|||||||0|||
|**_Total current liabilities_**||**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**||**0**|
|**_Net current assets/liabilities_**||**100,101**|**232,110**|**0**|**10,500**|**0**|**342,711**||**236,136**|
|||||||||||
|**_Total assets less current liabilities_**||**1,549,347**|**232,110**|**0**|**10,500**|**0**|**1,791,957**||**978,218**|
||||||||**0**<br>**0**<br>**0**<br>**1,791,957**<br>1,549,347<br>232,110<br>0<br>**1,781,457**<br>10,500<br>0<br>**1,791,957**|||
|**Long term liabilities**<br>**(due after more than oneyear)**||||||||||
|Grantspayable after 2018-19|||||||**0**|||
|Loans to the Circuit|||||||**0**|||
||||||||**0**|||
|**_Net assets_**||**1,549,347**|**232,110**|**0**|**10,500**|**0**|**1,791,957**|||
|**Funds of the Circuit**||||||||||
|General Fund(Unrestricted)||1,549,347|232,110||**10,500**||1,549,347||807,391|
|Circuit Model Trust Fund (Unrestricted)|||232,110||||232,110||166,103|
|Designated Funds(Unrestricted)||||0|||0|||
|**_Total Unrestricted Funds_**|||||||**1,781,457**||**973,494**|
|Restricted Funds|||||**10,500**||10,500||**4,724**|
|Endowment Funds||||||**0**|0|||
|**_Total Funds_**||**1,549,347**|**232,110**|**0**|**10,500**|**0**|**1,791,957**||**978,218**|



Signed 


Circuit Treasurer Mr Barry Shillito 



Name of Circuit 

**Circuit No** 

## **UNITED STOCKPORT CIRCUIT** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2020** 

|**Notes to**|||**Circuit Model**|**Designated**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**the**|**General Fund**||**Trust**|**Funds**|**Restricted**|**Endowment**|
|**accounts**|<br>**(Unrestricted)**||**(Unrestricted)**|**(unrestricted)**|**Funds**|**Funds**|
|||£|£|£|£|£|
|**Income**|||||||
|1   Donations and legacies||110|||||
|2   Income from monetary investments||141|1,260||||
|3   Income from investment properties||8,805|||||
|4   Assessments on Churches||222,300|||||
|5  Lay Workers||68,497|||||
|6  Gas & Electric||24,774|||||
|7   Other charitable income Hazel Grove||69,900|74,191||5,740||
|8**Total income**||**394,527**|**75,451**|**-**|**5,740**|**-**|
|**Expenditure**|||||||
|9   Grants and donations||1,110|||||
|10 Salaries and associated costs||130,228|||||
|11 Property maintenance||8,664|||||
|12 Lay Workers||91,014|||||
|13 District Assessment & Levy||47,996|9,444||||
|14 Gas & Electric||28,605|||||
|15 Office expenses||3,682|||||
|16 Other outgoings||48,399|||||
|17**Total charitable expenditure**||**359,698**|**9,444**|**0**|**0**|**0**|
|18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments|-|37<br>|||36||
|19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties|||||||
|20**Net income/(expenditure)**||**34,792**|**66,007**|**0**|**5,776**|**0**|
|21 Transfers between funds|||||||
|22 Other gains/(losses)   2 Manses||707,164|||||
|23**Net movement in funds**||**741,956**|**66,007**|**0**|**5,776**|**0**|
|24 Total funds brought forward||807,391|166,103||4,724||
|**25 Total funds carried forward**||**1,549,347**|**232,110**|**-**|**10,500**|**-**|





**19 02** 

**Total      201920** £ **110 1,401 8,805 222,300 68,497 24,774 149,831 475,718 1,110 130,228 8,664 91,014 57,440 28,605 3,682 48,399 369,142** -1 **106,575** 0 707,164 **813,739** 978,218 **1,791,957** 



Name of Circuit 

Circuit No 

## **Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2019** 

|**Notes to**||**Circuit Model**|**Circuit Model**|**Designated**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**the**|**General Fund**||**Trust**|**Funds**|**Restricted**|**Endowment**|**Total      2018-**|
|**accounts**|<br>**(Unrestricted)**|**(Unrestricted)**||**(unrestricted)**|**Funds**|**Funds**|**19**|
||£||£|£|£|£|£|
|**Income**||||||||
|1   Donations and legacies|||||||0|
|2   Income from monetary investments|161||||||**161**|
|3   Income from investment properties|2,282||||||**2,282**|
|4   Assessments on Churches|158,000||||||**158,000**|
|5   Lay Workers|53,770||||||**53,770**|
|6   Gas & Electric|22,529||||||**22,529**|
|7   Other charitable income|17,668||||||**17,668**|
|8**Total income**|**254,410**||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**|**254,410**|
|**Expenditure**||||||||
|9   Grants and donations|||||||**0**|
|10 Salaries and associated costs|105,125||||||**105,125**|
|11 Property maintenance|6,903||||||**6,903**|
|12  Lay Workers|66,492||||||**66,492**|
|13 District Assessment & Levy|32,714||7,106||||**39,820**|
|14 Gas & Electric|25,456||||||**25,456**|
|15 Office expenses|2,418||||||**2,418**|
|16 Other outgoings|29,602||||||**29,602**|
|17**Total charitable expenditure**|**268,710**||**7,106**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**275,816**|
|18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments|26||1,096||15||1,137|
|19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties||||||||
|20**Net income/(expenditure)**|**-14,274**||**-6,010**|**0**|**15**|**0**|**-20,269**|
|21 Transfers between funds|20,000|-|20,000<br>||||0|
|22 Other gains/(losses)|25,093||||||25,093|
|23**Net movement in funds**|**30,819**||**-26,010**|**0**|**15**|**0**|**4,824**|
|24 Total funds brought forward|776,572||192,113||4,709||973,394|
|**25 Total funds carried forward**|**807,391**||**166,103**|**-**|**4,724**|**-**|**978,218**|





To be completed by Circuits with total income and endowments of more than £500,000 

Name of Circuit **Circuit No** 

**Cash flow statement for the year ended 31 August 2020 Statement of cash flows Note Cash from operating activities** Net cash used in operating activities **Cash flows from investing activities** Dividends,interest and rents from investments Proceeds from the sale of property,plant and equipment Purchase of property,plant and equipment Purchase of intangible assets Proceeds from the sale of investments Purchase of investments Other **Net cash provided by investing activities Cash flows from financing activities** New borrowing Repayments of borrowing 

**Net cash used in financing activities** 

**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period** Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period **Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period** 

## **Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operating activities** 

Net income for the reporting period ( as per statement of financial activities) **Adjustments for:** Depreciation and amortisation charges Profit on the sale of fixed assets Loss on the sale of fixed assets Gains on investments Dividends, interest and rents from investments Decrease/(increase) in stocks (increase)/decrease in debtors increase/(decrease) in creditors 



## **Net cash used in operating activities** 

## **Analysis of cash and cash equivalent** 

Cash in hand Short term deposit (less than 3 months) **Total cash and cash equivalents** 



**o** 

|**2020**||**2019**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**£**||**£**||
||**0**||**0**|
|||||
||**0**||**0**|
||**0**||**0**|
||0|||
||0|||
||**0**||**0**|
|**2020**||**2019**||
|**£**||**£**||





2020
2019

## **GUIDANCE NOTES** 

**There is an exemplar within the guidance notes produced by The South Bedfordshire Me All the items included in the notes to the accounts for this Circuit may not be applicable your notes to the accounts.** 

## **Important note:** 

**Comparatives for the summary of assets and liabilities of each category of fund of the ch Therefore notes BS10 and BS 11 need to be reproduced to cover the previous year.** 



> Name of Circuit ... **UNITED STOCKPORT CIRCUIT** 

**No 19/2** 

## **Independent Examiner's Statement** 

I have completed my examination. I confirm 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 the Act; or 

- the accounts do not accord with the accounting 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. 

I have/have not* obtained independent verification of all investments with 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 ....... **MR ALAN BRECHIN** 

> Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner ....... **ACA** 

Name of firm (where appropriate) ................................................................................ . 

Address **10 PROSPECT PLACE BURY ............ LANCSHIRE Post Code BL9 SEX** _z. z�_ 2=>· Date ............................................... . 

* delete or circle as appropriate 

Sep-20 

**1 of 1** 

**2015 Circuit Rand P.xls**