1 # **Annual Report of the West Somerset Circuit (24/25)** _1[st] September 2022 – 31[st] August 2023_ ## **Reference and administrative details** - The West Somerset Circuit of the Methodist Church is a Registered Charity, No 1134273.  **Correspondence Addresses:** Circuit Office Minehead Methodist Church 7 The Avenue Minehead Somerset TA24 5AY wsmc2425@gmail.com ## **Managing Trustees** Jean Armin Patrick Armin Philip Bartlett Andrew Branfield Jane Brookes Mollie Brooks Eileen Burley Rebecca Edwards Margaret Ellis Rodney Ettery Paul Gliddon Peter Hamshere Tim Hedgecock Margaret Hill Rev Malcolm Hope Rev Nick Lakin _(to 31 August 2023)_ Liz Lewis Margaret Lintern Ruth Mounfield Margaret Nevell Jeanette Perkins Sue Rose Joy Rownes Jane Sefton Rev Jane Sperring Gill Tapp Valerie Ward Clive Wooldridge Lynne Wooldridge _Acronyms used in this report are as follows:_ _**WSC** – West Somerset Circuit_ _**CLT** –Circuit Leadership Team_ _**CLPD** – Continuing Local Preacher Development_ _**LA** – Local Arrangement_ _**LP** – Local Preacher_ _**WL** – Worship Leader_ **Churches and membership of the West Somerset Circuit** 2 - Alcombe – 37 - Minehead – 28 - Porlock – 24 - Watchet – 27 (including Brendon Hill – 6) ## **Structure, governance and management** **Circuit Staff** _Presbyters_ Rev Nick Lakin (to 31 August 2023) Rev Chloe Jones (Authorised to serve) Rev Andy Day (from 1 September 2023) _Administrator_ Kerry Rackham _Lay pastoral and community worker_ Penny Williams _Circuit Management Officer_ Rebecca Edwards ## **Circuit Stewards** Clive Wooldridge (Personnel) Clive Longhurst (Property) Tim Hedgecock (Finance) Rev Jane Sperring Daphne West (Contact steward) ## **Leadership structure** ## **Circuit Meeting (Three meetings per year)** All presbyters All Supernumeraries All Circuit Lay Employees All Circuit Stewards All fully accredited Local Preachers All Circuit Officers For each church, as appointed by their Church Council: 1 Church Steward and the Church Treasurer, plus additional representatives: Alcombe 7 (including Bossington 2 and Timberscombe 2) Minehead 6 Watchet 8 (including Brendon Hill 1, Roadwater 1 and Williton 2) Porlock 3 ## **CLT (Nine meetings per year)** All presbyters appointed to the circuit All Circuit Stewards All Circuit Lay Employees ## **Staff Meeting (Weekly)** All presbyters appointed to the circuit All Circuit Lay Pastoral Employees 3 ## **Activities** ##  **The WSC Mission Statement** _‘We are committed to working together as a Circuit to enable personal growth and every church to be a place of welcome, love and acceptance in the name of Jesus Christ.’_ WSC is run according to the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church in Great Britain. (Registered Charity No. 1132208.) ## **WORSHIP** 1. WSC produces in each quarter a plan for the worship of the whole circuit. The plan is produced by the circuit superintendent, assisted by the circuit administrator _._ The circuit administrator is responsible for gathering plan dates from preachers and churches and for circulating the plan after it has been finalised. The circuit superintendent is responsible for planning all communion services and other ‘specials.’ 2. All preachers (and visiting preachers, if applicable) are asked how many services they wish to take on each plan. 3. The LPs meet four times a year.… a) In September - the Annual Rededication of LPs takes place at this meeting b) In November c) In March d) In June 4. All LP Meetings are chaired by the circuit superintendent. Other circuit officers include… a) Jean Armin as LP Secretary b) Mentors are appointed for all LPs on note and on trial by the LP Meeting. 5. The Circuit seeks to encourage and foster links with ecumenical partners, wherever possible. 6. Local church dedications (e.g. workers with children and young people, pastoral visitors etc) take place in each church at an appropriate time, decided by the respective Church Council. ## **PASTORAL CARE** The circuit superintendent minister has pastoral charge of all churches in the West Somerset Circuit. Pastoral care is carried out by the circuit Lay Pastoral and Community Worker assisted by the church pastoral group leaders. Circuit staff are kept informed of pastoral needs by pastoral group leaders. Much of the pastoral support is undertaken by the pastoral group leaders in each local church. Meetings for the church pastoral group leaders take place as and when required. The church pastoral committee meetings offer an opportunity for that church to identify its pastoral needs, offer training, share experiences and, thereby, promote good practice. ## **DISCIPLESHIP, NURTURE and LEARNING** 4 Discipleship, Nurture and Learning in WSC covers a wide range of activities, which include… - a) A regular pattern of worship, prayer and bible study across the circuit, including rites of passage: baptisms, weddings and funerals - b) Annual Circuit Weekend – either At Home or Away - c) Circuit services - d) Circuit and church events for fellowship, fun and fundraising - e) Training for workers with children and young people - f) Messy Church, Summer ‘Holiday Club,’ toddler groups and work with local schools - g) Safeguarding training, in person and on-line - h) Special worship occasions - i) Courses which help people understand the Bible j) Courses which help people relate their faith to current events and issues in our society. k) ‘Friendship Centre’ at Alcombe ## **EVANGELISM AND OUTREACH** WSC is committed to support, encourage and challenge the local churches in their life and mission. Evangelism and outreach are about having a presence in each neighbourhood as ambassadors for Christ; being salt and light in our communities. This involves making connections with the various groups who use our premises and moving outside the church buildings to make connections with the local community. The circuit also draws attention to and supports other charitable agencies, such as Action for Children, MHA, All We Can etc. ## **PERSONNEL** This area of life within WSC is best considered using three distinct headings… ## 1. **Safeguarding** Rev Chloe Jones is the Circuit Safeguarding Officer who liaises between District, Circuit and individual churches on matters relating to safeguarding, and keeps the Circuit Meeting and the individual church councils (via the church reps) up to date with any changes in legislation and procedures. Each church holds a copy of the current Methodist Safeguarding Policy document and is required to adopt a suitable policy regarding safeguarding which is reviewed annually. Each church appoints a person responsible for the implementation of the safeguarding regulations, and the individual church’s policy on safeguarding. WSC runs the Creating Safer Space Foundation Module as and when required so that all those who need to attend this training are able to do so. DBS checks and Advanced Safeguarding Training are carried out for all those for whom these are required. ## 2. **Lay Employment** Clive Wooldridge and Daphne West, Circuit Stewards, oversee Lay Employment in WSC. They are responsible for ensuring that all matters relating to the employment of lay circuit staff and lay people employed by individual churches comply with current legislation and are ‘safely recruited.’ The District Lay Employment Secretary is informed of all proposed new employment and employee changes in WSC. 3. **Invitations/stationing** 5 Rev Jane Sperring, Circuit Steward, is responsible for organising and overseeing the invitation process, as and when required. The invitation committee is appointed by the Circuit Meeting annually in the spring and will usually include at least two Circuit Stewards. The invitation committee adheres to the current Connexional guidelines. ## **COMMUNICATIONS** The Circuit staff and LPs have a key role in communication as they travel around WSC. There is a Circuit magazine, ‘The Messenger’, published ten times per year. This magazine is a showcase for Circuit events. WSC produces a directory and a preacher’s handbook to disseminate information and to aid communication. WSC has developed its own website, www.westsomerset.2day.uk Chaz Hardiman is the webmaster. The Circuit Administrator has a key role in communicating with all the churches. Every circuit group and every church has a responsibility to aid communication and dissemination of information around the circuit. ## **PROPERTY** Clive Longhurst is the Circuit Steward responsible for church properties and circuit manses, supported by Kerry Rackham, Circuit Administrator. Clive keeps an overview of all property matters within the life of WSC, whilst Kerry keeps an overview of the property consents website. Church Property Stewards review and respond to any maintenance issues that arise in their local church, supported by Clive and Kerry. ## **Achievements and performance** ##  **Main achievements of the year** The CLT produces a comprehensive Circuit Directory and Circuit Preacher’s Handbook, which are updated regularly. The Circuit Plan continues to be published quarterly. The CLT continues to oversee lay employment in the circuit. Kerry Rackham continued in her role of Circuit Administrator. Penny Williams, Lay Pastoral & Community Worker, supports the life of the circuit, especially at Westerley Care Home and with the ‘Friendship Centre.’ Rev Chloe Jones has taken on the responsibilities of Circuit Safeguarding Officer, line managing the circuit lay employees and supporting the life of the circuit churches. The circuit continues to support the district initiative ‘Christian Communities in Conversation,’ led by Lynne Wooldridge. ## **Aims and Objectives for SMC during the period 01 09 22 – 31 08 23** 1. To review the mission and purpose of the circuit, launching our new Vision: ‘Growing Together.’ 6 2. To review the structure of WSC and work towards becoming a ‘One-Church’ circuit in September 2022. Church Council Meetings and Circuit Meetings considered these proposals as the year progressed. There was overwhelming support for this proposal across the circuit. 3. To review the circuit staff roles working as part of the WSC staff team. A member of the Regional Learning Network assisted us in this process. Much of this work was done in the summer 2022, with a view to adapted roles for some of the circuit lay workers from September 2022. 4. To continue to hold a regular study group for LPs and WLs throughout the year 5. To hold safeguarding training, including both foundation and advanced sessions, on-line and live. ## **Financial Review** ## _Separate attachment_ ## **Public benefit statement** The trustees of WSC have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the charity commission in exercising their responsibilities. This annual report has been approved by the West Somerset Circuit Meeting held on 16 03 23. Signed ……… _A DAY_ …………………….. (Chair of the Circuit Meeting) CIRCUIT RECEivfs AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Circuit FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2023 outh & Exeter Distrlct Clrcult no 24125 Registtred Charity. Charfty Reglstr8tion number 1134273 11 not a regtstered charity Hw MaFW8 Revenue and Cuslomg Glft Aid number trhe HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number sn lemis ol evidence of charitable status and may be used to gNe to donors or grant lunders wishing to see evKlen¢e of the organisalion'5 charitable status. Melhodisl charities in England arvj Wdes that we Tr)t regslered char(ties are excepted fft)m registration utMleT Statutory Instrnmenl 2014 No.242) Ministers.. Rev. Nic& Lthn Circuit Stewards". Daphne West CINe Lorohurst Rev. Jane Spwring Clwe WrKJkJrKlga Treasurer.. rim Hed ecock Accouiifs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 ￿11$1 2fd West Som8mt Circuit se￿ON A Funds Fund RECEIPTS a2 Assassrnenvsharè 117.750 102,250 a3 a4 Ca ttal re￿1 Bank and CFB interest arKJ Investrnent ino)me 3.282 31 10,351 21￿61 13.038 1,353 Grants 21.061 3,000 12,078 a6 Other re￿iptS TOTAL RECEIPTS 13,038 1SS131 a7 31 162,2￿) la81 118,681 SECTION B b1 b2 PAYMETr¥rs Stipends. salaries. NIC. PensK>n travel eosls 75,090 75.090 50,436 b3 Manse Costs 19,479 19,479 8.433 b4 AdministraDon etc District Assessment 13.182 13,836 29￿14 13,855 bs 8.924 24,391 Grants & donations 8.500 15,400 b7 Other payrnents TOTAL PAYMEKrs 6.390 157.bM)9 245 139,831 18.075 b9 112,270 SECTION C RECEIPTsfpAYMEiifs FOR THE YEAR c1 74>9 15X 11 28 4,291 c2 Totaj brou ht foThffird from Fast 100298 227,410 6.085 333,793 327,382 Sub total 1+¢2 333.793 Transfers and ad. ustrnenis c7 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR {c3+c4) 115A98 216.3T3 6.113 333,793 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGAMSATICWS thase amounts $howJ not ￿ Includad in tolal rn¢ei 8dance brou ht forward frotn last d1 1.392 d2 Ofterin Gifts - received for extemai o anisations OfferingslGifts- passed to extern￿ organisations BALANCE SnLL TO 8f PAID d1 +d2-d3 1.926 d3 1,426 534 d4 410 1,392 SECIION E theknnJ* ANO A WFERENT FQRM be L4wJ (see rolerlolhe INfERN a¢**5 (EI¥ page2.totsls¢okmi 1S7 333,793 338,084 HELD BY URcurr 1ST 33&084 ly> TOT•L ATEII QPEP4NG BALW4CES CLOSfNG BALAIKES f4 Cthtral Fir￿kn Bwd 101557 113469 227.410 216.373 SUB T07 {G&l TOr￿C￿￿ FUMDSHELD Fytxiir Ix) 338,084 20 1972 lar￿*>j 1.256.663 Name of Circuit .. Declarations and Scrutiny I confirni that these Receipt and Payment based accounls for the year to 31 August 2023 have been prepared from the records of the CircuÈi and that th8y indLKle all funds under the control of the Circuit meeting. Signature of treasurer ..... Date..... Name aThJ address of treasurer .. . . UJNePtG4+)..Sp.￿EAg&[................................................... Post Code. Presentstion to the Circuit m*tiNJ I confimi that the annual rep)rt and accounts for the year erKled 31 August 2023 werethw" presented to the Circutt meeting held OR . Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting Dale . i.i]L/ig-_. .. Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the . Circuit Charlty Numb8r /l.3..? 171 Responsibililies and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination ol the accounts of Ihe Circutt for the year ended 31 August 2023 set oul on pages .1 to .1. As the Circuit's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wtth the requirements of the Charilies A 2011 ('the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Circuivs accounts carried oul ur)der section 145 of the Act and, in carrytng out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515}Ib) of the Act. ' delete or circle as appropriate Name of Circuit . Independent Examiner's Statement I have comp18ted my examinalion. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wtth the examination (other than that disdosed bek)w"I which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with sectK)n 130 of the Act: or the aco)unts do not accord wilh the accounting records. I have no Concerns and have come across no other matters in connection wf(h the examination to which attention should be drawn in this rewrt in ordei to enable a proper Ljnderstanding of the accounts lo be reach￿. I krAlhave not. obtained independent verification of all investments with the TRJStees for Methodist Church Purposes or hekl in other trLtsts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of Ihe Methodisl Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independenl examiner ... A￿TrOy.Y .....oi./74......................... Relevant professional qualrfication of independent examiner Name of firm (where appropriate) Address fA/....Ifk/ Date delete or circle as appropriale ## **Charity Commission** ## Charity Commission Annual Return 2022 ## **WEST SOMERSET METHODIST CIRCUIT** Charity registration number: 1134273 **Most of the information you give in this form will become publicly available on the Register of Charities. Any field that the Charity Commission will not display will be clearly marked. This document is a record of the information provided in the Annual Return 2022.** ## **Financial period** ## **Financial period start date** 01/09/2021 ## **Financial period end date** 31/08/2022 ## **Income and spending** ## **Income £** £128,857 ## **Spending £** £113,738 **Serious Incidents** **For the period of this return, were there any serious incidents in your charity that have not been reported to the Charity Commission?** No ## **Fundraising - professional fundraiser** ## **Did your charity raise funds from the public?** Yes ## **Did the charity work with any professional fundraisers?** No ## **Fundraising - commercial participator** ## **Did your charity work with any commercial participators?** No ## **Grantmaking** **Was grant making the main way your charity carried out its purposes?** No ## **Government contracts** **During the financial period for this annual return, d, id the charity receive income from contracts (other than grant agreements) with central government or local authorities?** No ## **Government grants** **During the financial period for this annual return, did the charity receive income from grants from central government or local authorities?** No ## **Income from outside the UK** **Did your charity receive income from outside the UK ?** No ## **Spending outside England & Wales** **Did your charity operate outside England and Wales?** No ## **Trading subsidiaries** **Did the charity have any subsidiaries?** No ## **Trustee payments** **Did any of the trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity other than refunds of legitimate trustee expenses?** No **Did any of the trustees resign and then take up employment with the charity?** No ## **Employees' salaries** **Did any of your charity's staff receive total employee benefits of £60,000 or more? Select No if your charity does not have any staff , or does not pay any staff.** No **For your highest paid member of staff only, what was the total value of their employee benefits?** **(For example if your highest paid member of staff received £35,000 enter 35000). If you do not have any staff or did not pay any staff, enter 0 (zero)** £27,158 ## **Volunteers** **How many UK volunteers, excluding trustees, did the charity have during the financial period?** 90 ## **Financial controls** ## **Did your charity review its internal financial controls?** Yes ## **Safeguarding** **Has the charity obtained a standard, enhanced or enhanced with barred lists DBS check on all trustees, employees and volunteers who are in roles that are eligible for these checks?** **Select Yes if there are no trustees, employees or volunteers in roles that are eligible for these types of DBS checks.** Yes ## **Privacy statement** **Any information you give us will be held securely and processed only in accordance with the rule on data protection. We will not disclose your personal details to anyone unconnected to the Charity Commission unless:** - **you have consented to their release; or** - **we are legally obliged to disclose them; or** - **we regard disclosure as either (a) necessary so that we can properly carry out our** **statutory functions or (b) necessary in the public interest.** **We may share and disclose information about you with relevant public authorities, regulatory bodies and agencies, outside the Charity Commission but only if:** - **we can lawfully do so; and** - **we decide that disclosure is necessary for national security, crime detection, prevention, and law enforcement, or other issues in the public interest** **Information we collect about you** **We will use this information:** **To enable us to carry out our statutory functions and duties;** **This will include the following actions:** **(a) update, consolidate, and improve the accuracy of our records;** - **(b) undertake crime detection and prevention and law enforcement and assist the third** **parties specified above to investigate or prevent crime and carry out law enforcement;** - **(c) data analysis, testing, research, statistical and survey purposes** **Information we receive from other sources.** **Information we receive from other sources** **We may combine this information with information you give to us and information we collect about you.** **We may use this information and the combined information for the purposes set out above (depending on the types of information we receive).** **We will ensure that any such disclosure and use is proportionate; considers your right to respect for your private life; and is done fairly and lawfully in accordance with the data protection principles of the Data Protection Act.** **The Data Protection Act 1998 regulates the use of 'personal data', which is essentially any information, however stored, about identifiable living individuals.** **As a 'data controller' under the Act, the Charity Commission must comply with it. Any changes we may make to our privacy statement in the future will be set out in the replacement version of this form.** **Please check back frequently to see any updates or changes to our privacy policy.** ## **Declaration** **Your role at the charity (select one):** ⊠ Employee |**Given names**|Kerry| |---|---| ||| |**Family name**|Rackham| ||| |**Telephone**|07711293406| |**number**|| ||| |**Email**|wsmc2425@gmail.com| ||| |**Date submitted**|28/04/2023| **It is a criminal offence under section 60 of the Charities Act 2011 for anyone to knowingly or recklessly provide false or misleading information to the commission; this includes suppressing, concealing or destroying documents.** ## **Charity Commission** ## Charity Commission Annual Return 2022 ## **WEST SOMERSET METHODIST CIRCUIT** Charity registration number: 1134273 **Most of the information you give in this form will become publicly available on the Register of Charities. Any field that the Charity Commission will not display will be clearly marked. This document is a record of the information provided in the Annual Return 2022.** ## **Financial period** ## **Financial period start date** 01/09/2021 ## **Financial period end date** 31/08/2022 ## **Income and spending** ## **Income £** £128,857 ## **Spending £** £113,738 **Serious Incidents** **For the period of this return, were there any serious incidents in your charity that have not been reported to the Charity Commission?** No ## **Fundraising - professional fundraiser** ## **Did your charity raise funds from the public?** Yes ## **Did the charity work with any professional fundraisers?** No ## **Fundraising - commercial participator** ## **Did your charity work with any commercial participators?** No ## **Grantmaking** **Was grant making the main way your charity carried out its purposes?** No ## **Government contracts** **During the financial period for this annual return, d, id the charity receive income from contracts (other than grant agreements) with central government or local authorities?** No ## **Government grants** **During the financial period for this annual return, did the charity receive income from grants from central government or local authorities?** No ## **Income from outside the UK** **Did your charity receive income from outside the UK ?** No ## **Spending outside England & Wales** **Did your charity operate outside England and Wales?** No ## **Trading subsidiaries** **Did the charity have any subsidiaries?** No ## **Trustee payments** **Did any of the trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity other than refunds of legitimate trustee expenses?** No **Did any of the trustees resign and then take up employment with the charity?** No ## **Employees' salaries** **Did any of your charity's staff receive total employee benefits of £60,000 or more? Select No if your charity does not have any staff , or does not pay any staff.** No **For your highest paid member of staff only, what was the total value of their employee benefits?** **(For example if your highest paid member of staff received £35,000 enter 35000). If you do not have any staff or did not pay any staff, enter 0 (zero)** £27,158 ## **Volunteers** **How many UK volunteers, excluding trustees, did the charity have during the financial period?** 90 ## **Financial controls** ## **Did your charity review its internal financial controls?** Yes ## **Safeguarding** **Has the charity obtained a standard, enhanced or enhanced with barred lists DBS check on all trustees, employees and volunteers who are in roles that are eligible for these checks?** **Select Yes if there are no trustees, employees or volunteers in roles that are eligible for these types of DBS checks.** Yes ## **Privacy statement** **Any information you give us will be held securely and processed only in accordance with the rule on data protection. We will not disclose your personal details to anyone unconnected to the Charity Commission unless:** - **you have consented to their release; or** - **we are legally obliged to disclose them; or** - **we regard disclosure as either (a) necessary so that we can properly carry out our** **statutory functions or (b) necessary in the public interest.** **We may share and disclose information about you with relevant public authorities, regulatory bodies and agencies, outside the Charity Commission but only if:** - **we can lawfully do so; and** - **we decide that disclosure is necessary for national security, crime detection, prevention, and law enforcement, or other issues in the public interest** **Information we collect about you** **We will use this information:** **To enable us to carry out our statutory functions and duties;** **This will include the following actions:** **(a) update, consolidate, and improve the accuracy of our records;** - **(b) undertake crime detection and prevention and law enforcement and assist the third** **parties specified above to investigate or prevent crime and carry out law enforcement;** - **(c) data analysis, testing, research, statistical and survey purposes** **Information we receive from other sources.** **Information we receive from other sources** **We may combine this information with information you give to us and information we collect about you.** **We may use this information and the combined information for the purposes set out above (depending on the types of information we receive).** **We will ensure that any such disclosure and use is proportionate; considers your right to respect for your private life; and is done fairly and lawfully in accordance with the data protection principles of the Data Protection Act.** **The Data Protection Act 1998 regulates the use of 'personal data', which is essentially any information, however stored, about identifiable living individuals.** **As a 'data controller' under the Act, the Charity Commission must comply with it. Any changes we may make to our privacy statement in the future will be set out in the replacement version of this form.** **Please check back frequently to see any updates or changes to our privacy policy.** ## **Declaration** **Your role at the charity (select one):** ⊠ Employee |**Given names**|Kerry| |---|---| ||| |**Family name**|Rackham| ||| |**Telephone**|07711293406| |**number**|| ||| |**Email**|wsmc2425@gmail.com| ||| |**Date submitted**|28/04/2023| **It is a criminal offence under section 60 of the Charities Act 2011 for anyone to knowingly or recklessly provide false or misleading information to the commission; this includes suppressing, concealing or destroying documents.**