REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1134354 ort of the Trustees for the Year ended 31 Au ust 2024 Bramhall and henshawe Clrcuit BRAMHALL AND wYfHENSHAWE Clrcult TRUSTEE5' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AU6usf2024 Introductlon The Circuit is part of the wider Methodist church and comprlses 11 churches acr05S the border between Greater Manchester and Cheshlre. The clrcult was formed in 2012 by the merging of the former Bramhall and Wythenshawe circuits. The clrcuit forms part of the Manchester and Stockport District, but, from September 2024, will be part of the North West England Distrlct. Whilst thls report concentrates on the flnanclal aspects of the clrcult's work, a fuller picture can be obtained by visiting the circuit website.. www.bramhallw Aims and organisation henshawemethodists.or We4re8 clrcwlt whose hlth Is: c￿ebrIted Im wor5hlp commltted to splrftual 8rowth expressed In 5h4rtng the good news worked out wlth paople of all ages wlthln our£ommL4nitles TosethBr as a Clrcultwè- uvdertaketo PrD￿de QPPDrtunrfe5toworship fjod in 5Pirit and Intruth undeitaketa encour48e each other in ourloumey oldls¢lpleshlp are committed toservingethars ènd by sharing ourfaith enroura8ing other5 IntD di5cipIE5hip will 5eÈktowGrkwith ￿r￿￿tIanS and churches ol other traditions to furtherthe work of thegospel. Revlew of the year The numbers of people using our churche5, for both worship and communlty activitles, have stlll not always recovered to pre-pandemic levels, This has generally led to a reduction in church income from both member's 8ivin8 and room rental5. However. as in 2022123, most of the churche5 have been able to continue the payment of their a￿eSSmentS to the circult. 3 of the churches have not been able to pay their full assessments. An examination of the finances of those churches has resulted in decisions being taken to write-off the amounts owing and to contlnue to allow them to forgo paying any assessment in 2023124. They are Invlted to make a donation in lieu if their funds permit. The 3 manses that were let durlng the year have brought In a good rental incorne, The church buildlngs st Northenden and St Andrews have been brDU8ht under circuit control. The church at Northenden has ceased to be used for public worship and optlons for its hAture are belng examlned. The church at St Andrews is Still used for public worship but the congregation are unable to malntain the bulldlng elther flnanclally Dr with the appropriate human resources. As a result of these actlons, the notlonal value of the buildings has been included as income in the accounts.The normal operations of the circuit during the year resulted In a deficit whereexpendlture exteeded Income by £40.4k. The trustee5 reali5e that th15 not SU5talnable and remedial actions are being dlscussed. Income trends The circuit leadership commissioned a circuit review which 15, amongst other points, be looklng at the structure of the clrcult and the way that It Is flnanced. Thls revlew wlll be finalised durin8 2024125. In the interim each church that is paylng an assessment had the amount increased by 5% in 2023124 Ex endlture trends Stipend expenditure has increased each financial year in line wlth conference approved Increases. Lay salarles are 5ncreased in line with stipends except where the funding church cannot afford to. The number of ministerial staff reduced from 5 to 4 in 2021. Thls number wlll be revlewed, a5 part of the circuit review. 20% of expenditure is the Circuit contributlon to the District and Connexion, of which a significant part 15 Used to fund the work of the wlder Methodlst Church. d bala As at 31 August 2024 the net current unrestricted assets of the Circuit were £354k. Of that sum, £135k has been deslgnated to provld& fund5 for grants to ¢lrcult churches 2nd speciflc circult projects. The balance of £219k gives approximetely 6 month5 cover for budgeted expendlture, Plans for 2024 25 Circuit fin2nclal plans for 2024125 were prepared on the basis that the stéffing levels were chan8ing to 4 full time ordalned staff and 2 lay staff. the lay staff contrlbute an average of 26 hours per week each, Whilst there wa5 a reduction to 3 ordalned staff during 2023/24, the number wlll increase back to the planned 4 In 2024/25. The stipend increase, as proposed to the Methodist Conference, and lay salary Increase. at the same rate, have been budgeted for, comblned with a 5% increase in council tax and utilitie5 costs. The budget plans for 2024125 were prepared and approved before the changes In employers Nl were introduced by the government. These increased costs apply to 5 months of the 2024125 year. A5 mentioned above, church assessments were declded by a bidding system. Thls wlll be revlewed during 2024125 as part of the proposed circuit review. The project with the Emmaus community at St Andrew's church Sn Wythenshawe has moved forward signlficantly. All Income and expendlture relating to Emmaus knd St Andrew's church is now belng handled through the circuit accounts. Bullding plans are belng worked on and wlll be progressed during the year. Northenden church Is no longer belng used for public worship All Income and expenditure is now being handled throu8h the Ircult, Plans for the future of the site are being disCU55ed. Bramhall & Wythenshawe Circuit Trustee's Annual Report on Finance and Governance Basis of preparation and legal framework The financial $tatemon18 hav@ been prepared und8r the Gharitie8 Act 2011 in accordance wlth th6 2014 vèrsion of Accounllng and Rgportlng by Charities: Slalem8nt of Recommended Practice (SORPI applicable to ¢harities preparing their accounts in accordance wth FRS102 - the Charilles SORP IFRS1021 and taklng note of the Update Bullelln 1 Issued in 2016. Full Name of Charlty., The Bramhall and Wythenshawe Clrcult Registration CharSty Number: 1134354 Date of registration 16th February 2010 Main communication address Circuit administrator, Clrcuit Office, t/0 Cheadle Trinity church, Massie Street, Cheadle. SK8 IDU The members of the Br8mhall and Wythenshawe Methodist Circuit Fully membership 15 shown as Appendix A to this report. Clrcult mlnlsters and offlcers Active church mlnisters., Rev, lan Smart {Superlntendentl Rev. Sarah Parkin Rev. Dave Warnock Circuit Steward5 Mr Nigel Day1Seniorl Mrs Pam Howie Mr David James (Treasurer} Mlss Margaret Lloyd Mrs Judy Ream (from March 20241 Clrcult and church la workers durin the ear Mrs Catherlne Armstrong, Mrs Clare Byfield, Dr. Emma Coe, Mrs Susie Metcalfe, Mrs Jo Smith Administrator: Mrs Jenny Manning Mr Davld James acted as the prlncipal officer overseeing the day to day financia I management and accounting for the circuit during the year. Auditor: McKellens, 11 Rlverview, The Embankment Business Parl<, Vale Road, Heaton Mersey& Stockport. SK4 3GN Investment Bankers.. Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church Trustees for Methodist Church Purpose5 BRAMHALL AND wYfHENSHAWE Circuit Alms and organisation The Charity objective is to act as a Resource provider within the area around the south east of Stockport MBC, the northern part of Che5hlre East and the Wyihenshawe area of the City of Manchester for the Methodist Church,, The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the Date of Unlon the advancement of: al The Chrlstlan falth In accordance wlth the doctrlnal standards and discipline of The Methodist Church; bl Any charitable purpose for the time being of any ConnexionaS, District, Circuit. local or other organisation of The Methodist Church,, cl Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or anclllary to The Methodist Church. dl Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary cr ancillary to The Methodist Church The organlsatlon and resourclng of regular publlc acts of worshlp open to members of the church and non members alike, Publlc Beheflt We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission's guldance on public benefit. Structure, Governance and Management The governing document forthe circuit is the Deed of Union11932} and Methodist Church Act11976) Detailed governance arrangements are outlined withln the Constitutlonal Practiee and Disclpllne of the Methodist Church by order of the annual conference ICPDI. Day to day management of the circuit is undertaken by the Circuit Leadership team along with the Local Preachers meeting. Trustee Training A range of guidance produced by Methodist Connexion to support the effective runnlng of the circuit, specifically the leaf let The Role of a Trustee in The Methodlst Church, is given to all new Circuit meeting members as induction to their role as trustees, Related Partles The Circuit is part of the Manchester and Stockport District Ithen from 1st September 2024, the North West England District) and is also accounta ble to the Methodlst Conference. The following Methodist Churches are Ilnked to the circult,. ILEP- Local Ecumenlcal Partnership) Bramhall Brownley Green Cheadle Trinity ILEPI Cheadle Hulme Christ Church Colshaw (LEP} (Closed for public worship during the year} St Mary's Handforth Heald Green Lawton Moor Styal Wllm51ow St Andrew's Wythenshawe ILEP - Local Ecumenical Partnership) BRAMHALL AND ItvYfHENSHAWE Clrcult Risk Management The major risk5 have been identifled and recorded by the Circuit Steward5 With professlonal 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 bas15 to detect trends as part of the r15k management process to avoid unforeseen calls on reserves. In partlcular, churches are still findlng that their recovery from the Covid pandemic, when measured in financial term5 and in numbers attending worship is mixed. As a result, 3 of the churches have had trouble meeting their assessment payments. The amounts owing have been written off and they are not belng charged an assessment for 2023124. Safeguardlng Svery person has o value and dignity whlch comes directlyfrom the creation of male ond female in God's own imuge ond likene55. Chri5tlan5 see thi5 Potential a5fulfilled by God's re- creation of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as beoring the Image of God und therefore to protect them from hurm, 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 provlde a lovlng environment where there is informed vlgilance as to the dangers of abuse. We will carefully select and train all those wlth any responslblllty within the Church, in line with Safer Recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and registration wlth the relevant vetting and barrlng 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 wll15eek to chal len8e any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a positlon of trust. We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, Including supervlslon and referral to the proper authorities, to any mernber of our church Communlty known to have offended agalnst a chlld, young person or vulnerable adult. In all these principles we will follow leglslation, guldance and recognised good practice The Bramhall & Wythenshawe Cirtult commlts itself to ensurlng the Implementatlon of Connexional Safeguarding Policy,. government legislation, guidance and safe practice In the circuit and in the churches. The Bramhall & Wythenshawe Circuit commit5 itself to the provision of 5UPPOrt, advice and trainlng for lay and ordained people that will ensure people a re clear and confident about their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults who mav be vulnerable. GDPR General Data Protection Regulation The Circuit and churches work to conform to the GDPR regulations. The Data Controller for the Circult and the churche5 are the Trustees for Methodlst Church Purposes ITMCP} Reserves Pollcy The Reserves Policy for the Circuit is to hold a minimum sum equivalent to 3 months, average expendlture. This should be suff icient 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 tho full Circuit Assessment from churches, Circuit Meetin Constitution. Au ust 2024 Category Name Is) / Role Superlntendent Representlng Church W, Stm, S, TC, HG B,C,CH LM, 8G, StA Rev lan Smart Rev Sarah Parkln Rev Dave Wsrnock Presbyter & Deacons 5tatloned Rev l