THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS ACCRUALS BASIS for the year •nded 31 August 2024 St Alban• and Welwyn Clrcult Reglst•rnd Charlty - Regl8tratlon numb•r 1134370 88d8 Essex and Hert8 Dlstrlct Clrcult no 34113 Mlnl•t•r• R•v Davld J•bb R•v Daniel Yovan R•v Rosema Muto acon Nl •1 P•rrott Clrcult •t•ward* 8tuart Johnson - Mnlor & Ilnanc• Val Park•r Gu Fonn•r c1￿u￿ trna•ur•r 8iuart John•on Pa8• l of 15 St Albans and Welwyn Clrcult TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Introdurtlon We are in the Beds. Essex and Herts Dlstrlct whith Comprises 12 circults In those 3 countles. Our arcult Is called St. Albans and Welwyn and ¢over5 an area of mld-Hertlordshlre, and has 9 churches.. Hatfield Road and Marlborough Road in St. Albans,. Birchwood and Oxlease in Hatfield, Dlywell Village, Ludwlck Wavi Panshanier In the Welwyn Garden Clty area: and St John's Potters bar and Radlett In the Hertsmere area. Shenley has become a 'class' of St John's Potters Bar and all flnanual and property matters are managed by St John's. Two of the clrcult churches are part of ecumenlc41 partnerships.. Radlett Iwlth the Unlted Reformed Church) and Panshanger Iwlth the Church of England, the Unlted Reformed Church and 8•ptist Church). Alms and or8•nlsDtlon The Misslon of the St Albans and well￿ clrcult Is to reveal the Klngdom of God throu¥h the Methodlst people and thelr *¢ummenlul p•rtners across Central Hertfordshlre. We aim to do this throu8h the Holv Splrit in the worshlp of God, bulldlnK up the ¢hurth. maklng dls¢lples of Jesus Chrlst and transforming soclety by worklng for lustlce i peace and unlty. R•vl•w of th• y•ar The year beian wlth the arrlval of one new mlnlster whlch meant that all four minlsters now in post have arrlved In the circult wlthln the last 2 years. This contlnues to generate some fresh approaches to the work of the cIrCu￿. Durlng the year, the clrcubt contlnued to focus on the revlew and development of th• vlslon •nd plans for qrowth of Indlvldual ch4Jrches and the clrcult as whole, All churches •r• working throu8h th•lr own plans and a¢tlvltles •s they ask the que5tlon about what sort of church they expect or w•nt to be In 5 years, tlme. The drcult has completed • fvll proyamme of safegardln8 tralnlng for all those Indlvtduals in roles connecled wlth children Ind vulnerable adults and thls contlnues for all new people takln8 up relev*nt pesltlons, serv1￿5 of worshlp ¢ontlnue at all churches, wlth the exceptlon of Birchwood In Haffield whl¢h followed i pr¢xess of 'ce•se to meet, due to membershlp numbers remalnlng below the mlnlmum fliure requlred to SU5t4ln th• church presence. The church closed on 31.08.2024 wlth all property and •ssets beln8 transferred to the ¢lr¢ult on 01.09.2024. Income trends Church member5hlp numbers have fallen In some of the churches, partly • refltctlon of an iieln8 profile but •lso because of Ilmlted new irowth. Thls h•s affected the level of 8lvln8 and all churches are slinlflcantly rell4nt on lettlni Income to malntaln thelr flnandal posltlon. On* church was qlven speclfic fininclal support through th• reductlon of thelr •ssessment contrlbutlons. The lettlng of the Allandale mthnse In St Alb•ns w•s renewed for • further 12 months In F*bruBry and contlnues to provlde •ddltlon•l Income. Exp•ndlture trends Stlpends Increase each fln•n¢lal year a$ dlrected by Conference. The clTcuIt contrlbutlon to Dlstrlct •nd Conntxlon to fvnd the wlder work of the Methodl$t chur¢h w•s 19% of clrcult expendlture. R•s•rv•s As at 31 August 2024 the net assets of the Clrcult, excludln8 property, represented approxlmately 5 months cover for budgeted expendlture In terms of the Clrcuit's reserve policy set out later In thls report. Pl•ns for 2024115 The 2024125 budiet has been prepared on the b•sls of 3 presbyter5. a de*con •nd • part.tlme •dmln15tr*tor, wlth Infl•tlonary cost In¢re•ses. A55e55ments from churches have been I￿￿$t¢d from the figures previously agreed In 2019120, wlth increases and decreases wlth effert from 01 September 2024 to reflect the chan8es in membership and financial posltlon in fecent years. Page 2 of 15 St Ajbans and Welwyn arcult Trustee's Annual Report on Flnance and Governance Basls of preparatlon and legal framework The ChariVs annual report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to the FRSIO2. Full Name of Charity: st Albans and Welwyn Methodist Circuit Registration Charity Number: 1134370 Main communlcation address: 1338 Hatfield Road St Albans ALI 4JX The members of the St Albans and Welvryn Methodist Clrcuit meeting are the Charlty Trustees, membership being made up of circuit office holders, ministers and representatives appointed by the local churches. Full membership is shown at Appendix A. Clrcult Mlnlsters and Offlcers Active Clrcuit Ministers Rev David Jebb Rev Danlel Yovan Rev Rosemary Mutopo Deacon Nigel Perrott Circuit Stewards Stuart Johnson Val Parker Guy Fenner Administrator Chris Hancock Stuart Johnson acted as the principal officer overseelng the day to day financial management and accounting for the circuit during the year. Auditor George Arthur Limited Investment Bankers Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church Trustees for the Methodist Church purposes Page 3 of 15 St Albans and Welwyn Clrcult Alms and Ofganlsatlon Charity objective is to act as a resource provider within the area around St Albans and Welwyn for the Methodist Church: 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 tlrne belng of any Connexional, District, Circuit. local or other organisation of The Methodist Church. c} Any charitsble purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church. d) Any purposé for thé rirrie being of any charity being a charity subsldiary or anclllary to The Methodist Church The organlsatlon and resourclng of regular public acts of worship open to members of the church and non members alike. The teaching of Christianlty through sermons, courses and small groups. The resourcing of pastoral work including visiting the sick and bereaved. Taking religious assemblles in local schools. Promotion of Christianity through the staging of events and services. Provision of chaplaincy services to the local university and other institutlons. Publlc Beneflt The circuit confirms that the circult members have had regard to the Charlty Commission's guidance on public benefit. The clrcult provldes publlc benefit through educational resources avallable to both church members and the general publlc, supporting circult staff and churches in provldlng public worshlp and the promotion of charltable givlng at both eircuit and national level. Structure. Governance and M•nagement The governing document for the circuit is the Deed of Union11932) and Methodist Church Act {1976) Oetailed governance arrangements are outSined within the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church by order of the annual conference ICPDI. Day to day managernent of the circuit IS undertaken by the Circuit Leadership team along with the Local Preachers meeting. Trustee Tralnln8 A range of guidance produced by Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the circult, 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 Partles The Circuit is part of the Beds Essex & Herts District and is also accountable to the Methodist Conference. The following Methodist Churches are linked to the circuit: Marlborough Road, Hatfield Road, Birchwood, Oxlease, Radlett Free, St Johns Potters Bar, Ludwick Way, Digswell and Panshanger. There are no other speclflc organlsatlons wlth speclflc linkage. Page 4 of 15 St Albans Ind W•W arcutt Rlsk M•nawn•nt The Clrojlt Leadership Team and other drcult members ralse any rlsks they have Identifled wlth the Clr(JJlt Superintendent and /or the Clrcuit meeting. Risk5 are mltlgated where approprlate by trurtee •nd propelty Insurance. Income and Expenditure Is monftored and Is Compared wtth the approved annual bud8et on a regular basls to Identlfy trend5 and mit58ate any unforseen ￿11 on reserves. S•feguirdln8 Every person has a value and dl8nlty whlch comes dlrectly from the creatton of male and fem•le In God'5 own Ima8e and Ilkeness. Chrlstlans See thls potentlal as fulfilled by God'5 rfr¢reatlon of us In Christ. Among other things this Implles a duty to value all people as bearlng the Ima8e of God and therefore to protert them from harm. Method15t Connexlonal prartlce outlines commltment to the followln8 prlnclples.. • the care and nurture of, and re5pecrful pastoral mlnlstry wlth, all chlldren& youn8 people and adults • the safeiuardlng and protection of all chlldren, youn8 people and adults when they are vulnerable • the estsbllshln8 of safe, carlng communltles whlch provlde a lovln8 envlronment where there Is Informed vlgllance as to the dangers of abuse. We wlll carefully selert and traln all those wlth any responslblllty withln the Church, In Ilne wlth Safer Recrultment prlnclples, Includlng the use of crlmlnal records disd05ure5 and reglstration wlth the relevant vettlng and barrln8 scheme5. Wo wlll respond wlthout delay to every complalnt made whlch su8gestS that an adult, chlld or youn8 person may have been harmed, cooperatln8 wlth the pollce and local authorlty In any Investl8atlon. We wlll seek to work wlth anyone who has suffered abus•, developln8 wlth them •n approprlate mlnlstry of Informed pastoral care. We wlll seek to challenge any abuse of power, especlally by •nyon* In * posltlon of trust. We wlll seek to offer pastoral care and support, Includln8 5upervlslon •nd referral to the proper authorltles, to any member of our church communlty known to have offended 18•lnrt a ¢hlld, youn8 person or vulnerable adult. In all these prlnciples we wlll follow le81slatlon, 8uldance and reco8n15ed good prartlce The St Alb8n5 and Welwyn Clrcult commlts Itself to ensurlni the Implementatlon of Connexlon41 Safe8uardlnB Poll¢yfft govomment Italslatlon, guldance and safe practlce In the clrcult and In the churthes. The St Alb4ns and Welwyn Clrcult commlts ￿elf to the provlslon of support, advlce and trainln8 for lay and ordalned people and th15 obJectlve1s dellvered through the appolntment of a Clrcult Safeguardlng Offlcer supported by the Dlstrlct S•fe8uardlng te•m and Safe8uardln8 Offlcers at each church. Thls wlll ensure people are clear and confident about thelr role5 and respon$lbllltles In safeBuJrdlni and promotlng the welfare of chlldreft and adults who may be vulnerable. Ru•Thes Pollcy The arcult pollcy is to hold a mlnlmum of 6 months, avera8e expendlture, to meet unforeseen major expendlture on manses and to be able to contlnue, In the Short term, the arcuit's planned artlvltles in the event of shortfall the assessment from churches. Pa8e 5 of 15 St Albans and Welwyn arcult STATEMENT OF CIRCUIT MEMBERS, RESPONSIBILITIES The circuit members are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Stsndards including Financial Reporting Stsndard 102: The Financial Reporting Stsndard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland {United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice}. The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial ststements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the stste of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the circuit members are required to: •select suitsble accounting policies and then apply them consistently; •observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP. •make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; •stste whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any materlal departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements, and •prepare the financlal ststernents on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity wlll continue in operatlon. The clrcuit Members are responsible for rnaintaining proper accounting records which disclose wlth reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial ststements comply wlth the Charities Act 2011, the Charlty Accounting Regulations 2008 and the provislons of the trust deed/constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for tsking reasonable steps for the prevention and detectlon of fraud and other irregularities. In relation to the financial ststements set out on pages 7 to 11: •The Trustees approve these financial statements and confirm that they are responslble for them, Includlng selecting the appropriate accounting policies, applying them consistently and making, on a reasonable and prudent basis, the judgements underlying them. They have been prepared on the going concern basis on the grounds that St Albans & Welwyn Circuit will continue in operation. •The Trustees confirm that they have made available to the auditors, George Arthur, all of the accountlng records of St Albans & Welwyn Circuit and provided the auditors wlth all the information necessary for the compllatlon of the financial statements. •The Trustees confirm that to the best of their knowledge and belief, the accounting records refiect all transactions of St Albans & Welwyn Circuit for the year ended 31st August 2024. Signed for and on behalf of St Albans & Welwyn Circuit on 2310612025 David Jebb and Stuart Johnson....Trustees of St Albans & Welvryn Circuit Page 6 of 15 N•m• of CFrcult St All￿nI and W•lwyn St Alb•ns and W•thn al￿11 Nurnb•r 34113 St•t•m•nt ol Fln•ndal A¢tl¥lt1•5 ISOFAI lor th• p•r •hd•d 31 Auwst 2024 In￿rn• 4nd Endo*Th•nts from: Oonatlons and I acles 125 125 250 Ch•rltbble actlvltles Assessm•nts or shar• 270 474 Oth¢r tr•dln •ctlvltl•s - Lettln 28,714 11,119 Investments S51 Oth•r 2,270 289.545 T•t•l aOl.614 551 301165 •ndltur• on,, 5t5 nds salarl•s, NIC & P•nsO?n costi Dlstrltt Assessrn•nt Tele hon• & trlvel InsLtraru, utiiitl•s, •t¢ M•lnter*•n¢* on minms Ex ndllur• on oth•T ClroJlt Oth•r Ex ndltur• Grints afid Dgn4tlons Contr5butlons to Dlstrlrt Adv•n¢• Fund 173.763 56,756 13.505 19.526 173 763 161,616 11,6C6 19,746 19.526 12 198 6,70) 1,828 1,744 Tot 901.511 L942 903.453 329,021 N•t 5ncom• ndltur• ioj .1.391 Trnnsf•rn b•t*wn fvndi oth•r r•eo G•ln on rwalu4tlon of flx•d •ss•ts Insl on Invertm•nt •ss•ts N•t rnowrn•nl In fvndi R•c•ndll•tlon dfvnd•', Totol funds bro ht forw•rd 4 733 689 489 4 745 052 4.710,635 Totsl lundi atrl•d forw•rd 4,7J4.233 11156 4,745053 For InfWM￿i0n t￿1¥ Mon•y r•L*l¥•d •nd p•u*d on t• Ext•rnal (￿￿1￿110￿• B•l•n¢• brou•ht fonw•rf Imm l••t y••r Olferlnv/Glfts- recelved for Extern•l oryn1￿t1Of￿a oller1n￿/GIfts- pJ$s•d to Ext•r￿1 Org•nlg•tlo •l•nr• ￿rI•d forwd 105 105 320 320 Pa8e 7 of 15 lon St Albans and Welwyn Clrcult B•l•nce Sheet •$ at 31 Au8USt 2024 UnMrtrlL*•d Clrcuh Mod•l Tru•t Fund IUnr•rtrkt•dl D•s*n•t•d Totskthts Totsk l•rt ￿•r T•Nlbl• Flx•d ¥fyAMts Land & Bulldln li 3,755,781 3,755,781 3,755,781 Equlpmènt Investment propertles Investments 12 862,416 61,987 4,680,184 862,416 61,987 4,680,184 862,416 58.874 4,677.071 13 Totulfv•dO￿tr Curr•nt A*Mts Debtors and P 14 13.763 13,763 14,977 Loans by Clrcult Trustees for Method15t Church Purposes deposlts Centr•1 Flnance Bo•rd D Cash •t 8•nk and In hand 12156 12,156 81.S62 10,803 118.284 10.874 103,209 14.163 143,223 oslts 81,562 10.314 105,639 489 Totuleurr•ht4tsMts 12,156 489 rs•n u• und•r l YTI 15 41,59) 41.59) 60.242 N•t curr•nt •M•ts Ill•bllltl•*l 64,049 4,744,233 12,156 489 76,694 4,756,878 82,981 12,156 4,760,052 io•rn and ¢r•dltorn du• •ft•r I Provlslons for l￿bIl￿￿e9 and thary 16 io,c(K) io.c IS,C(¥) 4,734.233 12.156 489 4,746.878 4,745,052 Fund• of th• Clrcult 17 Unrestrfrted funds Clrcult Model Trust Fund Iunrestrlctedl Restrlcted funds Endowment fund$ 4,734,233 4.734,233 4,733 689 12,156 489 10,874 Totol Fund• 4,734,233 12.156 4.746,878 4,745,OS2 Th•r• ir• no Int•rn•l 0ry4nkntbnsth•t r•portto th• Clr¢uk M••tlN. Page 8 of 15 lofl 81AII)an• and W•lw Clycull Cl1￿1¢ Mod•l Thist Atnd 2024 Totsl DM*n•t•d Total 250 Don•tb 125 125 74,C¢Q 52AD) 16D)J 65ACO 3.240 J9.2CQ 14.C( 20.4C 52MI 16m) 65ACQ 3240 192C(J 13IXAI StJc+#Y¥ Ptlkn B•r 265.740 270.474 4 L•ttlny AN•ndal•. r•fft co 28,714 11,119 S knv••tm•nt In￿m• CFB funds 1672 4,363 7.035 2,672 4,914 1.636 3.794 SA30 551 551 0￿