2022-08-31-accounts - The Methodist Church - Bolton Circuit

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REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1134395

Report of the Trustees and Financial Statement for the Year ended 31 August 2022 for

The Methodist Church Bolton Circuit

Haslam Financial Services Ltd

12 New Church Road,

BOLTON

BL1 5QP

The Methodist Church Bolton Circuit

Report of the Trustees

for the Year Ended 31 August 2022

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2022. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities ‘Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 2015 as applicable to the Financial Reporting Standard (FRSSE) 2015.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number 1134395

Principal address

Harwood Methodist Church Longsight Bolton Lancashire BL2 3HX

Trustees

Mr P Firth acts as treasurer for the charitable trust.

The members of the Circuit Meeting are the Charity Trustees. A full list of trustees is included in the financial statements.

Independent Examiners

Haslam Financial Services Ltd., 12 New Church Road BOLTON BL1 5QP

Solicitors

The charity's solicitors are Blake Morgan, Seacourt Tower, West Way, Oxford.

Advisers

The charity's investment managers are TMCP, Central Buildings, Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JQ.

The following ministers acted throughout the year;

Rev C Lawrance Rev H Howarth Rev I Smart

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes an unincorporated charity.

The charitable trust is constituted by the Deed of Union 1932, the Methodist Church Act 1976, is part of the Methodist Church of UK. The trustees listed have served throughout the year. Appointment of trustees is governed by the Methodist Church Act 1976. The Managing Trustees of Churches and the Circuit are empowered by our Standing Orders to appoint new trustees and to fill vacancies arising through resignation or death of an existing trustee. Circuit Managing Trustees have regular meetings where the Circuit’s main areas of activity and by extension the aims of the charity are discussed and agreed. The day to functioning of the circuit is governed by Standing Orders as set out in the Constitution, Practice and Discipline of the Methodist

Church. The charitable trust is registered with the Charity Commission.

The Methodist Church Bolton Circuit

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 August 2022

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Reserves policy

The Managing Trustees review the major risks which the charity face and consider that there are none which would stop the charity from maintaining its objects. Assessments from individual churches have been agreed for the forthcoming year. It is the policy of the charity to maintain unrestricted funds at a reasonable level to cover unforeseen expenses. This provides sufficient funds to cover management and administration and support costs for at least 6 months.

Ministerial stipends and lay employee salaries and associated costs increased by 11.1% (this is partly due to an increase in travel costs from £1,902 in 2021 to £6,999 in 2022), District Assessment decreased by 15.4%, and the CMT levy decreased from £28,908 to £2,840. There were no capital receipts in the year (as in 2021) as no church buildings were sold. There were no payments made to the Harwood project this year (compared to £864,184 in 2021), and office expenses were reduced from £10,834 in 2021 to £8,717 in 2022. Other outgoings have increased from £9,857 in 2021 to £14,139 in 2022 (mainly due to removal expenses).

Church assessments are increased by 2.0% (2022 - £256,704, 2021 - £251,560), and the 2022 balance sheet still includes an assumption of outstanding assessments due from St Helens Road of £17,516. Property costs are higher than the previous year (2022 - £52,035, 2021 - £24,025) due to major work undertaken at the Ryeburn Drive manse and running costs of Edgworth after the church ceased to meet. Letting income from manses has increased by £1,026 year on year. Other charitable income is £11,274 (2021 - £505) mainly due to the closure of Edgworth and the transfer of the church’s closing bank balance.

The purchase of the minibus (£2,500 in 2020) results in a depreciation cost of £625 in the year. The value of manse property has been included at the valuations supplied by Methodist Insurance as at 21[st] February 2022. There was an overall increase in fixed assets (excluding TMCP investments of £130,211 (2021 - £78,637).

The result of the above is an increase in the net funds year on year of £59,446 (2021 – decrease of £821,392 mainly due to payments towards the Harwood project). However, following examination of the draft accounts information came to light that the loan to Harwood Methodist Church of £175,000 previously recorded as a debtor in the 2020 accounts was actually a loan of £75,000. The balance sheet has therefore been adjusted to reflect this as a prior year event by reducing debtors by £100,000 and recording a £100,000 grant to the Harwood project. This has adjusted the net movement in funds to a decrease of £40,554. The balance sheet includes debtors consisting of loans to Harwood (£75,000) and St Helens Road (£5,872). The total income and expenditure account for the year is detailed in the financial statements.

Funds available are sufficient to permit the trust to continue in operation in the medium term, given the agreed assessments of the individual churches and the Connexional nature of its governance. The trustees review the major risks which the charity faces and consider that there are none which would stop the charity from maintaining its objects.

Risk management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.

Safeguarding.

The Circuit is committed to ensuring the implementation of the Connexional Safeguarding Policy, government legislation, guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches. A major training programme has enabled all members needing updating training and those needing initial training to attend an appropriate session.

The Methodist Church Bolton Circuit

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 August 2022

Investment Powers

The Methodist Church Act 1976 authorises the trustees to make and hold investments using the general and other funds of the charity, and such investments are presently held and shown within the financial statements at their current value.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The objectives and aims of the Managing Trustees are to oversee and further the work of the Methodist Church. To this end, those activities which come within the oversight of the Managing Trustees are to provide ministerial oversight, manage circuit property including manses, contribute, as agreed, to District and Connexional assessments and be mindful of development opportunities for the Circuit. In order to do this the Managing Trustees, raise assessments on individual Methodist Churches in the Bolton area in accordance with Standing Orders. They may also make grants to individual churches for property, Ministry and Mission as permitted and governed by the Standing Orders. The Managing Trustees believe that these activities and the church resources are for the public benefit as, through its work the Managing Trustees enable pastoral ministry, spiritual engagement and contribute to community development in the Bolton Area. The Managing Trustees have noted the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The trust holds monies received from the sale of Church property as Restricted Funds. These funds are restricted by the Standing Orders for the purpose of property purchases, renovation or mission projects. The Trust also holds permanent endowment funds, the income from which is available for general purposes .

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

The Managing Trustees consider that the performance of the charity this year has been satisfactory. Stipends and Salaries have been covered, circuit property kept in reasonable repair and managed and external expenses covered. 4 employees continue to be supported by the circuit. Pastors continue to make a significant contribution to the work of the circuit. The Managing Trustees also funded the role of Circuit Administrator with a discrete Circuit Office located within one of the churches.

The trust would not be able to provide such service without the continued support of individual churches, the circuit superintendent, treasurer and other volunteer staff.

The Methodist Church Bolton Circuit Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 August 2022

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees are responsible for preparing this report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed requires the trustees to prepare financial statements

for each financial year. The statements must give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by order of the Circuit Meeting on and signed on its behalf by:

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Secretary and Trustee
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The Methodist Church Bolton Circuit Appendix to the Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 August 2022

Managing Trustees 2021/22

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Ms Catheri Arthurs Mr BettyAn Kirkham
ne s ne
Mrs Glenny Astley Re Carolyn Lawrance
s v
Mr Mike Bainbridg Mr Jeff Layer
e
Mrs Fiona Belli Mr Diane Le Fevre
s
Mrs Joyce Booth Mr Renee Mellis
s
Mrs Pauline Booth Mr Stan Mellis
Mr David Brigden Mr Martin Mercer
Mrs Estelle Buckley Ms Kirstin Middleton
Rev Anne Cash Mr Jeff Millington
Mrs Helen Charlton Mr Colin Nelson
Mrs Joan Davies Mr Matthe Ngara
w
Mr Steven Day Mr Louise Orgill
s
Mr Peter Firth Mr Julie Owen
s
Mrs Janet Getcliffe Mr Elaine Platt
s
Mrs Fiona Gorton Mr Gillian Platt
s
Mr Peter Green Mr Matthe Ramsden
w
Mrs Lorrain Greenhal Mr Mary Riley
e gh s
Mr David Hartley Mr Anne Slater
s
Mrs Mauree Hawkswo Mr Lorna Smallman
n rth s
Mr Michael Hawkswo Re Ian Smart
rth v
Mr Doug Hearn Mr Graham Smith
Mr Gordon Heaton Mr Helen Stuart
s
Ms Julie Hoarty Mr Pat Taylor
s
Rev Hilary Howarth Mr Eric Wilkes
Mr Derek Jones Mr Frank Worsley
Mrs Hilda Keenan
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The Methodist Church - Bolton Circuit Notes to the Accounts

1 Basis of accounting policies i Accounting standard

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective from 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)).

ii Public benefit entity

The Bolton Methodist Circuit meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical costs or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s) below.

iii Basis

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost except that investments are shown at their market value at the end of the year. The accruals basis has been used and trustees present accounts that show a true and fair view of the Circuit’s financial position and activities.

iv Content

The financial information presented is relevant, reliable, comparable and complete. Where estimates are used these are based on experience, research, and judgement. The accounts are expressed in £ Sterling, rounded to the nearest pound.

v FRS102 SORP2015 (applies to 2016-17 onwards)

These accounts are compliant with FRS102 and with the FRS102 SORP 2015. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with applicable charity law in England this being the Charities Act 2011 and SI 2008/629 (Charities Accounting and Reporting Regulations) and, pending the making of replacement Regulations specific to SORP 2015 in accordance with Reg.8(5) by following SORP (FRS102) instead of SORP 2005 to the extent necessary to give a true and fair view in the circumstances.

vi Going concern

Based on the monetary assets and human resources available at 31 August 2022, the trustees believe that the Circuit is a going concern.

vii Consolidation

The Circuit has denominational regulatory oversight in respect of the work of the Churches within the Circuit but has no legal or operational control of those Churches and their governing bodies except in extreme circumstances. For this reason, the financial statements of Churches within the Circuit are not consolidated into these financial statements.

viii Income recognition

Income is brought into account when there is entitlement and the amount is reliably measurable once it is more likely than not that the economic benefit of the income will be forthcoming.

Individual amounts categorised as Other income in the SOFA will be shown separately if they are considered material

The Circuit acts as agent in two matters:

the collection from Churches and payment over of their contributions to various funds controlled and administered by The Methodist Church - "Connexional Funds"
the administration (application, collection and disbursement) of grants requested by Churches within the Circuit from, but not limited to, the District and Connexion in all these matters the transactions are not reflected in the SOFA because they are the income of either the Connexion or Churches as appropriate. Instead the transactions are disclosed in the Notes to the Accounts as required by SORP (FRS102), module 19.12n

In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the time of volunteers is not recognised. If goods are donated, a value will be shown in the SOFA or Notes where the value is considered material.

The Methodist Church - Bolton Circuit Notes to the Accounts

ix Expenditure

This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, where the amount is reliably measurable and it is considered more likely than not that there will be an outflow of economic benefit.

x Grants

Grants made by the Circuit from its own funds are recognised in full at the time of agreement or when the Circuit accepts that there is a legal or operational obligation to make the payment. When the grant is recurrent over more than one year the balance payable in future years is treated as a provision for future commitments in the Balance Sheet against the appropriate fund, the provision being released in future years as instalments are paid in accordance with the originally agreed terms.

xi VAT

Since the Circuit is not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers.

xii Tangible fixed assets

These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and individually cost at least £250. The freehold and/or long leasehold residential property is shown in the accounts at August 2022 deemed values, being the insurance reinstatement according to Methodist Insurance as at February 2022. No depreciation is provided on the buildings because the trustees consider the current residual fair value of the manse buildings (on the assumption that it had reached the end of its useful economic life by the year-end) to be not less than its current value. Any depreciation would not be material. The property has been reviewed for impairment.

From time to time the Circuit may be required to assume responsibility for Church premises following closure and cessation of worship. This results in the Circuit becoming Managing Trustees for the property. At that time the property is recognised as an asset at its anticipated net sale price as determined by professional valuation and after taking into consideration the levy to be charged by the Connexion. Expenditure on such assets, if held for reinvestment of the proceeds, as the trustees determine, likely to enhance sale value is capitalised at the time expenditure is incurred. Where the proceeds are intended to be spent on activities, the property is included in current assets at the lower of cost and realisable value

xiii (a) Investment Properties

From time to time the Circuit may hold residential property (formerly manses) which is surplus to its normal staffing requirements. Where this is the case and it is anticipated that the property is unlikely to be used as a manse within a period of two years, the property is classified as Investment Property (whether let out or not) and any lets are at market rates unless there is a compelling reason not to do so in furtherance of the Circuit's charitable objectives

xiii (b) Investments

The Circuit's investments are in monetary assets classified as basic financial instruments under FRS102 and are

held by the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP) as custodian trustees. The valuations, at market value, are those provided by TMCP. The unrealised gains arising on investments are shown in the SOFA.

xiv Debtors and Prepayments

Debtors are stated at the amounts owed to the Circuit or prepaid.

xv Creditors and Accruals

Creditors are initially recognised at settlement amount after any trade discounts, or the amount advanced to the Circuit. Creditors include both sundry expenses and specifically the 1st quarter assessment received in August.

xvi Transaction to FRS 102

Other than as shown in the SOFA for the reclassification of expenditure between categories, no restatement of items, nor of the 1 September 2022 funds value, nor of the published net income for the year to 31 August 2022, has been required in making the transition to FRS 102. The transition date as defined by FRS102 was 1 September 2016

The Methodist Church - Bolton Circuit Statement of Financial Activities for year ended 31 August 2022

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£ £ £ £ £ £ £
Income and Endowments
5,0
Donations and legacies 00
Income from Monetary 11,16
Investments 1,246 857 0 13,263 18,281
Income from Investment
Property 30,963 30,963 29,937
Income from charitable activities
256,70
Assessments on churches 256,704 4 251,560
Capital receipts
Grants 3,160 3,160
Other Charitable activities 11,274 11,274 505
Total from charitable 11,16 315,36
activities 303,347 0 857 0 4 305,283
Other charitable income
11,16 315,36
Total charitable income 303,347 0 857 0 4 305,283
Other income
Total Income and 11,16 315,36
endowments 303,347 0 857 0 4 305,283
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable
activities
100,00
Grants and donations 100,000 0 974,497
216,62
Salaries and associated costs 216,629 9 195,012
Trust
General Circuit Model Designated Restricted Endowment Totals 2022 Totals 2021
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Property 52,035 52,035 24,025
8,7
Offices expenses 17 433 1,710 10,860 12,165
District Assessment and levy 47,856 2,840 50,696 85,508
14,7
Other Outgoings 14,764 64 9,857
444,98 1,301,0
Total charitable expenditure 440,001 2,840 433 1,710 4 64
-
Net income b4 invest 129,62 -
gains/losses -136,654 -2,840 424 9,450 0 995,781
-41,2
Net gain/loss on monetary invest -502 68 -41,770 95,127
Net gain/loss on property 130,83
disp/reval 130,836 6 79,262
-
Net in/out resources before - 31,81 -
transfer -5,818 -2,840 78 8 -40,554 821,392
Transfers between funds 0
Reclassification of funds 0
Other gains/losses 0
-
-
31,81
Net Movement in funds -5,818 -2,840 -78 8 -40,554 821,392
Total funds brought forward 0
Less: Future instalments of grant 0
- -31,81 -
Total Funds carried forward -5,818 -2,840 78 8 -40,554 821,392
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The Methodist Church - Bolton Circuit

Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2022

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£ £ £ £ £ £ £
Fixed assets
793,15 793,15 729,00
Circuit Manses and Equipment 0 0 8
808,45 808,45 742,3
Investment properties 3 3 84
Investments
1,601,6 1,601,6 1,471,3
Total fixed assets 03 0 03 92
Current Assets
Debtors 36,248 96 36,344 30,263
180,81
Loans by the Circuit 80,872 80,872 2
Trust
Circuit Model Totals 2022
General Designated Restricted Endowment Totals 2021
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Trustees for Methodist Ch 148,9 561,1 769,65 811,61
Purposes 59,565 19 70 4 2
102,40 102,4 114,63
Central Finance Board Deposit 0 00 3
Methodist chapel Aid 75,000 75,000 75,000
19,7
Cash at Bank 93 7,500 27,293 49,714
373,87 156,5 561,1 1,091,5 1,262.0
Total current assets 8 15 70 63 34
Creditors (in under one
year) 296 296 0
Net current liabilities 0 0 0 0 0
Total assets, less current 1,975,4 156,2 561,1 2,692,8 2,733,4
liabilities 81 0 0 19 70 70 26
Creditors and Accruals including
any loans
(due after more than 1 year)
Grant instalments due after
2017/8 0 0
1,975,4 156,2 561,1 2,692,8 2,733,4
Net current assets 81 0 0 19 70 70 26
Funds of the Circuit
1,975,4
General Fund (Unrestricted) 81
Circuit Model Fund
(Unrestricted) 0
Designated Funds
(Unrestricted) 0
1,975,4 2,080,6
Total Unrestricted Funds 81 47
156,2 156,21
Restricted Funds 19 9 53,614
561,1 561,17 599,16
Endowment Funds 70 0 5
1,975,4 156,2 561,1 2,692,8 2,733,4
Total Funds 81 0 0 19 70 70 26
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2. Detailed Analysis of Individual Fund Movements

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Unrestricted
Funds
Openin Expen
g Income d Trans Invest Closing
Various
Bequests 5331 36,556 171 176 Trustee Int Fund 36,551
7415
Circuit MTF A 22,972 108 66 Trustee Int Fund 23,014
59, 2
528 279 42 0 59,565
Restricted
Funds
Circuit MTF 7415 106,805 645 3,646 Trustee Int Fund 103,804
D Smith 1760 Capital with
Memorial 7 287 1 1 restrict 287
L Bramwell 1676
-Trinity 0 0 0 0 CFB Mgd Equity 0
2074 Capital with
J&M Matthews 0 0 0 0 restrict 0
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Development 1934
Fund 1 3,741 18 14 Trustee Int Fund 3,745
Surplus 1910 1
Assessmt 3 41,086 193 98 2 Trustee Int Fund 41,083
3,8
151,919 857 59 2 148,919
Endowment
Tatton Trust 7237 1,000 5 3 -2 Trustee Int Fund 1,000
2253 106,0
W Tattersall 9 42 2,579 6,964 CFB Mgd Mixed 101,657
Circuit Assess 1080 2,9
Trust 1 46,629 285 16 Trustee Int Fund 43,998
& CFB Mgd
Mixed
1260
Leigh Bramwell 1 446,494 8,291 40,270 Trustee Int Fund 414,515
&CFB Mgd
Equity
600,165 11,160 50,153 -2 561,170
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3. Total ministerial Lay Employment
Costs Costs
81,0
Salaries 30
7,32
Stipends 77,840 NI 1
4,67
NI 7,211 Pension 6
2,50
Pension contribution 20,998 Travel 0
1,40
Telephone 1,426 Telephone 4
Post and stationery 931 Office rent 740
Office print,
Travel 4,293 stationery 461
112,6 98,1
Total 99 Total 32
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This

4 Payment to Trustees

Last

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Year Year
0 0
Payments made to trustees for additional services
provided to the Circuit by agreement with the Circuit
Meeting
Number of trustees who were paid expenses 0 0
Nature of the expenses 0 0
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 August 2021 or the
year ended 31 August 2022
Total amount paid 0 0
5. Fees for examination or audit of the £ £
accounts
Independent examiner’s or auditors' fees for reporting 1400 1400
on the accounts
Other fees (eg: advice, accountancy services) paid to 0 0
the independent examiner or auditor
Total 1400 1400
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6. Tangible Freehold Leasehold F&F/Motor Total
Fixed Assets Property Property Vehicles
Cost/valuation at 631,122 839,020 22,328 1,492,470
1 [st] September 2021
Disposals
Additions
Revaluations 55,167 74,669 130,836
At 31 [st] August 2022 687,289 913,689 22,328 1,623,306
Depreciation: 20% SL
At 1 [st] September 2021 21,078 21,078
Charge on year 625 625
Flim
At August 31 [st] 2022 21,703 21,703
Net book values
At August 31 [st] 2022 687,289 913,689 625 1,601,603
At August 31 [st] 2021 631,122 839,020 1,250 1,471,392
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Report of the Independent Examiners to the Trustees of The Methodist Church Bolton Circuit

We have examined the financial statements of The Methodist Church Bolton Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2022. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008) (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice applicable to Smaller Entities).

This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under Section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and independent examiners.

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees Responsibilities set out in their report, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements which give a true and fair view.

We have been appointed as auditors under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under Section 154 of that Act.

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board's Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements

An inspection involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the charity's circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the trustees; and the overall presentation of the financial statements. In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the Report of the Trustees to identify material inconsistencies with the audited financial statements and to identify any information that is apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired by us in the course of performing the audit. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies, we consider the implications for our report.

Opinion on financial statements

In our opinion the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31 August 2022 and of its incoming resources and application of resources for the year then ended;
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Report of the Independent Examiners to the Trustees of The Methodist Church Bolton Circuit

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

• to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act.

• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached

There has been a negative net movement in funds during the year of £40554 (2021 – decrease of £821,392), leading to a decrease in the balance sheet value (ie. total funds) to £2,692,870 (2021 - £2,733,426). This decrease would have been an increase of £59,446 but for a prior year adjustment of £100,000 from debtors to the Harwood project as outlined in the financial commentary. Therefore, the finances of the circuit appear to be in a healthy position as at the date of these accounts.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

the information given in the Report of the Trustees is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Company: Haslam Financial Services Ltd 12 New Church Road, BOLTON BL1 5QP

: Date: 22[nd] February 2022

Signature

Name: Peter Haslam ACCA CIMA 18