2024-08-31-accounts - Dane And Trent Methodist Circuit

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DANE & TRENT METHODIST CIRCUIT

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the Year ending 31[st] August 2024

Introduction

The Trustees of the Dane & Trent Circuit present their annual report together with financial statements for the year ended 31[st] August 2024.

Mission Statement

As a Circuit we are committed to building up thriving and effective Christian communities which aim to love God, serve Christ and love people - in whatever different ways that demands and takes.

Aims and organisation

The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the Date of Union and are defined in the 1976 Methodist Church Act 1976 (Section 4). They are the advancement of –

(a) The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the 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 being a 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.

It will achieve these aims through –

The organising and resourcing of regular public acts of worship open to members of the Church and non-members
The teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups
The resourcing of pastoral work including visiting the sick and bereaved
Taking religious assemblies in local schools
The promotion of Christianity through the staging of events and services
The provision of chaplaincy services where appropriate
The employment of lay and ordained staff to enable the Circuit and churches to achieve the aims stated above

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.

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 available to all new Circuit meeting members as induction to their role as trustees.

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Related Parties

The Circuit is part of the Chester & Stoke-on-Trent District and is also accountable to the Methodist Conference.

The following Methodist Churches are linked to the circuit:

Biddulph

Bosley

Brookhouse Green

Cloud

Davenport

Goostrey Hill Top (Biddulph Moor)

Holmes Chapel

Key Green

Lower Withington

Middlewich

Mow Cop

New Road (Biddulph Moor)

Rood Lane (Congleton) Trinity (Congleton)

Wellspring (Congleton)

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

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Circuit Ministers and officers

Active Circuit Ministers:	Rev Yvonne Pearson (Superintendent Minister)
	Rev Nic Langton-Miller
	Rev Yanyan Case
	Rev Margaret Eaton (Part Time)
Circuit Lay Workers:	Julia Tomes
	Lynn Tindale
	Hanna Bartlet
Administrators:	Rebecca Taylor
Circuit Stewards:	Lisa Kennerley (Senior Steward)
	Brian Donlon
	Rose Goodwin
	Mark Owens
	Amanda Peters
	Kath Salt
Circuit Treasurer	John Duley

John Duley Circuit Treasurer acted as the principal officer overseeing the day to day financial management and accounting for the circuit during the year.

Independent examiner

Sandie Smith. 20 Beechwood Drive, Eaton, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 2NQ

Bankers

Investment Bankers	Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church
	Trustees for Methodist Church purposes
Bankers	National Westminster Bank pic

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 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

Safeguarding

The Dane & Trent 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 Dane & Trent 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.

Data Protection (GDPR)

The circuit has undertaken extensive reviews of all documentation held by the circuit and its churches. This has identified all data which would be available to the wider public so that formal agreement could be obtained in respect of the publication of personal information.

There are ongoing reviews to ensure that data is accurately maintained. Details of the required retention periods has been provided along with the means to destroy data which is no longer required.

Equality and Diversity

Ministers and Circuit/Church stewards will be required to undertake the training provide by the Methodist Church. This remains ongoing.

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Brief financial review of the year

The financial outcome of the year in terms of the main expenditure area of salaries, manse utilities, were in line with the budget.

Income trends

Circuit income is primarily drawn from the assessment paid by the circuit churches. Assessments were increased by a flat rate of 2.5% and overall income was £254581.

Expenditure trends

Stipend expenditure has increased each financial year in line with conference approved ' increases. Likewise Lay Worker salaries were increased in line with the Real Living Wage.

Circa £59k is the Circuit contribution to the District and Connexion, of which a significant part is used to fund the work of the wider Methodist Church.

There was an increase in expenditure on Manse repairs necessary to prepare two manses for incoming ministers.

Fund balances

As at 31 August 2024 the net current assets held within the Bank and CFB accounts of the Circuit were £160k, giving approximately 12 months cover for expenditure.

Plans for 2024/25

Circuit assessments will be increased by a flat rate of 4% with an additional element based on the churches balances over the last three years. This is to provide some protection for the smaller churches and give time for others to reassesses their income streams. Sums of monies would be available to aid churches with short term financial issue and to support further lay worker employment.

We now have a full ministerial team.

Basis of preparation and legal framework

The Charity's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 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

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Name of Circuit DANE & TRENT Circuit No 11/05
Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2024
Notes to Circuit Model Designated
the General Fund Trust Funds Restricted Endowment Total
accounts (Unrestricted) (Unrestricted) (unrestricted) Funds Funds 2023-24
£ £ £ £ £ £
Income
1 Donations and legacies 0
2 Income from monetary investments 4,947 15,859 3,738 24,544
3 Income from investment properties 0
4 Assessments on Churches 254,581 254,581
5 Capital Receipts 0
6 Grants received 11,864 11,864
7 Other charitable income 1,313 11,340 12,653
8 Total income 272,705 27,199 - 3,738 - 303,642
Expenditure
9 Grants and donations 0
10 Salaries and associated costs 200,189 200,189
11 Property maintenance 38,182 38,182
12 Connexional assessment & model trust levy 22,728 202 22,930
13 District Assessment & Levy 59,203 59,203
14 Depreciation 0
15 Office expenses 5,666 5,666
16 Other outgoings 30,691 2,000 32,691
17 Total charitable expenditure 333,931 22,728 0 2,202 0 358,861
18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments 0
19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties
20 Net income/(expenditure) -61,226 4,471 0 1,536 0 -55,219
21 Transfers between funds 95,000 - 95,000 0
22 Other gains/(losses)
23 Net movement in funds 33,774 -90,529 0 1,536 0 -55,219
24 Total funds brought forward 125,671 346,075 1,052 70,852 543,650
25 Total funds carried forward 159,445 255,546 1,052 72,388 - 488,431
----- End of picture text -----

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Name of Circuit DANE & TRENT					Circuit No	11/05

		Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2024

	Notes to the	General Fund (Unrestricted)	Circuit Model Trusts (Unrestricted)	Designated Funds (Unrestricted)	Restricted Funds	Endowment Funds	Totals 2023/24	Totals 2022/23
	Accounts	£	£	£	£	£	£	£

Fixed Assets
Circuit Manses & Equipment ~~i~~	~~i~~	1,664,669 ~~i~~	~~i~~ ~~88=§~~	~~i~~ ~~8=§Vn~~	~~i~~ ~~Vn~~	~~i~~ ~~Vn~~	1,664,669 ~~i~~ ~~Vn~~	1,664,669
Investmentproperties ~~i~~	~~i~~	~~i~~	~~i~~ ~~88=§~~ ~~A~~	~~i~~ ~~8=§Vn~~ ~~LE~~	~~i~~ ~~Vn~~	~~i~~ ~~Vn~~	0 ~~i~~ ~~Vn~~
Investments			~~88=§~~ ~~A~~	~~8=§ Vn~~ ~~LE~~	~~Vn~~	~~Vn~~	0 ~~Vn~~
*Total fixed assets*		1,664,669	0	0	0	0	1,664,669	1,664,669

Current Assets
Debtors		27,660					27,660	26,056
Loans bythe Circuit							0
Investments with TMCP			255,546		72,388		327,934	416,927
Central Finance Board Deposits		102,159					102,159	60,078
Cash at Bank and in hand		59,391					59,391	67,785
Transfer Between Funs		-1,052		1,052			0
*Total current assets*		188,158	255,546	1,052	72,388	0	517,144	570,846
Current liabilities
Creditors (due in under 1 year)		67					67	113
Grantspayable within 2022-23							0
*Total current liabilities*		67	0	0	0	0	67	113
*Net current assets/liabilities*		188,091	255,546	1,052	72,388	0	517,077	570,733

*Total assets less current liabilities*		1,852,760	255,546	1,052	72,388	0	2,181,746	2,235,402


Long term liabilities (due after more than oneyear)
Grantspayable after 2022-23							0 0
Loans to the Circuit
							0
*Net assets*		1,852,760	255,546	1,052	72,388	0	2,181,746	2,235,402


Funds of the Circuit
General Fund(Unrestricted)		1,852,760					1,852,760	1,818,475
Circuit Model Trust Fund (Unrestricted)			255,546				255,546	346,075
Designated Funds(Unrestricted)				1,052			1,052
*Total Unrestricted Funds*							2,109,358	2,164,550
Restricted Funds					72,388		72,388	70,852
Endowment Funds						0	0
*Total Funds*		1,852,760	255,546	1,052	72,388	0	2,181,746	2,235,402

					Signed	~~Le~~
						~~Le~~
						~~Le~~
						~~Le~~
					Circuit Treasurer

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

The salaries paid to ministers was £108136; National Insurance £11119, Pension Contributions £27362. Lay Worker salary costs were £39542. We were charged an Apprentice Levy of £1223.
The water bills paid for our four manses totalled £1818; Local Authority rates were £10694. Other manse expenditure this year totalled £26174.
Other outgoings included £3937 for telephone calls/provision; £2541for supernumerary preaching fees, travel expenses of £5768.
We continue to fund regular maintenance of the Lask Edge graveyard.
Fixed Assets – Where the actual cost of manses is known these have been used. In other cases the deemed costs established at 1[st] September 2015 have been used

Actual purchase cost of one manse in 2019, £317,500 Deemed Cost based on 1[st] September 2015, three manses £1,347,169 a total of £1,664,669

The Debtors figure of £27660 represents church assessments paid in advance prior to the new financial year along with other accounts paid in advance.
The £1052 in the designated funds is Circuit Weekend monies that are now in the Circuit accounts and was transferred from the General Fund on the balance sheet this year.
Restricted Funds Richard Hickson Bequest
The bequest was the sum of £68529.30

Interest for the year was £3738. Under the terms of the Bequest this income is to be used in the Middlewich area.

Reserves Policy

The Reserves Policy for the Circuit is to hold a minimum sum of £70,000 equivalent to 3 months' average expenditure. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure or of any inability to raise the full Circuit Assessment from churches.

A further £50000 is to be held in reserve for support to churches with short term cash flow issues

£106000 is set aside for the employment of new Lay Workers (these to be approved by the Circuit Meeting)

A benevolent fund is held with a current balance of £2,441

Following a donation a sum of money is set aside for outreach activities especially with young people with an available balance of £654

Name of Circurt.. DANE and TRENT No: 11105 Independent Examlnerf8 Statsment I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed belovf) which gNe me cause to believe that in, any material respect- the accounting records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Act,. or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.. or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements conMing the fonn and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fail view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination Delete rfnot applicable i.e. all R&P accounts the trustees, annual report is not consistent with the accounts Delete rfnot applicable i.e. all R&P accounts. 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. havelhave not" obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balanS and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in eXsS of £10.000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner: Name of fimi (where appropriate): ... Address: ... CtsJ11 2K)o Postcode:.................. l tsJ..oi1.. 2£)2E... Date:..... delete or circle as appropriate 12