ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS Forthe year ended 31 August 2024 Wesley Methodist Church, Reading Berkshire and Hampshire Borders Methodist Circuit Charity registratlon number: 1134691 Minister: Reverend Martin Beukes Church Treasurer: Kenneth Fordjour Church Trustees (at 31 August 2024): Rev. Martin Beukes (Minister) Kenneth Fordjour ffreasurer) Patricia Brown (Secretary) Julie Marsh (Pastoral co-ordinator) Vicky Fordjour (Junior Church superintendent) Peter Frank (Chainnan. Property group) Jonathan Brown (Chaiman. Worship team) Anita Abbey-Quaye (church steward) Chris Preetham (church steward) Tirivashe Manhera {church steward) Evelyn Coffie (church steward) Vishal Singh (church steward) Bethany Finnegan (church steward) Serwah Mensah (church steward) Stephen Appiah (church representative) Peter Chapman (church representative) B nda de Souza (church representative) Alan Langford (church representative) Richard Langford (church representative) Mary Ludlow (church representative) Angela Marjoram (church representative) Terry Rowell (church representative) The Church's statutory particulars are as follows: Full name.. Wesley Methodist Church Main communication address: Wesley Methodist Church, Queen's Road, Reading RG1 4BW Charity registered number. 1134691 Date of registration as Charity: 8 March 2010 Independent examiner. Mrs Christine Holland, 9 Ellerton Close, Theale, Reading RG7 5QN Bankers: HSBC Bank plc, including an account through the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church. The Church is part of the Berkshire and Hampshire Borders Methodist Circuit, which is part of the Southampton Distnct and is also accountable to the Methodist Conference.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Wesley Methodist Church has been at the centre of the communty since its establishment in 1873. We are a thriving congregation representing a wide range of ages, backgrounds and ethnicities, committed to worshipping together and serving our communities in the best way we can. Our core purpose is the furtherance of the Christian faith through the provision of regular public acts of worship which are open to members and non-members alike. We do this through a lively and supportive programme of worship on Sundays and at other times of the week, through sennons. courses of Bible study, music and singing, prayer and small group fellowships for people of all ages and backgrounds. We support our members and those who see us as their spir5tual home through pastoral work and prayer. Practical manrfestations of this include extending friendship to those who come to us, and visiting and praying for members of the congregation. We also commrt to supporting other groups who use our building and to making links with others, both in our local area and intemationally. We do this by providing space for groups, and by providing financial support to other charities. Our membership is about 150, and various other people visit the church regularly. The following is our vision and purpose: We believe in a loving God who catne into our world in the person of Jesus Christ to bring us to himself. In his lrfe and teaching Jesus showed us the best way to live. On the cross he died in our place. offering us the free gift of forgiveness and a new start. By rising from the dead he assures us of etemal life. In his daily presen WFth us through the Holy Spirit he gives meaning and direction to our lives. The Trustees cOnfin that the Church is a public benefft entty. Achievements and p8rforniance= During 2023-2024 we have carried out the following actNities: Continued our family worship on Sundays throughout the year in church, including Junior Church. The congregation has grown over the past year. Continued to provide online worship for those who are unable to meet in person in church. The numbers engaging with these Ser¥IS still make it worthwhile to do this. Continued to use the gtfts of our congregation to lead and support worship in church and online through music and other means. Completed our 150th celebrations with a celebration in October 2023. Continued our ecumenical links with our neighbouring church St Andrews URC, including a Walking Nativity with carol-singing around the nehbourhood in December 2023, and a free-to-all Big Lunch in June 2024. Taken our responsibilities towards the environment seriously by developing policies in keeping with being an Eco£hurch. Supported our children and young people in Junior Church by continuing to hold in- church sessions. A group of children and young people was taken to the 3Generate Conferen in Birmingham in October 2023. Completed Phase 3 (creating one main room out of two) of the 84 Queen's Road project. Started a weekly Food Pantry in 84 Queen's Road in partnership with the Reading- based homeless tharity, FAITH.
Supported a network of other voluntary groups vthen possible through the provision of space, induding a number of support groups for people with addictions. Continued our ServIS for parents and babies through the weekly Spokes parent and toddler session. The future: As part of the developing work of the thurch we are looking at how best we can use the resources and skills of the congregation. the grft of the buildings (induding 84 Queen's Road) and the Spa they offer, together with the financial resources of the church. and to identfy what else we should develop to meet our objectives as a church and a key part of the communty. Plans for 202412025 indude: Continuing to bring 84 Queen's Road into full operation. including offering the kitchen and dining-room to asylum-seekers once a month to cook their own food, working in partnership with Care4Calais. Continuing to support other church communities through the use of our buildings. Supporting other communrty serrf1 projects as well as continuing existing ones, including engaging with Citizens U FINANCIAL REVIEW Income and expenditure: Church inGome is primarily drawn from the Sunday collections paid by the Gongregation plus the related Gift Aid tax credits, and lettings income paid by local community groups using the premises. Over the past year, collections and tax credits increased by £1133 over the previous year to £96413, and lettings by £6983. The major expense is the assessment paid to Basingstoke & Reading Circuit. The assessment this year was £76653 compared with £70727 the previous year. The assessment pays for the ministerfs salary, employer pension. Nl contributions, travelling expenses and manse running costs" Circurt administration. and contributions towards denominational central costs. The other main expense is Church running costs, including heating and lighting, insurance and utilits'es. maintenance and improvements, which amounted to £48946 this year. We We able to complete the furbIshrnent of the ground floor of the old manse (84 Queen's Road) during this current financial year. Reserves policy: General funds: It is the Church's policy to have in hand sufficient to cover at least three months assessment. plus a further amount to cover any emergencies which occur in the short term and other one off payments which may arise, and to this end it will endeavour to have £35,000 readily available to cover these payments. General funds held at YIE 3110812024 £175238 Restricted funds.. No fvnds have been drawn from the TMCP Investments during the last financial year. It is intended to cary out work to the ground floor of 84 Queens Road for which consents have now been obtained. It is anticipated that some of these funds will be used for this purpose, but tt is our intention to keep some funds in reserve for any major works that arise to our Victorian buildings which are now over 140 years old. Re8triGted fund8 held at YIE 3110812021: £704
Review of the year 2023-24 This year has been a good year for the Church, with income being rnaintained to cover our regular outgoings and to have rtain funds available to be able to maintain our Victorian listed building, Outline of Wesley Methodist Accounts (at 31108124): TMCP Account £68,494 CFB Deposit fund account £25.478 Cuent account balan £81,865 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Wesley Methodist Church is a Christian organisation that is govemed by the Methodist Church Act 1976. Detailed govemance arrangements are outlined in the Constrtutional Practi and DisGipline of the Methodist Church (CPD) by order of the annual Conference. Day-to-day management of the Church is undertaken by the Church stewards along with the Minister under the authority of the Church Council. who are the Trustees. The Trustees are appointed at the Annual General Meeting of the Church. Mr Kenneth Fordjour (one of the managing trustees) as Treasurer oversees the day-to4ay financial management and accounting for the Church during the year, supported by a Property & Finance group chaired by Mr Peter Frank A range of guidance produced by the Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the church and the role of the Trustees is gNen to the Church Trustees at various meetings andlor training sessions. Rlsk management The major risks have been identified and recorded by the Trustees with professional advice taken as required. A regular annual review process is undertaken as required. Income and expenditure is reviewed and monitored against budget on a quarterly basis as part of the risk management process to avoid unforeseen calls on reserves. Safeguarding The Methodist Church, along with the whole Christian communty, believes that each person has a value and dignty which comes directly from God's creation in God's own image and likeness. Christians see this as fuffilled by God's re-Greation 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 hann. Methodist Connexional pra¢ti¢e othlines commitment to tha following prineiples: 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. Establishing safe. caring communities which provide a loving environment where there is informed Vigilan as to the dangers of abuse.
Carefully selecting and training all those with any responsibilty within the Church, in line with Safer Recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosuS and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes. Responding without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been hanned, c¢H)perating with the police and local authority in any investigation. Seeking to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a posttion of trust. Seeking to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our Church communty known to have offended against a child. young person or vulnerable adult. In all these principles following legislation, guidance and recognised good practi. Wesley Methodist Church commits itself to ensuring the implementation of Connexional Safeguarding Policy, govemment legislation. guidance and safe Practi in the Circuit and in the churches. Wesley Methodist Church also 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. Approved by the Trustees on 2WO&2025 and gned on thelr behaff by Signed: Kenneth Fordjour (freasurer) Date."2210&?025 Accounting responsibilities Charity law requires trustees to prepare annual accounts that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs to the Church at the year end and of its financial activities during the period. The Trustees are required to: Select suitable accounting policies and apply them prudently Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent Prepare accounts on a going COnM basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Church will continue in operation. Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting reGords that disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Church. so that the accounts comply with the charity accounting SORP 2015. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Church and hence for tsking reasonable steps for the prevenbon of fraud and other irregularities. The Church is entitled to exemption from audit under the Charities Act but is required to have an independent examinats'on of its accounts" the Church has therefore taken advantage of this exemption.