2024-08-31-accounts - Swansea & Gower Methodist Circuit

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Swansea and Gower Methodist Circuit Charity No 1134882 Report of the Trustees For The Year Ended 31° August 2024

The Trustees submit their annual report and the independently examined financial statements for the year ended 31st August 2024.

Legal and administrative information

The governing body of the Circuit is the annual conference of the Methodist Church. The Methodist Church Act 1976 gives the authority under which the Methodist Church acts. The constitutional practice and discipline of the Methodist Church governs the activities of the Circuit.

The Methodist Church is no longer excepted from the need to register as a charity and on 12 March 2010 the Circuit registered as a separate charity under the Charities Act 2006 and has been allocated the Registered Number 1134882.

Superintendent Minister: Rev Howard Long

Circuit Address: Swansea and Gower Circuit Office, Mumbles Methodist Church, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4DH

Organisational Structure

The Swansea and Gower Circuit is made up of eleven churches. These are - Pitton, Horton, Reynoldston, Murton, Mumbles, Uniting Church Sketty, Brunswick, Penlan, Wesley, Morriston, Clydach. There are approximately 455 members, numerous worshipping adherents and community contacts.

There are 8 members of staff. These are Rev Howard Long — Superintendent Minister, Rev Andrew Walker, Rev Louise Gough, Rev Andrew Pearce (Associate Minister — Anglican) Rev Betty McNiven (Associate Minister — Anglican) and Lay Workers — Huw Davies, Heather Davies and Louise Davies (Circuit Admin)

Other office holders (voluntary) include

Circuit Stewards — Mrs Heather Coleman, Mrs Grace Coleman (Treasurer), Mrs Lynne Taylor, Mr Colin Everett and Circuit Meeting Secretary —- Mrs Nancy Owens

The members of the Circuit Meeting are the Managing Trustees. During the year 2023/24 the following people served as members of the Circuit Meeting.

CIRCUIT MEETING MEMBERSHIP

STAFF

Revd Howard Long Rev. Andrew Walker Rev Louise Gough Rev Andrew Pearce — Associate Presbyter Rev Betty McNiven — Associate Presbyter

LAY WORKERS

Mr Huw Davies — Ogof Adullam Mrs Heather Davies — Ogof Adullam Mrs Elizabeth Wheeler — Ogof Adullam

CIRCUIT ADMINISTRATOR

Mrs Louise Davies

SUPERNUMERARY MINISTERS

Rev. Pam Cram — Missions Secretary/MWiB Rev. Margaret Adams

CIRCUIT ROLES

Mrs Nancy Owens -— Circuit Meeting Secretary Mrs Grace Coleman — Circuit Treasurer

Mrs Heather Coleman — Circuit Steward

Mrs Lynne Taylor — Circuit Steward Mr Colin Everett — Circuit Steward

Mrs Win Hawkins Local Preachers Secretary Miss Janet Neilson — Art Serve Representative Mr Jeff Coleman — Circuit Archivist Mrs Pat Davies — Circuit Safeguarding

Mrs Sandra Pengelly — Circuit MHA representative Mrs Gill Worrall — Circuit Action for Children representative Mr Andrew Phillips — Circuit Property Secretary

CHURCH REPRESENTATIVES

Brunswick Kathleen Jones, Sybil Smith, Malcolm Grimley Clydach Marilyn Harry, Alan Cram

Horton Hildegarde Roberts, Peter Scott, Audrey Hinnells

Morriston Eleanor Cuthill, Irene Harrison, Janice Heslop

Mumbles Mark Puntan, David Boakes, Caroline Buckler, Geoff Maddock, Cynthia Mumford Murton Ruth Painter, Marjorie Probert, Susan Billington

Penlan Blodwen O’Connor

Pitton Selina Taylor, Isobel Everett

Reynoldston lan Campbell Sketty Jon Dyer, Sandra Cuthill, Les Want, Alan Jones Wesley Elaine Davies, Brinley Jones, Maureen Escourt

Mission and Purpose

The Circuit is constituted to advance the mission of the Methodist Church in the Swansea and Gower area by providing opportunities for churches to work together and support each other. It does this by offering resources and expertise which may not be available locally. . The Circuit also services the local churches in the support, deployment and oversight of the various ministries of the Church, and in programmes of training.

Priorities for the Methodist Church

In partnership with others wherever possible, the Methodist Church will concentrate its prayers, resources, imagination and commitments on this priority:

To proclaim and affirm its conviction of God's love in Christ, for us and for all the world; and renew confidence in God's presence and action in the world and in the Church

As ways towards realising this priority, the Methodist Church will give particular attention to the following:

e Underpinning everything we do with God-centred worship and prayer e Supporting community development and action for justice, especially among the most deprived and poor in Britain and worldwide
e Developing confidence in evangelism and in the capacity to speak of God and faith in ways that make sense to all involved
e Encouraging fresh ways of being Church
e Nurturing a culture in the Church which is people-centred and flexible

Swansea and Gower Circuit Polic

As a Circuit we affirm the Priorities of the Methodist Church and seek to:

e Express the Gospel through worship, word and action in ways that will speak to the needs and culture of the people around us.
e Nurture Christian understanding and lifestyle through fellowship groups, study groups and prayer groups in the Churches.
e Encourage growth in church membership through worship and evangelism, mission and pastoral care.
e Support existing chaplaincies and develop other chaplaincy work wherever possible.
e Work in partnership with other churches wherever possible in order for us to share in God’s mission more effectively.
e Play a full part in the work of the Methodist Church in Wales while being inspired and challenged as part of the worldwide Church of Christ.
e Be sensitive to environmental issues and be good stewards of our natural resources.

Review of the Year

Staffing: Rev Louise Gough was welcomed to serve in the circuit with pastoral responsibility for Uniting Church Sketty and Clydach as well as being part of the University chaplaincy team. Rev Michael Ellor ( Associate Presbyter) stepped down from this role at the beginning of the year.The circuit invitation committee met and recommended that Rev Andy Walker ~ be stationed in the circuit for a further four years from Sept 2025.

Circuit Leadership Team: The CLT is made up of all staff ( lay and ordained) and4 circuit stewards Heather Coleman (UCS) Grace Coleman (Morriston) Lynne Taylor ( Pitton) and Colin Everett (Pitton).

Circuit Strategy: A number of presentations were given to the circuit trustees about the existing and planned work by the churches relating to the strategy. The strategy document was reviewed periodically by the Circuit Leadership Team.

MDR: Ministerial Development Review: This was ongoing throughout the year

Safeguarding: Training sessions continued throughout the circuit. The Annual Safeguarding Policy for the circuit as well as the annual circuit audit was agreed. The Connexional ‘Theology of Safeguarding Report’ was shared throughout the circuit.

EDI — Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Mandatory training sessions took place throughout the circuit.

Local Preachers: The Local Preachers met regularly online for mutual support, continuing development and LP/WL business.

Bible Month: The circuit supported Bible Month in June concentrating on the Old Testament book of Genesis.

Ogof Adullam Drop-in Centre: The project was open three days a week with many guests attending. The Men’s Shed is open at the same time as Ogof Adullam and numbers are growing. The project was visited by the President and Vice President of the Methodist Conference in May. Ogof Adullam is overseen by a circuit management committee.

Penlan: Penlan Church Council (made up of trustees from other churches) continued to oversee the property and mission of the church.

Property: The Wesley building scheme was completed in their Centenary year and officially opened by the President and Vice President of the Methodist Conference. As part of the vision and future for the Murton fellowship permission was granted to sell the chapel and develop the work on the Hall site. The work on Sketty manse was ongoing. A number of Quinquennial reports were completed throughout the year.

Eco Grants: The circuit continued to offer grants to support churches as they work to become more environmentally friendly.

Outreach: Messy Church and a number of Alpha Courses were held throughout the circuit. Reynoldston organised a Stable Trail in December

Wales Methodist Synod. The circuit was fully represented at all Synod meetings that took place throughout the year including the annual Synod (Sept 2023), Ministerial Synod (March 2024) and the Synod Policy Committee ( Online). The Superintendent Minister chaired the Synod Schemes and Grants committee which met online three times during the

In the course of the year the Swansea and Gower Circuit has:

e Prepared the preaching plan and organised acts of worship both online and in person
e Arranged four Circuit Meetings dealing with business relating to the Circuit and to formulated plans for the future including agreeing the budget and church . assessments for the financial year 2024/25
e Completed an annual GDPR and Safeguarding audit
e Arranged EDI Training for all Staff and Office Holders.
e Arranged meetings of the Ogof Adullam Management Team

e Arranged 2 meetings of the Circuit Mission Committee
e Arranged 6 meetings of the Circuit Leadership Team to discuss the life of the Circuit
e Each minister received regular supervision
e Arranged 4 meetings of the Local Preachers and Worship Leaders as well as various study sessions

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SWANSEA & GOWER METHODIST CIRCUIT

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Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 August 2024

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||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |~|General|Fund|Circuit Model|Restricted|Endowment|Totals This|Previous| |:|(Unrestricted)|Trust Fund|Funds|Funds|Year|Year Totals| |.|(Unrestricted)| |£|£|£|£|£|£| |Incoming|Resources| |Assessment or Share|197,833|197,833|196,268| |Capital|Receipts| |Interest|and|Investment Income|1,001|13,971|14,972|8,586| |Grants|4,000|4,000|4,000| |Profit on Sale of Buildings|0|i)|21,660| |Other Income|30,296|10,000|40,296|;|8,000| |Total|Incoming Resources|233,130|23,971|0|0|257,101|238,514| |Stipends,|Salaries,|NIC &|Pension|costs|128,365|128,365|88,095| |District Assessment|40,162|40,162|37,988| |Methodist Church|Fund|5,194|5,194|4,909| |Telephone & Travel|7,295|7,295|4,567| |Insurance,|Utilities etc|18,466|18,466|17,383| |Maintenance on|Manses|25,113|322|25,435|16,549| |GrantsOther Expenditure & Donations|30,6620|26,000|30,66226,000|31,47224,622| |Professional|Fees|0|0|0|2,470| |CPE Levy|1)|11,977|11,977|20,578| |Contributions|to|District Advance|Funds|0|0|0| |Total|Resources Expended|255,257|38,299|0|0|293,556|248,633| |Net Incoming Resources|-22,127|~14,328|0|it)|-36,455|-10,119| |Total|Funds Brought|Forward|678,291|267,430|955,840| |Funds transfer|0|0| |Total|Funds|Carried Forward|at Year End|656,164|253,102|0|0|-36,455|945,721|

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SWANSEA & GOWER METHODIST CIRCUIT

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||||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Balance|Sheet as at 31 August 2024| |‘| |:|General Fund|Circuit Model|Restricted|Endowment|Totals This|Previous| |(Unrestricted)|Trust Fund|Funds|Funds|Year|Year Totals| |(Unrestricted)| |£|£|£|£|£|£| |Tangible|Fixed Assets|:| |Manses|__|580,979|580,979|580,979| |Total Fixed Assets|580,979|i¢}|0|0|580,979|580,979| |Current Assets| |Debtors and Prepayments|10,636|0|10,636|11,808| |Central|Finance|Board|and Trustees|for|Methodist|Purposes|Deposit|19,063|253,102|272,165|285,544| |Cash|at|Bank and|in|Hand|64,245|:|1,311|65,556|83,894| |Total|Current Assets|93,944|253,102|1,311|ie)|348,357|381,246| |Creditors|and|Accruals|(due|in|under|1 year)|18,759|1,311|20,070|16,504| |Net Current Assets|(Liabilities)|75,185|253,102|0|0|328,287|364,742| |Total Assets less Current Liabilities|656,164|253,102|0|0|909,266|945,721| |Loans and creditors due after 1 year|)|0|0|0|i)|0| |Provision for|liabilities and|charges|0|0|i¢]|(¢)|0|0| |Net Assets|656,164|253,102|0|ie)|909,266|945,721| |Funds|of the|Circuit|.| |General|Fund|(Unrestricted)|656,164|656,164|678,291| |Circuit Model|Trust|Fund|(Unrestricted)|253,102|253,102|267,430| |Total Funds|656,164|253,102|0|0|909,266|945,721|

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To be Approved by the Swansea & Gower Circuit 011 «2... scence and signed on their behalf Rev. Howard Long Grace Coleman

Registered Charity No. 11348382

easel

Independent Examiner’s Report

to the trustees of Swansea & Gower Methodist Circuit (Charity Number 1134882)

I report on the circuit accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024.

Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Independent Examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

| Basis of Independent Examiners’ Report My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity | comparison ofCommission. An the examinationaccounts presentedincludes with a review those ofrecords. the accountingIt also includes recordsconsiderationkept by the charityof any unusual and a | matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit | | items or disclosures inthe accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such 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 2011 Act; and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 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.

Signed: LLbal

Date: Lol[03][Aot5]

Name: Ch& i VY)6ST Relevant professional qualification or Body: fhcA Address: IGG WALTER Road : sudNseh CAl SRW