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2022-08-31-accounts

The Methodist Church

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District

Registered Charity Number 1134902

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the year ended 31st August 2022

The Methodist Church

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st August 2022

CONTENTS

Pages
Trustees' Annual Report 2 - 8
Report of the Independent Auditors 9 - 11
Statement of Financial Activities 12
Balance Sheet 13
Statement of Cash Flows 14
Notes to the Accounts 15 - 27

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2022

Reference and administrative information

Registered charity name Registered charity number

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

1134902

Trustees (members of the District Policy Committee)

The members of the District Policy Committee at the date of this report and those who served during the year ended 31st August 2022 are as follows:

Rev Rachel Parkinson - Chair Rev Pauline Salter - Deputy Chair (until 31/8/22) Rev Alan Combes - Deputy Chair (from 1/9/22) Mr Andrew Beattie - Synod Secretary Mr Christopher Reed - District Treasurer

Rev David Alford Rev Jimione Kaci Ms Helen Allen (appointed 1/9/22) Rev David Lavender Miss Rosie Bryant (until 31/8/22) Rev Susan Levitt Ms Stella Dede Cofie (appointed 17/11/22) Mr Leon Murray (until 23/3/22) Rev Nicholas Collison Mr Brian Oakley Mrs Lesley Cook (appointed 1/9/22) Mrs Elaine Panchal (appointed 1/9/22) Rev Joanne Cox-Darling Rev Hendry Ponniah Rev Elizabeth Dunning (appointed 14/10/21) Rev Neil Richardson (until 23/3/22) Rev Margaret Eales (until 31/8/22) Rev Teddy Siwila Mrs Angela Evans Rev Julia Skitt Mrs Claire Evans (appointed 11/11/22) Mr Keith Walton Rev Richard Hall (until 31/8/22) Rev Denise Williams (until 31/8/22) Mr David Hemingway Rev Rachel Wood (until 31/8/22) Rev Roger Hides

Principal address District Office Beckminster Methodist Church Birches Barn Road Wolverhampton WV3 7BQ Telephone 01902 658383 Website wsmethodist.org.uk Auditors Crombies Accountants Limited 34 Waterloo Road Wolverhampton WV1 4DG Bankers The Co-operative Bank PLC Central Finance Board of the PO Box 250 Methodist Church Delf House 9 Bonhill Street Southway London EC2A 4PE Skelmersdale WN8 6WT

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2022

Objectives and activities

The purpose of the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District is laid out in Standing Order 400A of the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church, namely that: “the District is constituted to advance the mission of the Church in the region, by providing opportunities for Circuits to work together and support each other, by offering them resources of finance, personnel and expertise which may not be available locally and by enabling them to engage with the wider society of the region as a whole and address its concerns.” The central priorities of the Methodist Church are Worship, Learning and Caring, Service and Evangelism.

The District comprises around 190 local Methodist churches grouped into 12 circuits and served by a team of around 42 active ministers, 37 of whom are presbyters and 5 of whom are deacons, together with a significant number (40+) of lay employees. A number of Supernumerary (retired) ministers also offer very significant support.

Only around 50% of churches submitted membership statistics in this period, no doubt due to the disruption caused by the pandemic. From this base, it’s expected that the number of people holding membership of churches in the District in October 2021 fell by around 450 on the previous year, being therefore approximately 6,400. Fourteen congregations asked the District Synod for permission to close during the year.

This period of reporting coincides with a return to worship within church buildings and a resumption of face to face meetings after the pandemic. However this did not prove a smooth transition, not least because the rate of infection of COVID-19 continued to surge periodically against a background where congregations most often have a significant number of members of relatively advanced age and vulnerability. Most churches experienced reduced attendance levels, with people lacking the confidence to return to physical gatherings. A number of District gatherings and meetings continued online, with the added advantage of reducing our carbon footprint. The District invited Bishop Mike Royal, incoming President of Churches Together in England, to speak to the Spring Session of our Representative Synod, encouraging churches to contemplate key questions as they search for a “new normal” post-pandemic.

The District continued to make progress towards our goal of becoming an Eco-District under the A Rocha scheme. A group from across the District walked from Wolverhampton to Birmingham in support of the Young Christian Climate Network’s pilgrimage to COP26 to call upon world leaders to “Rise to the Moment”. The Representative Session of Synod in September 2021 focused on Climate Change, hearing from young activists and a minister from Fiji whose island home is already suffering detrimental effects. In December 2021 the visit to the District of the President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference - Rev’d Sonia Hicks and Mrs Barbara Easton - included an Eco Advent Retreat.

Priority continued to be given to working ecumenically with other Christian denominations where possible and particularly with the Church of England with whom Methodism is in Covenant relationship. Our main partners are the Dioceses of Lichfield and of Hereford.

Significant progress was made in planning the District Project under the God for All Connexional Strategy for Evangelism and Growth. The project will focus on mission and ministry alongside those with additional needs and disability. The plan is that following the launch of the District Project, the next phase will be to nurture, support and fund God for All projects within Circuits and churches.

During the reporting period, the Methodist Church in Britain continued to discern how governance and oversight structures might best be reshaped to suit its purpose. In response the District continued conversations with the Birmingham District, further including the Chester and Stoke District, to see how Methodism might best be organised across the West Midlands.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2022

The District awarded £150K in grants to Circuits and Churches during the year. Only one of these was a modest property grant. The remainder were “Ministry” grants supporting people-based activities across the District.

Public benefit

The activities mentioned above were undertaken so as to further the District's purposes for the public benefit and the District Policy Committee has had regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission when exercising its powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.

Achievements and performance

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2022

Financial review

The above activities and achievements illustrate the work of the District and the attached accounts show how the financial resources necessary for that work have been raised and expended. The accounts are also the means by which members of the District Policy Committee, as trustees, account for their stewardship of those funds to the circuits, the membership of the churches within the District and the wider community.

The finances of the District are held in eight different funds to account properly for the different purposes for which money comes into the District. Most of the income comes from other parts of the Methodist Church: assessments are received from the Circuits in the District to fund the work done directly and the payment to the Connexion of a contribution to the Methodist Church Fund, and distributions are received via the Connexional structure of the Methodist Church to fund grant-making activities, as explained more fully in Note 2 to the accounts.

The income of the District for the year ended 31st August 2022 was £1,288,635 and expenditure was £909,318. The resulting surplus of £379,317 increased reserves to £960,414 (2021 £581,097) of which £265,000 was the book value of the District Chair's manse, leaving free reserves of £695,414 across all eight funds. A review of significant matters affecting District finances is as follows:

The income of the District was up by £386,924 on the previous year. Most of the increase (£366,283) came from the Connexion, including a one-off grant of £302,919 from the sale of a city centre church in Wolverhampton. Standing orders require this money to be used to continue the work of the church in the city centre and Synod on 17th September 2022 approved the transfer of that sum plus accrued interest to a restricted fund of Wolverhampton Circuit.

Expenditure was up £54,976 (6%). Grant funding increased by £32,495. Direct activities increased by £24,126, including the cost of a visit to partners in Rwanda in support of the Komera Partnership. Both areas of expenditure reflected a gradual resumption of activities at District, Circuit and Church level following the pandemic.

The net result was a surplus of £379,317, of which £303,984 was attributable to the city centre proceeds held temporarily in the District Advance Fund. Other funds were left with small deficits apart from the Komera Partnership Fund, which showed a small surplus. All funds have adequate reserves carried forward to enable them to continue their activities. A review of siginificant matters affecting the finances of each fund is as follows:

District Expenses Fund (unrestricted)

The budget for the District Expenses Fund for 2021/22 was approved in April 2021 and was set with the object of incurring a deficit of some £8,500 in order to reduce free reserves to around £65,000. In the event, the opening reserves at 1st September 2021 were greater than expected but so also were some of the expenses in 2021/22, notably the donation to the Methodist Church Pension Reserve Fund and the auditors' remuneration. These variances broadly cancelled each other out so that although the outcome was a deficit of £18,289, it still left free reserves at £65,432, close to the target level.

District Training Fund (designated)

Training activities started to recover from the pandemic like everything else and expenditure of £4,568 was taken from reserves, leaving £11,732 to carry forward.

Manse Fund (designated)

Manse repairs and maintenance (charged to the District Expenses Fund) exceeded budget and £5,000 was drawn from the Manse Fund and transferred to the District Expenses Fund to offset the excess.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2022

District Advance Fund (restricted)

In addition to the one-off grant from the city centre property sale mentioned above, the District Advance Fund also received more in grants from the Connexion than it awarded in grants to local projects, resulting in a further increase in its reserves of £118,104. At 31st August 2022 its total reserves stood at £527,635, of which the city centre property balance of £303,984 (including interest) has been transferred to Wolverhampton Circuit on the authority of the District Synod in September 2022.

Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund (restricted)

The Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund incurred a deficit of £11,792 as expected following the ending of the three-year Connexional funding grant. Its reserves of £51,791 are now a little below one year's expenditure as per its reserves policy, and new grant applications continue to be made to further extend its sources of income.

Children Support Fund (restricted)

The money in this fund is left over from the annual children's holiday that ceased after 2018 and, with the consent of the donors, it is being used to offer grants to churches who want to work with children in deprived circumstances. During the year grants of £4,047 were made, leaving a balance of £5,296 available for further grant-making.

Chair's Benevolent Fund (restricted)

This fund continues with modest receipts and payments and a balance of £1,633 is carried forward.

Komera Partnership Fund (restricted)

Further donations were received and grants paid to our partners in Rwanda, and a balance of £3,310 is carried forward.

Reserves policies

The reserves policy for the District Expenses Fund is based on a free reserves target of 10% of total circuit assessments, to reflect the risk that a circuit may not be able to meet their assessment in full. For 2022/23 circuit assessments are £593,351, giving a reserves target of £59,000. The actual level of free reserves at 31st August 2022 was £65,432 or 11.0% of circuit assessments (2021 14.1%).

The District Training Fund does not have a specific reserve requirement. It has excess funds at present and no further income will be sought for the time being.

The Manse Fund reserve requirement is £40,000, to cover major repairs to the Chair's manse in excess of the annual budget, and the current fund balance is £28,585.

The reserves in the District Advance Fund are already stated after taking into account future commitments and as the annual tranche of funding is received in September/October this fund does not need more than a nominal balance of reserves at the year-end.

The scale and scope of the work funded by the Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund is significant and its funding is dependent on grants from various sources, many of which are under financial pressure. In these circumstances, reserves of up to one year's expenditure are considered appropriate to ensure the resilience of the project.

The Children Support Fund is currently using money left over following the cessation of the annual holiday to make small grants and therefore has no particular reserves requirement.

The Chair's Benevolent Fund and the Komera Partnership Fund are there to make grants to beneficiaries from the funds that have been raised for those purposes and thus do not require any specific target levels of reserves.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2022

Investment policy

Surplus monies of the District’s Funds (other than the District Advance Fund) are held in an interest-bearing deposit account with the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church, which is a common deposit fund reporting directly to Conference. The District Advance Fund is held by the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes as custodian trustees on behalf of the District, and this fund is also invested in an interest-bearing account with the Central Finance Board.

Plans for the future

A main focus for the District in 2022/23 will be to encourage Circuits and Churches to fulfil “Our Calling” in a context which still carries a heavy legacy of the pandemic combined with the new challenges of the Cost of Living / Fuel Crisis and war in Ukraine. A significant number of churches are opening Warm Spaces whilst being unsure how they can meet their own heating costs. The District is also supporting the Methodist “Homes for Ukraine” project.

It is hoped that the District God for All project application will be finally accepted and funding released. As well as enabling the project to be launched, this will allow focus to transfer to encouraging further projects within the Circuits.

Connexional proposals for how Districts might be restructured and merged having received a negative reception at the Methodist Conference in July 2022, the question remains of whether our purposes are still best served by merging with the Birmingham District and, if so, how best this might be achieved. The direction of travel needs to be firmly established by September 2023. Work continues on this.

A new lay employee began in post in September 2022 to help twelve congregations across the Region to grow their faith communities by practising Community Organising as advocated by Citizens UK. The support of this new work will be a significant project.

Structure, governance and management

The District, as part of the Methodist Church, is constituted under the terms of the Deed of Union of 1932, which was promulgated under the authority of legislation that is now found in the Methodist Church Act 1976. This Act provides the foundation on which all the remainder of the constitutional structure of the Church is raised.

The governing body of the Methodist Church in Great Britain is the Conference. Under the authority of the Act and the Deed of Union, Conference makes and amends Standing Orders, which are published annually in the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church. This is the basis for governance of the Church as a connexion of local churches, circuits and districts working together within the one framework.

The District Synod is the principal body responsible for the affairs of the District and is constituted in accordance with the Deed of Union and Standing Orders. It is the church court for the District, serving as a link between the Conference and the Connexional Team on the one hand and the Circuits and Local Churches on the other. It has oversight of all District affairs.

The Synod annually appoints the members of the District Policy Committee whose responsibilities include the formulation and promotion of policy and the supervision of the use of resources of personnel, property and finance. Under charity law the members of the District Policy Committee are treated as the Trustees of the Charity and the names of the Trustees who served during the year or have been appointed since are shown above.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2022

The District Policy Committee nominates persons to the Synod for appointment as district officers and as members of the District Policy Committee and other district committees. In addition, the Chair of the District, the Secretary of the Synod and any member of the Methodist Council nominated by the Synod are ex-officio members of the District Policy Committee.

The District is one of thirty-one Districts of the Methodist Church in Great Britain. The Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District brings together twelve Circuits, based in the City of Wolverhampton, two West Midlands Metropolitan Boroughs, parts of Staffordshire and Worcestershire, most of Shropshire, about half of Herefordshire and parts of Wales. The structure of the District and its constituent Circuits and Churches, and their inter-relationships with each other, is explained more fully in Note 2 to the accounts.

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

Charity law requires the District Policy Committee (as Trustees) to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its financial activities for that period, together with its assets and liabilities at the end of the period, and adequately distinguish any material special trust or other restricted fund of the Charity. In preparing those financial statements the District Policy Committee is required to:

The District Policy Committee also has overall responsibility for ensuring that there is in place an appropriate system of controls, financial and otherwise, to provide reasonable confidence and assurance that:

This report was approved by the District Policy Committee as Trustees on 9th March 2023 and is signed on their behalf by:

R Parkinson

REV R.E. PARKINSON

District Chair

J Christopher Reed

J.C. REED

District Treasurer

Trustees

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE TRUSTEES OF WOLVERHAMPTON AND SHREWSBURY METHODIST DISTRICT

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District for the year ended 31 August 2022 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the District in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the District’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE TRUSTEES OF WOLVERHAMPTON AND SHREWSBURY METHODIST DISTRICT

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed auditor under s144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report to you in accordance with regulations made under s154 of that Act.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Independent Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE TRUSTEES OF WOLVERHAMPTON AND SHREWSBURY METHODIST DISTRICT

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

We assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur.

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the 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.

I Cattell

Ian Cattell FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Crombies Accountants Limited Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor 34 Waterloo Road Wolverhampton West Midlands WV1 4DG

9th March 2023

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st August 2022

District Desig- District Other Total Total
Expenses nated Advance Restrict- Funds Funds
Fund Funds Fund ed Funds 2021/22 2020/21
(unrestricted) (unrestricted) (restricted) (restricted)
Note £ £ £ £ £ £
Income from:
Donations and grants
Grants from connexional funds 3 25,975 - 313,841 - 339,816 49,525
Other grants and donations 4 - - - 46,284 46,284 29,782
Total donations and grants 25,975 - 313,841 46,284 386,100 79,307
Charitable activities
Assessments on circuits 5 593,910 - - - 593,910 601,299
Levies on circuit model
trust funds - - 95,932 - 95,932 120,687
Distribution from Connexional
Priority Fund - - 196,774 - 196,774 96,027
Other charitable activities 6 11,240 - - - 11,240 1,359
Total charitable activities 605,150 - 292,706 - 897,856 819,372
Other trading activities 7 - - - 390 390 1,352
Investments 8 556 - 3,526 207 4,289 1,680
Total income 631,681 - 610,073 46,881 1,288,635 901,711
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 12 - - 1,120 - 1,120 706
Charitable activities
Contribution to Methodist Church Fund 538,881 - - - 538,881 532,149
Other charitable activities
undertaken directly 13 100,974 4,568 - 67,141 172,683 148,557
Grant funding of charitable
activities 14 6,000 - 139,565 4,654 150,219 117,724
Support costs 15 46,415 - - - 46,415 35,206
Total charitable activities 692,270 4,568 139,565 71,795 908,198 833,636
Other expenditure 16 - - - - - 20,000
Total expenditure 692,270 4,568 140,685 71,795 909,318 854,342
Net income/(expenditure) (60,589) (4,568) 469,388 (24,914) 379,317 47,369
Transfers between funds 17 42,300 (5,000) (47,300) 10,000 - -
Net movement in funds (18,289) (9,568) 422,088 (14,914) 379,317 47,369
Total funds brought forward 348,721 49,885 105,547 76,944 581,097 533,728
Total funds carried forward 330,432 40,317 527,635 62,030 960,414 581,097

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Balance Sheet as at 31st August 2022

District Desig- District Other Total Total
Expenses nated Advance Restrict- Funds at Funds at
Fund Funds Fund ed Funds 31 Aug 22 31 Aug 21
(unrestricted) (unrestricted) (restricted) (restricted)
Note £ £ £ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 18 265,000 - - - 265,000 265,000
Current assets
Debtors 19 - 325 - 49 374 724
Cash on deposit:
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes - - 791,634 - 791,634 393,121
Central Finance Board 77,584 38,575 12,500 56,498 185,157 227,932
Cash at bank 1,436 1,417 - 6,202 9,055 14,277
Prepaid currency cards 400 - - 200 600 541
Total current assets 79,420 40,317 804,134 62,949 986,820 636,595
Liabilities
Creditors due within 1 year:
Creditors 20 13,988 - - 919 14,907 32,524
Grants payable 21 - - 143,888 - 143,888 141,645
13,988 - 143,888 919 158,795 174,169
Net current assets 65,432 40,317 660,246 62,030 828,025 462,426
Total assets less current liabilities 330,432 40,317 660,246 62,030 1,093,025 727,426
Creditors due after 1 year:
Grants payable 21 - - 132,611 - 132,611 146,329
Total net assets 330,432 40,317 527,635 62,030 960,414 581,097
Represented by 22
Unrestricted Funds:
District Expenses Fund 330,432 - - - 330,432 348,721
Designated Funds:
District Training Fund - 11,732 - - 11,732 16,300
Manse Fund - 28,585 - - 28,585 33,585
Restricted Funds:
District Advance Fund - - 527,635 - 527,635 105,547
Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund - - - 51,791 51,791 63,583
Children Support Fund - - - 5,296 5,296 9,343
Chair's Benevolent Fund - - - 1,633 1,633 1,993
Komera Partnership Rwanda - - - 3,310 3,310 2,025
Total funds 330,432 40,317 527,635 62,030 960,414 581,097

The notes on pages 14 to 27 form part of these accounts

The accounts were approved by the District Policy Committee as Trustees on 9th March 2023 and are signed on their behalf by:

REV R.E. PARKINSON

R Parkinson

District Chair

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31st August 2022

Total
Funds
2021/22
Note
£
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
See below
346,286
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest receivable
4,289
350,575
635,871
986,446
Represented by
Cash on deposit:
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
791,634
Central Finance Board
185,157
Cash at bank
9,055
Prepaid currency cards
600
986,446
Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities
Page 12
379,317
Deduct interest receivable (investing activity)
(4,289)
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Note 19
350
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Notes 20, 21
(29,092)
346,286
Net income/(expenditure) for the year as per
Statement of Financial Activities
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating
activities
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		 Total
Funds
2020/21
£
27,961
1,680
29,641
606,230
635,871
393,121
227,932
14,277
541
635,871
47,369
(1,680)
787
(18,515)
27,961

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

1 Basis of accounting and accounting policies

(a) Basis of preparation

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the following:

The Charities SORP (FRS 102) has been used, despite the relevant 2008 accounting regulations still requiring use of the Charities SORP 2005, on the grounds that it is necessary to use the newer SORP in order to comply with the legal obligation to give a true and fair view.

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention except for the use of an historical insured value as the deemed cost of the District manse. The accruals basis has been used to show a true and fair view of the District's financial position and activities.

(b) Public benefit entity

The Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District (the "District") meets the definition of a public benefit entity in FRS 102 as its primary objectives require it to act so as to provide public, community or social benefit rather than to provide economic benefit to its members or participants.

(c) Going concern

The trustees consider there are no material uncertainties that would cast significant doubt on the District's ability to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future, being a period of more than 12 months from the date these accounts are approved. They reached their view having taken into account the financial position of the District shown in these accounts, budgets for the next two years, and the connexional structure of the Methodist Church of Great Britain of which the District forms an integral part.

(d) Funds

The District operates a District Expenses Fund, which is the general unrestricted fund that can be used for any District purposes and holds cash, other current assets and the District manse. In addition there are designated funds holding cash and current assets designated for particular purposes but which may be used for other District purposes at the discretion of the trustees. There are also several restricted funds holding cash and current assets which can only be used for the specified purpose because of the terms on which their funding was received whether by grant, donation or fundraising.

(e) Income recognition

Income is recognised when the District becomes entitled to the economic benefit of the income, it is probable (i.e. more likely than not) that it will be received, and its monetary value can be measured reliably. No attempt is made to measure the considerable value of services or time donated by volunteers.

The District acts as agent in the following matters:

The receipts and payments for the above matters are not income or expenditure of the District and are therefore not reflected in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

1 Basis of accounting and accounting policies (continued)

(f) Expenditure recognition

Expenditure is recognised when there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the District to pay out resources, it is probable (i.e. more likely than not) that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

(g) Grants payable

The District makes a significant number of grants to third parties in furtherance of its objects, sometimes as oneoff payments and sometimes as a series of periodic payments that may cover several years. As soon as a grant is awarded to a third party they have a valid expectation that the District will discharge its obligation to make the payments whenever they are to become due. This creates a constructive obligation in respect of the total value of the award. Even though multi-year grant awards are subject to annual monitoring, no specific conditions are imposed that would make the awards conditional and payment of the full amount is therefore probable. Accordingly all awards are immediately recognised as expenditure and a liability for future payments is recorded.

(h) Value added tax

Since the District is not registered for value added tax ("VAT"), all input VAT is charged with the expense to which it relates.

(i) Pensions

All employees of the District are either auto-enrolled in or invited to join the TPT Retirement Solutions Flexible Retirement Plan, a defined contribution pension scheme. The District's contribution is set at 6% of salary and the District has no liability beyond making its contributions and paying over the deductions for the employees' contributions. There were no contributions outstanding at the year-end.

(j) Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and individually cost more than £1,000. They are valued at historical cost, except for the District Chair's manse, which is stated at deemed cost, being its insured value in 2011. The manse is currently the only fixed asset held and it is assessed each year for any indication of impairment.

(k) Depreciation

Depreciation is provided to write-off the cost of a fixed asset, less its residual value, over its useful economic life. In the case of the manse, its residual value is estimated and provided it is not less than cost no depreciation is required.

(l) Debtors and creditors

Debtors are stated at the amount the District expects to receive or the amount it has paid in advance for goods or services. Creditors are stated at the amount the District expects to pay or the amount it has received as an advance payment for goods or services.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

2 Controlling body, connected organisations and glossary of terms

The ultimate controlling body of the District is the Conference of the Methodist Church in Great Britain.

The "Conference" is a representative body drawn from across the Connexion, and is the policy-making and governing body of the Church. It makes and amends Standing Orders, which are published annually in the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church, as the basis for governance of the Church throughout the Connexion.

The "Connexion" is the larger connected community of the Methodist Chuch in Great Britain, comprising the Conference, the central team of Connexional Officers and support systems directed by the Methodist Council, and the regional organisation of Districts, Circuits and Churches.

"Districts" are regional bodies comprising a number of Circuits.

"Circuits" are local groupings of churches.

"Churches" are the local places to which Methodists belong.

Each of the entities in these layers of the church community is a separate charity with its own trustees and many of the District's trustees are also trustees of some of these. However, the District has no significant influence over any of these entities nor, with the exception of the Conference, do they have significant influence over the District. The District is bound by the Standing Orders laid down by Conference as law and policy but within that framework it is able to determine for itself how to fulfill its role. All the entities within the Connexion are therefore connected organsations in relation to the District but, because of the lack of significant influence, they are not considered related parties for accounting purposes.

The District receives grants from Connexional funds to support certain aspects of its work. It also receives the proceeds of an annual levy set by Conference charged on money held in trust funds by its Circuits. Conference has also set a levy to be charged on most property sales within the Connexion for the Connexional Priority Fund. Part of the proceeds of this fund is distributed annually to the Districts.

Conference has established the Methodist Church Fund as a major source of finance for the activities of the Church and it determines an assessment to be paid into the fund each year, which is allocated between the Districts. The Districts in turn make an assessment on their Circuits to collect the Methodist Church Fund assessment together with a contribution to District expenses.

Many Circuits and Churches make grants and donations and provide personnel to support District activities. The District in turn makes grants to Circuits and Churches for personnel and property projects.

The "Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes" is the legal owner and custodian trustee of all property held on Methodist model trusts.

The "Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church" manages a common deposit fund and a series of pooled investment funds for Methodist entities.

Insurance cover is provided to the District by Methodist Insurance PLC.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

3 Grants from connexional funds
2021/22
2020/21
For the work of the Ministry & Mission Co-
ordinator
For the work of the agricultural chaplaincy
co-ordinator
For the recruitment of a property consultant
For the work of the Ministry & Mission Co-
ordinator
Mission alongside the poor grant
Exploratory funding for evangelism and
growth
City centre property grant (see below)		 £
District
Expenses
Fund
(unrestricted)
22,975
27,525
25,975
22,525
5,000
3,000
-
-		 £
Desig-
nated
Funds
(unrestricted)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 £
District
Advance
Fund
(restricted)
-
10,922
-
-
313,841
-
-
-
302,919		 £
Other
Restrict-
ed Funds
(restricted)
-
-
22,000
22,000
-
-
-
-
-		 £
Total
Funds
22,975
10,922
3,000
302,919
339,816
22,000
22,525
5,000
49,525

The city centre property grant arises from the sale of Darlington Street Methodist Church, Wolverhampton by Wolverhampton Circuit. Under standing orders of the Methodist Church, such sale proceeds are to be transferred to the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes who are then to give the funds to the district in which the sold church was located for the purpose of continuing the work in that city. The District Policy Committee resolved that the best way to achieve that purpose was to transfer the money to Wolverhampton Circuit who were already engaged in that work by employing a deacon to work exclusively in the city centre. Standing orders require the use of the fund to be approved by the Synod, which was duly done at its meeting on 17th September 2022. Following that approval, the fund was transferred to a restricted fund of Wolverhampton Circuit.

4 Other grants and donations
2021/22
Donations from churches
Donations from individuals
Grant from Shropshire & Marches Circuit
Grant from Hereford Diocese
NFU Mutual Agency Giving Fund
The Prince's Countryside Fund
Other donations and grants
Gift aid
2020/21
Donations from churches
Donations from individuals
Grant from Shropshire & Marches Circuit
Grant from Hereford Diocese
Other donations and grants
Gift aid		 £
44,782
28,168
1,767
16,000
185
106
150
10,000
110
4,583
10,000
Agric.
Chaplain-
cy Fund
(restricted)
1,920
750
16,000
6,379
5,000		 £
225
125
-
100
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chair's
Benevol-
ent Fund
(restricted)
-
-
-
-
-
-		 £
144
50
-
595
1,389
167
600
-
-
-
Komera
Partner-
ship Fund
(restricted)
125
1,210
-
1,502
-
-		 £
-
Other
Funds
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 £
317
Total
Funds
4,583
10,000
2,045
1,960
16,000
5,000
6,379
46,284
250
710
16,000
880
1,942
10,000
29,782

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

5 Assessments on circuits

The Methodist Conference levies an annual assessment on the Circuits through the several Districts to finance the Methodist Church Fund ("MCF"). The assessment is payable by the Districts who then collect Circuit assessments to cover the MCF assessment plus a contribution to District expenses and training.

The allocation of the MCF assessment between Districts is based on staffing numbers at Circuit and District level. The allocation of the Circuit assessment between the Circuits is provisionally agreed between the District Treasurer and the Circuit Treasurers, subject to the approval of the District Policy Committee, and is based on a number of factors, including staffing levels and membership and attendance statistics.

The Circuit Treasurers believe this produces a fairer way of allocating the costs between Circuits. Accordingly the District cannot be said to act merely as agent for the collection of the MCF assessment and the full Circuit assessments are therefore shown as income of the District and the MCF assessment paid to the Connexion is shown as expenditure.

£
2021/22
For Methodist Church Fund
For District expenses
2020/21
For Methodist Church Fund
For District expenses
6 Other charitable activities
Charges and fundraising for visit to partners in Rwanda
Charges for District Pilgrimage
Circuit contribution to cost of employing lay worker
7 Other trading activities
Sale of beneficiary-made merchandise
55,029
538,881
69,150
593,910
601,299
District
Expenses
Fund
(unrestricted)
532,149		 £
-
-
-
-
Desig-
nated
Funds
(unrestricted)
-
-		 £
£
£
(restricted)
-
-
-
-
2021/22
(restricted)
390
District
Advance
Fund
740
10,500
(unrestricted)
-
District
Expenses
Fund
-
Komera
Partner-
ship Fund
11,240
-
2021/22		 £
£
£
(restricted)
-
-
-
1,359
(restricted)
1,352
Other
Restrict-
ed Funds
-
-
(unrestricted)
-
-
District
Expenses
Fund
-
Komera
Partner-
ship Fund
2020/21
1,359
2020/21		 £
538,881
55,029
Total
Funds
593,910
69,150
532,149
601,299

The merchandise is made in Rwanda by women working together for peace and the well-being of their communities under a project set up by the Peacekeeping, Healing and Reconciliation Programme ("PHARP"), one of the partners supported by the Komera Partnership Fund. The proceeds have been remitted as grants to PHARP.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

8 Investment income
Interest receivable
2021/22
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes:
District Advance Fund account
City Centre Properties account
Central Finance Board
2020/21
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes:
District Advance Fund account
Central Finance Board		 £
(unrestricted)
556
District
Expenses
Fund
-
-
556
-
263
263		 £
-
Desig-
nated
Funds
(unrestricted)
-
-
-
-
-
-		 £
-
(restricted)
District
Advance
Fund
2,461
1,065
3,526
1,322
-
1,322		 £
207
(restricted)
Other
Restrict-
ed Funds
-
-
207
-
95
95		 £
Total
Funds
763
2,461
1,065
4,289
1,322
358
1,680

9 Payments to trustees

The members of the District Policy Committee are the trustees of the District and none of them received any remuneration for their role as trustee. One of the trustees, Mrs Margaret Reynolds, was paid under a contract of employment as District Safeguarding Officer, as follows:

eguarding Officer, as follows:
2021/22 2020/21
£ £
Safeguarding Officer:
Salary (employment ceased on 24th September 2021) 1,022 15,007
Employer's national insurance contributions 39 855
Chair of the District, Rev Rachel Parkinson, is a trustee and is regarded as the sole key management
trict. Under the authority of the Methodist Conference, the Chair was paid by the Connexion and w
upy the manse owned and maintained by the District. Total annual costs were as follows:
2021/22 2020/21
£ £
Stipend and chair's allowance 32,451 31,905
Employer's national insurance contributions 3,343 3,191
Employer's contributions to defined benefit pension scheme 6,947 6,866
District manse maintenance and running costs 14,943 9,722
57,684 51,684

The Chair of the District, Rev Rachel Parkinson, is a trustee and is regarded as the sole key management person of the District. Under the authority of the Methodist Conference, the Chair was paid by the Connexion and was required to occupy the manse owned and maintained by the District. Total annual costs were as follows:

During the year two (2020/21 two) trustees received reimbursement of expenses incurred in carrying out their duties:

Cost of travel for District purposes
Postage, telephone, stationery, hospitality, conferences and sundries		 £
2021/22
1,497
689
2,186		 £
370
958
2020/21
1,328

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

10 Auditor/Independent examiner

10 Auditor/Independent examiner
Auditor's remuneration
Fees charged for independent examination of accounts
11 Staff costs
Average number of full-time employees during the year
Average number of part-time employees during the year
Average full-time equivalent number of staff during the year
Salaries
Employer's national insurance contributions
Employer's contributions to defined contribution pension scheme
Apprenticeship levy
Charged to:
District Expenses Fund (unrestricted)
Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund (restricted)
The auditor did not carry out any other work for the District during the year.		 £
No.
£
63,156
142,550
6,344
10,539
-
2021/22
2021/22
2.0
5.1
4.3
125,052
142,550
615
79,394
2021/22
4,000		 £
No.
£
697
10,583
1,620
2020/21
2020/21
2.0
5.8
4.7
139,463
6,639
2020/21
-
157,382
95,781
61,601
157,382

All staff are paid at a rate above the living wage and no employees received emoluments of more than £60,000. Members of staff served as Agricultural Chaplain, Ministry and Mission Co-ordinator, Safeguarding Officer and in other support and administrative posts.

enditure on raising funds
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes investment management fees		 £
2021/22
1,120
District
Advance
Fund
(restricted)		 £
2020/21
706
District
Advance
Fund
(restricted)

12 Expenditure on raising funds

The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes hold the District Advance Fund as custodian trustees and invest it in a deposit fund at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church. The management fee is 0.285%pa of the fund value at the beginning of the year.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

13 Other charitable activities undertaken directly

2021/22
Ministry & Mission Co-ordinator
Intergenerational Lay Worker
Safeguarding costs
Property Consultant
Agricultural chaplaincy costs
Supervision and other District services
Visit to partners in Rwanda
Training and other activities
2020/21
Ministry & Mission Co-ordinator
Intergenerational Lay Worker
Safeguarding costs
Property Consultant
Agricultural chaplaincy costs
Supervision and other District services
Training and other activities		 £
10,794
1,244
100,974
-
4,371
18,572
41,968
2,124
21,901
District
Expenses
Fund
(unrestricted)
17,145
9,098
-
39,622
83,923
-
3,635
14,423		 £
-
4,568
4,568
-
-
-
-
-
(unrestricted)
-
Desig-
nated
Funds
-
-
-
1,011
-
1,011
-
-		 £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
District
Advance
Fund
-
(restricted)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 £
-
360
67,141
66,781
-
-
-
300
-
-
Other
Restrict-
ed Funds
-
(restricted)
-
63,323
-
-
63,623
-		 £
10,794
6,172
66,781
4,371
21,901
18,572
41,968
2,124
Total
Funds
172,683
17,145
9,098
39,622
63,323
3,635
1,311
14,423
148,557

14 Grant funding of charitable activities

2021/22
Grants paid in year:
Local ecumenical organisations
Grants to circuits and churches
Grants to partners in Rwanda
Other grants
Grants awarded but unpaid at end of year
Grants awarded but unpaid at start of year
2020/21
Grants paid in year:
Local ecumenical organisations
Grants to circuits and churches
Grants to partners in Rwanda
Other grants
Grants awarded but unpaid at end of year
Grants awarded but unpaid at start of year		 £
6,000
-
-
3,000
6,000
3,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(unrestricted)
-
-
District
Expenses
Fund		 £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(unrestricted)
-
-
Desig-
nated
Funds		 £
139,565
276,499
(287,574)
3,140
150,640
121,792
-
25,708
112,005
127,708
(303,277)
287,574
-
-
(restricted)
97,555
30,153
District
Advance
Fund		 £
4,654
-
-
4,047
4,654
-
607
-
5,719
5,719
-
-
2,643
3,076
(restricted)
-
-
Other
Restrict-
ed Funds		 £
10,187
124,792
607
25,708
Total
Funds
276,499
(287,574)
161,294
150,219
2,643
3,076
97,555
30,153
133,427
(303,277)
287,574
117,724

All these grants were made to projects financed jointly by the District and other parts of the Methodist Church or to other organisations, and none was made to an individual.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

14 Grant funding of charitable activities (continued)

The grants awarded during the year from the District Advance Fund are for personnel, ecumenical, outreach or property projects related to mission and ministry, predominantly within circuits or local churches.

Personnel, ecumenical and outreach projects
Property projects		 5,000
134,565
139,565
2021/22
£		 2020/21
11,160
100,845
£
112,005

There were 36 grants awarded during the year from the District Advance Fund, of which the following grants were the largest and accounted for 72% of the gross amount awarded, each being payable in annual instalments:

Disability inclusion project financed jointly with the Connexion as part of the New Places for New People £ 59,930
strategy for three years from the project commencement in 2022/23
Fallings Park Methodist Church, Wolverhampton Circuit - to support the employment of a children and £ 30,000
families worker for three years from January 2022
Stratton Street Methodist Church, Wolverhampton Circuit - to support the employment of a community £ 30,000
development worker for three years from March 2022
Walsall Circuit - to support the stationing of a deacon to work at Ablewell Advice Centre, Walsall Central £ 30,000
Hall and the Revive Café, Bloxwich for three years from September 2022

There are no support costs included in the cost of grant funding as they would not be material. The District Advance Fund is overseen by the Resourcing Mission Committee, the work of which is largely carried out by its officers, predominantly the District Grants Officer, on a voluntary basis.

15 Support costs

pport costs
Chair's travel and miscellaneous expenses
Administration staff costs
District office expenses
District manse expenses
Synod expenses
Meeting, travel and other administrative expenses
Governance costs		 £
632
18,917
14,943
1,101
4,305
46,415
2021/22
2,517
4,000		 £
9,722
820
18,486
383
3,357
2020/21
818
1,620
35,206

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

16 Other expenditure

Savings from reduced expenditure during pandemic
returned to circuits
17 Transfers between funds
£
2021/22 transfers to/(from) funds
Ministry & Mission Co-ordinator costs
Agricultural chaplaincy costs
Manse maintenance budget overspend
District Property Consultant costs
3Generate transport costs
2020/21 transfers to/(from) funds
Ministry & Mission Co-ordinator costs
Agricultural chaplaincy costs
Intergenerational Lay Worker costs
District Property Consultant costs
42,300
17,500
39,400
19,300
-
5,000
500
10,400
11,000
18,000
District
Expenses
Fund
-
(unrestricted)		 £
(5,000)
-
-
-
-
(5,000)
-
-
-
-
Desig-
nated
Funds
-
(unrestricted)		 £
£
(49,400)
(47,300)
(17,500)
(19,300)
2021/22
District
Expenses
Fund
(unrestricted)
-
(500)
(10,000)
-
(10,400)
(18,000)
District
Advance
Fund
(11,000)
(10,000)
(restricted)		 £
£
10,000
(restricted)
10,000
-
-
2020/21
District
Expenses
Fund
(unrestricted)
20,000
-
10,000
-
-
-
Other
Restrict-
ed Funds
-
10,000		 £
-
-
-
-
-
Total
Funds
-
-
-
-
-
-

18 Tangible fixed assets

District manse
Deemed cost		 £
31/8/22
265,000		 £
265,000
31/8/21

The Chair's manse is stated at deemed cost, being its insured value in 2011. The manse was professionally valued at £370,000 by Jackson Lile & Close on 27th January 2020 and accordingly no depreciation has been provided.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

19 Debtors

Prepayments - deposits paid for retreat accommodation
Accrued income - gift aid refund receivable
Other debtors
20 Creditors
Accrued expenses
Reimbursement of employees' and volunteers' expenses
Accrued expenses due to third party suppliers
Accrued holiday pay
Deferred income
Grants received in advance
Charges received in advance for 2022 Rwanda trip
Other creditors
21 Liabilities for grants payable in future years
Grants payable within one year:
District Advance Fund grants
Children Support Fund grant
Grants payable after more than one year:
District Advance Fund grants:
Payable in -
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
Total grant commitments		 £
£
£
35,097
14,907
143,888
10,713
2,124
374
31/8/22
31/8/22
1,790
49
325
132,611
276,499
-
-
280
-
97,514
-
143,888
31/8/22
14,627
-		 £
25
31/8/21
219
480
724
£
1,620
-
31/8/21
1,005
22,975
6,750
174
2,625
32,524
£
141,245
400
31/8/21
141,645
4,543
91,743
50,043
146,329
287,974

Total grant commitments

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

22 Summary of fund movements

2021/22 Unrestricted fund movements
District Expenses Fund
District Training Fund
Manses Fund
2021/22 Restricted fund movements
District Advance Fund
Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund
Children Support Fund
Chair's Benevolent Fund
Komera Partnership Fund
2021/22 Total fund movements
2020/21 Unrestricted fund movements
District Expenses Fund
District Training Fund
Manses Fund
2020/21 Restricted fund movements
District Advance Fund
Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund
Children Support Fund
Chair's Benevolent Fund
Komera Partnership Fund
2020/21 Total fund movements		 Fund
balances
brought
forward
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
between
funds
Fund
balances
carried
forward
(Note 17)
£
£
£
£
£
348,721
631,681
692,270
42,300
330,432
16,300
-
4,568
-
11,732
33,585
-
-
(5,000)
28,585
398,606
631,681
696,838
37,300
370,749
105,547
610,073
140,685
(47,300)
527,635
63,583
44,989
66,781
10,000
51,791
9,343
-
4,047
-
5,296
1,993
-
360
-
1,633
2,025
1,892
607
-
3,310
182,491
656,954
212,480
(37,300)
589,665
581,097
1,288,635
909,318
-
960,414
350,153
630,446
671,278
39,400
348,721
17,311
-
1,011
-
16,300
33,585
-
-
-
33,585
401,049
630,446
672,289
39,400
398,606
49,622
218,036
112,711
(49,400)
105,547
66,743
50,263
63,423
10,000
63,583
12,319
-
2,976
-
9,343
2,068
225
300
-
1,993
1,927
2,741
2,643
-
2,025
132,679
271,265
182,053
(39,400)
182,491
533,728
901,711
854,342
-
581,097

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2022

23 Unrestricted funds

(a) District Expenses Fund

This is the general fund used for running the District and has no restrictions. It is financed principally by circuit assessments and the fund balance includes the book value of the District manse (£265,000).

(b) Designated funds

These funds are designated for particular purposes by the District Policy Committee but they are not held on terms that prevent their use for other District purposes if the Committee so resolve.

The District Training Fund is used to fund ministerial and lay training. This fund is financed by transfers from the District Advance Fund ("DAF") as and when required. Although the DAF is a restricted fund its purposes include the support of personnel working in the District and transfers to the Training Fund will be made by grants awarded in the usual way in accordance with the DAF policy as long as the Training Fund continues to meet that purpose of the DAF.

The Manse Fund is used as a reserve to cover occasional heavy expenditure on maintenance of the District manse. Manse maintenance is charged to the District Expenses Fund but any underspend compared to budget is transferred to the Manse Fund and any overspend is covered by drawing on the Manse Fund.

24 Restricted funds

(a) District Advance Fund

This fund is set up under Methodist Standing Orders and is funded by a levy on the end-of-year balances of the Circuit Model Trust Funds of the Circuits in the District and by a distribution from the Connexional Priority Fund, as part of the process of moving money around the Connexion to enable it to best be used for the mission of the Church. The fund is administered by the Resourcing Mission Committee who award grants in accordance with the fund policy to support personnel or property projects related to mission and ministry and to support outreach, evangelism and ecumenical work.

In 2021/22 the income of this fund was supplemented by a one-off City Centre Property grant of £302,919 from the Connexion. Full details of the grant and how it is being used are given in Note 3 above.

(b) Other restricted funds

The Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund finances the work of Borderlands Rural Chaplaincy, a joint Methodist and Anglican initiative among rural communities in the Welsh borders. Its income comes mainly from grants and donations from a range of Methodist and Anglican sources and it employs a full-time chaplain and a part-time area co-ordinator, who are supported by a team of volunteers.

The Children Support Fund is used to make grants to churches who are working with children in deprived circumstances.

The Chair's Benevolent Fund provides small grants from donations to allow the Chair to meet cases of personal need in a confidential way.

The Komera Partnership Fund supports the District's partnership with the Free Methodist Church of Rwanda and the Peacebuilding Healing and Reconcilation Programme of Rwanda with funds from donations and fundraising activities.