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← Wolverhampton And Shrewsbury Methodist District

2024-08-31-accounts

The Methodist Church

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District

Registered Charity Number 1134902

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the year ended 31st August 2024

The Methodist Church

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st August 2024

CONTENTS

Pages
Trustees' Annual Report 2 - 7
Report of the Independent Auditors 8 - 10
Statement of Financial Activities 11
Balance Sheet 12
Statement of Cash Flows 13
Notes to the Accounts 14 - 25

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2024

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 2024 are as follows:

Rev Rachel Parkinson - Chair Rev Alan Combes (until 9/9/23) - Deputy Chair Rev Joanne Cox-Darling - Deputy Chair (from 9/9/23) Rev Margaret Eales - Synod Secretary (until 31/8/24) Rev George Heinz - Synod Secretary (from 1/9/24) Mr Christopher Reed - District Treasurer

Rev David Alford Ms Helen Allen Mrs Franklina Appiah-Nimo (from 1/9/24) Ms Stella Cofie Mrs Lesley Cook Rev Nicholas Collison Deacon Susan Culver (from 31/10/23) Rev Elizabeth Dunning (until 31/8/24) Mrs Angela Evans (until 31/8/24) Mrs Claire Evans

Rev John Hartley Rev David Lavender Dr Susan McCready-Shea (from 31/10/23) Mr Brian Oakley Mrs Elaine Panchal Mr Max Reynolds (from 1/9/24) Rev Stuart Reed (until 31/8/24) Rev Teddy Siwila Rev Julia Skitt Mr Keith Walton

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 2024

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 155 local Methodist churches grouped into 11 circuits. The District is served by a team of around 37 active ministers, 32 of whom are presbyters and 5 of whom are deacons, together with a significant number of lay people. By far the greatest number of these give their time on a voluntary basis without pay but there are also a number of lay employees, mostly employed by Circuits and churches. Supernumerary ministers who have retired to the District offer very significant support. The District itself supports seven lay employment posts, two of which are jointly shared with the Birmingham District.

The number of people holding membership of Methodist Churches across the District was recorded as 5,056. Nine congregations asked the District Synod for permission to close during the year.

The statistics continue to support a narrative of an ageing core membership in numerical decline. This context is undoubtedly leading to pressure at every level of the church in finding volunteers, time and energy to fulfil governance requirements and to maintain previous levels of activity. However it is far from the full picture. Churches in the District touch the lives of very many more people than hold membership, offering a network of spiritual, emotional and physical support which is invaluable in the context of the communities they serve. This has been particularly valuable in the context of a post-pandemic society and a cost-of-living crisis. The District team has worked hard to support, encourage and enable this local outreach.

Considerable effort was expended this year in discerning the mind of the District on a merger with our neighbour - the Birmingham District - from September 2025. A task group was set up by the two Districts to oversee the process. In the Spring of 2024, two members of the task group attended each Circuit meeting to introduce the merger proposal and take questions, prior to a vote. All but one of the Circuits voted more than two-thirds in favour of a merger. The Shropshire & Marches Circuit, which is a geographically large Circuit running down the West of the District, voted more than two-thirds against. On 20th April 2024, at a meeting in Oswestry, the Synod returned a vote 81% in favour of the merger. This was confirmed by a vote of the Methodist Conference in July. The concerns of the Shropshire & Marches Circuit were noted and will be given particular attention as arrangements for the new District take effect.

In October 2023 the District made a full-time appointment to the “God for All” project which seeks to help the church understand, and to respond appropriately, to people and families with additional needs. Whilst some progress was made, the employee stepped down after nine months. Work continues across the District to enhance disability inclusion practices. However, the project itself has been on hold, giving space to reflect and to allow the employee role to be redesigned in the light of experience. Ten thousand pounds of Connexional seed-funding grants have been made available for potential “God for All” projects in the Circuits and this money has been paid out over the last two years.

This year saw the completion of the two-year Connexional pilot for “Faith Rooted Community Organising” in the District. The results of the pilot have been analysed for the purposes of informing a larger Connexional scheme.

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.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2024

Achievements and performance

A core purpose of the District is to provide opportunities for people, churches and Circuits to work together and to support one another. This year the District attended to this in a number of ways including:

A core purpose of the District is to offer to the Circuits resources of finance, personnel and expertise which may not be available locally. This year the District attended to this in a number of ways including:

A core purpose of the District is to enable Circuits to engage with the wider society of the region as a whole and address its concerns. This year the District attended to this in a number of ways including:

The fruition of previous work in the Circuits and District….

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2024

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 2024 was £1,201,768 and expenditure was £1,034,655. The result was an overall surplus of £167,113 but this represented surpluses of £165,980 on the District Advance Fund, £7,837 on the Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund and £4,000 on the Manse Fund together with deficits of £2,297 on the District Expenses Fund, £5,950 on the Training Fund, £1,171 on the Komera Partnership Fund, £801 on the Children Support Fund and £485 on the Chair's Benevolent Fund. The balances held by each fund therefore moved up or down accordingly and ended the year at a total value of £767,892. Of the total value, £267,700 represented fixed assets (including the District Chair's manse), leaving free reserves of £500,192 across all eight funds. No fund was in deficit. A review of significant matters affecting District finances is as follows:

District Expenses Fund (unrestricted)

The budget for 2023/24 was set to produce a deficit of £12,000 to be drawn from its reserves as a way of supporting the circuits at a difficult time. This would have reduced its free reserves to 7.1% of gross circuit assessments against our target level of 10%. In the event the deficit was only £2,297 due primarily to an unexpected increase in interest rates and a return of the grant previously made to the Connexional Pension Reserve Fund. Free reserves therefore ended the year at a healthy £60,841, representing 9.8% of circuit assessments.

District Training Fund (designated)

There was a post-pandemic pick-up in activities but the fund also received a refund from Lichfield Diocese of unspent funds previously given towards joint lay training at Swanwick. The net result was a deficit of £5,950 leaving a closing balance of £2,230.

Manse Fund (designated)

Manse repairs and maintenance (charged to the District Expenses Fund) were underspent compared to budget and the saving of £4,000 was transferred to the Manse Fund, increasing its balance to £35,585.

District Advance Fund (restricted)

There was a 43% increase in the Connexional funding received last year, from Circuit Model Trust Funds and the Connexional Priority Fund, but an 18% reduction in grants awarded, hence the large surplus on this fund, leaving a balance at the year-end of £352,996. This repeats a pattern in recent years: income deriving mainly from property sales is up leaving fewer churches and smaller circuits to apply for grants.

Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund (restricted)

The refinancing deal made with the three sponsoring bodies at the beginning of the year succeeded in turning a deficit of £20,802 in 2022/23 into a surplus of £7,837 in 2023/24. Its reserves are now being rebuilt to ensure the resilience of the project and stood at £38,826 at the end of the year.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2024

Financial review (continued)

Children Support Fund (restricted)

The money in this fund was left over from the annual children's holiday that ceased after 2018 and, with the consent of the donors, it has been used to offer grants to churches who want to work with children in deprived circumstances. During the year the remaining balance was used up and the fund has now been closed. However, the District Policy Committee has committed the District to continuing to support such work with children and funding for these grants is now coming directly from the District Advance Fund.

Chair's Benevolent Fund (restricted)

This fund continues with modest receipts and payments and a balance of £568 is carried forward.

Komera Partnership Fund (restricted)

The District's relationship with the Free Methodist Church of Rwanda and PHARP (Peacebuilding Healing and Reconciliation Programme of Rwanda) continued, and further donations were received from churches and individuals during the year. Grants of £2,185 were paid to PHARP and at the year-end the fund had a balance of £1,006 of donations awaiting transfer to our partners in Rwanda.

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 2024/25 circuit assessments are £619,200, giving a reserves target of £61,920. The actual level of free reserves at 31st August 2024 was £60,841 or 9.8% of circuit assessments.

The District Training Fund does not have a specific reserve requirement. If and when further funding is required an application will be made to the District Advance Fund.

The Manse Fund reserve target is £40,000, to cover major repairs to the Chair's manse in excess of the annual budget, and the current fund balance is £35,585.

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 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.

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

The primary objective of the District year is to engage in the substantial work necessary to ensure a successful transition to the new West Midlands District in September 2025.

Other plans for the year include an appointment to a newly designed role working with the “God for All” District Project as referenced above.

A District delegation will visit the Free Methodist Church in Rwanda to strengthen this relationship further.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2024

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.

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 twenty-three Districts of the Methodist Church in Great Britain. The Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District brings together eleven 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 25th March 2025 and is signed on their behalf by:

R Parkinson

REV R.E. PARKINSON

District Chair

J Christopher Reed

J.C. REED

District Treasurer

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 2024 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 any 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

25th March 2025

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st August 2024

District Desig- District Other Total Total
Expenses nated Advance Restrict- Funds Funds
Fund Funds Fund ed Funds 2023/24 2022/23
(unrestricted) (unrestricted) (restricted) (restricted)
Note £ £ £ £ £ £
Income from:
Donations and grants
Grants from connexional funds 3 37,929 - 10,999 - 48,928 46,330
Other grants and donations 4 10,594 - - 69,228 79,822 62,861
Total donations and grants 48,523 - 10,999 69,228 128,750 109,191
Charitable activities
Assessments on circuits 5 619,604 - - - 619,604 593,351
Levies on circuit model
trust funds - - 222,042 - 222,042 132,472
Distribution from Connexional
Priority Fund - - 176,515 - 176,515 145,959
Other charitable activities 6 1,100 - - - 1,100 1,642
Total charitable activities 620,704 - 398,557 - 1,019,261 873,424
Other trading activities - - - 330 330 -
Investments 7 8,854 - 38,668 1,404 48,926 26,533
Other income - grants repaid 3,000 1,501 - - 4,501
Total income 681,081 1,501 448,224 70,962 1,201,768 1,009,148
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 11 - - 1,622 - 1,622 2,256
Charitable activities
Contribution to Methodist Church Fund 562,924 - - - 562,924 536,353
Other charitable activities
undertaken directly 12 185,109 7,451 8,895 82,596 284,051 233,808
Grant funding of charitable
activities 13 4,940 - 136,486 2,986 144,412 554,696
Support costs 14 41,646 - - - 41,646 41,670
Total charitable activities 794,619 7,451 145,381 85,582 1,033,033 1,366,527
Total expenditure 794,619 7,451 147,003 85,582 1,034,655 1,368,783
Net income/(expenditure) (113,538) (5,950) 301,221 (14,620) 167,113 (359,635)
Transfers between funds 15 111,241 4,000 (135,241) 20,000 - -
Net movement in funds (2,297) (1,950) 165,980 5,380 167,113 (359,635)
Total funds brought forward 338,978 39,765 187,016 35,020 600,779 960,414
Total funds carried forward 336,681 37,815 352,996 40,400 767,892 600,779

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Balance Sheet as at 31st August 2024

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
16
Current assets
Debtors
17
Cash on deposit:
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Central Finance Board
Cash at bank
Prepaid currency cards
Total current assets
Liabilities
Creditors due within 1 year:
Creditors
18
Grants payable
19
Net current assets
Creditors due after 1 year:
Grants payable
19
Total net assets
Represented by
20
Unrestricted Funds:
District Expenses Fund
Designated Funds:
District Training Fund
Manse Fund
Restricted Funds:
District Advance Fund
Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund
Children Support Fund
Chair's Benevolent Fund
Komera Partnership Rwanda
Total funds
Total assets less current liabilities		 District
Expenses
Fund
(unrestricted)
£
265,000
5,023
-
85,819
1,405
3,602
95,849
24,168
-
24,168
71,681
336,681
-
336,681
336,681
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
336,681		 Desig-
nated
Funds
(unrestricted)
£
-
-
35,585
3,801
-
39,386
1,571
-
1,571
37,815
37,815
-
37,815
-
2,230
35,585
-
-
-
-
-
37,815		 District
Advance
Fund
(restricted)
£
-
-
730,437
-
-
-
730,437
-
137,958
137,958
592,479
592,479
239,483
352,996
-
-
-
352,996
-
-
-
-
352,996		 Other
Restrict-
ed Funds
(restricted)
£
2,700
20,076
-
13,968
4,193
-
38,237
537
-
537
37,700
40,400
-
40,400
-
-
-
-
38,826
-
568
1,006
40,400		 Total
Funds at
31 Aug 24
£
267,700
25,099
730,437
135,372
9,399
3,602
903,909
26,276
137,958
164,234
739,675
1,007,375
239,483
767,892
336,681
2,230
35,585
352,996
38,826
-
568
1,006
767,892		 Total
Funds at
31 Aug 23
£
268,600
3,029
569,028
142,675
10,471
400
725,603
11,412
139,924
151,336
574,267
842,867
242,088
600,779
338,978
8,180
31,585
187,016
30,989
801
1,053
2,177
600,779

The notes on pages 13 to 25 form part of these accounts

The accounts were approved by the District Policy Committee as Trustees on 25th March 2025 and are signed on their behalf by:

R Parkinson

REV R.E. PARKINSON

District Chair

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31st August 2024

Total
Funds
2023/24
£
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
See below
107,310
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest receivable
48,926
Purchase of equipment
-
156,236
722,574
878,810
Represented by
Cash on deposit:
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
730,437
Central Finance Board
135,372
Cash at bank
9,399
Prepaid currency cards
3,602
878,810
Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities
Page 11
167,113
Add back depreciation charge
900
Deduct interest receivable (investing activity)
(48,926)
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Note 17
(22,070)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Notes 18, 19
10,293
107,310
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
2022/23
£
(285,605)
26,533
(4,800)
(263,872)
986,446
722,574
569,028
142,675
10,471
400
722,574
(359,635)
1,200
(26,533)
(2,655)
102,018
(285,605)

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2024

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. The Methodist Conference has approved the merger of the District with Birmingham District, to take effect on 1st September 2025. On that date all the income streams and expenditure commitments, the assets, liabilities, activities and responsibilities of the District will be transferred into the West Midlands District. The trustees are therefore satisfied that the District can continue as a going concern up to and beyond the date of the merger and they reached their view having taken into account the financial position of the District shown in these accounts and budgets for the next two years, including the first year of the combined entity.

(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 fixed assets. 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 and fixed 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 2024

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, 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. Equipment is depreciated at 25% pa on the reducing balance.

(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 2024

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 2024

3 Grants from connexional funds
2023/24
2022/23
4 Other grants and donations
2023/24
Grant from Birmingham District
Donations from churches
Donations from individuals
Grant from Shropshire & Marches Circuit
Grant from Hereford Diocese
NFU Mutual Agency Giving Fund
Royal Countryside Fund
Other donations and grants
Gift aid
2022/23
Grant from Birmingham District
Donations from churches and circuits
Donations from individuals
Grant from Shropshire & Marches Circuit
Grant from Hereford Diocese
NFU Mutual Agency Giving Fund
The McDonald Trust
Other donations and grants
Gift aid
New Places for New People funding
Mission alongside the poor grant
Church at the Margins funding
Exploratory funding for evangelism and
growth
Church at the Margins funding
Mission alongside the poor grant
Exploratory funding for evangelism and
growth
New Places for New People funding		 £
£
-
-
5,057
25,000
4,850
-
3,000
13,740
21,189
-
-
-
District
Expenses
Fund
(unrestricted)
10,594
District
Expenses
Fund
(unrestricted)
-
37,929
34,907
-
-
-
-
-
-
10,594
12,500
12,500
-
-
-		 £
£
3,057
165
-
-
-
-
7,981
-
-
-
-
68,489
10,000
16,000
6,443
Agric.
Chaplain-
cy Fund
(restricted)
-
Desig-
nated
Funds
(unrestricted)
1,040
-
-
24,800
20,000
7,873
210
6,509
5,000
-
44,954
598
1,766
2,001		 £
£
50
555
-
11,423
-
-
-
-
-
684
-
-
-
Komera
Partner-
ship Fund
(restricted)
-
District
Advance
Fund
-
(restricted)
531
10,999
11,423
10,999
-
-
-
103
-
-
-
5,237
2,360
2,322
-		 £
£
55
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(restricted)
-
-
55
-
-
(restricted)
-
Other
Restrict-
ed Funds
-
-
Chair's
Benevol-
ent Fund
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
170
-
170
-
-		 £
10,999
3,000
21,189
Total
Funds
13,740
48,928
5,057
11,423
25,000
4,850
46,330
£
3,162
6,509
10,594
Total
Funds
1,571
20,000
24,800
7,873
5,000
313
79,822
7,981
720
10,000
16,000
2,001
12,500
3,128
4,088
6,443
62,861

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2024

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.

2023/24
For Methodist Church Fund
For District expenses
2022/23
For Methodist Church Fund
For District expenses		 £
District
Expenses
Fund
(unrestricted)
536,686
56,680
56,665
593,351
619,604
562,924		 £
-
-
-
-
Desig-
nated
Funds
(unrestricted)
-
-		 £
-
-
-
District
Advance
Fund
-
-
(restricted)
-		 £
-
-
-
-
Other
Restrict-
ed Funds
-
(restricted)
-		 £
Total
Funds
562,924
56,680
619,604
536,686
56,665
593,351
6 Other charitable activities
Charges for District Pilgrimage
7 Investment income
Interest receivable
2023/24
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes:
District Advance Fund account
Central Finance Board
2022/23
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes:
District Advance Fund account
City Centre Properties account
Central Finance Board		 £
-
(unrestricted)
4,719
-
8,854
4,719
-
8,854
District
Expenses
Fund		 £
-
-
-
(unrestricted)
-
-
-
-
Desig-
nated
Funds		 £
£
District
Advance
Fund
(restricted)
-
2023/24
38,668
18,360
20,272
1,912
-
1,100
38,668
(unrestricted)
District
Expenses
Fund		 £
£
(restricted)
1,542
-
2022/23
-
1,542
-
1,404
1,642
1,404
Other
Restrict-
ed Funds
(unrestricted)
District
Expenses
Fund		 £
Total
Funds
10,258
38,668
48,926
6,261
18,360
1,912
26,533

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2024

8 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.

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:

Stipend and chair's allowance
Employer's national insurance contributions
Employer's contributions to defined benefit pension scheme
District manse maintenance and running costs		 £
2023/24
36,300
5,879
53,745
7,812
3,754		 £
2022/23
34,836
6,577
7,244
3,644
52,301

During the year 1 trustee (2022/23 3 trustees) received reimbursement of expenses incurred in carrying out their duties:

Cost of travel for District purposes
Postage, telephone, stationery, hospitality, conferences and sundries
ditor's remuneration
Auditor's remuneration
ff 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)
auditor did not carry out any other work for the District during the year.		 £
£
No.
£
4,200
2023/24
2023/24
592
2,469
230,406
1,009
154,642
2023/24
3.6
4.0
5.4
1,877
18,624
230,406
9,215
2023/24
201,558
75,764		 £
134
2022/23
1,665
1,799
£
No.
£
4,400
889
2022/23
7,115
2022/23
3.0
4.0
4.8
2022/23
16,087
175,994
200,085
126,842
73,243
200,085

9 Auditor's remuneration

The auditor did not carry out any other work for the District during the year.

10 Staff costs

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, Congregational and Community Organiser, Additional Needs Enabler and in other support and administrative posts.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2024

11 Expenditure on raising funds

Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes investment management fees

£
(restricted)
2023/24
1,622
District
Advance
Fund		 £
(restricted)
2022/23
2,256
District
Advance
Fund

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.

12 Other charitable activities undertaken directly

2023/24
Ministry & Mission Co-ordinator
Additional Needs Enabler
Congregational & Community Organiser
Safeguarding costs
Property Consultant
Agricultural chaplaincy costs
Supervision and other District services
Training
Youth activities - 3Generate and Amplify
District pilgrimage
2022/23
Ministry & Mission Co-ordinator
Intergenerational Lay Worker
Congregational & Community Organiser
Safeguarding costs
Property Consultant
Agricultural chaplaincy costs
Supervision and other District services
Training
Young people's activities - 3Generate
District pilgrimage		 £
26,486
149,422
1,457
48,593
276
-
3,988
45,747
583
22,292
-
(unrestricted)
50,746
28,085
29,970
21,876
-
District
Expenses
Fund
1,100
185,109
46,628
1,451
-
5,253		 £
-
3,552
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,552
-
-
-
-
-
-
(unrestricted)
Desig-
nated
Funds
-
7,451
-
7,451
-
-
-		 £
-
585
-
-
-
-
585
-
-
-
-
-
(restricted)
-
-
5,528
District
Advance
Fund
-
8,895
-
-
-
3,367
-		 £
-
80,249
-
-
-
-
750
-
-
79,499
-
(restricted)
-
-
-
Other
Restrict-
ed Funds
82,596
-
-
82,056
540
-		 £
50,746
28,085
21,876
5,528
Total
Funds
1,100
29,970
46,628
8,902
82,056
9,160
284,051
45,747
26,486
4,135
1,457
48,593
276
4,738
22,292
79,499
585
233,808

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2024

13 Grant funding of charitable activities

2023/24
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
2022/23
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		 £
-
1,923
-
1,923
-
1,923
(unrestricted)
District
Expenses
Fund
4,940
4,940
-
-
-
-
4,940
-
-
-		 £
-
-
-
-
-
-
(unrestricted)
Desig-
nated
Funds
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 £
(276,499)
541,639
90
436,126
30,688
405,348
District
Advance
Fund
(restricted)
38,791
-
141,057
102,266
-
377,441
(382,012)
136,486
-
382,012		 £
-
-
11,134
6,554
-
11,134
-
4,580
Other
Restrict-
ed Funds
(restricted)
-
-
2,986
801
2,185
-
-
2,986		 £
Total
Funds
38,791
-
108,007
2,185
148,983
377,441
(382,012)
144,412
6,554
90
30,688
411,851
382,012
(276,499)
449,183
554,696

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.

The District Advance Fund grants in 2022/23 included £305,030 paid to Wolverhampton Circuit arising from the sale of Darlington Street Methodist Church, Wolverhampton. Under standing orders of the Methodist Church, sale proceeds of city centre churches are to be used 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.

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

Personnel, ecumenical and outreach projects
Property projects		 136,486
£
5,788
130,698
2023/24		 2022/23
5,081
536,558
£
541,639

There were 55 grants awarded during the year from the District Advance Fund, of which the following grants were the largest and accounted for 77% of the gross amount awarded, each being payable in annual instalments:

Black Country Circuit - to support the employment of a Children and Families Worker for 5 years from £50,000
September 2024
Telford Circuit - to support the employment of a Centre Co-ordinator at Trinity Methodist Church, Shifnal £50,000
for 5 years from March 2024
Wolverhampton Circuit - to support the employment of a Communitty Centre Administrator at Stratton £30,000
Street Methodist Church for 3 years from September 2024

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.

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2024

14 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		 £
41,646
4,200
5,879
561
4,748
22,553
534
2023/24
3,171		 £
6,577
4,451
210
4,255
23,592
770
2022/23
1,815
41,670

15 Transfers between funds

2023/24 transfers to/(from) funds
Ministry & Mission Co-ordinator costs
Congregational & Community Organiser costs
District Property Consultant costs
Agricultural chaplaincy costs
New Places for New People project
Manse maintenance budget underspend
2022/23 transfers to/(from) funds
Ministry & Mission Co-ordinator costs
Congregational & Community Organiser costs
District Property Consultant costs
Agricultural chaplaincy costs
Cost of living support
Manse maintenance budget underspend
Surplus on pilgrimage to Komera Fund		 £
12,500
(184)
-
5,679
53,500
(unrestricted)
58,800
-
(4,000)
22,300
111,241
(3,000)
12,500
90,795
19,141
District
Expenses
Fund
24,800		 £
-
-
-
-
-
Desig-
nated
Funds
(unrestricted)
-
-
4,000
-
4,000
3,000
-
3,000
-
-		 £
(12,500)
(7,965)
(53,500)
(restricted)
(58,800)
(10,000)
(135,241)
-
(20,000)
District
Advance
Fund
(12,500)
(106,265)
-
(22,300)
(24,800)
(19,141)		 £
-
184
-
-
20,000
12,470
10,000
-
-
2,286
Other
Restrict-
ed Funds
-
-
20,000
(restricted)
-		 £
-
-
-
Total
Funds
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

16 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 September 2023
Additions
At 31 August 2024
Depreciation
At 1 September 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 August 2024
Net book value
At 1 September 2023
At 31 August 2024		 £
-
265,000
Freehold
property
265,000
265,000
265,000
-
-
-		 £
-
4,800
Equipment
4,800
2,700
3,600
1,200
900
2,100		 £
-
Total
269,800
269,800
1,200
900
2,100
268,600
267,700

Freehold property represents the Chair's manse, which 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 2024

17 Debtors

Prepayments - deposits paid for retreat accommodation
Accrued income - gift aid refund receivable
Grant receivable from Shropshire & Marches Circuit
Other debtors
18 Creditors
Accrued expenses
Reimbursement of employees' and volunteers' expenses
Accrued expenses due to third party suppliers
Other creditors
19 Liabilities for grants payable in future years
District Advance Fund grant commitments, payable in future years:
Grants payable within one year:
Grants payable after more than one year:
Payable in -
2024/25
2025/26
2026/27
2027/28
2028/29
Total grant commitments		 £
£
£
20,000
239,483
377,441
6,347
10,000
-
31/8/24
54,313
26,276
100,619
74,551
137,958
3,523
18,869
31/8/24
1,060
25,099
31/8/24
76
1,500
19,929		 £
-
2,342
31/8/23
387
300
3,029
£
10,388
31/8/23
1,024
-
11,412
11,412
£
31/8/23
139,924
-
92,605
34,313
70,619
44,551
242,088
382,012

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2024

20 Summary of fund movements

2023/24 Unrestricted fund movements
District Expenses Fund
District Training Fund
Manse Fund
2023/24 Restricted fund movements
District Advance Fund
Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund
Children Support Fund
Chair's Benevolent Fund
Komera Partnership Fund
2023/24 Total fund movements
2022/23 Unrestricted fund movements
District Expenses Fund
District Training Fund
Manse Fund
2022/23 Restricted fund movements
District Advance Fund
Agricultural Chaplaincy Fund
Children Support Fund
Chair's Benevolent Fund
Komera Partnership Fund
2022/23 Total fund movements		 Fund
balances
brought
forward
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
between
funds
Fund
balances
carried
forward
(Note 15)
£
£
£
£
£
338,978
681,081
794,619
111,241
336,681
8,180
1,501
7,451
-
2,230
31,585
-
-
4,000
35,585
378,743
682,582
802,070
115,241
374,496
187,016
448,224
147,003
(135,241)
352,996
30,989
69,893
82,056
20,000
38,826
801
-
801
-
-
1,053
55
540
-
568
2,177
1,014
2,185
1,006
222,036
519,186
232,585
(115,241)
393,396
600,779
1,201,768
1,034,655
-
767,892
330,432
647,119
729,368
90,795
338,978
11,732
-
3,552
-
8,180
28,585
-
-
3,000
31,585
370,749
647,119
732,920
93,795
378,743
527,635
310,126
544,480
(106,265)
187,016
51,791
46,411
79,499
12,286
30,989
5,296
85
4,580
-
801
1,633
170
750
-
1,053
3,310
5,237
6,554
184
2,177
589,665
362,029
635,863
(93,795)
222,036
960,414
1,009,148
1,368,783
-
600,779

Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2024

21 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.

22 Restricted funds

(a) District Advance Fund

This fund is set up under Methodist Church 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.

(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 was a legacy fund remaining from when the District operated an annual holiday for children and, with the agreement of the orginal donors, it has been used to make grants to churches who are working with children in deprived circumstances. Although the fund was exhausted during the year, grants for children's work continue to be offered from the District Advance Fund.

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.