**Type of Governing document:** DEED OF UNION (1932) AND METHODIST CHURCH ACT (1976) **Charity Constitution:** previously excepted charities - excepted charities were not required to register but are regulated by the Charity Commission. This is because they have been excepted from the requirement to register either by legislation or an order made by us. Churches and chapels of some Christian denominations; The Charities Act 2006 required excepted charities with an annual income over £100,000 to register with us. **Charity trustee selection methods:** Charity trustees for the West Norfolk Methodist Circuit are appointed as per the rules of the Methodist Church. They are a mixture of stationed ministers, volunteer elected stewards and volunteer representatives elected from individual constituent chapels within the Circuit. ## **Summary of the objectives of the charity:** THE PURPOSES OF THE METHODIST CHURCH ARE AND SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN SINCE THE DATE OF UNION THE ADVANCEMENT OF – - (A) THE CHRISTIAM FAITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DOCTRINAL STANDARDS AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE METHODIST CHURCH; - (B) ANY CHARITABLE PURPOSES FOR THE TIME BEING OF ANY CONNEXIONAL, DISTRICT, CIRCUIT, LOCAL OR OTHER ORGANISATION OF THE METHODIST CHURCH; - (C) ANY CHARITABLE PURPOSE FOR THE TIME BEING OF ANY SOCIETY OR INSTITUTION SUBSIDIARY OR ANCILLARY TO THE METHODIST CHURCH; - (D) ANY PURPOSE FOR THE TIME BEING OF ANY CHARITY BEING A CHARITY SUBSIDIARY OR ANCILLARY TO THE METHODIST CHURCH. ## **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit:** ## **What** **RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES -** the West Norfolk Methodist Circuit has five Methodist Ministers (four Presbyters and one Deacon) of which three are full time and two are part time, plus an Anglican who is Authorised to serve, working in the Circuit and facilitates local chapels such that religious worship may be undertaken by any and all people wishing to do so. It also makes available its services for baptisms, weddings and funerals as well as providing pastoral care. Many volunteers within the Methodist Church are Lay Preachers who lead worship and many other volunteers take on a variety of roles to promote the religious ethos of the charity. ## **Who** **THE GENERAL PUBLIC/MANKIND -** any member of the community may attend any services and can seek help and/or support from members of the charity. ## **How** **PROVIDES SERVICES -** regular local and Circuit wide religious services are provided within the Circuit on various days and at various times. Services are also held in Retirement Homes. Youth work is undertaken in the local area and Youth activities are organised and supported. A “Social Centre” in one of the church buildings is supported for the benefit of vulnerable people. ## **Summary of the main achievements of the charity in 2021-2022** **Ordained Ministers -** the Circuit continued to financially support its full time stationed Ministers plus part time Ministers who enable the charitable objectives of the Circuit to be fulfilled amongst its members. **Circuit Policy –** The circuit continued to act on the agreed policy which is reviewed annually and is on the agenda for a September meeting. **No major activities were planned** due to ongoing COVID restrictions and concerns. **Growing in God –** volunteers from the Circuit supported a number of local projects involving youth activities. Guiding, scouting and Boys’ Brigade activities were also enabled under the auspices of the Circuit and its chapels as and when it became safe and possible to do so. Special event services were held, both on Sundays and mid-week, via Zoom, in order to enable whole Circuit participation. Midweek activities were organised in most churches to support their communities and held when possible to do so. North Lynn church has a Sharing Agreement in place and is seeking to become an LEP with the Church of England. The building plans are now moving forward with the Vicarage already completed. **Risks-** The trustees review the risks to which the charity is exposed and take steps to mitigate those risks as appropriate. Safeguarding policy is kept up-to-date with new legislation. **Reserves policy –** Our reserves policy relates to our General (Unrestricted) funds which are freely available to be used for any or all of the purposes of the Circuit. Our reserve policy is to hold up to 50% of annual expenditure in hand, including the Manses Fund, but is currently about 56% standing at £123006 with the annual expenditure being £214450. These reserve funds allow for fluctuations in receipts against set payments and act as contingency funds. **Circuit Model Trust Fund** (Restricted Fund). This fund derives from the sale of chapels and manses and is restricted by the Methodist Conference. This restriction is an internal obligation although the fund may be used for a variety of purposes. The balance at the year end was £101823, with a further £62167 held in a separate account for the North Lynn church having spent £113063 from this account during the year. The Charity Commission has previously agreed that it is appropriate for the trustees to set a policy for the management of this fund as set out below. Money held in the Model Trust Fund will be held available to assist churches to carry out schemes beyond their own resources in addition to funding the provision of Manses and Chapels and supporting the work of the Circuit. Schemes supported this year have been:- £7500 to develop a project in Gaywood, providing space for charity work (particularly mental awareness) and a café; £10400 to re-roof Highgate Church; £16222 contribution to Ministers’ Pension Reserve Fund. Support of general funding also continued for the work of the Circuit. ## **Signatures:** Revd R Roberts – Superintendent Minister ……………………………………10 June 2023 Mrs S Johnson – Senior Circuit Steward …………………………………………10 June 2023 **20ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022** **WEST NORFOLK** **Circuit** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Un - restricted Circuit Model Restricted Totals this Totals last
SECTION A Funds Trust Fund Funds year year
a1 RECEIPTS Note £ £ £ £ £
a2 Assessment/Share 184,806 184,806 196,064
a3 Capital receipts
a4 Bank and CFB interest and
Investment income
481 1,186 1,667 1,251
a5 Grants - Distr payments
a6 Other receipts 32,769 32,769 19,137
a7 TOTAL RECEIPTS 218,056 1,186 219,242 (a8) 216,453
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Stipends, salaries, NIC, Pension and
travel costs 126,187 126,187 127,346
b3 Manse Costs 13,419 13,419 13,110
b4 Administration etc 3,035 899 3,935 12,023
b5 District Assessment 44,505 44,505 51,628
b6 Grants & donations District 4,516 4,516 4,340
b7 Expense on Circuit property scheme 34122
NORTH LYNN PROJECT 113,213 147,335
b8 Other payments 28,624 28,624 15,953
b9 TOTAL PAYMENTS 249,892 118,628 368,520 (b9) 224,400
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FOR
c1 THE YEAR (a7-b9) (31,836) (117,442) (149,278) (7,948)
c2 Total funds brought forward from last year 148,129 315,555 463,684 (c6) 471,631
c3 Sub total (c1+c2) 116,293 198,113 314,406 463,684
c4 Transfers and adjustments 34,122 (34,122) (c7)
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4) 150,415 163,991 314,406 (c8) 463,684 (c6)
SECTION D
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
d (these amounts should not be included in total receipts/payments above)
d1 Balance brought forward from last year
d2 Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations
d3 Offerings/Gifts - passed to external organisations
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1 + d2 - d3)
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2015 Circuit R and P.xls 1 of 1 **WEST NORFOLK** **Circuit** ## **SUMMARY OF CIRCUIT ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATION REPORTING TO THE CIRCUIT MEETING** **SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page** Summary of the Circuit accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Circuit Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross receipts and payments totals of the Circuit. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold of £250,000, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the Circuit and connected Circuit Organisations. **----- Start of picture text -----**
INTERNAL Net Receipts/ Opening
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances Closing balances
e1
e2
e3
e4
e5
e6
e7
Sub total of Internal
e8 Organisations funds (e11) (e12)
Circuit accounts (totals
brought forward from
e9 page 2 - totals column) 219,242 (a8) 368,520 (b9) (149,278) (c7) 463,684 (c6) 314,406 (c8)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS
e10 HELD BY CIRCUIT 219,242 368,520 (149,278) 463,684 (x) 314,406 (y)
Continue on a separate TOTAL
sheet if necessary and TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS
bring the totals forward
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
OPENING CLOSING
CIRCUIT - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2022 BALANCES BALANCES
f1 Cash in hand
f2 Bank Current Account 22,214 9,977
f3 Bank Deposit Account
f4 Central Finance Board 125,915 140,438
f5 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 315,555 163,991
f6 Other funds
f7 SUB TOTAL 463,684 (c6) 314,406 (c8)
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the
f8 closing balance totals above) (e12) (e11) (e12)
f9 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT 463,684 (x) 314,406 (y)
SECTION G At At
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES 1 September 2021 31 August 2022
g1 Investments (include Endowments) 4406 3858
g2 Land and Buildings (see notes re Insurance value) 1,143,911 1,566,662
g3 Other Assets
g4 Loan(s) - show amount outstanding at year end
g5 Other Liabilities
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f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board f5 Include only CFB Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trust accounts this is inserted in line f5) 2015 Circuit R and P.xls 1 of 1