YATTON METHODIST CHURCH TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
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YATTON METHODIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
The trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2024.
Reference and Administrative Details
Registered charity number 1136220
Minister Rev Sally Ratcliffe
Church Stewards (Leadership Team)
Martin Buckley Virginia Buckley Malcolm Fisher Sue Turner Keith Woodham Jane Mason Roger Calderbank Yvonne Nelson Bethan Grace Kahapolarachi
Principal address
High Street Yatton North Somerset BS49 4DW
Independent Examiner
Alison Hexter BA (Econ) ACA 2 Henley Lodge Yatton North Somerset BS49 4JQ
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YATTON METHODIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Structure, Governance and Management
Yatton Methodist Church is part of the Gordano Valley Circuit (No.15), in the Bristol District (No.7) within the Methodist Church in Great Britain (The Connexion). In all matters Yatton Methodist Church is governed by "The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church". All property is owned on Model Trusts controlled by the Managing Trustees (The Church Council), who govern all areas of Yatton Methodist Church's activity. Membership of the Church Council is recorded in its minutes.
The purposes of the Methodist Church are defined in Section 4 of the Methodist Church Act of 1976 and summarized as follows:
The Purposes of the Methodist Church are the advancement of:
a) the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church.
b) any charitable purpose 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 being a 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.
All the activities of the Church are intended for public benefit, both spiritual and in service to the local community.
Trustees
The trustees who served the charity during the period are the members of the Church Council, and recorded in the Charity Commission online registration.
New trustees are voted on by the General Church Meeting normally held in March each year. They are made aware of the financial position of the Church and of their responsibilities as trustees.
Organisation
The Church Council of Yatton Methodist Church holds the responsibility of running its financial affairs. It is assisted in this role by the Leadership team, operating within a budget approved by the Church Council.
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YATTON METHODIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Volunteers
Almost all the activities of the Church involve substantial work by volunteers, for example as Church Council members (trustees), office holders, committee members, activity group leaders and helpers.
Risks
The trustees have identified the major risks to which the charity is exposed. These risks are reviewed annually, and systems have been established to mitigate the risks.
Review of Developments, Activities and Achievements 2023 – 2024
We are thankful for much fruitfulness in the church, but also remain aware of the challenges ahead of us. Our worshipping numbers have fallen in the last 5 years, and we now have few young people on a Sunday.
Following the discontinuation of the Youth and Children’s Worker role in August 2022, we continue to try and encourage youth and children’s work in the church. The Youth and Children’s Work Oversight Group lead this area of ministry.
Other groups within the Church continue to meet regularly including various house groups, prayer groups, Men’s Society, MWiB (Methodist Women in Britain), Bread and Cheese Lunches, Energize (Urban Saints group), Supper Club for 11+, Toddler Group, Clothes swap, Weekly Coffee Morning and other ad-hoc activities and events.
Following a change of Minister from September 2024, the church has begun reviewing and resetting priorities for the next chapter in the life of the church.
From September 2024, the Circuit is now served by three ministers, and Yatton has joined the Nailsea Backwell Section.
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YATTON METHODIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Financial Review
2023-24 has seen a continuing recovery in church activity following the disruption due to the Coronavirus lockdowns. At the start of the year, a projected deficit of some £12,000 was in the draft budget, with a recognition that this was not viable and further work on the budget was needed. Following further attention to our expenditure, and an appeal for increased giving, our general and property funds together, completed the year with a surplus of approx. £3,500.
In addition, we are budgeting a small surplus for 2024/25 for the first time in a number of years.
The accounts are divided into separate funds and accounts.
1. General Account
This includes the Church's main source of income - weekly and monthly giving. Expenditure is principally the "assessment" paid to the Gordano Valley Circuit to cover Ministers' stipend and central Methodism and Circuit costs, together with the church's non-property related administration expenses.
2. Property Account
The income is made up of room hire charges arising from the use of the premises, plus income from the solar panels. This is balanced by expenditure on the maintenance, upkeep and administration of the premises. The property account is kept in balance, with any shortage of income transferred from the general account.
3. Designated and Restricted Funds
There are restricted funds for ‘Youth and Childrens Work’, ‘Mission and Ministry’ (from a previous gift day) and ‘Charity Giving’ claiming Gift Aid for Church supported overseas projects (to comply with HMRC rules).
A small number of internal organisations within the Church hold separate funds, i.e. Toddlers Group and Men’s Society.
4. Accounting Policy
The accounts are presented on a receipts and payments basis using the Methodist Church standard form of accounts.
5. Reserves
Reserves are held to cover general or designated purposes and the general risks of unforeseen expenditure or a fall in anticipated income. Each year the trustees review the level of reserves. The trustees consider the church’s exposure to major risks in terms of their likely impact on its income resources and expenditure. In recent years, the trustees have adopted a policy of seeking to maintain a minimum reserve based on a sum advised by the Circuit in respect of the annual assessment and 50% of other expenditure.
The minimum reserve based on this policy was some £20,937 at 31[st] August 2024.
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YATTON METHODIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the
trustees.
S Ratcliffe
Janet Calderbank
Rev Sally Ratcliffe Mrs Janet Calderbank Chairman of the Meeting Church Council Secretary
Date 24[th] February 2025
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YATTON METHODIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
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YATTON METHODIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
DECLARATIONS
Treasurer
I confirm that I have prepared the accounts above from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church Council.
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Signature of Treasurer Martin Buckley Date 01/11/2024
Name Martin Buckley
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Address 45 Claverham Rd, Yatton, N. Somerset BS49 4LA
Presentation to the Yatton Methodist Church Council for approval
I confirm that the Accounts have been presented to the Church Council and were approved.
Signature of the Chair of the meeting
Name of the Chair of the meeting
Date 24/02/2025 S Ratcliffe Rev Sally Ratcliffe
Date
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24/02/2025
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YATTON METHODIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission . An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
• to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 41 of the 1993 Act and Section 44 (1)(a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; and
• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act and Section 44(1)9b) of the 2005 Act and Regulation ( of the 2006 Regulations)
have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Name Mrs Alison Hexter Signature Mrs Alison Hexter Any Relevant Professional qualification or body BA (Econ) ACA
Address 2 Henley Lodge, Yatton, North Somerset Date 29/11/2024