Circuit Accruals Accounts 2024-2025
THE METHODIST CHURCH REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
for the year ended 31 August 2025
Tamworth and Lichfield Circuit 1137326
Registered Charity - Registration number
Birmingham District No / Circuit No 05/09 Ministers Revd Joanna Thornton Circuit Stewards Mark Hambly Carole Share Robert Share ~~=~~
Tamworth and Lichfield Methodist Circuit Trustee's Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2025
Introduc#on
The Trustees present their Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025
Aims and organisa#on
The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the Date of Union the advancement of:
a) The Chris(an faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and discipline of The Methodist Church;
b) Any charitable purpose for the (me being of any Connexional, District, Circuit. local or other organisa(on of The Methodist Church;
c) Any charitable purpose for the (me being of any society or ins(tu(on subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church;
d) Any purpose for the (me being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church
The organisa(on and resourcing of regular public acts of worship open to members of the church and non members alike.
The teaching of Chris(anity through sermons, courses and small groups. The resourcing of pastoral work including visi(ng the sick and bereaved. Taking religious assemblies in local schools.
Promo(on of Chris(anity through the staging of events and services. Provision of chaplaincy services to the local university and other ins(tu(ons.
We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Structure, Governance and Management
The governing document for the circuit is the Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976)
Detailed governance arrangements are outlined within the Cons(tu(onal Prac(ce and Discipline of the Methodist Church by order of the annual conference (CPD).
Day to day management of the circuit is undertaken by the Circuit Leadership team along with the Local Preachers mee(ng and the Circuit Mee(ng.
Trustee Training
A range of guidance produced by Methodist Connexion to support the effec(ve running of the circuit , specifically the leaflet ‘The Role of a Trustee in The Methodist Church’ is given to all new Circuit mee(ng members as induc(on to their role as trustees.
Related Par#es
The Circuit is part of the Birmingham District and is also accountable to the Methodist Conference.
Tamworth and Lichfield Methodist Circuit Trustees' Annual Report (con#nued)
Risk Management
The major risks have been iden(fied and recorded by the Circuit Leadership Team with professional advice taken as required.
There is a regular annual review process undertaken and recorded.
Income and Expenditure is being monitored in total and is compared with the approved annual budget on a half yearly basis to detect trends as part of the risk management process to avoid unforeseen calls on reserves.
Safeguarding
Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the crea�on of male and female in God’s own image and likeness. Chris�ans see this poten�al as fulfilled by God’s re-crea�on of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.
Methodist Connexional prac(ce outlines commitment to the following principles:
-
the care and nurture of, and respec=ul pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and adults
-
the safeguarding and protec(on of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable
-
the establishing of safe, caring communi(es which provide a loving environment where there is informed vigilance as to the dangers of abuse.
-
We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the Church, in line with Safer Recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and registra(on with the relevant ve?ng and barring schemes.
-
We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, coopera(ng with the police and local authority in any inves(ga(on.
-
We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.
-
We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a posi(on of trust.
-
We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authori(es, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.
-
In all these principles we will follow legisla(on, guidance and recognised good prac(ce
The Circuit commits itself to ensuring the implementa(on of Connexional Safeguarding Policy; government legisla(on, guidance and safe prac(ce in the circuit and in the churches.
The Circuit commits itself to the provision of support, advice and training for lay and ordained people that will ensure people are clear and confident about their roles and responsibili(es in safeguarding and promo(ng the welfare of children and adults who may be vulnerable.
Reserves Policy
The Reserves Policy for the Circuit is to hold a minimum sum equivalent to six months’ average expenditure. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure on manses and / or to be able to con(nue, in the short term, funding planned ac(vi(es in the event of any inability to raise the full Circuit Assessment from churches.
Statement of Financial Ac#vi#es for the year ended 31 August 2025
Note Unrestricted funds
| Circuit Model | Endowment | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Trust Fund | Funds | Total | 2024 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Income from: | |||||||
| Assessments | 143,196 | 143,196 | 157,147 | ||||
| Investments | 4 | 6,652 | 9,434 | 16,086 | 19,844 | ||
| Other | 15,248 | 10 | 15,258 | 39,932 | |||
| Total | 165,096 | 9,444 | 0 | 174,540 | 216,923 | ||
| Expenditure on: | |||||||
| S(pends, salaries, NIC & Pension costs | 5 | 108,805 | 108,805 | 130,916 | |||
| District Assessment | 36,744 | 36,744 | 34,908 | ||||
| Methodist Church Funds | 2,529 | 2,529 | 2,197 | ||||
| Telephone & travel’ etc | 3,880 | 3,880 | 4,315 | ||||
| Insurance, u(li(es, etc | 8,286 | 8,286 | 15,935 | ||||
| Maintenance of manses | 19,376 | 19,376 | 2,505 | ||||
| Other Expenditure | 12,482 | 689 | 13,171 | 8,581 | |||
| Grants and Dona(ons | 440 | 440 | 1,350 | ||||
| Contribu(ons to District Advance Fund | 8,092 | 8,092 | 9,454 | ||||
| Total | 192,542 | 8,781 | 0 | 201,323 | 210,161 | ||
| Net income/(expenditure) | -27,446 | 663 | 0 | -26,783 | 6,762 | ||
| Transfer between funds | 47,000 | -47,000 | |||||
| Gains/(Losses) on investment assets | 7 | 17 | 24 | 933 | |||
| Net movement in funds | 19,554 | -46,330 | 17 | -26,759 | 7,695 | ||
| Reconcilia#on of funds: | |||||||
| Total funds brought forward | 637,909 | 211,848 | 10,215 | 859,972 | 852,277 | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 657,463 | 165,518 | 10,232 | 833,213 | 859,972 | ||
Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2025
| Unrestricted | Circuit Model | Endowment | Total | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Fund | Funds | |||||
| (Unrestricted) | ||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Tangible Fixed Assets | ||||||
| Notes | ||||||
| Land & Buildings | 6 | 507,927 | 507,927 | 507,927 | ||
| Investments | 7 | 4,070 | 10,232 | 14,302 | 14,277 | |
| Total fxed assets | 507,927 | 4,070 | 10,232 | 522,229 | 522,204 | |
| Current Assets | ||||||
| Debtors and Prepayments | 8 | 7,405 | 7,405 | 6,352 | ||
| Other | 0 | |||||
| Trustees for Methodist Church | ||||||
| Purposes deposits | 161,448 | 161,448 | 207,786 | |||
| Central Finance Board Deposits | 174,136 | 174,136 | 153,431 | |||
| Cash at Bank and in hand | 7,220 | 7,220 | 5,850 | |||
| Total current assets | 188,761 | 161,448 | 0 | 350,209 | 373,419 | |
| Creditors and Accruals (due | ||||||
| within one year) | 9 | 39,225 | 39,225 | 35,652 | ||
| Net current assets (liabili#es) | 149,536 | 161,448 | 0 | 310,984 | 337,767 | |
| Total assets less current | ||||||
| liabili#es | 657,463 | 165,518 | 10,232 | 833,213 | 859,971 | |
| Net assets | 657,463 | 165,518 | 10,232 | 833,213 | 859,971 | |
| Funds of the Circuit | ||||||
| Unrestricted funds | 11 | 657,463 | 657,463 | 637,909 | ||
| Circuit Model Trust Fund | ||||||
| (Unrestricted) | 165,518 | 165,518 | 211,848 | |||
| Endowment funds | 10,232 | 10,232 | 10,215 | |||
| Total Funds | 657,463 | 165,518 | 10,232 | 833,213 | 859,972 | |
Tamworth and Lichfield Methodist Circuit Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025
1 Basis of accoun#ng
The financial statements have been prepared under the Chari(es Act 2011 in accordance with the 2014 version of Accoun(ng and Repor(ng by Chari(es: Statement of Recommended Prac(ce (SORP) applicable to chari(es preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Repor(ng Standard for Smaller En((es applicable in the UK (effec(ve from 1 January 2015) – the Chari(es SORP (FRSSE) – in replacement for the SORP’s 2005 version specified in its related 2008 Regula(ons and in accordance with the ‘true and fair override’ provision contained therein.”
2 Funds
The funds held may include: General Funds held for any purpose of the Circuit which are Unrestricted. The Circuit Model Trust Fund has wide purposes defined in Standing Orders and is categorised as unrestricted. Restricted funds which are held for a narrower purpose . There are also the following Endowment funds as listed. Details of each material fund are disclosed in the final note to these accounts. Any funds may be represented by more than just cash.
3 Accoun#ng policies
Basis
These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost except that investments are shown at their market value at the end of the year, on the accruals basis to show a true and fair view of the Circuit’s financial posi(on and ac(vi(es.
Income Recogni#on
Income is included in the Statement of Financial Ac(vi(es (SOFA) when the Circuit becomes en(tled to the resources, and the trustees are reasonably certain they will receive the resources; and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Resources Expended
This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a construc(ve obliga(on arises, that results in the payment being unavoidable. Liabili(es are recognised as soon as an ou=low of economic benefit is considered more likely than not under the legal or construc(ve obliga(on commi?ng the Circuit to pay out resources.
Grants
Grants made by the Circuit from its own funds are recognised in full at the (me of agreement or when the Circuit accepts that there is a legal or opera(onal obliga(on to make the payment. When the grant is recurrent over more than one year the balance payable in future years is treated as a provision for future commitments in the Balance Sheet against the appropriate fund, the provision being released in future years as instalments are paid in accordance with the originally agreed terms.
VAT
Since the Circuit is not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers.
Tangible fixed assets for use by the Circuit
The freehold property is shown in the accounts at 2015 deemed values. No deprecia(on is provided on the building because the trustees consider the current residual fair value of the manse buildings to be not less than its balance sheet value. Any deprecia(on would not be material. The property has been reviewed for impairment.
Investments
Investments are valued in the balance sheet at market value at the year end. Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable and any gains or losses on revalua(on at the year end are shown in the SOFA.
Debtors and Prepayments
Debtors include the payment of the September s(pend in August.
Creditors
Creditors include both sundry expenses and specifically the 1st quarter assessment received in August.
Tamworth and Lichfield Methodist Circuit Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025
| 4. Investment income | Unrestricted | Circuit Model Trust Fund |
Restricted | 2025 Total |
2024 Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Central Finance Board | 6436 | 6,436 | 6,729 | ||
| Other | 216 | 9,433 | 9,649 | 13,115 | |
| Total | 6,652 | 9,433 | - | 16,085 | 19,844 |
5. Paid Employees
Staff costs paid during the year were:
| 2025 | 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | |
| Gross stipends and salary | 88,713 | 98,606 |
| Employer's national insurance contributions | 7,518 | 9,095 |
| Pension costs | 12,119 | 22,656 |
| Apprenticeship levy | 455 | 559 |
| Total | 108,805 | 130,916 |
| Average number of staff employed during the year | 5 | 4 |
6. Tangible Fixed Assets
| 6. Tangible Fixed Assets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Manses | Equipment | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Cost/valuation brought forward | 507,927 | 6,392 | 514,319 |
| Cost/valuation carried forward | 507,927 | 6,392 | 514,319 |
| Accumulated depreciation brought forward | 0 | 6,392 | 6,392 |
| Depreciation charge for the year | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Accumulated depreciation carried forward | 0 | 6,392 | 6,392 |
| Net Book Value 31 August 2025 | 507,927 | 0 | 507,927 |
| The insurance value of the three manses was £1,349,430 | |||
| The insurance value of the former Glascote Methodist Chapel was £1,760,967 |
7 Investments
The funds that support the Circuit Model Trust Fund and the Manses Fund are held by TMCP in Trustees Interest Funds on which interest is credited to the accounts each month. These are regarded as medium and long term investments.
TMCP is the legal owner and Custodian Trustee of all Methodist Model Trust property, including Legacies, Endowments and Accumulated Funds. Trust property is held for and on behalf of local Managing Trustees who are responsible for the day to day management of trust property. TMCP ensure that, through providing guidance and ac(ng under their direc(on, the Managing Trustees comply with charity law and Methodist law and polity as determined by the Methodist Conference.
| 2025 | 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Analysis of investment movements | Total | Total |
| £ | £ | |
| Investments held in common investment funds | 4,070 | 4,062 |
| Changes in investment values | ||
| Market value at beginning of year | 4,062 | 3,771 |
| Net gain/(loss on revaluation | 8 | 291 |
Tamworth and Lichfield Methodist Circuit Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025
| **8 ** | Current Assets | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Debtors and prepayments | |||
| 0 | |||
| Miscellaneous debtors | 7,405 | 6,352 | |
| 7,405 | 6,352 | ||
| Cash at bank | |||
| Bank balance held at Lloyds Bank | 7,220 | 5,850 | |
| 7,220 | 5,850 | ||
| **9 ** | Creditors and accruals | ||
| (due within one year) | |||
| Prepaid assessments | 35,632 | 35,549 | |
| Other creditors | 3,593 | 103 | |
| 39,225 | 35,652 | ||
10 Capital commitments and contingent liabilities
At 31 August 2025 the Circuit had no capital commitments and no known contingent liabilities.
| **11 ** | Fund Movements | Opening | Transfers & | Transfers & | Closing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance | **Income ** | Expended | Revaluation | Balance Purpose of fund | |||||
| Unrestricted funds | |||||||||
| General | 637,909 | 165,096 | 192,542 | 47,000 | 657,463 General purposes | ||||
| CMTF | 211,848 | 9,444 | 8,781 | -46,993 | 165,518 General purposes | ||||
| 849,757 | 174,540 | 201,323 | 7 | 822,981 | |||||
| Endowment funds | |||||||||
| Capital | Annual | Income | |||||||
| Endowment Name | How Invested | Value | Income | Used For | |||||
| Arthur Roland Evetts | Endowment | 4,125 | 73 General Fund | ||||||
| Tolson Fund | Endowment | 4,435 | 81 General Fund | ||||||
| Mrs E Deakin Gift | Gift in Memory | 472 | 8 General Fund | ||||||
| Various Bequests | Model Trust | Bequest | 1,200 | 52 General Fund | |||||
| 10,232 | 214 |
12 Pension Fund Commitment
The Circuit has in the past participated in a multi-employer scheme for two past employees. This scheme is currently in deficit and the Circuit is paying an annual sum to meet its share of this deficit under an arrangement designed to eliminate the deficit by 2025. At 31 August 2025
DECLARATIONS
Treasurer
I confirm that these accrual based accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 have been prepared from the records of the Circuit and that they include all funds under the control of the Circuit Meeting.
----- Start of picture text -----
Signature of Treasurer Date
Name of Treasurer P McDermott
Address
13 Blackthorne Road, Lichfield, WS14 9YJ
----- End of picture text -----
Presentation to the Circuit Meeting for approval.
I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 Aug 2024 were presented to the Circuit Meeting at its meeting on
----- Start of picture text -----
15-Oct-25
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
and were approved.
Signature of the Chair
of the meeting
Name of the Chair of
Revd Joanna Thornton
the meeting
Date
_______________
----- End of picture text -----
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the
----- Start of picture text -----
Tamworth and Lichfield Methodist Circuit
[[st]] August 2025
----- End of picture text -----
This Report is on the Circuit Accounts for the year ended 31[[st]] August
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The Circuit's trustees are responsible for ensuring that the annual report and accounts for the year to 31 August 2023 present a true and fair view of the Circuit's income and expenditure for the year and of its assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date. The trustees consider that an audit is not necessary for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities
-
Act;
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general
-
Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Charities act; and
� to state whether particular matters have come to my
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, in nature or scale, or disclosures in the accounts, seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning 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. My 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 (other than as disclosed below*)
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
• to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act.
• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
have not been met, or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
(3) I have not obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date.
Name of independent J H Willis examiner Signature of independent examiner
Relevant Professional qualification of independent examiner
Chartered Accountant
Name of firm (where appropriate)
Address 134 Beacon Park Village, Lower Sandford Street, Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 6JZ
Date