## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** Registered Charity Number: 1147796 ## **ANNUAL REPORT Year ended 31 August 2021** All members of the Brookside Church Council are Trustees of the Charity. ## **Aims and purposes** Brookside Church Council is responsible, in co-operation with the other churches of the Peterborough Circuit, for advancing the Christian faith in Peterborough City in accordance with the approved governing document issued by the Methodist Conference. The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the date of union 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 or 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. ## **Objectives and Activities** Brookside Church Council is committed to the provision of regular public acts of worship open to members of the church and non-members alike; the provision of a sacred space for prayer and contemplation; the teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups; pastoral work including visiting the sick and bereaved; promotion of Christianity through the staging of events and services; the provision of youth clubs and adult groups with a Christian ethos; supporting other charities in the UK and overseas financially and with prayer. In planning our activities for the year Brookside Church Council has considered the Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. We aim to provide opportunities for everyone who wishes to learn about the Christian faith and to live out their faith through: Worship and prayer, learning about the Gospel and developing faith in Jesus Christ Provision of pastoral care for church members and non-members Opportunities for fellowship Mission and outreach work To enable this work and expand our contacts with the wider community we continue to maintain and improve the fabric and facilities of the Brookside Church building. Brookside Methodist Church 2020/21 P1 ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** Registered Charity Number: 1147796 ## **Achievements and Performance** ## **Coronavirus** Our achievements and performance were affected by Coronavirus and Covid-19. We followed the Government regulations and advice from the Methodist Church. Regular safety checks were maintained throughout the periods of lock-down. Services, organisations, activities and lettings were closed. Our Pre-School reopened at the beginning of June 2020 with restricted numbers. Gamblers Anonymous was the first outside organisation to be able to hold meetings. ## **Worship** During the period when services could not be held in our premises, weekly Circuit online services were available on a number of platforms. Plans were made for Covid-safe services with social distancing, masks and hand-sanitising, with the kitchen being closed. These were put into place as soon as they were legal and approved by the Methodist Church. ## **Pastoral Care** Pastoral care of church members and contacts is undertaken by volunteers who meet regularly for mutual support. To enhance this work a member has been commissioned as Pastoral Assistant to the Minister, responding to requests for visits to the long-term sick and house-bound and to those in extra need, doing hospital visits, taking Home Communion and having a prayer ministry. Two members have been commissioned for Bereavement Support Worker and Baptism Support. A group of experienced prayer partners are available to pray with individuals, after the morning service, in a set aside chapel area. Requests for prayer will be met by appropriate individuals or groups, or included in worship services. During the year this ministry continued by appropriate methods of communication. A cross was erected outside the Church to allow people to attach ribbons in remembrance of loved ones. From March 2020 a weekly Newsletter has been circulated to members and friends. Brookside Methodist Church 2020/21 P2 Registered Charity Number: 1147796 ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** ## **Mission and Outreach** ## **Pre-School** Brookside Church Council runs a pre-school, which is now open 30 hours weekly, 8.30am to 2.30pm, since September 2017. It is managed by a Committee of elected Church Council members and has a graduate manager and qualified staff. The preschool has the use of the main hall, two classrooms and a large, secure outdoor space, plus toilet and kitchen facilities. During the year pre-school continued to operate in accordance with Covid-19 regulations and advice from Offsted and Peterborough City Council. ## **Youth work** The Boys Brigade and Youth Group meet regularly in the church building. They are managed by members of the church. Girlguiding provides Rainbows, Brownies and Guides weekly in term time. Where possible these activities continued out of doors or online. ## **Adults** In addition to the groups and activities described under **Worship and Fellowship,** the premises are regularly used by groups such as Gamblers Anonymous, art groups, a Sewing Group and music examination boards. The church is used as a Polling Station. These activities took place when possible under Covid-19 regulations. ## **Home and Overseas Missions and Christian Aid** These are supported by members' regular donations. An effort is made annually to raise money for Christian Aid, although the age of members has meant a reluctant abandonment of house-to-house collection. Money is raised for Action for Children particularly at Christmas time. ## **Winter Night Shelter** It has not been possible to host the Winter Night Shelter. A group of ladies continues to provide cakes for the homeless on a fortnightly rota. ## **Church Website, answerphone and email** The church website is maintained on a weekly basis. It includes information about our beliefs and history, our Sunday services, our weekly calendar, organisations and activities, and special events. It also provides a useful link for those wishing to make enquiries or bookings. Our email and answerphone are checked daily by our Bookings Secretary and passed to the appropriate person for action. ## **The Circuit** Two members of Brookside Church Council represent the Church at the Peterborough Circuit Meeting, which links Brookside to the wider Methodist Connexion. A Circuit Steward is appointed to Brookside Church Council. Brookside Methodist Church 2020/21 P3 ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** Registered Charity Number: 1147796 ## **PE4 Church Partnership** We are working with other churches in the PE4 area to share prayer, worship and outreach. ## **Brookside Church Buildings** Maintenance of the substantial premises is the responsibility of a Property Committee of the Church Council. We are indebted to a small team of volunteers who undertake maintenance jobs to the building and outdoor space. Fire and Safety checks have been undertaken during the year and action required has been carried out. For security it is necessary to keep the premises locked even while in use (except during Sunday worship), but a bell is provided to give access. Times of our activities are advertised. When the building is not in use a locked barrier to the car park is used as an additional security measure. Users of the building are provided with keys to the main doors and the barrier and are responsible for securing the building when they leave. We are currently employing a local company to provide cleaning services Damage to the flat roof of the building has caused ingress of water from time to time. Temporary repairs have been carried out, but arrangements for a permanent solution are underway. ## **Risks** Risks are discussed by Brookside Church Council. Professional advice is taken as required. Progress is regularly reviewed. The Church Council has a Child and Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding Policy, and a training schedule is in place. DBS checks are carried out as required. This work is co-ordinated by a Safe-Guarding Officer. These accounts are for the period 1[st] September 2020 to 31[st] August 2021. ## **Financial Review** ## **Income** Income for this period amounted to £54918.97. Included in this year’s figure is a donation of £15000.00. If we take this figure out of our calculation’s we are looking at an income of £39,918.97 for the year. Income for the year ended 31[st] August 2020 amounted to £43,397.12 and for year ended 31[st] August 2019 the income figure was £55611.28. The reasons behind the reduction in income for this year are £1000 reduction in Gift Aid received, £2800 reduction in letting out premises and no fund raising over the last 12 months. In the 2020 Brookside Methodist Church 2020/21 P4 ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** ## Registered Charity Number: 1147796 figures there is an amount included of £935.10 for the Christmas Fair held in 2019. Offertory received over the last 12 months is slightly up on year ended 2020 figures but is almost £3000 down on pre pandemic figures. Offertory for year ended 2021 amounted to £20,983.88 against 2019 figure of £23,756.60. We continued to receive a donation from pre-school for both 2020 & 2021 of £9000.00. ## **Expenditure** Expenditure for this period amounted to £43741.84. Expenditure for the year ended 31[st] August 2020 amounted to £45776.19 once we have stripped out the £6000.00 transfer from the General Fund Account to the Church Roof Fund. Expenditure for the year ended 31[st] August 2019 amounted to £53,032.47. Major items of expenditure period have been Circuit Contribution, £31818.12, Gas/Electricity £1921.00 and Property £4350.76. ## **Church Funds** HSBC Current Account £39,962.11 CFB Deposit Account £28,082.54 Cash £16.18 **Total £65,060.83** ## **Breakdown of Church Funds** General Fund £42,443.34, Caring £41.87, Benevolent Fund £426.01, Reserve & Property £6123.30, Youth Club (including Unite) £1389.68, Night Shelter £1131.44, Church Roof Fund £14505.19. This compares to total church funds as at 31[st] August 2019 of £48,342.89. **Charitable Work** We are committed to maintaining our payment to the Connexional Fund at £1800.00 and the payment for this year in included in the above figures. We still hold a figure of £1131.44 on our restricted funds for the Winter Night Shelter and a decision will need to be taken soon as to where we send these funds given that the shelter is unlikely to restart soon. ## **Church Roof Fund** As at the 31[st] August 2021 the amount raised stands at £14505.19. This follows a transfer from our General Fund Account of £6000.00 during the year. Following a Joint Meeting of the Finance and Property Committee on the 19[th] August 2021 it was proposed that £6000.00 of the £6123.30 held in our Reserve and Property Fund should also be transferred to the Church Roof Fund increasing the balance to £20,505.19. This has now been agreed by the finance committee and now needs to be confirmed by church council. Of the £14505.19 raised so far, £6000.00 has been transferred from The General Fund Account, £3000.00 from an individual, £650.00 from Brookside Pre-School, £380.00 from Summer Strings Concert, £220.00 from Silver Band Concert and the remaining £3,355.19 from smaller individual donations from within the church including Joy from Dogsthorpe, donations from groups within the church, retiring collections following funerals and other fund raising events. With a total cost quoted of £60,000.00 including VAT it is hoped that the remaining funds will be raised via applications to District £10,000.00, Circuit £5,000.00, Mick George £20,000.00 and the remaining £4500.00 to be raised by church members fundraising efforts. If we are unsuccessful with any of our requests it may be necessary for us to consider approaching the Methodist Chapel Aid for a loan if we are to commence work in July 2022 as hoped. Trustees are reminded that they are liable should we be unable to repay this loan. Brookside Methodist Church 2020/21 P5 ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** ## Registered Charity Number: 1147796 ## **Summary** Whilst on the face of it the church finances appear stable there are many areas for concern that we need to be aware off. - a) Continued reduction in the amount received via the offertory, especially as nearly 50% of the amount received comes from eight elderly members of the congregation. - b) The reliance on the £9,000 donation we receive from pre-school each year which is to be increased to £9,600 for this year, not only in cash terms but the increasing difficulty in getting people to join the Pre-School Committee. - c) The amount of time and effort that goes into ensuring that the letting of our property runs smoothly. - d) Future demands on our funds from property related issues and possible call to help with shortfall in Ministers Pension Shortfall. - e) Possible unforeseen expenditure on church roof. George Barber Church Treasurer ## **Pre-school finances (consolidated with the Church Accounts)** In 2019/20 our income exceeded our expenditure by £2,117.54. Funds held at 31 August 2020 were £52,127.85. We pay permanent staff, as required by the Methodist Church, at the level set by the Living Wage Foundation, reviewed each January. Our Pension Fund commenced on 1 January 2017. Anne Yeoman, Chair Pre-School Management Committee. Brookside Methodist Church 2020/21 P6 ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** Registered Charity Number: 1147796 ## **RESERVES POLICY** ## **Report on behalf of** ## Brookside Methodist Church ## **To** ## Circuit Meeting We submit our annual report in accordance with the requirements of the Methodist Conference and the Charities SORP. - (I) The trustees have established their mission aims taking into account all of the resources available in terms of people, property and money - (ii) Mission initiatives/projects have been costed or estimates made of projected future costs which take into account the needs of the buildings and the requirements of the Quinquennial Inspection Report/s - (iii) We have agreed a Reserves Policy which is set out overleaf and is recorded in the trustees’ minutes and our Annual Report - (iv) We recognise the need to be accountable as charity trustees for all the money which comes into our hands and will provide further information as required by the Circuit/District/Connexion - (v) Our Report is attached overleaf Brookside Methodist Church 2020/21 P7 1. General Funds held Y/E 31.8.21 **65,060** 2. **Restricted** Funds held Y/E 31/8/21 **53,081** 3. **Endowment** Funds held “ **£0** **4.. Reserves policy for General Funds** **It is the policy of the Church to hold in the General Fund the equivalent of at least four months running costs. This equates to about £18,000.** **The General Fund is non-allocated money for the day to day running of the church. The Fund is supported by regular lettings and donations amounting to about £28,000 last year.** ## 5. **Policy for Restricted Funds** **In the Church’s Restricted Funds, £53,081 is held by Internal Organisations and £52,127 of this is in the Preschool account. The remaining restricted funds of £954 are made up from Tuesday Fellowship, Boys Brigade, Craft and Chat and Men's Club.** 6. **Terms relating to Endowment Funds held** This Reserves Policy has been approved by Brookside Methodist Church Council (*Church Council /Circuit Meeting /District ) Treasurer Trustee George Barber Brookside Methodist Church 8 2020/21 ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** Registered Charity Number: 1147796 ## **Structure, governance and management** The governing documents are the Deed of Union 1932 and the Methodist Church Act 1976. The charity is constituted as a Trust. It is a Charity required to be registered with the Charity Commissioner. Registered Charity Number 1147796. Trustees (all members of the Church Council) are Ex Officio, elected by Church members, or appointed by the Church Council. **Brookside Church Council** for the year covered by this Report consisted of the Ministers, Treasurer and Secretary appointed by the Council, 4 elected stewards, 6 elected general representatives, 11 members appointed by the Church Council and one representative from Peterborough Circuit Meeting. A range of guidance is provided by the Methodist Conference. The leaflet “The Role of a Trustee” is given to each Trustee. The Church Council members are responsible for making decisions on all administrative and financial matters relating to the Church premises and work. The full Church Council met 3 times during the year with an average attendance of 18. Brookside has a number of committees dealing with particular aspects of the church's work. These are Pastoral, Family, Finance, Property, Worship, Pre-School, Youth Club and Events. These are all responsible to the Brookside Church Council and report regularly to the full Church Council, where matters are discussed and approved as appropriate. Between meetings the Minister and the Stewards have the authority to make urgent decisions when necessary. Following the advice of the legal department of the Methodist Church we are complying with the Data Protection Act 2018. The main part of our church activities is undertaken by lay persons (volunteers). ## **Administrative information** Brookside Church is in Gunthorpe Road, Peterborough. It is part of the Peterborough Circuit and accountable to the Methodist Conference. The correspondence address is: Brookside Methodist Church, Gunthorpe Road, Peterborough, PE4 7TG. The Church telephone message service is: 01733 328192 The email address is: contactbrookside@gmail.com The website address is: www.brooksidemc.org.uk Brookside Methodist Church 9 2020/21 ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** Registered Charity Number: 1147796 Trustees (Church Council members) serving at the date of this report are: Rev Langley Mackrell-Hey (Circuit Minister) Rev Vivienne Smith (Minister and Chair) Mr David Whiting (Steward) Mr George Barber (Treasurer and Steward) (Steward) Mrs Cathy Ruffles (Steward) Mrs Elizabeth Thompson Mr Anthony Storey (Property Steward) Mrs Sue Holmes Mrs Chris Bowra Mr Pete Grice Mrs Sue Grice Mrs Lynn Gurney Mrs Chris Hardman Mrs Claire Holden Mrs Sue Keeney Mr Alan Newcombe Mrs Maureen Newcombe Mrs Valerie Ostler Miss Joanna Parkin Mr Alan Southcott Mrs Liz Storey Mr Simon Thompson Rev Graham Tooth Mrs Madeleine Whiting Mrs Anne Yeoman Other Trustees who served during the year were: Mrs Janet Murphy Mrs Ann Tooth Approved by the Stewards on behalf of Brookside Church Council on 28 March 2022 and signed on their behalf by: Rev Vivienne Smith (Chair) Christine Hardman (acting Church Secretary) Brookside Methodist Church 10 2020/21 CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Chur FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2021 Circuit Clrcuii no Regbstered Charity - Charlty Reglstratlon number If not a register&J charity Her Mai*ty8 Revenue and Customs Glft Ald number (The HMRC number is g]uivalent to a registered charrty numbw in terms of evidence of charttable status and may be used to give to don¢)rs or grant fund8rs wishiry to see eVKI￿￿e of th8 ￿ganISats￿'S charitable status. Methcrfjist chanties in EngL2nd and Wales that are rnt registered tharitres are excepted from r&3iStration under Statthory Instrument 2014 No.242) Minister.. Church Stewards: Treasurer: ClpMthRwJ P2021.xls 1015 ACCOUPITS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Totalslast SECTION A FurKIs a1 RECEPTS aTvJ Tax ￿0￿ed Bank and CFB irterest and IrThEstmert irrome TOT*L RECEIPTS la7 SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS Circuit Assesmer* OT Share b2 b3 Repairs 8rn1 I¥laW￿enarte Utif#*s {In8urartes. water char heati & I. hti b5 b7 )8 TOTAL PAYMENTS 1+7 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS R THE YEAR Totsl ftrts forward frc st year Sub total Ic1+c21 Lkl¥i* Trar*fers arKI 8A"ustrnènts Ic7} TOTAL FUNDS AT ENO OF YEAR (¢8) I￿) SECTK)N D FOR V4FORIAATK)N ONLY: PKINEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS lthese amounts are MQlo be lrtjuded in t(knl rncelptsl melts abo￿1 J1 Balance bro ht forward from last J3 BALANCE STLL TO BE PAID {dl+d2413 41 (l￿￿R￿￿1 P2W21 2015 8ECIK)N E IPITERNAL Net Recwtsl Ib9 Icn l¢B} BY CHURCFt TOTAL CHLIACN.CAW FUFLJS IIELD * 31 Central Bo¥d Ic6} i*￿nr£ICdd <•12) •12) TOTAL CASMFiWOS bELD BYCkWRCII At Al 31 AW>J21 )LS¢l*ak*lP Declarations and Scrutiny l eonfm that tt￿ Recw axl Payment based accour7ts for the year to 31 August 2021 have been FKepared from the records of the Church aTKt that they indude all fitnds under the control of the Chwr* Signatureoftreaswer............................................. ...... .. Date.......................... Name arKladdrtssoftreasurer.................................. ....... . Presentation to the Church trust I confimi that trE annual report and accouyts for the year end8J 31 A￿Ust 2021 ￿￿e/¥￿Il be" presented tOthen￿l￿￿j of thechurthtrustees held on................. Signature of the Chair of the meetiThJ: ....... Name of the Chair of the meaing.. Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of the ..Church Charlty Number.............. Responslbllltles and basis of roport I rewrtlothetrustees on myexamination oftheaccountsofthè...................... ................. Church for the year ended 31 August 2021 set out on pages ... to . . As the Church's Irustees, you are responsible tor the preparation of the a¢¢ounts in accordance with the requirements of th8 Charities Art 2011 Cthe Act.). I rewt in respect of my eXam1r￿l10n of the Church's accounts catried out under sec*ion 145 of the Act and. in carying out my examinatÉon. I have followed al the applicable Direclicms given by the Charity Commission Un￿ w*¥)n 145(5)(b) of the Ad. 415 Name of Churth .. No............. Independent Examinerfs Stat￿ent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material mafters have come to my attenti￿ in nnedion with the examinati¢)n lotheT than that disdosed bel￿ gi¥e me cause to believe that in, any material rwcL the accounting records were not kept in accordance %wth sectlon 130 of Art or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no concems and have come auoss no other matters in connection wlth the examinalion to which attentron Shou￿ be dra￿ in this report in order to enabk a proper understanding of the accounts to be I havelhave not" obtsined independent verificatlon of am inv*ients with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or hetd in other trusts, bank balan￿$ and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church Ithich are indiwdually in exce￿ of £10.1￿ (ten thousarKI pounds) at the balan( sheet date. Signature of irK5ependent examiner Name of independent examiner ... Releyant professional qualification of Independ￿rt examiner ........... Name ¢Jf finn (where appropriate) Address ...... Post Code PEI É50 lj . delete or iarcle as approwwte September 2021 ##