## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1147796 ## **ANNUAL REPORT Year ended 31 August 2025** 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. 2022/23 Brookside Methodist Church P1 ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1147796 ## **Achievements and Performance** ## **Worship** Morning Worship took place through the year, including Circuit Services, joint services with Dogsthorpe Methodist Church, communion services, and services led by our own groups and worship leaders. A mid-week Communion service is held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Messy Church continued through the year, but due to low numbers has ended from July 2025. The Tuesday Fellowship meets twice a month for worship and a programme of interesting activities. The New Direction Bible Study Group meets weekly on Zoom and Crossways Bible Study Group meets twice a month at Brookside. The Sunday Club meets on Sundays at 10.30am. ## **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 and Baptism Support. Requests for prayer will be met by appropriate individuals or groups, or included in worship services. Weekly Notices and a monthly Newsletter are being circulated to members and friends. ## **Fellowship** Refreshments are served after each morning service to enable the congregation to meet informally. A programme of activities, open to all, to promote fellowship is organised throughout the year. These include lunches and evening activities. Groups organised by the Church during the year were Craft and Chat, Brookside Men's and Ladies’ Groups and a Well Being Coffee Morning. Requests for prayer will be met by appropriate individuals or groups, or included in worship services. 2022/23 Brookside Methodist Church P2 ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1147796 ## **Mission and Outreach** ## **Pre-School** Brookside Church Council had run a pre-school for many years, open 30 hours weekly, 8.30am to 2.30pm. It was managed by a Committee of elected Church Council members and had a graduate manager and qualified staff. Due to low numbers of children enrolling it was with great regret that the Pre-School was wound up at the end of the summer term. ## **Youth work** The Boys Brigade meets regularly in the church building. They are managed by members of the church. Girlguiding provides Rainbows, Brownies and Guides weekly in term time. Little Brookies for parents and children under Pre-School age meets weekly in term time. ## **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 choir, Slimming and Exercise Groups, a Sewing Group and music examination boards. The church is used as a Polling Station. A Community Hub meets weekly during the winter, and fortnightly through the warmer months. This provides fellowship and support especially to elderly people from the local community. ## **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. A weekly notice sheet and monthly newsletter are published by email. ## **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. ## **PE4 Church Partnership** We are working with other churches in the PE4 area to share prayer, worship and outreach. 2022/23 Brookside Methodist Church P3 ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1147796 ## **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 has been 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. From August 2023 cleaning services were provided by our Pre-School staff. ## **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. ## **Financial Review** ## Treasurer’s Report to Church Council These accounts are for the period 1[st] September 2024 to 31[st] August 2025 ## **Income** Income for this period amounted to £63,800.98 up from the previous years figure of £58,253.98. Offertory for the period amounted to £25,958.19 up from a figure of £23,906.21 for the previous year. Income from Lettings for this period amounted to £19,323.25 also increasing from the previous years figure of £18,869.21. Brookside Pre-School donations to the church for this year totalled £6,480.00. Gift Aid for this year amounted to £6,584.78 an increase of £240.00 from the previous year. The Christmas Fair, Christmas Dinner and other events raised £1,652.97. ## **Expenditure** Expenditure for this period, amounted to £57,560.58. Major items of expenditure during this period continue to be our payment to the circuit for £31,999.92 and repairs and maintenance to the 2022/23 Brookside Methodist Church P4 ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1147796 property which amounted to £5,565.41. Major items of expenditure were £1281.00 for a new PA System and £12000,00 for the refurbishment of the Ladies Powder Room. Funding for the Powder Room, came via a £6,000.00 grant from the National Lottery, £1,963.67, from donations raised and £4,038.33 from our General Fund Account. ## **Church Roof Fund** The amount borrowed from circuit was £7,500.00. A repayment programme of £208.33 per month over 36 months was agreed. To date 35 payments of £208.33 have been made leaving £208.33 outstanding. Balance on our Church Roof Fund stands at £439.26. ## **Church Funds** HSBC Current Account £ 25,997.21 CFB Deposit Account £ 29,028.63 Cash £ **Total £ 55,025.84** ## **Breakdown of Church Funds** General Fund £52,688.88, Caring £387.18, Benevolent Fund £426.01, Reserve & Property £123.30, Youth Club (including Unite) £961.23, Church Roof Fund £439.26. ## **Charitable Work** Our payment to the Connexional Fund continues to be £2,000.00. The following amounts have been raised for charity during this period. All We Can £52.14, Prostate Cancer £58.12, Action for Children £223.05, Dementia UK, 55.56, Myanmar Disaster £51.40 and Christian Aid £118.55. ## **Summary** A good year for the church with income exceeding expenditure by £6,000.00. I had thought that with the closure of the pre-school that we would be facing some difficult choices for the forthcoming year. Instead, we find ourselves in a position where the budget I have put to the finance committee allows us to run with a 3,000.00 deficit for the year with an Income figure of £56,000.00 and an Expenditure figure of 59,000.00. ## _George Barber, Treasurer_ ## **Pre-school finances (consolidated with the Church Accounts)** The balance brought forward at 1 September 2024 was £43,955.88, Income for the year was £57,499.06. Expenditure for the year was £92,380.46, including all redundancy payments to staff. The closing balance on 31st August 2025 was £9074.48. A £30 gift voucher was given to the independent examiner, following the examination of the accounts in September 2025 and the final balance of £9044.48 was transferred to Brookside Methodist church on 2nd October 2025. The bank account has now been closed. 2022/23 Brookside Methodist Church P5 **Registered Charity Number: 1147796** ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** ## ## **Report on behalf of** **To** Brookside Methodist Church 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 18/03/26 P a g e | **6** Brookside Methodist Church ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH Registered Charity Number: 1147796** **1. General** Funds held at Y/E 31/8/25 £52,688.88 **2** . **Restricted** Funds held Y/E 31/8/25 £1,949.80 **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 six months running costs. This equates to about £29,000.00. The General Fund is non-allocated money for the day to day running of the church. The Fund is supported by regular Lettings and Offertorys donation amounting to about £45,000.00 for the last year. 5. **Policy for Restricted Funds** The Church's Restricted Funds of £1950.00, are held in the Property Reserve Fund, Benevolent Fund, Youth Club, Church Roof Fund & Ladies Powder Room. Both the Church Roof Fund and Ladies Powder Room have now been completed. 6. Terms relating to Endowment Funds This Reserves Policy has been approved by Brookside Methodist Church Council (*Church Council /Circuit Meeting /District ) Treasurer Trustee George Barber 18/03/26 P a g e | **7** Brookside Methodist Church **Registered Charity Number: 1147796** ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** ## **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 appointed by the Council, 4 elected stewards, 15 elected general representatives, 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 twice 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, Finance, Property, Worship 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 18/03/26 P a g e | **8** Brookside Methodist Church ## **BROOKSIDE METHODIST CHURCH** ## **Registered Charity Number: 1147796** Trustees (Church Council members) serving at the date of this report are: Rev Colin Sherwood (Minister and Chair) Mrs Cathy Ruffles (Pastoral Secretary) Mr David Whiting (Steward) Mrs Sue Grice (Steward) Mr George Barber (Treasurer and Steward) Mr Anthony Storey (Property Steward) Mr Paul Abel (Circuit Steward) Mrs Chris Hardman (Secretary) Mr Pete Grice Mrs Claire Holden Mrs Valerie Ostler Miss Joanna Parkin Mrs Liz Storey Mr Brian Thornton Mrs Madeline Whiting Mrs Anne Yeoman Other Trustees who served during the year were: Mr Joshua Miranda Mrs Angela Cummins Mrs Lyn Gurney Mr Alan Newcombe Mrs Maureen Newcombe Mrs Elizabeth Thompson Approved by the Stewards on behalf of Brookside Church Council on and signed on their behalf by: Rev Colin Sherwood (Chair) Chris Hardman (Church Secretary) 18/03/26 P a g e | **9** Brookside Methodist Church CHURCH RECEIFfs AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE MEfHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS '200￿S1 i) Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025 Ect6￿￿e￿aL{GH Circult Clr¢tht 3a1 R•alstsr￿ Ch•rlty. Charbty Rw•trth numb•r If not a r*8tered ch*ity HIB MaJ•8ty• R•v•nu• and Customs Gift Ald mmbor (rhe HMRC number Is equlvalwrt to 8 regl*ered charfty number in tm of evklenr* of (tsfftable ststus 8nd may b8 u8ed to give to ¢S)nors or grant funders wtshlNJ to 9ee eMda￿ of the organTrsatton's ch8rltable status. MethLhJlyl charliies in EThJland and Wales that are not reglstered ch8rlUe8 are excepted from registrat￿ under Slatirtw Instrnment 2014 No2421 11417gb Chwth Stewath: ,J 1 1 1fv14 -rnSH Mielpfvj 4.4 4aiL4t 6.K6 1of5 £COUNTS FOR ThE YEAR ENDED 31 AU(W 2025 Church SECTION A Total$1•5t Fund a1 RECEIFrs Bank and CFB irrterost and Irwostmwt income 3Lg*3 a3 138* 13SIfr a4 as oitw r￿IptS TOTAL RECEPTS 86 Its790 IICa iè 62+ (a7) SECTION 8 PAYMEPUS b1 b3 DonatitX)8 34&S I¢Ci' 8 and Maintenone• Utilit￿S {In8urarThs. water c3 b5 118 b6 Ll b7 b8 TOTAL PAYAIENTS 1114*¥ SECTION C NEf RECEIPTSIPAYIIENT8 FOR THE YEAR Tolal funds bTW fc¥ward from 1051 yeor ¢1 2ts17 Sub total +¢2 TOTAL FUMDS AT END OF YEAR 1¢3+¢4) le8) {e8) SEcnoN D d1 foThMrd fr(¥n kst loL d2 LHkl It>0 Id14(f2413) 3%% 8QocASI )É AAE4vu.34 SECniThE nii 3it gL 701 .¥ 104s.Ll tam (cn YCHURCH nel￿￿￿ry1￿d YOTAL 8ECTIOII F CtrWffiCN-CA￿ FUM)8MELD•t31 CBBh Inhwd lo£i% 11 259 C¥*¥ F SL12L 3d5 t1￿174￿ Name ofClwn*..................................................................... Declarations and Scrutiny Pf8pared frcKn thg ofthg that WKknJe aN fthds utxler th& ccffltrd of the Churth lo. Io. i)AS N4TuH , ￿ 8JL'US.H I confimi the annual and &cwnts frx th8 erAl8d 31 W 2025 b•. SlgnatUTe olthe Cknirof ........ Na￿ olthp Ch*offv ................ Indepèndent Examlnorfs Roport to th• Tnjstees olth• ..Church l<•wnBlbNltles and bAsl• rfr•pwt for Ihe yearerKled 31 ALyt 2025 set ￿8$.1. kn A. As ts C￿¥￿I.S we 2011 Ilhe Prt). under 8eclion 14515Xbl crflhe PLL 4f*5 11(4LYq Nameof Church................................ ................................................... Indopendent Examinerfs Statem I have comF*eted my sxaminatb)n. l that IM) Malerk￿ Matte￿ have come to my attention in connection with the examinat1(￿ (0th8r than that dlsclosed beky*f) which give me cause to b81iev8 that In, any matWi81 respect: the accounllng records wefe f￿1 kept in a￿)rdance with s￿n 130 of u￿ Art or the accounts do not accord with the acccAJnting records. I have no L7)ncems and have ¢rfft across no other matter5 in Connectic￿ wlth the examlnatkjn to which attenllon sh¢￿Id be drawTb in this reFX)rt in order to enat48 a proper und8rstsnding of the accounts to b8 reached. I l*?Ihave not. cola1n￿ independent ￿TIf￿al￿)n of ￿ inve8trnents wlth the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held In other trusts. bank bglavKes and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodlst chu￿ which arn lrvj1￿ua1ty In 8xcess of £10.000 (te￿ thcwsand w)unds) at th8 balanc8 sheet dale. S￿natUre of Indepw)denl ex8mlner Name of Srmjependent exanwn8r .. AI L HAno...... Q Relevant professlon81 qualillcatlon of indep8ndent examiner ............................................ Name of fwm (wt*re appropriate) ................................................................................. ..1) tr ftril.8.. Cj11 o !! fri . delete or circle as akwropriate 5ofS CHURCH RECEIFfs AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE MEfHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS '200￿S1 i) Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025 Ect6￿￿e￿aL{GH Circult Clr¢tht 3a1 R•alstsr￿ Ch•rlty. Charbty Rw•trth numb•r If not a r*8tered ch*ity HIB MaJ•8ty• R•v•nu• and Customs Gift Ald mmbor (rhe HMRC number Is equlvalwrt to 8 regl*ered charfty number in tm of evklenr* of (tsfftable ststus 8nd may b8 u8ed to give to ¢S)nors or grant funders wtshlNJ to 9ee eMda￿ of the organTrsatton's ch8rltable status. MethLhJlyl charliies in EThJland and Wales that are not reglstered ch8rlUe8 are excepted from registrat￿ under Slatirtw Instrnment 2014 No2421 11417gb Chwth Stewath: ,J 1 1 1fv14 -rnSH Mielpfvj 4.4 4aiL4t 6.K6 1of5 £COUNTS FOR ThE YEAR ENDED 31 AU(W 2025 Church SECTION A Total$1•5t Fund a1 RECEIFrs Bank and CFB irrterost and Irwostmwt income 3Lg*3 a3 138* 13SIfr a4 as oitw r￿IptS TOTAL RECEPTS 86 Its790 IICa iè 62+ (a7) SECTION 8 PAYMEPUS b1 b3 DonatitX)8 34&S I¢Ci' 8 and Maintenone• Utilit￿S {In8urarThs. water c3 b5 118 b6 Ll b7 b8 TOTAL PAYAIENTS 1114*¥ SECTION C NEf RECEIPTSIPAYIIENT8 FOR THE YEAR Tolal funds bTW fc¥ward from 1051 yeor ¢1 2ts17 Sub total +¢2 TOTAL FUMDS AT END OF YEAR 1¢3+¢4) le8) {e8) SEcnoN D d1 foThMrd fr(¥n kst loL d2 LHkl It>0 Id14(f2413) 3%% 8QocASI )É AAE4vu.34 SECniThE nii 3it gL 701 .¥ 104s.Ll tam (cn YCHURCH nel￿￿￿ry1￿d YOTAL 8ECTIOII F CtrWffiCN-CA￿ FUM)8MELD•t31 CBBh Inhwd lo£i% 11 259 C¥*¥ F SL12L 3d5 t1￿174￿ Name ofClwn*..................................................................... Declarations and Scrutiny Pf8pared frcKn thg ofthg that WKknJe aN fthds utxler th& ccffltrd of the Churth lo. Io. i)AS N4TuH , ￿ 8JL'US.H I confimi the annual and &cwnts frx th8 erAl8d 31 W 2025 b•. SlgnatUTe olthe Cknirof ........ Na￿ olthp Ch*offv ................ Indepèndent Examlnorfs Roport to th• Tnjstees olth• ..Church l<•wnBlbNltles and bAsl• rfr•pwt for Ihe yearerKled 31 ALyt 2025 set ￿8$.1. kn A. As ts C￿¥￿I.S we 2011 Ilhe Prt). under 8eclion 14515Xbl crflhe PLL 4f*5 11(4LYq Nameof Church................................ ................................................... Indopendent Examinerfs Statem I have comF*eted my sxaminatb)n. l that IM) Malerk￿ Matte￿ have come to my attention in connection with the examinat1(￿ (0th8r than that dlsclosed beky*f) which give me cause to b81iev8 that In, any matWi81 respect: the accounllng records wefe f￿1 kept in a￿)rdance with s￿n 130 of u￿ Art or the accounts do not accord with the acccAJnting records. I have no L7)ncems and have ¢rfft across no other matter5 in Connectic￿ wlth the examlnatkjn to which attenllon sh¢￿Id be drawTb in this reFX)rt in order to enat48 a proper und8rstsnding of the accounts to b8 reached. I l*?Ihave not. cola1n￿ independent ￿TIf￿al￿)n of ￿ inve8trnents wlth the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held In other trusts. bank bglavKes and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodlst chu￿ which arn lrvj1￿ua1ty In 8xcess of £10.000 (te￿ thcwsand w)unds) at th8 balanc8 sheet dale. S￿natUre of Indepw)denl ex8mlner Name of Srmjependent exanwn8r .. AI L HAno...... Q Relevant professlon81 qualillcatlon of indep8ndent examiner ............................................ Name of fwm (wt*re appropriate) ................................................................................. ..1) tr ftril.8.. Cj11 o !! fri . delete or circle as akwropriate 5ofS