## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 1st September 2022 Period start date To 31[st] August 2023 Period end date**
## **Charity name: Nantwich with Broad Lane Methodist Church**
## **Charity registration number: 1170226**
## **Objectives and Activities**
|||
|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|We are a local Methodist Church, primarily a worshipping
and praying fellowship of Christians. Our mission
statement is to “Show Christ to Others”.
We meet for a weekly act of worship at 2 church buildings
in Nantwich in Hospital Street and Broad Lane.
Our worship is advertised and all are welcome to attend.
Additional services are held at Easter and Christmas and
occasional all age worship.
We seek to provide opportunity for prayer, Bible study and
fellowship through various activities at church. All groups
are advertised with an open invitation to attend.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|We provide a number of regular activities to support both
members of the church and people in need within the
community. We also make the building available for
community use.
Regular activities include:
**Drop’n’Shop**
This provides activities for primary school aged children on
a Saturday morning, allowing parents free time to shop.
This meets once per month.
**Friendship Group**
This is a monthly group to support socially isolated people.
People meet for chat, games, craft activities and
occasional speakers on relevant topics.
**Noah’s Ark**
This is a weekly group aimed at very young children and
their parents and carers. The aim is to introduce children to
the teachings of Jesus through story, song and craft
alongside time for free play.
**Thursday Lunches**
Monthly lunches provide a further opportunity for fellowship
and social interaction and are very popular.
**Coffee Club**
A weekly coffee club is held at Broad Lane to combat
social isolation.
**Train Rides**
Free rides are offered every Saturday morning on the
miniature railway running alongside the church. This|
1
||provides opportunity to engage with people and for
fundraising. Donations received are split between four
children’s charities.
The train operated as a “royal train” for the coronation of
the King.
**Brownies**
Brownies meet at the church on a weekly basis and take
part in occasional all-age worship on a Sunday morning.
**Warm Spaces**
The church remained open after the Sunday morning
service until around 3.00pm to provide a “warm space” for
anyone concerned about heating their own home or for
people seeking companionship in a warm safe
environment. This took place weekly from October to
March. People were provided with a hot drink and soup,
toast or teacake.
**Ecumenical outreach activities**
Members of the church have continued to support
mentoring of pupils at Brine Leas High School.
Assemblies have been led at Acton and Worleston primary
schools.
Churches Together provided a presence at the Nantwich
Show, undertaking a litter pick as a means of engaging
with people and also provided a baby change facility.
A Christmas Day lunch was held for people who would
otherwise be on their own. Transport was provided if
required, a traditional Christmas meal and entertainment.
**Use of premises by external organisations**
The premises are used on a regular basis by a
Bereavement group. We have received a grant from
Cheshire East to make rooms available free of charge for
community groups such as this.
The building is also offered for hire to external
organisations and is being used by Nantwich Choral
Society, Baby Time, U3A History Group, and the Modelling
Group.|
|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty
in Section 17 of the Charities Act having due regard to
public benefit as per guidance published by the Charity
Commission.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|||
|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|We do not make grants. We make occasional collections
and donations for specific purposes such as emergency
disaster relief|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|N/A|
|Contribution made by|All activities are highly dependent on volunteers, mostly
from church members but with some support for|
2
|volunteers|Drop’n’Shop, the train and warm spaces from community
volunteers. Noah’s Ark is supported by a lay worker
employed by the Circuit..
Due to a fall in member numbers and increasing age, the
number of active volunteers has reduced but the
volunteers we have make an enormous contribution. The
expansion of activities is limited by the availability of
volunteers.|
|---|---|
|**Achievements and Performance**||
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|**Sunday Worship**
We have been pleased to welcome the “Young Voices”
choir to all age worship for Mothering Sunday and harvest
festival.
A special “remembering “service was held before
Christmas for people who have been bereaved.
A monthly Sunday evening “Open Table” communion
service was introduced in December .
We have been pleased to host open table which is run by,
and for, LGBTQIA+ people, their friends and families. We
welcome people of any faith, colour or background. We
welcome people of every gender identity and sexual
orientation. This has been well attended with people
enjoying a simple meal together before the service.
**Activities**
All activities have been sustained throughout the year.
Attendance has increased although some have not fully
returned to pre-pandemic levels. Outreach is provided to
young families through Noah’s Ark and Drop’n’Shop and to
older, socially isolated people through the Friendship
Group and lunches. The group is open to people with
dementia and we are a “dementia friendly” church.
Warm Spaces was successful in attracting a number of
younger, socially excluded people who would not
traditionally attend church events.|
|---|---|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|
|---|---|
|Achievements against
objectives set|**Performance against 2021-22 Objectives**
**_Appointment of a lay worker during 2022/23 to support_**
**_the activities of a group of churches within the circuit_**
**_working together as a “hub”_**
This has been deferred pending research into local needs
assessment and how a lay worker could best be used..
**_Application to Cheshire East Social Franchise to_**
**_become a Connected Communities Centre._**
This bid was successful. In return for the grant, we have
provided free rooms for Warm Space and Bereavement
Support. The grant included a sum for IT which has been
used to install a smart TV in the coffee lounge and main
lounges
**_Schools Outreach. To offer a Remembrance Event for_**
**_2 local primary schools in November 2022_**_._
This was not possible to plan within the timescale and
availability of the lay worker.
**_Christmas Day Lunch. To work with Churches_**|
3
||**_Together to host a Christmas Day lunch for people_**
**_who would otherwise be alone_**_._
This was achieved and much appreciated by
approximately 40 people who attended.
**_To introduce regular “open table” communion_**
**_services._**
This commenced in December 2022 on a monthly basis.
**_To make an application for registration with the_**
**_Inclusive Church Network_**_._
The application was supported by the Church Council in
March 2023 and the application submitted and approved.
The Church is registered for same sex marriage and the
first same sex wedding took place in July.|
|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|The Church has been concerned about reduced income
against increased costs. This has been drawn to the
attention of all members. In addition a “Gift Day” was held
in August to encourage one off additional donations. This
raised around £7,000.|
|Investment performance
against objectives|N/A|
|Other|**Objectives for 2023-24**
Appointment of a lay worker to support the activities
of a group of churches within the circuit working
together as a “hub”.
To enhance the offer of Drop’n’Shop to support
neurodiverse children. This would be dependent
on a successful grant application to a charitable
trust.
To extend Drop’n’Shop to weekly rather than
monthly meetings.
To support the development of a Street Angels
scheme in Nantwich by offering the premises as a
base.
To work with Churches Together to publish a leaflet
publicising church services and activities to
distribute to the new housing developments.
To develop the use of the church building as a
community centre.
School outreach – to support a mentorship scheme
at Malbank School. To offer the “Easter Hope”
interactive event to 2 local primary schools.|
4
**Financial Review**
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Accounts attached.
The financial forecast for 2022/23 was that the church
would need to draw on reserves. A fundraising initiative
was successful, however, and some members were able to
increase their regular contribution. The final position was a
surplus of £19,300|
|---|---|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|We have a small reserves account with the Methodist
Central Finance Board for contingencies|
|Amount of reserves held|2 deposits of £14,979 and £2,224 as at 31.08.2023|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|N/A|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|N/A|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|At present there are no uncertainties about the charity
continuing as a going concern.|
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|The main source of income is regular giving on a weekly
basis by members of the congregation. Gift Aid is claimed
as appropriate. This is supplemented by various
fundraising activities.
In addition, income is received from hire of the premises
and leasing car parking spaces.
We also received a grant from Cheshire East Council to be
a Connected Communities Centre, offering free use of the
premises to voluntary groups.|
|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|N/A|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|As the congregation continues to age, the risk of declining
membership is a reality. There is also the challenge from
rising costs and the potential need for expenditure to
replace equipment such as the boilers.|
5
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|**Structure, Governance**|**and Management**|
|---|---|
|Description of charity’s
trusts:||
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Nantwich with Broad Lane Methodist Church is part of the
‘Methodist Church of Great Britain’ whose status as a charity
has historically been derived from the Deed of Union 1932
and the Methodist Church Act 1976. We are connected to
Cheshire South Methodist Circuit which itself is part of the
Chester & Stoke-on-Trent Methodist District.
We operate in the administrative unitary authority area of
Cheshire East.
Our constitutional practices can be found in
www.methodist.org/ministers-and-office-holders/cpd|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|As a Methodist Society we are accountable to Circuit, District
and Connexion and are required to comply with regulations
laid down in the Constitution, Practice and Discipline of the
Methodist Church, which is updated annually. As a Society
we make decisions at Church Council meetings of which we
are required to hold at least two per year and more as and
when required by the local situations. Voting members of
Church Council must be members of The Methodist Church
of Great Britain and trustees of Nantwich with Broad Lane
Methodist Church. The Church Council is supported by a
number of sub-committees responsible for such things as
finance, property, stewards, pastoral care.|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Church Council members are the Trustees. The Chair is the
minister who is employed by the Methodist Church at national
level and stationed at the invitation of the local Circuit.
The Council is made up of:
Church stewards
Treasurer
Property Steward
Pastoral Secretary
Church Council Secretary
Representatives of the congregation.
The appointments are made at the Church General Meeting
and confirmed annually. The appointments should be for no
longer than 6 years but this can be extended by agreement if
there are no alternative volunteers.|
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charityname|Nantwich with Broad Lane Methodist Church|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1170226|
|Charity’s principal address|Nantwich with Broad Lane Methodist Church
c/o The Church Office
Hospital Street
Nantwich CW5 5RP.|
6
**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Rev. Robin Fox|Chair|||
||Sheila Crosbie|Secretary|||
||Yvonne Alcock|Treasurer|||
||John Walkington|PropertySteward|||
||Margaret Kirkman|Pastoral Secretary|||
||Elizabeth Grundy|Senior Steward|||
||Marcus Appleby|Church Steward|||
||John Coulter|Church Steward|||
||Edward George|Church Steward|||
||David Maidment|Church Steward|||
||Eileen Robertson|Church Steward|||
||Patricia Maidment|Circuit Steward|||
||Erik Kirkman|Associated
Presbyter|||
||Jaqueline Holland||||
||Denise Lawson||||
||Joyce Platt||||
||Anne Robinson||||
||Doreen Thomas||||
## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
## **Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
7
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
N/A
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)** Rev Robin Fox
Sheila Crosbie
**Position (eg Secretary,** Chair **Chair, etc)**
**Date** 26.2.24
8
|
Receipts and Payments accountfor|
theyearen|
ded 31st August2023|
ded 31st August2023|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|GEI{ERALFUI{DS.RECEIPTS||2022I2023
f€|||2021I2022
€€|||
|O{ferings & Tax recovercd
Colbdiorsdr||6,1ffi-17||E|5,618.64|||
|RegdarCh,AB||1,511-{X}||E|2,445.00|||
|StandhgOnders
GiftAkr
Belnk,Cft&lwegtngft rprrp
lnbresf{Btrt&CFB}
fefl*rf||18,{x)8_S
t{t358.71|S,{5{r,1
57:&75|€18,631.96
€
-||E
I|26,695.60
46.32|
|Roomlke|||9,3Ht*.S|||I|6,985.90|
|O&efieea{E
CarParkFees||&rts.{X)||||t|7,750.50|
|Cate*qinaon{erd!'a**qg}
DonatforEGDCtrffitr||4,{6.[-96
93r3.88||f.
€|2,412.02
591.55|||
|DonalisrteCtfircfttromfrnn€t*ffiUp
GrantB
lnterndOrggisdbnDoodiorB||1"57-m
33S.00
,{}-00||I
E|500.00
301.42|||
|Wffirgersdbes
S{ilarR6rd||rm.00
r,s29||f
E|780.00
1,554.42|||
|tt{EscelkteoefuceipE|||29f5cr3|t|257.00|E|6,396.01|
|GE$ERALFTTI{DSTOTARECETPTS|||75'584.82|||E|47,874.33|
|GETiIERILFUT.DS- PAYUETT'S||||||||
|Circuit Asessment,orShare||||||||
|AsssaerE|||32,250-00|||t|42,699.96|
|Oon&rs||||||||
|Donalids-CorsGrdio$d
Donaliom-OfsFrm&||50-ms.fit||||t|2,725.00|
|Repc,irs<larin#rlane
Repairs&iffienarre
Cleanirgoeb|IYZIS
18Ar_45||q?8r-73|f
€|4,805.84
936.00|E|5,741.84|
|lJdlilics(hrurcnce,WaW,Hafrng&lighting)
ln$trarcetl&ErGs
uitrtft:s
FurdraisirgEAs
OufreadrFurd||3,i[S7-76
u,fin-w.
1,33,*-60
388.77|rs,zBts|f
t
€
€|3,180.00
5,502.84
863.42
1,549.13|€|8,682.84|
|Grante)esffi.re
Tehfiorrc&Broe&rd||1,3[il].07
s65.GB||€|
s90.98|||
|OtreErF6||ffi.06||f|98s.35|||
|lrlis€$steorspalments||11524|q976,82|€|678.06|[|4,666.94|
|GEI{ERALFUXDSTOTALPAYffixTS|||5q384-et|||c|64,516.58|
|GESEIALRTITS|FORnErErn||rgp0o.s|||-€|16,U2.25|
|Restricted Funds Receipts&Payments|OponingBal
necelpt3|OponingBal
necelpt3|PaymentsClosingBa!||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Conns Funds(JMA)
Conn Funds (EasterOftrirg/WorldMission)
Action forcfiildren|5ffi-99
0.00
fi7.37|1243.87
2o,2-w
100,00|-1750.86
-n2.N
487.37|0.00
0.00
0.00|
|Allu,eCan
FoodBank
Pakistan
St Lukes|100,00
0.00
0.00
0.00|1135.00
97.10
141.00
57.12|-1235.00
-97.10
-141.00
-57-12|0_00
0.00
0.00
0.00|
|Turkey Earthquake
Ukraine Mission|0.00
0.00|527.10
115.00|-527.10
-115.00|0.00
0.00|
|TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS|974.fi|3618.19|4592.55|0.00|
|AccountAnalysis|||
|---|---|---|
|Unrestricted Funds|24200.55756il.6256384.23|43500.94|
|Restricied Funds|974.#3618.194592.55|0.00|
|TOTAL|25174.9',t79W2.8160976,78|43500.94|
##
##
|2544|1054.@|
|---|---|
|22545|{67.37|
|22546|2418.10|
|2547|476.@|
|DilA|8.25|
|2549
ffi|69.6|
##
|sepaE*e||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Women's Fellowship|Openingbalance
110.31|Receipts
521.94|PaymentsClosingBalance
239.20393.05|
|Drop'n'Shop
Men's supperclub
Friendship Group
Church Flcmers
PastoralFloilers
Noah'sArk|271.64
156.81
2!t1_94
17.37
59.74
203.08|2327.27
0.00
3,,8.%
92.m
0.00
213.10|2287.88310.99
0.00156.81
350.54249_68
108"09't.28
54.85
4.89
265.99150"19|
||1070.85|3502_59|3306.551266.89|
##
##
##
##