2024-08-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1st September 2023 Period start date To 31[st] August 2024 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

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provides opportunity to engage with people and for fundraising. Donations received are split between four children’s charities. A special “Santa train” operated in December with opportunity to meet Father Christmas.. Brownies Brownies meet at the church on a weekly basis and take part in occasional all-age worship on a Sunday morning. Ecumenical outreach activities Members of the church have continued to support mentoring of pupils at Brine Leas and Malbank High Schools 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  Nantwich Historical Society  Nantwich Model Engineers Club  Nantwich Youth Theatre  Roses (cancer) Group  Conexus (youth mentoring)

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:	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 volunteers	All activities are highly dependent on volunteers, mostly from church members but with some support for Drop’n’Shop, and the train from community volunteers. Noah’s Ark is supported by a lay worker employed by the Circuit. We are dependent on a small number of dedicated
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volunteers who make an enormous contribution to the running of the church activities. The volunteers are predominantly older people who undertake as many of the tasks as they are able to..

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 introduced a crèche to meet the need of 2 families with children with special needs who have joined the church. This enables the parents to attend the service. We have also provided age appropriate activities for an older child in the family. We have been pleased to include the Brownies in taking part in all age worship. They have prepared presentations and have assisted with special services such as harvest and a gift service at the start of advent. We have also welcomed the “Young Voices” choir to participate in special events. A “remembering “service was again held before Christmas for people who have been bereaved. We have continued to host the “Open Table” communion service monthly on a Sunday evening. This is run by, and for, LGBTQIA+ people, their friends and families. This has been well attended with people enjoying a simple meal together before the service. The church is registered with the Inclusive Church Network. We welcome people of any faith, colour or background, and of every gender identity and sexual orientation. Activities All regular activities have continued throughout the year. 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.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set

Performance against 2023-24 Objectives Appointment of a lay worker to support the activities of a group of churches within the circuit working together as a “hub”. The South Cheshire Methodist Circuit has agreed the appointment of a community development worker for the Nantwich Whitchurch and Rural hub. It is hoped that the post will be filled in 2024-25. To enhance the offer of Drop’n’Shop to support neurodiverse children. A grant application to a charitable trust was made for equipment and staffing costs to support this development. Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful. Alternative grants are being pursued. To extend Drop’n’Shop to weekly rather than monthly meetings. This has not been possible due to the lack of sufficient

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	volunteers and the failure of the funding application as above. To support the development of a Street Angels scheme in Nantwich by offering the premises as a base. The church is providing the base for the Street Angels scheme which commenced in December 2023 operating weekly on Saturday nights. To work with Churches Together to publish a leaflet publicising church services and activities to distribute to the new housing developments. The leaflet was completed and published and is now available for use. To develop the use of the church building as a community centre. Research was undertaken about the best way to proceed, including visiting a church in Biddulph where this approach had been successful. Advice was obtained from the District Projects Officer. This resulted in a proposal to appoint a Centre Development Manager. Funding for the post has been obtained from the Circuit and a job description agreed for recruitment to proceed in 2024-25 School outreach – to support a mentorship scheme at Malbank School. This has been implemented with volunteer mentors supporting several pupils. To offer the “Easter Hope” interactive event to 3 local primary schools. Three events took place in March 2024 with pupils from Highfields and Acton primary schools attending the church and volunteers delivering the event at Worleston primary school.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Despite falling membership and attendance, income from donations is broadly in line with the previous year. Income from lunches and coffee mornings has increased as we have been able to offer more events.
Investment performance against objectives	N/A
Other	Objectives for 2024-25  Appointment of a Centre Development Manager to develop the use of the church building as a community centre.  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 offer “Easter Hope” interactive events to 3 primary schools  To develop as an “Eco-Church”. Grant applications will be made for the purchase of storage batteries for the energy generated by the solar panels which are already fitted.

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Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Accounts attached. The financial forecast for 2023/4 was a break even position. Income from donations and fund raising has been maintained. Income from room lettings has increased. Expenditure has increased but has been carefully managed and the overall position was a financial surplus of almost £12,000.
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	A deposit of £21,039 is held as at 31.08.2024
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.

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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? (	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.

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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

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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

Sheila Crosie Signature(s) Robin Fox Sheila Crosbie Full name(s) Rev Robin Fox

Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc)

Date 24.02.25

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NA14TWICH HÉTIIODIST CHURCH {with Broad Lne} Choflty Number. 1170226 Rw4pt8 Payrnètrts xtoiiirtforth•yw•ndod 31stAugvrt2024 202J 12024 p￿1 GENEIiAL FUNDS- RECELPTS 202Z 12023 £ 6.186.17 E 1 511.IXI E18.1ts8.96 £10.￿.72 E 26.154.84 c￿t￿￿$ rash R￿Ular&WrO 6222. 5.740.(K) 16.012.(N) 7fft5794 ¥OJIVJ $78.75 Inrest (Bank &CFBI 9.394.K) Rootn Hlre Car Patk Fee5 catenr￿ 91499) 6A15.97 5.480 87 8.945.OJ £ 4.464. E 9.313.88 140.TrJ £ 1.267. E 3250.CQ IpJ).Tr) £ 1.99529 3.S20 rK) 1650J 1.409.95 27A7&29 2D.611.13 GENEPAL FVflDSTOTAL RECEIPTS 74961A6 GEIIEPAL FUNDS- PAYMEMTS CIKcuitAHeS3m￿r orsha As8Éssmert 32250. WI4E3 ow￿n5. Donauw5-IMlw Fu e l.Wi728 £ 1,854.45 £ R￿pa￿s & klanen¥ costs 2611.19 471565 3.781.73 7.32U4 £ 3.497 76 £11.T27.92 £ £ 1.334. £ 33871 £ 1.3J).07 In¥ulan￿￿ LKerKs 3.584.74 12.$50.99 1.839.77 110.04 16.13&73 15225.88 Fu￿[al$￿ E tknach F G1antexr￿￿1￿re TekphonÈ& Brolbar 1.822.59 1.035.74 746.94 £ W)3.C 11S.24 £ S.076.82 GENEIiALFUNDS TOTALPAYMWS 6403128 li.?￿50 19.X¥J.39 £/z/ L< Rev

R•strkW Fwnts &PrymMts Cmns Furth{J￿1 or 150 46737 46737 44177 -46177 10fQ 10C p?￿slan St Lukes MHA TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS c•J 11974S -1￿745 -10 AccouMAna 11974S IYJ74S -io.tyj TOTAL 4YffjY 7715931 ￿ 73 Sufflm•ry ol WFunds w•FII Petty&¥h nk Cutrentfvuxxw 2712 34.354.46 21.03&.94 2712 14.97867 2.224.51 47,611.72 411078 I3.￿.94 55.&W 52 T(1 55.43J 52 55.4)).52 TOTALGENEFiL FUPK15 AT El￿oF IEAR 3&4.52 f212023 21MPGts141 t 3.￿6￿$.11) É 3.420.715. É ￿.229.￿1 I￿.541. 14.673 (X) E 220.$9)ty) 15.WC•) Wom￿,5 Fdltrsfip Drop'ft. Shjp 269) 7417 -156 81 5597 37S96 I￿98 310 99 15fj81 249fj8 JW16 Fnen¢8hipG Churth Fl(Mprs 16 2.78 ah's

.10 9.12 Q94.19 4239.14 rn.87

Independeni Ex•mlner'5 Report to ihe Trus¢es of Il•niwlth Methodlst Church The repori relates 10 th(. ChulLli ALiouDts for the y¢ar ended 31 Auiusi ZOZ4 Respedlve rnsponslblllthes ol Trusiees and Examlnef The chariiy'5 t11151ees ale wespon51ble fo¥ the preparaiion ol the accounls. The charlty's tf115tees onsider that an audit 15 not requlred for ihls year under sedion 144 of the Charlde5 Act 2011 and thaf Independent Examinatlon Is Treeded. It Is the examiner's responsibility to- Examine the accounis under Sectlon 145 of the Chariiie5 Act Follow the procedure5 laid down in the general Direction5 given by the Charity Commission lundef seciTon 145ISllbl of the Charitie5 Art. Stare whether particular matters have come to hislher attention. Basis of Independent Examiners Report My examinatson was carried out in accordance with general direcrion5 given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review ol ihe accountin8 records kept by the Char￿ and comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It a150 includes consideration of any unusual item5 or disclosures in the accounts and seekinz explanations ffom the 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 Eiven a5 to whether the accounts present 'true and tsir. view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent Examiners Statement In connection with my examination. no matter ha5 come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the ￿quirements. l. To keep oc¢ounDnq records in occordonte with section 130 of the Chorities Act.- 2. To prepore occounts which occord with the uccounring records ond comply with the accounting requirements of the Churiries Act and re9ulution5 have not been met or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandin8 of the accounts to be reached. I have obtained independent verification of all bank balances and funds at the Centrnl Finance Board of the Methodist Chufch ICFBI 4ftl<AaV Date: •<?.01.202< Name.. Signature.. Relevant Professiona qualification or bodv: Address: 44421 4JiLk£ #￿>￿E grr4 eoLQ)