lJnity Math151 Churd) Unity Methodist Church Registered Charity 1173520 TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2024 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Unity Methodist Church IUMC) Is based in Sandbach, Cheshire. It formally came into belng in September 2020 and was formed with the merging of three Methodist Churches, Sandbach, Wheelock and Sandbach Heath Methodist Churches. UMC Is part of Cheshire South Methodlst Circuit and Ss an actlve member of Churches Together In Sandbach. In the sprlng of 2024, UMC sold the slte of Sandbach Heath Methodist Church, whlch means that UMC now has responslbility for two sites and over 110 church members. Now that the sale of Sandbach Heath has gone through, steps have been taken to start the next part of the project- to refurbish and redevelop the Hancock Hall in the rear-half of the New Horizons site, to provide modern and welcoming space for church and community activities in Wheelock, but partlcularly to be the centre for UMC'S work with children, young people and thelr farnilles. All our bulldings at Wesley Avenue and at New Horizons are used by the church or hired out for a wide range of communlty activities and organlsations throughout the week. Trustees 2023/24: Jayne Bunn Karen Foster Carolyn Lawrance Pauline Sherwin Ellen Cieka Robert Glassonbury Katy Lowe Norma Stolworthy Tlmothy Cooke Ann Horsfield Stephen Parker-Aiken Elizabeth Trlnder Nilda Eyre Cynthia Kelly Alan Pimlott OBJEcfivES AND ACTIVITIES Our weekly prayer group continues to meet both in person and on Zoom. An Advent study group met in December 2023 and a new Fellowship group has started in September 2024. We continue to worship weekly at the Wesley Avenue site in Sandbach, with a monthly"Breakfast Church" for young families at our New Horizons site in Wheelock and an All-Age service four times a year at New Horizons, where we welcome children and families from Scouting and Guiding groups who meet on the premises. We a150 continue to hold a monthly Contemporary Worship Service. Our Saturday Coffee Mornings are particularly appreciated by those living alone and by members from the local Dementia Friendly Sandbach group. In addition, Unity provides a monthly community hot lunch meal at its Wheelock site, which is well received with a variety of other social events provided during the year. Unity Methodist Church AnnuolReportondAccouf)ts 2024
Our two toddler group sessions, Stepping Stones, continue to thrive, under the supervision of our Circuit Children and Family Workers. We have welcomed children from the local primary school to New Horizons for a session on Baptism and In December 2023 we hosted "Hope Journey" for a local Primary School, explaining the Christmas story through drama/role play. We also ran a Holiday Club for primary-age children over four days in August 2024, called "Whizzl Ban81 Wowl" where we explored the wonders of Science and Faith. Unity continues to serve the local community through its the partnership with other churches in Churches Together in Sandbach. Together we have held an outdoor carol service in the centre of town, provided a Christmas Day lunch for those who would otherwise be on their own, welcomed drama group who performed a moving Passion Play for the community at Easter and had a 'Christians together" stall at the Sandbach Pride Festival in September. The Foodbank, based in the Wesley Centre Sandbach, contlnues to operate and is reportin8 a steady increase In numbers of those being referred. It remalns an internal organization of Unity but with 5UPPOrt from members of other local churches. The Community Food Pantry is also based in The Wesley Centre, and Is continuing to support local households to cope with the cost of livin8 by offering food and toiletries at substantially reduced rates. Thls is an internal organisation of Unity Methodist Church and is run by volunteers from Churches Together and from the local community. It has been a vltal source of support to many in the area including a warm space for a chat over a cup of coffee and prayer support when requested. In 2024 the Pantry has also been building links wlth other agencies who can offer support to pantry members. Mentell, a mental-health charity for men, has visited and it's hoped that Citizens, Advice will be able to visit in the near future. Unity also aims to be informed about the needs of the wider world, encouraglng Its members to pray and work for peace and justice and continuing to support the work of Christian Aid and the Methodlst development and ald agency, "All We Can" In September 2023 Unlty welcomed a new Min15ter, Revd. Carolyn Lawrance on a 5 year invltatlon. FINANCIAL REVIEW FINANCE REPORT The method of accounting used Is that of Recelpts and Payments and the Methodist Standard Form of Accounts, which is attached to thls report, summarises the Receipts and Payments for the year ending 31 August 2024. Church Receipts were £130,905 and Payments amounted to £132,617, leaving a shortfall of £1,712, which Is much lower than forecasted because at the end of the year we received two refunds: £9,407 from the Circuit for the costs of maintaining the Sandbach Heath property during the sale period, and £5,428 from the Connexion, belng a refund of the £5,000 donation made to the Penslon Fund in 2022 with interest. Voluntary 8iving in the form of regular giving, tax recovered and one-off donations amounted to £43,848 which is an increase of £2,456 on the previous year. The biggest outgoing was the Circuit Assessment of £56,681. The chart below illustrates the gap between Voluntary Giving and Circuit Assessment for the past three year5. Unity Methodist Cljurch Anttl Rept>rt ¢indAtcounts 2024
Voluntary Giving and Circuit Assessment 2021-2024 Forecast for 2024-2025 2023-2024 2022.2023 2021-2022 £0 £10,000 £20,000 £30,000 £40,000 £50,000 £60,000 £70,000 Clrcult Assessment Voluntary Glvlng Ideally, we would like Voluntary Glvlng to increase to cover the Clrcuit Assessment as our income from Lettlngs and Fundraising is needed to cover other expenditure such as buildings repairs and maintenance, insurance and utility costs. An urgent repair to the roof of the Wesley Centre thls year Incurred a cost of over £9.000 and utllity costs rose to £25,030, a 56% rlse on the prevlous year. In vlew of rising costs and the original forecasted deflcit of £8,000, It was agreed that a reductlon In the amount of donatlons pald out from funds thls year should be made. £3,825 was made in donation5 In comparlson to £7.598 last year. Volunteers work hard to look after the premlses and to organlse fundralslng events and it IS thanks to their efforts that income from Lettings was £45,489 and Fundralslng Events raised £18,168. RESERVES A Reserves Policy has been prepared. At 31 August 2024 the General Fund was £67.494. In addltion, there was a balance of £4,152 in a designated fund for the preliminary costs in developing New Horizons. Restricted funds total £3,464: £180 for Wesley Guild, £1,035 in the Charity Fund and £2,249 given specifically for projects in the Wheelock community. A draft Budget for 2024/25 has been prepared and the forecasted fl8ure for expendlture Is £125,923. It is our policy to hold 50% of anticipated expenditure in our reserves, whlch we are able to do this year. THE FUTURE In 2024-25 Circuit Assessment will increase to £61,215 and energy costs are likely to contlnue at a high level. The forecast shows that the shortfall by the end of the financial year could be at least £7,500. Whilst the Reserves will cover this, we need to find ways of raising even more funds in the future so that Receipts and Payments will at least break even. A Gift Day is being considered as a way of increasing Voluntary Giving. Unity Methodist Churth Annuol Report undAccounts 2024
DECLARATIONS The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charitls trustees: Signature Full name Carolyn Lawrance Position Chair Date Unity Methodist Church Annual Report rJndAccounts 2024
CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS UNITY METHODIST CHURCH FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 Cheshlre South Methodist Clrcult Clrcuit no. 1118 Reglster8d Charlty - Charlty Regi8tratlon number 1173520 If not a registered charity H18 Majesty's Revenue and Custom8 Glft Aid number (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) Minister: Rev Carolyn Lawrance Church Steward8: Nilda Eyre Cynthla Kelly Ann Horsfleld Paullne Sherwin Treasurer.. Ann Horsfield Standard Form of Accounts 2024
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 UNITY METHODIST CHURCH SECTION A Unrestrlctgd Restrictsd Totsl8 th18 Funds Funds year Totsls last year a1 RECEIPTS Not8 a2 Offerings and Tax recovered Bank and CFB intarest and Investment income Lettings Other receipts Foodbank, Lifeline and Wesley Guild TOTAL RECEIPTS 43.848 43,848 41,392 2,977 2,977 1,867 a4 45,489 37,020 45,489 38,239 353 41,536 31,451 10,751 126,998 a5 1,219 352.93 a6 129,333 1.572 130,90S (a7 SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit A88essment or Share Don8tion8 56,681 3,075 27,616 66,681 3,825 27,616 45,932 7,598 20,654 b3 750 b4 Repairs and Maintenance Utilities (Insurances, water char es, heatin htin Foodbank, W88ley Guild, Lifeline Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS b5 34,179 34,179 26,467 20 20 21,867 b7 10,296 131,847 10,296 132,617 4,436 126,953 b8 770 {b9) SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 (a6-b8) (2,514) 802 11,712) 44 c2 Total funds brought forward from last year 73,860 2,962 76,822 (c6) 76,778 Sub total (c1+c2) 71,346 3,784 75,110 76,822 Transfers and adjustment8 300 1300) (c7) TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4 71,646 3,464 75,110 (c8) 76,822 Ic6) SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS Ithase amounts are not to be Included in total recei Balance brought lorward from last year tslpa ments fi ures above d1 d2 OfferingslGifts - received for extarnal organisations 3,297 2,766 d3 OfferingslGifts - passed to external organisations 3,297 2,766 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) (o) 2of5 Standard Forjn of AQUiltS 2024
UNITY METHODIST CHURCH THE CHURCH COUNCIL MMARY CHURC ACCO TS AND TERNAL GANI NS REP TING SECTION E è follow Guidan otès t let Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 8nd Intern81 Organisations reporting lo the Chu¥ch Coun¢lllChurch Meeting. Note that the funds ot an Internal Organisalion would normally be Restricted ftinds unless il could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section mu81 be Compted lo arrive at the gross Sncome and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM musl be used to report the accounts (see Molhodist website). Please refer lo the guldance notes regardlng transfers bglween the Dlslrfcl and conn8cled District Organisallons. INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS Recelpts Payments Nel ReceSpts/ Payments Opening balances Adlustmenls Closing balances S•ndbach Foodbank 13,495 11,496 1,999 1201 7,510 £9.488 ¢2 Woslgy Gulld - figur0• odln cco Llf•lSno D•bt AdvlG• 1.490 3,708 12.2161 2,828 3t3 Th• Pantry Sandbach Hub 28,444 35.078 18,6341 72,221 5.587 ¢5 Wh•elock Baby and Tot• 18871 887 ¢7 Sub total of Inlemal Or anlsAllon6 fundi 43,429 60,280 18,8511 19071 23,146 15,388 10121 Church account• Itot•l• brought lorwthrd from pag• 2- total• column) 130,900 132,617 11,7121 76,822 75,110 TOTAL CASH FUND8 HELD BY CHURCH Conllnue on 8 8eparale sheet If ng¢888ary and brlng the lola18 forward 174,334 182,898 18.0831 19071 99,968 90,498 (y> TOTAL RECEIPT8 TOTAL PAYMENT8 NOTE: Th& oponlng balanc• for Th• P4ntry l• £279.61 mor• th•n tho Ilgurè quot In th• provlou• 8t*nd•rd Fomi of Account•. SECTION F CHURCH- CASH FUNDS HELD It31 Augu•t 2024 OPENINfj BALANCE8 CLOSIN<1 BALANCES Cash In hand Bank Curr&nl Account 6,286 4,592 B4nk D8POBII Account Central Fln8ncè Board 45,530 70,514 Tru61eèb for Mglhodl81 Church Purpotses Other fund8- loan lo Clrcult 25,000 t7 SUB TOTAL- Church Ac¢ount• 76,822 61 75,110 Ic81 Tot81 funds hèld by Inlem81 Organl88llons Ilhe closlng balance lol?1 from above) le121 23,146 15,388 le121 19 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 99,968 90,498 lyl 3ECTION G Al Al OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES 1 September 2023 31 August 2024 81 Investments Ilnclude Endowmenlsl L8nd & Buildlng818ee note8 re Insurance V81uel Other Assets- Insurance value of Contents Loan to Circult- show amount outstanding al year end 10,499,339 9,323,232 200,614 207,434 g4 25,000 g5 Other Liabllltles f4 Include only Funds held at thè Central Finance Board f5 Include only Funds held al Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes g1 Include any oth8r tnvestm6nts Inot tl]e cash elem6nt of TMCP trusts account5 this is Included in Iln8 f5 Standard ForniofAccounts 2024
Name of Church . Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2024 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church trustees, Signature of treasurer 41 bi, Name and address of treasurer . trkoLSf IEE>.........................................,... &.dbcLC Post Code.. Jii i y Pre8entatlon to the Church trustee8 I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 W•/WIll be. presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on ..4o....o.s, 1% Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting Independent Examlner's Report to the Trustee8 of the UNI I I.Y....14 g i+lr)). Isrchurch Charlty Number .. Re8pon81bllltlas and basls of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages Ito S As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. delete or circle as appropriate Standard Form ofAccounts 2024 4of5
Name of Church Independent Examiner's Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below'> which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records ware not kept In accordance with section 130 of the Act. or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I havelhave 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 C8ntral Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sh88t date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examlner Relevant professional qualification of independent examlner Nama of firm (wh8re appropriate) Address Post Code Date delete or circle as appropriate ReWed Auo.24 Stsndard Form of Accounts 2024 5of5