lJnity Math￿151 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
An￿￿ttl 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)
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Standard Forjn of A￿QUiltS 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 Comp￿ted 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
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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
R￿eWed
Auo.24
Stsndard Form of Accounts 2024
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