UnftyMethodhtChuf(* Unity Methodist Church Registered Charity 1173520 TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025 STRucfuRE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Unity Methodist Church {UMCI is based in Sandbach, Cheshire. It formally came into being 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 Methodist Circuit and is an active member of Churches Together in Sandbach. UMC has responsibility for two sites- the chapel and Wesley Centre in Sandbach and the New Horizons chapel building and the Hancock Hall in Wheelock. A number of our older church members have died In the past year but we also have had new people join us, so membership continues to be around 110. At the beginnin8 of August 2025, we have begun the project to refurbish and redevelop the Hancock Hal5 In the rear-half of the New Horizons site, by having a new heating system installed. This will eventually provide a modern and welcoming space for church and community attivities in Wheelock, but particularly to be the centre for UMC'S work with children, young people and their families. All our buildings at Wesley Avenue and at New Horizons are used by the church or hired out for a wide range of community activities and organisations throughout the week. Trustees 2024/25: Jayne Bunn Karen Foster Cynthia Kelly Alan Pimlott Elizabeth Trinder Ellen Cieka Robert Glassonbury Carolyn Lawrance Pauline Sherwin Timothy Cooke Brian Hanna Katy Lowe Pamela Smith Nllda Eyre Ann Horsfield Stephen Parker-Aiken Norma Stolworthy OBJEcfivES AND AcfiviTIES Our weekly prayer group continues to meet both in person and on Zoom and we had a Lent group, on the theme of "Prayer" which met in person and on Zoom. In June, all members were encouraged to participate in the Methodist Church's Bible Month, reading the Gospel of John, and the small fellowship group has been meeting to continue the study of this Gospel. Unlty Methodffst Church Annuol Report undAccounts 2025
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 also continue to hold a monthly Contemporary Worship Service. Our Saturday Coffee Mornings continue to be appreciated by those living alone and by members from the local Dementia Friendly Sandbach group. In addition, Unity provides 3 monthly community hot lunch meal at its Wheelock site, which is well received with a variety of other social events provided during the year. From September 2025, we will be receiving some support from a Lay Mission Pastor, newly employed by the Methodist Circuit, to work with older and isolated adults in the Alsager and Sandbach area. Our two toddler group sessions, Stepping Stones, continue to thrive, under the supervision of our Circuit Children and Family Workers. In the autumn term of 2024, we welcomed the local primary school to New Horizons for their Harvest celebration and their Christmas carol services, while their school hall was being refurbished. At Christmas and Easter, we also hosted "Hope Journeys" for children from the same local Primary School, explalning the Christmas and Easter stories through drama/role play. We ran a Holiday Club for primary-age children over four days in August 2025, on the theme of Rescuers. This also included a visit from the local RSPCA. 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, and had a "Christians togetherf, presence at the Sandbach Pride Festival in September. The Foodbank, based in the Wesley Centre Sandbach, contlnues to operate and provldes vital support for local families in need of emer8ency help. It remains an internal organization of Unity but with support 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 living by offering food and toiletries at substantially reduced rates. This is an internal organisation of Unitv Methodist Church and is run by volunteers from Churches Together and from the local community. It has been a vital source of support to many in the area includin8 a warm space for a chat over a cup of coffee and prayer support when requested. In 2024-2025 the Pantry has also been building links with other agencies who can offer support to pantry members, including Mentell, a mental-health charity for men, Motherwell, charity supporting women and Birls, and Citizens, Advice. Unity also aims to be informed about the needs of the wider world, encouraging its members to pray and work for peace and justice and continuing to support the work of Christian Aid and the Methodist development and aid agency, "All We Can" FINANCIAL REVIEW FINANCE REPORT The method of accounting used is that of Receipts and Payments and the Methodist Standard Form of Accounts, which is attached to this report, summarises the Receipts and Payments for the year ending 31 August 2025. Church Receipts were £171,435 and Payments amounted to £167,235, leaving a surplus of £4,200. which is much better than the original forecast of a shortfall in excess of £7K. This is because we have received a generous donation of £10,000 from a member and £1,610 of the Circuit grant has not yet been spent. Unity Methtsdist Church Annual Report GndAccounts 2025
During the summer break, work was started on Phase l of the refurbishment and redevelopment of the Hancock Hall. We received a grant of £39,158 from the Circuit's Sandbach Heath sale proceeds and so far £37,548 of this has been paid out. Regular giving is slightly down this year although the total of voluntary giving is higher because of one-off donations. Even with these, the Total Offerings and Tax Recovered is £9K less than the Circuit Assessment figure of £62,215. Apart from the Assessment and the Hancock Hall costs, the biggest payments this year have been £3K on a lift repair, over £3K on legal costs incurred in renewing the lease for the Pre-school and £4K on architect and quantity sunieyor costs for New Horizons, development plans. Over the past two years LED lights have been fitted throughout the Wesley Centre. In both years we have received two gift-aided donations of £2K to cover the total cost of £4K. The good news is that our electricity costs have fallen by £4K. Volunteers work hard to look after the premises and to organise fundraising events and it is thanks to their efforts that income from Lettings rose to £54K and Fundraising Events raised £18K. RESERVES A draft Budget for 2025126 has been prepared and the forecasted figure for expenditure is £123,000. It is our policy to hold 50% of anticipated expenditure in our reserves, which we are able to do this year. At 31 August 2025 the General Fund was £76.266. THE FUTURE In 2025-26 Clrcuit Assessment is not expected to rlse but some utility costs are likely to continue at high level. The forecast shows that there could be a surplus of around £6,500 at the end of the financial year. DECLARATIONS The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees: Si8nature Full name Carolyn Lawrance Position Chair Date Unity Methodlst Church Annual ReportondAccount5 2025
CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS UNITY METHODIST CHURCH FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025 Cheshire South Methodist Circuit Circuit no. 1118 Reglstered Charity - Charlty Reglstratlon number If not a registered charity His Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift 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) 1173520 MINISTER. Rev Carolyn Lawrance CHURCH STEWARDS: Nilda Eyre Cynthia Kelly Ann Horsfield Pauline Sherwin TREASURER.. Ann Horsfield UMC RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS 2025 1 of5
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 UNITY METHODIST CHURCH SECTION A Unrastricted Restrleto Funds d Funds Totals th18 year Totals la8t yoar a1 RECEIPTS Not8 a2 Offerings and Tax recovered Bank and CFB interest and Investment income Lettings Other receipts Grants 52,287.01 52,287.01 43,848 a3 2,865.07 2,865.07 2,977 a4 53,878.51 21,583.68 39,158.00 , 53,878.51 23,026.51 39,158.00 220.00 45,489 a5 1,443 38,239 Wesley Guild TOTAL RECEIPTS 220 353 a6 169,772.27 1,663 171,435.10 130,905 SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 61,215.00 3,240.00 61,215.00 4,990.00 56,681 3,825 b3 Donations 1,750 b4 Repairs and Maintenance Utilities (Insurances, water char es, heatin htin Wesley Guild, Foodbank New Horizons, Project Phase 1 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 22,719.17 22,719.17 27,616 b5 29,160.65 . 29,160.65 34,179 b6 200 200.00 20 37,548.00 11,402.19 165,285.01 37,548.00 11,402.19 167,235.01 b7 10,296 132,617 b8 1,950 (b9) SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 (a6-b8) 4,487.26 . (287} 4,200.09 (1,712) Total funds brought foward from last year 71,645.76 . 3,464 75,109.56 'Ic6) 76,822 c3 Sub total Ic1+c2) 76,133.02 3,177 79,309.65 75,110 ¢4 Transfers and adjustments 145.00 (145) (c7) TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR IG3+c4) 76,278.02 3,032 79,309.65 (c8) 75,110 Ic6) SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS (these amounts are not to be Included in total recelptsipa Balance brought forward from last year ments fi ures d1 d2 OfferingslGifts - received for external organisations 2,436.93 3,297 d3 OfferingslGifts - passed to external organisations 2,436.93 3,297 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d243) UMC RECEI]Yrs AND PAYMENIS 2025
UNITY METHODIST CHURCH THE CH MARY OF C RCH ACC NTS AND IN ERNAL ANISATION PORTIN COUNCIL SECTION E Pleasè f Ilow the Gul nce Notes to lete thls Summary of the Chuich accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 and Inlemal Organisalions reporting to the Church Councillchurch Meeting. Note that the lunds of an Intemal Organisation would normalty be Restricted funds tsnless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section musl be completed to arrive al the gross income and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accrltrals threshold, then the Accruals melhod of ac£ounlino AMD A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts Iso¢ Methodist website). Plea8e refei lo the guanCe notes regardin9 transfers belween the Distrfcl and connecied District Oiganisations. INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS Net RIpts/ Pa ments Recei Opening balances Closlng balances ents uslrnents S•ndbach Foodb•nk 13.872 9,781 4,111 9,488 13,598 Llfelln• D•bt Advlc• 2,868 2.974 13061 313 e3 The Pantry @ S8ndbach Hub 53,696 41,061 12,635 5.587 18,222 Sub total of Intem81 nisallons funds 70,236 53.796 18,439 15,388 11 31,828 Chur¢h &¢counts (total¥ brought fomard from pag• 2- totah column) TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH ¢9 171,430 la71 167,236 Ib91 4.200 Ic71 75,110 c61 79,310 . {c81 elo 241.671 221,031 20.640 90,498 111.137 (yl Continue on a seporate 8heel 11 neces8ary and brlng the tot818 fOard TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL PAYMENTS SECTION F EMEN Ll CHURCH. CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 Augu•t 2020 OPENING BALANCES CL081NG 8ALANCES Cash In hand Bank Current Account 4,592 8,888 Bank Depo811 Account f4 Central Flnance Board 70,424 Tru8lee8 for Methodi81 Church PurwJs&s Other fund8 SUB TOTAL- ChUh aeeount• 75,110 Ic61 79.310 , Ic81 Total funds held by Internal Organlsalions Ilhe closing b818nce total from 8bovel le121 15,388 je111 31.828 le121 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 90,498 111,137 lyl SECTION G Al OTHER ASSETS ond LIABILITIES 1 September 2024 31 Augu812025 gl InveBlmenis Iln¢fude Endowmentsl 82 Land & Buildings Isee notes re Insurance value) 9,323,232 9,677,590 g3 Other A8sets- Insurance Value of Contents 207,434 215,318 g4 Loanlsl- show amount outstanding al year end g5 Other Llabililies f4 InduLle only Funds held al the Central Fina$7ce Board f5 Indude onty Funds held al Trustses for Methodist Church Purwses g1 Indude any othèr inveslments (not the c8$h element of TMCP trusts accounts this is includeil in line f5 UMC RECEIiryS AND PAyENTS2O25
Name of Church UNITY METHODIST, SANDBACH No 1118 Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 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 Name and address of treasurer.. ANN HORSFIELD 31 Flèlds Drlve, Sandbach, Ch88hire, CW111YB Presentation to the Church trustees I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 202541e/WI11 be" presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on ..aa., LQ..Is- Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting.. REV CAROLYN LAWRANCE Date ...2.¢,: 10,.2i-. . Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the UNITY METHODIST CHURCH Charlty Number: 1118 Responslbillties and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the UNI METHODIST CHURCH for the year ended 31 August 2025 set out on pages 2 to 3 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 UMC RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS 2025 4of5
Name of Church: UNITY METHODIST CHURCH, SANDBACH No.. 1118 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 were not kept in accordan 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 havelk4avtrnot' obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner: PETER FRANK HITCHINSON Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner Name of firm (where appropriate) Address . 11 Cooksmere Lane, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW111BQ Date delete or circle as appropriate UMC RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS 2025 5of5
UNITY METHODIST CHURCH Notes to the Standard Form of Accounts- 31 August 2025 Page 2 RECEIPTS Note I 20225 2023-24 Offerings and Tax Recovered Loose cash collections Weekly envelopes Standing orders Regular donations One-off donations Tax refund on gift-aided donations £4,078.76 £3,391.00 £24,327.00 £349.00 £12,317.78 £7,823.47 £4,714.61 £5,950.58 £21,472.00 £355.00 £3,561.50 £7,793.92 £52,287.01 £43.847.61 Note 2 Lettlngs Hlre of UMC buildings Lettings for birthday parties Donations for use of premises Lease of Hancock Hall for Pre-school Group Pre-school additional fuel costs £38,549.01 £2,655.50 £4,280.00 £7,500.00 £894.00 £53,878.51 Includes donationsfrom Uniformed Organisotions, rhe Pantry and Foodbank Other Recelpts Fundraising Events (gross proceeds) Church Activities/Groups Funeral fees etc Refunds from Circuit and Connexion Legacies {2) Sunday refreshment donations (Charity Fund) £32,255.18 N/A £4,634.00 £7,000.00 £1,600.00 £45,489.18 Note 3 £18,244.29 £2,679.39 £660.00 £0.00 £0.00 £1,442.83 £23.026.51 £18,168.55 £3,739.64 £277.00 £14,834.44 £0.00 £1,219.09 £38.238.72 PAYMENTS Note 4 Donatlons from Church Funds Donations to Connexional Funds Donations to Methodist Charities Other donations Donations to Methodist Charities {Restrictedfunds) Other donations (Restrictedfundsj £2,100.00 £600.00 £540.00 £1,600.00 £150.00 £4.990.00 £1,690.00 £1,270.00 £265.00 £150.00 £450.00 £3.825.00 Note 5 Repairs and Maintenance Wages and associated costs Premise5 repairs and maintenance Lift, Fire equipment, PAT costs etc Cleaning equipment and materials £8,133.45 £8,451.85 £5,407.31 £726.56 £22,719.17 £7,474.80 £17,769.02 £1,552.87 £819.77 £27,616.46
2024-25 2023-24 Note 6 Utilities Gas Electricity Water Insurance £12,906.98 £7,031.55 £2,314.49 £6,907.63 £29,160.65 £12,070.11 £11,013.14 £1,946.51 £9,149.19 £34,178.95 Note 7 Other Payments Office costs, including Broadband Premises licences Copyright licences Other licences Young People and Family Work Cost of Fundraising Lease legal costs New Horizons- Pre-development costs Miscellaneous expenses £659.43 £457.06 £742.69 £0.00 £189.30 £1,259.01 £3,443.40 £4,140.00 £511.30 £11.402.19 £690.35 £371.30 £1,115.33 £35.00 £364.03 £1,553.22 £5,848.00 £318,38 £10,295.61 Line c4 Transfer and adjustments- £145 from Wesley Guild to General Fund 2024/25 FUND BALANCES AT 31 AUGUST 2025 2024-25 £76,266.02 £12.00 £727.51 £55.12 £2,249.00 2023-24 £67,493.76 £4,152.00 £1,034.68 £180.12 £2,249.00 General Fund (Unrestricted) New Horizons Development {Designoted) Charity Fund (Restricted) Wesley Guild (Restricted) Wheelock Projects {from Yoxall Trust) (Restricted) Poge 2 line c5, Page 3 Ilnes e9 d17 Totsl UMC funds £79,309.65 £75.109.56 Internal Orgoni5ations' Funds.. Sandbach Foodbank Lifeline Debt Advice The Pantry @ Sandbach Hub £13,598.39 £6.91 £18,222.22 £31,827.52 £9,487.89 £312.72 £5,587.47 £15,388.08 Total10 funds Poge 3 Line5 elo andf9 Total Funds held by UMC at 31 August £111,137.17 £90,497.64 INSURANCE VALUES at I SEPTEMBER 2025 Buildings £3,028,838 £2,810,025 £2,948,377 £890,350 £9,677,590 Contents £97,890 £57,582 £58,384 £1,462 £215.318 Wesley Avenue Church Wesley Centre Wheelock Church - New Horizons Wheelock- Hancock Hall Puge 3 Llnes q2 ond g3