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2024-08-31-accounts

Annual report and accounts Year ended 31 August 2024

A bronze award winning Eco Church in the North Bedfordshire Methodist Circuit

Putnoe Heights Church Registered Charity Number: 1190242

Putnoe Heights Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Contents

Page
Trustees' Annual Report 1 to 7
Independent Examiner's Report 8
Comments on Methodist Standard Form of Accounts 9 to 10
Appended:
Methodist Standard Form of Accounts 11 to 15

Putnoe Heights Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Trustees' Annual Report

Reference and administration details

Charity name : Putnoe Heights Church

Also known as: Putnoe Heights Methodist Church Putnoe Heights Church Centre

Registered charity number : 1190242 Address: Putnoe Heights Bedford MK41 8EB

Managing Trustees

The names of those who served as Managing Trustees in the year are as follows:

Rev Christopher Sandy (Chair) Jenny Snelson (Senior Church Steward) Sue Allen (Church Steward) Christine Nixon (Secretary) Andrew Dennison (Treasurer) [resigned 31 August 2024] Nick Guy (Circuit Steward) Rev Michael Giles Rev Leslie Noon [resigned 31 August 2024] Rev Paulette Tedd [appointed 1 September 2024] Jo Barrow [resigned 31 August 2024] Sylvia Cohen Shelly Dennison [resigned 31 August 2024] Sue Edwards Nigel Firban (Treasurer - from 1 September 2024) Sue Marks

Margaret Massey Margaret Peck Barry Snelson

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Putnoe Heights Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Structure, governance and management

Governing document

As part of the wider Methodist Church in Great Britain, the Charity's governing document is the Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976).

Within the wider Methodist Connexion, Putnoe Heights Church is part of the North Bedfordshire Methodist Circuit which in turn is itself part of the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District of the Methodist Church.

Membership of the governing body

The governing body of the Charity is the Church Council, the members of which are the Managing Trustees. Certain officers are automatically Managing Trustees by virtue of their office. These are the minister, the secretary, the church stewards, the treasurer and the pastoral secretary. The other Managing Trustees are church representatives appointed to the Church Council at a general meeting of members of the church, normally held at least annually.

Two committees report to the Church Council:

Bodies entitled to appoint Trustees

The North Bedfordshire Methodist Circuit is entitled to appoint four Trustees to the Putnoe Heights Church Council, which comprise:

2

Putnoe Heights Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Objectives and activities

Purposes

The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.

It does this through:

Worship

The Church exists to increase awareness of God's presence and to celebrate God's love

Learning and Caring

The Church exists to help people to grow and learn as Christians, through mutual support and care

Service

The Church exists to be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice

Evangelism

The Church exists to make more followers of Jesus Christ

Putnoe Heights Church seeks to apply this within the local environs of Putnoe, Bedford. As well as acting as a place of worship, Putnoe Heights Church also aims to use the building with which it is blessed to offer space for hire to the local community as a community centre known as 'Putnoe Heights Church Centre'.

Activities undertaken

The Charity undertakes a wide range of activities every year in line with its Christian purpose. These typically include but are not limited to:

3

Putnoe Heights Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Public benefit statement

The Managing Trustees oversee the activities of the Charity with due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.

The benefits of the Christian activities of the Putnoe Heights Church are considered to be:

4

Putnoe Heights Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

The benefits of the community hire activities of the Church Centre are considered to be:

Achievements and performance

Putnoe Heights Church continued to hold a range of services throughout the year and welcomed many further people through our doors as part of the regular hire groups using the building.

Our Future Story Group continues to consider the future mission of the church towards the three previously identified priorities - which are, to be:

The group re-focussed has produced a mission statement for the church to help with future planning, especially through coming changes to the North Bedfordshire Methodist Circuit.

Putnoe Heights Church continued to build on the close working relationship with Priory Methodist Church with a now established pattern of joint services throughout the year.

Financial review

Overall a deficit of £11,621 has been reported for the year, and Putnoe Heights Church continues to rely on its reserves.

5

Putnoe Heights Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Offertory giving has continued the recent trend of decline and we remain increasingly grateful to all who regularly contribute through offertory, in whichever form, to the life of the church. We remain aware that focus upon the mission of the church and future growth in membership will be needed in order to also see financial growth in offertory income.

By contrast, income from hire of the Church Centre increased from £29,000 to £39,000. The church continued to benefit from the solar panels on the church roof which generated both electricity and income during the year.

The Circuit Assessment is a formal commitment made eight months before the start of the year. The Circuit Share for the year ended 31 August 2024 was set with the full expectation of requiring the use of some reserves held and in recognition of the importance of this income to the work of the wider North Bedfordshire Methodist Circuit.

Expenditure on maintenance of the church building was up on the prior year and included work on replacing the electrical wiring and ceiling tiles in the Large Hall.

Utility costs increased considerably mainly due to the end of a three year fixed rate tariff for gas.

Reserves policy

This reserves policy covers our General Fund and Designated Funds only. It does not include the funds represented by the church building and property as this fund, whilst classified as unrestricted funds, is not available for use by the church without the sale of the assets concerned.

The Trustees aim to maintain a level of General Fund equivalent to six months’ ordinary expenditure. This allows sufficient working capital to cover fluctuations in income and expenditure, meet emergency calls on cash and would enable the church’s activities to continue should there be a significant fall in income whilst efforts were made to replace the income lost or to change activities. For the coming year this is valued at £38,000.

Designated funds: A separate Maintenance Reserve of £10,000 has been allocated towards planned repairs. There is a quinquennial property inspection due in 2025.

A redevelopment reserve of £67,000 was previously ring-fenced against the refurbishment of the former playroom and outside play areas which were occupied exclusively by the pre-school for many years and had been modified specifically for their needs. Both areas were expected to need some refurbishment to make them suitable for other uses. However, these areas are now being used by another hirer, and therefore this reserve is no longer considered to be necessary. The reserve has therefore been released and has been moved to the General Fund.

6

Putnoe Heights Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Restricted funds are not covered by this policy as these funds relate to the internal organisations of the church and are restricted for use by those organisations.

The Trustees are aware that, as a result of significant legacies received in recent years, the level of General Funds held are in excess of the policy. The Trustees are conducting a review of reserves levels to determine how best to use these reserves for the furtherance of the churches mission. This will combine with considerations arising from the Future Story Group, which may identify potential new projects or activities for using the funds held, as well recognising the funding needs of the wider North Bedfordshire Methodist Circuit.

The Trustees' Annual Report was signed by the Chair of Trustees on behalf of the Church Council. The accompanying Methodist Standard Form of Accounts were presented to and approved by the Church Council on 27 February 2025.

Rev Christopher Sandy Chair of Trustees

Date: 27 February 2025

7

Putnoe Heights Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Independent Examiner's Report

I report to the Managing Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Putnoe Heights Church (the "Charity") for the year ended 31 August 2024.

As the Managing Trustees of the Charity, 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 Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Ian Morse

Name of Independent Examiner: Ian Morse Address: C/o Putnoe Heights Church Office Putnoe Heights Bedford MK41 8EB Date: 27 February 2025

8

Putnoe Heights Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Accounting policies - Methodist Standard Form of Accounts

Basis of accounts

On the following pages 12 to 16 are given the Methodist Standard Form of Accounts of Putnoe Heights Church for the year ended 31 August 2024, prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Methodist Church in Great Britain.

The accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis since income is below the threshold that allows this approach.

Accounting policies

In order to better aid the understanding of readers, the following accounting policies are stated which explain aspects of the standard form of accounts:

Core activities

The result for the year from core activities of the Charity, being the operation of the Church and Church Centre, are given in sections A to C on page 13.

Charitable collections

Collections made for specific charities are accounted for separately in section D and are not therefore part of the funds of the Charity.

Internal organisations

Any internal organisations within the overall Charity that have separate funds are shown in section E.

Funds

In common with most charities, the funds held by Putnoe Heights Church fall into three categories:

General unrestricted funds

General funds are unrestricted and can be used for any purpose in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Managing Trustees.

Designated unrestricted funds

Designated funds are also unrestricted but have been allocated to a particular purpose by the Managing Trustees.

Restricted funds

Restricted funds can only be used for particular purposes within the charitable objectives. Such restrictions may arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. All funds relating to internal organisations are deemed to be restricted funds

9

Putnoe Heights Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Accounting policies - Methodist Standard Form of Accounts

Assets and liabilities

Whilst the accounts are prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis, details of debtors and creditors existing at the year end are included in section G for reference but these do not form part of the overall funds disclosed in the accounts.

The only creditor actually included in the Receipts and Payments accounts are keycard deposits held for hirers since these have already been received but are due back to hirers upon return of the keycards in question.

Church site and building

In common with most Methodist Churches, the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes ("TMCP") are a custodian trustee of the church site and building at Putnoe Heights, which is held on the Model Trusts of the Methodist Church Act 1976. Usage of the site and building by Putnoe Heights Church is for those purposes as permitted under the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church.

A value for the church building held by Putnoe Heights Church is included in the "Statement of Assets and Liabilities" (section G on page 14). This value is the historic deemed cost of the building upon transition to FRS102, based upon an insurance valuation conducted in 2015. Subsequently the accounts of Putnoe Heights Church have shifted to being prepared on a receipts and payments basis and the disclosed valuation is not therefore meant to represent the current market value of property at the year end date.

Accompanying notes

Additional accompanying notes are given voluntarily where it is felt these will add beneficial information to the reader of the accounts.

10

CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH

STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

Putnoe Heights Church

FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31 August 2024

CHURCH CHURCH CHURCH CHURCH CHURCH CHURCH CHURCH CHURCH CHURCH CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH
STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
Putnoe Heights Church
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 August 2024
North Bedfordshire Circuit Circuit no 34/01
Registered Charity - Charity Registration number 1190242
If not a registered charityHis Majesty's Revenue and
Customs Gift Aid number
XN42970
(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:
Revd Christopher Sandy
Church Stewards:
Jennifer Snelson
Susan Allen
Treasurer:
Nigel Firban

11

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Putnoe Heights Putnoe Heights Putnoe Heights Church Church
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Totals this
year
Totals last
year
SECTION A
£ £ £ £
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings and Tax recovered #1 21,409 - 21,409 24,921
a3 Bank and CFB interest and
Investment income
#2 9,178 - 9,178 5,056
a4 Lettings #2 39,123 - 39,123 27,133
a5 Other receipts #2 10,240 - 10,240 41,987
a6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 79,950 - 79,950 (a7) 99,097
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 40,000 - 40,000 43,875
b3 Donations #3 2,062 - 2,062 1,971
b4 Repairs and Maintenance #4 24,105 - 24,105 19,865
b5 Utilities (Insurances, water
charges, heating& lighting)
#5 12,931 - 12,931 6,280
b6 - - - -
b7 Otherpayments #6 12,473 - 12,473 11,764
b8 TOTAL PAYMENTS 91,571 - 91,571 (b9) 83,755
SECTION C
c1 NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS
FOR THE YEAR
(a6-b8) (11,621) - (11,621) 15,342
c2 Total funds brought forward from
last year
185,320 185,320 (c6) 169,861
c3 Sub total (c1+c2) 173,699 - 173,699 185,203
c4 Transfers and adjustments #7 (117) **(117) ** (c7) 117
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4) 173,582 - 173,582 (c8) 185,320 (c6)
SECTION D
d FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
(these amounts are not to be included in total receipts/payments figures £ £
d1 Balance brought forward from lastyear 374 214
d2 Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations 2,870 2,957
d3 Offerings/Gifts -passed to external organisations 3,164 2,797
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) 80 374

12

Putnoe Heights Church

SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL

SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page

Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross income and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the District and connected District Organisations.

Putnoe Heights Putnoe Heights Putnoe Heights Putnoe Heights Church
SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL
SECTION E
Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page
Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting. Note that the
funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This
section must be completed to arrive at the gross income and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold, then the Accruals
method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding
transfers between the District and connected District Organisations.
INTERNAL
ORGANISATIONS
Receipts Payments Net Receipts/
Payments
Adjustments Opening
balances
Closingbalances
e1 Tuesday Club - 238 238 - 238 -
e2
e3
e4
e5
e6
e7
e8 Sub total of Internal
Organisations funds
- 238 238 - 238 (e11) - (e12)
e9 Church accounts (totals
brought forward from
page 2 - totals column)
79,950 (a7) 91,571 (b9) (11,621) **(117) ** (c7) 185,320 (c6) 173,582 (c8)
e10 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD
BY CHURCH
79,950 91,809 (11,859) (117) 185,558 (x) 173,582 (y)
Continue on a separate sheet
if necessary and bring the
totals forward
TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL
PAYMENTS
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AN D LIABILITIES
CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HEL D at 31 August 2024 OPENING
BALANCES
CLOSING
BALANCES
f1 Cash in hand 414 384
f2 Bank Current Account 8,256 7,834
f3 Bank Deposit Account - -
f4 Central Finance Board 13,573 10,515
f5 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 163,077 154,849
f6 Other funds - -
f7 SUB TOTAL - Church accounts 185,320 (c6) 173,582 (c8)
f8 Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the
closing balance total from above) (e12)
238 (e11) - (e12)
f9 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD B Y CHURCH 185,558 (x) 173,582 (y)
SECTION G At At
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILI TIES 1 September 2023 31 August 2024
g1 Investments(include Endowments) - -
g2 Land & Buildings (see notes re Insurance
value)
3,050,000 3,050,000
g3 Other Assets - -
g4 Loan(s)- show amount outstandingatyear end - -
g5 Other Liabilities 307 190
f4 Include onlyFunds held at the Central Finance Bo ard
f5 Include onlyFunds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
g1 Include any other investments (not the cash elem ent of TMCP trusts acco unts this is include d in line f5

13

Putnoe Heights Church Putnoe Heights Church
Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024
2024 2023
Unrestricted Designated Total Unrestricted Designated Total
1 Offertory & Donations
Loose Cash 4,752 - 4,752 5,251 - 5,251
Envelope Scheme - - - - - -
Gift Aid envelopes 180 - 180 365 - 365
StandingOrders 14,966 - 14,966 15,336 - 15,336
Total Offertory 19,898 - 19,898 20,952 - 20,952
Donations 301 1,546 1,847 1,735 821 2,556
Gift Aid refunds (336) - (336) 1,413 - 1,413
Total 19,863 1,546 21,409 24,100 821 24,921
2 Other Income
Hire ofpremises 39,123 - 39,123 27,133 - 27,133
Interest 9,178 - 9,178 5,056 - 5,056
Photocopier income - - - 27 - 27
Feed-in-tariff receipts 2,754 - 2,754 3,428 - 3,428
Fundraisingactivities 406 - 406 799 - 799
Miscellaneous 80 - 80 452 - 452
Legacies 7,000 - 7,000 37,281 - 37,281
Total 58,541 - 58,541 74,176 - 74,176
3 Grants & Donations [External]
A Rocha UK(Eco Church) 100 100
Action For Children 14 14 136
All We Can 300 300
Christian Aid - 390
Foodbank 5 5 145
Friends for Life 100 100
Karibuni Trust 12 12 1,538 inc. Autumn Appeal
MacMillan Cancer Support 6 6 204
Methodist Connexional Funds 1,500 1,500
Methodist Church World Mission Fund - 235
Royal British Legion 25 25
SMART - 200
1,762 300 2,062 2,848
4 Property Maintenance
Repairs & maintenance 4,783 - 4,783 8,145 - 8,145
Project expenditure - AV system 241 - 241 11,720 - 11,720
Project expenditure - Large hall ceiling 19,081 - 19,081 - - -
Total 24,105 - 24,105 19,865 - 19,865
5 Insurance, utilities, etc
Insurance 2,241 - 2,241 2,089 - 2,089
Electricity 3,891 - 3,891 1,974 - 1,974
Gas 6,001 - 6,001 1,520 - 1,520
Water 798 - 798 697 - 697
Total 12,931 - 12,931 6,280 - 6,280

14

2024 2024 2024 2023 2023
Unrestricted Designated Total Unrestricted Designated Total
6 Other expenditure
Church music 560 - 560 610 - 610
Worshipresources 110 - 110 212 - 212
Licences &permits 1,658 - 1,658 903 - 903
CleaningServices 5,732 - 5,732 6,000 - 6,000
CleaningMaterials 905 - 905 373 - 373
Equipment hire(photocopier) 607 - 607 607 - 607
Photocopier charges 113 - 113 154 - 154
Postage 42 - 42 19 - 19
Stationery - - - 117 - 117
Telephone & internet 1,102 - 1,102 1,007 - 1,007
Sundryexpenses 673 971 1,644 1,122 640 1,762
Total 11,502 971 12,473 11,124 640 11,764
7 Adjustments inyear
Movement in hire deposits held 20
Non-cash movements (137)
(117)
Internal Organisations
B/fwd Income Outgoings Transfers c/fwd
2024(All restricted funds)
TuesdayClub 238 - (238) - -
Total 238 - (238) - -
2023 (All restricted funds)
TuesdayClub 238 - - - 238
Total 238 - - - 238

15

Name of Church: Putnoe Heights Church

No. 1190242

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 ……………………………………………………… Date ... 27 February 2025……………………..

Name and address of treasurer: Nigel Firban c/o Putnoe Heights Church Office Putnoe Heights Bedford MK41 8EB

Presentation to the Church trustees

I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 were presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on 27 February 2025.

Signature of the Chair of the meeting ……………………………………………………………………

Name of the Chair of the meeting … Revd Christopher Sandy ……… Date …27 February 2025…………………

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the

Putnoe Heights Church

Charity Number 1190242

Responsibilities and basis of report

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Putnoe Heights Church for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages 1 to 5

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.

Church R and P 2019.xls

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Name of Church: Putnoe Heights Church

No. 1190242

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 which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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.

Name of independent examiner: I Morse

Address: c/o Putnoe Heights Church Office Putnoe Heights Bedford MK41 8EB

Date …27 February 2025………………………………………

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2019 church R and P.xls