CAEREINION MISSION AREA CHARITY NUMBER 1193432 ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 2025 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Caereinion Mission Area (registered charity number 11934321 is a Mission Aiea of the Church in Wales silualed in the Archdeaconry of Montgomery within the Diocese of St Asaph. The Mission Area serves the communities and churches of Llanlair Caereinion 1st Maryl,. Meifod ISS Tysilio and Maryl,. Llangyniew ISI Cyniewl-, Llanllugan 1st Maryl- Pontroberl ISI John fhe Evangelisll,. Dolanog ISI John the Evangelisll; Llangadfan 1st Codfanl: Llanerfyl (St Erlyll,- Garlhbeibio 1st Tydechol,. The Mission Area can be contacted by: Post: Waterstone Barn, Dolanog, Welshpool, Powys SY21 OLE Telephone: 07508 023055 e-mail: caereinion.maauaichurchinwales.or MISSION AREA OFFICERS.. Mission Area Leader Rev'd Stephen Hayes Mission Area Wardens Sue Whitehouse Sarah Evans Ilo May 20261 Mission Area Treasurer Som Allin Chair of MAC Rev'd Slephen Hayes Mission Area Administrator Ms Jennifer Morsden Mission Area Secretary Vaconl Mission Area Safeguarding Officer Sarah Evons Aims and Purposes The purpose of our Mission Area as defined in the UK Register of Charities is.. The Promotion of the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social ond ecumenical in the parish PugL' I Mission Area activity Year ending 31 st December 2025 Worship and discipleshSp The churches in the MA host regular services of Christian worship. As in Ihe previous year, community-focing services and events have been notably well attended, with numbers al carol and crib services, concerts and St Mary's Christmas Tree Festival particularly high. Attendance at services, life events (funerals. weddings and baplismsl and o wide range of other activities is recorded on the Church in Wales attendance app. Mid-week services of Eucharist and Morning Prayer were held alternately in Llanfair Coereinion and Meifod. Providing opportunify for the deepening of discipleship is important for the spiritual nourishment of individuals and the altracliveness and health of our life as a family of God, and my hope is that we may establish a regular prayer/sludy group wilhin the MA in 2026. The anticipated move of St Michael. Manafon from this Mission Area to Cedewain MA was compleled in June 2025. During the year, the Trusfees Voted to support the application by St Cadfan'5. Llangadfan, to become a Pilgrim Church. Shared Ministry Team Throughout the Mission Area, churches depend upon clergy, wardens. our Shared Minislry Team and a wide range of volunfeers to maintain regular and varied worship. The whole people of God seek to make our worship welcoming and prayerful, ond l am particularly glad that il has been possible fo increase the use of Welsh in liturgy where oppropriale. During most of 2025 the clergy leam comprised Rev'd Jo Mackriell10.5FTEI and Rev'd Hele Dawson, supported by Rev'd Stephen Hayes INSMI as MA Leoder, togelher with Rev'd Glyn Jones and Rev'd Ryk Parkinson (retired priests with Permission to Olficialel. Rev'd Jo left in August to take up a new post irn Chester diocese, and in December we were delighted lo welcome Rev'd Nicholas Bee as full-time priest in charge. I do want to thank Rev'd Helen for so graciously and aclively acting as priest in charge for the better parl of a year before Nick's arrival, and it was particularly pleasing that she was finally able to move into her substantive role as Pioneer Missioner in December. However, Rev'd Jo's post as pries1 in charge of Meifod, Dolanog and Pontrobert remoins unfilled, and this is a serious concern. With the goodwill of the churches involved il has been possible to mainlain regular services on a slightly amended basis, but major festivals, and any clergy absences, highlight the precariousness of Ihe situation. During 2025 Rev'd Mike Hoslam, fhe diocese's Director of Transforming Ministry, was based in Caereinion MA, and with our orchdeacon. the Ven Gerwyn Capon, our wardens and Worship Leaders, played a key part in enabling worship to be maintained on a regulor basis in all the churches of the MA. Their conlribution is gratefully acknowledged, as is that of our orgonists, flower arrangers, those who prepare and clean our churches. communion assisfants. lesson readers, leaders of intercessions and all who give their time and energy to enhance our shared worship. Pcigc 2 The clergy team meets regularly together with colleagues from Tanal-vyrnwy Mission Area for prayer. Support. and planning, with the wider SMT gathering approximately every two months. MA Trustees Trustee meetings have been held by a mixture of Zoom and meeting in person. Where necessary, and wilh appropriate safeguards, email voting has been used to avoid delayed decisions. The Irustees continue to ensure the local churches are supported so they can carry out their mission and minislry lo the best of their abilily. During the year the trustees agreed 10 seek Charitable Incorporated Organisation gtatus, and l am particularly graleful to Sam Allin for her experli5e and tenacily in pursuing this. The new CIO has been set up and assets Iransferred. However, we still await the Charity Commission's formal recognition of the transfer of oll MA aclivilies lo the CIO. I do want to acknowledge the work and service of our MA Trustees, who have approached their role which corries real responsibility - with mature care and goodwill. Decisions are not always easy, bul how we make Ihem, and how if need be we 'disagree well,, reflects credil on a51 our trustees. MA Executive The Mission Area Executive comprises the MA Leader, MA wardens (Sue Whitehouse and Sarah Evans), MA Treasurer (Sam Allinl and a representative of the Shared Ministry Team (Rev'd Helen Dawson). The Exec meels before each trustee meeting lo review the MAC agenda, and as necessary through the year lo consider policy and administrative matters and discuss the challenges and opportunities laced by the charity. Decisions commonly comprise recommendations which are ratified as necessary at the next ensuing MAC meeting. Sarah Evans has expressed her intention of standing down as Trustee and Mission Area Worden al the 2026 AVM, and I want to thank her for her steadfast help and supporl in the MA Warden role. Safeguarding Safeguarding is overseen al Mission Area level, and the MA hos adopted ond is required to comply wilh Church in Wales safeguarding policy. Clergy and licensed lay ministers as well a5 MA officers and Iruslees, Worship Leaders, Pastoral Assislants, and anyone woiking with children or vulnerable adulls are required to hold a DBS certificate and attend Church in Wales safeguarding training at the appropriate level. Safeguarding training is provided bolh online and in person by the Church in Wales, in graded modules, and needs to be renewed every three years. I thank Saroh Evans for herwork as MAC safeguarding Officer. DBS and training compliance is monitored via the 'My Church People, Church in Wales app. Buildings and Property Caring for church buildings remains a challenge for us all and a heavy burden. financially and in lerms of responsibility, for local congregations. During 2025 we came more to terms wilh Ihe need lo obtain faculty permission lor building works. but the process, though necessary, is not always easy and can be frustratingly slow. Establishing a Buildings and Properly Commitfee remains a priority, but for the moment seems difficult to implement for lack of personnel. Pugc, 3 Schools, Famllies, and Children's work Contact has been maintained with our local church school Ysgol Cwm Bonwy (Church in Wales Voluntary Aidedl, and Ihe arrival of Rev'd Nick Bee gives an opportunity for the relationship lo be further slrengthened. Trustees are involved in recommending to the bishop suitable people to act as Foundation Governors. Email voting has enabled us to deal wilh applications in a timely manner. However. it is increasingly difficult to find potential governors who have the necessary commitmenl lo upholding the Chrislian foundafion and ethos of our church schools, or have any involvement in the Mission Area. This is on issue which I have raised with the Diocesan Director of Education and al Standing Committee. Diocese of St Asaph In the course of the year the MA received significont practical and financial support from the diocesan staff and Board of Finance. This has greatly assisted us lo meet our Diocesan Share obligations. which, however, do remain o challenge for many churches. The MA Leader benefited from regular meetings with other MALS in Ihe orchdeaconry and the diocese, and with the Archdeacon of Montgomery. The Archdeacon held a Visilalion in 2025, and the diocese has stated thal annual Visitations will be the norm henceforth, buf no date has been given for 2026. In December. we welcomed Bishop Gregory as he licensed Rev'd Nick at a splendid service amid Ihe decorated Christmas trees in St Mary's, Llonfair. Sarah Evans was our lay representatives on the Diocesan Conference, and also on Standing Committee. Sarah is also a member of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales. Rev'd Stephen is a member of the Diocesan Board of Finance. Conclusion Coereinion Mission Area remains fragile in many respects but has met all ils legol obligations and continue5 to fulfil its mission to promote the whole life of the church in the communilies which it serves. With the support and active involvemen* of ils officers, Trustees, Shared Minislry Team, the diocesan office and a wide range of volunteers who continue fo be wonderfully generous with both time and talents, it has provided opportunities for worship and the sharing of Ihe Christian gospel and maintained a strong Chrislion presence throughout its area of aclivity. FINANCIAL REVIEW The receipls and payments for Ihe year. and the ossets and liabililies ot the year end ore shown in the slotements of account which accompany this report. Further detoil of the results for Ihe year and the financial position are included in the prior annual report section. RESERVES POLICY The MAC has approved o reserves policy as follows.. Definition of Reserves Our Reserves are that part of our unrestricted funds thal are freely available to spend on any of the Mission Area's purposes. To calculate the reserves available we have excluded restricted funds and endowment funds. as well as tangible fixed assets held for operational purposes and any amount deemed to be designaled by the Trustee Board IMACI. The MAC has a legal duty to spend income within a reasonable time of receipt. However, a5 MAC trustees we may make decisions and lake actions Ihal allow the Mission Area to function properly on a sound financial basis. This means the MAC has to assess and conclude whether the MAC does need reserves and whether holding such reserves are in the Mission Area's best interesls. Setting the Reserves Policy In selling this reserves policy, the hAAC has considered the following possible reasons lo hold reserves- Unexpecled expenditure that hasn't been budgeted for, creating a need for funds that hadrn'l been anticipated Expenses fluctuating for reasons out of the MAC'S control e.g. long term sickness cover. legislation changes to pensions. Income streams fluctualing or limescales being extended e.g. grant reductions or legacy issues. The MAC may need to invest in assets. the recovery of cost only being seen in later years. There may be a need to match-fund new projects from reserves. Funds may be paid in arrears and therefore the MAC requires reserves for cash flow funding. The MAC has considered whether such events may occur and the need for a pot of funds as free reserves. The MAC has adopted a sensible approach lo the calculations, and can show that o robusl and thorough process has been undertaken, taking inlo consideration.. the income streams received by the Mission Area, considering whether Ihey are restricted or unrestricted funds, received in advance or arrears and the factors will cause them to fluctuate - considering both internal ond external is5ue5. The risks and uncertainties the MAC face in the future as de*ined in the risk register which allow Ihe MAC to consider the likely need for funds. PugFe ) The strategic plans the MAC have in place and whether these plans require an amount to be spent to cash flow an initiative. The costs the MAC has that are committed and for how long Whether redundancy costs are inherent within the leam and how would Ihe5e be funded Policy Revlew and Process The MAC will keep the policy and also the level of reserves held under review. Fluctuations of reserves will be discussed to assess whelher it is a short term or longer term issue. Changes in income streams and risks will olso be monitored, with the MAC considering the changes these impacts have on reserves. If Ihe MAC has calculated how much is needed in reserves, and finds it has an excess then it will consider whether that excess should form part of a slrategic planned spend or investment for the future. Where the MAC is confident that the reserves policy is robust ond realistic, bul there are insufficient funds to maintain that level of reserves, the MAC should sfill report their reserves policy and fhe level they would ideally like lo have. Plans for achieving this level, and the activities that will allow them to ochieve it should be documented in Ihe Trustees Annual Report. ADVISORS N/A APPROVED by the Mission Area Conference on and signed on its behalf by {SignatureJ - (Name) Pci&Fe 6 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO Caereinion MISSION AREA CIO CONFERENCE I report on the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2025 Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The Mission Area Conference (MACI are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The MAC considersthat an audit is not required forthis yearunder section 144121 of the Ch8ritiesAct 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independentexamination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. cxamine the clccoiint5 iiiidLr %L'ctioi) 14) ol-tlie ?0 I l Act) ti) fi)Ilc)ii' tl)e pi'()cecliii'e5 Idid doivii iii tlie Geiier