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BIRMINGHAM (WEST) AND OLDBURY METHODIST CIRCUIT

Registered charity 1133064 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The Circuit supports churches within the Circuit in providing Christian Ministry in their localities. Three fulltime presbyters have pastoral oversight of the 13 churches with the support and leadership of one Lay Minister, Local Preachers and Circuit Stewards. It supports the Beginagen Project which offers counselling, financial advice and negotiation services free to those in need.

Causes: Education/training · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Overseas Aid/famine Relief · Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£234k
Latest spending
£320k
Registered
2009
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity recorded a net deficit of £86,347 for the year, with total income of £234,148 against expenditure of £320,495. The trustees note that assessment income from churches is insufficient to cover running costs, requiring transfers from the Circuit Model Trust Fund to subsidize the General Fund. Despite this operational deficit, the charity holds total reserves of £2,067,651, including £913,381 in freehold property, and the trustees consider it a going concern.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Assessments from churches (70% of income)
“Assessments from churches 165,000” — page 14
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: four to six months of circuit running costs (held: £2.0m)
“The trustees believe that the balance on the General Fund should, under normal circumstances, be in the region of £80K - £110K, to cover four to six months of circuit running costs.” — page 4
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Circuit received assessment income from the Methodist churches in the circuit totalling £165,000 (2024: £159,440). The circuit paid to Birmingham Methodist District £107,638 (2024: £147,474) for contributions to Methodist church funds at district and connexional level.
“The Circuit received assessment income from the Methodist churches in the circuit totalling £165,000 (2024: £159,440). The circuit paid to Birmingham Methodist District £107,638 (2024: £147,474) for contributions to Methodist church funds at district and connexional level.” — page 19
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2023)

Total income
£1.0m
Total spending
£334k
Reserves (reported)
£93k
Employees
4

Reported reserves equal ~3.4 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 7.0 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Other (80% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (2.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Birmingham City · Dudley · Sandwell

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/08/2025£234k£320k
31/08/2024£247k£492k
31/08/2023£1.0m£334k
31/08/2022£470k£214k
31/08/2021£769k£171k

Common questions

Is BIRMINGHAM (WEST) AND OLDBURY METHODIST CIRCUIT financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity recorded a net deficit of £86,347 for the year, with total income of £234,148 against expenditure of £320,495. The trustees note that assessment income from churches is insufficient to cover running costs, requiring transfers from the Circuit Model Trust Fund to subsidize the General Fund. Despite this operational deficit, the charity holds total reserves of £2,067,651, including £913,381 in freehold property, and the trustees consider it a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.