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THE SOUTH BEDFORDSHIRE METHODIST CIRCUIT

Registered charity 1134222 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as CHILTERN DOWNS METHODIST CIRCUIT

To support the work of the 22 Methodist Churches which make up the South Bedfordshire Circuit in their worship, learning and caring, service and evangelism.

Causes: Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£473k
Latest spending
£474k
Registered
2010
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves are significantly in excess of the stated policy target, with the General Fund representing approximately five months of budgeted expenditure against a policy target of three months. The charity reports that it is a going concern, supported by adequate reserves and continued assessment payments from member churches, although it acknowledges dependency on these assessments to maintain staffing levels.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: three months of gross expenditure (held: £165k)
“Our policy is to hold about 3 months of gross expenditure as a reserve” — page 11
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
£900k
Total spending
£356k
Reserves (reported)
£2.6m
Employees
7

Reported reserves equal ~88.4 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 7.0 months; benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Central Bedfordshire

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/08/2025£473k£474k
31/08/2024£432k£497k
31/08/2023£900k£356k
31/08/2022£416k£438k
31/08/2021£397k£492k

Common questions

Is THE SOUTH BEDFORDSHIRE METHODIST CIRCUIT financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted reserves are significantly in excess of the stated policy target, with the General Fund representing approximately five months of budgeted expenditure against a policy target of three months. The charity reports that it is a going concern, supported by adequate reserves and continued assessment payments from member churches, although it acknowledges dependency on these assessments to maintain staffing levels. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.