NEWPORT AND LOWER WYE METHODIST CIRCUIT

Registered charity 1137596 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

Supporting other charities in the UK and overseas finacially and with prayer

Objects

The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the date of union the advancement of -(a) the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church;(b) any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, district, circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church;(c) any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsiduary or ancillary to the Methodist Church;(d) any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church.

Area of benefit: UNDEFINED. IN PRACTICE, LOCAL.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Religious Activities · Other Charitable Purposes · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£451k

Latest spending

£483k

Registered

2010

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the Circuit incurred a deficit of £32,963 in 2024-25, primarily because running costs increased faster than assessments and due to a large Connexional Priority Fund levy on property sales. Despite this deficit, the trustees report that the overall level of reserves is satisfactory, with the General Fund standing at 237% of annual expenditure, well above the policy target of 40%. The Circuit holds total reserves of £716,404, comprising unrestricted and designated funds.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: 40% of normal annual expenditure (held: £716k)

“The Reserves Policy for the Circuit is to hold a minimum sum equivalent to 40% of normal annual expenditure.” — page 8

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Payments to trustees: The current Circuit administrator is both a Circuit trustee and an employee of the Circuit, who receives a salary and other employment-related expenses. Apart from the presbyters and the Circuit administrator, no member of the CLT received payment for work undertaken on behalf of the Circuit in 2024-25.

“The current Circuit administrator is both a Circuit trustee and an employee of the Circuit, who receives a salary and other employment-related expenses (as detailed in Note 11.1). Apart from the presbyters and the Circuit administrator, no member of the CLT received payment for work undertaken on behalf of the Circuit in 2024-25.” — page 27

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

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

In its annual return the charity told the Commission it is also regulated by: Welsh Government (Social Landlords And Housing Associations). This is the charity’s own declaration; it is not a rating and has not been verified by the Commission or by this site.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2024)

Total income

£512k

Total spending

£415k

Cost of raising funds

£4k

Reserves (reported)

£478k

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~13.8 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 7.1 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (51% 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: 0.7% of total income — below the median for charities its size (3.0%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

ANN WALDRON
Allan Strange
Ann Langford Mrs
Ann Margaret Mackie
Brian Shier-Jones
CAROL ANNE ALDRIDGE
Catrin Olive Edwards
Christine Morgan
David William Evans · trustee of 1 other charity
Deacon John Brobbey
ELIZABETH JILL ELLIS
Elizabeth Stewart Chonka
Farai Francis Chezhira Gumbo
GARETH EDWARDS
Gillian Benson
Hazel Esme Bennett
Helen Louise Smith
Ian Griffiths
Jacqueline Sian Horrod-Tottem
Jean Williams
Jennifer Suter
John Cobbett Haeley
KEITH MAURICE HARVEY · trustee of 1 other charity
MARGARET NICHOLAS
MARION EVELYN MARINA EDWARDS
MIRIAM EVA HAM
MRS PAM LLOYD · trustee of 1 other charity
Margaret Jenkins
Martin Lougher BSc, BArch
Michael Gray · trustee of 1 other charity
Mike Lavis
PENNY BLAKEMORE
Patricia Dicker
Pauline Margaret Farr
Priscilla Ruth Musker
ROBIN THOMAS ALAN HILL
RUTH GRAY F.C.L.
Rev ANDREW WEBSTER · trustee of 1 other charity
Rev Bethany Willers · trustee of 1 other charity
Rev Catherine Louise Lewis

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

Operates in: Caerphilly · Herefordshire · Monmouthshire · Newport City

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/08/2025	£451k	£483k
31/08/2024	£512k	£415k
31/08/2023	£599k	£390k
31/08/2022	£297k	£288k
31/08/2021	£327k	£318k

Common questions

Is NEWPORT AND LOWER WYE METHODIST CIRCUIT financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the Circuit incurred a deficit of £32,963 in 2024-25, primarily because running costs increased faster than assessments and due to a large Connexional Priority Fund levy on property sales. Despite this deficit, the trustees report that the overall level of reserves is satisfactory, with the General Fund standing at 237% of annual expenditure, well above the policy target of 40%. The Circuit holds total reserves of £716,404, comprising unrestricted and designated funds. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.