A Maat alley
:
Annual Report of Stort Valley Schools Trust for 2024/25
Registered Address
c/o Sawbridgeworth Evangelical Congregational Church London Road
enquiries@svst.org.uk
,
ANNUAL REPORT
We are pleased to present a report of the life and work of the Charity for 1 Oct 2024 to 30 Sep 2025.
The Stort Valley Schools Trust is a Christian organisation, established in 1990, to serve schools in and around Sawbridgeworth, Bishop's Stortford, Newport and Saffron Walden. Our passion is helping young people to thrive.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to provide a positive representation of the Christian faith to the young people and staff we work with through our words and actions.
OUR AIMS
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e To help young people thrive
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e To demonstrate God's love
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e To develop purposeful and caring relationships
:
- e Toenable children and young people to consider Christianity in a meaningful way
OUR VALUES
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e Jesus focussed
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e Inclusive
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e Accountable
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e Relational
OUR BELIEF
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
We believe the Good News of the Bible, that God loves everyone without exception. This is what motivates us in our love and support for young people. SVST holds to the statement of faith as laid out by the Evangelical Alliance UK.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Stort Valley Schools Trust (SVST) offers a free chaplaincy service to both primary and secondary schools across the Stort Valley area. We currently employ two schools’ workers:
Kt Haynes our Team Leader
Nicola Williamson our Schools Support Worker
In addition we have volunteers who have a range of different roles from direct contact and work with young people in schools to representing the trust in local churches.
In 2025 our workers have been working in several schools in the area and have been able to offer support in a number of areas. Both are trained and experienced mentors, youth workers and mental health first aiders.
The trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities the Trust should undertake. During 2024/25 these have included:
- e Mentoring
We offer children and young people 30-minute 1:1 mentoring sessions, offering a private but not confidential service. These are safe spaces for young people to be heard and to share their anxieties. Any issues can be flagged up to school pastoral care, and we signpost to other services if appropriate.
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e Offering input into collective worship and Christian input to lessons,
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e Seasonal workshops
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e Create Soul Spaces
These are opportunities to create a space for pupils to pause and reflect on life. In 2024 we were able to create these around the themes of Easter, Remembrance and Christmas.
e Lunchtime clubs
Our Rooted Hubs are opportunities for pupils to explore who they are and what they believe about life. Rooted seeks to provide space for each young person to grow, flourish, and be nurtured in a safe, committed, and compassionate Christian community. Rooted embraces the messiness of life and encourages young people to
wrestle with big questions authentically and openly in an environment that respects difference and promotes tolerance.
e Chaplaincy drop-ins
We offer a listening ear and an opportunity to express thoughts and worries in a creative manner.
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e Support year 6 pupils as they transition to secondary school
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e Pastoral support to both students and staff
GOVERNANCE
The Charity is constituted as a Trust, governed by a Trust Deed. New trustees are selected and confirmed by the existing trustees.
The trustees during 2025 have been:
Rev John Walford = Chair Rev Gary Hanson _ Secretary Nicholas Hewish _ Treasurer Rev Brenda Brundritt Margaret Sherwin Safeguarding David King Grant applications
David King became a trustee in February 2025 to offer his expertise in areas related to grant applications and business relationships.
ACCOUNTS
The Trust's principal source of funds comes from donations from local churches and individuals.
In 2025 we celebrated our 35"" anniversary and a campaign to encourage people to donate £35 as a thank-offering raised some additional funds. In addition we have received a grant with the objective of employing a further part-time worker.
Our policy does require us to ensure that reserves are not less than one quarter of total annual payments, to guaranteea full notice period for our employees in the event that the Trust is terminated. We would like to see our regular income mast increase in the coming financial year to ensure that the Trust operates on a firm financial footing.
A primary objective of the trustees in the coming year is therefore to strengthen finances to allow us to expand our work.
DECLARATION
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
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STORT VALLEY SCHOOLS TRUST - Charity No: 1001619 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
YEAR TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
| Receipts Donations Donations for special projects Interest Gift Aid Tax Recovery Payments Salaries Training Equipment School expenses and resources Printing and postage Travel Administrative expenses Special projects Excess receipts over payments Funds brought forward Funds carried forward Cash funds held Barclays current account Barclays deposit account |
Unrestricted Funds 35,857 347 2,622 38,826 43,022 1,611 179 723 3,021 3,923 32,558 22,828 |
Restricted Funds 3,900 3,900 0 0 3,900 |
Total Funds £ 35,857 3,900 347 2,622 42,726 43,022 - - 1,611 179 723 3,021 - 48,556 (5,830) 32,558 26,728 3,820 22,908 26,728 |
Year ended 30 Sep 2024 £ 20,720 - 696 2,139 23,555 46,099 - - 2,184 - 688 2,714 - 51,684 (28,130) 60,687 32,557 997 31,561 32,558 |
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|En.
| CHARITYCOMMISSION |Independent examiner's reporton the|En.
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|Responsibilitiesand basis||As
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|of report||accounts in accordance with the requirements ofthe Charities Act 2011||
|||(‘the Act”).||
|||| report in respect ofmy examination ofthe Trust's accounts carried out||
|||under section 145 ofthe 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination,|||
|||havefollowed all the applicable Directions given bythe Charity||
|||Commission under section 145(5)(b) ofthe Act.||
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|||have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other||
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|||any material respect:||
|||¢the accounting recordswere not kept in accordance with section||
|||130 ofthe Charities Act; or||
|||¢ the accounts did notaccordwith the accounting records; or||
|||¢ the accounts did notcomply with the applicable requirements||
|||concerningtheform and content of accounts set out in the||
|||Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 otherthan||
|||any requirement thatthe accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view||
|||which is nota matter considered as part ofan independent||
|||examination.||
|||| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in||
|||connection with the examination towhich attention should be drawn||
|||in this report in orderto enable a proper understanding ofthe||
|||accounts to be reached.||
|||Please delete the words in thebrackets iftheydo not apply.||
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IER
Oct 2018