Annual Report for Charity Commission 2024
Structure, Governance and Management:
Membership of the Trust:
Trustees and year of appointment are as follows:
| Miss Janet Cox | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|
| Mr Darren Chubb | 2022 | Appointed January 2023 |
| Mr Tony Daniels | 2024 | Appointed January 2024 |
| Miss Heidi Fletcher | 2017 | Vice Chair from 09/2018 |
| Mrs Jane Spencer | 2017 | Chair from 01/2024 |
| Dr. John Stafford | 1990 | Assistant Treasurer from 04/2020 |
| Mrs Jacqueline Vickers | 2015 | Treasurer from 04/2020 |
Employees of the Trust:
Mrs Trish Horwood Primary Schools worker appointed 01/ 01/ 2017 Mrs Becky Guynn Primary Schools worker appointed 01/ 09/ 2019
Objectives and Activities: a return to face to face / in school activities. The stated aim of the Trust is: The advancement of the Christian Religion among young people in the Bedford Area, particularly in schools, in conjunction with local churches and volunteers.
We achieve our vision by supporting schools in promoting spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness, delivering a range of Christian activities for children and young people in consultation with teachers in school. We build positive and appropriate relationships with schools, whilst respecting diversity and differences across all faiths
Impact’s two workers have worked in over 50 primary schools and school settings and academies on a regular basis throughout 2023-2024 The workers have also continued to offer online resources as schools have requested. Impact has linked with churches and church volunteers who support events and activities in their local school settings. Across Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire, Impact has also been widening its engagement with pre-school settings, holiday clubs and a local museum (at their request).
Achievements and Performance.
The charity has streamlined their working practices by reviewing our geographical reach, and by following up on requests for more regular engagement with schools and groups.
Having recognised that, due to the economic impact of Covid and of increased winter fuel costs, schools were finding it more difficult to find the funding to travel to our live events from further afield, we targeted and prioritised those schools who could walk to live events from their schools or travel at a lower transport cost. However, by retaining some places for those schools that could still afford the transport costs to events, we maintained a universal offer and then committed to take workshops linked to the live events into schools that could not afford transport costs.
Impact have led three live events;
St. John’s Church, Bedford have hosted the Live Nativity and Easter Experience with 25 - 30 pupils, teachers and helpers from schools attending thrice daily performances allowing over 700 individuals to hear and see drama events about the Christmas and Easter stories, each with follow up Q and A sessions. In the Footsteps of Bunyan took place at the John Bunyan Museum, Bedford. This was the last opportunity to present this learning opportunity in the current format and a new opportunity to align this with the new RE workshops for schools is in the planning stages for 2025/2026.
Working in conjunction with Milton Keynes Bridgebuilders Trust a further live event celebrating the life of John Newton was held in Olney, Bedfordshire. This enabled around 900 to learn of his life, faith, and service.
In addition to the above activities, and over and above their day-to-day school activities, the workers have been involved in holiday clubs at the Museum and have begun links with pre-school settings in Bedford.
Trustees have continued to review the Impact Vision Plan, ensuring that it was being fulfilled, modifying and updating it on a regular basis to meet the requirements of the Workers’ developing workload. They have identified an opportunity to develop RE workshops for schools in 2024-2025.
Core Activities and Materials:
These continue to be valued by schools with assemblies or collective worship being offered every week and lunchtime sessions supporting children’s self-esteem and relationships continue.
Prayer Spaces, creative prayer and school-based workshops have been very popular and the work in these areas has expanded during 2024. Workers continue to run Christian Unions, support lunchtime and after school clubs and support RE lessons. Website development has been aligned to ensure resources that we offered to schools online can still be accessed, and more resources have been added.
New Opportunities
A link with the local museum to support the understanding of the life of John Bunyan led to a holiday event being led by Impact. This will be linked in the future to a RE workshop (see below).
In addition, a recognition that teachers value our creative approach to help children understand Christianity, has led to the planning of new workshops to support the understanding of Christianity required in the local RE curriculum for 2025/2026. These will include new RE workshops to support children’s learning and the teacher’s own subject knowledge. Creation, the Trinity, and A life of faith - the Life of Bunyan will be offered.
Communication
Church and Volunteer Communications
Volunteers and supporters are informed about Impact’s work via a termly emailed newsletter from Trustees and a monthly prayer and praise email is also issued from the workers. Workers and Trustees have led presentations to churches to explain the work of Impact. This includes communicating how churches can support financially, through prayer and by volunteering their time by helping at events.
Our volunteers and supporters are incredibly important to us and staying connected with them is essential. It is their prayers and financial support that has enabled Impact to continue presenting the Christian message in Bedfordshire schools for over 30 years. We now have over 100 volunteers and supporters on our mailing lists.
School Communication.
By reviewing our website and email communication, teachers and staff in all the schools receive annual and termly planners and regular email contact to ensure effective communication. Booking systems have been updated and this has proved popular with schools.
Training and Reviews.
Workers have attended the Scripture Union conference, have completed relevant online training courses and are up to date on their Safeguarding training.
Each Worker has a Personal Trustee who leads their Annual Performance Reviews, and all Trustees meet to review these. We also ensure they have reflection / retreat days to support the Workers’ wellbeing and spiritual lives. Monthly Team Meetings continue to review and prioritise work and help develop next steps. Two Trustees lead the meetings.
Safeguarding.
The Trust is mindful of its responsibilities for the welfare of pupils in schools and Workers, Volunteers with one-to-one or group contact and Trustees are all DBS checked.
In addition, Impact’s safeguarding strategies and policies are regularly reviewed to ensure that the charity is fully up to date and fulfils current legislation. Volunteer update training is planned to supplement church training that they have already had.
Looking ahead .
With an improved website, face to face involvement in schools, on-line and social media links, we have continued to develop what Impact can offer schools. The Strategic 5-year Vision Plan, begun in August 2020 is reviewed regularly and this has helped us retain our mission and objectives but develop our offer in an ever-changing school environment.
This includes a strategy for increasing our income as well as an increase in the number of Trustees. We intend to develop our financial giving section on our website including a legacy explanation and QR codes for giving to specific aspects of our work. We intend to have a clearer, sustainable grant application strategy. Our RE workshops and curriculum offer, alongside pre-school and school holiday events are outlined above,
Throughout the year, the workers have fulfilled the objectives of the charity very effectively and have presented Christianity to pupils in primary schools in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire enthusiastically, creatively and professionally.
Financial Review.
Please see Income and Expenditure Accounts and Balance Sheets attached.
Independent Examination.
The Examiner’s Report is attached.
Public Benefit.
A considerable number of children and young people attending primary schools in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire attend, engage, enjoy and benefit from Impact’s charitable work. These remain in line with Impact’s stated aims and goals, and the guidelines of the Charity Commission.
Jane Spencer Chair of Trustees 10th August 2025
Bedford Area Schools Christian Support Trust Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
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INCOME 2024 2023
Gift Aid donations 19,051.63 15,633.00
Reclaimed tax 4,113.75 3,610.75
23,165.38 19,243.75
Regular donations:
Individuals 1,215.00 2,058.00
Churches 12,955.35 18,707.61
14,170.35 20,765.61
Occasional donations:
Individuals 3,475.00 9,100.00
Churches 8,250.00 5,903.50
Paypal 1,303.90
13,028.90 15,003.50
Just Giving/Easy Fundraising 741.85
Bank interest 1,360.04 836.26
income from events 900.52 720.00
miscellaneous 240.00
other income 105.00
Amazon smile 18.41
Fundraising 103.10
Legacy 594.59 161.16
grants 5,000.00 7,000.00
TOTAL INCOME 58,324.78 64,833.64
EXPENDITURE
Workers' salaries 43,453.44 61,534.71
Superann. 4,296.16 5,909.28
Employer's NI 1,769.20 1,877.96
49,518.80 69,321.95
Workers' expenses (Note 1) 5,889.12 4,582.01
Trust administration (Note 2) 1,944.88 1,609.47
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 57,352.80 75,513.43
surplus/deficit 971.98 (10,679.79)
Note 1
Workers' expenses
Motor + travel 2,878.21 2,448.55
Consumeables 740.04 376.79
Materials 1,641.17 1,066.67
Telephone 135.70 66.00
Office heat/light allowance 494.00 494.00
Training 130.00
Note 2 5,889.12 4,582.01
Trust administration
DBS 13.00 13.00
Insurance 746.24 664.48
costs of events 30.52
gifts (Christmas worker gifts) 105.00 100.00
Trustee expenses (zoom subscriptio 187.08 36.00
Subscriptions 600.00
miscellaneous
Workers Hardware Software
Capital equipment 15.99
Website 830.00 180.00
Bank charges 33.04 0.00
1,944.88 1,609.47
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Bedford Area Schools Christian Support Trust Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024
| Balances at bank NatWest current A/C Barclay Savings A/C Nationwide 90 day Paypal Cash in hand BALANCE at year start Surplus/(deficit) of income & expenditure account BALANCE at year end |
2024 2,271.53 20,337.40 29,128.42 792.39 8.94 52,538.68 51,566.70 971.98 52,538.68 |
2023 5,736.98 28,049.62 17,771.16 - 8.94 51,566.70 62,246.49 |
|---|---|---|
| (10,679.79) 51,566.70 |
updated 24/02/2025
Impact accounts - independent examination.xls
Docusign Envelope ID: EE56B6E8-D0C3-4D90-8BFF-21978AAC0590
Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees of: Bedford Area Schools Christian Support Trust (otherwise known as BASCST and Impact), Registered Charity No. 1010472 on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. They consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Charities Act), and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the trustees and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Charities Act;
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
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2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
24 February 2025 Signed: ____ Date: _
Independent Examiner’s Name: Luke Stirland
Relevant professional qualification or body: ACA (ICAEW)
Address: 160 Pheasant Rise, Bar Hill, Cambridge, CB23 8SD