Christians in Schools Trust
Charity number 1019848
Financial Year ending 31% July 2025
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/08/24 to 31/07/25
Section A. Reference and administration Details
Charity name
Christians in Schools Trust
Registered charity number
Registered charity number 1019848.
Charity’s principal address
The principal address for the charity is that of the Charity Office
Office Address .
Church House 99 Chatham Street Stockport SK3 9EG
Trustees ”
As at the end of the financial year, 31st July 2024:
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Mr Stephen Innes (Trust Chairman)
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Mrs Deborah Allen (Secretary)
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Mrs Gill Golding (Safeguarding)
Mr Phillip Pasteiner (Trust Treasurer)
Mrs Vivienne Allen
Mrs Janet Elizabeth Ford Mrs Christine Joyce Hall Ms Pauline McKendrick
Section B. Structure, governance and management
Governing document
The charity is governed by a Declaration of Trust made on 17th March1993.
Trustee selection methods
Clause 6 of the Declaration of Trust which governs the Trustees provides for not less than 3 nor more than 9 Trustees. Each Trustee is required to assent in writing to the doctrinal basis of this trust. The appointment of new Trustees is by the continuing Trustees. There are no custodian trustees. The Trustees met 7 times during the year and the average attendance was 87% No trustee attended less than 50% of Trustee meetings. Apologies were given to the meeting at all times.
One new Trustee was elected to join the Trust at the Trustees meeting in February 2025
Christians in Schools Trust
Charity number 1019848
Financial Year ending 31% July 2025
Review of major risks
Major risks are reviewed at Trustee meetings. Systems designed to mitigate significant risks are introduced as necessary. Trust polices are reviewed and updated on a regular basis. The following policies form part of our overall policy pack
Safeguarding Policy and Procedures
Complaint’s Policy
Bullying and Harassment Policy
Social Media Policy
Conflicts of Interest Policy Safer Recruitment
Trustee expenses Policy
Section C. Objectives and activities for the public benefit
Objects of the charity
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The purpose of the Trust is the advancement of Christian religion as follows:
The furtherance of the Gospel of God concerning his Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and the teaching of the Christian Faith in schools throughout the Stockport area and elsewhere.
The organisation, sponsorship and promotion of Inter-denominational Christian work throughout the Stockport area and elsewhere the object of which shall be to present to men, women, young people and children the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord by all possible means.
The Trust
The Trust is committed to providing Christian support for schools. Funds are provided by gifts from churches and individual supporters, mainly from Stockport and the surrounding areas.
The Trust has a Mission Statement. All activities that we carry out must adhere to at least one of the points in our mission statement.
Our mission is to:
[] Share the relevance of the Christian faith with young people (] Support and promote excellence in religious education, Assemblies and Schools’ work (] Partner with Christian communities in providing opportunities for children and young people to explore the Christian faith.
Founded in 1993, the work has developed and multiplied. Support is currently being given to primary and secondary schools, the local education authority and churches of all denominations.
Grant-making Policy
The Trust does not normally make grants. A specific decision of the Trustees, following appropriate enquiries, is necessary before a grant could be made.
Christians in Schools Trust
Charity number 1019848
Financial Year ending 31% July 2025
Investments Policy
The Trust seeks funds to support its current programme. It does not currently have any longterm investments. Specific investment powers are included in clause 3 of the Declaration of Trust.
Volunteers and
Supporters
Volunteers of the Trust offer support by praying for the Trust it’s work and workers, and by supporting through financial giving. They do this on their own and also through meeting together for prayer. The staff compose a monthly news sheet which includes news of our work and points to pray for.
Mission Partners
These are gifted individuals or church workérs who support our staff in their work in a practical way both on an ad-hoc and regular basis. We currently have several church workers who we consider our Mission Partners. All. partners carry a current DBS
Section D. Achievements and performance for the public benefit
Overview
A year of growth and new things
The team continued to form links with schools that we have previously not had links with and also rebuild links that we had lost contact with.
The team have also continued to update our weekly assemblies programme and they have produced some new lessons replacing out of date subjects. The team have also continued to create suitable “Prayer Spaces” for schools to book.
The Trustees continue to review the Trust’s policies in our portfolio at regular intervals
Staffing
The Trust currently employs 3 members of staff, 1 full time worker and 2 part time workers. Our fulltime worker is the team lead and also works in the primary sector. One part time worker works in the primary sector whilst the other focuses on secondary schools
Secondary schools
Our secondary school worker has continued to build on the links we have with secondary schools and input into a new school began this year. Our worker has not only been doing some R.E. lessons but also runs lunch time and after school clubs in several schools. These have been supported by partners from the local churches or staff from within the schools. One school also invited our worker to join them on a pupil’s residential retreat. Our worker also supports a monthly youth event held in the centre of the town.
It is hoped to continue growing and developing the work further in the coming academic year. Feedback shows that the clubs are valued and well attended by pupils. Our worker is currently training part time to be a trained councillor at a university nearby and is also a qualified Mental Health First Aider. It is hoped to develop further our Prayer Space for key stage 3 children during 2025/6.
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Christians in Schools Trust
Charity number 1019848
Financial Year ending 31% July 2025
We currently run 4 clubs in different schools.
Primary schools
The Trust continues to develop its work in primary schools. Throughout 2024 and 2025 both our staff have delivered weekly school assemblies, lessons and projects which have been widely used and valued by many schools. The Trust currently has links with almost 50 local schools and visit most on a regular basis. Many new lessons have been written to link with the new Greater Manchester R. E. curriculum. Following further training on” Prayer Spaces in Schools” a U.K. wide organisation the team have developed and refined our spaces suitable for Key Stage1 and 2 children. Partly due to the current “Mental health” amongst children these Spaces have become very popular and useful to schools and they are making use of them.
During the year our staff planned and led around 270 workshops, 9 prayer spaces as well as taking over 300 lessons plus assemblies and have had contact with around 8000 children, this is a small increase on last year’s figures and demonstrates how much our local schools value our work.
The Trust also works in conjunction with the “Heaton’s Churches Partnership” to resource and manage input into the schools there and to build links with churches. One member of staff takes overall responsibility for this and attends the church leaders’ meetings.
This year we piloted a new activity linked to our “It’s Your Move” project. Our staff team ran a full day Saturday event called “Move Social”. Year six children were invited to explore deeper some of the challenges in moving to a new and often much larger school and looked at some of the changes involved. All this was done in a fun and exciting way, and we had good feedback from the young people who attended
SACRE
The Trust has representation on the local council SACRE group. Our team lead is currently a member and attends the meetings.
Development work
Trust employees and some Trustees visit local churches and related organisations to promote and maintain the work of the Trust. Networking with Christian organisations and educational bodies is also a part of the Trust’s work.
Over recent years the staff team have continued to develop and improve our current projects for schools. The projects that have been developed so far are aimed mainly at Key Stage 1 and 2 children which have been well received. Staff continue to review and update all material used as necessary.
The staff have all continued to developed some sessions and projects suitable for reception and Key Stage 1 children, The Trusts intention is to continue rebuilding links with the secondary schools,
Christians in Schools Trust
Charity number 1019848
Financial Year ending 31% July 2025
further develop the Prayer or reflective spaces projects more and encourage local churches to take an active interest in and serve their local schools where possible.
Over the past twelve months the staff and Trustees have been able to strengthen our links with some local churches and partner with them in projects and clubs.
The Trustees continue to make sure we comply with current Data Protection and our Privacy Policy, making sure both are up to date.
Safeguarding
As a Trust we are committed to having a high standard of safeguarding both for our staff and those they come in contact with. The Trust has a Safeguarding Policy and we review this policy approximately every twelve months.
Safeguarding is an item on the agenda at every Trustee’s meeting.
Safeguarding training for staff was completed in a local school in September of 2025 where they joined with the school staff on their Safeguarding training day. The Trustee’s hope that staff will continue to have access to in-school training this coming academic year. Our Safeguarding trustee and team lead has had “Safer Recruitment” training. The Trustees have also completed some online training in “Safeguarding” and “Safer Recruitment” recently. All Trustees attended a Safeguarding for Trustees’ training day in January 2025
Intemet resources
The Christians in Schools Trust web site (www.cist.org.uk), was originally launched in September 2000. The website continues to be upgraded and developed asa point of information. Our website was redesigned, edited and our new site was launched at Easter term of 2021 and is updated by our “Team Leader”
The staff also use other social media sites such as “Facebook” and “Instagram” to keep our supporters informed on a regular basis.
Public Benefit
The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in planning all our activities.
Christians in Schools Trust
Charity number 1019848
Financial Year ending 31* July 2025
Serious Incidents
There were no serious incidents relating to the charity during the previous year that the Trustees needed to inform the Charity Commission.
Christians in Schools Trust
Charity number 1019848
Financial Year ending 31% July 2025
Section E. Financial review
Whilst our current financial situation is very healthy, and we have been able to employ a further worker year, our expenditure has exceeded our income. Although we have funds to cover this, it is a matter that the Trustees with need to address in the near future.
Income 2024 — 2025
Donations are received from supporting churches and individuals who support our mission. General gifts received during the year of operation totalled £29,539 from churches and £17,541. from individuals. No tax was recovered through “Gift Aid” due to a problem at the Government office A further £7,200 came from the service agreement with the Heaton’s’ Group of Churches. The Trust did not receive any further one-off gifts.
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Expenditure 2024 — 2025
Employee costs totalled £49,014 for salaries and pensions, £6577.00 for expenses and activities. Support, Administration and |.T. costs for the year were £2,569.00. We also gifted £1,100 to St Matthews Church for the use of St Matthews Church House as an office. This is included in our support costs.
Budget for 2025 — 2026
Total Assets at the start of the next year are £135,842 The Trusts budget for 2025-2026 is £66,725.00 Our aim is to have a balanced budget for the year; however, we currently hold enough reserves to cover any shorifall. We expect to see a reduction in our balance over the next 12 months due to employing a further part time worker.
Reserves policy
Trustees are alerted when funds fall to near three months working expense and appeals to supporters are initiated as required. The Trust’s funds include a sum of £13,900.00. which covers 90 days of total salaries, our Employer's financial responsibilities and any other financial commitments that the Trust has. Since we have been able to employ a third worker this year and still have a good balance, we should be able to continue to operate at the current level for at least the next 24 months.
Capital expenditure policy
Items of capital expenditure costing over £500 bought for the use of the Trust and its employees, these are treated as investment assets and are normally depreciated in four equal annual steps of 25%.
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Christians in Schools Trust
Charity number 1019848
Financial Year ending 31% July 2025
Section F. Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustee’s report above at a trustee meeting on October 23% 2025
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Signed on behalf of the charity
Mr Stephen Innes = A DNL Dae A2A-10-2S
Chair of Trustees
Mrs Deborah Allen 1 al Date 23/ [ie] [ [2]
Secretary & Trustee Dt -
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{ om] CHARITY COMMISSION| CHRISTIANS IN SCHOOLS TRUST 1019848
ake? | FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
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Receipts and payments accounts For the period To —_ from 91/08/2024 31/07/2025
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CC16a
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Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds Last year funds funds funds tothe nearest £ to the nearest£ to the nearest£ to the nearest£ to the nearest£ Ai Receipts [ChurchGitsSSCS~—“—~é~sdCSC‘CS;C(OOOYlCOOOCOCOCOCWCSdSCSCNCC‘“‘(C‘C$‘” et) fTfexRecaimed | Ld Ld CdS oherGts ——SSCSC~—~iSSC‘~;~‘~;~CS;s—C—s YTS dT dL Grants ee oe | RR P| | (—t024) Sub total (Gross income for OsOs OsOO AR) 55,304) 55,304 A2 Asset and investment sales, see table). ee ee ee abtotal| A3 Payments Salanes——SSSSC«iSC‘“‘C;C‘é [Employees AAT[CCC| Y 38,451 XT es es |cee SSCSC~—~idC(C<C~‘“‘;~;~~SOC!'YT~SCSCSCSC~C“‘“YYCdESCSCSSCSCSCSCS*d‘dL__SCSC~S lWatenal Costs Tr] ECT TTC =~? [EmployeeExpenses |dL SO | CSCC TSC «dS «dC insurance Ts CEST fTrustesCosis ee eS 077) Sub toralL_=7q][_—-iIL Patt | A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table [Equipment Purchases dT SSSCSC~«S : 500 ess eee ne eee Sub total]————_—500} . a) | Net of receipts/(payments}| - 3,896 +i. 8,898 1,784 ASA6 Transfers betweenfunds [| s-] ee |eee |eee Cash funds last year end | || le | Cash funds this year end| - 3,896 | - 3,896 1,784)
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
21/11/2025
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
funds funds funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
Total cash funds |135,842| “
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Unresiricted Restricted Endowment
funds funds funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
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Signed by one or two trustees on , ' Date of
behalf of all the trustees segnatare Faint Name approval
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D. Ar. PU - DEBORAH ALLEN.
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CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
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21/11/2025