The Reading Schools Christian Work Trust REACH Charity No: 1084101 Annual Report September 2020- September 2021
Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph {leads us in triumph} and makes manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place 2 Corinthians 2:14
This last year has been difficult for every one of us and brought many challenges. This is the same for REACH. However the team has pressed on with our aim of making Christ known and His love to schools, pupils and staff in Reading.
We have used every means available to make the most of online opportunities. At Christmas 2020, and again at Easter 2021 the team ran a series of online Christian Union sessions called ‘Reach Out’, which were well received by some schools. We also attempted to provide online resources for schools and young people through You Tube and Instagram, with mixed success.
The summer term 2021 saw further initiatives: the detached sessions in some schools were productive and connections with schools and C.U. leaders were opening. We decided to broaden our work to parents with a REACH parent’s event, for students transitioning into Year 7 in the summer. This was accompanied by a new parent focused blog with the aim being to keep communication open with parents. There was also work done on a youth mentoring programme. We are continuing our work supporting C.U. leaders across the town, pioneering a support network to disciple the young leaders of the future.
Staffing
The staffing situation has undergone some changes:
Sherlon has left to get a full time job, due to financial pressure. We are thankful to him for the stirling work he put in, particularly in the detached sessions in some schools.
Consequently Anne has increased her time in taking on Sherlon’s hours, so she is now working four days a week in term time.
Phoebe is on maternity leave and is due to return in February 2022. Indy (Ministry Director) and Anne are covering the work in which Phoebe is involved. We have been delighted to appoint Mrs. Janet Shury onto the trustee board as treasurer. This has allowed the Management team to increase to four: three trustees, (including the Chair and Treasurer) and the Ministry Director.
Public Benefit
The tragic murder of a teenage boy in the Reading area, led to a need for responsive youth work. At REACH we were able to be on the ground working alongside local youth workers in the area. We were able to bring support to young people in the north of Reading throughout that complicated period. This work continued with two regular detached youth work sessions through the winter and spring.
REACH continues to support schools by bringing the love of Jesus to students and staff. This includes offering staff and pupils the opportunity to learn more about the Christian faith, and explore it for themselves. We have also been privileged to offer a degree of emotional support to pupils and staff struggling in school life, as well as encouraging other school workers in the area.
Developments in 2021/2022
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To continue with the aim of focused regional activity between local schools, Churches and REACH workers.
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To build on the financial resources of REACH by seeking funding from outside funding streams
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To implement a group of ‘REACH Friends.’ The trustees responsibilities are for higher level decisions e.g. vision and development. Since the work is very dependent on God through His Church locally and individually, it is felt that REACH would benefit from having feedback from another group of supportive individuals/ partners. This group in turn would keep our ‘stakeholders’ in possession of the work.
Feedback
[student leader] “It has been really helpful having Paul and Anne come into Little Heath CU over the last years and I really appreciate the support that REACH give us when leading the CU.”
[teacher] “It was an absolute pleasure to host you today and you went above and beyond the call of duty for the day…You assisted us at such short notice and that was very gracious of you to help and put in so much effort to make the day a success.”
[parent after one of our online REACH OUT events]: “They came in last night laughing so much from one of the games. Thank you so much. They have really enjoyed it and [name of child] said he has actually learned some things!’’
[Letter from a Headteacher]: “The REACH Team has been providing cake and coffee on a Thursday morning for our staff members for approximately 4 years now. We appreciate the service provided by the team and their volunteers!
Staff wellbeing is paramount to us and an intervention like this is important. The atmosphere created in our staff room is calm and relaxed. This provides a great opportunity for staff to interact and enjoy a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate served to them with a slice of delicious home baked cake provided.
Our staff attendance on a Thursday, as you can imagine, is particularly good!”
Reach (READING SCHOOLS. CHRISTIAN WORK TRUSTI STATEMENT OF FINAIICIAL ACTMTIES 1 SEPTEMBER 2020- 31 AUGUST 2ty21 2021 2020 Genernl Fund Gonornl Fund Incornlnq R8•our¢•s Voluntary Iorn Inve8trnent Inc 42.298 25 Total In¢•mlng R••ow R•ourctt E¥p•nd•d Chantalse ActivitN88 47.433 33,5T3 573 Net mo¥em•nl Wi fuTrJs 18.$141 (aT25) Total ht forwwd 23.934 15.209 Total fvnd• th•d fon#•rd BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2021 2021 D•btor¥ Cash at Bonk 12,79) 24,097 Cr•drtorn Cr•ditor8 and A¢cnJ8 (883) Ts)tal Assets R•pr•unt•d by: Unrestricted Fu1 15, 23.934 S JaThl• Tru•t•• ¥•rth 2022 J•not Shury Trnasur•r
R••ch (READING SCHOOLS. CHRISTIAN VIORK TRUST) NOTES TO THE ACCOUIITS 8•$1$ of pr?ratIOn 1.1 Basis olAccrAmtir#J Pradice ISORP 2CX)Sl', an(1 A¢countwvJ Stsrxlards. 1.2 Change in ba518 of 3n"tyU Tlwe has ten no charJe to thts accouwth'r3 lajt 1.3 Change8 to W•ViOU8 accwrrt6 Aon10n9 Pollcl 2.1 Inc¥Jming Rar Recognrtion ol IrCl resourc•s induded i) Slaiemerrt cl Incoming re#ourca8 th reL4ted •XFenckture ¥r• gros•. ttwy rete. 2.2 ExFeThJitwe 4rA1 LiabilrtK88 are rectrani5ed a¥ 800n as thw• rd * ot&Ja eomrnrttiThJ fv ¢hanty to poy out r080urc48. No h8¥e been Sncwred the go¥emanc ofts ¢wity. oflDcombbW rn•ourt•• 20 2020 G•n•rl Fund Fund 3.1 Vduntary Incom• Churches Gra1 Cnath* 18.L 14.$43 16. 197 20,933 Incorne T•x 2.641 41291 3.2 Invgsth)ent Inctffiè Int•r•st
R•ach (READING SCHOOLS. CHRISYIAII WORK TRUSTI NOTES TO THE ACCOUls contlnu 2020 G•n•rnl Fund Fund ErnF4oyment colts Training Resource• 42.430 30,2 130 236 PU1¢tylWets1le Teknphe¢ ComkXrt•r Iuran Other co8t• 734 215 33.573 zozo S D•btor¥ •nd Prnyym¥ Inland Rgv•nu• tax dawn 520 520 6 Ch •t B•nk and In Hand 17.862 Stthv8fdBhip DwiiAcwJnt 6,281 11790 24097 7 Cr•dltorn *nd •xru•l• PAYE aTrJ NIC Other 227 456
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Reading Schools Christian Work Trust On accounts for the year ènded 31 August 2021 Charity no {if any) 1084101 Set out on pages I report to the trusteés on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('Ihe Trust.) for the year ended 3110812021 Responsibllities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requiremenls of the Charities Act 2011 {"the AGr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Diredions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(51{b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examination which gives me ause to believe that in, any material respect.. Independent examiner's statement accounting r8cords were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no cOnrnS and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounls to be reached. Please delete the words in the braGkets if thgy do not apply. Signed: Date- 25 May 2022 Name: Bary A Young Relevant professional qualification{s) or body lif any).. Address: 21 Southcote Lane Reading RG30 3AG IER October 2018