2022-2023 Annual Report of the Trustees of Reach September 2022-Septembe 2023
For he established a testimony...that they should make them known to their children ...that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God
Psalm 78: 5-7
This has been an encouraging year for the work of the Trust thanks to the enthusiastic work of our new Ministry Director, Sarah, and her excellent teamwork with our worker/administrator, Anne. Both have built excellent relationships, both new and ongoing, with schools across the Reading area. New opportunities have arisen now that schools have been functioning at prepandemic levels.
Encouragement has also come from the students who have asked for help to start Christian groups of one sort or another in their schools. Facilitating these and training the student leaders are one of our major services to the schools. Our Pit Stop service of freshly made teas and coffees and homemade cakes to staff have been greatly appreciated as part of our pastoral services. They provide space for the staff to talk to each other or to those serving them, whether our staff or volunteers.
Volunteers, of whom we never have too many, continue to be invaluable for baking and/or serving at Pit Stops as well as for facilitating RE lessons and Christian seasonal input into Year 6 children in some primary schools. These schools are often feeder schools to the secondary ones in which we are working.
Financially the Lord has indeed provided all our needs, even during the summer holidays, for which we are truly grateful. Sarah continues to build relationships with churches whose young people we support in their schools, and with their youth workers. Much of our income comes from supporting churches and we need to encourage more to do so financially so that we can appoint another worker.
Looking ahead, with all the opportunities opening up, we shall need more workers sooner rather than later, but they will need financing.
Staffing
Andrew (Indy) Nottage has now moved to another sphere of work. We are so grateful to him for laying the foundations of the structure that has seen REACH able to reach out to schools in the Reading area in a more productive and active way.
Mrs. Sarah Horne has taken over his role as Ministry Director and is doing an outstanding Job networking with other partners, building contacts with schools and directing and working alongside out other extremely effective worker, Anne Wigmore.
The Reverend John Omole has become a trustee for REACH and brings his wisdom and experience into our decision making.
Public Benefit
With Mental Health issues increasingly coming to the fore, our staff team have successfully completed their NVQ mentoring qualification, Consequently, some schools have asked REACH to come into school weekly to mentor students who are struggling with mental Health issues. We are very pleased to do this as it is proving beneficial.
REACH continues to aim to give much needed encouragement to the hardworking staff in some schools in the area. This is done by providing ‘pit stops’, when volunteers bake cakes for the staff break and lunch times. The staffs have been very appreciative.
Of continuing importance to the work of REACH is to support schools by bringing the love of Jesus to students and staff. Increasingly this year schools are inviting REACH to conduct R E lessons, where current and difficult issues are addressed sensitively from a Christian perspective.
We also give pupils the opportunity to explore the Christian faith voluntarily in discussion and discovery groups in a safe and friendly environment. This has the further benefit of developing the older students in their leadership roles.
Developments in 2022/2023
The work of REACH is expanding at such a rate that by the end of the academic year we will need to plan for a third worker.
This will be especially important as we wish to maintain and increase our contact with schools in outlying areas. Some of these schools feel a little on the fringe’ so visiting them and doing work, or pit stops could be beneficial.
We want to extend our volunteer base.
We will maintain our links with those churches that partner with us in the work and look to make further links with other churches, charities and organisations that could partner with us.
We hope to extend our funding base.
Feedback
It (REACH lessons) hugely overlaps with what the students need to know about Christian views on crime, punishment (including forgiveness). Students have also
just learned about salvation and atonement as part of their first unit...it’s great to connect it all up for them! (teacher)
Just wanted to thank you for the excellent lesson today –for your time, effort, and enthusiasm in delivering it. (Head of Department)
Your lesson was brilliant and it is always a pleasure to have you teaching RE (teacher)
The whole staff were pleasantly surprised on our September inset day to receive a delicious variety of treats catering for all dietary needs. It had a lovely impact on everyone’s mood and went such a long way into making us feel cared for. We very much appreciated the thought and care that went into providing the range of cakes, so thank you! (Head teacher)
It has been a tremendous blessing to partner with REACH. We have seen and experienced first-hand how important the work is. We have enjoyed building good links with the school through the Christiam Union and Reach Out Club. It has been wonderful to watch members of our church contribute with cakes and in-school serving, as they see how brilliant it is to establish lasting links with the teachers...we trust this will continue and keep giving us a big vision...I am hugely grateful for the support of REACH. (church Rector)
Reach IREADING SCHOOLS. CHRISTIAN WORK TRUST) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTlVtriES 1 SEPTEMBER 2022 - 31 AUGUST 2023 2023 Unrestricted General Fund 2022 Unrestricted General Fund Incoming Resources Voluntary Income Investment Income 43.876 82 40,562 Total Incoming Resources 43.958 40.565 Resources Expended Charitsble Activities 44.125 35.663 Total ResOurS Expended 44.125 35.663 Net movement in funds (167) 4,902 Total funds brought forward 20,292 15,390 Total funds carried forward 20,125 20.292 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2023 2023 2022 Assets Debtors 5,799 2,485 Cash at Bank 14,914 17,807 Creditors Creditors and Accruals {588) Total Assets 20.125 Represented by: Unrestricted Fund 20,125 20.292 S Jarvls Trustee March 2024 Janet Shury Treasurer
Reach (READING SCHOOLS. CHRISTIAN WORK TRUSTI NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS Basis of Preparation 1.1 Basis of Accounting These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost in accordan wilh Accounting and Reporting by Charities - Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2005), and wtth Accounts"ng Standards. 1.2 Change in basis of accounting There has been no change to the accounting policies Sin last year. 1.3 Changes to prevtous accourrts No changes have been made to accounts for louS years. Accounting Policies 2.1 Incoming Resources Recognition of incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charty becomes entitled to the resour. Incoming resources vAth related expenditure are reported gross. Incoming reSoUrS from tsx reclaims are included at the same time as the grft to vthith they relate. 2.2 Expendtture and Liabilities Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or construdive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources. No costs have been incurred for the govemance of the charty. Analysis of incoming soUrceS 2023 2022 Unrestricted General Fund Unrestricted General Fund 3.1 Voluntary Income Churches General Donations Trusts Company Income Tax recovered 17,077 17,400 3,600 3.000 17,930 13,547 4,100 2.500 2.799 43.876 2.485 40.562 3.2 Investment Income Bank interest 82
Reach (READING SCHOOLS. CHRISTIAN WORK TRUST) NOTES TO THE AccouKfs continued 2023 2022 Unrestricted General Fund Unrestricted General Fund 4 Resources expended on Charitable Activitses Employment costs Training Travel Resources Rent Printing 37,932 378 1,325 778 1.200 37.891 250 258 290 1,214 174 I I I Office costs BT broadband Computer Insurance Olher costs 262 990 320 333 311 44.125 270 889 72 304 51 35.663 2023 2022 5 Debtors and prepayments Inland Revenue tax claim Debtor 2,799 2,485 5,799 2.485 6 Cash at Bank and in Hand Cuent Account Depostt Account 329 14.585 14.914 704 17.103 17.807 7 Creditors and accruals PAYE and NIC Other
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examine$ Report Report to the trustees Reading Schools Christian Work Trust On accounts for the ar ended 31 August 2023 Charity no (If any) 1084101 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charrty (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 3110812023 Responsibilities and basis of report As the thartys trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in resp*d of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out urKler section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have foll0v1 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent trhe Chanty's gross income ex 50,000 and l am qualified to examlner's statsment undertake the exa y being a qualified member of linsert name of applicabl odyll. Delete l ] rfnot applicabl8. I have Completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters hav8 come to my attention in Connection with the examination (otts&E ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in a¢¢ordan¢e with section 130 of the CharTties Act: or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the ac¢ourrts did not Comply with the applicable requirements conceming the fo and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wrth the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper urKlerstanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the wonls in the braGkets rfthey do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: Bary A YourKJ Relevant professional qualifiGation(sl or body Irf any): IER Oct 2018