Reading Schools Christian Work Trust (Reach) Charity Number: 1084101
Annual Report September 2023-August 2024
God is faithful by Whom you were called (1Corinthians 1:9)
This year has been one of expansion for Reach. Our ministry team were in 12 secondary schools as well as a number of primary schools during the year. As well as the usual schools that invite us in, 6 more secondary schools asked us to teach RE lessons or assist school Christian Unions. There were also 5 Primary schools Reach welcomed into local churches during the run up to Christmas where they heard our ‘Christmas Unwrapped’ presentation and, at Easter, our ‘Easter Cracked’ lessons. These were much enjoyed by the children.
Our wish was to set up new CUs in secondary schools so that more Christian young people would feel supported in schools. To this end 3 new CUs/ lunch clubs were set up, with the encouragement of students from each school and their staff. There were also 2 new schools that asked Reach to teach RE lessons. This expansion of the work of Reach is something which we are grateful for and was a primary aim for us at the beginning of the school year.
In a further development 2 schools asked Reach to help support the mental health of some of their pupils. Consequently, we now provide mentoring support to a number of secondary students that the schools concerned have identified. We have provided external training for our staff to assist them in this area of their work.
Reach has also been asked to do Sex Education lessons in some schools, in line with the DOE Religion and Sex Education guidelines. We are happy to do this from our Christian perspective of relationships and marriage and our staff have received the necessary training. We will start these sessions in September 2024.
Our team carried out our first University Prep Night and had 5 Y13’s who were heading off to university in the autumn. We were able to prepare them for what life is like at university and how to continue to develop their faith away from home.
Reach’s volunteer base has expanded significantly to almost 100. This includes volunteers to help with the Y6 sessions, the CUs, the University Prep Night, RE/PSHE lessons and bakers and servers for Pitstops.
The aim of our Pitstops is to provide cakes and coffee etc for staff. We hope by doing this to show appreciation to them for their hard work. We were able to start up Pitstops, in partnership with nearby churches, in 2 more schools this year.
Staffing including Scripture Union involvement:
Our Ministry Team remain 2 part-time staff who work very hard and have expanded our reach into more schools. We plan to increase the team next year to meet this expansion.
We have also worked in conjunction with Scripture Union as mission partners. Their staff have supported Reach in terms of advice and our use of their resources, as well as training for our staff. Scripture Union also provides our safeguarding support and DBS checks.
Pastor John Omole has joined the board of trustees. As well as being keen that young people should know the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ he is also a Reading Church leader and as such is a valuable representative and voice for the churches that support Reach. The trustee board now number 6.
Public Benefit:
With Mental Health issues increasingly coming to the fore in schools it is beneficial that Reach has been able to provide mentoring sessions to pupils.
We continue 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 sought to encourage hard pressed staff in schools by offering ‘Pitstops’.
The University Prep Nights provide an opportunity for Y13’s to feel more confident about entering university.
Working in partnership with Churches and other organisations is both encouraging and strengthening.
Developments in 2024/2025:
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We aim to start delivering sex education lessons(RSE) in the autumn term.
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To increase the number of RE lessons we do.
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To start 2 new CUs.
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To see young people come to faith, as well as have their faith strengthened through CUs.
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To appoint a third member to the staff team.
Feedback:
“She’s really nice and I look forward to our sessions. The sessions are helpful and it’s nice to talk to someone in the school I can trust.” Student year 8
“She’s open to talk about anything; like if you only want to talk about how your day was. She’s very comforting and good at helping you solve problems. She’s respectful of your boundaries and the sessions are very helpful.” Student Year 8
“She’s really nice and I think our sessions are helping a lot.” Student Year 9
“Anne has worked with Langtree for a number of years now and is a real asset to our Pastoral Team. Her communication with us is brilliant and the work she does here benefits our students greatly. We collectively are very pleased with her and everything she does for Langtree and its students. Bev Belcher, Head of Year
“Mentoring is fantastic for our younger year groups who need someone to talk to who isn’t a teacher. They have a brilliant time developing effective communication skills. Our sixth form have been amazing mentors and role models for JMA. Sarah is a brilliant leader who brings a sense of positivity.” Billie King, Head of 6th Form, JMA
“Sarah’s sessions through Reach have been specific, relevant and highly effective. The workshops have been an incredible intervention to further support and develop the emotional maturity and wellbeing of some of our students who find this type of thing tough - be it managing their emotions, how they respond to stressful situations, or even how to make friends and the right choices. As a Head of Year I have seen a significant improvement from some of our most anxious and emotional students who attended the sessions with Sarah. We are keen to keep these sessions into next year, with the new round of year 7’s hopefully benefitting too.” Head of Y7, Forest
Reach (READING SCHOOLS' CHRISTIAN WORK TRUST)
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 1 SEPTEMBER 2023 - 31 AUGUST 2024
| 2024 Unrestricted General Fund Notes £ Incoming Resources Voluntary Income 3.1 38,521 Investment Income 3.2 168 Total Incoming Resources 38,689 Resources Expended Charitable Activities 4 47,623 Total Resources Expended 47,623 Net movement in funds (8,934) Total funds brought forward 20,125 Total funds carried forward 11,191 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024 2024 Assets £ Debtors 5 2,464 Cash at Bank 6 9,317 Creditors Creditors and Accruals 7 (590) Total Assets 11,191 Represented by: Unrestricted Fund 11,191 S Jarvis Trustee J Shury Treasurer |
2023 Unrestricted General Fund £ 43,876 82 |
|---|---|
| 43,958 | |
| 44,125 | |
| 44,125 | |
| (167) 20,292 |
|
| 20,125 | |
| 2023 £ 5,799 14,914 (588) |
|
| 20,125 | |
| 20,125 Dec 2024 |
Reach (READING SCHOOLS' CHRISTIAN WORK TRUST)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
Basis of
1 Preparation
- 1.1 Basis of Accounting
These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities - Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2005); and with Accounting Standards.
- 1.2 Change in basis of accounting
There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year.
- 1.3 Changes to previous accounts
No changes have been made to accounts for previous years.
Accounting
2 Policies
- 2.1 Incoming Resources
Recognition of incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity becomes entitled to the resources.
Incoming resources with related expenditure are reported gross.
Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included at the same time as the gift to which they relate.
2.2 Expenditure and Liabilities
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
No costs have been incurred for the governance of the charity.
| 3 Analysis of incoming resources 3.1 Voluntary Income Churches General Donations Trusts Schools Income Tax recovered 3.2 Investment Income Bank interest |
2024 Unrestricted General Fund £ 16,063 15,392 4,098 504 2,464 38,521 168 |
2023 Unrestricted General Fund £ 17,077 17,400 3.600 3,000 2,799 |
|---|---|---|
| 43,876 82 |
Reach (READING SCHOOLS' CHRISTIAN WORK TRUST) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS continued
| Reach (READING SCHOOLS' CHRISTIAN WORK TRUST) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS continued |
|
|---|---|
| 2024 Unrestricted General Fund £ 4 Resources expended on Charitable Activities Employment costs 40,708 Training/Travel 2,550 Resources 528 Rent 1200 Printing - Office costs 92 BT broadband 763 Computer 754 Insurance 100 Other costs 928 47,623 2024 5 Debtors and prepayments £ Inland Revenue tax claim 2,464 Debtor 2,464 6 Cash at Bank and in Hand Current Account 1,164 Deposit Account 8,153 9,317 7 Creditors and accruals PAYE and NIC 590 Other - 590 |
2023 Unrestricted General Fund £ 37,932 1,325 778 1,200 296 296 262 990 320 333 311 |
| 44,125 2023 £ 2,799 3,000 |
|
| 5,799 329 14,585 |
|
| 14,914 588 - |
|
| 588 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees Reading Schools Christian Work Trust On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 Charity no lif any) 1084101 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('the Trust") for the year ended Responsibilities and basls of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act.), I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent IThe charity's gro88 income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualrfied to examinerfs statsment undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]]. Delete [ ] if not applicable. I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination 1gele) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form 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 cOnmS and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Pleas elete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: B. A, Young Relevant professional qualification(s) or body IER Oct 2018
(if any): Address: 21 Southcote Lane Reading RG30 3AG Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018