## **CONTAGIOUS - Trustees Annual Report** **Year Ending 31st December 2024** ## **Charity Number: 1089954** ## **Trustees** The following is correct as of 31[st] December 2024: |**Trustee**|**Date**|**Status**| |---|---|---| |Andrew Duf|21/05/2013|Appointed| |Henry Playle|16/11/2016|Appointed| |Madeline Russell|04/03/2019|Appointed| |Roy Dobb|24/02/2020|Appointed| |Maureen Dixon|03/11/2021|Appointed| |Sue Inglis-Jones|16/02/2023|Appointed| |Susan White|09/11/2023|Appointed| ## **Specific responsibilities of Trustees** Chair of Trustees Andrew Duff Treasurer Maureen Dixon Employee Supervisor Sue Inglis-Jones Safeguarding Lead Sue Inglis-Jones Minutes Secretary Madeline Russell Fundraising Andrew Duff ## **Activity leaders in addition to Trustees:** Jessica McArdle Ignite Youth & Schools Worker/Project Leader Sarah Hamer Pioneers Schools and Community Worker (from 6 November) Chris Friend Ignite Chaplaincy at Duchess Community High School Caroline Friend Messy Church Alnwick representative ## **Partner organisation representatives:** Geoff Brown Scripture Union representative Robin Winder Appleby Trust Trustee, Alnmouth ## **General overview** The work of the charity has continued to progress under the working title ‘IGNITE’. The official charity-registered name remains ‘Contagious’. 2024 has been an exciting year of develoment, completing our first year as a ‘Growing Faith Learning Hub’ supported by the Church of England’s Growing Faith Foundation, and working in collaboration with church groups across Alnwick’s Duchess High School catchment area. We appointed a second part-time Pioneer Schools and Community Worker in February, bringing our team to three, led by Jess McArdle’s as full-time Ignite Project Leader. To support the expanded work, income streams and spending commitments we have implemented a new proprietary accounts management system. ## **Trustee Meetings** Six Trustee meetings were held in 2024: in January, March, May, July, September and November. Each meeting was quorate with a minimum of 3 Trustees present, plus our Ignite Project Leader. ## **Objectives and Vision** No change has been made to the charity’s core aims, which are: - Our belief that all young people should be encouraged to think about spiritual matters while recognising that they need the space to make their own choices as to what to believe. - Our desire to raise the aspirations of young people and facilitate their healthy and full development. - Our wish to help young people become active in the community and develop into mature and responsible citizens. ## **Activities provided under the banner of IGNITE** The designation of Ignite as one of 12 ‘learning hubs’ supported by the Church of England’s Growing Faith Foundation has been a significant investment into developing new ways of working with schools, churches and families. The first of two year programme of work was completed in September, guided by a Steering Group of local leaders. Jess McArdle has also continued to take part in the Growing Faith Strategic Leaders development programme. Working with Schools has included regular Open the Book (Bible Society) story-telling involving volunteer teams, Year 6 ‘transitions’ work offered to High School feeder primaries, RE curriculum support, Prayer Spaces in schools and other seasonal activities. A team of three experienced volunteers support the Duchess High School Pastoral Team to engage with young people facing personal challenges. School staff and Ignite chaplaincy team have also been trained in Restorative work started with some students to address behavioural issues in school. Practice in Schools and ‘Rooted’ youth groups involve around 30 young people, led by Jess McArdle and a session worker (via The Roost) and supported by a small team of volunteer leaders and helpers. Baby Basics is a new local social project (linked to a national charity) led young people from the Rooted groups. Work has started to set up and begin to prepare ‘Moses baskets’ of everyday essentials for delivery (via referral) to vulnerable new parents. Meanwhile Alnwick Messy Church has continued monthly during school term-time, led by a small group of volunteers, well attended with a number of families regularly taking part. ## **Finances** With the expansion of activities, employees and funding partners including the Growing Faith Foundation and the United Reformed Church, our turnover has increased singificantly during this year. Whilst support from individual donors has declined slightly. our finances remain in good shape overall and our reserves remain healthy. The final year-end accounts show a surplus of income over expenditure of £4,052. This surplus is already designated for activities to be delivered in 2025. Work has started on preparing a fundraising strategy to enable us to plan sustainable activies into the future. ## **Volunteers** We have been fortunate in retaining many of our existing volunteers and recruiting some new ones, currently 50 in total. They are mainly involved in Open the Book and other school activities, and in support of the Rooted groups. All volunteers working with young people or vulnerable adults are DBS checked (as appropriate) with a requirement that they register for the update service so allowing the charity to carry out 6 monthly checks on the volunteers. ## **Safeguarding and Risk Management** Our safeguarding policy and procedures were updated in 2024. Our Safeguarding Recruiter ensures that all volunteers complete the current appointment process and checks. We continue to maintain and apply policies on risk assessment, anti-bullying and data privacy (including GDPR compliance). We maintain comprehensive insurance cover for all activities, with risks reviewed annually. ## **The future** With the Growing Faith programme continuing, and local collaboration agreements up for review in the light of experience, we expect to require further change and development of activities and how these are best delivered and funded over the next couple of years. Trustees will continue to meet at least four times per year. Priorities for the year ahead are to: - Continue to develop the work amongst young people within the wider Alnwick High School catchment area as part of the Growing Faith Learning Hub and in collaboration with key local church partners and organisations. - Continue to build relationships with local church leaders, community organisations, teachers and students in local primary schools and the Duchess High School. - Review our policies, procedures, risk assessment and management structure to ensure that we provide effective support to our employees, activity leaders and volunteers, and that we have the capacity and skills to respond to new opportunities. - Recruit and train new trustees and volunteers and an appeal for new supporters and prayer partners. - Plan and carry out fundraising to augment our finances and enable us to deliver activities on a sustainable basis. 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