Trustees. Annual Report for the year pe0d stsrt date PerioKI erKf dats From 2022 2023 Section A Reference and adminislration details Charlty name Bristol Schools Connection other name8 charfiy Is known by BSC Reglstered charlty number (if any) 1162067 Charitys prfnclpal addross 45 Yanley Lane Long Ashton Bristol BS419LR Narnes of the charlty trustees who manage the charlty Dates aetod If not lorwholg Tru8ts& name Office {If any) Namo Of pornon lor bfxtyl ontltlod olnt tru8ts0 an Anthony Miles Wendy Massey Emelye Chanot Sally Martin Chair Appointed 10 October 2022 Consultanl Development Workers Jane Glllis Liz Ogbome (until 31st Decemb6r 2023) Section B Structure, overnance and mana ement Descriptlon of the charity's trusts Type of governing document Foundatton How the charity is constituted Charitsble Incorporated Organisation TAR
Trustee s8lection methods New trust888 ara idontrfied and invited to be trustees by thg 8XlSting trusteès Section C Ob'ectives and activities To advance arKI to devel¢)p aT) understanding of the Chrislian faith for the public benefiL in parkncular, bul not oxclusively. by encouraging and enabling churches within the City of Bristol to connect with their local school Jmmunlties in ways vthich are positive and supportive, particularly those In loss resourced areas. The Charity will further this purpose through Action research (ie pikjting new resourceslactivities), based in one locality. and by providing an &xemplar of outstandlrvJ practi¢e for others to leam from arvj adapt to th&ir individual wntexL These connections will.. - provide supp)rt in the area of spiriiual dev81opment and pastoral carè to students, school staff and families with th& aim that this will impact positively upon the wellbeing of the school community to the benefit of the students. staff and families.. enable and create safe and imaginative spiritual developm&nt and leaming opportuntties for 811 ages within both a school contexL and an accessible. informal church context: - work with churches and schools lo connect the lif6 of the tsvo communities to the mutual benefft of both: particularly being mindftjl of how churches can positiV8ly seTve cornmuntiies where the majority of twulation are of another faith or of no particular faith. Providing support for spiritual d8V81opment and pastoral care lo students. sGh¢xJl staff and families thus impacling positively upon the school communty Enabling safe and imaginative spirttual d8V8lopment and karning opportunities for all ages within school and infonnal church contexts Summary of the objects of the charity sel out In Its govarnlng document The TTuslees confirm that they have complied tha duty in section 17 of the Charilies Act 2011 to have due regard to public beneftt guidance published by the Commission. BSC'S charitable purpose is enshrined in its objects YO ADVANCE AND TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.. The Trustees ensure this purpose is carried out for the public benefit by making its support availabla to schools and churth8S Within Bristol and particularfy to those in less raSourj areas. Summary ofthe maln activities undertaken for the public bonefil in relation to th880 objects {includo within thls sodlon tho sL*utory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance Issued by the Charity Commisslon on publlc benefft) Extemal We conlinugd our nSUltancY WOTk of advisingltrainingl encouraginglcoaching churches, church members and church organisations are connecting with their lorAI schools in the Bristol area. Supporting people in the Bristol area who ar8 running ChrK8tmas in a x and Easter in a Box- The Movie, by running training sessions toth onlin8 and in p8rson, helping tearns. and coaching volunfeers. In lis third year of use 'Christmas in a Box, was l)osted by 21 churches in 29 local schts)Is and one preschool in the Bristol area. 'Easter in a Box- The Movie, was h)sted by 16 churches In 19 schools in the Bristol area. Through our onlina training programrne, we were able to support numerous thurotss across th8 country offered these resources to their local schools. Once a ain, we re¢eiv8d some reat TAR
fbaC Supporting churches who provlded other ChrfstmasEaster resources and sessions for thools. Running Prayer Spaces in School Training sessions- 3 in person trainlng sessions focusing on indoor prayer spaces. And 2 'come and see sessions, where people could com8 and see an indoor and an OLrtdoor prayer space in aciion. Hosting various gatherings l training sessions Whe we ancourage, enwsion, 8quip churches to connect with their local schools. Networking and partn8ring with key people and organisations in the Bristol area and nationally who have similar andlor complimentary objectives. Encouraging chur¢h8S to priorilis& conn8Cting with their local schools. This has happened through social m&dia, speaking at church g8therings or parachurch gatherings. Intemal Our consumants receive training thomselves to keep up to date and further hone their skills. K88ping up to dat8 viith developments in schoollcommunity work across the county, so that we (xn leam from and implemenl bèst practice in Ihe Bristol area. Invofvement in piloting new projects ('action rèsearch.) to ensure that BSC consuttants cL)ntinue lo leam and develop with r8gards to engaging with spiritual development in a school and its Wlder community context- this year the main action research projects Involved lrialing moro of our outdoor prayer space activities. We have also stsrted lo think al)out our adion r&s&arch for a new resource - Jesus out of the Box. Section D Achievements and performance in the year During the year to 31st August 2023, BSC has successfully achieved the majority of the plans and objectives outlined in last yearfs annual report. W8 have: Offered and deliver8d successful consultancy, coaching. and training to churches arKI church members who are (xjnneciing with Ihair local schools (and their associated wider communities) and heading up different schooLIGommunity projects. We have connected with people and churches all over the Bristol area. often WTth one consultancy advi. We have also worked for longer periods of time wlth churches in the following areas: Easton, Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston. Soundwell, Tolterdown, Clifton, stapleton and Frenchay. Wirrford. WICK Shirehampton, Backwell. Wint8rboume, Bishopsworth. Longwell Green. and Southmead. We encoura ed Ghurches ITI the Bristol area to U88 our r8sourc8s- Christmas in a Box and TAR
Easter in a Box. We ran several training sesslons online and in person. We saw an increase in the number of churches delivering thts resourcè and an increase in tho number of schools taking part. We also supported numerous churches who suptK)rtad schools in other ways during the Christmas and Easter period, for example running trails. seasonal themed prayer spaces, one off lgssons, assgmblie5. special services. We partnered with Kids Matter to c0-St our second taster session aut Kids Matter. This was online and well attended. The session successfulty enthused those who attended and will hopefully result in mora churches running Kids Matter in th8 futur8. We have continued to signpjst and promote other parachurch organisations wtth a similar h8art for churches to connect with and serve their schwl and l or wider school comrnunity e.g. Transfoming lives for good: Pray4schools' Messy Church and forms of OutdcM)r church: Maka Lunch,. Open The Book. Wami Welcome Spaces" and Pray8r sPas in Schools. We ran S Prayer Spaces in Schools training sessions.. 2 of these involved partnering WTth Bristol Dces8. 1 involved parinering with Christ Church Downend. and the other two were 'come and see, leaming opwrtunthes, where people could see a prayer space in action al a school. We have shifted our training focus lo indud8 equal weight to both indoor and outdoor prayer spaces. We have tried and tested our 32 Outdcx)r Prayer Space aciivtlies which we freely give to others. Several people hav8 been inspired by the training sessions and consequently have run their own prayer spaces since the training - which has induded several outdoor prayer spa(x being run in the Bristol area. We hosted a suppjrter and frionds of Bristol Schools Connection gathering in mid-oclober. This was well attended, and many peop felt inspired by what was shared. We have also hosted a couple of prayer gatherings for our supporters. friends and the people w8 work with across the Gity praying for Education in the Bristol area. the schools we work with. and Christmas and Easter connections with school. We hosted another connect I thank you event for the people that we have been joumeying with from churches across Bristol. This event tc(Ik Pla in the Spring. This was very much appreclated by the people that attended - everyone went away feeling valued. appraciated, encouraged and inspired. Over th8 Summer months we had numerous one-toknone meetings with the main people we have been working wth in the Bristol area. to review the last academic year aTrJ look ahead. These meetings have been helpful and encouraging for th8s8 peopl8. Our Social media presence has been consistenlty good this year- we have followed a social media plan for the year, ensuring that dear messages which reinfor our vision, heart and valuas are communicated. amongst advertising our training events and signFrf)Sting to other good initiatives for our n6tworf( of people. We have continued to have a dialogue with our contact in another city who is hopiNJ io replicate the model of Bristol Schools Connection. Progress has been slow but steady. Our consultants have had numerous opportunities to SP8ak at various avants. churches. gatherings and forums aut our vision arKI heart as 8 chaiity. These hav& been online and in person. Our aim is to envision and im1uence the culture of the thurch in relation to being and doing church in the contexi of the school mMunIty. We also aim to expk)re this in our on8-tO- one conversations throughout the year with church volunteers and leaders that we work with. W8 hav8 start8d to develop a new resource called 'Jesus out of tha Box, which aims to have a similar feel Éo our other SOurCeS (Christmas in a Box and Easter in a Box- The Movie). Jesus out of the Box will explore some of the surprising stories from Jesus. life. in a way which cr8ates a fun, safe. raflective space for spiritual diab3ue. We hav8 b88n able (wilh 01 e.g. Bristol Chaplainry) to 8ncourag8 the concEpt of school cha lainc formal or infomlal volunleer or across our network. A cou le of the eo lewe TAR
work with have embraced this Goncepl and embcxfjied it mor8 In thè life of the sthool{s) they are working with. We have worked in partnership wtth a rarvJe of denominations- includlng C of E, Baptist, Free Evangelical. Methodist, and Catholi¢, and also the Mullors Network of Churches. We have contlnued to work on our fvnding strategy and to secure new and ongoing sources of funding. We are very Ihankful for the support this year of The Burden Trust. st St8phens Soundwell Bristol. Christ Church Clffton, Ba¢kwell Church. Longwell Green Church, Hope Community Church Bristol, Easton Christian Famity Contre and approximately 20 individual supporters. In recent years we have had two consultants delwering support and resotjrces to BSC. Since Spring 2023. one consultant has been gradually lUcIng their BSC consultancy IUrS and the other consultant gradually increasing their hours. From January 2024. we will have one consultant working wtlh us. Thls has been a smcmjth and sucSsful transition and we are grateful to our consultants for their commilmenl, professionalÉsm and creativity which has enabled this and enables BSC to be a blessing to so many. TAR
Section E Financial review Brief statement of the ¢harity'S pollcy on r88orves BSC was fortunate to receive initial seed funding from a number of trusts and individuals wthen it was foTm8d in 2015. However, BSC remains reliant each year on financial gifts from individuals. trusts arKI thurches within Bristol and beyond which can be one-off, oning or for a Ilmited period of tim8. Givèn this dependency, the trustees beli8ve it appropriate to target reserves at approximately slx months of ongoing expendibjre plus tha budgeted defictt for the next year befor8 new fundraising. The reserves at 31" August 2023 wer& £23,300 The projected expenditure and d8ficit for 2023124 before new fundraising were £33,600 and £7.(KJO respectively givin9 a reserves target of £24.000. Reserves therefore rapresented 97% of target. The trust consider this level of reserves r8asonable but continue to seek new sources of income in order to reduce the 2023124 deficit. BSC started the year with projected expenditure 8xce8ding pledg8d income by £g.000. W8 are very gratefvl to God for the new iTrJividual donors arKI churches WIK) have supported BSC in 2022123 with additional income of £4.CKIO. Expenditure savings were also achieved such that the overall deficit was £500 (2021122 d8ficii- £4,100). Total expenditure reduced 14% to £30,600. We start the new financial year with a project8d shortfall of £7,000. We hope to reduce this deficit by continuing to increase the number of churches which support financially and by asking thos& who support BSC to incréase their gtving in 2023124. We are, however. obviously aware of the man constraints on fami bud s at this time. Flnanclal perforniance Section F Plans and objectives for 2023124 By 31st August 2024, BSC plans to Support- we wll continue to support churches in less resourc£d areas in the CTty of Bristol who seek support Icoachinglmentoringltraining) as they make meaningfvl wnnections with their k)cal schools and wider community. This will involve continuing to joumey with churches that we have worked with for a whila as well as making new connections with churches who we have not worked with before. Research - contlnue to research innovative ways to create intentional spaS ft)r spiritual dialogue within schools their wider communities across our cty. Christmas in a box and Easter in a Box- Encourage and trdin more churches in the Bristol area to deliver Christmas in a box and Easter in a Box- The Mowe to their local schcols. Run several online training sessions and bespoke training sessions for thurch teams. other Seasonal Connadions - Provide support for other ways that churches are conneding wilh schools during the Christmas and Easter FerirKI - collectiv8 worship. RE lessons, Trails, Themad Prayer Spaces. We aim to make Christrnas Through the Keyhole and Easter Explored trail resources avallable for free via our website. Jesus Out of the Box- We will continue to develop our resou 'Josus Out of the Box.. We will pilot thls resource and then mak8 any nacessary changes before launching it at some point in 2024. Prayer Spaces in Schools - We will run a Uple of training sessions focusing on Prayer Spaces in Schools, looking at how to run indoor and OUtdr prayer spaces. W8 wll also work with the Brlstol Dlocese and the Catholic Dsocese to run trainiTr3 sessions for people in their nelworks. Prayer- We will host a o)uple of online gathorings to prdy for the work of BSC and our network of people across the Bristol area. We will also host a prayer gathering for the Education Sphere - focusing on those who work, volunteer and study in our Bristol schwls. colleges and other Educational settin s. We will artner with Pra For Schools aTKI T ether4Bristol. TAR
Encourage and Thank - Wa will organise a gathering for our main nelwork of peopl8, to bless. thank and encourage them for all Ihgy do in their school communtties. Partner- we will contlnue to partner with organisalions who have a similar hearl and vision to BSC and h61p to promotelwiden their work in the Bristol area. Celebrate and Enmsion - Host a Supporter and Friends of BSC gathering to celebrate. share stories of 8ncourag8ment. envision, and to pray together. Another city- we will continue to dialogue Vth our conts¢t in another uty as they look to replicat8 som&thing similar to BSC. We will offgr support and ancouragement. Envisionlng churches across Bristol- speaking at varTOUS conferences and gatherings in the Bristol area and at church serwces infiuencing church vlsion and culture- to see connocting with schools as a priority way of being and doing church. W8 will also enwsion through one-tone Conversations with church leaderslvolunteers. Websitelsocial Media - tell stori8S. STgnpost, resource. encouragelenwsion via social media (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram) and our websTt&. We will aim to update our website this year with new resources and stories. We also hope to adverlise our work via other organisatlDns' social media. Tralning Colleges and Denomination Gatherings- we hope to be able to run training sessions for the Bristol Methodist Circull. the Catholic Clifton Diocese, Bristol C of E Diocese, and a150 for Trinity Theological College. Chaplaincy in Schw15- we plan lo promots th8 id8a of chaplaincy in school. both fomal and Infomial, paid and voluntary. Funding strategy- continue to wrk on our funding strdtogy new and ongoing sources of funding Resourcing- As noted above.one of Dur consultants wrll be finlshing her work with BSC in Decernber 2023. Jane Gillis is going to tha prtncipal consuttant going forward, working with the Irustees. We would lik8 to 8xtend heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Liz for all her work and experttse shared. Section G Declaration The twsto08 declare that thoy have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity8 trustees Slgnatura(s) Full name{s) ANTHONY CROFfoN MILES WENDY MASSEY Posltlon (eg Secretary. Chalr, etc) CHAIRMAN TRUSTEE Date 12TH November 2023 TAR
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WAIES Independent èxamirterfs report on the accotsnts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trustee8 Bristol Schools Connection On accounts for the yr ended 311[ August 2023 Charity no (If any) 1162067 Set out on pe3 1AN12 l port to the trustees on my examinat40fT of the accounts of th8 above charlty (Yhe TnV) for Ihe year end ,: . As the chaiivs trusl86s. you are reSFons)Ie for th8 preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charitiès Act 2011 {Ihe Acn. Responslblllll68 and bas18 of report I report In re8M of my examination of the Trust'8 ac¢ount8 carried out undw sectton 145 of the 2011 Act and in CarryM out my wmlnation, I have followed atl the appli¢ble Dlrethons given by thè Charity Commission under section 145(5){b} of A(a. Independent I have completed my examlnalion. l (xjnfimi that no material matteTr have frxamlnerfs statement come lo my altenlion in Connlon with the examination which gives me ¢ws& to believe that in. any material respect: acc[n9 reccrth were not kept in aance wlth 8ectlon 130 of tho Charibes Art or the accounts dld not accord with the a¢¢ounting records. or the accounts did not comply blith the applicable wulrements concemlng the fomi and corrtent of accounts set out in the Charilies (Accounts and Reports) Regulatsns 2008 other than any requirement that tho wiunts give a Irue and f8trf view whlch r6 t a matter considered as Rart of an iNJependent examinatic. I no cAJn¢ems aj have rxxne a(Yos8 no other matter8 in connedion the examination to which attention should be drn in thls report in to enable a tYc•per underslanding of the a(rounts to te reached. Slgned: Name: PATRICK F O'CONOR Bsc FCA Relevant professlonal qualifficath>n: CHARTERED ACCOUTrITANT 51 Downs Part( W88t Bri8t(A. BS6 7QL IER Oct 2018