Trustees. Annual Report for the year
pe￿0d 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 raSour￿j 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

f￿baC
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 a￿ut 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 sPa￿s in Schools.
We ran S Prayer Spaces in Schools training sessions.. 2 of these involved partnering WTth Bristol
D￿ces8. 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 a￿ut 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 I￿UrS 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 suc￿Ssful 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, on￿ing 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 spa￿S 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 OUtd￿r 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 V￿th 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-to￿ne 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 w￿rk 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

m llllllmll
' W lllllWN ttllllNll
llllllm, tll
' LN ttlllltllll tNllNll
Illl

111
111
Nitmim,
,M,W,N,I,
,M,w,w,I,'
lll

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 y￿r
ended
311[ August 2023
Charity no
(If any)
1162067
Set out on p￿e3
1AN12
l ￿port to the trustees on my examinat40fT of the accounts of th8 above
charlty (Yhe Tn*V) 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 Conn￿lon with the examination which gives me
¢ws& to believe that in. any material respect:
acc￿[n9 reccrth were not kept in a￿ance 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 a￿j have rxxne a(Yos8 no other matter8 in connedion
the examination to which attention should be dr*￿n 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