Fusion South Kerrier Trust 12 November 2023
Statement from the Chair
In the past year the Bus Project has continued to make slow practical progress, but in other regards we have moved ahead significantly. Our current operations remain legally correct in terms of our policies and insurance, and for the time being we con - tinue an informal connection with Scripture Union.
At our AGM in 2022 we reported that, ‘As Trustees we are using the present opportunities to review the scope of the Bus Project, to agree its rebranding, and in so doing, develop the interest and support of additional local Churches, widening our appeal so as to foster further volunteer engagement.’ So, early in 2023 the Trustees put together a selfpromotional video and Facebook page inviting volunteers to engage with the project in practical and non-practical ways. We have also regenerated our Fusion Bus Project Plan as a post-pandemic vision.
This public invitation and direct promotion to leaders of local Churches developed into a ‘volunteers’ barbecue’ on-site with the bus in October 2023. From this event, attended by 35 people, we were able to ‘sign-up’ 22 project supporters, from which 12 made a commitment to practically support the refurbishment and roadworthiness phase of the project, bringing practical skills as volunteers to the restoration and upgrade of our vehicle. This is significant and gives tangible hope to the completion of vehicle restoration within the foreseeable future, perhaps by the Summer of 2025. The volunteers will from time to time be supported by a professional HGV mechanic and then when the bus can be moved under its own power to a commercial garage, any outstanding mechanical work will be completed, the vehicle MOT tested, and then taken for completion to a vinyl wrapper. As said last year we intend taking all prudent measures to reduce the risk of a breakdown when the bus is in service, and through our volunteers nuture a team with sufficient operational knowledge to be good stewards of the asset.
The more formal structuring of volunteers has led us to review our insurance policy, update our health and safety provision, and introduce written method statement and risk assessment procedures, so that we can competently press ahead with weekly volunteer group meetings in 2024. We have undertaken to have one volunteer group meeting before the end of 2023 and move to weekly meetings as soon as practicable in 2024.
Our progress with practical matters in the past year has been more modest (only reinstating the previously rotten floor at the bus entrance beside the driver’s cabin with new 18mm plywood and aluminum checker-plate floor), but without focusing on volunteer recruitment we would only be reporting piecemeal progress next year was well. But now we have a renewed hope.
Again, lifting from last year’s report we said, ‘It is clear that the need identified to justify the project has not diminished, and, by the cost of living crisis, additional needs are emerging and new areas of relevance are becoming clearer.’ In further response to this we have revised and reiterated our Fusion Bus Project Plan as referred to above. This restates that our core intention remains to meet the needs of young people and adds the possibility to diversify to other Christian projects that need wheels and will keep our wheels turning.
Since the beginning of the project we have received donations totaling £31,500 and we still believe our balance of funding to be at least sufficient to see us through the capital expenditure phase of the project. Our account balance at the end of October 2023 is £21,532.58, our only significant expenditures in the past year relating to publicity and ‘rent’ for barn storage.
Our continued thanks to the Alston family for the provision of space to work on the vehicle, for which the Trust continues to pay £1.00 per day. As ever I am most thankful for the support of fellow trustees and others who have kept faith with the vision for the project in times of slow progress.
Mark Bayliss – Chair of Fusion South Kerrier Trust
Fusion South Kerrier Trust Accounts 2022-23
| Income Donations Expenditure Storage rent Surplus for the year Surplus brought forward Surplus carried forward |
£ 0 365 |
|---|---|
| 365 | |
| -365 22,413 22,048 |