## **The Blackley Centre** 

## **CHARITY RETURN** 

for the year ended 

## 30[th] September 2021 

## comprising 

## ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (5 Pages) and 

## FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (7 Pages) 

## **Charity No. 1184714** 




## **The Blackley Centre** 

## Annual Report of Trustees 

for the year ended 

## 30[th] September 2021 

## **Charity No. 1184714** 

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The Blackley Centre is a Registered Charity working for peace, transforming conflict and enabling good inter faith relations, providing quality hospitality at a centre in West Yorkshire. The Centre was founded by Blackley Baptist Church, with which it works in partnership from its shared site in the village of Blackley. 

## **The objects of the Centre are …** 

- to advance education for the benefit of the public in the promotion of reconciliation and peace, religious and racial harmony and equality and diversity, in particular by the provision of facilities and retreat opportunities for Christians and people of all religions and beliefs and to advance religion and in particular the Christian religion in such activity. 

- the provision of independent mediation services for individuals, organisations and groups experiencing or threatened by dispute or conflict, such as, but not limited to, neighbour nuisance, anti-social behaviour, harassment, bullying, family or community conflict with a view to the preservation of public order and for the preservation and protection of the well-being of such individuals, organisations and groups. 

## **Our vision …** 

- is for a society where any person may live safely in any community; be welcomed, accepted, valued and understood; contributing to community life; finding ways of living that are for mutual flourishing; and where the potential transformational power of conflict is embraced and transformed. 

## **Our Aim is …** 

- to provide a Centre which is an inspiring and welcoming meeting place offering respect and hospitality for people seeking to transform conflict and make peace, and for people of all religions and beliefs to develop understanding and friendship; 

- to create and enable respectful spaces where people are enabled through encounter to share stories, explore vulnerabilities, and recognise common interests, releasing energy and creativity that ultimately leads to transformation; 

- to seek to model in our relationships, within and without the organisation, attitudes of respect, generosity and hospitality, born of appropriate compassion for the other; 

- to provide training in conflict awareness and transformation and inter faith relations. 

## **Our Values and initial formation …** 

Our values are to relate to individuals and communities with openness, respect, honesty, integrity and transparency, valuing diversity. We seek to be welcoming, hospitable and compassionate and to learn creatively as we work together for transformation. 

For many years, Baptist ministers Andy and Jo Williams had had a dream of bringing their particular specialisms within reconciliation and inter faith work together with ministry into one place or centre. Friends and colleagues encouraged them to pursue this, and Blackley Baptist Church and Centre was suggested as a place to consider. The church’s history, since 1993, of providing quality hospitality through their centre with a focus on spirituality and retreat certainly created an interesting possibility, and at the time the church was about to enter a period of pastoral vacancy. 

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Meetings, further conversations, deliberations and prayers ensued, resulting in the church calling Andy and Jo to be Joint Ministers of Blackley Baptist Church in October 2016, unanimously endorsing the vision for a Centre for peace, reconciliation and dialogue/inter faith relations. The Yorkshire Baptist Association funded a six-month scoping project which confirmed the need and the potential for such a place and made a three year grant of seed funding to enable the work to begin in July 2017 with Andy and Jo delivering reconciliation and inter faith work at Blackley alongside pastoral ministry. The combined resources of Church and Minsters creates this unique place, well-resourced buildings blessed by beautiful and peaceful surroundings, with experienced professionals bringing their heart for reconciliation and hope for peace. With a focus on personal conversation, enabling direct transformative encounters, stimulating curiosity and grace, the Centre seeks to affect change and build peace. 

The Scoping Project Group oversaw the initial work with Andy and Jo, developing a constitution for The Blackley Centre to become a CIO with a membership in consultation with the Church and wider church structures. Seven trustees, including two from Blackley Baptist Church, with a broad range of skills and specialist knowledge of church, reconciliation and inter faith relations were recruited to form the Board. This replaced the scoping project group, meeting formally for the first time in October 2018. 

## **Official registration and launch …** 

On **1st August 2019** (Yorkshire Day!) The Blackley Centre was registered as a Charity and was officially launched on **12th October 2019** with 80 friends and supporters. 

## **The Trustees appointed at the first AGM on 6[th] March 2020 were:** 

Hugh Donald OBE Revd Dr Richard Kidd (Treasurer) Lord David Shutt Pam Smith Andrew Taylor Revd Mary Taylor (Chair) Professor Paul Weller (supported by the Minute Secretary, Desley Taylor, a volunteer from the Church.) 

In October, we were shocked by the sudden death of Lord David Shutt, after a short illness. David was one of our founding Trustees. Much of this year has been about coming to terms with quite how much we have, as a Centre and as individuals, lost in David. His wisdom, humour and positivity were foundational rocks on which we relied, and his passion for justice, peace and community helped us frame our work. We have tried to continue in ways that speak of him, and reflect many of his values in our work, and we look to do that more tangibly in a memorial project. 

The Trustees were delighted to co-opt and welcome Samina Ali, our first Muslim Trustee, at the Trustee Meeting in February 2021. She is already bringing significant fresh insights into the Trustee Meetings. 

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## **Achievements during the second trading year …** 

The second trading year began, despite the many pressures created by Covid-19 and related lockdowns, with the Centre in good order and in optimistic mood. This optimism was shown to be well-founded and 2020-21 proved to be another successful year despite the limitations of Covid-19. Highlights include: 

- Developing and delivering a new on-line 3 session course, ‘Let’s Talk: About Conflict’ to combat loneliness and isolation due to the pandemic. This was funded by the Local Connections Fund and attracted nearly 40 participants. 

- Continuing to work in partnership with Reconcilers Together to deliver a module on the second ‘Journey of Hope’ project on Zoom. 

- Continuing to provide training in peace and reconciliation with and for our partners, often via Zoom. The other main area of training has been with churches and colleges, delivering modules for Ministers-in-Training at 4 Baptist colleges and supporting on-going learning and training for URC ministers and newly accredited Baptist Ministers in Yorkshire, as well as offering CMD (Continuing Ministerial Development) sessions for ministers in the North West Baptist Association. In all about 300 people received training from the Blackley Centre during the year. 

- Continuing to encourage and provide interpersonal mediations, this year for 17 people and facilitating two church reconciliation processes. 

- Continuing to provide coaching for individuals seeking to develop skills in reconciliation processes. 

- Securing a Community Fund Award for a part-time Administrator and a one year Inter Faith Programme to run from August 2021. 

- Hosting further ‘Peace and Quiet Days’ when possible, to provide an opportunity for retreat using the Centre’s excellent facilities and grounds. 

- Delivering an inspirational event to mark our first AGM, ‘The Rabbi and the Minister’, exploring Jewish/Christian friendship, with 40 participants from around the country on Zoom. 

- Continuing to work with the Baptist and United Reformed Inter Faith groups, including the Mosque/Church Conversations Pilot Project on Zoom when 12 pairs of churches and mosques entered into Zoom conversations and concluded with a Zoom celebration with 40 participants. 

- Continuing to work with Calderdale Inter Faith and other inter faith groups. 

In terms of organisational developments, the Centre has: 

- Slowly continuing to enlarge the Membership, and to extend the list of regular contacts. 

- Continued to develop the resources of the Prospect Suite, including supporting the church in installing the lift, making the first floor fully accessible and fulfilling part of the vision of the Scoping Project vision from 2017. 

- Steadily increased the list of friends who have Standing Orders to support the dayto-day work of the Centre. 

- Achieved the aspiration to fund the Directors, Andy and Jo, with a full shared Baptist minister’s stipend. 

- Secured a Yorkshire Covid Recovery Grant to provide a Macbook, suitable for video editing. 

- Benefitted from having a volunteer developing the website and FaceBook page. 

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- Employed a part-time Administrator (Peter Whitworth) to strengthen the overall administrative efficiency of the Centre. 

The Yorkshire Baptist Association (YBA) continues to be a major funding support for the Centre. The Centre is already making provision in response to a gradual reduction in YBA grant funding expected over the next few years. 

Christine Allcock, the Centre Manager (voluntary) has continued to efficiently manage all the Centre bookings and arrange volunteer teams from the Church and its friends to provide the catering. 

At the second AGM on 12[th] March 2021, Richard Kidd (Treasurer) and Samina Ali were elected to serve as Trustees for a three year term. The Centre’s finances are now coordinated by the Treasurer, the part-time Administrator, with continuing book-keeping assistance by Pauline Barnard, a volunteer from the Church. 

## **As we enter a third year of trading …** 

Hopeful indicators for 2021-2022 include: 

- Offering an inter faith programme comprising a conference, dialogues, relating days and networking for inter faith groups. 

- Developing the ‘Listening Project’ with the Yorkshire Baptist Association. 

- Continuing successful searches for external funding to develop the work of the Centre in strategic areas. 

- Exploring the development of a ‘David Shutt Young Peacemakers Project’, using grant funding and gifts made available in his memory. 

- Re-launching ‘Playing with Peace’: the Parent and Toddlers’ initiative in partnership with the Church, and with the help of grant funding from the Wharfedale Foundation. 

- • Initial plans to create a short residential retreat for Trustees, in order to further teambuilding, and to generate ideas for the future of the Centre. 

All the above provides evidence of the continuing rapid development of the Centres work and influence. As strategic planning continues, the Centre remains confident in its potential for growth in the coming years. 

The Trustees continue to put in place structural provisions, that will underpin further strategic planning, and enable the Centre to develop ever more widely its ability to fulfil the original vision. 


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||2,O2L|2,020|
|---|---|---|
||f|f|
|1.Grantsand Donations|||
|Grants|||
|Yorkshire Baptist Association|11,550|77,812|
|LocalConnectionsFund|2,500||
|Yorkshire Covid-19RecoveryGrant|2,339||
|National Lottery CommunityFund|10,000||
||26,388|LL,8L2|
|Donotions|||
|One-offDonation||8,000|
|Standing Orders|3,002|L,56L|
|Otheroccasionaldonations|10L|44|
||3,103|9,605|
|2.Feeincomefromprovision ofservices|||
|lncludingteaching,training, mediationservices,and|||
|special events consistentwiththe objectsofthecharity|L9,767|2,693|
|TOTAL INCOME|49,258|24,100|
|3.Resourcesexpended|||
|Promotionsandpublicity|||
|Consultancy|3,900|500|
|Website Platform|1_80|744|
||4,090|644|





|Practitionercasts|||
|---|---|---|
|Director's Stipend{RevAndrew Williams)|L2,450|7,946|
|Director's Stipend{RevJoannaWilliams)|12,450|2,906|
|OtherEmplcyee{Administrator}|L,300||
|Directors'expenses|0|MO|
|Professional Associates|7,693|300|
||28,883|7L,552|
|Projectdeliverycosts|||
|Resourcing specialevents|373|350|
|Servicesandequipment|||
|lnsurances|883|663|
|Eelephone|809|719|
|ZoomContract|L73|86|
|EmailContract|0|472|
|Office Equipment|3,305||
|OfficeAccessories|60|116|
||5,230|2,056|
|Governonce|||
|Trustee travelexpenses|0|32L|
|Other|||
|AgreedcontributiantoBlackleyBaptistChurch|2,254|900|
|One-offfeasibilitystudy|0|s00|
|Contributiontoinstallationoflift|0|1,000|
|Gifttovisitingchoir|0|75|
||2,25O|2,475|
|TOTALEXPENDITURE|40,877|17,398|



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