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2023-03-31-accounts

Greater Didcot Christian Children and Youthwork Trust

Charity No. 1194345

Also known as:

Report & Accounts

For the year:

01 April 2022 – 31 March 2023

1120

Contents

Page
Charity Commission Registration 2
Governance, Employees, and Volunteers 3
Overview: A Christian Children and Youthwork Trust for Greater Didcot 4
Outline Strategy for Engagement 6
Looking Back: April 2022 – March 2023 8
Looking Forward: Key Priorities April 2023 – March 2026 10
Financial Statement 11

Charity Commission Registration

Greater Didcot Christian Children and Youthwork Trust Charity No. 1194345

CIO - FOUNDATION Registered 05 May 2021

Charitable objects:

The objects of the CIO are:

  1. To advance in life and relieve the needs of young people in the Didcot and surrounding area through:

  2. a. The provision of recreational and leisure time activities provided in the interest of social welfare, designed to improve their conditions of life.

  3. b. Providing support and activities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.

  4. The advancement of the Christian religion in Didcot and the surrounding area.

Principal Office: St Matthew’s Church, Church Lane, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0EZ

Foundation Partner Churches:

Operating name:

Formally registered as ‘Greater Didcot Christian Children and Youthwork Trust’ , a ‘young persons’ shaping group ’ have chosen

the name ‘ ECHO - Cannot be Contained’ as the operating name.

1 OCC – Oxfordshire Community Churches, who are a part of a wider family of churches – Salt & Light Advance

Governance, Employees, and Volunteers

Governing Document: CIO Foundation Model Constitution

Trustees:

Appointed:

Type:

Revd Dr Jonathan Mobey (Chair) 5 April 2022 Appointed Pastor William Joseph Bassett MTh 10 September 2021 RCC Ex-officio Pastor Nicholas Fredrick White 05 May 2021 TKC Ex-officio Pastor Louise Brown 05 May 2021 DBC Ex-officio Revd Brian Mark Bodeker 05 May 2021 GWPC Ex-officio Gordon Gill 27 January 2022 HCC Nominated Malcolm Keith Edge (Treasurer) 05 May 2021 Appointed Susan Margaret Sennewald 10 September 2021 DBC Nominated

Diocese of Oxford Mentoring and Support: The Venerable David Tyler, Archdeacon of Dorchester

Employees:

Hannah Field Joseph Loescher (until 28 August 2022)

Sarah Barrett

Revd Brendan Bailey (until 28 September 2022)

Volunteers: Over 30 volunteers have been involved, along with the employees of the Trust, in the provision of a wide range of activities for children and youth, over the last year.

Governance and funding:

Overview: A Christian Children and Youthwork Trust for Greater Didcot

The Greater Didcot Christian Children and Youthwork Trust, was born out of a shared vision for churches across the area working together to serve the spiritual, social, and emotional needs of local young people; providing opportunities for them to discover ‘life to the full’.

Through churches in Didcot, and the surrounding villages, working collaboratively, we are better positioned to engage with the rapidly growing numbers of young people in our area, and their ‘felt’ and ‘unfelt’ needs, as we look to provide a range of holistic opportunities for them to explore, grow in, and share life and faith.

In establishing an independent Trust (in 2021), we are able to pool resources, expertise, and people, as well as be joined up in our approach and strategy. This is particularly important in a growing area, with a range of needs and opportunities.

A Growing Area

According to the 2011 Census, Didcot (which was awarded Garden Town Status in 2015) had a population of around 25,000 people. In figures sourced from South Oxfordshire District Council, this is predicted to more than double and rise to 62,000 by 2031.[2]

Growth Potential:

Source: South Oxfordshire District Council[3]

2 https://www.southoxon.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/Delivery-Plan-Chapter-9-10th-October-2017web-q-5.pdf p.14

3 https://www.southoxon.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/Delivery-Plan-Chapter-9-10th-October-2017web-q-5.pdf p.14

In addition to the 12 primary schools and 4 secondary schools, there are plans to open further primary schools and a special educational needs school. According to the County Council, this area is forecast to have the fastest growing pupil population in Oxfordshire.[4]

Need & Opportunity

In contrast to the growing population locally, there is a backdrop of national decline in church engagement with children and youth.[5] The collaborative approach of the Trust is therefore vital; enabling new opportunities to engage with both the current young people living in the area, and the rapidly growing numbers of those who are moving in.

In providing shared spaces and activities, where new and existing residents are able to mix and get to know one another, a sense of social cohesion and belonging is also able to be provided, which can be of benefit to emotional well-being.

This is also particularly important, as during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the young people were needing to learn online; isolated physically from their peers, not just in a school environment, but also in a social environment too. The Children’s Society ‘The Good Childhood Report (2021)’ found that in reflecting on the pandemic children had: ‘…coped less well with not being able to see friends and family, and not being able to do hobbies/pastimes. This is not surprising, as these are all types of activities that we know are important to protecting children’s subjective well-being.’[6]

The work of the Trust is therefore important in addressing the social isolation and loneliness experienced, and the impact upon well-being that has been observed.

From shared experiences, we also recognise that young people who are Christians, often find themselves in the minority in their school classes and friendship groups. Through the various activities of the Trust, they will also have the opportunity of meeting with, and engaging with Christians of similar age, drawn together from different schools, and different churches, which can be of support and encouragement to them as they look to grow in life and faith.

As a Trust, we are passionate about seeing the growing population of young people in Greater Didcot, discovering and sharing life in all its fullness.

4 ‘Oxfordshire County Council Special Free School’, March 2019, p.10

5 ‘Disciples Together’: Diocese of Oxford Report, published in 2020; based on the research of the ‘Children, Young People, and Families Working Group’ www.oxford.anglican.org/mission-ministry/youthandchildren/disciplestogether/

6 https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/resources/good-childhood-report-2021

Outline strategy for engagement

We have embarked on the ‘Gather-Grow-Go’ cycle to develop the Trust’s strategy and approach. In 2021 this saw us undertake a ‘Snapshot Survey’ to create a picture of the Christian children’s and youthwork taking place across Greater Didcot. This was designed to help play a part in identifying:

Alongside this we sought the views of young people, leaders, and other Christian organisations, as we looked to discern how best we could serve needs and respond to opportunities.

The key things that this helped to identify included e.g., the value of churches working together (and young people mixing with other Christians their age), the need for work taking place midweek (and not just on Sundays), the importance of ‘standing in the gap’ between primary and secondary school (and supporting with this transition, which can be challenging), and equipping young people to grow in their gifts, and live out and share their faith; providing them with opportunities to grow, lead, and serve. Alongside this, the need to be investing in volunteers / leaders as they engage in work with and among young people was also identified.

Through this we have been able to prayerfully develop our:

Vision: Young people discovering and sharing life in all its fullness.

In seeking to serve and engage with young people’s ‘felt’ and ‘unfelt’ needs, we are aiming to provide a range of holistic opportunities for them to explore, grow in, and share life and faith.

With those young people who discover and follow Jesus, our heart is to be cheering them on and supporting them in this, as they play an active part not just in the church of the future, but the church of today, with the:

Aim: To make disciples who make disciples.

That’s why we look to provide opportunities for young people to gather with other Christians, to grow in following Jesus, and the gifts and passions He has given, and to go share this with others.

After all, the Good News, as the Trust’s tagline shares: cannot be contained.

In response to this, our approach is one that is focused on continually gathering, growing , and going together, and from the outset we have sought to be co-creating and delivering what we do with the young people, because we believe that they too, cannot be contained.

In 2021 we therefore identified the following six key provisions, all designed to link with one another, in order to provide a joined-up but diverse range of opportunities for the young people of Greater Didcot, to be discovering and sharing life in all its fullness.

Over a period of five years (2021-26) we seek to develop and deliver these provisions, with the young people playing an active part in this. To enable this to happen we are grateful for the support of grant funding, local churches, and individuals who generously give to our work.

Planned Activities (2021-26)

1. Discipleship Hub : a regular gathering for 11-18s featuring times of worship, Bible study, prayer, training, and eating together; providing opportunities to deepen relationship with God, and with one another. Through this, they can be equipped and encouraged to play an active part, not just in this, but in the other provisions, and their ‘home’ churches and communities too.

2. Training and Inspiration for volunteer leaders / workers on a termly basis, to equip and encourage them in their work among young people. We know they give so much, and our heart is to be giving back to them in their important work. It is hoped too that this will aid the sustainability and growth of children’s and youth work in the area.

3. School provision of Collective Worship; with a focus on Year Sixes and supporting their transition to Secondary School through a ‘School Transition Workshop Programme’. We are also looking to provide further support, through Secondary School based ‘pop up’ Youth Cafes.

4. Youth Cafe open after school on a weekly basis near to a local Secondary School, focused on bringing young people together ‘for food, for friendship, for good.’ Alongside providing a relaxed space to rest and recharge, space will also be provided, for the youngsters to engage with as they wish, to reflect, and to also pray.

5. Sports Outreach by having regular sessions for 10–14-year-olds to encourage physical fitness and friendship, whilst also providing the opportunity for them to explore faith. We will also have special sport-related events opened up to a wider group of people, to build relationships and encourage a deeper exploration of faith.

6. Youth Alpha courses provided for young people who would like to explore more about the Christian faith.

Looking Back: April 2022 - March 2023

We continue to be encouraged by how the young people have engaged with the Trust - growing in their gifts and passions, and playing an active part in the shaping and delivery of its work, in both local churches and the wider community.

As we look back over the last year (01 April 2022 - 31 March 2023) a range of activities and developments have taken place, as we have engaged with our charitable objects. Examples of progress made, and impact had, include the following:

ECHO Events (Discipleship Hub)

A range of ECHO Events have been provided for those in School Years 6-13, giving them the opportunity to gather together for food, worship, games, and lots of fun.

These events have kindly been hosted on the premises of local churches.

ECHO YP Worship Group

Linked to this and in keeping with our desire to be investing in the young people and actively involving them in the delivery of the work, we have formed an ECHO YP Worship Group.

It’s been great to see them growing in their gifts and passions and to provide them with opportunities to play an active part in leading the worship at ECHO Events.

ECHO EQUIP (Training and Inspiration)

We were excited to launch ‘ECHO EQUIP’ among the local churches this year.

ECHO EQUIP is an opportunity for children’s and youth volunteers / workers to gather , to grow , and to go , as we seek to play our part in seeing young people discovering and sharing life to the full!

Our first gathering took place on Saturday 25 March 2023, and saw people join together for prayer, worship, and encouragement, as we unpacked the theme of ‘Faithfulness & Fruitfulness’.

Youth Cafe

The Youth Cafe was successfully launched on 25 April 2022.

Engagement has been high, with us consistently having over 30+ secondary and sixth form students visiting on a weekly basis. Young people have shared how they have valued the safe space to rest and recharge following the pressures of school/exams.

In addition to the weekly sessions, we have also had the Youth Cafe at ECHO Events.

Soul Sport (Sports Outreach)

Spring 2022 saw the launch of Soul Sport; an opportunity for youngsters to play sport and explore faith. Combining the two streams (primary and secondary), we saw a total of 25 young people attending the sessions. We have also valued the involvement of two students who helped to shape and deliver Soul Sport prior to going to university.

Responding to the economic climate, in the Autumn we relocated to one of the partner churches to save on the cost of hiring the gym, and decided to focus on the primary age at this time.

ECHO EXPLORE

In January 2023 we had our first ECHO EXPLORE gathering for those in School Years 7-13. This saw us continuing the Christmas celebrations, with games, food, and the opportunity to explore what Christians believe.

We’re looking forward to building on the work that has taken place in the coming year(s), as we work together to see young people discovering and sharing life in all its fullness.

Looking Forward: Key Priorities April 2023 – March 2026

A key aspect of our work moving forwards will be the development and embedding of the planned activities mentioned on page 7, which are as follows:

To complement this, as we look to grow and develop the work of the Trust to see young people discovering and sharing life in all its fullness, the following have been identified as key priorities:

1. Growing the Team. In order to consolidate existing work, develop new work, and extend our reach, it will be important to expand our team. As well as paid children’s and youth work related posts, we will also be looking to grow the number of volunteers.

2. Developing Younger Leaders. We are keen to build on the enthusiasm already seen and experiences already had of working with and co-creating with the young people. We would therefore like to further invest in them; giving them opportunities to grow in their gifts and passions, and to use these in the work of the Trust, their ‘home’ churches, and wider community.

3. Developing a Summer Programme of Activities. The Trust is well-positioned to respond to the need for summer activities for young people during the school holidays. This will also provide the opportunity to be reconnecting with students back from university, who could be interested in being part of the team delivering the activities; thus encouraging the development of their gifts and aiding the sustainability and growth of the work.

4. Engagement with Creative Communication. We are looking to engage with a range of creative communication tools (including e.g., film, photography, and online); equipping young people in their use of these, in order to co-create material that helps young people (and their parents/carers) to connect with the Trust’s work, and to discover and share life in all its fullness.

Underpinning the above planned activities, and key priorities are resources like funding. Therefore, the Trust will continue to seek funding from e.g., grant-awarding bodies, churches, and individuals, in order to further develop and embed its work.

We are extremely grateful for the support that has already been received in terms of people’s time, prayers, and gifts.

Financial Statement

The Trust started the year with £7k in the bank, but owing two churches the return of their initial loan of £5k each, a fairly precarious position. By the end of the year, the two loans had been paid off, and the bank was standing at just under £10k. This final balance was due to a very generous anonymous gift of £10k via Stewardship, and the Trust thanks the donor for their kind and generous support.

The rest of the figures indicate that the Trust was able to cover all of its activities and pay off £10k of loans, a very positive position to be in. The remuneration packages of the staff during the year continued to be supported by their partner churches and a grant from the Diocese of Oxford Development Fund. General activities were supported by two generous regular personal givers and the start of a regular gift from Didcot Baptist Church on top of their support for Hannah Field. A former DBC member also left the Trust a £3k legacy, which made a big difference at the beginning of the year, for which we are very grateful.

When additional staff are appointed to the Trust, we will need additional regular funds to support them from the Trust side, and so if you are able to please consider supporting our work by regular giving – the treasurer can provide details of the various ways this can be done.

Our financial resources are such that at the moment we do not have scope to allocate any funds to reserves. Once we have obtained additional resources and are able to consider a reserves policy, we will do so.

We continue to be supported in non-monetary ways by the use (for free) of Didcot Baptist Church and St Matthew’s Harwell premises for various meetings and activities during the year. Volunteers from local churches help staff the activities and provide regular cakes for the Youth Cafe - always appreciated, and always eaten! Trustees also give their time in supporting the staff both in the delivery of activities and in supporting Hannah in her work and in planning.

We are grateful for the opportunity to work together across the Greater Didcot area to serve the spiritual, social, and emotional needs of local young people; providing opportunities for them to discover and share ‘life to the full’.

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGiANO AND WALES Greater Didcot Christian Children and Youthwork Trust Charity No 1194345 Annual accounts for the period 0110412022 To 3110312023 Petxxj stsrtdo Section A Statement of financial activities Restricted unrestri￿ income End¢>wment funds funds Recommended catsgories by activity Prior year funds Total funds Incoming resources (Note 4) F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 Income and endowFnerbts from: DonalK>ns and 12,335 12,335 40,552 3,203 18.245 Charitab1eactN￿ex 40,063 erlrading xtrwtie& Investments Separate mat&ia1 dirK)Th 10.000 16,542 26.542 19,650 132 41,230 rotsl Resources expended (Note S} 22.824 56,605 79,429 Expenditure on". RasNg fU￿S ChantaNe 8CbWts 392 42.574 59.586 5,000 63,049 5,000 Separate trr&tenal rtetn ofewse (NrAe 141 Other sio S11 Total S12 3,463 64,586 68,049 42,g66 Net incomellexpenditure) before investment gainslllosses) S13 19.361 7,981 11.380 1,736 Nel gaIn￿l￿$se$l on Inve5trnents Net incomel{expenditure Extraordinary items Transfers between funds other recognised gainslllosses): S14 S15 19.361 7.961 11.380 1,736 S16 S17 11,404 11,404 Gains and r(ts¥s on r?￿JUat￿￿ JL5e Other gal￿(&)$$￿5I Net movement in funds S18 S19 7,957 3.423 11,380 1.736 Reconciliation of funds.. Total funds brouym fo￿￿[ Total lunds eanied fonvard S21 1,687 3,423 1,736 9,644 1.736

Section B Balance sheet Restricted income nds Unrestricted Endowment Totsl thi$ funds Totsl last year Fixed assets Intangible assets Tangible assets Heritage assets Investsnents F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 (Note 3) Total fixed assets Current assets Stocks Debtors Investments Cash at bank and in hand {Note 111 Total Cu￿nt assets {Note 9) 375 375 3,274 11.639 12.014 11,639 12.014 7,433 10,707 B10 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year {Note 10) 2.370 2,370 2,443 Net current 2ssets/(liabilitses) 812 9,644 8,264 Total assets less current liabilities B13 8,264 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year (Note 10) Provisions for liabilities B14 10,000 B15 Total net assets or liabilities Funds of the Charity Endowment funds 616 1.736 B17 Restricted income funds (Note 12 Unrestricted funds Revaluation reserve B18 3,423 1,687 B19 Total funds B21 1,736 Signed by one or tsvo trustees on behalf of all the trustees Date of approval ddlmml Signthre Print Name CC17a {Excel) 1710112024

Greater Didcot Christian Children and Youthwork Trust- Charity No 1194345 Notes to the accounts forthe period ending 31 March 2023 l. Basis of preparation These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items ￿COgnIsed at cost or transaction Value unless otherwise ststed in the relevant notelsl to these accounts. The ac- counts have been prepared in accordance with the the Ststement of Recommended Practice: Ac- counting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Re- porting Stsndard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued on 16July 2014, and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland {FRS 1021. The charity constitutes a public benefft entity as defined by FRSIO2. The first yearfs accounts were not prepared under FRS102 as the trustees considered that insufficient artivity had tsken place in the period irNolved to require fvll FRS102 compliance. 2. Income and Expenditu Income is included in the accounts on re￿ipt. There were no funds pending recognition or definttion. The Vdlue of volunteer help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees annual report. Expenditure is included in the accounts at the point of expense. However, items expended after the year end which refer to attivities or liabilities (for example work done but rK)t paid for) in the financial year are included as creditors. 3. Assets The charity has bought items of equipment either on its own or in partnership wFth local churches. Equipment to the value of £5W or less is not capttalised but written off as expenditure in the year it is purchased. During the year, the chartty ly)ught various items of lighting equipment for use at ECHO events, none of which cost more than £5(K). 4. Analysis of Income Analysi5 Donations and Gtfts GiftAid Legacies Grant: Diocese of Oxford Contributions to Activities Contributions to cost of staff Anonymous donation via Stewardship Totals Unrestricted 7,824 1.511 Restricted Total Last Year 7.824 1.511 3.(K)3 200 16,542 16,542 19,650 19 18,226 40.(￿3 40,063 iO.(KK) io.c 22.824 56.605 79,429 41,230

  1. Analysis of Expenditure Analysis Staff Costs INote 71 Equipment Publicity Insurance Event expenses Staff training Venue Hire Other expenses (Note 13) Return of donation (Note 141 Totsls Unrestricted 278 114 Restricted 59.586 Total 59.864 114 Last Year 41,363 462 392 349 353 1,735 403 503 77 353 1.735 403 503 204 196 3.463 64.586 68.049 49.266
  2. Independent eyaminers fee-The independent e￿arniner generously provided his examination at no cost to the trust.
  3. stsff Costs Analysis Salaries and Wages Social Security Costs Defined Contribution Pension payments Life Assurance payments VH pension scheme Total Thi5 Year 57,376 Last Year 40,538 2,210 761 278 59.864 41,363 No employee5 received employee benefits for the reporting period of more than £60,C((J. The trust receives the benefft of the National Insurance Employers Allowan￿. and a5 a result paid no employers National Insuran￿ in the year lor last yearl. There were 4 employees at the strdrt of the year. and 2 at the end. No ex-gratia or redundancy payments were made.
  4. Defined contribution pension scheme The charity provides employees access to the CofE Pension scheme PB2012. This is a hybrid scheme where the value of contributions made is guaranteed not to fall in value, and where bonuses may be added depending on the performance of the scheme. Contributions atthe statutory minimum rate of 8% of salary are shared be￿een the employee and the trust. The trust additionally pays for life assurance for the members of the scheme while they are employed by the trust.

  5. Debtors of £375 represents the gift aid due but not yet claimed on personal donations. Debtors in 2021-22 were £23 cash paid in but not yet received at the bank. and £3.250 contributions due toward5 shared staff.

  6. Creditors of £2,370 is made up of payroll deductions due to HMRC {£1.549) and pension scheme (£3061, expenses due1£2651 and payment for additional hours1£250} in March 2023 made in payroll in April 2023. CredttOf5 in 2021-22 were £2.443 made up of£831 due to HMRC and £1.611 to the pension scheme Ithe scheme was late in dirert debiting the trust for contributions).

  7. Cash at bank and in hand-the trust holds a single bank account with the Co-op Bank. The balance at the start of the year was £7.433. and at the end of the year £11.624. The￿ was cash of £15 held at the end of the year. none at the Start.
  8. Funds Apart from its unrestricted fund. the charity maintains a restricted fund for stsff costs. This Is maintained because grants received and contributions towards stsff costs are gFven specifically towards the costs of employed staff. In the year the staff costs restricted fund started at £-3,423, received £56,605 and spent £64.586 leaving a balan￿ of £-11.404. A transfer from unrestricted funds of £11,404 was made to return the fund to a zero balonce at the end of the year. The long term creditors noted in last yearfs accounts We￿ paid off in full during this year.
  9. Trdnsactions with trustees and related parties Mr Malcolm Edge. a trustee acting as treasurer. received reimbursement of expenses towards the subscription cost of the payroll package used by the trust. and the cost of a Sumup machine used at events, of totsl value £77. Other than that, there were no transactions with trustees or related parties.
  10. King's Church Didcot The Kings Church provided an initial restritted donation of £5.IXQ on the startup of the Trust, wtth the expectation that this would be used towards the cost of a shared youth worker. Despite Collsiderable recruitment activity. no appointment has been able to be made and so the Trust returned the donation in the year. with gratitude for the initial donation and effective loan.

| CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Report to the trustees rA￿*￿r nbArnt f.hrioli2n fthildron 2nA VnErthwnrk Tn lot On accounts for the year 31 March 2023 Charity no 1194345 -AawI Set oFJt on pages I reF)Ort to the trustees on my examination of the a￿￿Unts of the above Responsibilitles and basis the chaTiVs trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Chariknes Act 2011 I report in restEtt of my examination of the Tnjsvs aCI￿nts carried OLrt under seclion 145 of the 2011 Act and in Ixrying Ixjt my examination. I under sectton 145(5Xbj of the ACL statsment come to my attention in cx)nnectFurTwtth the examination which gives me use to believe that in. any material respe of the Charitses Act or the accounts did not accord with the ac£ounting records" or con￿MIng the form and (x)ntent of acwunts set oirt in the CharÉties (Ao))unts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement considered as part of an independent examination. I k4VJ Ol i¢J I l4lVf tsv¥iiÈ i iiJ VUIGL 111(ilttsib il l il wtth the examination to which attentx)n should be drawn in this report in ZllIL1I3 Phi114n Ifthn Relevant professlonal qualification(s} or body {if any): Address: Shimna, Church Lane Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 OEZ IER Oct 2018