CONNECT SCHOOLS WORKER PROJECT
ANNUAL REPORT
PERIOD 01[st] May 2025 - 30[th] APRIL 2026
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The trustees present their report and the financial statements of the organisation for the full year period 01[st] May 2025 - 30[th] April 2026.
Reference and Administrative Information
Trustees
Peter Burns (chair)
Bob Clatworthy (secretary)
Trevor Jones (Treasurer)
Eileen Oates
John Payne
Mark Rowley
Chris Foggin
Principal office
The Centre
79 Silver Street
Nailsea
BS48 2DS
England
Tel: 07788 453819
e-mail: peter.burns@nailseabaptist.com
Bankers
Lloyds Bank, Clevedon
Structure, Governance and Management
The Connect Schools Worker project was established in 2013, working as an outreach project group within Christians Together in Nailsea and District (CTiNaD), Connect Schools Worker Project became a CIO, with its own group of trustees, wef 9[th] November 2022. This report covers the period of 12 months to the end of our traditional financial year on 30[th] April 2026
The purposes of the Connect Schools Worker Project are to advance the Christian Faith by appointing a Christian Youth Worker situated in Nailsea School;
To work with teachers and young people across the Nailsea School Community and communicate effectively with the local church community in Nailsea.
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To support the school in providing pastoral and mental health care and Mentor support for individual students and staff.
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To help the school fulfil their statutory responsibilities for assemblies and religious education and in related areas such as personal, moral and social education, by taking assemblies and supporting lessons.
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Provision of Breakfast Club to feed hungry students who do not have breakfast at home
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To develop ways of linking the school and churches so that Christian groups and individuals can support students and staff in informed and practical ways .
This report seeks to define the specific activities of the Connect Schools Worker Project CIO for the period in question.
All the activities of the Project are intended for public benefit, both spiritual and in service to the local community of Nailsea School.
Trustees
The trustees who served the group during the period are as shown above. New trustees are representatives nominated by the supporting churches to replace members who have resigned. The expectation is that each supporting church nominate a suitable member to serve as trustee. Trustees are made aware of the financial position of the Project and of their responsibilities as trustees. This includes regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Organisation
The trustees of the Connect Schools Worker Project hold the responsibility of running its financial affairs operating within a budget approved by the trustees at the beginning of each Financial Year.
Volunteers
Almost all the activities of the Project involve substantial work by volunteers, for example as trustees, office holders, activity group leaders and helpers. We employ one individual, currently Becky Allison, as the schools worker. She is employed part-time and is not a trustee.
Risks
The trustees have identified the major risks to which the charity is exposed. These risks are reviewed annually, and systems have been established to mitigate the risks.
Review of Developments, Activities and Achievements
May 2025 – Apr 2026
During this year Becky Allison (who started the role in January 2025, established her place in the school. Becky quickly got to know the staff team she works alongside and proved to be a tremendous asset to that team and the wider school.
Becky is assisted by a volunteer youth worker, realised by her employing church, to help in the school for one day per week (term time). Becky was soon asked to support a group of specific individuals and she, as well as the volunteer worker, continue to meet regularly with a significant number of individuals in need of pastoral care and mentor-type assistance. These include many opportunities to support the wider school pastoral care team by judicious and timely use of regular 1-to-1
meetings with students as well as times when called in by staff for ‘oneoff’ assistance to combat behavioural issues.
Becky has been invited to lead assemblies at key times during the Christian calendar which were well received. She is also a regular ‘contributor’ to GCSE lessons. The workers continue to lead the school Christian Union group who have been a small group but engaged well with topics studied, encourage friends to attend and supported outreach events in the school during Christmas and Easter. As another support, the weekly Breakfast Club for hungry students continued successfully. This has proved so useful that the school now organise another Breakfast Club on a different day, covered by volunteer school staff.
Financially, Connect continues to be well provided for, however reserves are now diminishing and the trustees are aware of the need to step-up fund raising initiatives and approaches to grant making bodies. Local churches continue to support the work, covering 40-50% of costs, the remainder is dependent on external charitable giving.
Connect is unashamedly a Christian project, where we are keen to demonstrate, in practical ways, the love of Christ and support the general pastoral care of the school. We remain careful to work within the limitations of the school trust in doing this. Connect is highly prized by the school community and local families, and we are delighted that God has faithfully provided for us in fulfilling these aims.
Financial Review
The financial review, together with independent examiner conformation is appended as a separate document.
2. Accounting Policy
The accounts are presented on a receipts and payments basis using the standard form of accounts and are independently examined.