Annual Report 2017-18

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Annual Report

1 2017-18 Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Contents

People 4

Annual Accounts 9 - 16

Grant Donor list 17

Aims, Values and Public Benefit 18

Schools work 20

Youth work 24

Resourcing work 27

IT, Electronic communication in our work 29

Wiltshire youth and schools work 31

Contact details 34

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

This Annual report covers the time period from September 2017 to August 2018. The report contains contributions from Bath Youth for Christ staff and trustees.

The main focus of this report is on the time period highlighted above. However, it will also give some indication as to the direction of Bath Youth for Christ going forward from September 2018.

The People

Staff Team (2017-18) Trustee Group (2017- 18) Motus Dance Teacher Sam Ludwell Chair: Youth Homelessness Worker Dan Jones Kat Lazenby

Assistant Director Vice Chair Dave Joyce John Lawton Office Coordinator

Lisa Hawkins Treasurer: Schools Worker David Chambers Katie Duncan

Youth and Schools worker Secretary Chris Porter

East Bath Youth and Schools worker

Sam Packer Paul Little Youth worker (City Centre Louise Cripps Churches) Jeremy Steeds Richard McDade Jerry Parr

Wiltshire YFC: Council of Reference Senior Youth Worker (Potterne) Steve Dewar Chair: Senior Youth Worker (Trowbridge) Rob Trickey Dan Webb Director of Bath and Wiltshire Youth Revd. Catherine Sourbut for Christ Steve Moore James Vaughton Graham Turner

Volunteer Team 2017-18: Wiltshire Advisory Youth Work Team: we have lots of Group great volunteers supporting our Alison Bennett Rev Barry Blackford work in Bath or Wiltshire Rev Keith Brindle Catherine Haddow

Partners Design: Scott Joyce IT support: Netitude Web marketing: Varn.co.uk

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Report from the Chair of Trustees

Unashamed

I have witnessed a lot of changes in the 20+ years I have been involved in Bath Youth for Christ; various projects have been launched (and closed), new staff have joined us and moved on to fresh challenges, and various trustees have also served their time. It appears that change is inevitable for an organisation like ours that seeks to be fresh, creative and relevant to young people growing up in a society that is void of God in their lives.

passionately about the power of salvation:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is

Romans 1:16-17

As a Youth for Christ centre we take great pride in our Christian identity and are not ashamed of the God we serve. We as you read this annual report I hope you will appreciate the dedication of our staff, the impact of our proje them do not know Jesus, but what they are encountering through our work and various programmes, projects and events, is a connection with the one true God of salvation.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

Dan Jones - Chair of Trustees

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

When thinking about what to write in this report I try to give some thought to the thread of the year. Most of this year, in terms of the organisation and the team, has been of consolidation and relative stability. I was hesitant to write that, because I thought it may sound a little boring. However, having been in this role a while now I recognise there is a need for the ebb and flow around the running of the organisation. We did not take on any new staff in September 2017 and only in August did we say good-bye to Kat Lazenby and in September 2018 to Richard. As you will see from the financial report the income has been relatively stable too and within the team staff roles did not change.

That said, in terms of our ministry it has had its usual share of challenges and joys. The work has been as dynamic and exciting as ever. A great team have continued to launch new work. In schools we have seen a new Christian Union in Wiltshire, we established two new Accompanying Project Hubs, one in Twerton the other in Melksham. New mentoring work was launched in Lavington School, a detached youth work in Kingswood School and a peer m running of Alpha during Friday lunchtimes. Outside the schools the work in Southdown continued to deepen. Motus Dance welcomed Sam back after maternity leave and the Arise Worship Events continued to see a 50-80 young people come along during the year. Statistics only ever tell part of the story but can be helpful to communicate what we have been up to. So here are a few.

• We connected with over 3000 young people

• We mentored over 100 young people in secondary schools in Bath and Wiltshire

• The Accompanying Project supported 50 children in Bath and beyond

• 5 young people made commitments to Jesus and 75 have been involved in discipleship

• We trained 13 young leaders

• We trained over 50 volunteers in youth work or mentoring

As the year end approached there was the growing sense of change. Kat Lazenby left Bath she was appointed to in 2009 and more recently a mentoring project for young people at-risk of homelessness. The project is launching now; just one of the new things ahead. I would like to express my thanks to Kat, who quietly and sacrificially gave herself to the work of seeing the lives of young people impacted by Jesus. The schools work is now being led by Katie Little, who is employed full-time from September 2018 and Dave Joyce is implementing the work with young people at risk of homelessness.

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

aps the quiet beginning of more changes. We welcomed Simeon Wakely to the team in the summer. Simeon will be helping us develop our work with disabled young people. Richard McDade left Bath YFC in early September for a role in his native Northern Ireland. Our other significant youth work change is the appointment, in partnership - Organisationally, we took on Esther Egan as social media intern in the summer and at the time of writing, we have appointed a fundraiser to start in November 2018.

Changes are often sparked by questions that confront us. One of those questions, following the publication of Shaping Church to Disciple Young People, I am wrestling with is how we develop our discipleship work, both directly and equipping those in local churches. Another question has been, and continues to be, our response to the dissolution of the Youth Service. We are anticipating responding to this need, seeing it as part of our call. For any who have too aware that our young people need the love of Christ, whether they acknowledge it or not, as much as ever. In Wiltshire we have been planning for a year for the GSUS Live mission in six secondary schools and the question this confronts us how to follow-up this opportunity.

As we look ahead I would ask that you pray for these and other questions that do and will confront us. Pray that we will have the wisdom and resources to play our part.

Finally, I would just like to thank you for your support through prayer, volunteering and time. This has been, is and always will be a partnership with you and ultimately with God as we seek to play our part in his plans and purposes.

James Vaughton - Director

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Report

These accounts reflect the combined BYFC CIO including Wiltshire BYFC for the year ending 31st August 2018.

deficit. Headline figures show income up from £262K to £281K while expenditure slightly reduced from £266K to £264K. This has increased our reserves to £188K (from £171K) with a slightly smaller proportion (£105K compared with £112K) restricted to specific projects. This puts us in a good position as we start the year ahead, both in terms of financial stability for existing projects and staff as well as providing some flexibility to invest in new projects as required.

The organisation continues to run a lean and thrifty administration with active reviews of ongoing costs for everything from mobile phones to travel expenses. The vast bulk of contributions received fund front line activities and direct oversight.

Individual regular voluntary giving remains a critical element of our income, running at £40K. It provides an important platform (and justification) when applying for grants and other sources of income.

Spending across different projects remains roughly aligned with the previous year, with the during the year. Conversely, the Motus Dance activity grows.

the past year, donating both financially and/or by giving their time. We have been fortunate to supplement individual donations with a wide range of grants from a variety of organisations, so that our financial position remains in good shape. I look forward to another successful year ahead.

David Chambers Hon Treasurer

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Financial donors in 2017-18

Below are listed those who have financially supported the work of Bath Youth for Christ during the last year. We want to say a heartfelt thank you, as without these people, churches and organisations, the work of Bath Youth for Christ would not be possible:

• Individuals from across the city of Bath, the county of Wiltshire, and beyond • Churches from across the city of Bath, the county of Wiltshire, and its environs • • The Alfred Haines Charitable Trust • The Chrysalis Trust • Avon and Somerset Police Trust • Bath Abbey • Dame Violet Wills Charitable Trust • Charitable Trust • The Diocese of Bath and Wells Fund for Church Growth • The National Lottery Fund • The Bishop Radford Fund • Quartet Community Foundation • Wiltshire Community Foundation • • The Fulmer Charitable Trust • The Colonel Llewllyn Palmer Educational Trust • Wessex Water • Bath Moral Welfare Fund • Wiltshire Council • Deo Gloria • Co-op Community Fund • Fielden Clegg Trust • Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner • The Medlock Charitable Trust

N.B. If we have missed any organisations from this list, we apologise and are very grateful for your support.

During the year staff members set about various fundraising challenges and together we raised over £7,000 towards the work of Bath and Wiltshire Youth for Christ

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

The Aims, Values & Public Benefit of Bath Youth for Christ

This page details the public benefit of Bath Youth for Christ as set out by the guidelines from the Charity Commission.

Bath Youth for Christ is a Christian-faith based organisation that works with young people of Christian faith, other faith and no faith (without discrimination) throughout Bath and Wiltshire.

Bath Youth for Christ was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 25th February 2016.

We are Christians who are seeking to put into practice the Bath Youth for Christ vision for the young people of Bath and its environs. The staff team are motivated and inspired by their Christian faith. Bath Youth for Christ exists to see young people be all that they can be and so to achieve their potential. The mission of Bath Youth for Christ is to see the lives of young people changed by Jesus.

Our current charitable objects are:

• To advance the Christian faith and to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world and in particular (but without limitation) in Bath and Wiltshire; • To promote and encourage Christian evangelisation of young people throughout the world and in particular (but without limitation) in Bath and Wiltshire; • To educate, encourage and participate in the emotional, physical and spiritual development of young people throughout the world and in particular (but without limitation) in Bath and Wiltshire; • To relieve poverty among young homeless people by the provision of housing, education and training and such other ways in which the charity trustees may from to time to decide; and • The advancement of education in (but not limited to) Bath and Wiltshire.

Bath Youth for Christ is a Christian faith-based organisation and our objects are outworked by serving young people in local schools and communities by:

• Providing positive opportunities for young people to express themselves, be listened to and grow and develop • Outreach work, in particular to young people who come from situations where they face disadvantage such as educational and behavioural challenges, as well as those who come from homes of low socio-economic status • Delivering informal education projects including mentoring and group work to build self- esteem and confidence • Providing opportunities for young people to take genuine responsibility within the context of youth work projects • The development of work to support young people at-risk of or affected by homelessness • Offering young people the opportunity to explore the Christian faith

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

• Training Bath Youth for Christ volunteers and volunteers in community organisations to work with young people • Consultancy and support for churches with regards to youth work in their church and community

Our values • Courageous • Helpful • Relational • Innovative • Spiritual • Together

Operation of the Charity

The Trustees are responsible for setting strategy, supporting the Director and monitoring the work of the charity. Day to day oversight and management is delegated to the Director, who in turn delegates to the Assistant Director and to staff members. A number of systems are in place to ensure that the charity adheres to good practice within a legal framework.

• Policies & Procedures - Regularly reviewed by appropriate staff members and ratified by the Trustees. Good practice and legal requirements are researched, and advice sought if required. • Financial management - The Treasurer has responsibility for ensuring the finances of the charity are managed effectively. Day to day management is delegated to the Director and Office Co-Ordinator • Management of Risk - Risk assessments are carried out for all projects and reviewed annually or as required when changes occur.

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Schools work in Bath

Schools work continues to be at the heart of the work of Bath Youth for Christ. During 2017-18 we worked across seven secondary schools. Five of those on a weekly basis.

Mentoring work in Secondary Schools

In the academic year 2017-2018 we saw a huge rise in the importance and need for our one to one mentoring work across three schools - Ralph Allen, Hayesfield and St Marks. Community Academy included we are able to state that we delivered mentoring Peer mentoring in partnership support to about 50 students during the year. Young people are referred to Our work in Hayesfield this year included Connect Mentoring (the new name for our the launch of their peer mentoring scheme mentoring work) for a variety of reasons. in partnership with Mentoring Plus. The aim These include struggling with friendships, of this project was to see girls in the upper behaviour challenges, difficulties at home, years mentor girls in the lower years. As a bullying and isolation. The team member new project there were a few teething provides a listening ear and an opportunity problems, although overall it seemed to be to unpack the challenges faced by the a success and was enjoyed by all who student concerned. participated. It saw an extra 18 young females mentored, with 18 upper year have been working with Bath Youth students taking responsibility and being for Christ for many years. They are an accountable for a younger student. We awesome agency. They have invested a lot have been invited back to run the project of time with individual and groups of in the academic year 2018-19, allowing students, who have gained a great deal more young people to benefit. This is from working with Bath Youth for Christ greatly encouraging! workers over the years, especially their growth in confidence. Furthermore, we have seen students who have been at risk of permanent exclusion develop positive relationships with the workers which has had a massive impact on these students, changing their mind set about their self- worth and about education in general. We cannot speak highly enough of the work of Bath Youth for Christ. (Richard Handley, Ralph Allen School, Bath)

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

worker from Holy Trinity Combe Down Church. This project could not run without this partnership. Occasionally, a number of new Year 7 students have joined us. During the last year we explored various questions around faith and used Youth Alpha as a resource during the summer.

During the last year Dave Joyce worked

lunchtime discussion group on Mondays in the school. This space, as with the Ralph Allen group, provided an opportunity for Shine building the self-esteem of girls young people to consider those important questions of life that begin to form in the in and minds of young people as they mature. Ralph Allen Schools. Through this project Encouragingly 2-3 from this group will be we reached 90 young females and talked joining our Mexico mission trip in 2019. about issues around confidence, self- esteem and friendships. Such themes are Breakfast C significant issues for teenagers on a day to day basis. A favourite activity in the course Breakfast C involves the girls writing their names in the School every morning with Sam Packer middle of a piece of paper, passing it leading this important work on Mondays around the group for compliments or and Wednesdays. Each morning will see 15- positive words to be written about the 30 young people. One young lad has who person. The girls often struggle to accept is now in year 11 has come every day since these kind words as all too often they are year 7 and tells us he loves coming along. not used to peers speaking positively It is a great place for young people to start about them. We are then able to build on the day if they have not eaten at home. It this to help them accept the compliments. offers very practical support for the It is great to see the impact of this work students to set them up for a day at and schools continue to ask us to deliver school. We are very grateful to Fair Share the project. In addition to Shine we were who provide food for free from a local able to run our relationships and sex Tesco Express. With the refurbishment of education programme, Life Academy, in the Sanctuary space and the growth of the Hayesfield again this year. school, we anticipate this work to grow in the coming year. Discussing life and faith in schools School Assemblies The lunchtime discussion group in Ralph Allen continues to grow and develop with Another area of work we often do in the a mixture of original members coming mornings is delivering school assemblies. back each week and some new girls joining Last year, before Christmas, we had the the group. This is great for a group privilege of leading assemblies in Ralph dynamic. Katie Little leads this work in Allen and St Mark s schools. Taking the partnership with Stuart, a local youth Christmas theme of Jesus being a gift and

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18 thinking about the gifts we receive, we Supporting Bath Community Academy focused the theme around what we can to the end give. The aim was to share the good news of the Christmas story and to offer young We felt very strongly that we wanted to people the opportunity to join our mission support Bath Community Academy up to trip to Mexico in summer 2019. the closure of the school in July 2018. Chris Encouragingly several who heard the Porter, our youth worker in Southdown, school assembly have signed up. worked alongside Steve Moore (Methodist Circuit Youth Worker) to deliver a range of New work in Kingswood School support for pupils during this difficult time. Their work included one to one mentoring, Since February this year Rich McDade and small group work, specific transition Dave Joyce have been going to Kingswood support and an after-school football School every Friday lunchtime, specifically project. These different types of work Focussing provided an opportunity for conversation on building good relationships with the and space for the young people to talk students, we have been a listening ear for about the future, their concerns and their them to raise issues such as friendships, hopes. peer pressure and technology. Dave and Rich eat lunch with the students and play games, such as table tennis and pool. In preparation to working in the school there were several meetings with pastoral and teaching staff to ensure we were providing the necessary support. This also included several assemblies for the students to become more familiar with the work of Bath Youth for Christ.

Developing work to support disabled young people

During 2017-18 we worked with Simeon Wakely to plan a role to support disabled young people. Simeon is disabled himself and we worked with him when he was at school. He is passionate about being good news to young people who are disabled and are in mainstream education. Simeon started working with Bath Youth for Christ in May 2018 by mentoring a young person in one school. From September 2018 he will be looking to expand this work and develop a piece of research to help us better understand the needs of physically disabled young people in mainstream education, so that we can support them.

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Accompanying Project developments The project has its own website: The Accompanying Project has grown www.accompanying.uk, where you can find significantly during 2017-18. In Bath we out more. launched a new Accompanying Project partnership with the local church. We

School and continue to deliver in other local primary schools. During the last year we worked with 23 children in Bath, offering the Accompanying Project support.

Resourcing others for Accompanying

Further afield the project is growing too. The hub in Yate continues to flourish with a team of volunteers working in 4-5 local schools. We have a small hub in Bradford on Avon, working in one school.

Across Bath and the new areas where delivery is happening, in the last year we have supported about 50 children through the move to secondary school!

During the last year we have trained a worker at Dorset Youth for Christ to deliver the project and a small team in Melksham too. During 2018 we made plans to train a team of volunteers from Haverhill Youth for Christ and they will start to deliver in Autumn 2018.

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Youth work in Bath

Our youth work continues to have a broad focus. However, behind it all is simply a Youth Worker role and the Churches love for young people and seeing their continue to contribute financially, as well lives changed by Jesus. as demonstrating a willingness to work collaboratively. We are really grateful to all Southdown Partnership youth work the partners involved. going strong! Connect Mentoring 16-25s Supporting Our work in Southdown is based around a young people at risk of homelessness strong partnership with St Barnabas Church, Southdown Methodist Church, This year has seen a closer relationship Sladebrook Evangelical Church and Bath develop with Bath YMCA as they now have YMCA. several houses in and around Bath providing supported housing (Platform for The partnership work has included work in Life) for young people (18 25- Bath Community Academy (mentioned above), Motus Dance Academy (below), the Accompanying Project, and our affected by homelessness is continuing to community breakfast club at the Roundhill move forward to help young adults in YMCA. We provide free toast and hot supported housing. The young people drinks to children, young people and living in the houses are at risk of parents on their way to school. Some homelessness and have minimal or no mornings the club will serve over 70 family support. Dave Joyce has recruited people. Over the last few years we have four volunteers to create a mentoring team built some strong relationships with to support the young people with the families and been able to provide wider challenges that they face in life. This support for some facing challenging life project will begin in September 2018. situations. team is resourced by the 3 local churches mentioned above. This provides such a bold statement to the community that the wider church cares, wants to serve the community and is doing it together! This has also provided opportunities to link families with church events and groups during the week, as well as facilitating conversations around church life and faith. It has been encouraging to see Motus dancers get involved in church services at St. Barnabas and three of the Motus group are now signed up for our Mexico mission trip. there is a lot of change on the horizon, but we thank God for working in us and in the hearts and minds of all who we meet!

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

City Centre Partnership Club. Following its success, it was decided to establish the Going Bananas after school Established in 2015, this partnership is Bible Club. The group meets for an hour between Nexus Methodist Church, St. once a week with drinks & snacks, games, songs, a Bible story and craft. There is Church. Bath Youth for Christ is the always time for prayer, and we have seen employer of the worker and facilitator of God working in the lives of the children gatherings related to the work of the and their families. A year on and the club partner churches. Richard McDade has is going strong, with up to 14 attending, been the Youth Worker during this period. and many of the children came back to the Holiday Club in August. Several of the City centre youth work children came because they saw us having a great time in the Church, whilst their We began September 2017 with Youth siblings were at the dancing class in the Alpha, after which we introduced a debate hall opposite. Sam says she has seen God series offering the young people an at work in many ways, the children are opportunity to always enthusiastic and are great at remembering the Bible stories. One little made a second weekend trip to Woodcroft boy knows that God loves him no matter residential centre for a retreat, focusing on what & often answers our questions with quiet time and prayer that lead us to some quality time with Jesus. Following this retreat and through to the summer, we Mexico 2019 focussed on using a The young people have had a great year During his sabbatical in the sabbatical in learning and spending time together, they the summer of 2017, Dave Joyce went to have met with new and interesting Mexico to build a house for a family living speakers and they have learnt more about in poverty with the charity Urban Saints . the God whom they follow. He returned inspired by God to take a team back in 2019. During 2017-18 Dave This year we have connected a lot more as worked hard to plan the trip and recruit a a group. Furthermore, over the year Rich team. By summer 2018 there was a team of has met with and coached some young 25 signed up for the trip - 15 young people people who have requested time to chat and 10 adults. Fundraising has so far and work through struggles. included washing cars, abseiling off Elim Church and cake sales. The team has met, In August of this year Rich McDade and will continue to do so through the next resigned from his post as City Centre academic year, on a monthly basis Youth Worker. The partnership will not providing the opportunity to find out more continue into the new academic year. about the trip, get to know each other, build the team and plan fundraising. Future Going Bananas topics include discipleship, spirituality, mission, as well as having fun together. We In the summer of 2017, Sam Packer worked hope that this mission trip will be a life with Serena Stanton Youth Worker at St changer for those we work alongside in and members of the Mexico and the team from the UK. Church, at the Going Bananas Holiday

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Motus Dance Academy The Academy has also danced on numerous occasions at St Barnabas Church Sam Ludwell and Chris Porter continue to and the Arise Youth Event. The majority of run Motus Dance Academy, with the the dancers are not Christian, so this is support of some enthusiastic and always a great opportunity for them to see committed young leaders. It has been faith in different ways and provide an another busy year for the dance academy opportunity to ask questions. Probably the as they become more involved in different to date took place at projects and events within the community. Twerton Infant school summer fete 30- Motus takes place twice a week and is a degree heat! two-hour dance lesson. There is also a Our annual dance show took place at the group can come along, have a drink and end of the summer term. This is always the just share what is going on in their lives highlight of the year and a chance for the with the team. dancers to really show off what they have learnt and achieved. Audience numbers were low this year, mostly due to less advertising as a result of the young busy lives. Yet, it was an incredible day and we received probably the best feedback to date! The dancers put so much character and personality into their choreography.

Their love of dance is clear. Even with only 3 of us at one event, their response was In May we ran a 10-hour Danceathon fundraiser to raise money for the dance academy. The young people collected Gathering young people together for sponsorship money in the lead up to the Arise Youth Event event and most of them attended, some of them even doing the full 10 hours with During 2017-18 we ran three Arise events, Chris and Sam. It was an absolutely brilliant one in November in partnership with day and a huge success. We felt supported Freedom Centre, the next at Hay Hill and encouraged by St Barnabas Church Baptist Church and in June and the local community. People dropped Church. The event has allowed us to in through the day to watch, show their connect with over 100 young people with support, bring cakes, cookies, ice lollies, up to 70 young people coming to each snacks and drinks. event. The evening is an opportunity to gather primarily Christian young people to The dancers choreographed for and led enjoy live music, hear testimonies and talks two from local youth workers. On each term holiday. The young people did a occasion, 7-8 churches have been brilliant job of leading the workshops with represented loads of positive feedback from the adults departure, and as part of a wider review of involved and those who took part in the our discipleship work, we will be workshops. considering the future of this project.

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Resourcing the youth work of local Shaping Church to Disciple Young churches and networking People Following a year of Bath Youth for Christ research, this year saw local churches continues to be central to the publishing of our work as we love to support local Shaping Church to churches in engaging with young people. Disciple Young People. This is a growing area of our work and one The research was a which we anticipate will continue to response to the develop. This year we have: growing sense locally and nationally that • Developed a partnership with the discipleship of young local church in Timsbury to prepare people is a challenge which needs to be for the appointment of a youth addressed. We spent the year listening to worker in October 2018 young people, parents, youth workers and • Continued to work with St church leaders about this important area of ministry. You can download the research at Evangelical Church, Southdown www.bathyfc.co.uk. James Vaughton led Methodist Centre, the YMCA and this work and following publication in early The Diocese of Bath and Wells to 2017 has been speaking to Bath church manage Chris Porter as Youth leaders within Bath Deanery about how the Worker in Southdown and deliver learning can be used to help local youth youth work in the area workers (paid and volunteers) to shape • Delivered Life Academy with All church to disciple young people. Saints Weston • Continued to be actively involved in Towards the summer of 2017 working the various church leader and youth alongside the Rural Dean, Richard Wilson, worker networking events James developed a plan to help churches • Coordinated church youth worker put the learning into practice. This will gatherings on a monthly basis include three aspects: • Continued to work with Hay Hill 1. An audit of what is currently happening Without and Nexus Methodist 2. Development of sessions for Church to manage a youth work parents of young people post in the city centre 3. A learning hub approach to work • Worked alongside Serena Stanton with 5-6 churches, helping them to deliver develop a plan to more effectively disciple young people. • Delivered the Arise Youth Worship Event • Networked with organisations linked locally with the Chrysalis Foundation

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Bath Youth for Christ Training, interns

During the last 12 months we have not provided internships or training posts. However, towards the end of the year we appointed Esther Egan as our social media intern.

In the last year we have trained over 50 people to deliver youth work either within a Youth for Christ context or their own church or community setting. 1. We have delivered two mentoring training days 2. 2-3 introduction to youth work mornings. 3. We have trained new teams in the delivery of the Accompanying Project.

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

IT, Electronic communication in our work increased by 20%. 14% of users were returning users, up from 8.4% We have continued to invest substantial the previous year time in our use of social media and • In the case of both Bath and electronic communication to share news Wiltshire we have started to link e- and communicate with young people and newsletter articles to website supporters. We are committed to doing content, which will have had an our best to communicate well and impact and that is clear in the case recognise that people communicate and of the Bath site. receive information in different ways. • The Accompanying Project website Towards the end of summer 2018, we launched last year. The aim of this appointed Esther Egan as social media website is to be an information intern to help develop our social media source and a resource for those presence. We will review the impact of her delivering the project. Statistics of involvement in the next year. pages visited show that it has been used in this way, the resources • The Bath Youth for Christ website sections being the busiest pages. has seen an increase in traffic. We • Ongoing use of Twitter and saw a 50% increase in sessions, Facebook to promote events and nearly 50% increase in new users update supporters with prayer and 45% in users in general. requests. Our social media audience Furthermore, there was a 36% has continued to grow slowly, and increase in page views. There was this year saw ongoing Instagram also a small decrease in session with the Bath staff team sharing duration (2%) and a 7% increase in responsibility for publishing bounce rate, which we will work to encouraging quotes from young reduce so that more people remain people. We have very recently engaged with the site. 12.7% of brought together Bath and users are returning users, up slightly Wiltshire Twitter accounts into one from the previous year. It is worth account to streamline noting that one reason for the communications. significant increase has been our • Our films continue to be used GDPR email, which when thanking around the country by Youth for people for signing up to our Christ staff as well as other churches and organisations. The films are used on a multitude of and contact pages are the most platforms - Prodigal and Jonah visited pages, after the home page. were used in talks to thousands of • The Wiltshire Youth for Christ people, young and old. Current website is a mixed picture. The viewings of these films and others number of users and new users we have made and published on dropped by 3.5% in both cases. Vimeo and YouTube are now into However, there was an 11% increase the thousands and continue to be in sessions, 15% increase in sessions watched daily. In one day recently, per user, a slight increase in page the film King and Maiden was views and average session duration watched 63 times. That is unusual went up 28%. The bounce rate

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

but goes to show the value of publishing the films. • A dedicated space on our website for connecting with resources and websites that help young people explore the Christian faith. • Electronic editions of Partners, email and downloadable, continue to be sent out. In the last year, our newsletter was published four times for Bath and three times for Wiltshire. We will be bringing Bath in line with Wiltshire for the next year and publishing three times per year. Recipient numbers remained relatively static. • E-newsletter to Partners in Bath and Wiltshire

We would like to say a big thank you to www.varn.co.uk for all their help with our websites, email newsletters and other IT and communication matters.

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Wiltshire Youth for Christ of the community space following successful Messy church and Christmas Our work in Wiltshire has established itself Carol events. He regularly meets with in the last year. This can be seen in several local young people on Wednesday particular in our schools work. In May 2018 afternoons to carry out tasks, having we ran our Showcase evening at North conversations and discussions along the Bradley Baptist Church. A very way. encouraging evening, which included presentations by staff and partner School assemblies organisations. We also showcased two new films about our work and gave out awards Steve continues to deliver Collective to young people and volunteer youth Worship in local village Primary Schools. workers. He has met with several Head Teachers and clergy throughout the year to create Our work in Wiltshire is more termly plans and events for some of the geographically distinct than in Bath and as Primary schools including Christmas, such tends to be led by either Steve or Easter and Harvest. He has delivered Dan. In light of that, this part of the report assemblies to all year groups, in all to is organised on a geographical basis, with about 1,000 local children. reference to specific projects. Weekly drop-in session at Potterne Wellsprings Benefice area (Potterne, Youth Club Worton, Marston, Seend, Poulshot and Bulkington) and Devizes area Potterne Youth Club, held at the local youth centre, continues to attract a consistent number of young people, but does struggle for volunteers. Throughout the year Steve opens the space on a Friday night for a weekly drop-in project. Furthermore, he arranged a visit by Claire Perry MP, and groups such as toddlers and Brownies. Work has also started on the outside space to enable disabled access to the facility with thanks to Aster Housing.

Strategic work in the local parish and A community garden and space for community area church to gather local people

Steve attended Wiltshire Council Area The Community Garden project has Boards and Youth Network meetings continued through the year with several throughout the year and was approached residents, and a few new faces, working to sit on the Salisbury Diocesan Children with Steve to maintain the space. Plans are and Young People s Committee Panel. ongoing for activities and future events. Despite the challenges facing the Potterne Steve is involved with Messy Church Parish and Wellsprings Benefice during a locally, which is looking to make more use period of 12 months interregnum, Steve

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18 continued to engage with young people attend a training day and then meet locally, support the local church, explore quarterly for ongoing support and new opportunities and develop ministry in resource sharing as well as safeguarding the area. sessions. Although numbers of mentors have fluctuated over the past year, the Pop UP Cafés in Trowbridge and Devizes overall trend has been one of steady growth. It is expected to appoint 4 new Our Summer Pop-up Youth Café ran again mentors in autumn 2018. in Trowbridge and Devizes during the school holidays. The week-long café in a Delivery in local secondary schools public space is very visible and creates space for young people to hang out, have Dan leads a team of volunteers delivering a chat and some fun. We received helpful Connect Mentoring each week in St. and encouraging feedback from young Laurence School, Clarendon Academy and people. Activities included dance John of Gaunt School. Over the last year workshops, Active Trowbridge inflatables, they have had about 50 young people referred to the project, supporting them car. Supported by the Local Youth through one-to-one sessions. The schools Networks, the summer events continue to are tremendously appreciative of the work. develop. In Devizes, Steve hosted a The mentoring work has opened the door meeting with a local councillor and the for other opportunities such as GSUS Live Local Youth Network group during the and RE lessons in the schools. Steve Dewar week. is delivering Connect Mentoring in Lavington School and a couple of workers have been trained through Connect Mentoring to deliver in Kingdown School, Warminster. The project has grown significantly and with further conversations with church workers happening in other towns, is likely to grow further in the coming year.

Connect Mentoring

Training and recruiting volunteer team

A major developing part of Dan role with Connect Mentoring over the past year has involved growing the team and refining the way in which the volunteers are recruited and equipped to work in schools. Currently we have 12 mentors going into 4 schools in the area. Volunteers

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

Discipleship of young people in Wiltshire The Pulse/Limitless

Youth Stream The Pulse monthly worship event finished in July 2017, primarily due to a lack of adult We have explored many engaging themes helpers. For the following 6 months Dan at Youth Stream over the year, including and other youth workers and volunteers explored a variety of follow-on event testimonies, spiritual disciplines, Bible options. After some deliberation, it was characters, importance of the Old decided that the project should not be Testament. Many of the young people with pursued at this time, primarily due to time whom Dan has worked from the beginning commitments. have now left for university, and dwindling numbers did call into question the Impax continuation of this project. However, a new influx of young people in September Impax is a community youth club in 2018, as well as more adult leaders, means Paxcroft Mead, near Trowbridge, attracting that the sessions will continue to run. 10-16 year olds from the local community. Wiltshire Youth for Christ is predominantly St Laurence Christian Union providing support to this project. Dan is seeking to develop connections with the Dan launched the CU at St Laurence in three churches who run the weekly event January 2018 and numbers have grown as well as the young people attending. slowly but steadily since. At the start there were 4 highly energetic teenagers and now Church links/partnerships there can be up to 12 highly energetic teenagers! It had been a struggle to find a During the year Dan, Steve and James volunteer leader to support Dan, but the have continued to work hard to develop hope is that this will be addressed in the relationships between Wiltshire Youth for autumn term. The group represents 5 Christ and local churches. This has involved different local churches in the area. meeting with church leaders and speaking at church services.

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2017-18

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