Bath YFC Annual report 2016-17

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

Annual Report 2016-17

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

Contents

People

4

Dedication

5

Chair of Trustees’ Report

6

Director’s Report

7

Treasurer’s Report

8

Annual Accounts

9 (1-8)

Grant Donor list

17

Aims, Values and Public Benefit of Bath YFC

18

Bath YFC youth and schools work

20

Youth Homelessness

26

IT, Electronic communication in our work

27

Wiltshire YFC youth and schools work

28

Pinnacle Youth Outreach

31

Contact details

32

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

This Annual report covers the time period from September 2016 to August 2017. The report contains contributions from Bath YFC 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 YFC going forward from September 2017.

The People

Staff Team (2016-17)

Trustee Group (2016-17)

Motus Dance Teacher Sam Ludwell Internship Naomi Peachey Trainee Youth and Schools Support Worker James Rogers Youth Homelessness Worker Kat Lazenby Assistant Director Dave Joyce Office Coordinator Lisa Hawkins Schools Worker Katie Duncan Youth and Schools worker Chris Porter East Bath Youth and Schools worker Sam Packer Youth worker (City Centre Churches) Richard McDade

Chair: Dan Jones

Wiltshire YFC: Senior Youth Worker (Potterne) Steve Dewar Senior Youth Worker (Trowbridge) Dan Webb Director of Bath and Wilts YFC James Vaughton

Vice Chair John Lawton Treasurer: David Chambers Secretary Kathy Beadle (stepped down July 2017)

Paul Little Louise Cripps Jeremy Steeds Jerry Parr

Council of Reference Chair: Rob Trickey Revd. Catherine Sourbut Steve Moore Graham Turner Partners Design: Scott Joyce IT support: Netitude Web marketing: Varn.co.uk

Volunteer Team 2016-17: Youth Work Team: we have lots of great volunteers supporting our projects. We can’t name you all but a big ‘Thank You’ if you support our work in Bath or Wiltshire N.B. If anyone has been omitted please forgive us, you are not forgotten and all you do is appreciated

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

This year’s annual report is dedicated to Jeremy Steeds As this report was being published we received the sad news that one of our trustees, Jeremy Steeds had passed away. This is tragic and was very unexpected. Jeremy had been involved in the work of Bath YFC since the mid noughties when he and I ran a football project together. In the last few years he was instrumental in helping establish the Southdown Partnership youth work and became a trustee about three years ago. Jeremy always had a smile, he laughed lots and was a joy to be around. He was such an encouragement to me personally and to the team and we will miss him greatly. Jeremy believed wholeheartedly in the work of Bath YFC and we are grateful to him for the contribution he made over the last decade.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendy (Jeremy’s wife) and Luke (his son).

James Vaughton - Director

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

Report from the Chair of Trustees The marketing world is full of creative strategies, advertising tactics and ploys designed to tempt us to part with our money. Last year alone UK companies spent over £20bn promoting their products. 22 billion! Slogans and straplines are still proving to be a popular choice because they are catchy and make people think positively about a company. Not only are they easy to remember, they are even harder to forget. How many of these can you remember?

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Beanz meanz…

Have a break have a…

You only get an ‘oo’ with… … your flexible friend Ahh… And all because the lady loves…

What if two thousand years ago Jesus asked his disciples to work on a publicity campaign for his ministry? Yes I know it’s a hypothetical question, but what slogans do you think might have adorned outer garments and paraphernalia? Paul’s letters are a great place to start. Full of great verses and punchy one-liners, my choice would be something written in his first letter to the church in Corinth: Jesus Christ. Be imitators of me!

(1 Corinthians 11v1 ESV) Why am I writing about slogans and straplines? As a Youth for Christ Centre, we have a commitment to upholding the national YFC’s strapline ‘taking Good News relevantly to every young person’. Although only eight words, they clearly define us as an organisation and underpin our motive for working with young people in and around Bath and Wiltshire. Yes, there is scope for interpretation and yet the opportunity to be creative in the response to YFC’s mandate, especially in a world that has grown increasingly apathetic towards hearing and encountering the message of Good News.

So, as you read through this report and find out more about the schools work, church-based ministries, community projects and outreach initiatives, I hope like me you are excited by the stories. Stories of our staff journeying with young people who are navigating their way through the stage of life more commonly known as ‘growing up’. It is through our staff’s creativity, conviction and drive that this report is a testament to the many young people who are engaging with, receiving from and responding to that message of Good News. Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ is something we should all love to do, not something that we dread, and I’m so proud of what Bath & Wiltshire YFC loves doing for His Glory.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Dan Jones - Chair of Trustees

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

Director’s report Thank you so much for standing with us in our work …. to be, share and show good news among and with young people in Bath and Wiltshire. When writing this report, I spend some time considering the thread of the last year and as usual it has presented opportunities, joys and challenges.

Across the country YFC has been seeking to increase the focus on prayer, more intentionally seeking God and interceding on behalf of the young people we work among. In Bath and Wiltshire this has seen the team planning in weekly times of prayer, in Bath we have a prayer room in our office, we have walked across Bath praying and stopping at churches along the way and in Wiltshire held gatherings in Trowbridge, Devizes and Bradford on Avon. This has been important, but also challenges us to consider how we will continue to pray in the year ahead. If you have prayed with us this year, thank you so much.

Prayer truly is the unseen fuel in God’s work through Bath and Wiltshire YFC Over the last year we provided an internship for Naomi Peachey and James Rogers finished five years with Bath YFC as he reached the end of his training with Bristol Centre for Youth Ministry. We are incredibly proud of both James and Naomi and wish them well. Within the current team the long-term service of Dave Joyce and Kat Lazenby was acknowledged as both took sabbaticals. Other staff changes that took force from September 2017 but planned during the year of this report included Lisa Hawkins becoming Operations and Office Coordinator, Steve Dewar becoming Team Leader for Wilts YFC, Katie Duncan moving to 30 hours per week all the time (she was term time only) and Dan Webb is now fulltime. The trustee group has remained stable for a few years now, but in July, after at least a decade of service, Kathy Beadle stepped down from this role. I would like to thank Kathy for her professional support and the encouragement which she gave to me personally during her time as a trustee. I am very grateful to all the trustees for their support. We will be on the lookout for a couple of new trustees over the next few months.

Bath YFC continues to be well established in schools and communities around Bath; in many ways our work has not significantly changed in the last 12 months. In Wiltshire the work remains a little more embryonic and fragile, but we are continuing to work to build on the foundations laid over the last couple of years. Bath and Wiltshire YFC exist to take, share and be the good news of Jesus among young people in the area and this mission drives what we do. We deliver this through our youth and schools work, indirectly by supporting and equipping local churches and through partnership with friends in the voluntary sector and local authority. Underpinning this is Christ’s call to ‘go and make disciples’ (Matthew 28). I hope that as you read this report that sense of call, mission and vision will be apparent.

Thank you for your interest, prayer, support and encouragements.

James Vaughton - Director

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

Treasurer’s Report The headline figures are that the organisation just about broke even for the year (a slight deficit of £4587 on a total spend of £266K), spending a similar amount to last year. We continue to have around £160K in the bank of which a larger proportion (100K vs 88K) is restricted funds.

Voluntary income appears to be up substantially from 113K to 142K but this is mainly down to larger Church Payments. Schools and Youth Work receipts are down from 18K to 11K. We are spending more on Wiltshire, Youth Work, Accompanying Project and Homelessness with a slight drop in Schools work and Life Academy. New grants have been received for the Discipleship Project and Breakfast Clubs These accounts reflect the combined BYFC CIO and previous registered charity which are treated as a single linked entity, including Wiltshire BYFC and Pinnacle Youth Outreach. From September 2017, Pinnacle will be split off as a completely separate charity with its own bank account and annual accounts.

I’d like to thank all those who contributed towards the success of BYFC over the past year, donating both financially and/or by giving their time. We have been fortunate to receive a wide range of grants from a variety of organisations, so that our financial position remains in good shape. The initial start-up funding for Wiltshire is reducing and we need to continue to raise money directly so that this can become a selffunding piece of work, in its own right.

David Chambers Hon Treasurer

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

Financial donors in 2016-17 Below are listed those who have financially supported the work of Bath YFC during the last year. We want to say a heartfelt thank you, as without these people, churches and organisations, the work of Bath YFC would not be possible: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Individuals from across the city of Bath and county of Wiltshire, and beyond Churches from across the city of Bath and county of Wiltshire, and its environs St. John’s Foundation The Alfred Haines Charitable Trust The Chrysalis Trust Avon and Somerset Police Trust Bath Abbey Kenneth Copeland Ministries Dame Violet Wills Charitable Trust Mr Willats’ Charitable Trust The Diocese of Bath and Wells Fund for Church Growth St. Luke’s, Wellsway mission fund The National Lottery Fund The Bishop Radford Fund Quartet Community Foundation Wiltshire Community Foundation St. James’ Foundation The Fulmer Charitable Trust The Colonel Llewllen Palmer Educational Trust Wessex Water Bath Moral Welfare Fund St Matthias Foundation Wiltshire Council Deo Gloria Co-op Community Fund

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

In May 2017 Bath YFC trustees organized a ‘Pub Quiz’ evening and raised over £800 towards our Youth Homelessness work

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

The Aims, Values & Public Benefit of Bath YFC This page details the public benefit of Bath YFC as set out by the guidelines from the Charity Commission.

Bath YFC 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 YFC vision for the young people of Bath and its environs. Bath YFC exists to see young people be all that they can be and so to achieve their potential. The mission of Bath YFC is to take good news relevantly to every young person in Bath and its environs.

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 YFC is a Christian faith-based organisation and our objects are outworked by serving young people in local schools and in local communities by: • •

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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

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

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Delivering work that helps young people achieve the five outcomes of ‘Every Child Matters’. These are; stay safe, be healthy, enjoy and achieve, economic well-being and make a positive contribution.

Our values • Transformation • Integrity • Innovation • Empowerment • Partnership • Dignity • Relationship Moving from the old charity to Charitable Incorporated Organisation – How are we doing?

Changing the status of the charity meant that we were obliged to open a new bank account, registered to the new charity. During the year we have sought to begin the process of making this the main account used by Bath YFC for day to day transactions. This has involved contacting our regular donors, churches and organisations with whom we have a contract to provide services, requesting they amend payment details. This has been a gradual process, but by the end of the financial year, approximately 75% of regular donations were paid into the new account. In addition, we notified relevant organisations with whom we have contracts for services of the charity’s change in status. Early in the new financial year, steps will be taken to amend direct debit mandates and standing order payments.

We also amended all our stationery, information on our website and social media to reflect the change in status.

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.

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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 CoOrdinator Management of Risk - Risk assessments are carried out for all projects and reviewed annually or as required when changes occur.

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

Bath youth and schools work Life Academy The Life Academy course was held in two locations this year including St Philips and St James Church and Hayesfield School.

The former course attracted both young people from the church as well as the community. At times, the course was challenging but it was great to see young people consciously take on board the importance of making good choices and feel comfortable enough to talk about the issues faced by their generation everyday through social media and the internet. In Hayesfield, the school referred girls who they considered most ‘at risk’ of teenage pregnancy and becoming sexually active at an early age.

This was an open and honest course where the girls talked about difficulties they face around the issues of sex and relationships. Life Academy promotes commitment, wise choices and long-term committed relationships. However, for young people of this generation, this can be a challenging idea due to their own circumstances. One of the girls told us she was the product of a one-night stand. Open discussion meant that we were able to talk about the influence of the media and how sex is a big deal and can have life changing consequences.

Accompanying The Accompanying project continues to give vulnerable Year 6 students that extra boost of confidence ready for secondary school.

Over the past year the project has been delivered in the following schools.

• St Philip’s Primary • Oldfield Park Juniors • Roundhill Juniors • St Saviour’s Primary • Batheaston Primary This project is all about seeing children grow in confidence with an accompanying coach supporting them, demonstrating that they believe in the young person when circumstances have a negative impact. Early on during 2016-17, one Year 6 pupil with whom we worked was struggling to attend school regularly and was low in confidence. However, as the relationship with two of the workers developed, her attendance and her confidence grew. She is now at secondary school, has joined a drama club and is attending Motus Dance Academy.

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

Secondary Schools It is such a joy to work in a variety of secondary schools across Bath, getting to stand side by side with young people as they face some difficult life situations. Over the past year Bath YFC has worked in St Gregory’s Catholic College, Ralph Allen, Hayesfield Girls’ School, St Mark’s and Bath Community Academy (BCA). In these schools we have mentored about 60 young people, delivered small group work, lunchtime clubs, lessons and presented Christian assemblies to thousands during the Christmas season.

Every young person comes with a new story, a new situation and a new adventure for us to journey together. We feel privileged that it is our job to listen, support and challenge, but most importantly love every young person with whom we work. It’s always tricky to say goodbye when mentoring comes to an end, however Katie received a thank you card at the end of the academic year which expressed how much the young person had enjoyed the mentoring. This particular student played endless games of Uno with Katie and throughout the games Katie encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone and to make new friends. She is now very settled into year 8 and is thoroughly enjoying school.

Sam Packer had the privilege of serving the students & staff at St Mark’s over the last few years. Sam is there on a Monday and Wednesday for Breakfast Club and mentoring. Sam’s Chaplaincy role is there for both students and staff. Sam mentors girls with a variety of different issues; some struggle with body confidence, some with relationships with boys and others with being at school. Sam was able to help one young person struggling with body confidence by considering together some of the specifics and discussing what they must accept and what they could change.

Staff pray regularly for the young people we mentor!

City Centre Church Partnership In May 2016, Rich McDade took on the role of coordinating the joint efforts of three city centre churches to be the City Centre Youth Worker for Nexus Methodist, Hay Hill Baptist and St Michael’s Without. The aim of this role is to support the local churches in the discipleship of their young people.

The Sunday group meets twice a month, and they are currently running the Alpha Course. Rich launched a young men’s group - ‘Young men in the Den’ – which meets monthly to discuss things pertinent to young men and have fun in the shape of a ‘nerf-gun war’. It is very well attended and the boys speak highly of the group. During the year Richard organised a weekend away for the young people, and they attended Greenbelt Festival together in August. More recently, we began a band practice initiative with the aim of engaging the young people with worship and praise to help them connect more with God. Future plans include a girls group and a young leaders’ initiative. The work has been encouraging, growing in numbers and activities, as well as developing the young peoples’ faith.

Arise With the aim of bringing young people together to enjoy God through music, teaching and other fun activities, this monthly event began a few years ago. The heart of Arise is to create a space where young people can connect with God and invite friends to be part of the gathering. Bath YFC were asked to help 21

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

breathe fresh life into something that many believed was needed in the city. We see encouraging the discipleship of young people as part of our work and felt it was important to take a lead. Dave Joyce took responsibility for organising the team and the event. Working with other local youth workers, three events were hosted and we connected with 78 young people around Bath. The events have included a bonfire night, a musical showcase and a summer inflatable party.

Breakfast club Over the last year Southdown Breakfast club has continued to see the building of relationships within the community. Local churches and the community resource the project through the provision of volunteers. Over a year we have served 6,000 breakfasts! The numbers seem massive, but it's the little conversations and opportunities to be welcoming that are really important to Chris Porter and the team.

One volunteer ran into a child that attends breakfast club in the street and recognised her, and Chris has met lots of parents on the school run who he now knows as a result of our interaction in breakfast club.

The aim is to serve the community. Southdown is in the top 20% of deprivation in the whole of the UK; some children and young people do not have breakfast before they go to school. By providing a slice of toast in the morning it goes some way to meeting a need and hopefully demonstrates that we and the church family care and want to support and serve this wonderful and vibrant community.

Football project Historically, Chris Porter, James Rogers, and Steve Moore (Methodist youth worker) worked at Bath Community Academy with Year 8’s and Year 9’s after school on a Wednesday, continuing to run a football project. With the news that the next academic year would be the school's last, students gradually left the school to transition into other secondary schools. Many who remained were the more vulnerable ones, for a variety of reasons. This opened up lots of positive conversations and allowed us to be there for them during this difficult transition, and made having football as a consistent part of their week even more important. Chris and the team have developed some really positive relationships with a small group of lads who came to the drop-in at the Roundhill Centre, which was run after the football.

This time provided an opportunity to get to know them a little more and discuss life’s challenges with them.

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

Motus Dance Academy Over the last year Motus has seen Sam Ludwell taking maternity leave and Chris recover from a shoulder injury!

This provided an amazing opportunity for the dancers to step up and take more responsibility for the choreography and leading of the group.

In particular, the members of the group who had taken part in the Young Leadership Scheme, stepped up.

One of the dancers had a particularly hard time, struggling with identity and school. In spite of this he came every week before a lesson just to see his ‘Motus family’, and sometimes stay for a whole session, but never feel confident enough to dance himself. Over the year he opened up and we encouraged and challenged him. In the latter weeks of the year, he began to dance again and increased in selfconfidence! He will even be dancing at our 2017 Showcase! Motus Dance does so much more than provide a space to dance, we offer a place to feel welcome week in week out, a safe space when things are especially hard.

One of the highlights of the year was taking four of the group to Soul Survivor. For some it was the second year and for others the first time away. The group were part of a larger group of young people from St. Philip’s & St James’ Church in Odd Down and Weston All Saints. During the week one of the group made a first time commitment to faith.

Bathford Youth Club Sam Packer started leading Bathford Youth Club in October 2015 with a well-established group of Y7&8’s. Most had been friends at Primary School, but now they were at different Secondary Schools; the club provided a place to meet up. Over the last year numbers have been considerably lower. Sam and Naomi worked with the group, playing games and running different activities. During the year, working with the local vicar it was decided to bring this project to an end, while St. Swithun’s Church consider their next move in terms of youth and children’s work.

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

Young Leaders’ Scheme Towards the end of 2016 and in early 2017 we ran our Young Leader Scheme for the fourth time. We had 7 young people involved, four of whom were from Motus and the others from a number of local churches.

We had reviewed and changed a few things whilst keeping the DNA of the project, which revolves around a leadership placement, a mentor and four monthly sessions to explore leadership together. Those from Motus Dance had plenty of opportunities to step up and use their leadership skills this year. One member of the group, Beth, is now an intern at St. Michael’s Church in Twerton. We are really proud of our class of 2016-17!

Bath YFC Training, interns and gap years…

During the last 12 months we have provided placements for two youth workers in training. Naomi Peachey was our intern for 2016-17. She was part of our team in Bath delivering schools and youth work. Naomi completed the year by being part of our trip to Cape Town. We are really pleased that Naomi has gone on to work in Swindon with a community project working among young people.

James Rogers successfully completed his final year of training with Bristol Centre for Youth Ministry. He achieved a degree in Youth work and Theology. James has now left Bath YFC and is looking to work in a youth work role. We are thrilled that James has graduated from his degree. It has been a privilege to see him grow up and mature as a youth worker. We wish him all the best for the future.

For 2017-18 we met with a couple of young people during 2016-17 to explore the possibility of them joining us as interns or students. In both cases the young people concerned chose other placements.

Accompanying Project developments During this year we have continued to deliver the Accompanying Project in five primary schools in Bath, working with 10 children in total. In addition, we have worked with three children in Bradford on Avon.

Furthermore we have a partnership with Regenerate in Yate whom we have trained to deliver the project and who are working with 24 children over five schools.

This year has seen us invest in the project to develop infrastructure to support the growth of the Accompanying Project. This has included - Developing new links with primary schools, namely St Andrew’s and St. Michael’s in Twerton - Development of a website to inform, promote and resource the project now live at www.accompanying.uk

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

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The production of a short film, written by a young person who was part of the project to inform and promote the work

In the coming year we will be looking to develop further links in Bath and beyond as part of the continuing development of the Accompanying Project. We are very grateful to St. John’s Foundation for their support in the work of developing the Accompanying Project.

Resourcing the youth work of local churches and networking Bath YFC’s partnership with local churches continues to be central to our work as we love to support local churches in engaging with young people. This support is varied, ranging from talking through questions with church leaders and youth workers, to jointly delivering Life Academy and employing youth workers. In the last year we have: • Continued to work with St Barnabas’ Church, Sladebrook Evangelical Church, Southdown Methodist Centre, the YMCA and The Diocese of Bath and Wells to manage Chris Porter as Youth Worker in Southdown and deliver youth work in the area • Delivered Life Academy with St Philip’s Church, Odd Down • Continued to be actively involved in the various church leader and youth worker networking events • Continued to work with Hay Hill Baptist Church, St Michael’s (Waitrose) and Nexus Methodist Church to manage a youth work post in the city centre and line managed Richard McDade in the post • Supported Bathford Youth Club, with Sam Packer leading sessions • Networked with organisations linked locally with the Chrysalis Foundation Shaping Church to Disciple Young People Following a year of research, this year saw Bath YFC publish Shaping Church to Disciple Young People.

This piece of research was responding to the growing sense locally and nationally that discipleship of young people is a challenge we need to respond to. We spent the year listening to young people, parents, youth workers and church leaders about this important area of ministry. You can download the research at www.bathyfc.co.uk. James Vaughton led on this work and following publication in early 2017 has been speaking to Bath church leaders within Bath Deanery about how the learning can be used to help local youth workers (paid and volunteers) to shape church to disciple young people. Towards the summer of 2017 working alongside the Rural Dean, Richard Wilson, James developed a plan to help churches put the learning into practice. This will include three aspects:

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

1. An audit of what is currently happening 2. Development of sessions for parents of young people 3. A learning hub approach to work with 5-6 churches, helping them develop a plan to more effectively disciple young people.

Young people and homelessness Arising from a vision to see some of the most vulnerable young people in our city be brought into wholeness, Bath YFC embarked on its work with young people in housing need a couple of years ago. These young people have no-where to live and lack the support of a family.

Nightstop Bath Youth for Christ has worked alongside YMCA Bath Group to develop Bath Nightstop. It was agreed that all funding and day to day management of the project would be delivered by Bath YMCA. The project provides a bed for the night, an evening meal and access to wash facilities in the home of a volunteer host. In January 2017 funding was received from the National Lottery as well as the Medlock foundation totalling £129,000. This meant that Bath YMCA could recruit a Nightstop project co-ordinator and fully fund the running costs for the first three years. Nightstop launched in April 2017, at which point the YMCA took responsibility for the operation of this initiative. In its first 6 months Nightstop has: • •

Provided 52 bed nights for young people Dealt with 23 referrals of young people, the majority of whom were 17-19

Plant House Bath YFC have been developing the vision, partnerships and specifics of Plant House over the course of the year. Plant House is a supported housing project for young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or in housing need. It is especially designed to prevent young people falling into homelessness by providing safe, secure and small-scale accommodation alongside individually focussed support, counselling and training. Our first young person became part of Plant House in October 2017. This young person is living in a YMCA property (with 3 other YMCA housemates) whilst being supported by YFC and its partner agencies. We are monitoring the success of the support package and growing the project from here. We aim to develop the project in order to house and support 4 young people. Plant House has its own website, www.planthouse.org.uk.

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

IT, Electronic communication in our work We have continued to invest substantial time in our use of social media and electronic communication to share news and communicate with young people and supporters. We are committed to doing our best to communicate well and recognise that people communicate and receive information in different ways.

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We reported last year that we had seen a drop in website use. That drop though not huge (about 20 views per month) has continued. Our website content was updated in the last 12 months, however we have recognised the need (and challenge) to develop new content on a more regular basis and to link website and social media.

Ongoing use of Twitter and Facebook to promote events and update supporters with prayer requests. Our social media audience has continued to grow slowly and this year saw greater use of Instagram with the Bath YFC staff team sharing responsibility for publishing encouraging quotes from young people.

We developed the use of Instagram as a way of sharing a gospel orientated image and message with young people who follow us Our films continue to be used around the country by YFC staff as well as other churches and organisations. We are unable to measure this, but know that Prodigal and Jonah were used in talks to thousands of people, young and old. Current viewings of these films and others we have made and published on Vimeo and YouTube are now into the thousands and are watch daily.

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, continues to be sent out. IN the last year this was published four times for Bath YFC and three times for Wiltshire YFC. 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 launched two new websites www.accompanying.uk and www.planthouse.org.uk

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.

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

Wiltshire Youth for Christ Our work in Wiltshire has continued to grow over the last year, in particular the expansion of work in secondary schools. This has been both through developing current work and responding to and creating new opportunities. Our work in Wiltshire is more geographically distinct and as such tends to be led by either Steve or Dan. In light of that, this part of the report is organised on a geographical basis, with reference to specific projects.

Potterne, Worton and Marston Parish and Devizes area Potterne Community Garden Over the summer Steve took the leading role in an initiative to help celebrate Gardeners World and the BBC Points West anniversaries by supporting a Community Gardening Project, filmed and shown on national TV and through local BBC media. Steve believes the project has great potential and despite some challenges in the past, this presented some amazing opportunities to help be a catalyst in bringing people together to form a stronger community.

Steve spoke to members of the community, young and old, which sparked great support and enthusiasm in the village from the school, residents and others in the area to make the project a success. It aims to bring the church and other groups together to create a unique space from which all can benefit. It proved to be an exciting and memorable initiative that will leave a lasting and fruitful legacy. The space offers a place for personal reflection, communal gatherings and a chance to get our hands dirty together, watching things grow and relationships flourish.

Pop UP CafĂŠ The 2017 summer break was a busy time for the Wiltshire YFC Team, but a great chance to get out and about in the county and join with some local churches, volunteers, Police and Active Trowbridge.

Steve managed the Pop Up Youth CafĂŠ events with Dan in Trowbridge and Devizes that connected with over 100 young people. The Pop Up events enable us to have conversations, activities and even pray with people of all ages, building

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

relationships with communities and churches in the area. One young person even raised the question about being baptised. It was an opportunity to encourage and support young people dealing with exam results, personal challenges and some of life’s bigger questions. It was also a chance to have a bit of fun, relax, have a drink and doughnut and be an encouragement to young people in the area. It was great to see young people from last year’s events and those we see throughout some of our schools work, as well as some new faces.

Schools Work Steve delivered Collective Worship / Assemblies either weekly or monthly at five local village Primary schools and on a regular basis at Lavington Secondary School, speaking to all year groups. A number of opportunities arose which allowed him to talk about his faith in a school context. Steve also supported Clarendon School, Trowbridge with a student Job Interview Experience Day. In spring 2017, he organised and delivered a ‘Pentecost Day’ at Holy Trinity School in Great Cheverell. Alongside clergy, Steve also helped with leading services and prayers at local school events throughout the year.

Potterne Youth Club Averaging 15 teenagers on a Friday evening the Youth Club provided a safe, warm and engaging space in the village. Events were planned throughout the year including fundraising, social trips and community activities. More volunteers are still needed on a regular basis to help sustain Potterne Youth Club and to develop more opportunities for activities and projects.

Parish and community area Steve attended local Wiltshire Council Area Boards and Youth Network meetings throughout the year and was approached to be on Salisbury Diocesan Children and Young Peoples Committee Panel. Despite the challenges facing the Potterne Parish and Wellsprings Benefice during a period of 12 months interregnum, Steve continued to engage with young people locally, support the local church, explore new opportunities and develop areas of ministry in the area.

Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon Youth Stream The weekly discipleship group, Youth Stream, has continued to draw teenagers and young adults from the fringes who want to deepen their faith in Jesus but also want to experience a sense of community.

We have had new faces join us over the year from different churches and backgrounds and have explored together a diverse range of topics, from sex and relationships (through Romance Academy) to how to share our testimonies effectively.

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

The Pulse During the year we were delighted to see young people from different areas of Wiltshire including Warminster, Corsham, Devizes, Frome (Somerset of course), Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge gather together for The Pulse – truly making it an area-wide worship event. We had some fantastic local guest speakers and saw some of the young people share, for the first time, God’s Word in front of other people. Our young leaders’ team worked well together and some fantastic links developed between Youth Workers from different churches. Following a considerable time of thinking, talking to folk in the area and prayer we took the decision to stop the Pulse in summer 2017. We are currently looking ahead to the next step and how the Pulse might evolve. Due to the strong links developed between other youth workers in the area, we feel confident that God is strengthening the ecumenical ties to see young people from different church backgrounds encounter Him in meaningful ways.

Connect Mentoring This year, we have seen an increase in the number of our mentor volunteers across Trowbridge secondary schools and have invested more into equipping the team and ensuring they are wellresourced. Currently, we have 6 mentors meeting around 12 students in John of Gaunt and Clarendon Schools and by November 2017, the team will have grown to 12. Due to the nature of the work, it is always hard to measure success and more often than not we hear of the fruit of this work through the school staff. Sarah Hill from John of Gaunt shared her thoughts earlier in 2017: “Connect Mentoring have been working with John of Gaunt for several years now and the impact of their support with our pupils has been significant. Many of our vulnerable pupils need a mentor with whom they feel able to build a positive relationship in order to discuss any concerns or worries going on in their lives as many do not feel able to do so with parents or members of school staff. With the Connect Mentors many of our pupils find someone they feel they can talk to, can take guidance from and discuss any worries quite openly. The support enables these pupils to feel happier within school, to access their education much more readily and gain confidence and build self-esteem in all areas of their lives, socially, emotionally and behaviourally.”

During the year, it became apparent that as a team we needed a larger office space and we were delighted when John of Gaunt offered us a room. Over the summer we moved and settled in, and are now well established in our new space. We would like to take this opportunity to thank St. Thomas’ Church and Holy Trinity for being our landlords for the last two and half years.

St Laurence School Over the course of the year, exciting new links have been developed with St Laurence School in Bradford-on-Avon. Our Wiltshire YFC Trowbridge worker, Dan Webb, has met with students, the 30

Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

pastoral team and the Head Teacher to shape our role in the school. Dan will help establish a Christian Union, building on the Christian ethos of the school and will deliver one-to-one mentoring sessions through the Connect mentoring scheme.

Work in other parts of Wiltshire too‌ As well as the villages and Trowbridge, there have been other developments in the work of Wiltshire YFC. We continued to explore new opportunities and ideas to help make the work sustainable in the area and explored how we could support local churches to reach children and young people in their communities. During the year James and Annie Vaughton delivered the Accompanying Project in Fitzmaurice school with three young people. James also worked with a church in Melksham to consider the possibility of establishing the Accompanying Project in a local school and the project is likely to be established in a couple of primary schools in the coming year.

Wiltshire YFC Youth Leader gatherings Wiltshire YFC led a monthly gathering of youth workers, meeting in various locations in the county. The YFC team, along with workers from Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon, Warminster, Melksham and Chippenham met together with the aim of strengthening relationships, sharing challenges and joys, providing support, praying and growing together.

Pinnacle Youth Outreach The work of our friend Jerome and his team continues in Cape Town. In the last year, we have worked hard to bring greater separation of the work between Bath YFC and Pinnacle Youth Outreach. To this end we have established Pinnacle Youth Outreach UK as a charity recognised by HMRC. PYO UK now submits its own gift aid claims.

The main focus of the year was the planning and delivery of a mission trip to Cape Town.

The team comprised Sam Packer, Jane Conboy and James Vaughton, together with four young people (pic above); Ben, Naomi, Molly and Frances. The visit took place during June and July and over a 12 day period the group joined local volunteers to deliver a holiday club. It was a fantastic opportunity for all involved. The young people came back reporting that they had had a fantastic time and several want to go back!

The new website provides more information - www.pyo.co.za.

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Bath Youth for Christ Registered Charity 1165745: Annual Report 2016-17

Contact Details Bath Youth for Christ c/o Hay Hill Baptist Church Fountain Buildings Bath, BA1 5DU T: 01225 336055 E: admin@bathyfc.co.uk W: bathyfc.co.uk / wiltshireyfc.org.uk Twitter: @bathyfc / @wiltsyfc Facebook: BathYfc Registered Charity: 1165745

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