Charity Registration Number 1097660

Annual Report September 1st 2013 - August 31st 2014

Overview:
This year has seen CICS continue its work in schools - both primary and secondary - as well as look to
develop new opportunities moving forward.
The Trust:
Being Chair of the Trust since September 2002 Daphne Cansdale, feels that it is time to step down and
hand over to Paul Blakey MBE at the end of this period. We acknowledge her Godly approach to all that
she has done in leading CICS to where it is now and thank her for her commitment, being so grateful that
she has kept on some of her roles and remains a trustee. We welcomed Paul as our new chairman on
June 23rd with his experience and look forward to see where God has planned we should go.
We are pleased to welcome 2 new trustees:- Carol Pearson, a long time supporter of our work and mum to
one of our former workers, (Carol is helping Ruth, our Primary School worker, to develop this work) and
Rev Antony Foster who will be our link with Anglican Churches. Alas, no one willing to be Treasurer, fund
raiser or trustee with responsibility for Volunteers has stepped forward yet, (they do not need to be full
trustees).
The Trustees have met regularly over the year 4 times at full trustee meetings, a Vision Day, sub groups,
at prayer events, in Angels Rest on Friday lunchtimes, joint meetings with YFC and socially. They keep in
touch with each other via email and this helps CICS to develop new ideas and quickly respond to new
areas of need.
We continue to receive support and encouragement from the team at Scripture Union, especially from Bex
Jignasu and featured in a Scripture Union promotion video which filmed Tony, Daphne and Paul at
Brooksbank. CICS also hosted 2 Scripture Union events which helped several local churches in their work
with young people. The trustees are grateful of the support of SU and the North East and Yorkshire team.

The Workers:
All of our workers have done excellent work within many of the Boroughs schools. Ruth Wyeth, who joined
us at the beginning of our year, has developed training and resources for primary schools, some of which
help children deal with difficult issues in life. Ruth mentioned the Waterbugs and Dragonflies lesson (which
helps children to look at and deal with death) at our last AGM and demonstrated the Godly Play material on
Baptism - and all those present were very moved. Ruth has made many links and it is great that CICS is
offering valuable resources to help churches improve what they bring to Primary Schools.
Tony Buck with Laura Woodfine and Chris Mason continue to work mainly, but not exclusively, in
secondary schools with Trustees joining them several times at the Info Point and being impressed with the
way pupils relate to them and the positive impact and words they speak to the young people. They are
investing in people who will be the leaders of the future - and the stories at the AGM showed the
tremendous impact this can have.
It was sad to lose Chris at the end of this year (he is now a youth work coordinator in Huddersfield
Methodist Circuit) but our loss is their gain.

CICS is blessed to have had four amazing workers over this year and we thank God for those who stand
with us to help us to employ the team.
The Work:
See Senior Workers report
The Supporters:
Special thanks go to: those who help with Its Your Move (an army of volunteers taking 2,200 books to 70
primary schools)and the 1,000 Christmas Unwrapped Comics; the Halifax Gala fundraising efforts; the
volunteers who join our workers in schools; to the churches who have hosted events - Brighouse Methodist,
Halifax Elim, New Beginnings, Christ Church Pellon and New Ebenezer; all who pray and champion the
cause of CICS and those who give finances to make it all happen.
Our AGM was a special time at New Beginnings in the newly regenerated Ridings School. It was great to
have their youth band lead worship - many of whom Tony has worked with within a school setting. We need
more of the passion, enthusiasm and energy young people bring! We welcomed the National Chairperson
of Pray4Schools at an event at Elim where supporters were fewer than we expected, but contacts and
outcomes far reaching.
We have had support from around thirty churches and numerous individuals who stand with us to help take
a message of hope and love to our schools. Prayer, finance, volunteer hours, ideas and links are all
needed to help CICS continue to grow and develop..
Daphne Cansdale - Chair Emeritus
From the New Chairman:
It is a real pleasure to take over from Daphne as chair and CICS is indebted to Daphne for all she has done
in her time as chair. If I do half as good a job I will be happy!
The work CICS does in both primary and secondary schools is amazing. Ruth, Tony, Laura and Chris
connect with young people and help them see the worth, value and potential they have and hopefully equip
them to play a valuable role in society, not only now but in the future.
I often join the workers in school settings - the info point and helping with the Alcohol and Safety lesson and am always impressed with the way the team relate to pupils and staff within schools.
Our new look web site along with Twitter and Facebook will help us connect with our supporters in a more
streamlined way moving forward. The workers tweet as they go about the week which prompts prayer. We
have a list of all Calderdale schools and a prayer diary on our web site. We have new ways of giving (some
of which cost you nothing!). Our Facebook page will be a place of news and ideas. Please connect with us we very much want you to feel part of the CICS family!
Moving forward there is a need to: re-connect with churches; improve our publicity especially on-line; talk to
new schools to explore opportunities of working together; and to ensure that finances are in place to not
only keep our current level of work but also to plan for growth. Could God be calling you to help CICS in its
work?
I want to thank every person who is part of the CICS family - pupils, teachers, volunteers, supporters, those
who pray, the trustees and of course our workers. We all have a significant and important part to play in
believing we will see a generation in Calderdale who know that God loves them, is for them and has a plan
and purpose for their lives beyond even the wildest of dreams!
Paul Blakey MBE - Chair