Our Mission

We want to see…

  • The development of committed, authentic Christian discipleship at the heart of the life of local churches
  • High-quality religious literacy, spiritual development and religious education in the life-blood of schools and colleges in the region

… so that through them, individuals and communities might better live lives which are ‘good news’ to others, and particularly amongst those experiencing disadvantage.

We seek to achieve this through three main spheres of activity:

  • Christian learning, discipleship and theological education
  • The churches’ work in, and contribution to, the Further Education and lifelong learning sectors
  • Religious education in schools

How We Work

The Trust works primarily as a catalyst and support to organisations and individuals working at the ‘frontline’ of these three spheres. We work in partnership with local churches, schools, colleges and other groups to develop creative, innovative projects at the intersection between religion, education and society. We can help you identify needs and opportunities, to develop creative responses, to pump-prime new initiatives with grant funding, and to help evaluate the results.

We see our mission as ‘educational’ in its most expansive sense – not just in the development of ‘courses’ or ‘learning resources’ (valuable though these can be) but in supporting a variety of approaches to helping people learn. This includes research and evaluation, encouraging reflective practice, and transforming the culture/structures within which learning and growth take place.

We hope that projects we support will go on to serve as a model for the churches’ work in discipleship, education and learning not only within the region, but also nationally. But we’re also willing to take a risk on projects which are exploratory and experimental, to learn from what works and what doesn’t.

Where We Work

The Trust works in the geographical area covered by the Anglican dioceses of Birmingham, Coventry, Hereford, Lichfield and Worcester (see map).

Our Patrons and Trustees

The Trust works on a completely ecumenical basis but has particularly strong links with the Church of England.  The five Anglican diocesan bishops of the region are Patrons of the Trust (having been trustees up to 2020).

Our trustees include five nominated representatives of the region’s diocesan bishops, a representative from the St Peter’s association for former students (the ‘Old Salts’), and further trustees who are co-opted for their expertise in one of our areas of interest.

Our current trustees are:

  • Mr Mark Harrington
  • Mr Michael Hastilow
  • Dr Julia Ipgrave
  • Ms Jen Jenkins
  • Dr Peter Kent (Chair)
  • Revd Dr Roger Latham
  • Revd Canon Dr Mark Pryce
  • Mr Alan Wild

We are currently looking for two further Trustees, one with expertise in local church, Christian learning and discipleship, and one with expertise in further education.  We are particularly keen to recruit from groups under-represented on the current trustee body.  Further details of these trustee vacancies and how to apply will appear on the website shortly.

Our Staff

Ian Jones

Director

There are very few organisations like St Peter’s Saltley Trust: an endowed charity seeking to be a catalyst and a resource to the churches’ work in education within a particular region; not just dispensing grant funding but seeking to bring additional benefits by working in partnership with the organisations we support. I love the incredibly varied work that we do: as project partners, critical friends, researchers and evaluators, resource-writers, seers of visions and dreamers of dreams. I love the way that our work reinvents itself every few years as we engage with fresh project partners.

By background I’m a historian and social researcher specialising in Christianity and social change in modern/contemporary Britain, but with a range of other research interests besides.

Outside of life at the Trust you might find me playing the flugel horn, baking bread, reading history books, enjoying days out and board games with the family, getting outdoors and enjoying the natural world, helping lead children’s and youth groups or tree planting projects with my church, or struggling to keep pace with the list of home decorating jobs! I occasionally manage to squeeze out a blog posting at Mystic Trumpeter.

Lynne Hayes-James

Administrator and Clerk to Trustees

I recently joined St. Peter’s Saltley Trust after being a stay at home Mum to my five children.  Now that my youngest has started school I am able to do paid work again.  Administration is what I enjoy and have worked in (in one form or another) since leaving school.  During my time at home, I have volunteered as Treasurer for both the school PTA and my local church and am now enjoying the challenge of being back at work.

When not running around after the children (a full time job in itself!) I enjoy walking our mad dog, going to the gym, reading, cross stitching and gardening, so life is pretty busy – but full of the things that I love!

WM FE Chaplaincy Ambassador

West Midlands FE Chaplaincy Ambassador

Nigel Roberts has worked for 36 years with Youth for Christ, during which time he has led a number of local centres, headed up the education team ay head office and now holds the position of education advisor on secondment to CYM ( the institute for children youth and mission) where he is a tutor specialising in chaplaincy and education issues. In the past 17 years he has worked part time in schools in a community chaplaincy role retiring from that post 18 months ago. Nigel worships at a Baptist church in Ashby de la zouch and preaches on a methodist circuit. He currently leads the online worship for children and young people in his church. He has written a number of books including Explore the Christian faith, Faith and Drama, Chaplaincy with Children and Young People and Growing Faithful Disciples.  He is married to Gillian with 4 grandchildren and loves bird watching, basketball, theatre and doctor who. He is an avid collector of classic american comic books and runs a youth and film theatre group who have performed widely and won a number of awards.  He has a passion for chaplaincy and is looking forward to finding new ways to inspire and support those involved in or thinking of this ministry.

The Trust currently acts as employer for a part-time FE Chaplaincy Ambassador for the WM region, a post jointly created and funded by the Dioceses of Coventry and Lichfield, the Heart of England Baptist Association, WM Synod of the URC and St Peter’s Saltley Trust, and working with the WM Churches’ FE Council.