Bedfordshire Down's Syndrome Support Group
2024 AGM Chairman's report
The last year has been a challenge for the committee, as our total funds have reduced, due
to a growing membership and increased costs. We have been very fortunate for many years
to have had enough funds to provide services for 2 years in advance, however, this year,
that timeline ha5 reduced to approximately 18 months and so we had to make the difficult
decision to increase charges to our families. Thankfully this has enabled us to continue to
provide all our educational services and social activities as usual this year.
We have been delighted to welcome some new members to our Early Development Group
this year, which has allowed us to continue to provide this vital service that aids the
development of our youngest members, as well as providing a fantastic social opportunitv
for families of small children to get together. The EDG has now been going for many years,
and in that time, we have seen that this crucial service is often a springboard for young
families to access other services and activities within the Support Group and also develop
long lasting friendships for the children and also the parents.
Special thanks to Helen and Sue who have provided this service from the very beglnning and
do such an excellent jobl
We were very fortunate at the end of last year to have Beth Davies take over as our speech
& language therapist so we could continue to provide this vital service. We have had 15
children benefit from the excellent sessions this year.
Speech & language is so vital to communication in all aspects of life and yet is often a
challenge for our children for various reasons.
So, we would like to say a huge thank you to Beth, Sue and Pui for providing such wonderful
support to our children and their families and enabling them to achieve their true potentlal.
We would also like to say a special thank you to Emma, who retired as a trustee this year.
Emma organised the admin, liaised with the speech therapy team and our families,
accessing the speech sessions, for many years, a role which often had surprising and unseen
challenges. We greatly appreciate all her hard work, time and effort in this role.
Social activities have become an increasingly important aspect of the Support Group over
the years, and we are very proud to now have 4 age specific social groups, as well as all our
family activities throughout the year.
The Under 5s group is an essential way for families to be introduced to the Support Group,
meet other families with young children with Down's syndrome and make friends. Outings
this year have included, a steam train trip, a visit to Bekonscot model village and also Mead
Open Farm. Unfortunately, as families, schedules become increasingly busy, it has

sometimes been difficult to arrange dates that everyone can attend, but we hope we can
return to monthly meet ups in 2025, as this is such a wonderful way for new families to
become part of our community, to feel welcome and prevent isolation as they start their
journey with their young children.
We have very recently set up our 4th social group which is for 5- 12-year-olds. This is an age
group we have wanted to provide specifically for, for several years, but have not had anyone
to organise activities for us. Therefore, we would like to say special thanks to Aimee for
organisingthis new group and also for all her work organisingthe Under 5s.
Our Teen club for 12- 17-year-olds has been going for many years and continues to provide
a great youth club for our teenagers. Activities have included swirnming, pirate golf,
bowling, and cycling at Marston Moretaine as well as fun evenings at the Flitwick Methodist
Church Hall. We would like to say a huge thank you to Lynn for continuing to lead this group,
and who has been with us from the beginning, special thanks also to Jayne Styne who has
helped so much over the years but is now moving away from the area. We also say huge
thanks to our volunteers Dan & Evie, and new volunteers Poppy and Amelie, without whose
help we could not provlde these important social sessions for our teenagers.
As our children get older, so our Adult Soclal Group continues to grow, with 20 regular
attendees now. Activities this year have included a visit to top jump, pirate golf, inclusive
fitness gym, yoga, bowling, golf football, as well as a quiz and games night. We would like to
say thank you to Leanne for continuing to run this group so well for us and special thanks to
Helen fortaking over whilst Leanne was on her maternity leave. Thanks too to all our
volunteers, Paul, Jane Reddy, Will, Rhiannon & Rose. This group represents all that the
Support Group is about, providing opportunities for our youngsters to have fun and make
friends, develop confidence and social skills.
Thanks too to Karen who continues to organise the admin and oversees the groups.
Our Dance Class continues to be well attended, with the youngsters really enjoying the
sessions which help them keep fit, learn new routines and most importantly, have fun I
Many thanks to Jade from Spectrum Arts for her endless energy and enthusiasm for these
sessions.
Our Multisports group provides a great opportunity for 5- 12-year-olds to keep fit, learn
new skills and have fun. We have recently changed the time of the session to Sunday
mornings, and we hope this will lead to a greater attendance, so that we can continue to
provide this great activity for our younger families. Thanks to Jack from Elite Skills & Fitness
for running the sessions for us.
The Support Group also provides many social opportunities for the whole famSly
throughout the year.
Our trips to the theatre are always popular and this year our annual trip to the Panto in
January was no exception, with 43 families attending.

We also had an extra treat of going to see Disney's Aladdin in April. 37 families joined us to
see this magical production !
We had a lovely visit to Herrings Green Farm in May, with 15 families enjoying the
opportunity to hold some owls and get close to snakes, ferrets and skunks as well a5 seeing
the wonderful bird of prey display. A great family day outl
And we had another wonderful PGL activity weekend this year with 21 families joining us.
Everyone enjoying canoeing, archery, zip wire, climbin& aeroball and fencing. This really is a
fantastic weekend with such a strong sense of community.
Thank you to Helen for continuing to run this trip so well for us.
We had our Get Together in March, at Kids in Action, to celebrate DS Awareness week with
20 families attending. This is a great event to allow our families to come together, have a
chat and get to know each other better. Thank you to Kelly, Traceyi & Jenny for organising.
We had our usual Summer Outings with trips to Southend on Sea, Wicksteed Park, Mead
Open Farm, Hertfordshire Zoo, bowling & horse riding. These were all well attended and
gave vital social opportunities for our youngsters in the long summer holidays.
Thank you to Karen, Carrie, Kelly, Helen (and me) for organising these great family summer
fun days.
In October we had a trip to the Circus with Circus Starr. 48 people taking up the offer of free
tickets for a lovely show. Thank you to Tracey, Carrie and Helen for organising.
And we have just had our last event of the year with a great Chrlstmas party yesterday. 28
families booked in for an afternoon of great fun, dancing, & food. We also raised £585 with
the rafflel Thank you to Karen, Tracey, Leanne & Paul and all those that helped make this a
wonderful Christmassy afternoon for all our families.
It costs £20,000 a year to provide all these services and activites. This all comes from
fundraising• donations and a few grants.
Our fundraising committee have done a great job, as always, this year, making yet another
vital contribution to our income.
The Quiz in October provided a fun evening for all the family and raised £1,025 and the
recent Christmas Fayre raised £1,950, our highest amount in recent years. It was a lovely
festive event, and it was great to have so many of our familie5 come along to support us and
help make the event a great successl
There is a huge amount of work that goes into organizing these events, applying for grants
and encouraging people to fundraise and donate, so I would like to thank the fundraising
committee of Tracey (our very own raffle queen), Karen, Kelly, Carol, Kathy, & Jenny, and
special thanks to Jenna, Mel, Aimee & Leanne for volunteering to join in helping the team
this year

Special thanks also to Emma, who has stepped down from the team this year, for all her
hard work and time devoted to fundraising over many years.
We would also like to thank every single person who has fundraised for us, who has bought
raffle ticket, who has attended the Fayre or the Quiz, who has gone to their company to
get funds for us, who fundraised in Awareness Week or throughout the year, or who has
donated - be it £1, £100 or more.
Without your efforts and help, we could not provide our services and activities. We sincerely
appreciate every single contribution.
I would also like to thank the maln committee for their tireless hard work and dedication.
The committee members all give their time voluntarily, they are not paid. Time given to the
Support Group is time away from their families and social lives and yet they still give
selflessly to irnprove the opportunities for our youngsters and their families.
So I thank Kelly, Karen, Tracey, Linda, Helen and Derek.
And thanks to Heather, Emma and Jenny, who have all stood down from the committee this
year after many years of helping.
Wlthout all of their hard work and commitment, the Support Group would not exist.
We would also like to say special thanks to Derek for all his hard work, time and effort over
the last 7 years in his role as treasurer. The work of the treasurer has increased immensely
over the years as the group has grown in membership and the services and activities we
provide has increased. It is a role of huge responsibility which Derek has undertaken with
meticulous thoroughness.
Derek has now decided to step down from this role and so we are extremely grateful to
Catherine Blanco for taking over the role of treasurer and we would like to warmly welcome
her to the committee.
We also say a special thank you to Diane Herbert who has recently stepped down as our
independent examiner of the accounts. Di has done thi5 job for us for over 20 years, a vital
role that is necessary for our annual submissions to the Charitie5 Commission.
And finally, I would like to thank all our families for continuing to attend events, fundraising
and donating and making the Support Group the successful and wonderful community it is
today.
The committee and I would like to wish all our families a very Merry Christmas and we look
forward to you sharing our next chapter in 2025, which will be our 25th year. We hope you
will join us, in continuing to celebrate each and every one of our fabulous children, and all
that they teach and inspire us every single day.
Teresa Hurley
Chairman

THE TRUSTEES DECLARE THATTHEY HAVEAPPROVEDTHE TRUSTEES REPORT ABOVE
AS FORMING PARTOFTHEAPPROVED MINUTES FOR THEAGM HELD ON 9 DECEMBER
2024
SIGNATURE
FULL NAME
DEQEL USZUO
POSITION
DATE

BEDFORDSHIRE DOWN'S SYNDROME SUPPORT GROUP
Reglstered Charity number 1102599
Receipts and Paym8nts Account for the year ended 31 March 2024
Unrestrl¢ted Restricted
Total Unrestrlcted Restrlcted
23-24
22-23
Total
23-24
23-24
22-23
22-23
Income
Donations and gifts
Fundraising and raffles
Outingslsocialslevents
Speech Therapy
Education courses
4.080
10,779
4.080
10.779
14.324
2.760
590
3,810
8,163
3,810
8,163
12,970
2,870
1,015
14.324
2,760
590
12,970
2,870
1,015
Dance Events
135
135
U5streenlAdult Groups
1,422
J,411
1,230
1,230
14,859
19,231
90
18,085
30,058
Expendlture
Oulingslsocialslevents
Fundraising costs
Speech Therapy
Education courses
3.350
1.753
7.260
3,271
654
14,324
17.674
1.753
10.020
3.861
654
12,iao
306
12,970
25,108
306
2,760
590
5,355
2,660
1,225
788
2,870
1,015
8,225
3.675
1,225
788
GenerallPostagelstationery
Dance Events
1,136
2,282
135
1.271
3.704
U5stfeenlAdult Groups
1.422
2,005
1,230
3,235
19,706
19,231
38,937
24,477
18,085
42,562
Surplusl(Deficit for the year)
4,847
4,84
12,504
12,504
Approved on behalf of the Trustees:_
Name:
Derek Hrydziuszko
Signature..
Position- Treasurer
Date..
Iiliil£*
Name:
Teresa Hurley
Position.. Chairperson
Signature:
Date..
Page I

BEDFORDSHIRE DOVVN'S SYNDROME SUPPORT GROUP
Registered Charity number 1102599
Stalement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 March 2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
2024
2024
2024
2023
2023
Total
Cash at bank and in hand
29.554
29.554
34.401
34.401
Net A88ets
29,554
29,554
34,401
34,401
Represented by:
Brought foThvard at 1 April
Surplusl(deficill for the yeai
Balance at 31 March
34,401
4.847
29,554
34.401
4,847
29,554
46.755
12,354
34,401
150
46.905
12.504
34,401
150
Cash at bank and In hand
Santsnder
Cash
Total
Opening bank belance
Receipts
Payments
Closing balance
34,401
34,090
38.937
29,554
34,401
34,090
38,937
29,554
Approved on behalf of the Trustees:_
Name:
Der8k Hrydziu52 Signature:
Position.. Treasurer
Date:
(Il Ilf
Name:
Teresa Hurley Signature:
Position- Chairperson
Date..
Uv+/
Page 2

BEDFORDSHIRE DOWN'S SYNDROME SUPPORTGROUP
Reolstered Charlty numbor 1102599
In¢orno and Expendlture forth¢ ￿r?￿ded 31 M•r¢h 2024
NC
Oonallon8, Mtmber8hlp and Gffts
Donations aThd Gift8
4.071
Member8hlp and Mi$f*llanec4
Fundral•lng a¢tMtI?• and O￿nts
GoTheral fundrgislno aclivftiesleven18
10,n9
Out5ng8* partl••. *oelal •v•nt6 •tc.
PGL Weekend Deposlts
ConldbuUon8 to other ou11￿. parfkn8. wdal 8V8n18 81
7.276
7.048
educo¢lon •vonl•
Edu¢alion Tralnlng Pacxaoe Attend•ne•
Eady Dev81opment Group Pla￿8
R•oulai Ev•nt•
Speach Therapy Subs
Teon Group Sub$
Adult Gthjp Stsbi
D8nc8 Evenl8 Subs
U5$ Sub•
370
1.052
135
Total Ineom•
OutSng•, p•rtlg•, wcl•l •v•nts •tc,
Thoalfe Trips
PGL Weekend Paymerth and Rofw
Other Sodgl E¥ent8, XmaB pa￿￿1 Swnmw Outln
6.472
7.936
G•neral
Fundr41$lno ¢o$l$
Ganeral c051slPostag01Stath)n•ryIW￿
1,753
654
2,407
FdueAtlon •vents
Fducation Tralning P•ek
Earfy Devglopment Group
R¢gular Events
Sp8e¢h Therapy
Tsjen Gmup
Adul( Gmup
Dance evenls
Under 5$ Group
10.0
1.271
14.996
Totol expendltur•
lercs6
Surplu8llDeficllforthe yearl
4,847
JEW￿L￿D2j￿rnc
2L( IL

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Bedfordshire Down's Syndrome
Support Group Charity Number 1102599
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Bedfordshire Down's
Syndrome Support Group ('the Charity,) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are
set out on pages I to 3.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in
accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section
145 of the 201 l Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the
applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the
Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have come to my
attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any
material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section
130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the
examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a
proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Name: Diane Herbert
Relevant professional qualification or body: FCA, DhCA
Date: 22 November 2024
Page 4