# **Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Registered Charity Number 1104585** # **Financial Statements year ending 30 April 2024** ## **CONTENTS** **Members of the Board of Trustees and professional advisors** **Trustees Annual Report** **Accountants' Report** **Statement of Financial Activities** **Balance Sheet** **Notes to the financial statements** **Schedule to Profit & Loss Account** # **Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Registered Charity Number 1104585** ## **MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS** ## **THE TRUSTEES** The Trustees who served the Charity during the period were as follows: Corey Edwards ( **Chair)** Lindsay Brewis ( **Treasurer** ) Victoria Inger Kay Howell Alison Mathias – Resigned July 2024 **Registered Office:** FOYD 300 Carmarthen Rd Cwmbwrla Swansea SA58NJ **Accountant:** James Westacott ACA 478 Hendrefoilan Rd Killay Swansea SA25NU **Bankers:** Lloyds TSB 113 High St Gorseinon Swansea SA44BR **Solicitors** : JCP Venture Court Waterside Business Park Valley Way Enterprise Park, Swansea SA6 8QP Peter Lynn & Partners Langdon Rd Swansea SA1 8QY ## **Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Registered Charity Number 1104585** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT** ## **Year Ending 30 April 2024** The Trustees, the Directors, for the purpose of the Companies Act, present the Annual Report and the Financial Statements of the Charity for the year ending 30 April 2024 ## **LEGAL STATUS** The Charity is a limited company, registration number 4734267, governed by its memorandum and articles of association. It is registered with the Charities Commission, number 1104585. The Trustees are Directors of the Limited Company. ## **MISSION STATEMENT** _To work collaboratively with other agencies to support the needs of vulnerable children, young people and adults in our communities, raising awareness of their needs and aspirations and increasing opportunities for inclusion in all aspects of community life._ ## **CHARITABLE AIMS & OBJECTIVES** - (i) to help to provide specialist equipment and services not readily available through statutory sources. - (ii) to support families experiencing hardship who must travel to out-of-county specialist children's hospitals and centres. - (iii) to raise public awareness of the needs and aspirations of young people with special needs in the community. ## **TRUSTEES** Trustees are nominated to the Board of Trustees and are elected annually by the voting members at the Annual General Meeting. Each Trustee stands for an initial period of two years before retiring but shall be eligible to stand for re-election without further nomination. The Trustees nominated to the Board via the membership manage Local Aid. The appointments to the Board of Trustees are reviewed annually. The Board of Trustees ensures that appointments of Trustees are made for their appropriate skills and experience to benefit the Company and its charitable activities. The operational management of the organisation is the responsibility of the Chairperson who leads the management team. ## **Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Registered Charity Number 1104585** ## **Review of the year 1 May 2023 to 30 April 2024** Local Aid continued to support some of the most vulnerable young people and their families within the Swansea Bay area. We have a local government funded by the City and County of Swansea's Early Intervention and Prevention programme to increase the Play and Leasure opportunities for Children and People affected by disabilities. This is our Buddies Programme and is a significant part of our work. We offer bespoke packages for children and young people where our staff can concentrate on personcentred and solutions-focused opportunities. Our support will enable young people to gain new skills, make friends, engage in community-based activities and have fun. We are incredibly grateful for the support from Swansea Council Commissioning Team and the Child and Family Disability Team. Multiagency working has been essential to ensure we can make every penny count. Collaboration with community partners has ensured that we can signpost to relevant services and enable others to gain a greater awareness of the needs of those we support. Overall, this has improved our ability to support families more effectively. _Empowering Children and Enriching Communities_ We are thrilled to present Local Aid’s Annual Report for 2024. This year has been a testament to the unwavering commitment and dedication of our Staff and volunteers, who have been the backbone of our organisation in supporting children and individuals with special needs in our community. Our core team has worked tirelessly throughout the year, equally remarkable has been the contribution of our incredible volunteers, who have consistently given their time and energy week after week. Our retail volunteers have not only met but exceeded expectations, ensuring that our shops remain profitable and that additional funds are available for charity. Beyond financial success, they’ve also fulfilled an essential role in the community, providing low-cost, affordable goods to those who need them most. ## **Impact Highlights** _Empowering through Volunteering -_ Local Aid owes its success to the incredible dedication of our volunteers. This year, their efforts have been monumental in achieving our mission. **Retail:** Over the year, 45 volunteers contributed 12,000 hours to help operate our five charity retail outlets, providing an estimated value of £125,000 **.** **Project Volunteering:** 56 active volunteers dedicated 700 hours across various initiatives, including Buddies, Diversity, the Foyd Gardening Project, and the Warmer Winter project, contributing an estimated value of £7,294. ## **Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Registered Charity Number 1104585** ## **Community Support Record of Added Value** We are incredibly humbled to have been able to support our community. We have been able to donate items to families in need, both new and pre-loved, and we estimate that the donation will be worth £7,400 in notional monetary value. Items included household starter packs, children's clothing, warm clothes, animal shelter essentials, and more. Our Buddies project has added a momentous £23,000 value in additional funding for activities and support offered to families in addition to the contract awarded by the City and County of Swansea. **Young People's Development:** 103 young people have experienced personal growth and skill enhancement through play, leisure opportunities/ young club provisions. Staff and volunteers have tailored support to individuals with additional learning needs, fostering independence and inclusivity within the community. ## **Praising Volunteer Contributions** ## _Volunteer Spotlights_ ## _**Outstanding Dedication** :_ We commend - Paul Turner from Morriston excels in researching goods for eBay and better shop prices and is an all-around versatile volunteer helping with logistics and in all our shops, volunteering on average 4/5 days per week - Sharon Ebenezer for creating over 70 beautiful sensory toys and volunteering for four years at Gorseinon. Sharon has recently stepped back from her role in the shops but continues to create fabulous toys for their buddies' children. - Lisa Smith in Ravenhill for her amazing, themed window displays and regular raffles, which raise funds throughout the year. - _**Young volunteer:**_ Well done to our Gold Duke of Edinburgh award Volunteer, Cian Evans, who has contributed over 50 hours to date. - _**Community/ Parent Advocacy** :_ Sarah and Dawn's commitment to raising awareness about special needs issues helps us reach a wider audience, foster understanding and acceptance, and ensure other parents have the knowledge and support needed to help them through the minefield of education and parenting a child with additional learning needs. ## Long Service Recognitions - Sue Thomas –Ravenhill 2009 ## **Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Registered Charity Number 1104585** - Lisa Smith- Ravenhill 2009 - Maria Rosser - Morriston 2012 - Lindsay Brewis – Trustee 2012 - Chris Hopkins -Gorseinon 2018. - Carly Morriston- 2018 **Financial Overview** _:_ Thanks to our donors and sponsors’ generosity, we allocated 100% of our funds to program development and community initiatives. _Transparent Allocation:_ Detailed breakdowns of expenditures have been provided to ensure transparency and accountability. ## **Outlook** Looking ahead, Local Aid is committed to furthering our impact within the community. We aim to: - Expand our volunteer base to reach more young people and families. - Strengthen partnerships with local businesses and organisations to enhance our outreach and sustainability. - Reduce carbon footprint and environmental impact by finding new and innovative ways to recycle • ## **New for 2024 – watch this space.** We have launched a new project funded by the Principality Community Matter Fund. Our FLIP project ( Fun Learning in Practice) Aims to provide sessions and support for young people who have an additional learning need ( ALN) and are disengaged from school or at risk of exclusion. Our Flip tutors will guide young people aged 14 to 19 to gain work experience and a recognised qualification to boost confidence and well-being. Project staff are in the post and ready to GO. ## **Staff Employed During 2023/24** Amanda Lervy, Director of Operational Services F/t Linda Wellington Retail Coordinator F/t Nicola Wood Retail Assistant P/t Micheal Inger Logistic and Retail Support F/t Donna Raddenbury, Katie Stevenson / Rhian Dole/ Cath Sullivan Project Leaders P/t Teresa Protheroe Admin Support – P/t **18 Buddies Activity Leaders** work at various times throughout the week after school and on Saturdays. All provide direct workers to families throughout the year. Over half of our Staff are trained or working towards NVQ level 3 or equivalent. One is a senior residential worker, two team members are qualified teachers, six are teaching ## **Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Registered Charity Number 1104585** assistants, and another is a social communication champion. In addition, others have degrees and master' s-level qualifications in childhood studies, therapeutic play, and psychology. The length of service with Buddies ranges from 6 years to 1 year. ## **Projects for 23/24 in brief** **Buddies programme.** This specialist service was awarded the Queen's Award (MBE for Voluntary Service) in 2010, focusing on play and leisure opportunities for all young people aged 12 to 19 with additional learning needs. 103 families have been supported this year with over 4,900 hours of direct one-to-one support. As a result, young people have benefited from making connections with others, engaging in activities, reducing isolation and feelings, building resilience, and developing life, social, and communication. _**” I was really pleased by how well the staff adapted to X's**_ **diabetes diagnosis. He goes and is well looked after. It means the world to us. They know X can call or message anytime to make his time with them easier. I'd like to say a big thank you,** _**“Parent.**_ **Diversity** A youth club for young people aged 3 to 18 who are on the Autistic Spectrum or the pathway awaiting diagnosis. Diversity provides opportunities for young people to develop social skills, improve communication, make friends and be themselves. At our weekly session, parents can meet and support each other, share ideas, and gain help from specialist workers about routines, behaviour management and other coping strategies. This year, 26 families attended regularly. **“** This is a safe space for my children to socialise and not be judged or targeted. I enjoy meeting up with other parents, sharing experiences, and sometimes having a moan; it is nice to know we can just turn up and be among people who understand what we are going through. **“** ## **Group session details** Buddies Saturdays – Held at Friends on Young Disabled - FOYD Palms up – Held at Palm Tree House – Wednesday & Friday evening Diversity – Held at FOYD – Monday Evenings Community Access – Monday and Wednesday – accessing community ## **Warmer Winter project (families of ALN)** In Winter 2023/24, we continued supporting an amazing initiative funded by The National Grid Community Matters. This has been the second winter we have been able to provide winter care packages to families just before Christmas. The packages include ## **Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Registered Charity Number 1104585** warm clothing bundles, emergency items such as bedding, benefit advice and signposting, a warm space, free food, and a laundry voucher scheme to help families with children with ALN cut down on the cost of laundry during the fuel crisis. Over 150 families benefited in total from this project. ## **Reuse and recycle** Approximately 600 tons of goods have been reused and saved from landfills, including approximately 300 tons of clothing and textiles alone. Our four shops sell low-cost, affordable goods, which provide an essential resource in communities during times of hardship. Furniture, toys, books, shoes, and an array of household items, such as glass, cardboard, and paper, have been reused, helping to reduce our local landfill significantly. ## **Staff and volunteer training and progression** We are passionate and committed to developing staff and volunteers in all areas of our charity to ensure we can best support those around us with the knowledge and expertise needed to thrive. Staff and volunteers have banked over 500 hours of training. **Training –** Staff and volunteer training held a mixture of online & in person to include: - Internet safety - Code of conduct - Communication skills - Disability Awareness - Safeguarding/child protection - Team Teach - First Aid - Play Skills - Autism Awareness - National Autistic Society Autism training - Managing challenging behaviour - Play Therapy - Sensory regulation - Epilepsy Awareness - British Sign Language - Effective project management - Essential policies and procedures - Trustees training - Manual handling - Fire Marshel - Safety and induction at work - Handling money & Money skills - eBay and social Enterprise ## **Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Registered Charity Number 1104585** ## **Partnership** Swansea Council. Swansea Social Services, Interplay, Action for Children. Swansea Council for Voluntary Services and Swansea NAS. Swansea local Health board, Swansea cares centre, Swansea parent carer forum, Ysgol Pen-y-Bryn, Admiral , EE mobile network, Swansea probation service. ## **Acknowledgements** We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our volunteers whose unwavering support and dedication have been the driving force behind our accomplishments. We also thank our donors, partners, and the community for their ongoing trust and support in our mission. In closing, as we reflect on the past year’s achievements, we are energised and inspired to continue our journey toward a more inclusive and supportive community for all. **Special Thanks to the Grant and contract funding that has enabled us to do such amazing fulfilling work** ## City and County of Swansea ## National Grid – Community Matter Fund ## Mission Gallery Swansea ## EE mobile **Website details www.localaid.co.uk** **Follow us on Facebook, Local Aid Wales** https://www.facebook.com/localaidwales ## **eBay shop** **https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/localaidwales** ## **Video available of the eBay project** = = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v 2KLECK7zEXg&feature youtu.be **----- Start of picture text -----**
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## **Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Registered Charity Number 1104585** ## **RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES** Charitable and Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the charity's state of affairs at the end of the year and of the incoming and outgoing resources for the year ended. In preparing those financial statements, trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently, making reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates. The Trustees must also prepare financial statements on an ongoing concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charitable Company will continue its activities. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose the charity's financial position with reasonable accuracy at all times and enabling them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the charity's acts and hence for taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. ## **RISK POLICY** The Trustees carried out a risk analysis as part of the Business Plan, which will be reviewed annually. This analysis has identified the main risks to the Charity as the reduction or withdrawal of funding and failure to secure adequate monies. Any reductions in funding will lead to the loss of Staff and additional statutory redundancy costs unless new sources of income are found. To mitigate this risk, the Trustees are actively looking for alternative sources and seeking to build reserves for six months running costs. ## **RESULTS** The attached financial statement shows the charity's financial performance at year-end and this year's results. ## **ACCOUNTANT** A resolution to appoint James Westacott ACA, as the accountant to provide an independent examination and accounts will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting. ## **RESERVES POLICY** The Trustees recognise the need to build up the Charity's reserves to meet current and future obligations, including redundancy costs, which may arise in the event of a fall in funding. The level of reserves required for this purpose has been set as six months of operating costs. Signed by order of the Trustees: ______________________________ Corey Edwards 10 Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Regislered Charily Number 1104585 t&£ •COLLAGE Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Regislered Charily Number 1104585 (HARITY COMMISSION f OR ENGLAND IVALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Roport Report to tho t￿￿t￿•s1 fflembers of Local lot Childien Communily Speaal Needs (Locd AWJ) On accounts for tho year 130 April 2024 onded , Charlty no Ilf any) 1104585 S•t out on pag•• 12 and 13 I report to the trustees on my examinats'on oflh¢ a¢wunts of the ab)¥* charityllhe Tru8f) forth8 year ended 30 Apnl 2024. R•ip0nslblllti￿ and bas1¥ of A8 the ¢Jlarity's Ifustees. are respons￿e for the Preparation of the accounts in acrxJrdanc• with the requiremènt8 ofthe Chaiities Art 2011 Ilhe Ad") I roport in ro8pect ol my examinatt'on of TN8t's rnnts c8ffied under serAion 145 of the 2011 Aca and in carrying out my examination. I ha￿ fdlowed all the applicable Th.reC￿n3 given ty the Chaiity Commission under •ekni*on 14515ilb} of the A&. Independent The chafity's gross irtonx exceeded £250,000 and l am qualffied lo examiner's statement undertake the examinati￿ by being a qualffied memter of The Instituto of Chartered AC￿UntantS in Eng￿ and Wales. I have c<)mWed my exanwnalion. I confirni that no material matters have coff￿ lo my attention in cLinnection with the examinalion whth gives m cause to ￿le￿O that in, any matenal fesF*Ct". the ac£ounling records wern not kept in KAX)rdaThx with 8e(Xion 130 of the Cha(iti'es Atx," or ￿- d'.d -,,ot uccord tho accourtdng rocord<•. or the aco)unts did not ￿)M￿Y ¥￿th the apF4uble Iequireff￿nts conceming the fomi and cnntenl of accounts set in the Charrties (Acc(xJnts and Rep)rtsl Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the a￿Unts gwe a Irue and fairf wew which is not a matter c<)nsHJ￿￿ as part of an independ8nl exaff#nation. I have cOn￿M$ and have come ￿r￿S no other matters in conn8ction th the examinat￿ lo whith attention should be drawn in this report in order to er￿￿e a proper urvjerstanding of Iho ac£¥)unts to te re&hed. Slgned: 16th December 2024 Nam•: Jaff*s West•))tt ACA 12 qualifi¢alionj$j or bcxty {If any): Th• rt! f.hart•Yed Acroun.IAnts in England ery_l W*s Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Regislered Charily Number 1104585 AddroS8: 478 Hendref￿Ian Road. Killay, Swansea SA2 7NU Section 8 Disclosure Only o)mpleie rf ihe examiner nee(l$ io nighligni M￿e￿al matters ot co￿eM (see CC32, Independent examinatson of charrty acxounts.. directions and guidance for exaniners}. Glvo horn brf•l d•tslls of any ltsms that the examln•r wlshes to dlsclose. Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Regislered Charily Number 1104585 iocaiAht •nd(omnyJnmiSw￿l NeedslLcal A*ll Re8lstered Company Number 4734267 R•8&l•f•d Nurnbtr 1104585 LOCAL RETAIL CHARITYOUTLEfs-YOLITh ACTIVITES & WJUMtEERIIIG PROJEcf5 For thewrended 30th A•rll 2024 126.659 126.659 St•ff Costs Way5 sialf tfaw&I aTrd irnlnlr4 VO*Jnietrtrniftini & •xp•ns•s 16B,702 3,253 5.031 536 177,522 Donat￿￿& unr•stdrt Restficted fvnd5 Sw•ns•a couTrclloTrnts•thl wnirn Gr•nts lor buslne4 Impfr￿m•￿t 1767 107.617 121.184 Inwr•n 5.035 33,630 11,057 l4,683 Ulllltes M•lnt•n•fK• Recycllni Intom• Intefe5t Subs 1.553 817 65,695 11.¥sJ TO￿ Room hlre Actfvllkn & Ktfvlty miter￿1% 2,590 8,380 T*￿Ph￿ and b￿dbaThd Markellni •nd w•bd•*n 3.489 2M30 728 873 285 AcC￿￿ta D8S¢hecks MUS￿ i*•n Fee5•nd n￿M￿rShIpS Olke •gulpm•nt d*pr•clathJn 216 261 9.639 Fuel VehklEeAphdtturt 1177 Wa#e colbertknn 4,721 9.531 270.767 N•t D•ffdl IIL0711 Thesta¢¢tyJnts ha¥È prepared b•sed Mtht to showtt*ory4Trts•ik)ns -"* 14 Local Aid for Children and Community Special Needs (Local Aid) Registered Company Number 4734267 Regislered Charily Number 1104585 LLKal tor ChiFdren and Commuft￿ Special Needs ¢l￿al Aidl ReRisitred Company Number 4734267 Rqi5tered Charity Nurnber 1104585 6•l•nc• sn••t As at 30th April 2024 Amed A5S•ts Motor vehicle (lttjce equipment 261 261 Current Auèts Local Aid main account Local Aid sayinqs account Shops account & In D•bto 65,037 142.022 YJ.445 10,720 311.224 Gross Asséts 311,485 Current u•bIll￿•S Tam and penslon Ilibility 2.714 2,714 N•tJss•ts 308.771 Represented by.. Accumul•ted fsjnd bm npfirit in lh• p•rind Accumulated fund Clf 319.842 iii n?ii 308,771 The bank xcounts t￿S1$tofr. Reserved funds 147.500 Mr Corey Edwards (Chairl Isecretsryl James WestacottACA IAccour4tantl 15