## **Local Aid Annual Report 2024 to 2025** _Empowering Children | Enriching Communities_ **MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND** **PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS** ## **Trustees & Governance** ## **Board of Trustees** Corey Edwards (Chair) | Lindsay Brewis (Treasurer) | Victoria Inger (Resigned May 24) | Kay Howell | Rhian Davies (Appointed May 2024 Trustees are elected annually and bring skills to benefit Local Aid’s charitable activities. The Chairperson leads operational management with the management team **Registered Office:** FOYD 300 Carmarthen Rd Cwmbwrla Swansea SA58NJ **Accountant:** James Westacott ACA **Solicitors** : JCP Venture Court Waterside Business Park Valley Way Enterprise Park, Swansea SA6 8QP Peter Lynn & Partners Langdon Rd Swansea 478 Hendrefoilan Rd Killay Swansea SA25NU ## **Bankers:** Lloyds 113 High St Gorseinon Swansea SA44BR ## **Our year at a glance!** ## **Our Mission** Local Aid works collaboratively to support vulnerable children, young people, and adults affected by additional learning needs or disabilities. We raise awareness, increase opportunities for inclusion, and ensure everyone in our community can thrive. ## **Our Focus** - Provide specialist equipment and services unavailable through statutory sources - Increase opportunities for Play and Leisure provisions. - Raise public awareness of young people with special needs ## **Review of the Year 2024/25** ## **Buddies Programme** - 5,600 hours of one-to-one support for 136 young people with additional learning needs - Focused on skills development - life skills, problem solving, independence and teamwork as well as having fun, and confidence building. We currently run six groups per week from Friends of Young Disabled and Palm Tree House _“X loves going to group, he looks forward to it all week, he gets to spend time with other young people and do things he wants to do away from us. He loves chatting to staff and has really come out of himself” (parent)_ ## **Diversity Youth Club** - Weekly sessions for 3–18-year-olds on the autism spectrum or awaiting diagnosis - 11 families attended regularly, gaining social, communication, and coping skills _“A safe space for my children to socialise and not be judged. I can meet other parents who understand.” – (Parent)_ ## **Flip – Fun learning in practice** - Work experience project for young people aged 15 to 19 who are at risk of school exclusion, not in work or education - Giving them skills and experiences in the workplace and learning in a non-traditional environment - Agored Cymru accreditation “ H has gained so much from his 6-week placement, his confidence and attitude to what he can achieve has just been incredible, he has now gone on to set up his own business and is doing extraordinarily well, as well as planning to start college – we are so proud” (Tutor) ## **Warmer Winter Project** - Provided winter care packages to 40 + families, including warm clothing, emergency items, benefit advice, signposting and referring to other services. - Local Aid funds this project and adds tremendous additional value to supporting those in most need in our community. It is vital to us to help families in our community. ## **Our Charity Retail Stores** ## **Morriston, Uplands, Ravenhill & Gorseinon** ## **Reuse & Recycle** - An estimated 600 tons of goods were reused, including 300 tons of clothing - Four shops provided affordable goods to support families while reducing landfill ## **Volunteers: The Heart of Local Aid** 40 retail volunteers contributed **10,000 hours** (£125,000 value) Volunteers are the beating heart of Local Aid, and without them, we couldn’t survive in these very challenging times. Their dedication to keeping our four charity retail shops open can only be celebrated and commended. We are truly GRATEFUL. ## **🤝 Community Reach and Support** Our connection to the community is the foundation of our work, and we take immense pride in being a reliable local resource for those facing hardship. We are dedicated to ensuring that anyone in our community who is struggling—from young parents in need of essentials to local schools seeking resources—knows they can turn to us. This engagement allows us to respond rapidly and personally to the diverse needs right on our doorstep, ensuring our support is always timely. The arrival of winter often amplifies the difficulties faced by vulnerable individuals and families. We are proud to extend vital support to those most affected, including the homeless and families in crisis, providing essential warmth, clothing, and supplies. Our network of charity shops serves as far more than just retail outlets; they are vital community hubs. Not only do they generate essential income, but they are also the primary mechanism through which we channel direct aid. We are always happy to help and welcome the opportunity to connect with and serve every person in our local area who needs a little extra support. We run a thriving eBay store, which allows us to efficiently re-home unique and high-value donated items, ensuring we generate the highest possible return for our mission. It’s a key, cost-effective revenue stream that complements our traditional fundraising efforts. We are continuing to run our eBay store to the standards that saw us as eBay Charity of the year in 2020, and are endlessly surprised by the delight and genuine gratitude our buyers have for our goods that help engage with a worldwide demographic. Feedback includes _Super quick postage with very secure, nice packaging, the headphones are perfect as described and absolutely worth the value, such nice headphones going towards charity is amazing to know, it's a steal and helps those who need it”_ ## **Our Team at a Glance** - **Director of Operational Services** – _Our strategic lead_ , guiding vision, quality, and professional standards across all services. - **Retail Coordinators** – Overseeing daily retail operations and ensuring smooth running, recruitment, and ongoing support to volunteers, day-to-day compliance and maintaining an inclusive, welcoming retail environment - **Logistics & Retail Support** – _Ensuring everything connects_ , coordinating stock movement, supporting retail operations and making deliveries and collections to the community. - **Retail Assistants** – _Customer-facing support_ , helping with sales, stock presentation, training and supporting volunteers - **Project Leaders** – _C_ oordinating projects, mentoring Activity Leaders, liaising with families and driving high-quality delivery. - **Admin Support** – _Maintaining systems &_ compliance, communications, booking, invoices and general running seamlessly. - **Activity Leaders–** _Our frontline difference-makers_ , leading inclusive activities, nurturing confidence, and supporting children and families. ## **Staff Qualifications** - Over **50% of staff hold NVQ Level 3 or equivalent** . - Additional professional qualifications include Degrees / Master's in: - Childhood Studies - Therapeutic Play - Psychology - Teacher Training ## **Training Commitment** - **500+ hours** of combined staff & volunteer training. - Training delivered through a mix of **online** and **in-person** sessions. - Key training areas (✓ = core requirement) ## **Safeguarding & Safety** - Manual Handling - Epilepsy Awareness - ✓ Safeguarding / Child Protection - ✓ Positive Behaviour Studio III - Fire Marshal - Trustee Training - ✓ First Aid - ✓ Health &Safety at Work ## **Disability & Inclusion** - ✓ Autism Awareness - Disability Awareness - Sensory Regulation - Play Therapy - British Sign Language (BSL ## **Skills Development** ✓ Communication Skills Play Skills Internet Safety ## **Retail Skills** Handling Money & Money Skills eBay, and Social Enterprise CHRIS & CLAUDIA Claudia- Volunt￿rIng and then working at Local Aid was really special to me. Throughout secondary school and university. spènding my Saturdays at Buddies was an amazing opportunity to gain work experience. learn new skills, and have fun. More than anythingp Buddies shaped how I think about communication. The kids I worked wrth had such a range of needs and communication styles. and I learned so much - especially from those who were non-verbal. It changed the way I connect with people and helped me grow in ¢onfiden¢e. patience, and empathy. That experience set me up to keep working in the not-for-profft space. I'm now based ¥n Sydney, working as a social enterprise advisor and supporting small organisations that are making an impact in their communwties. Chris: I worked at Buddies while I was Studying medicine. and it's Still one of the most rewarding things I've done. Some of my favourite memories are of taking the kids swimming. It was always such a joy seeing how much fun they had and how èxcited they.. were when walking to the leisure centrel Now, as a medical registrar in Sydney. I care for patients with a wide range of physica( and intellectual disabilities. and l use the skills I learned at Buddies every single day. Whether it's communicationr patience. or just being a calm and friendly presence when people are feeling scared or vulnerable. that experience gave me so much. I now diagnose and manage all kinds of general medical issues. from pneumonias to heart attacks, and it's an honour to be there for people during some of the most challenging moments in their livès. Wishing you and the rest of the team at Local Aid & Buddies all the ￿$t1 ## **Financial Overview** - 100% of funds allocated to program development and community initiatives are spent in accordance with contracts and agreements. - Transparent reporting ensures accountability to donors, partners, and the community ## **Reserves Policy** Six months of operating costs set aside to ensure sustainability in case of funding changes ## **Looking Ahead: Our Vision** ## **for 2025/6** ## **We will be celebrating an incredible 40 years. of Local Aid and 25 years of our Buddies project!** As we look toward 2025/6, Local Aid is energised and determined to deepen our impact across the community. This year, we are focused on bold, meaningful progress that brings people together and creates opportunities for those who need them most. Our goals include: - **Championing children, young people, and families living with disability** , ensuring they feel supported, included, and empowered every step of the way. - **Growing our volunteer family** so we can do even more — reaching further, responding faster, and creating brighter futures through shared passion and teamwork. - **Building stronger collaborations with local businesses and organisations** , unlocking new resources, ideas, and opportunities that strengthen our long-term sustainability and community reach. - **Leading the way in environmental responsibility** , reducing our carbon footprint and embracing innovative new recycling initiatives that protect our planet for generations to come. Together, these goals represent our commitment to creating lasting, positive change. ## **Partnerships & Support** Thanks to our incredible partners and funders: - City and County of Swansea - Pobl - Principality Community Fund in Wales - Mission Gallery Swansea - EE Mobile - Admiral Group ## **Thank You** Our staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners power Local Aid’s achievements. Your dedication makes a real difference in the lives of children and families in Swansea. ## **Connect With Us:** - Website: www.localaid.co.uk - Facebook: Local Aid Wales - eBay Shop: Local Aid eBay ## **Trustee Declaration** The Trustees confirm that the financial statements give an accurate and fair view and have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act and Charities Act. **Signed:** Corey Edwards, Chair '] CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examlner's report on the accounts R•port to th• tN•t•••l rn•rnbgr• ol L¢xal lor Chmdren Communlty Speclal Needj (Local Aldl On accoun￿ th• y•ar •nd•tJ 30 Apdl 2025 Cha￿ty IK* Ilf •nyl 1104585 Set out on pJ90• 11 And 12 I report to tha Iwgleei on ry examin8tion offfte 8cc*)unkn ofth• abov• chartty lllhe Tnjsf'i for the yaar ended 30 Apru 2025 th• tsu?be¥. Y￿ •r• r•ipon8Ole for Ihe prepa￿11(￿ ol th• 8co)imt$ In a￿rIance wllh tho of tho Ch•rttsg8 Ad 2011 Ilhe Acll. 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