Parenting Special Children (PSC) is a Berkshire based charity aiming to improve the wellbeing of children/young people with a range of special needs and disabilities, including those who have experienced early life trauma. https://www.parentingspecialchildren.co.uk/ 1 ## **Annual Report September 2022 – August 2023** https://www.parentingspecialchildren.co.uk/ ## **Message from PSC CEO Ruth Pearse** 2022/23 has been a really challenging year for families as the impact of Covid is much longer term than originally thought and the cost-of-living crisis has been particularly difficult for families of children/young with special educational needs and disabilities. Charities have had to make difficult decisions with less funding and at the same time the level of need has been unprecedented. Parenting Special Children had to make the hard decision to scale back some of our services due to lack of funding, fortunately at the end of 2023 we received funding from three national funders, The National Lottery for our Trauma and Attachment Service and Children in Need and Comic Relief for our children and young people’s groups. Longer term funding brings added stability to PSC and therefore to the families we support. We are also very grateful for all of the funders and donors who have enabled us to continue this much needed work and fund a wide range of services, the generosity has been heartwarming and much appreciated. 3 ## **Message from PSC CEO Ruth Pearse** Despite all of the challenges I am so proud of how Parenting Special Children has continued to provide holistic support to families of neurodivergent children and young people and those with SEND and early life trauma. Families tell us the support we offer ‘is life changing’. Please do take time to read the impact report to see the difference that PSC brings to families. Finally I want to acknowledge the excellent team at Parenting Special Children who bring lived experience, a wealth of knowledge and understanding of their service area and above all kindness and compassion. We start 2024 in a more sustainable financial position which is very encouraging and enables the charity to plan ahead, being aware of unmet needs and how we might meet them in Berkshire and surrounding areas, using the expertise that we have and developing services to ensure that families are supported and thrive. 4 ## **Introduction** Our services include a mix of face to face and online: During the academic year: PSC Supported: **2162** parent/carers **337** Children and young people **444** Professionals Parents/ Carers accessed an average of 3 PSC services - Helpline, via phone, email and social media - • Specialist parenting workshops and courses • Sleep workshops - Community support groups - • Family Fun events • Training for professionals. - Monthly groups for young people - - Annual topic based conference with guest speakers - Specialist workshops, courses and peer support for families of children who have experienced early life trauma. - 5 # **Parenting Special Children** ## **Finances** # **FY 30 November 2023** ## **Parenting Special Children Financial Results : FY19 – FY23** |**Parenting Special Children - Financial Results - FY19 - FY23**|**Parenting Special Children - Financial Results - FY19 - FY23**|**Parenting Special Children - Financial Results - FY19 - FY23**|**Parenting Special Children - Financial Results - FY19 - FY23**|**Parenting Special Children - Financial Results - FY19 - FY23**|**Parenting Special Children - Financial Results - FY19 - FY23**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||Actual|Actual|Actual|Actual|Actual| ||**FY19**|**FY20**|**FY21**|**FY22**|**FY23**| |**Income**|**264,983**|**328,760**|**247,015**|**292,166**|**273,325**| |_Incomegrowth %_|_36%_|_24%_|_-25%_|_18%_|_-6%_| ||||||| |Expenditure|216,885|263,652|277,930|275,255|251,258| |**Net surplus/deficit**|**48,098**|**65,108**|**(30,915)**|**16,911**|**22,068**| |**_Months operating costs_**|**_5.3_**|**_7.3_**|**_5.6_**|**_6.4_**|**_8.1_**| |**Reserves**|**95,777**|**160,885**|**129,970**|**146,881**|**168,949**| |**_Reserves as a % of income_**
**_36%_**||**_49%_**|**_53%_**|**_50%_**|**_62%_**| Source: Charity Accounts FY19-FY22 and management accounts to 30 November 2023 ## **Parenting Special Children Financial Results : FY19 – FY23 (5 years)** ## Key points: - FY23: total income of £273,325 resulting in a net surplus of £22,000 (FY22: £17,000) - New 5 year National Lottery grant – resuming of 1:1 support and TAS services (paused since January 2023) - Other major funders include Children in Need, Comic Relief and Postcode Society Trust - Continued expansion of all income streams - commissioned services 12% of total income (10% in FY22) - Reserves going forward to FY24 of c8.1 months (includes designated website funding of £17.3k), a very strong and sustainable position Source: Charity Accounts FY19-FY22 and management accounts to 30 November 2023 - - Looking ahead to new website and logo in FY24 ## **Helpline** ‘It was great talking to you too you gave me so much information and as a parent which is so much better thank you so much’ ‘Speaking with you has helped me so much I really do appreciate it.’ **733 Received calls 827 Contact via email Email** **1910 Families supported 35-55 minutes Average call** 9 ## **Helpline Case Study** Parent experiencing challenges with their child. Child on CAMHS neurodevelopmental pathway, had witnessed Domestic violence and experienced trauma. Child had experienced challenges at school and no longer attending school. Attended all 3 Parent/ carer Autism workshops online, Sensory Processing workshop, Community support group, received ongoing helpline support. Feedback from parent: ‘PSC were so sympathetic, compassionate and offered advice, ideas, signposting and recommendations of further support from PSC including the TAS service’. ‘Lots of kindness and compassion along with an understanding and listening ear.’ 10 ## **Community Support Groups** ”I have been coming to PSC for nearly 2 years now. Coming here has helped me learn different things to help support my son. The support from Charlie and Denise is superb. The courses are full of information that is so important. I don't feel judged when I'm here and I fully feel like I'm supported and part of a group.” **136** Parents and children **34** Sessions attended **536** Total Attendance Three geographical areas: - Reading - • Bracknell - Slough 11 ## **Community Support Groups** ”It's a lovely group and an opportunity to meet people in similar situations who understand what it's like to be a parent or carer to children with SEN. I feel lucky to live in a town with the support and friendship PSC gives people like me.” 12 ## **Support Group feedback** My first introduction to PSC was their ADHD workshops which I found very informative and helpful. They are presented very professionally, but in such a way that you feel at ease and safe within the group. Myself and my husband have also been fortunate enough to receive 1 to 1 support which was invaluable to help us work as a team and understand each other’s perspective of our family situation. I regularly attend the monthly support group. It's a lovely group and an opportunity to meet people in similar situations who understand what it's like to be a parent or carer to children with SEN. I feel lucky to live in a town with the support and friendship PSC gives people like me. 13 ## **Trauma & Attachment Service: Parent/Carers** Empowered 100% said they learnt new Knowledge strategies to 55% support their child 100% reported Recommend increase in knowledge and 100% said they understanding would recommend _“_ PSC PSC have been invaluable in supporting me in Parents/ understanding my Berkshire child and giving me Non-Berkshire the confidence to support them better _”_ |Parents/Carers(counted once)|174| |---|---| |Berkshire|59%| |10%
Non-Berkshire|41%| ||| |Children/YoungPeople(counted once)|47| 14 ## **Trauma & Attachment Service: Professionals** 17 Workshops/courses delivered 219 Professionals trained 100% said that they had gained new knowledge & understanding 100% said would recommend our training to others **----- Start of picture text -----**
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15 ## **Trauma & Attachment Service: Support Groups** ## **3 Support Groups and 1 family event** ## **32 Monthly sessions** **213 total attendance** **76 parents/carers counted once** "It can be very lonely being an adoptive parent, but there is no judging of parenting styles in this group, something we may get from parents at the 'school gate' as they don't understand what it's like.” - Post Separation group for mothers - Dads and Male carers - Adopters - Kinship carer summer event "The group helps to boost confidence as a parent & helps to not feel so isolated." 16 ## **Trauma & Attachment Service: Children & Young people** ## **Let’s Get Creative** “Meeting other adopted children has helped with K's understanding that she is different by being adopted. She gets on better with the children at the session than she does with the children at school, possibly because they have a similar early life experiences." “Being around other children like him; who are of a similar age. He really enjoys the sessions, especially the music where he loves making lots of noise” **11** Let’s Get Creative sessions Total Attendance **109** **27** Children/ Young people counted once Plus **20** Children/ Young people at family event 17 ## **1-1 Specialist Parenting Support** 59 families received one to one specialist support 4 to 8 sessions per family **----- Start of picture text -----**
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Supported 55% 100% said they found the support Knowledge of the practitioner useful? 92% reported increase in Recommend knowledge and understanding 100% said they would recommend PSC _**“**_ What a lovely team of supportive people.” 19 ## **Parenting Workshops and Courses** **43** Workshops **648** attendees ## **Including:** - ADHD workshops - Autism workshops (East Berkshire) - ADHD and Medication workshops - Sensory Processing _**“**_ Thank you - you really brought ADHD to life with compassion and understanding” - Interoception - Transition to Adulthood - Sleep ## **6** Courses accessed **53** attendees ## **Including:** - Who’s in Charge (Child to Parent Violence) - - • Time out for Special Needs - **Delivered for Hong Kong families in Cantonese (interpreter)** Knowledge 100% reported they had more understanding of their child's neurodiversity and new strategies to support them Recommend 100% said they would recommend PSC to family and friends 20 ## **Children and Young People Groups** **The A Team – Awesome Autism & ADHD** - **73** girls attended **11** sessions ## **Social Interaction Course** - **36 5** courses children/ young people attended _**“**_ I love going to the A Team, I don’t have to pretend to be like everyone else when I’m there” _**“** The atmosphere at Auticulate helps me feel at ease”_ ## **Auticulate (Neurodivergent children and young people)** - **14** young people attended **18** Junior’s sessions - **18** young people attended **18** Senior’s sessions 21 ## **The A-Team** “I entered scared of heights; I ended up pushing myself and going outside my comfort zone – I really enjoyed it, ... Overall it was really fun and I loved clipping and climbing with my friends at the A-Team” **----- Start of picture text -----**
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22 ## **Conference – 89 attendees** Knowledge ## 95% reported that their u nderstanding and knowledge of the topic had increased Recommend 98% said they would recommend PSC conferences “Thank you so much its been an amazing day. I have taken so much from today” “Thank you so much, this has been such a wonderful space. You are amazing” 23 ## **Behind the** ## **scenes – Admin** ## • **6685** emails to/ from admin mailbox - **167** Events set up (across Eventbrite, Facebook, Website, CRM system Charity Log) - **22** Mailshots including newsletters, and targeted mailshots - **3120** Bookings/ cancellations processed 24 ## **Behind the scenes The Admin Team support the charity by maintaining:** - IT/Cyber security, including NHS compliance - GDPR compliance - PSC database (CharityLog) and website - Technical expertise - Data reporting - Event eligibility and security - PSC mailing list - Client support 25 ## **Social media followers** |Facebook|4602| |---|---| |Mailchimp|3080| |Twitter/X|2704| |Eventbrite|1701| |LinkedIn|836| |Instagram|740| |**Total**|**13663**| |**Asat 31/10/23**|| 26 ## **Advisory Boards** Lived experience has always been central to Parenting Special Children. We are passionate about listening and respond to all voices. ## PSC Advisory Boards: - Neurodiversity (Including Neurodivergent Academics) - Equality and diversity (previously known as BME) - Neurodivergent children and young people 27 ## **Commissioning** ## • **37** workshops ## • **6** courses ## • **241** parents/carers ## • **211** professionals **----- Start of picture text -----**
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28 Commissioning 4rA Reading Borough Council Working better with you Reading Families, Forum AMEGREEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER Brighter Futures for Children Scouts CMILDHENS SERVICES offee Craft ssafa IEItr the Arméd Fortès charity optalis Sport In Mind choiccs for living B• thtr L*st yw Can London Borough of Hounslow WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL South Lake Primary School 29 Funders, Supporters, Partnerships co op AIMS Field I Seymour I Parkes ASDA Greenham Trust Accountants for Business It's what we do BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Bertslill-e John Sykes Berkshire tr*ATING SoWT￿Ns foundation Universityof Garfield Weston Reading D AVID B ROWNLOW FOUNDATION HARIT ABLE FOUNDA TION ° GEMS kthi nnect Jarriess Place Masonic Berkshire West Auhsm & ADHD Support 5￿co •READING NHS Charitable Foundation C•MIC RELIEF ASCOT ORACLE CHILDREN IN NEED NHS NHS Berkshire West East Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Group Clinical Commissioning Group ## **Looking Ahead 2024** _**“quote**_ In 2024 we are going to extend the age range of our children and young people’s services to include a transition group, this age group is very important as they often don’t feel ready to leave the safety of a group but adulthood brings a lot of change and new services so a group providing relevant information and support is needed. We are also going to launch young people peer support so that they can be role models to the younger children/young people and bring their wealth of experience to support others. We have worked hard to secure funding for a new website, so we look forward to working with Orange Grove to launch the new website in the Spring, our website is creaking at the seams and is integral to the support we offer families so is much needed. As always, we are quick to respond to families’ needs and so we will continue to do the same, we have learnt from Covid that one needs to be ready to respond quickly but also key is to listen to families, we will continue to do that whatever 2024 brings. 31 l am proud to worklvolunteer for Parenting Special Children 14 responses StrorylywJree •Agr Nwther agre8 not diwroe • Disagree 7.1% Staff Satisfaction I feel that PSC provides a supportive environment 14 response$ I have access to the knowledge. resources and training necessary to comfortably perform my role Strvryly a • Agre8 Nèther8waa not disaw* Disagree • Stroryly di88gr88 21.4% • Dtsagffe8 • (tsayrBe 78. 78.6% 21.4% ## **How can you support PSC?** - Charity of the Year - nominate PSC at your workplace - Challenge - cake bake, marathon, sky dive, three peaks, Ultra - Corporate - Introductions - Volunteering Hours – Oracle Video - Community groups - choirs, running groups, Rotary, Lions - Donate - Big Give Campaign, Local Giving and The Good Exchange - Nominate PSC for an Award - Follow, like and share posts – - https://www.parentingspecialchildren.co.uk/about-us/support-us/ - Email – tess@parentingspecialchildren.co.uk 33 ## **Finally...a special thanks to all of our amazing team, volunteers & trustees** **----- Start of picture text -----**
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Report Scanned with Camscanner Parentlng SF￿la1 Children CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WAIES Indewidenl examiners report on the accounts Scanned with Camscanner pare￿ing Speclal Chlldren Re*9 RGI INII sècOM 8 Cw4y ewI￿r Pceds fna-..ery cl trnctrn i*ee CC32 Scanned with Camscanner Parentbng SpKlal Chlldren 17.975 2.717 4,345 25J13 875 36.458 174,143 236.789 28.012 3,461 43.6C 217.C83 291165 185.613 273x6 36A37 15. 1.150 139. 155 185. 9.313 1145 2.714 2.145 2.781 1.797 133 1.180 8.011 3.139 8.745 1218 1218 715 &4 610 107 610 2.165 2.715 Gifts kn Fankn Tr￿) 2.830 610 274 2(￿1.711 12 170.317 225.569 74 10.8CII 74 10.8 9.821 144 102 3.572 107 3.418 3.418 162 9n 1.186 613 2,725 1.186 613 612 31.198 5.887 44.599 49.686 .341 196 57.177 57.3r2 214.916 21.873 89,704 111,577 251257 275.255 16.911 129,970 146.881 146,881 168,949 Scanned with Camscanner Parentlng Spedal Chlldren {Reglstratlon number 07351094) Balance Sheet as at 30 November 2023 168.949 146.881 89.704 57.1n Tdal funds 168,949 Scanned with Camscanner Parenting Speclal Chlldren statem￿ of Cash Flows for the Yoar Ended 30 November 2023 21069 16.911 16,311 16.311 146.881 130.570 168.949 146.881 Scanned with Camscanner Parenllng St*clal Chlldren Notss to thè Financial sL￿m￿ for the Yoar Ended 30 Novembw 2023 RG2 7AG tr* the UK Repjbk rA IrelaNI IFRS 10211 I￿$￿j in 2019). 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It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, - to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and - • to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. - **Basis of independent** My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given **examiner’s statement** by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## **Independent examiner's statement** In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect,: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - • the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have 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. **Date:** 18/03/2023 **Signed: Name:** Rachel Eden 1 **IER** **December 2017** ACMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants **Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):** **Address:** Holy Brook Associates Ltd Curious Lounge, 1[st] Floor Pinnacle Building Tudor Road, Reading, RG1 1NH ## **Section B Disclosure** Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). 2 **IER** **December 2017** **Give here details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** . 3 **IER** **December 2017**