## **Trustees’ Report for Down’s Syndrome Manchester**
**Note: The members of the charity voted for a name change**
**From:**
**South Manchester Down’s Syndrome Support Group To:**
**Down’s Syndrome Manchester**
**at the AGM held 21/11/2024**
**Below is the report presented to the members at the AGM**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024**
Purpose: The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the charity’s activities, achievements, and financial health during the year.
## **Administrative information**
Charity name: **South Manchester Down’s Syndrome Support Group** (SMDSSG) Primary address: Unit 17, 41 Old Birley Street, Manchester, M15 5RF
## **Structure, governance and management**
**SMDSSG** is an Association CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation), established by constitution on 26 August 2015 and registered with Charity Commission on 26 November 2015 (charity number 1164570), in the same name as the previous unincorporated association (charity number 1147397), as mandated by the SMDSSG membership at the 2014 AGM.
A CIO is a legal structure, under the Charities Act 2011, designed specifically and only for charities. The principle of a CIO is that it is a corporate body with limited liability but formed under charity law (rather than company law) and registered solely with the charity regulator, the Charity Commission. The protection afforded by the group’s limited liability make it easier to recruit and retain Trustees and to engage in contracts, including directly employing paid workers.
Trustees are appointed and/or reappointed at the Annual General Meeting or by the Board of Trustees during the year, as required and in accordance with the constitution. There is a child protection policy in place, and all Trustees must undergo a DBS check. They are also required to sign the Charity Commission’s Trustee eligibility declaration, and a fit and proper persons declaration based on HMRC guidance.
## **Trustees**
**Trustee name Office Notes** 1 Rick Cowgill Chair 2 Steve Ashton Secretary 3 Jitka Cowgill Treasurer
- 4 Lydia Burke
- 5 Clare Hillyer
- 6 Tina Kirwin-McGinley
- 7 Sean Farrington
- 8 Charlotte Todd
- 9 Vacancy 10 Vacancy
We are passionate about having a board member with Down’s Syndrome in the future and hope that our usergroup project will support one of our members moving on to the board.
## **Employees**
|**Employee name**|**Role**|**Notes**|
|---|---|---|
|Esther Whitaker|CEO||
|Claire Reynolds|Events & Volunteer Manager|Started September 2023|
|Kayleigh Howarth|Admin & Finance Assistant||
|John Henry|WorkFit Co-ordinator|Finished in December 2023|
|Lucy Dyson|WorkFit Co-ordinator|Started in March 2024|
|Adelisa Yon|Speech & language therapist|Finished in June 2024|
|Rachel Stevens|Speech & language therapist|Starting in September 2024|
|Jen Chan|Speech & language therapist|Starting in September 2024|
|Alison Calow|Speech & language therapist||
|Helen Adkins|Speech & language therapist||
|Judith Patel|Speech & language therapist||
|Jen Ellison|Founder Little Talkers -||
||Baby/Toddler Signing Club||
||Makaton Tutor / Speech &||
||language therapist||
|Anita Bartlett|Occupational therapist||
## **Purpose**
We exist to empower children and young people with Down’s syndrome to reach their potential and lead fulfilling lives. We do this both directly by facilitating their access to social and educational opportunities and indirectly by helping their family members and carers to provide more effective support.
## **Values**
We are a member-led charity, and we see ourselves as:
Welcoming and inclusive
Caring and supportive
Positive about Down’s syndrome
We believe it is our whole-family approach to the empowerment of young people with Down syndrome that marks us out.
## **Introduction from the Chair**
Over the last few years I have spoken of the hard work put in behind the scenes by the board of trustees. This year, I hope that whilst reading this report our members are able to really see the difference we have made to this amazing charity. I am incredibly grateful to all those who have worked so hard over the years to bring us to this point.
As a board we remain committed to our members and the continued development and delivery of our long term strategy to ensure our charity continues to grow and deliver the support our members deserve.
## **Word from the CEO**
What a year it has been for SMDSSG and its members! We have been working hard behind the scenes to make our processes and procedures as efficient as possible which means we can keep our promise to support more members and in meaningful ways.
There is a long list of highlights – notably our holiday club pilot and our user-group. Chatterbox continues to be the flagship event that is developing month on month to meet need. Our events are well attended and support a huge range of ages and interests. Our training offer went well with both parents and professionals benefitting from our relationships with industry leader.
We also launched our Instagram Page which has brought us so many new members and supporters!
As our events are now at an all time high, we have needed to develop newer ways of working to support them to be the best they can be. Bringing in lead Sessional Workers has been one way of doing that and is working well.
We are excited for the future – notably focusing on formulising our Family Advocacy / Support Work and expertise, watch this space! There is so much to celebrate, and we know so much more to be done to support our members with Down’s syndrome and their families.
## **Membership**
SMDSSG currently has over 235 members
Membership is free and members are entitled to:
- vote at General Meetings of the group
- stand for election as Trustees / committee members
- attend members’ events such as soft play, SLT sessions at Chatterbox and Christmas parties as well as
- all open events
- receive priority booking and discounts for training and events organised by SMDSSG
## **Communication**
We communicate to our members and partners via a monthly newsletter to keep members and friends up to date with the group’s activities, provide useful information and signposting. We have social media accounts, and our activities are advertised via email and private messaging groups. Over the next year you will see a significant increase in our online presence in line with our strategy.
General information can be found via our website which also contains links to resources and support. We have a presence on the local offer pages of local authorities across Manchester.
## **Key Achievements**
||**Programs & Services**|
|---|---|
|Chatterbox|Average of 50 families per Chatterbox
Average of 220 people at each Chatterbox
220 Speech Sessions carried out
9 Occupational Therapy advice mornings
30 Sing& Sign Makaton Sessions|
|Pre-School|104 touch points for children through pre-school
21 sessions
Speech Therapy sessions with handouts at ten of the sessions
Occupational Therapy sessions at two of the sessions
Adventure Babies session offered|
|10-16 Socials|This was a new project–three sessions
Bowling and Karaoke
Average of 12 members at each event|
|Over 17’s Social|11 socials
98 touch points
Activities included bowling, Photography, Cooking, Speed Dating, Dancing, NQ
Music Studio and Christmas Party|
|SingingHands|180 Tickets sold|
|Family Advocacy Work|Over 500 hours of family advocacy work carried out including the areas of
Toileting
School inclusion
Literacy
Differentiation
Well-being
Sleep
Parents / carer well-being and support
School residentials
Education
Benefits
EHCP
SLT / OT / Physio
Behaviour|
|Training|6 sessions delivered
40 attendees
Literacy, Language & Communication, Early Year Maths, Differentiation &
Transition, Positive Behaviour, Developing Social Strengths, Working with
Children with Down’s syndrome|
**New Initiatives**
|**New Initiatives**|**New Initiatives**|
|---|---|
|Project Smile Outreach
Project|Working with Michael Ekpechue, SMDSSG is supporting a legacy outreach
project in memoryof his son Jeffrey.|
|Mum’s socials|We hosted a pottery night for mums to get together
This was incredibly popular with 20people attending|
|User-group|Wegot fundingto start a monthlyuser-group|
|Volunteer processes|Free thank you event hosted by Flight Club collaboration
NSPCC Safer Recruitmentprocedure applied to recruitingall volunteers|
|Holiday Club|11 children with Down’s syndromeattended our first holiday club pilot
9am–midday for one week
Impact on families and individuals with Down’s syndrome was hugely positive as
reported in full evaluation|
|10-16 Socials|Newproject started for this age range to socialise and build friendships|
|MailChimp|We moved newsletter and communications to MailChimp. They look more
professional and engaging, and we can monitor engagement data so that we
canplan the most effective waytoget information to members|
|EasyRead|We have embedded a culture of easyread versions of documents for members|
||**Collaborations**|
|---|---|
|Gregg’s|Corporate supporter offering rooms, refreshments at
Chatterbox,donation of funds|
|Greystone|Providing pro-bono IT support|
|Cadishead Payroll|Providing pro-bonopayroll services|
|HCB Solicitors|Donations for Chatterbox|
|DS Cheshire|Education Advisors worked with our staff and members|
|NQLegacy /ThisisNQ|Provided a music eveningfor over 15’s|
|Venture Arts|Employed toprovide arts & crafts at Chatterbox|
|Tesco Handforth Dean|Provided Christmasgifts and refreshment donations|
|Morrison’s Cheadle
Heath|Provided Christmas hamper and refreshments for events|
|Hill biscuits|Provided donation and a supplyof biscuits forpre-schoolgroup|
|Manchester United
Foundation|Friday night sessions|
|Flight Club|Provided subsidised events for dads and volunteers|
|Reasons to be Cheerful|Provided subsidisedpotteryevening|
## **Financial Overview**
Income £152, 395.05
Expenditure £128, 135.27
**Where did the money come from?**
17% Fudraising and Donations 3% Events (including Holiday Club, Singing Hands etc) Monies From Grants 80%
## **What did the Charity spend the money on?**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
10%
Chatterbox
4%
5%
Building Hire
3%
All group Activities
3%
1%
Member/Staff/Trus 3%
tee Training 2%
1%
Rebranding
68%
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Future plans and priorities**
The current strategy runs until April 2026 and has the following aims / focus:
Aim 1 Get Everyone
Aim 2 Stabilise the Group
Aim 3 Childcare provision
Aim 4 Events for all groups
We continually review and update our results and objectives around the strategic goals and welcome member input and feedback.
## **Acknowledgments**
The Trustees would like to take the chance to thank all Trustees, Staff, and Volunteers for their hard work and dedication
## **Funding**
We would also like to thank the following supporters:
**Greggs**
**The National Lottery Community Fund**
**The Cheadle Royal Hospital Fund (£5,500 year two of a three-year grant)**
**Children in Need**
**Steve Morgan Foundation**
**Zochonis**
**UKH Foundation**
**Poynton Round Table**
**Garfield Weston**
**HCB Solicitors**
**Hospital Saturday Fund**
**Young Manchester**
**Morrison’s Foundation**
**Forever Manchester**
We would also like to thank members for their fundraising efforts this past year through challenges and events.
## **Declaration**
The trustees declare that they have approved this trustees’ report.
## Signed on their behalf
Richard Cowgill Signed …………………………………………………. Full name …………………………………………………. Position … Chair ………………………………………. Date … 07 Jun 2025 …………………………….
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Down's Syndrome Manchester previously known as 1164570
South Manchester Down's Syndrome Support Group
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period 01/09/2023 31/08/2024
To
from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds Last year
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Bank interest -
Fundraising events 3,237 3,237 1,693
Donations and grants (incl. gift aid) 33,601 62,993 96,594 92,793
Fees for charitable services 3,720 3,720 1,767
Fees for training courses - -
the National Lottery Community Fund "RC North
49,401 49,401 43,092
West Region"
Members' subscriptions - -
-
Sub total (Gross income for AR) [ 40,557 ] 112,394 152,951 139,345
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see
table).
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 40,557 112,394 152,951 139,345
A3 Payments
Arts and crafts supplies - 848 848 965
Bank charges - -
Building hire 3,097 1,556 4,653 558
Christmas activities 296 296 217
Fundraising costs 730 730 640
Group activities 5,677 5,005 10,683 8,583
Insurance - 100 100
IT & software & consumables - 3,248 3,248
Misc expenses incl travel 193 42 235 86
Pre-school group 870 870 1,348
Professional costs 683 420 1,103 1,138
Refreshments (meetings and Chatterbox) 41 619 661 -
Rent and utilities - 1,770 1,770 1,740
Rebranding 1,932 2,000 3,932
Resources 32 32 20
Sing and sign - 1,170 1,170 1,300
Speech and language therapists 6,800 6,800 6,395
Staffing 22,839 18,770 41,609 22,608
Stationery. Printing & postage costs - 130 130 43
Subscriptions - 867 867
the National Lottery Community Fund "RC North
West Region" 48,667 48,667 40,533
Training 3,346 3,346 450
Transaction charges 189 189
Yoga 280 280 80
Volunteer expenses 331 331 557
Sub total 39,023 93,526 132,549 87,260
A4 Asset and investment purchases,
(see table)
Deposit for Office - - - - -
Learning resources - - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total payments 39,023 93,526 - 132,549 87,260
Net of receipts/(payments) 1,534 18,868 20,402 52,085
A5 Transfers between funds - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 43,596 35,605 79,201 27,116
Cash funds this year end 45,130 54,473 99,603 79,201
**----- End of picture text -----**
|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B3 Investment assets**
**B5 Liabilities**|**Details**
**Details**
Current account
Cash in hand
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
Signature|**Unrestricted**
**to nearest £**
**45,130**|**Endowment**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**|
|||**45,130**|**-**|
||||OK|
||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**When due**
Date of
08/11/2024|
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
**Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees**
Charity Name Down’s Syndrome Manchester (formerly known as South Manchester Down’s Syndrome Support Group)
**On accounts for the year** 31 August 2024 **Charity no** 1164570 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** 1 and 2 of form CC16a (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended **31/08/2024** .
**Responsibilities and** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the **basis of report** accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination 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 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.
* _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._
**Signed: Date:** 05/06/25 **Name:** Andy Pickford **Relevant professional** ICAEW **qualification(s) or body (if any):**
**Oct 2018**
1
**IER**
5 Cedar Avenue
**Address:**
**Altrincham**
Altrincham WA14 2QR
## **Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
**Oct 2018**
2
**IER**