Trustee’s Annual Report
| Charity Name | Isla’s Journey |
|---|---|
| Charity Registra4on Number | 1183156 |
| Administra4ve Details & Principal Address | 94 Charleston Avenue, Basildon, Essex SS13 1JH |
Objec4ves and Ac4vi4es
| Objec4ves | Ac4vi4es | |
|---|---|---|
| P r o m o 4 n g e d u c a 4 o n around pre-term and early labour, condi4ons resul4ng in Neonatal admissions, working with obstetric and midwifery staf to raise awareness of, and the ac4ons required when p r e t e r m l a b o u r i s threatened. |
Objec&ve (a) |
Through the use of social media, awareness has been raised to over 2000 followers regarding pre term and early labour and condi&ons that can arise resul&ng in neonatal admissions. There has been a great deal of informa&on provided surrounding PTSD and this has resulted in Isla’s Journey being contacted by people that had recognised the symptoms in themselves following reading the informa&on provided. In turn this then led to them geGng the correct support. The founder, Ashley Simons con&nues to raise awareness through the charity website and social media pages. Follow ups from previous mee&ngs held regarding training to current NICU staf and junior doctors were put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic. |
| Promote good mental health by providing a support network that parents can access at a 4me that suits them |
Objec&ve (c) |
Isla’s Journey con&nues to be ac&ve with the ‘Neomates’ group, albeit in a virtual capacity. Royal London Hospital are now fully set up with their own online group which has been benefcial to both present and ex NICU families. Parent sessions will con&nue face to face when restric&ons are liWed and we plan to hold more events in hospital to promote posi&ve mental health and wellbeing in conjunc&on with Neonatal Mental Health Awareness Week. |
| Seek to fund dedicated antenatal, neonatal care and community services following discharge to compliment and support those services provided by the NHS |
Objec&ve (D) |
Further research was needed for the introduc&on of a text support service for parents. The original company used unfortunately did not provide the level of service we expected. We hope to have this in place within the next 12 months. |
| Provide care packages of essen4al items that NHS services do not provide when a hospital stay is required. |
Objec&ve (E) |
Care packages have now been provided to 68 hospitals across the UK, with many reques&ng a rolling stock. We currently s&ll have 6 transfer teams in England and an addi&onal hospital in Scotland. These are also supplied on a regular basis and are requested by the the service when supplies run low. Care packs are either delivered personally or sent via couriers. |
Achievements and Performance
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, iden4fying the diference the charity’s work has made to benefciaries and any wider benefts to society as a whole. |
The charity is now supplying 68 hospitals and 6 transfer teams across England and into Scotland. Feedback con&nues to be posi&ve and sugges&ons for improvements are taken on board where possible. Following radio exposure, we were contacted by more units to ask for details on how to support us and to u&lise our services. Hospitals have now been re-contacted to ofer them packs and build an up to date contact list. The benefts of the Neomates community expansion has also been essen&al for the mental health and family support following discharge from NICU. During this fnancial year, the charity raised £ which was all used to fund care packs, support for parents and staf and raising awareness. |
|---|---|
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s fnancial posi4on at the end of the period |
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has afected fundraising and as such we have had to use reserves and personal funds to cover some expenses. We do expect this to improve over the next period. Charitable objec&ves are able to be met in full at the end of the period moving forward into the next. |
|
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding the reserves sta4ng why they are held |
n/a | |
| Amount of reserves held | 0 | |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Stock all replaced aWer hospitals supplied to accommodate care packs needed for the following month and further dona&ons and grants due before supplies are required. |
Addi4onal Informa4on
| The charity’s principal sources of funds |
Dona&ons through social media, online fundraising events e.g. rafes, local school non-uniform/bring a care pack supply days. £7000 grant, £2303 and £1880.82 local connect fund £3000 bounce back loan support for marke&ng and media |
|
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy & Objec4ves including social investment policy adapted |
n/a | |
|---|---|---|
| A descrip4on of the risks facing the charity |
n/a | |
| Other | n/a | |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Descrip4on of Charity’s trusts |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document |
Cons&tu&on | |
| How is the charity cons4tuted |
CIO | |
| Trustee selec4on methods including details of any cons4tu4onal provisions e.g. elec4on to post or name of any person or body en4tled to appoint one or more trustees |
Appointed by founder Ashley Simons. |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Name | Ofce (if any) | Date acted - if not for whole year |
Name of person en4tled to appoint trustee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Hazel May Benneg | Whole period | ||
| Mrs Elizabeth Wiseman | Whole period | ||
| Mrs Claire Harland | Whole period | ||
| Mrs Ashley Simons | Whole period |
Declara4ons
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustee’s report above.
On behalf of the trustees: H M Benne'
Full name: Hazel May Benneg
Posi4on – Trustee
Date – 3/3/2022