CLASP Annual Report 2024 Mill House Brook Street Crewe CW2 7DE 01270 250629 Qinfo southcheshireclas www.southcheshireclas .or .or registered charity num.be.r= 1188608 Contents: Organisational Structure & Governance page 4 Charity Values and Objectives page 5 3. Chairman's Report page 7 4. A Snapshot of 2024 page 8 5. Achievements page 12 6. Acknowledgements & Thanks page 14 7. Appendix- Financial Reports page 15 Organisational Structure & Governance: South Cheshire CLASP is govemed by its Constitution adopted on 12 June 2020. The governing body isthe board of Trustee5. As at3iSt Decernber 20241 there were 6 members. Trustees are recruited annually atthe AGM or can be co-opted on tothe board. Decision making takes place at bi-monthly Trustee meetings. Trustees: Chris Wenlock Gemma Harris (Lone Parent Representative) Graham Bushill (Safeguarding Lead) John Colclough (Chairman) Rachel Jones Ruth Grimshaw (Treasurer) Staff: Emma Culleton (Support Worker) Jan Wenlock (Supportworker) Jill Lloyd (Support Assistant) Julia Wood (Chief Executive) Lucy Secker (Finance Officer) Lynne Davies (Finance Officer) Marie Harrison (Cleaner) Rachael Doherty (Children's Work Manager) Sandra Tatton {Parent Supportworker) Sarah Blake-Appleton {Counsellor) Sarah Mankazana (Administrator) Sharon Hickson {Counselling Service Manager) Sharon Stowell (Funding Manager) Stuartwatson (Counsellor} Sue Chapman (Projert Manager) Volunteers= Christel Remond Gemma Harris Jean Bradshaw Margaret Whyley Maureen Joy Natalie Clowes Ray Breen Values and Objectives The Charity is an expression of care and support for all lone parents in the locality, whatever their circumstances and regardless of howthey became lone parents. South Cheshire CLASP was first established in 1998 and obtained charity status in 2002 under charity numberio934D. In 2020 the Charity became a CIO with the new Charity Number of 1188608. Charitable Object5: The objects of the CIO are= For the public benefit and within a Christian ethos to advance the education and development of children and lone parents living in the South Cheshire area, in particular but not exclusively by= a) providing child development and parenting skills training to parents- b) providing safe group play and other artivities designed to support children'5 social and emotional development- c) providing support, activities and signposting to advice which develop the capabilities, competences, skills and understanding of parents,- d) providing activities and services designed to preserve and protect the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of children and their parents; e) providing or assisting in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occvpation of children and their parents with the object of improving their conditions of life. Vision Statement: To reach out and support those in the community who are affected by the difficulties associated with parenting alone, whatever their circumstances. We offer friendly support and encouragement to assist with the progression from crisis to wholeness, and a positive future forthe whole family. Values CARING ACCEPTING RESPECTFUL EMPOWERING Overarching Aimsand Objectives Lone parents and their children will experience an increase in confidence and self- esteem Lane parents and their children will experience improved family relationships Lone parents and their children will be able to better cope with family breakdownltheir family situation Lone parents and their children will report improved emotional health and wellbeing Ch3.ii'mari's Reiiort l am delighted, as CLASP'S Chaimian, to introduce ourAnnual Report for 2024. It was another excellentyear. The biggestobvious change was our move of premisesfrom Jubilee House to Mill House. We were wrryto say goodbye after manyyearsto ourfriends and colleagues atwishing Well,- hOweverthe￿O organisations combined had OLrtgrown the building. We have much better accommodation and facilities at Mill House. and we have been made very welcome by My CWA. We started the year anticipating a large in-year defici¢ which was eventually bridged because of a huge fundraising effort- very well done! The new Cheshire East contact was prescriptive, resulting in our inabiltyto bid forthe work. Our previous contrartwtth the local aLTthorty had given us an annual income of over £40,000- for CLASP, this was a huge sum of moneyto lose. Our reseNes meantthatwe could continue our activrties at the same level for one year, but this is unsustainable in future. Going forward. trustees (in conjunrtion wrth stsff. volunteers and service users) must make hard decisions to ensure thatCLASP remain5 a flourishing and viable charrty. Rachel Jonesjoined theTrvstee Board in summer 20241 she has already made an excellent contribution to the board's role of overseeing the management of CLASP, and I look foNard to our working together in the years to come. l also saythanks once moretothe restof ourtrustees, as well as staff and volvnteers. We have all built up a greatorganisation that continues to provide much-needed supportto lone parent families in the local area. John Colclough Chairrnan A Snapshot of 2024 Atthe end of last year we were just moving into our new Brook Street premises, we httthe ground running and since then have supported more than 300 people and received 232 new referrals. The year has been a great success filled with exciting activities and skills building with a big focus on resilience. Our 2024 services included our professional counselling service, 1=1 parent supporti peer support groups, parenting courses, lifeski11s workshops, wellbeing activtties, SUPPOrt for children and young people, holiday artivities and volunteering opportunities. - We have completed more than 900 hours of counselling in Schools and our new counselling rooms. Offering a safe and confidential space ft)r 1=1 counsellingi family therapy and playtherapy. - Our coffee n. chat groups have provided a platForm for peer support signposting and information sharing and more than 400 cups of tea and coffee! - We worked hard to bridge the funding gap left due to the end of our commissioned contract and successfully raised over £iook in 2024. 29 children have graduated from primary plus and we have supported 20 young people in ourtherapeutic groups in High Schools. 15 parents have received i.'I support to help achieve the goals that they had set for themselves, increasing confidence and resilience. Many parents have received support with parenting skills, budgeting or housing issues and reduced isolation by attending groups and courses. - We have spentthe school holidays having the BEST daysoutwith CLASPfamilies, splashing in the sea, building sandcastles. eating ice-creams, building derbs, Visiting farms. kayaking and canoeing, picnicking in the park, hiking up the Cloudi picking pumpkin5 and booing atthe bad guys atthe panto! Our brilliant team have listened to the needs of the families we svpport and have created brilliant opportunities to learn new skills, improve their quality of life and to have fun doing i Yiiuii THIINK Y(iuii Thank you letter from a grateful child THIINK yiiu!I rn* a(e Visittothe farm Den building in the school holidays! Achievements 2024 V-. Iicve 4 main OLJtcome5 runn'r,9 Gcross è':1 of Odr Jroiects, u- we'.1 cs èddit";onal outcomes.'elGting .0 ind vi'.di)?I pro:,ects. The folscwpng showc o."1 prcsrpss acrcss t-.e.se &.ryEin okn.tcomes. Outcome i. Lone parents and their children will benefit from an increased 2bility to cope with family breakdown andlor their family situation Outcome 2. Lone parents and their children will benefit from improved family relationships Outcome 3. Lone pafenls and their ¢hildiEn ivill benefii frorr. incie•5td confidencelself-esteem Outcome 4. Lone parents and their children will report improved ernotional health and wellbeing. CLASP Outcomes 2024 90 Gl 72 oui:oni-. ? io Some feedback from lone parents and children: Mum feels that the boys are beneftting from counsellingi and they absolutely love coming. It has been helpful to explore issues around parenting alone with a counsellor. My confidence and emotional wellbeing have increased. K learned to use newtools she ha5 never used before and learnt lots of new Skills, to tackle DIY tasks in the home. J feels that she can cope with her feelings better. Mum feels that F's confidence and self-esteem has slryrocketed. Mum says he is nowvery easy to parent. L brought the children to the Monkey Forest trip todayi which was fun for them all, she was able to chat and interact with the otherparents. After doing the ito i PP programme, M's Mum said,"1 think he understands feelings and emotions better." Counselling has helped M to express how he feels at home and to stay awayfrom trouble. P is a much calmer and happier child since attending counselling. Referrals received in 2024 for 232 families SINGLE PARINIS We inteiacted in some way with 250 lonelstep parents We provided supportto 232 children and young people li Acknowledgements & Thanl'.f.C.:.i',]l.)< ( Lifiio Lhe yearto prov,'de