## **Chair of Trustees Annual Report 2024** Welcome and thank you for giving your time to attend tonight. The purpose of this meeting is to reflect on our year and activities. Highlights of 2024 in March we were part of the local area inspection. Three weeks of scrutiny of all SEND work in children’s services and health services by Ofsted and CQC. There had been six weeks of preparation which we were also involved in and all this partnership work showed in the result of a good report, Dorset, being then the only authority in the southwest to receive such a level. Whilst there was celebration it was reemphasised that children’s services could not forget that life still wasn't good for some children and young people in Dorset. The issues of moving on especially into adulthood still being a weak area of work. From this inspection the Let's Talk online sessions were developed as a mechanism for sharing and learning directly from key people at children's services and health and for them to hear directly from families. Other highlights include Autism in Schools project for secondary schools and Partnership for Inclusion Neurodiversity in Schools for primary schools’ project. Parent carers also were part of the development of the Best Start in Life, Early Years reorganisation. Also for early years, there is the new school readiness project V. Send. In the pipeline we also have work starting for the neurodevelopmental profile toolkit. We are part of 27 boards, workstreams or projects across Children’s Services. I would also like to recognise that as an organisation we too have things to celebrate, we are now in our 15th year since we formed. In November we won the Community Champions Award from Children’s services after being nominated by 5 different teams what a lovely recognition of our work. Also following discussions with the steering group we decided to create a job share for the role of participation coordinator. So we welcomed Rowan and Tamsin as paid employees then recently we employed a paid treasurer Katie, and I would like to offer my thanks to Samantha our previous voluntary treasurer and wishing her success in her Masters. But of course whilst now having paid workers we realise this impacts on our finances and we are conscious of keeping monitoring our budgets. Finance report to follow. I must also share the risks as we head into another year. With the departure of the children's services director Theresa Leavy who led the changes within children's services I do feel reassured that we still have a strong relationship with the new director Paul Dempsey. But as with many local authorities there is once again changes with staff at all levels and we will once again have to ensure that we are still a strong partner, and they know of our value and strengths. The Partnership Agreement between ourselves, Children’s Services and Health we each sign isn’t just for senior level but so all workforce recognize the need to listen to the voice of the families. Within health services a working relationship is still valued however we do not receive funding unless it is for key projects. At this current time a few key health projects are on pause whilst the ICB reevaluates its own Finances. The local authority also has had a change of political leadership, and we are conscious of their need to understand and evaluate what it means to have a child or young person with special needs in Dorset. Its about the financial costs versus our Ambition to keep these children, young people and families at the forefront when decisions are being made. Once again, I thank all those involved with Dorset Parent Carer Council and the families who contribute their time and views to help us in our work. I am the Chair, but they are the leaders. Lesley Mellor. rty Dorget Parenl-corer Councll Registered Charity Number: 1191487 Trustees and Finance Report 2024 for the period l April 2023 to 31 March 2024 Reference and administration details The charity's principal address: Unit 12 Herringston Barn Dorchester DT2 9PU Names of the charity trustees: Lesley Mellor (Chair) Tracey Richards Julie Parham Nicola Smith Annmarie Carter Structure OVernan￿ and mana ement Type of governing document: How the charity is constituted: Trustee selection method: Constitution Unincorporated association Appointed by Members Staff and volunteers: During the year to 31 March 2024, DPCC h3d three employees. a Participation Co-ordinator {to September 2023}, a Participation Facilitator IAuti5m in Schools Project) (from May 20231. and an Administrator (from September 20231. Business Support (Finan￿) for the Autism in Schools project was provided on a self- employed basis {from June 2023). and there were also volunteer5 in the following roles- DPCC membership cTrordinator Events co-ordinator Beach hut ctrordinator Dorset Parent Carer Council Parent Representatives Steering Group members Trustees Treasurer Objertives and artivities Summary of the objective outlined in Dorset Parent Carer Council s Eoverning docurnent.. To relieve the needs of parent carers of children oged O-25 year5 who ore disabled or hove odditional needs in Dorset through the provision of lin particular, but not exclusively) events whereporents andcarers willhove an opportunity toshore views ondgoin infvrmotion. odvice ond support. The charitys activttie5 are outlined in the Chair and Participation Co-ordinator report5. Dorset PareTrtCarer￿lmU1 Reg￿t￿ed(harItyrtUrnbEr. 1391487 Pv¥*?p4ath*e55". Unit 11 l*rrilltyon 8am, tbrcwer, L¥T29PV Rel￿terEd offKE5'. IOComALwerCbse.Weymouth, DT36SZ Dorset Parent Carer Council Financial review For the year l April 2023 to 31 March 2024. receipts and payments were as follows: Total receipts 37.885 Total payments 67.058 For the year l April 2023 to 31 March 2024. the balance at bank and gift vouchers were as follows: Reconciled bank balance at 3113124 Cash in hand at 3113124 136,697 We are grateful for the financial SUPF)Ort of the Department for Education. Dorset Council, NHS Dorset ICB and other local partners via grants and project funding. This has enabled Dorset Parent Carer Council to offer opportunities for co-production participation, training, and peer support, as well as to work collaboratively with partners to produce information and resources for parent carers and families. The charity ended the financial year with funds allocated as follows= Reserves Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total 35.CU) 44.966 56,737 136,702 Reserves Dorset Parent Carer Council aims to maintain reserves at a level necessary to fijnction effectively for a period of 12 months, should financial difficulties occur beyond the control of the charity- This equates to our core costs relating to staffing. administrative expenses, information and digital resources. and parent carer support. If required, additional funding streams would be sourced to facilitate a seamless continuation of service to our members. Amounts hetd in reserve have been allocated with due consideration of the following= An analysis of existing funds The reliability of current income sOur￿S and new income opportunities Expenditure on planned artivities Future needs, contingencies, and risks Consequences of being unable to meet forecasted need. There are no uncertainties about the charity as a going concern. There are sufficient funds in reserves to ensure continuity for twelve months after year end. There are no funds in deficit at the year end. DorSEt Parentcarercw￿l ￿e￿sterEd charitynumbEr. 1191487 PrfncY*thl￿". un￿ 12.¥wrW Bwn.Dorcl￿te1, DT29P Dorset Parent Carer Council Statement of financial artivities 3110312024 31103/2023 Receipts Dept. for Education Dorset Council NHS Somerset Parent Carer Forum NHS Dorset ICB (Autism in Schools project) Totsl receipts 17.457 20,(KKI 16,957 15,0(Xl 640 112 77,000 109.709 428 37.885 Payments Staffing costs Training Meeting costs Infrastrurture costs Resources. information developrnent Website charges/licences Parent Carerfs remuneration Other Parent Carer expenses Autism in Schoo15 Project Total pa￿ents 16.474 24,327 473 3,354 692 945 868 1.914 1,809 2.673 1.560 1,099 120 1.708 43.418 67,058 38,822 Net rKeipts/payments (29,174) 70,886 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year 165.876 136,702 94.990 165,876 The Autism in Schools project commenced during this financial year. A grant of £77,000 from NHS Dorset was received in the prior year, and expenditure to 31 March 2024 of £43,418 inclu(les £30,647 relating to 3 3-year Autism Education Training Licence from the National Autistic Society- Expenditure on staffing and administration, meetings and resources for schools totalled £12,771. Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the report above. Signed on behalf of the charrty's trustees= Signature Full name Position Date Aq LOQ DDrset Par￿tC3￿c￿￿ Re8L%ter2d tharitynumktr. k191487 PthKW•Mrp55'. Uftkn12. HerrIn￿￿Tr Bam, Dor