LAMBS Charity Annual Report 2022-2023
The Trustees and Chair of Lincolnshire Area Maternity and Birth Support (LAMBS) Charity present their annual report and audited accounts for the year ended 2023 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. As a small charity below the Charities audit threshold, this report focuses on the main activities undertaken by the charity.
Charity Details
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Charity Name : Lincolnshire Area Maternity and Birth Support (LAMBS)
Address : 62A Mill Lane, Lincoln LN6 9PD
Telephone number: 07784 868690
E-Mail: info@lambscharity.org
Website: www.lambscharity.org
Charity Reg. No: 1194960
Our vision
Our Vision Our vision is to help support families in
Lincolnshire by providing practical
support to meet immediate needs,
helping parents and children seize every
opportunity to flourish.
Our Mission Statement To ensure that children and their
families or carers, who are most in need,
benefit from the funding we have to
offer
Our Values
Families are at the heart of our work
Our Activities Provide practical support to meet
family’s immediate practical needs,
working with the wider community and
organisations.
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Review of activities and achievements
During 2023 we continued to advertise and develop our social media platform and increase volunteers. Support packages for parents/ carers/ siblings to aid their wellbeing and comfort whilst having a baby on the neonatal unit continue. Care packages have been delivered for those mothers/carers to help support them during a difficult period. These have been very successful on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas day and so far, we have managed to deliver these to Neonatal units in Boston and Lincoln, with good feedback from families as to their importance during a difficult time. They also continue to help promote the charity and spread the word. We are
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LAMBS Charity Annual Report 2022-2023
now including delivering care packages to mothers that are admitted to hospital and do not have a
hospital bag with them, whether this be through spontaneous labour or any other reason. Toiletry supplies for men have also been provided so that they are available should male partners/carers have an unexpected stay.
The neonatal units have started sibling craft groups and LAMBS have donated art supplies to help get these sessions started.
Future projects for 2024 include, but not limited to facilities or equipment – Providing practical items for babies/children within the community and vulnerable families.
We will not accept restricted funds based on discrimination towards any characteristic set about within the Equalities Act 2010.
For any business or group that wants to donate we will look at the donor and see if their vision and values are in line with that of our charity and the charity commission.
The Facebook page and website remains active and our social media campaign is developing with the support of volunteers.
Running the Organisation
Board of Trustees
| Board of Trustees | Board of Trustees |
|---|---|
| Mrs Claire Gartland | Chair |
| Mrs Joanna Vickers | Secretary/Treasurer |
| Mr John Stacey | Social Media/Marketing |
| Mrs Amanda Pike | Social media/Marketing |
The chair and trustees ensure the smooth running of the charity and the decision-making body for the charity. The chair and Trustees meet four times a year and more meetings can be held as required. Communication with Trustees and Chair is mainly by online contact. The Treasurer is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Strategy for 2024
Our strategy in support of our objectives are:
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LAMBS Charity Annual Report 2022-2023
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➢ To work closely with organisations across Lincolnshire to receive funding and provide a rapid response to high priority funding cases that are made through our application process.
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➢ To identify the ongoing needs of our beneficiaries through direct communication with families and organisations.
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➢ To have in place our marketing strategy.
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➢ To ensure relevant policies and procedures are in place.
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➢ To work to create a volunteer network.
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➢ To diversify our fundraising committees, income streams and supporter base.
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➢ To grow our income from corporate supporters.
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➢ To grant wishes that may exceed expectations.
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➢ To find innovative ways to secure funding.
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➢ To raise our profile by growing our social media platforms.
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➢ To continue to provide Care packages for families within the Maternity and Neonatal service.
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➢ Each financial year publish an annual report and financial report detailing our income and expenditure.
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➢ To have clear policies and procedures in place.
Policies & Procedures
The Organisation has the following Policies & Procedures in place.
The date following each title is the date of the latest revision.
| The date followingeach title is the date of the | latest revision. |
|---|---|
| Bullying& Harassment | 01-August 2021 review 2024 |
| Code of Behaviour | 01-August 2021 review 2024 |
| Conflicts of Interest | 01-August 2021 review 2024 |
| SafeguardingChildren & YoungPeople | 01-August 2021 review 2024 |
| Supervision and Safe Recruitment of volunteers Fundraising guidance for volunteers |
01-August 2021 review 2024 |
| Managingcomplaints | 01-August 2021 review 2024 |
Copies of the above Policies & Procedures are available on request.
Fundraising Strategy/Promoting and Advertising
We aim in 2024 to:
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➢ Select the most effective campaigning activity or combination of campaigning activities to achieve our ends.
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➢ Build partnerships with the public and other organisations.
Following the COVID pandemic and public vaccination priorities. 2023 centred on support packages for parents/ carers/ siblings within the maternity and Neonatal hospital units.
Thereafter, as funding allows, specific funding may be available for larger cases through our funding request process.
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| Marketing | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Impact | Steps/Timeline | |
| Website developed | Clear and accurate representation of our Charity. - Targeted messages for range of audiences. - Increased potential to introduce new volunteers and beneficiaries to the charity |
Review target audience and services of charity as a whole - need further support to guide website development - Support to Liaise with public and stakeholders to drive website development - Appoint external company to design website or consider development internally - Monitor website hits and activity to understand market |
Website developed but require support to maintain, sustain and further develop. |
| Promotional Leaflet/flyer has been produced and added to any care packages. |
Clear and accurate representation of our services. - Targeted messages for range of audiences. - Increased potential to introduce new volunteers and beneficiaries to the Charity |
Compile and distribute leaflets Completed. |
completed |
| Develop social media and online advertising text |
Clear and accurate representation of our services. - Targeted messages for range of audiences. - Increased potential to introduce new volunteers and beneficiaries to the Charity. |
Identify target audience and services of charity as a whole - Develop text and pages on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram - Connect with local radio and TV within Lincolnshire. |
Social media on line presence in place. Volunteer recruited and helping with social media pages which have been developed. More volunteer recruitment during 2024. |
| Develop links within the community |
New relationships established with schools, |
Explore new links to promote charity. |
Continue to seek an adopter for the charity. |
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| organisations, police, children’s activity services to promote fundraising activities. |
networking and attending appropriate conferences / events to explore funding opportunities Approach local providers with requests for adopting charity. Aim to secure 1 adopter of charity. |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Recruitment of volunteers |
Recruitment of volunteers for specific projects |
- target universities, colleges, local community groups by social media, email, face to face, virtual meetings. Aim to recruit volunteers by December 2021 |
2 volunteers recruited at present to aid with social media platforms and fundraising such as JustGiving. |
| Actively seek and request donations from large organisations. |
Supports charity to achieve large funding opportunities |
Target businesses in Lincolnshire, lottery funding. |
ongoing |
| Recruit new/additional trustees |
- New insights and ideas for the project. - Successor(s) in place to allow for retirement age of existing Trustees. |
- Continue to network with local organisations who may have an interest in a role on the Committee. - Ongoing: Review annually. |
Require new Trustees. |
| Fundraising Organise a LAMBS Ball |
Raise significant funds |
On-going social media presence and liaising with hospital staff to help raise awareness. |
Volunteer required to coordinate a LAMBS Ball aim 2024/2025 |
Partnership Working
The LAMBS Charity works with a wide range of organisations to achieve its aims and objectives. These include working collaboratively with the Community, NHS professionals, Providers and charities. As well as teaming up with local organisations to maximise the opportunities and impact for children and their families. Working in partnership has strengthened links and has highlighted the
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charity. However, we still need to progress with local businesses/organisations and community project work.
Volunteers
In the first three years the charity aimed to build a team of volunteers to support fund raising, ensuring that safeguarding requirements are met. The charity hopes to gain from more volunteer involvement – they bring a fresh pair of eyes and new skills. In turn we endeavour to provide experience of working with a charity to enable those volunteers to pursue their own career and life plans. Specific ventures within their scope of skills are given to volunteers to ensure clarity of their role. On recruitment they are given an introductory pack and be provided with the LAMBS Charity policies to which they will be required to work within, and a code of conduct agreement is signed. Support and supervision for the volunteers is undertaken, by a named Trustee. We monitor fundraisers, volunteers and third parties working with us to raise funds, to ensure that they comply with the Code of Fundraising Practice. We would like to thank our current volunteers who work so hard for the charity.
Financial Report
Any items purchased for packs that have not yet been issued to hospital services have been retained for use.
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LAMBS Charity Annual Report 2022-2023
Risk Assessment
Strengths
Low financial outgoings Experienced Trustees from differing backgrounds with social media experience, life experiences and work experiences.
Opportunities
Well established links in the community and with Health Care organisations. Scope for development due to appeal of charity.
Scope for schools, organisations, services to adopt charity.
Weaknesses
Limited financial resources at the outset, require more support with additional volunteers and Trustees.
Limited time due to additional work commitments.
Threats
Competition with existing charities. Current financial climate.
Restrictions during COVID 19 pandemic and family priorities reduced activity and face to face events, and limited opportunities. Which should improve during 2024
Claire Gartland - Chair
Jo Vickers - Secretary
Jon Stacey - Marketing
March 2024
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