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2025-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report

All Disabilities Matter

Year Ended 31[st] March 2025___________

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2025.

Objectves and Actvites

Purposes and Aims

All Disabilities Matter exists to relieve the needs of people with disabilities and special educational needs, promote social inclusion, and improve mental wellbeing through recreational and social activities. Our aim is to create a community where individuals feel accepted, valued, and empowered. Many of those who attend our events tell us these are the only times they feel truly included and understood.

To achieve this, we provide opportunities for social interaction, creative expression, and peer support, while ensuring accessibility for people with physical and learning disabilities. We also support carers through dedicated groups and shared experiences, helping to reduce isolation and stress. By developing our organisation, we will create a welcoming safe space that fosters independence, creativity, and wellbeing—building a stronger, more compassionate community for everyone.

Ensuring Our Work Delivers Our Aims

We regularly review our activities to ensure they align with our charitable purposes and deliver meaningful outcomes for the people we support. Feedback from members and carers is central to shaping our services, and we use surveys, informal discussions, and attendance data to measure impact. Our trustees monitor progress against objectives at quarterly meetings, ensuring that resources are used effectively and inclusively. By maintaining clear governance and listening to the voices of those with lived experience, we can adapt and improve our hub to meet evolving needs, reduce isolation, and promote wellbeing across our community.

The Focus of Our Work

Our charity is centred on creating an inclusive, supportive environment for people with disabilities and their families. We focus on reducing isolation, promoting social interaction, and improving mental wellbeing through accessible activities and community engagement. We have provided a safe space where individuals can build friendships, gain confidence, and participate in creative and recreational opportunities. Supporting carers is also a key priority, offering them peer networks and practical help to ease the challenges they face. Everything we do is guided by the principle of inclusion—ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, feels valued and connected.

This year, All Disabilities Matter successfully provided a consistent safe space for our members, delivering activities that foster inclusion, creativity, and wellbeing. We hosted 12 monthly discos, attracting an average of 100 attendees per event—our most popular monthly activity—giving people with disabilities the chance to enjoy music and dancing in an environment where they feel completely safe and understood. Our afternoon movie and bingo sessions welcomed 20–30 participants each time, offering a quieter, sensory-friendly alternative for those who prefer a relaxed setting and helping us reach members who might otherwise feel excluded. Our monthly carers’ group has become a vital lifeline, enabling carers to share experiences, reduce isolation, and access

All Disabilities Matter

Trustees’ Annual Report

Year Ended 31[st] March 2025___________

practical advice; this year, the group supported over 40 carers, strengthening the network of support around our members. Throughout all activities, we maintained a 100% safe space environment, with every participant reporting that they felt secure, respected, and able to engage at their own pace.

How Our Activities Deliver Public Benefit

All Disabilities Matter delivers public benefit by addressing the social, emotional, and practical needs of people with disabilities and their carers. Our activities reduce isolation, promote inclusion, and improve mental wellbeing—outcomes that directly support the advancement of health and community cohesion. By providing accessible social events, creative sessions, and peer support groups, we enable individuals to build friendships, develop skills, and gain confidence, which enhances their quality of life. Carers benefit from reduced stress and improved resilience through dedicated support networks. These services are offered without discrimination and are open to all who need them, ensuring that our work meets the Charity Commission’s public benefit requirement by creating a stronger, more inclusive community.

In 2024, and with support from Durham County Council and Newton Aycliffe Town Centre Management team, the charity designed, created and built with its volunteers, a fully immersive winter wonderland and Santa’s grotto was created in a temporary Town Centre Unit, for several opening weekends, and special private openings for disabled groups that requested. The experience was to provide a fully accessible environment, and free for all (including the general public) to attend, and donations gratefully accepted within the event.

The event was a resounding success, and was featured also in mainstream media and the Northern Echo paper / Newton Newspaper.

Financial Review

Our opening balance on 17[th] June 2024 was £1,623.33 with a total income for this 10-month period 17[th] June to 31[st] March 2025 was £17,997.62 . Our expenditure was £13,166.99 for the same period. We received one major restricted grant of £8,168 which was used for capital equipment for AV event costs, and our single largest major unrestricted donation was £5,000 from the Great Aycliffe Mayors Charity Fund.

Principal Investment Sources

Between 17[th] June 2024 and 31[st] March 2025, All Disabilities Matter’s income was derived from a combination of community support, event fundraising, and grant funding. The largest single source was a grant of £8,168 from GAAMP Durham County Council in October 2024, which provided essential backing for our AV community events and hub development. Our second largest donation was unrestricted funds from the Great Aycliffe Mayors Charity. Additional income came from local donations and event contributions, including regular Faster Payments from supporters and funds raised through discos and social activities. We also received significant cheque deposits, such as £1,423 and £240 in January 2025, alongside earlier deposits totalling over £1,700 in April 2024, reflecting strong community engagement. Occasional refunds and small transfers supplemented these sources, ensuring a steady flow of income to sustain our charitable activities.

All Disabilities Matter

Trustees’ Annual Report

Year Ended 31[st] March 2025___________ Financial Summary: 17 June 2024 – 31 March 2025

1. Receipts (Money In)
Category Unrestricted
(Discos/Donations)		 Restricted
(Grants)		 Total
INCOME
Grants (GAAMP DCC &
Mayor)		 £0 £13,168.00 £13,168.00
Discos, Event Donations
& Fees		 £3,754.24 £0 £ 3,754.24
Other Donations £1,075.38 £0 £ 1,075.38
Total Income £4,829.62 £13,168.00 £17,997.62
EXPENDITURE
AV/Cinema Equipment £ 285.00 £8,168 £ 8,453.00
Event Hire, Food &
Grotto		 £4,068.25 £0 £ 4,068.25
Admin, Software & Ins £ 645.74 £0 £ 645.74
Total Expenditure £4,998.99 £8,168 £13,166.99

All Disabilities Matter Trustees’ Annual Report

3. Closing Position

Plans for Future Periods

In the coming year, All Disabilities Matter will focus on the creation and opening of a new dedicated meeting and event hub in Newton Aycliffe town centre. This space will serve as a safe, welcoming environment for people with disabilities and their carers, offering accessible facilities and tailored support. The hub after development and fit out works, will enable us to expand our programme of social events, creative workshops, and peer support groups, while introducing new initiatives such as skills development sessions and wellbeing activities. Funds will be raised via grant and donations to allow us to complete these works. By creating a permanent base, we aim to further strengthen community connections, reduce isolation, and provide an accessible and safe space point of contact for those who need it most, not served by other services in our community. Our long-term vision is to make this hub a vibrant centre for inclusion, where every individual feels both valued and empowered.

We will also plan in 2026-27 to transition from a 100% volunteer organisation, to a number of employed (initially part time) to support the new community connection centre and retail offering.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

The organisation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation established under a constitution which established the objects and powers of the organisation.

Recruitment and Appointment of Management Committee

The Trustees of the CIO act as charity trustees under charity law and, in accordance with the constitution, are known as members of the Management Committee. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no financial benefits from the charity. The Board is committed to ensuring that the needs of our service users are central to decision-making and that its composition reflects the diversity of the community we serve. Currently, the Trustee Board comprises dedicated volunteers who bring a range of skills and experience. To strengthen governance and enhance expertise, we are actively seeking

Trustees’ Annual Report

All Disabilities Matter

Year Ended 31[st] March 2025___________

additional members of the management team who can contribute their knowledge and insight to support the charity’s growth and sustainability.

Risk Management

The Trustee Board has implemented a system to identify and review the major risks to which the charity is exposed. A formal risk register is being established and will be updated at least annually. Where appropriate, systems and procedures are introduced to mitigate identified risks.

We have robust procedures in place to ensure adherence to health and safety standards for staff, volunteers, service users, and visitors, and these are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain effective. In addition, the charity operates under comprehensive safeguarding policies and conducts risk assessments prior to all events to ensure a safe environment for everyone involved. These measures help us maintain compliance and uphold the highest standards of care and protection.

Organisational Structure

All Disabilities Matter is governed by a Management Committee consisting of three trustees who hold the roles of Chairperson, Treasurer, and Secretary. In addition to the trustees, the committee includes two management team members responsible for fundraising and community engagement. This structure ensures strong governance, financial oversight, and a dedicated focus on generating resources to sustain and grow the charity’s activities. The trustees provide strategic leadership and compliance with charity law, while the fundraising team plays a vital role in supporting operational delivery and future development plans, including the opening of our town centre hub.

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity Name: All Disabilities Matter

Charity Number: 1208680

Principal Address: 163 Hutton Place Newton Aycliffe DL5 4QS

Current Trustees:

Bank: Lloyds Bank