Charity Registration number: NIC100114 Aso 'teacht i méadalocbt- SOLAS ANNUAL REPORT (01/07/22 TO 30/06/23) PRESENTED BY.. DR JOAN HENDERSON SOLAS PARKMORE BUILDING, 284A ORMEAU RD, BELFAST, BT7 2GB
SOLAS ANNUAL REPORT (01/07/22 TO 30/06/23) CHARITY OBJECTIVES Key objectives Solas is Company Limited by Guarantee and not Limited by Share Capital, and was constituted on 23, March 2009. To provide practical supports & services for child ren and young people with disabilities and their families To advance the educational and social development of children and young people with additional needs, including those children that fall outside remit of support offered by statutory providers CHARITY LOCATION During the period July 2022 to June 2023, soias's main site was located in Parkmore Building, 284A Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 2GB. We also have a lease on a fi'rst floor premises at 265 Ormeau Road , where we house our Home Support Services and our Therapeutic Services. During the period, we took a further lease on the a double mobile unit at the YMCA in Stranmillis, and refurbished it as a workable space for our new SONA programme and our respite programme. In addition, we delivered support services in 7 Outreach Community settings across south Belfast. Donegall Pass Community Centre, Apsley Hall IApsley Street}, Rosario Youth Centre, Sure5tart Building Markets, , Windsor Women's Centre, Scoil a n Droichid, and Village Church Hall Haypark. CHARITY DIRECTORS / TRUSTEES th During the year I, July 2022 to 30 June 2023, 11 trustees managed the charity including; Chalrperson (resigned as chair in April 20231-Tom Doran- expertise in trainln& people management, quality systems, and networking. th New Chairperson (since 19 April 20231- Fionnguala McCotter- expertise in Special Education Needs and educational management- current principal of primary school. Treasurer Catrlona Nic Sheain- expertise in early years education, and literature and has own creative business New treasurer Isince 19 April 2023)-Jean McGann- finance expertise (working with the Department of Finance) and also has a child with disabilities. th Secretary-joanne Mercer (since 19 April 2023) primary school teacher and mum to a boy with Disabilities Director- Elaine Holmes1Social Worker) expertise in Health & Social care as well as Safeguarding. Director- Ciaran Marley (resigned on 19 April 20231 Director- Ross Reid - Qualifi'ed Architect - expertise in architecture, planning, building regulations. Director- Emily Gallagher- Parent representative with two sons Wlth disabilities- expertise in autism. Director- Laura Burrows- Social Worker (resigned in Jan 2023}- expertise in supporting children and young people with a range of complex needs, as well as expertise in child safeguarding. Director- Mairead McCartan- Engineer- experknse in Health & Safety, Fire Safety, joined in Feb 2022. th th
OUTSOURCING ARRANGEMENTS Solas outsources payroll, HMRC, Tax and Companies House returns to Tax Assist Accountants, 103 Cregagh Road, Belfast, BT6 8PY. CHAIRPERSON'S SUMMARY Over the financial yearjuly 2022 to June 2023, Solas has continued on a growth trajectory, both in terms of services, and income. The big development for Solas over the 12 month period, was setting up and operationalising the SONA (Young AdLJlts Day Transistions I programmel This involved takinB a lease on a new site at YMCA , Stranmillis, and ref urbishing it to include a sensory room, a kitchen / cookery space, IT facilities (including WiFil, an open plan social & learning area and bathrooms. This new service supports young adults, not suitable or ready for employment, offering a well-resourced facility, social opportunities with peers, and life skills development at a pace appropriate to each young adult on the programme. Participants can use Direct Payments to access the programme. The programme can accommodate up to 12 adults each day, and runs between 9am and 3pm Monday through to Friday. By the end of June 2023, the proBramme is still in early days, however, there is a summer adult programme planned that will see over 30 young adults supported across 9110 weeks of summer 2023. During the year, our main Parkmore site, on the Om)eau Road, continued to run at full capacity, delivering Early years programmes between 8.45am and 2.15pm pm each day; afterschools programmes between 2.45pm and 5,45pm and youth programmes every evening between 6.15 pm and 9pm, Saturday clubs and evening / weekend respite was also running at full capacity, supporting children and young people with a range of complex needs, and in many cases offering transport to and from home to ensure maximum respite benefit to family carers. Whilst, this year, saw us continuing to facilitate bespoke weekly home support programmes in the home, as well as a full suite of therapeutic interventions for children & young people with additional needs and their carers. This included play therapy, art therapy, group therapy, children's counselling and adult counselling. We also continued to deliver parent support programmes and parent support specific to the Early Years parents, with children going through the statementing process. Throughout the year, our Siblings programme, continued to be developed and supported over 25 young carers throughout the year. Undef our educational remit, we started to re-build our Back on Track {school based I programme, which had largely been decimated over the COVID period. Between September 2022 and June 2023, our Back on Track Co-ordinator engaged 18 retired teachervolunteers, who delivered support to over 360 children with additional needs (literacy and numeracy), across 15 primary schools, over the year. Throughout the period, we continued to deliver our Kids Den educational program to 37 children with an additional learning needs based in South Belfast Urban Village. Our respite services has continued to be in high demand, particularly in the evening5 and weekends, Our summer scheme ran in July and August of 2022 across 4 venues including Scoil an Droichid, Windsor Women's Centre, Rosario Youth Centre and our own premises in Parkmore. We continue to be part of a number of important delivery partnerships. We deliver the STEP programme with Barnardos, Surestart, BSCR and Forward South Partnership. This Early Intervention STEP programme across South Belfast allows Solas to support over 36 families through Home Support as well as 20 young people on our REACH Youth programme. We have a Service Level Agreement with South Belfast Surestart, where we
provide 10 spaces to their 2-3 years on our specialist Seedlings Programme. We continued delivering our vouth provision, primarily with the support of the Empowering Young People Big Lottery Fund. As Chair of a wonderful charity, I want to thank the children, the parents, and our Board for all that they have done and all that they continue to ensure Solas continues to provide practical support to a growing number of children & young people with disabilities and their families. Special thanks to the staff and volunteers in SOLAS who's commitment and dedication is exceptional. They all have contributed enormously over the year under difficult circumstances and I want to commend their motivation, innovation and stamina in all they do. I look forward to our continued growth at SOLAS and delivering incredibly important seNices to children & young people with disabilities and their families. Chair. F Mccotter
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Annual Review of July 2023- June 2024 The establishment of SONA at a leased site on YMCA in Stranmillis was one of the key deliverables of the year. This program was set up to accommodate young adults leaving Special School, who need to be in a day provision, continuing to learn life ski115, and develop social skills alongside their peers. This SONA programme is very much in pilot phase and has been based on generating fees from participants who acce55 Direct payments (a55e55ed by Disability Social Workers), which are payable to Solas, on a monthly basis. The programme runs every day (Monday to Friday) between 9am and 3pm and include5 trips, gardening in the new polytunnel, cookery, dance, music, exercise and fun. We Secured a 5 year lease the YMCA mobile unit, and installed a sensory room as well as cookery space polytunnel and social / learning space. sonA SUPPORTinG OPPORTuniTIES FOR ADULTS GATEWAY,, ,} TO THE IJNIVERSE
Young People Enjoying activities at SONA WHAT ELSE WE DO? In addition to the above, Solas delivered the following range of programmes and services in the year which can be broadly cate8orised into four key areas. Social Develo ment Pro rammes: supporting children and young people with additional needs including autism. These include; Early Years programme, Afterschools programmes across four locations, Monday through to Friday afternoon, for children aged 4-14 years, with autism and a range of learning disabilities, Saturday programmes (Morning and afternoon), Respite (afternoon, evening and weekends), Youth programmes every evening, for junior and senior youths lup to 191 with disabilities, Youth residential, and Summer Schemes. Famil Su ort Thera eutic Services . These programmes support families of children & young people with a range of disabilities including autism, and include our Home Support & Therapeutic Services, our Parent support se55ions, Carer & Wellbeing Programme, Parent & Toddler sessions, Play & Stay Sessions, Sibling programme and our Family Fun Days. Outreach Pro rammes: We deliver some outreach work, particularly in the area of autism support, across the City and into the Family Hubs. This work includes delivering Training workshops to community groups / staff working in the community and staff in schools. Much of this outreach involves, supporting SENCOS in schools, partnering with other organisations to plan and deliver research {Autism Friendly Village research with SBSS) and delivering training on autism awareness.
Educational Su ort Pro rammes These programmes support children with some mild additional learning needs, and include our Back on Track (BOT) programme and our Kids Den Programmes. Youth taking part octivities All of the Programmes listed above are delivered and maintained by a team of 14 full-time staff, 34 part-time staff, 13 bank staff and over 60 volunteers, Our Back on Track programme is heavily reliant on the support of retired teacher volunteers who provide I:1 weekly sessions on literacy, or numeracy, to children in mainstream schools who have an additional need, but do not meet the threshold for additional statutory support, This programme was re-established by the co- ordinator, Kate Diamond, (following COVID), in Jan 2022, and by the end of June 2023, it had 18 retired teacher volunteers out supporting 15 schools and over 360 children with addition needs. Our summer scheme, also relies heavily on volunteers, and over the summer period of 2022, Jenny our volunteer co-ordinator, had recruited and engaged 35 student volunteers to help support the delivery. Other volunteers / placement from Intern Europe, and the local universities were also involved in volunteering across our Kids Den, Early years Afterschools and youth provision.
Ipql Back on Track Volunteer Training and Kids Den Activity EARLY YEARS PROGRAMME Kathryn K and her team, have continued to build an excellent, very high-quality Specialist Earlv Years (EY} Programme, for 18 children aged 2-3 years with additional needs and thi5 year also a 3-4 year old pilot programme for 12 children with additional needs. Through the support of Department of Education Funding, the team has delivered a full programme of EY support. The Start of the years saw the establishment of the Belfast Wide Early Years Programme, led by Solas in partnership with, Glenbrook Surestart, East Belfast Surestart and Kids Together. It also had direct input from the Allied Health professionals (SLTS and OT51 as well as direct input from Educational Psychologists. All groups collaborated to deliver specialist developmental provision for almost 80 children, 2-3 and 3-4 year olds across the city in line. Following a detailed evaluation, conducted independently by Jane Turnbull, the Programme wa5 approved for funding and delivery again in 23124 by the Department of Education. As above, these Early Years programmes include input from SLTS and OT5 as well as Educational Psychologists. Children attend 3 to 4 sessions per week across the full academic year. Sessions are delivered by our Early Year's team, and include Attention Autism, Makaton behavior support and delivering on the developmental need5 of each individual child. In parallel with this, we offer one to one family support sessions. parent training sessions (Make and Take, communication, what is autism etc.). The input from the Child Development Clinics is a key feature of the programme. The Belfast Wide Early Years Programme for Children with Additional Needs (Partnership), has presented a real workable opportunity for Educational and Health professionals to work together in
Community Settings with community professionals, in a way that truly benefits children and provides real opportunities for effi'ciencies. Over the year, we continued our Service Level agreement with South Belfast Surestart,(SBSSI, agreeing to allocate 10 spaces on our Specialist Early Years Team to SBSS referrals. Solas is keen to partner with strong, reputable partners and sees partnership as a key tenant of future Community Service Delivery. Our weekly play and stay for toddlers and parents also took place throughout the year- a social group for parents to meet with other parents with very young children with developmental delay. (JQ
ASD Afterschools / Respite and Saturday Clubs During the year Solas continued to develop our afterschool programmes to accommodate the bespoke needs of our growing client base. With 2 x minibuses on the road and available for school pickups, we were able to accommodate more children, and better support the childcare and respite needs of families. Lisa Toan, the Childcare Services & Respite Manager, worked in tandem with Rebecca the Respite Co-ordinator to develop bespoke respite packages, that would meet the specific needs of children who could not cope in a group / social situation. This allowed us to accommodate more complex young people, with I to I respite sessions or 2 to I respite sessions. We had developed capacity to ensure our Afterschool and Sat programme delivery can run alongside the respite. Following the annual Inspections in December'22 and January '23, our Belfast Health & Social Care Trust registered settings, were recognized for the very high quality of care that staff provide to children attending. Funding of these programmes continues to be challenging, however, we have put a bigger emphasis throughout the year, on bringing in children that have acce5S to BHSCT Direct payments, and which allows us to charge at a slightly higher hourly rate of £14.83, compared to an hourly rate of £10 for Self Funded spaces. It's fine balance between meeting need and reducing the number of Self-Funded spaces. We also have support from the Bright Start Fund, which helps to cover some of the Manager's salary. However, we have to continue to try and secure some core funding to cover overheads, across the organization, and make the case for fairness and equity for all. Staff training has been high on our priority list over the past year, Two staff completed a Level 5 in Managing a Childcare Settrng. 20 staff completed Supporting Participation and Wellbeing. Three early years Staff completed Sensory Training, and 4 staff members completed online modules in Playwork with Playboard. Safeguarding refresher training was completed by 25 staff, Pediatric First Aid has been completed by 10 staff. 6 childcare staff updated their Food
Preparation qualifications; an additional Child Designated Officer was trained up, (Solas now has 3 Designated CPOS), and 4 staff received specialist training delivered by Community Nursing on site, in order to be able to support children with specific medical needs at Solas. The profile of children attending Afterschools has changed significantly over the years, with over 900A of children coming into the service attending special schools. Feeder schools include,. Thorbank Special School, Glenveagh Special School, Haberton Special School, Oakwood Special School, Fleming Fulton, St Gerards, Greenwood House Assessment Centre, Hollycroft Special School, and Cedar Lodge School. Solas operates a pick up service from Thorbank School, Greenwood House, Fleming Fulton, Glenveagh, Oakwood and Harberton. Throughout the year, we also provided a drop home service for those who needed this service. 104. The afterschool programme on the Parkmore site is at full capacity with 8 children in each session. Jenny supervise5 this programme, and is ably supported by a team of assistants, bank staff and volunteer5. Assistants have undertaken sensory play training, safeguarding training and autism training. We have a number of children in sessions With complex medical issues, requiring more specialist training, which nominated staff have received from designated nurse5 and training agencies. During the year, children in the afterschool sessions have taken part in therapeutic art sessions, yoga, and visit5 from the Sensory Bus. The children have grown a range of wildflowers, fruits and vegetables in our raised beds.
Our Donegall Pass ASD Afterschool programme also ran at full capacity from Sept 22 to June 2023. The age profile of children attending this club is younger than our Parkmore site, with a significant proportion of children coming from Greenwood Special School and Oakwood Special School. Supervisors were ably supported by a team of assistants, bank staff and volunteers. As with the Parkmore setting, all children were able to access sessions in therapeutic art, yoga and the Sensory Bus. We delivered six ASD Saturday Clubs (three on Saturday morning and three in the afternoon) across the Parkmore site throughout year, and in the Markets Surestart building. Children attending these social clubs ranged in age between 6 and 14 years. Our plan going forward is to continue to develop the afterschools and respite provision, providing as much support as possible to children with more complex needs, and in receipt of Direct Payments. Over 165 children accessed the afterschools clubs, 35 accessed respite and 50 accessed some Saturday sessions in the year.
4J SUMMERSCHEME Summer is another key highlight in our autism programme delivery calendar. Over the summer of 2022, we delivered the programme across 6 weeks, including a 2-week programme specifically for the Early Years group. The school aged programme ran across 4 venues each week in south Belfast, including, Parkmore, Donegall Pass Community Centre, Windsor Women's Centre and Scoil an Droichid, Apsley Hall and Rosario Youth Centre. We have an excellent relationship with all of our community partners and really appreciate the support they give us through accessing their venues over the summer time. The summer scheme is a huge commitment for the team. Lisa oversees the role of organizing the summer scheme, with support from Mari-Therese in recruiting staff and Jenny in recruiting volunteers for same. We had 168 children registered for the programme in summer 2022, and a long waiting list. Additional staff were recruited and trained for the scheme. Throughout the programme we were able to take children out on 2 to 3 trips per week per group.
Summer time - trips to the beach and playtime. SOLAS YOUTH PROGRAMME. Through the year, our youth programmes ran four nights of the week, Monday through to Thursday, with each night targeting 2 different age groups or ability group. Each group (with the exception of the very high needs group) has an average of 10 - 12 participants. With the support of Big Lottery, we were able to deliver additional youth sessions, and keep the continuity of the programme for all cohorts throughout the year. The REACH Youth Social Programme builds Resilience through Exercise, Art, Communication and Health engagement. These clubs ran as I session per week and supported approx. 10 young people with autism, aged between 12 and 16 years. Young people engaged in a range of physical activities including boxing, trampolining and yoga, as well a5 arts & crafts. In addition, each programme consisted of a range of trips to places like the cinema, the Ozone center and walks on the beach. Asignificant amount of energy and time was focused on developing the young people's social communication skills. Our youth programme has over doubled in the past year, and continues develop in line with the changing need5 of our young participants. The youth programmes place a lot of emphasis on helping young people become more resilient to managing changes / transitions. Through their participation, young people have developed a network of peers and have had opportunity to socially communicate through exercise activities as well as art. The programme supported young people with their mental health and instilled in them a greater sense of valuing themselves - not Seeing their disability as an impediment but as a strength.
Izz',11s Tri to Cli & Climb We integrated some life skills into sessions such as cookery, healthy eating and keeping safe online. We also had experts from Action Mental Health, who delivered a range of workshops and provided support on tools and techniques to adopt when feeling over-whelmed. SOLAS 'BACK ON TRACK, PROGRAMME Solas Back on Track Programme (BOT) tar8ets primary aged children within area5 across Nl that experience high levels of deprivation including above average free school meals entitlement,
children on school special needs register, poor housing and low income families. Typically, these children begin to disengage from formal education as early as Pl and by P2/P3 are already demonstrating a lower sense of self-worth, are underachieving across the curriculum.Between September 2022 and June 2023, OLJr Back on Track Co-ordinator engaged 18 retired teacher volunteers, who delivered support to over 360 children with additional needs (literacy and numeracy), across 15 primary schools, over the year. KIDS DEN Under the leadership of Catriona, Kids Den operated 4 afternoons per week, offering one on one support to 35 children each week, from the local area of South Belfast, The programme, which is funded by Urban Villages, was delivered in Apsley Hall at Donegall Pass and served children from the Markets, Donegall Pa55, Sandy Row, Lower Ormeau and Botanic. Catriona along with staff assistants and some student volunteers have worked exceptionally hard to inspire and encourage young children struggling with literacy, to help them grow in confi'dence and self-esteem. Students can bank experience gained volunteering in the Kids Den land other Solas programmesl, against the volunteering criteria in place to attain a QUB 'future ready award, 3 to 4 students each afternoon, from a range of professional backgrounds, supported children with homework and alternative activities on a l-l basis across the terms. At Kids Den the children celebrate diversity and inclusion, and ensure all children feel respected and valued by staff and peers. The children look forward to celebrating each other's birthdays, and this provides them with the opportunity to sit at a table together and extend their social skills. The children enjoyed celebrating the Chinese New Year. A staff member was able to share Information about her culture, as she grew up in Malaysia. She brought in a chocolate gold coin, inside a red envelope for each child and explained the reasoning behind this tradition. Each child received a card which displayed their birth year's animal, and the typical personality traits of a person born in this year. To celebrate St Patricks day the children took part in St Patricks Day themed bingo. The children enjoyed competing against their peers and had lots of fun during this activity. Children also celebrated Ramandan in March / April , and those children in the kids Den were able to discu55 Stories and the 'good deed, chain- which motivated the group to chart their good deeds overthe month
'Kids Den, lilliHINIItr.' ,iiilhiimlllllll J/
HOME Su ort During the year, we have experienced ongoing need from families seeking home support and one to one home interventions, to support them with their child, taking them through the early stages of diagnosis or pre- diagnosis. Michelle (who was on maternity leave for much of the yearl and her team provided specialist support and advice to families in distress. Over 130 familie5 were supported through this programme during the year. There was a big demand for support with the 'Statementing Process,, particularly between November and the end of January. The team also provided practical Support to families, in their home, developing visual schedules, choice boards, sourcing financial support where needed, and referring if necessary to other in-house programmes (such as play therapy, art therapy or counselling}. The majority of referrals came through the Family Support Hubs. We have tried to manage waiting lists, so that no one is waiting longer than 12 weeks for the Home Support Service. Respite In addition to the Respite which runs alongside the afterschools program, we also introduced bespoke respite for children and young people with very complex needs, and who really were unable to cope in a group situation. Thi5 case is generally organized to fit with the family needs, and can take the shape of a pick up, from home, a 3 hours respite session out of the house, and then a drop home after the session. In most cases, we are supporting children on a 2 to I ratio, 12 staff to each child), which reflects the complexity of needs of the children availing of this service. This area of work, provides care options for families of children with disabilities, and ensures that families can avail of some much needed respite. Links with Children's Disability Team Social Workers have been strengthened and a growing number of referrals to our respite service are now coming through thi5 route. Similarly referrals from the Social Work LAC support team {Looked After Children) have grown, as indeed have self-referrals. The majority of children and young people availing of our respite services have a range of disabilities including autism, and will invariably attend a special school. As an additional support, we try to offer transport for families engaged in the bespoke respite programme. Trainin and Research We have delivered a range of training sessions for parents on autism and how to support children with ASD, offering session on communication issues, statementing process, transitions, preparing for holidays and sibling 5UPPOrt. Our staff have also delivered training to external community organization5 and school staff. We delivered sensory play training sessions to 10 primary schools in South Belfast). We also delivered autism awareness training to staff in the Lyric and in local community organizations including {Ark Housing, and Clanmill) EXTERNAL PARTNERS IN DELIVERY- Solas has established a number of very strong delivery partnerships including the STEP programme, and Early Intervention programme across South
Belfast delivered by Solas in partnership with Forward South Partnership, South Belfast Surestart, Banardos and Belfast South Community Resources. Solas also has a partnership with South Belfast Surestart for the delivery of the Urban Village'A Place for Me, programme, which focuses specifically on the delivery of support interventions in the South Belfast Urban Village area, for those with additional needs and theirfamilies. Finally Solas h3s a formal service level agreement with South Belfast Surestart to support 10 children from the South Belfast Surestart area, through our early Years program, which 15 a year-long intervention for children with additional needs and their families, Also as highlighted above, Solas is lead partner in the BWEY Early Years programme including 2 x Sure5tarts, as well as Kids Together, Allied Health professionals from BHSCT and Educational Psychologists from the EA. SIBLING PROGRAMME Solas with funding from the Big Lottery was able to continue developing and delivering our Sibling programme across the year. Siblings have to shoulder huge caring responsibilities at a very young age, and very often their needs are overlooked as much of their parent's attention goes to supporting their disabled brother or sister. This programme was independently evaluated by Jane Turnbull Consultant and has shown to deliver remarkable positive outcomes for those participating. Siblings have been able to relate to others in the same position and form friendships with children who truly understand their situation. This programme forms a key element of the National Lottery programme Sibling team enjoying some art activities and a trip to Ozone Centre
Connections with Others. We hosted a number of placement students from the Msc in Atypical Child Development at QUB and Bachelors in Psychology Degree programme. We also have a relationship with Intern Europe, which had one student travel and work with us from Switzerland for almost 9 months. ri During the summer of 2021, we recruited a number of teachers interested in summer work as well as SEN assistants, who helped to deliver our summer scheme. Local families and groups in the community are very supportive of Solas regularly drop in donations of stationary, clothes and materials to support our children sessions. Reflection from the MD: As we reflect back on the last 12 months, we can be proud of the work that has been achieved at Solas, and the range and quality of services on offer. On a personal note, I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution of our staff. Solas is very lucky to have such a strong supportive team, of staff and volunteers. that fully embrace the values of our very special organisation. Whilst we operate in a challenging environment, little certainty about future funding, and ever-increasing costs, we have managed to carve out a very strong social business, driven as much by hearts, as it is by minds. Establishing the SONA program has been a very positive development and will help to support many of those children in Solas approaching 19 years, and moving into adult services. In addition it will help to bring some financial stability to the charity going forward. Our therapeutics services has been a game changer in terms of supporting children and young people with additional needs, with play and art therapy or counsellinE, Carers are a key focus of the organization now, with offerings such as counselling services and well -being programmes, a part of our expanding offering. l am confident that we will continue to deliver great work going forward and raise awareness of our work in the wider community. I would like to acknowledge the sterling work conducted by our board over the past year, and the many hours they volunteered to ensure that the integrity and credibility of Solas continues to be maintained. Thanks especially to our chairman Tom
Doran, who stepped down during the year and has given many years of support to the team, and myself, Thanks to Fionnuala Mccotter for taking on the role of chair, and embracing this position with passion, vigour and energy. I would also like to thank Anne Clarke who, through her accountancy expertise, remains an invaluable support in ensuing that our accounts are kept in order. The Next 12 Months In the next 12 months we will consolidate our existing programmes and work collectively to plan for the development of our new building on site. We have started the proce55 of applying for planning permission (July 20231, and would expect to have this secured over the coming 12 months. We will continue to work diligently to support all of our children, young people and families, through the Services that we offer. We will work hard to secure funding to allow us to continue delivering the full 5Uite of services that we currently have available. We will continue to embrace partnerships that give voice to those with disabilities, and we will remain committed to our values or promoting fairness and equality for all (particularly those with disabilities). Our Impact - Across All Solas Programme 2023 Descrlptlon July 2022 to June 2023 People Directly Impacted. (People who have availed of the service{s) provided. 37 children took part in our Kids Educational Den programme- afterschool one to one support in literacy provide by tutors and student volunteers 30 children aged 2-3 years and 3-4 years took part in out Early Years Programmes. 25 families took part in our Parent & Toddle programme. 1324 165 children with autism aged 4 to 14 attended our afterschool autism programme for social development 180 children with disabilities aged 4 to 14 took part in our specialist summer scheme
60 children are registered and attended our Saturday autism social development club. 25 siblings took part in our SiblinE Programmes 70 young people aged 11 to 16 are taking part on our REACH and Youth Programmes supporting young people with disabiliknes 25 young people accessed respite (either bespoke or in small group setting) 150 parents directly benefited from home support for their child with autism 150 children directly benefited from home support for their child with autism 65 families directly benefitted from respite support IQM) parents / teachers / classroom assistants and community org workers directly benefitted from taking part in training sessions 130 children / young people accessed play therapy or art therapy between Jan and June 2022 20 adult carers accessed counselling 52 children / young people accessed complimentary services (art therapy, clay therapy, trampolining) 20 carers accessed our health & well-being programme 20 young adults on SONA programme Organisations Directly Impacted 13 8 schools gained support through Kids Educational Den 7 organisations were directly partnered with (Barnardos, South Belfast SureStart, Kids Together, Forward South Partnership, Belfast South Community Resource, Glenbrook Surestart, East Belfast Surestart)
People Indirectly Impacted People directly linked to service users who have Encompassing," Parents and Teachers of children on Kids Den Programmes & Social Development programmes, parents of children in our specialist autism afterschool programmes and Saturday clubs, Parents of children with disabilities on our summer scheme, parents of young people with disability on our Youth Programmes, Parents receiving respite, Siblings on our Sibling Programme, Children on our early Years Programme,. family members of those receiving play therapy, art therapy and counselling. Family members of those young adults on our SONA programme. 5000+ Financial Revlew It is the policy of Solas that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use, should be maintained at a level equivalent to 3 to 6 months salary. Where specific projects have been identified that require funding, an appropriate amount unrestricted funds can be designated to such projects.
SOLAS 8TATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIE8 INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2023 UDr••lrt¢t•d RMtAelod nd lund• 202J ZOZ3 Totsl 2023 2022 Chgriiablo AcllwMI InY•$Thhi$ 28J231 10 624.810 1,1 io,oso 10 838,917 244 Tot•1 In¢•m• 286.241 824.819 1.110.LO 831,161 Chai51ablts 8clkn.11 6.708 949.156 955,802 7,818 Totsl r¢jOu r•a oxp•ndgd 949,150 955,eoz 703.818 Nol laxpond1lThinn¢0MI lor th• y•ar 278.535 .124.337 154.198 133.343 Tv•n6lers behyeen lund$ x16.152 88.152 N•1 movonwnl fund• 192.39) 154,1 lJ3.34J I.nd b•lan% al l Jvty 2W22 131.9)2 461.399 593,301 4S9.958 Fwnd 1•¢0• •t 30 Juno 2Q2¥ J24.28S 423.214 747.4 AM kncomii nnil wxi)JndilthTVJ delive lityn t11{nU5 1th. Tlie 61niomonl ol ac17S alsoc¢wllo8WAhlhé IOW*emoii1sl an InrAm¥Y oxporwJhui¢•e¢ouiil urjdoi Ihc Companlee Ad 2LL
SOLAS STATEMENT OF FINAIICIAL POSITION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2023 202) 2022 Flx•d ••ul• TAnglbk •ss•ll 171.775 17SJfy) Ctsri•nt a•¥ots Dttblori C8$h Al bank aThJ ITr hanth 30.3 601.830 26.824 103.158 632.433 431,782 ¢1¢ord,, &mounts tsllkng du• Ydllhln one yoaf io {$6.7 {13,6811 Nel wwwonl 501• 576.724 418,101 M•t A88•18 747,499 B93.301 In¢om• lund• Rg$lrlciod lund6 Unie8trklcd Imd• 11 42J.214 324.285 461.399 131.902 74T,499 S93,301 Theso fiTrAnthl sl)tomonl6 h.Ivfy bgon prwrod hi •eeord•ne• vhlh lh• applkjblo lo the v)mpalllo8 8ub19el ThD fin0?07 nIeMaI)ISr0 apwurtd by Ihp Tnbs18•11 on .. 7ia Flonnuu•la hkcollor Truil Comp•ny Regl•trallon No. N1072164 They were signed on behalf of the trustees, by: F Mccotter.
SOLAS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SOLAS Oplnlon W• havè alI0d th• finaftclal slat0 ol SOtaÉ Ohé'¢hafity'l lot Iho yopr •TrJed 30 2023 wtw'th cornwi the slolemenl of 4¢b'viV¢s, Ihe 8r#J nLXa io tho financlol ilat•m•ni$, Indudir 6+gnSfK•ni lecounllng poldoi. Th• find01 reportry irarn%MA)th th81 h81 t•on •Pthd In tholf Pf•p•fitson 18 applica law 8ThJ UThled lOrn Accounling St8ndaids. I1 FRS 102 Tho sla191 I1b1&111 UKIRe ollfy14ndlUnrted Klntyjthm CthgiAlly AceerAéd ACCn9 9¢"¢) our ¢¥knlon, lh• firt¢141 ststsm•nls'. L•ve u liue•ThJ fjif vivwol Ihe alale ollhechNlleblecomrArfs allalrs 82 al 30Jtm 21rd3 ènd ollls Incl1vj iewrcos ond applU iesowcJ. the ye•r It endtd hJ¥ be prwrty pr¢pJf•d In K¢ord•rKe Lh)N•d Genlty Acw Ac¢(¥Jrtk¥ prod1.. anij h•v teen prepwed In Ka¥d•rte TAth the r¢qrtmen11 olth• Cthwnlos Act 2008. BJ81i lor oplnlon CoThJ1¢d our 411 In gCWTdone• wth Inlgmaijcrfwl Slkl•rd• én Authbng IUKI (ISA6 IUKII KI oppll¢•ble14 Ow rewslbiliuej undei thos¢ $1gndarO$ ore fijrthor d•gcnbod In Atsdilofs r0s.Wbtths lh4 ol 11 ftfinn¢iAI .waiwiMvil.s Wllon al our (•( 8r• STrlependent of Ihe chafliy In wlh tho othi¢al f¢4ulromontsthal èro folavani lo ouraudit ofiho fina¥ Slalom1% In It UK. Indudkng Iho F"RC's Evyal S&10, nd Iwve lullilled our Oiher lhlcDI fe¥pM8ibbltties In accord• ith these reqrIMlI. W• bg11ow th•1 Ihe •udll evldonctswè havo oblaln¢d Is suirert •TrJ aFwoprtaits10 wovld• è tsa$ lof ow oplnKIn, Contlyilon rnl•llny lo golng conc•m. In Ju¢JiVng finandjl il•l¢m•nl3. we have ¢C¥KJuODd that th• Twst•ès' uw ol Iho gc&¥d con bads ol aCGounling In Ih8 Fx¢paiallon ol Ihts fin3fi slal•nv)N6 Is UPWtsFffj81è. Bawd M lh• wk hov• porf0m, we h8v• nol Idfil #ry mJlerlal erttrI1tJ fdatlng lo events e ¢11)n5 Ihat, Indrviduaty or collechvèly. may casl gnifIoI doubl on tlKt thtY.& atxlity lo ¢onllnuo aG a gn9 cori¢oin loi 4 pellod ol 8116881 I[¥8 monV)8 liL¥n when Iho Iintynclal st8lemenl$ ¥te ¥thI$e fry lsiuo Our r•spon51L4fvlles¥1 lh•reSp11o9S ollh• Tn¢¢$ wth lo wJin9corK•in8r•dos¢rtbod inthe rolèv8ni 80cIK)n$ ol Ihls ieport Othor Infommtlon Tho olhor InlcrfmaiKM coTrrAisès Ihe Inlorrnwim Induded Ihe annuul le1¢ olhet lIn Ihe financial slule¢nen18 and IXJI alE0epOrt lIret The Twsleej ale respthblo lor Iho olh¢r 1nltym8lion contalned wllhln Ihe onnual report. Our olnI on IIR fiMTrcial 114ieffltnls does n¢X ¢ovei Ihe othef inlomab.tsn ond. excopl lo èxtoni othetyAso 0xpl1 Ilaiad In Qui re&ttxI, do not OXJYO8S any lorm ol J5surarw wn¢luM th0(1). Our resp)nwbllily 13 10 lead the Olhei iiifoirnalH)n and. wi (kywJ 80. conBKler whelher I1 olhef in10rmol 1$ mo1o1idty liKon$4slvnl 111 tho rIn&n¢1 $lol¢monlg. (w ow knoW,¢¢Jgo obtolnod In lh• ¢otsrso ol Ilie al11. or 19 be MaterflY ml$slaied. 11 wo klenlify Ih maier+ IOn$tnO3 or pparoTrl mated81 mi$slalemon16, wo ar• r•oulr•d lo dolomiino wli8llier tl¥s gvas lis• lo a malerial mi6siatèmoiii In Iho Tinan¢ig1 slAi8menl$ Ihem¥elve8 11. bo$ed on the work we have perfo¥me¢l, we mndude V78t Ihefels o m8tell mi5s1alomonl of INS other Snfomioiion, wo aio roquifed to thai laci. We hBve [hIng lo reix¥l In thls regard Qplnlo#s on Ollior mallorn prv¥¢rfbod by lh• Companles A¢1 2006 In Lwr oplnion. based on the ¥(k undertoken in ihe coul* ol ow Iho Infomiallon glvtn In tho TN3toos' r¢M, Irud08 Iho dfeclofs. Itpowl wtspaied loi Ihts purposos of COrnP8ny1ow, lor Ihe fu#r lorthth financiBI stslernonls Jre prcpared 1$ COnSislenl Iho finonciar 81al•mont1. and Iho (&re¢iois' rewt includod wlhin Tntslo•s' worth has boen pMpAr In ¢d8rth vfith aptAlcoble Ipgal requiiemenls
SOLAS INDEPENDENT AUOITOR'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SOLAS Matlorn whleh wo roqulrod io i•POrt by 0xcop1l. In Ilio Iwhl ol Iho krxhylodotr aim1 undorElaThJitw ollhD thaily ond its oThiMmenl obla¥ In 1C{l• ol I alldil, WO havts Ibtsl Klonlilj malLYll mlxslaitinenls iii Il difedori. iopul iodvthdwilh&) tho Ir1151ec5' repJl h•ve nolhlng lo ioporlln MipKlolthe moUw• kn rdalODn lh¢ 2(#X iryiilies us lo rew)rl lo youll. In oui oplrdon A¢JequHltr a¢tounllng iecwds haw nol tkp1. ot iotumi oui hovo nol b¢¢n recei¥0 AndleS nol by tss." Ihe flnavcl81 slalthnwilB ai8 nol 10 a9r••Miil wilh Iho a¢o)unltw letd5 aThJ 1•tMi.. tlytoin disrkniiios ol TiiMlep.s' ieiniineiHIK)n l>y law lilo not mtsdo. ( we nol rc(%e oll It nnd oxpLinHIw5 %w. oui ou¢rt; Ili¢ Diled$ were onliilLYl lo pi¢pNo Ihts 81alLyilI11 Kcordftru wlli Iho smttl coDipunWTrs' cglmo ond lako a4fvJnlogo of Ihe SMAII cÉMnpDr¥e>' extmplions in WQP•llltbP tho Tiutslo¢s' ioFK)rl thnd liom Iho ioqulromenl lo propar• ts ilrAletyc iepwl R•spoii•lbllltlM ol th9 Tru• A5 pyplalntrd iiiorg ILdky ID fv sial¢nient ol 11ts110o1' r•sponsibMilh)s. tho Twslets ¥o¥espongt4e loi Ihe prewr•ll¢)n 01 Iho fkniiiidal SIalTion[S ar¥J boity sallsliod Ilhii Ihoy 9lVO a two aj vw. Jnd lor such int•mal ctMlfol aE Iho Tiiislttos Ilolorrytho 1$ Mutssaiy lo Iho propJiJbon of flnarKl siJitsmeNs Ihai Jio Irom maienal ¥sIRlotrtonl. w1711wr duo lo Ir41j (N wity. In propatii)ts Iho finaiKiJl slaltsmonls. Trnbsi¢os iiio rosrknikwo for Jgoyyoo Ilio chtsiily's ntmlily lo conlinuo 81 a gOg cA>nEn. dkchJskng. as ow11tbkI. mallois iolalthl lo goino Iising Ihtsy(Ario concoin bnJls ol actounbng urjloss Iho littsloos ollhor hllond to Ial0 tho ¢h8rtstdo eunNrty ¢4 lo censc OPESiili¢ns. w hhvo no iooliiik thlwiii?Iwo lo do so. Audliorf• ro•ponlblllll¢s lorlh• iidli ol lh• fln•ficl•l Our oblociives ar• lo oblairn ¢easonable a55uranc• obwl ¥vlielhw Ihj (In4m81 sloloiNJii13 05 0 WI10 IIEO Iioii) malofiJl missiJlomonl. whelher dut io liaud or and lo lis 8n iuddO¢'S lo Ihai Indudoi w oplfiksn. R•4isonilblo #MiJri1nci) IS hh Ve1 olasMMhnc• biit15 nol 8 gUAianteD Ihal an audilcondueiltd In aecNtlanco wilh 15hs IUKI will aayS (Ivlor.141 miilerii?I Iiiis61JlfftDwnl wlwii il gxlsls. klisslal&moii15 c1 ariso fla1 oroiior and aro consklorod niL?lariiil Il Iimliwduilly or iii lh8 •9urpo3lo. Iliey COL4d reasonably bo trxpociod io IDnu•nc• the Qa)IKxnlc doosloDs vl liikuTr oli t1 basis ol I1$0 IIINTIKIAI &lalomeiils. liroouloii110g. Inddia fini. 1Mlae8 ol vthl)1Iw Jnd towlblw)n5. Wv do$1gD woc*dwos In h-Il¢k wl11 our rvsP9115ibi&b'os, oullineLI lo (kle¢l Illiilorial misslnlvmonls In I5[1 nl Iri¢oiiknrils, indudin I[81. Tho oxiont lo which oui protoduios oro capable ol deiceiino hr¢giiL1111Ics. Irithxliiw IfAiid 18 rtollll1( b1 A lutlliÈr ¢Joscrlpiion ol our r&spsItIos 13 ovalablé tho FinJ11 RepoTrng CwrKil'¥ web¥rfe Jt Mlpj'll vn¥w,Ilc.g.Uk1li¢I(Ksr01wjThSlI1Il1l. Thls loscriptw knms part of ow wditofs p0 QKft ¢)kni Ji,. Sirah Loiil•o Lynch Istnlor Slalulory Audltor For on beh•ll of Ko•rney & Co Cliariorod A¢¢ountsnl• st&lulory Aiidltof OonogDU IIou80 rknor ga.102 t)onogaW Sirooi B112GW The financial statements are prepared in accordance with the provisions in section 444 of the Companie5 Act 2006 relating to small companies.
In conclusion, Solas has achieved a considerable amount over the past year, particularly in how it continued to remain delivering services for children & young people with disabilities and their families, over the COVID period. This was largely due to the collective efforts of staff, volunteers and the board. It has continued to grow and establish itself as a professional hard workinE charity, focused on delivering practical supports for children and young people with disabilities / additional needs and their families. Declaration: The trustees declare that they have approved the trustee's report. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees. Signature: Full Name: F. M" coTf C Position: Date:
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