2023-03-31-annual-report - The Mae Murray Foundation

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Mae fmurray Foundation Annual Report Creating Chéznge Together 2022-23

Annual Report 2022-23

Mae Murray Foundation

Welcome to our Annual Report – our 7th year of operations!

Our vision of a world where everyone can participate, whatever their abilities, is fast becoming a reality.

In this report, we reflect not only on what we have achieved in the past year, but also on our progress towards creating long term change. Thanks to the collective effort of our members, our staff, our volunteers, our partners, funders and supporters, people of all ages and abilities are benefiting from new opportunities to participate within society. More and more environments are becoming truly inclusive, and attitudes towards people of all abilities are slowly becoming more positive as diversity becomes more visible.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone who is ‘Creating Change Together.’

Alix Crawford Chairperson

2022-23 Annual Report

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Background Information
9 staff Operating
regionally
(6 part-time,
3 full-time), across
Northern
based in Larne
Ireland
Over
40
80
sessional
volunteers
staff
working at
events
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Mae Murray Foundation is a lived-experience, membership led organisation which makes it possible for people of all ages and abilities to experience the world together, taking part in activities and building friendships in environments which are genuinely inclusive.

We recognise one another to be of equal and inseparable value, regardless of physical or learning ability, sensory, medical or undiagnosed condition, age or caring role. We are particularly focused on making sure that people with more complex needs, whose requirements are often overlooked, are able to participate fully.

We run a comprehensive range of innovative and inclusive projects for children, teenagers and adults. Crucially, we draw on our members’ lived experiences to work together to design and implement permanent changes in everyday environments, like beaches and play parks so that everyone can participate together.

Mae Murray Foundation

Vision, Mission and Values

Mae Murray Foundation’s vision is to create an inclusive society with true participation for ALL in leisure and social settings, regardless of age or ability.

Our mission is to improve quality of life, through participation of all-abilities, together.

Our core values define, guide, and underpin our work.

We will always:

Listen

The voice of lived-experience leads our work and we support the rights of everyone, including those who are non-verbal, to be heard.

Include

We are committed to constantly learning, adapting and improving, to ensure we deliver true inclusion for all and to empower each individual’s potential.

Partner

We are committed to working in partnership with other organisations and stakeholders.

Influence

We strive to influence others and create fundamental change together.

Deliver

We aim to deliver sustainable solutions and best practice models for a better, inclusive, shared society.

2022-23 Annual Report

Participation, Opportunity and Resources

We support people of all ages and abilities to take part in social and leisure settings throughout Northern Ireland. Here are some of the highlights from the past year.

[4 Summer Schemes][ – ] 70 children attend independently.
[Teenage Kicks (age 13-19)][ – ] 26 events – 70 young people take part.
[The Overs ][– a social group ] for young adults, 15 events – 30 young adults.
[Augmentative and Alternative ] –
Communication pilot project 8 young adults – 4 workshops.
[Neurofit ][– 10 adult wheelchair users – ] 4 workshops in community gym.
[5 Inclusive Beaches][ – over 1800 people ] taking part in Summer 2022.
[Music and Drama workshops ][– ] 40 families – over 50 events.
[Surfing ][– 170 people take part using ] NI’s first sit-down surf board.
[Family Events][ – supporting over 800 people to take part in various ] outdoor activities.
[Early Years Powered Mobility ][– 15 chairs provided to young children.]
[Resource Library ][– 170 equipment loans to members.]

Mae Murray Foundation

Our members’ lived-experience is driving change

We are a membership-led organisation in which members share their lived experience to help develop solutions to the barriers they face every day. All our projects are designed this way.

Our Board of Directors is made up of 8 people, the majority of whom have personal experience of disability or social exclusion. Our Advisory Committee comprises over 40 people of all ages and abilities who work together to design practical, solution focused projects to increase participation. All members provide feedback through surveys, focus groups and at our Annual General Meeting.

Listening to children is essential to ensure we meet the needs of those young people who are often excluded. Our Youth Panel is a group of young people aged 13-24 who represent their peers when designing social projects, as well as supporting our wider work to influence change within local communities.

2022-23 Annual Report

Mae Murray Foundation is determined to support others to create more genuinely inclusive spaces, in everyday environments like beaches, gyms, play areas and at public events, where people of all ages and abilities can enjoy time together. To that end, Mae Murray Foundation’s membership, all with lived experience, has co-produced and developed the ADAPT framework to underpin and guide the process of making spaces genuinely inclusive.

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CCESS
accessible design
and development IGNITY Framework
facilities and
amenities for all
LL-ABILITY
resources for all abilities
ARTICIPATION
opportunities for
everyone to take part
RANSFORMATION
bringing about
long-term change
8
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Mae Murray Foundation

Creating Change in the Community

Everyone has the right to participate in their own community. The UK ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2009. Mae Murray Foundation, together with our partners, aim to progress these rights, creating long term solutions and creating change within communities. We are proud of what we have achieved so far.

1999

Talia McDowell is born, the daughter of our chairperson and founder, Alix Crawford. Diagnosed with quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, both Talia and Alix found themselves socially excluded and isolated as a result of Talia’s complex needs.

2015

Determined to make a difference to others facing the same barriers, Alix established Mae Murray Foundation in 2015,named after her late mother, Mae Murray, who embodied a positive, cando attitude and a passionate commitment to inclusivity.

2016

Mae Murray Foundation embark on the first project; supporting 30 teenagers to enjoy a short break, many staying away from home for the first time.

2017

First Inclusive Beach in Northern Ireland is launched, in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

2018

Mae Murray Foundation establish Water Safety Forum in partnership with RNLI, beach operators and water activity facilitators, to lead the way in water safety at Inclusive Beaches.

2018

Cranfield Inclusive Beach launched in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

2018

Early Years Powered Mobility Loan Scheme introduced to Northern Ireland for the first time in partnership with Meru.

2022-23 Annual Report

2019

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2019
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2020

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2021
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2022
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2022

Mae Murray Foundation supports local councils; Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, to pilot the first council-led All-ability Summer Schemes, supporting children with complex needs to attend independently.

Wizzybug Loan Scheme introduced to Northern Ireland, an outdoor wheelchair loan scheme for infants.

Mae Murray Foundation lead the way in getting back to providing support throughout the pandemic, supporting other organisations to return to providing support safely.

Inclusive Beach in Groomsport is launched, in partnership with Ards and North Down Borough Council.

Let me Play is published in partnership with Playboard NI; a study to evidence unmet need in outdoor fixed play environments.

UK play leaders; Play Safety Forum, support Let me Play findings with ground-breaking statement of endorsement.

2022

Ulster University, together with Mae Murray Foundation, take part in research programme Neurofit, a study which highlighted the need for wheelchair users to get active in a community gym.

2022

Community Resource Service established in Newcastle in partnership with YMCA Greenhill.

2022

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2022
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2023

Mae Murray Foundation supports 2 community-led Summer Schemes in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

2 new Inclusive Beaches created at Portrush East Strand in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Portstewart Strand in partnership with National Trust.

Mae Murray Foundation partners with Queen’s University Belfast in a collaborative PhD project to explore Social Inclusion in Children with Complex Needs.

2023 ADAPT Framework launched.

Mae Murray Foundation

Financial Review

In this section, we provide a summary of principal funding sources, for the year ending March 2023. Everything we spend aligns with our mission, charitable objectives and strategic priorities for the period.

Income and Expenditure

Our total income for 2022/23 was £344,620 . £283,173 of this was restricted funds, these are funds which need to be used for a specific purpose or project. Our total expenditure for 2022/23 was £268,573 .

Thank you to our Funders and Supporters

We are very grateful to all our funders. The support we have provided would not have been possible, but for the generosity of our funders over the past year. We would also like to thank our supporters and members who help in so many ways by raising funds, boosting awareness and volunteering their time to bring about change.

Asda foundation Bank of Ireland B C & P Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Children in Need Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department of Health Esmee Fairbairn Groundwork UK Halifax Foundation

James Brown & Son LFT Charitable Trust Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Nationwide

Newry Mourne and Down District Council Northern Health and Social Care Trust Rank Foundation RTE Toyshop The National Lottery Community Fund

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A charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC100842. A company limited by guarantee. Registered with Companies House NI622302.