January 2026
Trustee annual report
Reporting period: November 2024 to October 2025.
Overview
Penuel Children’s Foundation (https://www.penuelchildren.com/) is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (registered charity number 101028). Since 2013 we have been working to relieve poverty and hardship among children by providing education, healthcare, food, and shelter. We also promote the health and wellbeing of those who care for vulnerable children, especially fostering and adoptive families.
We have done this through our support for two projects: Mihlali Children's Haven in Port Elizabeth, South Africa , and Starfish Soul Care , a project that provides physical, emotional and spiritual rest, support and nurture for foster and adoptive families based in Northern Ireland.
People donating to Penuel Children's Foundation can now choose to give to our general fund or earmark the funds for either Mihlali Children’s Haven or Starfish Soul Care. Of course, all funds already donated for Mihlali will continue be used for that purpose.
Below, we set out the work completed by Mihlali Children’s Haven and then by Starfish Soul Care.
Mihlali Children's Haven
We continue to support the work of Mihlali Children's Haven in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), South Africa. This is a family-centred haven for children up to three years old who have been orphaned, and those from backgrounds of abuse, abandonment or neglect – often with long-term physical or emotional difficulties. Working hand in hand with the South African Department of Social Development (SADSD), and other child protection organisations, the haven welcomes, loves and cares for each child until they are safely established in a family or other place of long-term care. Local oversight is provided by Penuel Children’s Foundation South Africa, a registered Nonprofit Organisation (181- 800 NPO) and Public Benefit Organisation (REF: 930050398).
As an example of the work of Mihlali Children's Haven, we report on their activity from November 2024 to October 2025.
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Children’s work
Mihlali provided 24/7 temporary safe care (emergency care due to children being abused/abandoned/neglected) for 15 children, from new-born up to three-and-a-half years. Of these children:
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Fourteen were vaccinated with all the relevant vaccinations
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Two monitored and treated for heart conditions
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One was treated for Ophthalmology issues
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Two were screened by an audiologist & recommendations followed
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Several were treated for skin conditions
Over the reporting period, five children were adopted, two were reunified with family, and two were moved to a Child & Youth Care Center. The remainder are awaiting placement.
Staff
Mihlali has provided long-term employment for five local staff members. All staff received inhouse training, including a first-aid course tailored to the needs of children in the Haven.
Starfish Soul Care
Starfish Soul Care became an official project of Penuel Children's foundation in December 2022 and had a public launch in Belfast in November 2023. Finance and governance are managed by the Penuel Trustee Board.
Starfish exists to provide physical, emotional and spiritual, rest, support and nurture to foster and adoptive families. Starfish provides 'soul care' retreats including day retreats and residential weekends for families in Northern Ireland. Retreats are bespoke and therapeutic with the hope that all foster and adoptive families feel welcome and included, whatever their make-up and wherever they are on their journey. We operate from an inter-denominational Christian ethos but families from all religious backgrounds (or none) are welcomed.
As an example of the work of Starfish Soul Care, we report on their activity from November 2024 to October 2025.
Over this period, Starfish provided one full weekend residential retreat; two social events for foster and adoptive families; two therapeutic family soul care day retreats; one ‘mini conference’ in partnership with Replanted Ministries; a one-day youth programme at the Northern Ireland Home for Good National Conference; and a volunteer training event on developmental trauma among children. Locations were in Comber, Belfast, Coleraine, Lisburn and Armagh.
Staffing/volunteers
Starfish Soul Care is 100% volunteer-run, with support from a team of 25 volunteers throughout the year. Penuel Trustees Alex and Keely Mosley take the lead facilitator roles. They are both professionally trained and qualified therapists and foster carers and adopters
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themselves, with over 20 years of experience working with vulnerable children, young people and the families who care for them.
This year Starfish developed a small pastoral team that meets with families between events to offer additional therapeutic, spiritual, and emotional support, especially during times of difficulty or distress.
November 2024: ‘Replanted’ Retreat and conference
This event was attended by 13 families, comprising 20 adult foster carers/adoptive parents, 12 children (0-10) and seven youth.
December 2024: New Year Social
This event was attended by 14 families, comprising 24 adult foster carers/adoptive parents, 24 children (0-10) and seven youth.
March 2025: Therapeutic soul care retreat
This event was attended by 11 families, comprising 19 adult foster carers/adoptive parents, 19 children (0-10), and five youth.
May 2025: Therapeutic soul care full weekend residential
This weekend was attended by 14 families, comprising 17 adult foster carers/adoptive parents, 20 children (0-10), and nine youth.
July 2025: Summer Social
This event was attended by 14 families, comprising 22 adult foster carers/adoptive parents, 18 children (0-10), and 13 youth.
Total attendance at retreats and events for this period was 102 adult foster carers/adoptive parents, 93 children (age 0-10), and 41 youth.
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