Downs and Proud Trustees Annual Report The trustees present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 January 2024. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAIL5 Charity No. N100075 Principal Office 11 Fox's Glen Lurgan Co. Armagh Northern Ireland BT67 9ER Trustees The following trustees served during the year: A. Beatty J. Bunting C. Heaney A. McAlinden Accountants Byrne Mccann & Co. Ltd. 67 Edward Street Lurgan Co. Armagh BT66 6DD Bankers Danske Bank P.0. Box 183 Donegall Square Wes Belfast Northern Ireland BTI 6JS OBJEcfivES AND ACTIVITIES To create and develop the conditions which will enable people with Down's syndrome to attain their full potential and to undertake any other charitable activities in connection with Down's syndrome in the Lurgan area. Page 2 Downs and Proud Trustees Annual Report Down's & Proud is a public benefit as it enhances the lives of people with Down's syndrome and their families primarily in the Lurgan area but it is also available to anyone in Northern Ireland via our social media page5 and teSephone contact. It helps our children build f riendships and allows them to grow up together. We run an annual Summer Scheme for all of the children in our group and hire qualified as515tants to look fter the children to ensure their safety requirements are fully met. We provide all aspects of support for our children and their familie5 a5 and when required. We want to make sure the parents are happy and have adequate support and information to help with decisions they may face throughout their child's education and beyond. We a150 provide financial assistance for various reasons for example educational aides and speech programs. We have our own weekly Tell Take5 Speech Club. We have 3 qualified co-workers which under the guidance of a speech therapist hold weekly speech sessions for the children in Down's & Proud. This gives the children the extra help they need with their speech and also encourages friendships within the group. We aim to provide support and a listening ear for those who want to share their thoughts and experiences. DDwn's & Proud aim to raise awareness of Down's syndrome, as the more people are aware and educated about the ccindition, the easier it will be on our children. These benefits are demonstrated through positive feedback from parents and families and the actual improvements in the capabilities of children who are involved in the group. There is no harm or private benefit flowing from the purposes. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE We have achieved so rnuch throughout the year. We have ongoing Speech Clubs on a weekly basis which has improved the children's speech and signage dramatically. We ran a very successful two-week Summer Scheme that allowed both respite care for the parents and also learning and development for all of the children. The children got to go on several trips throughout the two weeks 35 well as participating in many external entertainment programmes that we hire into the Summer Scheme. We split the activities so that we had activities for the younger toddlers and babies such as Blossom Mindfulness and Playaway Nl and other activities for the older children e. g. football golf, Bowling and sports games. We also had joint activities and entertainment such as Wee Wonders, Fit Mind Coach and Music Therapy Sessions. We continued with Football Camp for all our rnembers. The children attended weekly training sessions for which the Down's & Proud football team took part in football tournaments in Newry and Derry which involved teams with disabilities from all over. We also held a tournament this year at South Lakes Leisure Centre welcoming teams from Newry and Derry. It was a very successful day. We also have weekly Singing Sessions which the children enjoy so much. We had a Christmas Singing Showcase in St. Peters Church which hundreds of people attended. It was a great day all round. We have worked hard this year at creating awareness by holding fundraising events during the year and publicising these events and publicising this via social media. We also create great awareness by issuing promotional clothing and merchandise. Our main achievement throughout the year has been the happine55 of our children and their families. FINANCIAL REVIEW Reserves remain healthy. However, this year saw a deficit of expenditure over income of £2988. and whilst it is relieving to have left the disappointing results of last year behind, there is a determination to return the charity to profit as soon as possible. Covid-19 and the Cost of Living Crisis have resulted in greater challenges in the charity sector. The charity'5 policy is to hold reserves in order to continue with its aims in future periods if financial uncertainty or significant decreases in income should occur. There are no foreseen uncertainties at the year end. Reserves remain healthy at £34,743 as at 31101/2024. Page 3 Downs and Proud Trustees Annual Report Down's & Proud work hard to raise enough funds to allow the various activities, education clubs, summer scheme and purchases of educational aides to occur. Being able to spend the funds on items that aid our children to reach their potential means we are meeting our objective. Statement of trustees, responsibilities in relatlon to the financial statements The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees, annual report and financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards Iunited Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. the applicable Charities IAccounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provi5ion5 of the Trust deed. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable step5 for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees A. Beatty Trustee 30 Ottober 2024 Page 4