COMPAP4Y REGISTRATION NUMBER: N1031540 CHARtIY IlEGISTIL4TION F4UMBER: NIC101767 The Dry Arch Children's Centres Compwy Limited by Guarantee Financial Statements 31 March 2025 CLAREMOUNT Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditor I b Biooknioullt Crescent Omagll Co Tyrone BT78 5HG The Dry Arch Children's Centres Company Limited by Guarantee Financial Statements Year ended 31 March 2025 Page Trustees, annual report (incorporating the director's report) tndependent auditor's report to tlie members Statement of fmarAcial activities (including income and expenditure account) 15 19 Statement of fll]ancial position Statenient of cash flows 20 21 Accouiiting policies 22 Not¢s to thc financial statements 26 The Dry Arch Children's Centres Compally Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) Year ended 31 March 2025 The tn￿tees, who are also the directors for the PUTposes of company law, pres¢Tht their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. Referenee 4dmiuistrative detai]s Registered charity name The Dry Arch Childrell's Cenlres Charity registration number NIC101767 Company registration number N1031540 Principal office and registered oifice Unit 150 Legavallon Road Glenshane Business Park Dungivcn Co Derry B T47 4QL The Éru5t¢es Mrs B Macqueen Mrs J Wbil¢side Mr D Whileside Mrs M Carey Mrs T Mccloskey Mrs F Moore (Appointed 23 May 2025) Company secretary Mrs B Macqueen Auditor Claremounl Chartered Accountants & Slalutory Auditor Ib Brookn]ount CIEsceiit Ornagh Co Tyrone BT78 5HG BaDkers Ulster BaTd( 29 Clooney Terr￿¢ Waterside Co Derry BT47 IAS The Dry Arch Children's Centres Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) ILDnliNuedJ Year ended 31 March 2025 Structure? governaDc¢ and mjnagemellt Governing Document The organisaltoTh is & charitablc company limited by guarantee, incorporatcd on 5 November 1996. The company wa5 established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects aiid powers of thc charitable company and is govern¢d under ils Articles of AssociatiOD. In Ihe eveiit of the coinpany being wound up men]bers arc rcquired lo contribule an amount not cxceeding £1. Management Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acl, lh¢ mcffjorandum and the arliclcs of assucialiun dnd lo ￿]]Y directions given by special Tesolution, th¢ business of the Cornpany shall be m￿alled by the directors who may exercise all Ihe powers of the company. Risk Management The trustees of Th¢ Dry knh Cht'ldr¢Th'5 Centres acknowledge their Tesponsibility in identifying and InitigalinE tbe various risks which the company may be exposed lo. They have conducted a review of the major risks So which Ihe charity is exposed. A strategic plan lias been Lrcated setting out Ili¢ key aims, objectives aiid policies for the compaiiy as sljown in this report. This strategic plan 15 constantly evolving to reflect the changing iieeds of fainilies iii Ilic Duiigiven aiid Limavady arcas. This plan ensures thal th¢ charity has a clear focus - to piovide qualily support services to enable and eDTich Ihc d¢velopmcntal opportunities of childrcn. Qiiarterly Iinancial budgets and variance reports dr¢ prepared in conjunclion with thc Lampany's funding partners. This provides feedback into thc p¢rFormancc of tlie charity and address areas for potential impToveiDcnl. BLidgel preparation ensures that the charity is constantly looking forw&rd and does not rest on it5 laurels as fundints is dependent oll futurc activities. Perforniance reports are provided lo thc trustees on a monthly basi5 to ensure information obtailled is accurate ar]d relevanl for d¢Gision n]aking purposes. The company operates a comprehensive recruilrnent and trakning process for all Cll￿ent and potential staff members. As ¢liild safety is paramount, each poletLtial new employee is subject to a vetting procedure before tlicir contract of employment is signed. Qualifications and refercnces arc ch¢ckcd thoroughly to ensure that each iiew cmploye¢ has the required skills lo iniprove the existing workforcc. Job training and dcvclopiiicnt (includiiig hcalth & balety) is ¢ilso pmvided for existing employees to furiher their ski115 and cxpcricncc. The Dry Arch Children's Centres Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Allnual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (Loii¢iirlle&4) Year ended 31 March 2025 Objectives and activities The principal aim of Dry AJ¢h Children's Centres is the empowernient of family metnbers tluough the provision of a continuum of high quality support services that ¢nrich the lives and improve devclopmental outcomes for cliildreTh. Associated Aims.. l. To encourage children froin an early age to avoid risky bchavioiw and to moderate or ovcrcom¢ any and all physical, mental, emotional, educational andlor molivalional barriers lo improved self-esleem and personal development. 2. To promote and support the parenting role as the primary carers and enablers of their childrcn's developinent. Dry Arch Children's Centres provide fully integrated, seamless and non-sligmatisiiig service5 Ihat flexibly mcel the needs of children? young people and their families. These services have b¢en developed in parfnership with our local communities, as w¢ll as with other individuals and agencies with whorn we share respoiisibility for ramilies. Tlie Dry Arch Children's Ceiitres tnodel deliveTS a holistic appr(iach to nieeling individual, fatnily dnd coinmiinily needs througli the joint planning and delivery of services. Its integrated and 8eamLess approach achieves more than the sum of ils pai13. This markedly contrasts a disaggregated arrangement wlierein scparale services are provided frotn a comnion base. In short, faimilies get joined-up support from one place ensuring the light help at tl)e right time. Sample Services Provided: - Full Day CarelNursery. Sessional Creche. - 2-Ycar Old Programme. Pre-school Playgroup. - Oul-of-schools prograrnme. - Sure Start. - Parenting Education and Support. Youili Support. Healtli Promoting Homes. - Health Promoting Farm¢rs. - Outreach Support. Homc-Bas¢d SupportIl￿amIlY Visiting. Parenting Asse581ncnl and CoThtacl. Adult Education and Training Centre. Early Intervention Family Support Hub. Strategic report The following sections for achicvements and performance and financial review fortn the strategic report of the charity. Acbievemellts alld performance All objectives sct within the previous year have been achieved. The Dry Arch Children's Centres Company Limited by Guaranlee Trustee5' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (LoiiliiiuÉd) Year ended 31 March 2025 Financial review The organisation had allother successful year in which the level of inconie received iii¢reased once again and they invcst¢d in a further £15,097 01 fjxcd assets. The net Assets of the organisalion now stand at £1.507.147. In another ycar marked by economic un¢¢rtainty, global inslabilily and the continued pressures of the cost of living, we have once again kept our doors open and cnsured that mucli-needed serviLes have reached faniilies wlio depend on them. As always, the organisation has sliived to ensure that every pound of funding is used wisely and effectively. With funding challcng¢s aud financial constraint5 expected lo persist throughout the coming year our focus on financial awareness and susldLlldbility will cuntiniie to s￿￿￿then, enswing that vital servi¢es retllaÈn ￿cessibl¢ to local cbildrcn and fauiilies. Internally. financial SYSten￿ within the Dry Arch Centre continue lo be managed lo a high slaiidard. The implenicntation of updated coinputeri86d systems ensures that confLdcnliality, security. and GDPR complidiice Temain Lcnlral lo all financial operation5. OUT Lipgraded SAGE Account5 Package has prvven higlily etrcclive and efficiei)t in maintaining accurate finaucial rccords. Our accounts have been ￿llY audited and submitted to the Charitie5 Comnii5sion databasc. Principal Funding Sources The principal funding source for the charity is currently by way of grant and contract inconie from tlie Ilcalih and Social Care Board. The charity also generates income from ils day cAre and out of scliool programmcs lo supplcmenÉ this grant income. Grant Policy Grant5 obtained arc classificd as reslrictcd fiu]ds and are subject to restriction5 on their exptndilure imp05cd by the donor or Ihrou¥h th¢ terms oran appeal. Reserves Policy Tlic trustees are confident Ihal Ihe reserves of Ihe compai)y ai'c of a suFfJcienl level to be ablc to continue Ilic cllrrcnt activities of the charity in the event of z drop in funding. Unresliicled i'esetve5 are available for use at Ilie discretion of th¢ trustees in furtherance of the geiieral objectives of Ibe charity. Rebtricled reserves are subjeLled to rcstsictions Oll their use by the donor. Finance reserves are set aside to protsct th¢ charity against drops in incomc and as a bdLk-up fur future extcnsions and commilmenls when ne¢cssary. It 15 also policy lo increase reserves to cover six month5 operalional expenditi￿e should it be required in Ili¢ ￿t￿re. It is the intentioi) of the charity to increase reserv¢s awiually lo acconjmodale for Ihe provision ot eniployee pension contributions in linc with Pcnsion Regulator legislation. The charity tra￿S[eES a minimum of £2,000 per mollih into it's business rescrvL acLoiml fron] unre51ricled monies ai)d the levcl of rcserves is moi)itored quarteily as part of noi'nul budgetary reportiiig and Control. The Management Commillee of the charity monitor the drawing down of reserves and take5 corre¢live aclion to replenish Ih¢sc whenever necessary. The Dry Arch Children's Centres Company Limited by Guarantee Trustee5' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (¢oii(iiiued) Year ended 31 March 2025 Review of Objectives 2112412025 In an ever-changing world, flexibility and adaptability remain key, lind onc¢ again, Ihe Dry Arch Siaff Tcdm hds demonstrated ¢xceplional commitLnent and creativity in r¢sponding to the cvolving nccds of our commlinity. Tlwoughout the year, our team led on and developed a wid¢ range of innovative Supports for families acioss Ihc spectrum of need. As wilh ¥very year, 2024125 bToughi both challenges and rewards. Yet Ibe impacl of our serviccs on families and children rcmains immeasurable. making every effort to ovcrromc bjnding unccrtaintics dceply woriliwhilc. The Dry Atcli Children's Ccntre conlinues to work both operationally and slralegically to imprnve life opports￿ltieS aDd oul¢omes for ¢hildren> young people, and families acro55 our borough. Throughout the past year, we have maintained our integrated approach to delivering serviccs for children, yoL￿g pcople. and families. Working in partnership with local schools, statutory agGllcics, and community organisations. we Strive io ensure the best possible outcomes for families. parliciilarly those mo81 in need ofour Slippori. Out staff coiilinue lo deliver high-quality, intensive, and coinpassionale services that support the whole family iii a timely. prDf¢55ional, and caring way. Through holistic working aiid collaboration willi our parlner agencies aiid individuals, particularly via thc Early Intervcntion bamily Support HUB, we remain focused on addressing Iht conipleK n¢¢ds of the families we serve. Oui multi-faceted scrvices are designed lo work alongside familie5 to address decp-rooted and hislorical ts'auma while also providing family support. childcare, and pareuling progranuncs. From llnivcrsal to Ihei?pculic interventions, our work continues to reach and posilively impact a growing number of children and faniilies. as reflcGted in the outcoEn¢s detailed in thib ILPOrt. We have sccn a continucd rise in refetrals fmm partnci agencies. as well as a notable increase itl 5clf-referrdls from parellts 2nd young people scckillg Iielp diie¢lly. The evideThce-ba5ed interventions provided by our teain, combined with their empathy, undersiallding. and professionalisni, continue lo make a tangible differcnce in the lives ol many. This year once again reiJ]forces the in¥ortani¢ of early intervention and pr¢venlalive work, alongsidc Iherapeiilic and partncrship-b2sed approaches with our statuloiy partners. These ren)ain essential it. we are to meet the increasing needs of our expanding community. As we look ahead to 2025126, we are committed to building on this success, working hand in hdnd with our parlller agencies as an integral parl of the Dry Arch Children's Centre's ongoing mission lo support childrcn. young people, and fanlilies in Tealisiiig their full potential. How ive w'ork- What we do FundaJnenlal lo our work is early inte￿entiOn approach to all aspects of our work. Our services are all aboiil "change" Changing the iiext Eeneralion and doing things diffcrently. In order to do that we recogllise that Ilie WHOLE Family is important and all aspects of life are important. Our parlnership with WHSCT is pivotal lo this intervention and cbange. The Dry Arch Children's Centres Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Directur's Report) ILov¢iirued) Year ended 31 March 2025 Family Support The starling point for us with all Families is always buildin£ relationships of Iiu51 and providii)g Iherapeulic wrap- around support services. Our delivery rnodcl provides an effcctive locality based solulion to meet the needs of those rnost vulnerable liamilies in our Community by harnessing scarce resources lo support thc work of all stakeholdcrs. As an inlervcntkonisl, transformational scrvice focused on dirccl Faffjily Siipporl, the Dry Arch Centre prograiillnes largels the most vulnerable and hard lo reach Children, Young Peoplc and Ihcir Families. Tl)e driver is an early inlerv¢ntion model working with identifiable complex fatnilies with multiple problem5. in partnership with our trust parlnets. Our Fatnily Support Work¢is engage with any Family. They acl as 41 kcywoTker for edch F¢imily, as&essii)¥ their needs and coordinating and providing services to make a difference. Raisiiig a Family can be demanding and hallcnginu, cven al the best of times. Diificult home circumsl&nces and adversily makc this cvcn niorc challengiiig. Our approach to supporting Families is Child_¢ei)tcred aiid based on a belief that effective early inlerv¢iilioii prevenls e5cal8lion of need in Children, Young People and iheir Fantilies. Our sUPPOrt is therefore based on progressive universalism-providing, on lop of our acLcssible and wide-ranging universal bUPPOrt services. targelcd help for those who need il most, proportio1￿le to theiT Icvel of need. We use a Irauma-informcd approach to providing Services lo enable the underlying need lo dctcrmiiie ihe bcst approa¢h and intervention for eacb Child and their Family. Parentijjg Programmes There are several poilits for Parents to get support, from practical workshops aiid navigating demands of Parenthood, through to topic based groups for Parents on bra￿ development, attachmetLI ￿]d positive bchdviuur lo name but three. These programmcs help fost¢r strong Family relationships and build Parental ¢ontidence. We also dcliver a suite of evidence based programmcs including. Solihull, Iiicredible y.ears, Pareiiting Pu721e and Nurt￿.ing ProgratThme, lo name but four. All ofour also bespoke Program￿¢3 are accredÉted. Home VASlting Service This 15 a vital support servic¢. A significant portion of our work involves providing one- 01)-one family suppoil and cuslomized programs within the home. Oi) avcrage, faniilies receiv¢ suppori. and intervelltions for 26 weeks, with weekly home visits Ihroughoul,Ihis period. In addition to home visits, famib'es also rec¢ive ongoing wcekly telephoiie support. This duration is based on families who received 26 weeks of support,. some familie5 requiTe longer intcrvenlions and thus more visits. While soine families need Support for only a'.f¢w weeks or rnonths, many benefit from our assistance for years-and that is wher¢ we exccl. Early Intervclltion fiamily Support Hub 12,090 1024125 Referra15 to the Early Intervention Fainily Support HUB continuously highligliis,. the valu¢ of earlyltimely intervention, wraparoulld, family support prOgra[￿meS for developing rcsilience in Families and Conimuiiilies. Our m(Idel of support contiThucd to deliver an integrated model focusin8 on early intervenlion at the point of need and providing services lo Children, Young Pcople and Fai]Jilies in parlnership with Ol￿ NIulti Agency partners within the Family Support HUB. We work with a range of partners lo dclivcr universal and largelcd 5uppoI"I to Families who need support with their mental health and emotional well-being, particularly foi. Parenls who fell isol¢ited. Going forward aiid within the next twelve months we intend to priorikn'se a conllnon asscssn]ent franiework tool lo assess Il)e needs of every family member across areas of health, education and social issues and in terms of monitoring and evaluation as well as niea5uring success. We will also continue to lead oil Ilie ACE'S agenda a5 part of our "Compassiontite, Connected Resilient Comniunity" initiative where everyone feels valued aiid respccted through a traLltlla infomied lens. The Dry Arch Children's Centres Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (LfjlltiituÉdT) Year ended 31 March 2025 Family Support Services Last yedT the annual report highlighled a need lo continue more focused work wilh Families. This year we intend to highlight the irnport2nce of Building Attachment and Attunement between Parclll and Child. Attaclimeiit and Atttinement underpins everything we do! l This ycar conlinued tbe consolidaliosl dnd gi'owth Df Family Siipporl Services within tlie Dry Arch a5 a single &Eency as well as Rcfcrrals to the Dry Arch Early Jiitervention I'"amily Support HUB. Our experience of the programmes and supports reqllesl¢d and offered convinces us of the value OF this approach in tackling diverse needs experieuLcd by Familie8 today. We look torward to conbulidalion and continued growth in the yeats ahead as wc focus our cttorts on championing tbe needs of Fa￿111¢5 ¢Kperi¢ncing neurodiversity and all Ihal goes with an individual Child or Young Pcrson's Iie¢ds. Provision at a glxnee This report brcaks down the impact of progranllnes delivered by The Dry Arcli Children's Centre and how we are making a difYercnc¢ withill the local ¢ommunily. REFERRALS RECEIVED REFERRAL ORGANISATIONS 51aiuiDry Oreani5ation5 Cornmuniiy& Vc41untary' Orrpni5atians EthEètiOnal Oig¥nsdllOn5 Parenting Suppott Servlces Cdring for thc childr¢n we love lias many rewards, bul il is never eusy. At one lime or another edch of Ub, parcnts and yoiwg people alik¢, may need a liltle h¢lp. li can be diffiLuIt lo know where lo look. This year we Lonlinlied to delivcr a range of programmes to siipporl parents as they navigate their joitrney through fan3ily life. Dclails of programmes can be found on ow website. PARENTING SUPPORT SERVICES OTHER SUPPORTS *CTr)k Ir Food PAr(els tJHF_NRY PircntlTrE Purpuse Psreniiw Your Tpen Ofal HE81￿7 Piotsramme The Dry Arch Children's Centres Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director'5 Report) {LJFItEltued) Year ended 31 March 2025 Charnpioniiig Neurodiversity By championing neurodiversity, we are challenging misconceptions about n¢uro-divergent individua15. Neuro- divergent is an umbrella term encompassillg various neurological dilfcTences, including ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, DyscalcLlia. Dys¥rapliia, and Tourclk's syndrome. Tliese diagyn05tic labels d¢s¢ribc divcis¢ way5 Ot- thinking, learning. proccssing. and bchaving. The employment of a spcciFi¢ Ncurodiversity Cliampion lias aLrcady, within just one year reaped many ben¢fils for Cbildr¢n and Parcnts wh¢thcr they are awaiting a diagiiosis or have had a diagnosis. As wc move forward into another year we aTC dctcrniincd to add lo this support by providing an additional 5 5UPPOrt workers. Such is the nccd. Our goal remains lo changv the narrative around neLirodiversily and celebrate the strengths and unique talents of Theuro-divergenl indivÉduals, a5 well as provide supports and praclical solutions io those Familics still struggling. NEUROOIVERSITY I DISABILITY REFERRAL5 RECEIVED ADULT DISA8ILITY REFERRALS RECEIVED NEUROOIVERSITY EIIENI'S I PROGRAMM£5 Youth Ivleutorkng Support Research shows thal youngpeople who have acces5 to various positive opportui)ilies engage in less risky behaviour and demonstrate higher Tates of successful traiisilions into adulthood., Our Youth Developincnt Programs aim t promote posilivc outcomcs by offering opportunities, foslering siipportive relationships, and providing Ihc ncccssary support to d¢velop youn8 people's strengths and pievcnl risky behaviours. Wc mca5ure success using the Motional Tool, cvidence-based instrurnenl designed to assess. positively itnpacl, and report on tlie emotiollal hedlih ol all (Trur young parlicipanls. Below illustrates the other piograms wc fjffcr. Aftcr a successful "Aduliing lol" a program ained ai equipping yoL￿g people with essential life skills ￿]d building resilience thc programme continued. This pTogramme has evolved considerably and ivill grow in lei'ins of respoiiding to the ever chaiiging needs of our Children, Parents and schools. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAMMES THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS •TAG Boxeru Ju4jlgJ Ilsnookei Sunimer lamp r￿l￿s￿lng Fricndships P**sKal Actwiiy ltsllovieeo Camp In51tte Out •TickeO 011 *DrawlE￿ll & i81￿'r1E 2A%, 19% ,irA The Dry Arch Children's Centres Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report Uncorporating the Director's Report) (t'oN(iiriicd} Year ended 31 March 2025 Sen50ry Play Sensory Play is critical to our Children's brain d6velopme￿I and is featured heavily within the Dry Arcli Cenlres daily activity. Currelltly all Children have acces5 to sensory play activities dlld rnaterials daily but tliis ycar we intend to develop a imique and specialist Sensory Play space within our DungFiven centre as parl of our Championing Neurodiversity campaign. Tliis campaign is someihinE we WI￿1 lo lak¢ to other providers and employers and as such we encourag¢ you to "W ATCH THIS SPACE., No Boundaries to Support We believe all Faiiiilies deserve to be supported aud postcodcs should not be a batricr to 0￿erIng help where il is needed. As such Parents who do iiol live within these catchmenl a￿llS arc cligible for a range of progratnnies aiid services Ihrough the Othcr Dry Arch Progranllnes. The table of Play Programmes below highlights Ilic Icvcl or tliis support and again talk5 to the need for these 5¢rvices to conlinue throughoul the in¢oining year of support. OUTREACH PROGRAMMES CoiineLiir* Tifou•?￿ •ln16rE Pop Lkn Play NSagilliFn rJSturyTi414 Su￿￿[ S--oTr Early 11rai￿ Developmeot- What shapes us makes us The Early Years of a Child's lifc are very itnportani for latcr he&lih and devclopment. On¢ of the main reasons is how fast the brttiii grows from birth conlinuing into early Childliood. Although the brain continues to develop and change into adulthood, thc first eight years can build a founddlion for fvtuic le￿.nIng, healih and lifc SUL¢ess. By integrating relalionship-based prcvcnlion and intervention services for Childrcn carly in lifc, wlieii the brain is developing m05t rapidly, we can help optiniise developmental trajectories. Play Programme$ Play programmes are an integral & crncial part of our baby's and young children's brain developiiienl & Ineaningful allachmcnt relationships with <1 primary caregiver. Our baby play programmes providc proactivc pccr and one-to-one siipport from a skilled facililalor. The sessions are interaclive, allowing pai'enls to tnake new friends, discuss exp¢riences, and spend one-to-oiie time with thcir baby in dn enviroLllient sel lip lo engage baby's senses, w&th lights, sounds and textures. Each week introduces different topics of intei'est around iiifanl development relcvant to d]e first year of life - these include the 4th triincslcr. activity Idcas, and slccp pattcnis. ways to bTeak lip rhe day, dnd oiher topics relevant lo altending faujilies. Busy BdbiLs LfL(Itcs play opportunilics for older babies lo leain about the world around Ihern through the use of tuff trays, treasure baskets and sensory play. The Dry Arch Children's Celltres Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Rep'ort (Incorporating the Director's Report} (ioiitEnued) Year ended 31 March 2025 Play Programmes - Continued Our toddler play sessions provide further opportunities for parents lo leartk and understand how to further grow thcir child's brain atld nurture attachments b¢tween parent aad child. These sessions take place wilhin local COTllTnunity centres and schools to promote and enhance family awareness of their place within the local comniunity. this creates a sens¢ of belonginE. The graph below shows thc numbcr of fan]ilies who liave acccssed these prOgr￿l￿neS and highlights the importance of our work within local con]munili¢s from an early age. PLAY PROGRAMMES Bu5V tlabie PopUpP fv1ini Movers 5urTrrnei PIAY l)&ys R*Èdy Steady Go Stay aiid Play Oungive Slay & Play Foreglen Stay and Play Burnloot Stay 8nd Sin8GorinaslEy 5luy and Sing DuiigvJEn 20 40 80 l(K> 120 140 SURESTART The Dry Arch Si￿¢ Siarl piojeL't offer5 a wide range of services to support families with young childtLn. loLusillg on Ilieir licaltli aiid developmcnl. These services are primarily available within the Coolessaffj Dungivcn, Enagh, Feeny, GlacL Greystone, Roeside. The Highlands, and Upper Glenshane wards. Our Siire Siarl Devclopmenlal Programme is designed for children aged two lo tbree years, in their pre-preschool year. Play is a crucial tool for dev¢loping self-regul8Lion and promoting langLiage, cogiiiiion, and soeial comp¢Éence. We provide children with numerous opportunities lo develop pliysical skills, enjoy Ilie ouidoorb, understand and make 5eiise of their world. intcract with others, express and control eLliOtioiis, develop symbolic and problLni-solving abilities, and pia¢tice enicrgenl skills. Our monthly Stay and Play sessions enable parents and children lo learn logelher, reinforcing positive allachtnenls. RLudy SILiidy PiLSchool olf¢rs shorLcr sessions twice a wc¢k. DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMME FOR 2 YEAR OLDS & READY STEADY PRESCHOOL IYOP Ilmè¥3* %Rsp￿￿rrtTr rEeny vR5P ro¢ei*h io- The Dry Arch Children's Centres Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (Loiiliiiucd) Year ended 31 March 2025 Engaging fvlale Carers Together with the local nursing partnership, male carers were offered a basic health check. including blood pr¢ssure, cholesterol & mental health support. These pro¥ammes are pivotal lo including our male carers. 202412025 also saw the inlrDduclion of "Stay and Swim wilh Mc" sessi0Th5 for male carcrs to spend one lo one time with their children in Ihe pool. MALE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMES -￿￿nnectiOn TrIIs a IiiioimaTion wOr￿h0￿ Mstw & Swirri Vllth Ikle .43% Infant Mental Healtb Programmes & Workshops Anienatal ¢lasse5 are cNcial not only for ensuring that exp¢ctant parents feel prepared and supported duriiig this significant stage of life, but they also forn] the foundation of our relationships with families. For somc, this relalioiiship lasts for many years, often extending lo second and subseqLient children. Our postiia121 prograins atLd workshops provide new parents with a safe space to learn and socialize as they navigate the journey of new parenthood. Programs such as Infant Massage and our Baby Play iThitiatives offer pareiils opportUFLities lo understand the importance of early attackment and bonding, which fosteis their baby's brain dcvclopmenl. These programs also provide practical information on iiias'sage technique5, soothing tlieir baby, IcarningT safe sleep practices. Parent5 leam that sinwle aetivilies and quality one-on-one time are essential for building a strong attachment. Our weekly Breastfeeding Support Group is suitable for both new and experienccd brcasifeeding pkrenls. Breastfeediog is a complex process, and informal networks are beneficial for paT¢lIts, helping thotn learn new skills, solve probIen￿, adjust psychologically, and support their decision lo brcastlced both pra¢lically and socially over tinie. ANTENATAL PROGRAMMES AND WORKSHOP5 POSTNATAL PROGRAMtVlES & EVENTS li The Dry Arch Children's Centres Company LimAted by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report Oncorporating the Director's Report) {L'oiiiillt4cd) Year ended 31 March 2025 NIMATS The inlrodu¢tion of NIMATS has made the world of sliaring information belween slatulory organis4ilions and Sure Start a much tnore seamless proccss. This benefits rnore families. Representation and Lobbying The Dry ATch Childrcn's Centres remains passionate about profiliiig tlie needs of Cliildtcii alid F&tnilies al local, council and regional levels. As such the organisation repTeseiils Ihc iieeds of Local Cliildreii aiid Fainili&q oil maiiy boards and b(Klies including. Leading Swe Start. leading the local Eai'ly llllervenlioii Family Support FIUB. Hosting the Lirnavady Locality Plannill8 Group, as well as having a represenlalivc on the Western At¢<1 Oiitcomes groups and The Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership i'lgionally. This., along with represelllalson on local groiips withiii the Neiglibourhood reneival arca, Roe Valley Network and niany oilicr groLWS and networks ensurc5 local needs are higlilighied at Regional level. More importantly. services are developed and delivered using local illtelligcn¢e from HUB refe￿al8. Ensuring local services based on local ncedsl What Matter5 Most~ What our Families say Feedback is sougbt from our families on a regular b￿lS - thi5 means that we ar¢ in touch wilh the needs ol. the families we are supporting, and can adapt our programmes and servitics accordingly. •••• IlJw ••• 12- The Dry Arch Children's Centres Compally Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (Lfjii¢intiedJ Year ended 31 March 2025 Going Forward Supporting Families througli Ongoing Challenges Th¢ presSi￿¢S of cost-of-living and financial insecurity ¢onlinue to arrcct many families, yel OLW ¢oirJnilm¢nl to stand alongside them retllaiiis unwaveriD£. Children in vulnerable circun]slaoces ar¢ often the m05t inipacled, facing challenges that can affect their education, emotional wellbeing. aiid long-tcrm opportunities. As we move into another year we will ensure thllt no family fa¢cs imposbiblc choiccs bclwccn csscnlials. and that praclical support is accessible to all. With flSiDg numbers of self-referrals from families aware Ihal help is vailable, we will conliThue to work closcly wilh statutory partners to address povcrty and its iinpacl, iiicluding the challenges faced by the "working poor." Our focus will remain on inlervenlions thal providc both immediate relief &nd long-term Iesilience for children and families. Addressing Effjotional-Based School Anxicty One ofihe most pressing issues we see in our communily is emolional-based scliuol anxicly among childrei) and young people. This Can sigiiificanlly impact learning, social development, and ovcrall wcllbcing. It IS OiLt intention lo expaud targeted piogramsnes to support children experiencing school-related anxiely. providing early intervention, tailored one-to-one support, and practical strat¢gios for parents and Larers. By woikii)g closely with scliools. n]eotal healtli prDf¢ssionals. and Families, we aini to help cliildren re-enga&Fe COtLfidently with leaming and thrive both academically and cmotionally. Ending Violence Against wome￿ and Girls (EVAWG) The safely and wellbeill£ of children, young people, and families 15 inseparable fmm tackling violence aEdillSt womcn and girls in our ¢onununities. In thc coming y¢ar our work will focus oTh." Raising awareiiess and promoling safe spaces for children aJ]d yoiing pcoplc aFfccted by F.VA WG. Supportiiig parents and caregivers with ¢ducatioii, guidaiicc. and Ihcrapculic suppoi't. SIT¢nglhening colliiboralion with Sta￿tory and voluiitary parhiers to ensure timely aiid effective inlcivention5. Working with Families and Schools to support EBSA. Throu£h these actions, w¢ aim to break cycles of harim, protect cliildren, and empowe[ fainilies to live free from feaT and violence. Adapting to the Ever-Chan¥ing Need$ of Families Fanjilies are diverse, and so are their necds. There is no single bluepriiit for support. In 2025126, wc will continue to deliver flexiblc, tailored intervelltions through the Family Supporl HUB and our InuliL-asency p&rli)¢rs, ensuring tliat every fatn(ly receivcs the right support al the right tiine. Trllum# Informed Practice Understanding and addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) is cenlral to building resilietLce. Beyond profLssional training, we know tliat cvery n]ember ol our coInmunity benefits from dwarencss and practical slralegics for managing the effects of'early trauma. In 2025126, the BELONG Cainpaign will cxlcnd to Iccnagers, parents, and the wider comniunity, using the "Biology of Stress The Science of Hope" documenlaiy as a springboard. This will be Eollowed by Cominunity Resilience Model training, empowering childrei). pateiit5, and community Encnibeis to build Strength, eonnLction, and wellbeiiig. A Hopeful Vision for 2025126 As we look ali¢ad. ourcommitment is clear.. to support falnilies tILrough financial, emotional, and SOCi