Tuesday 21[st] October 2025 at 7pm, Ballybot House Newry
AGM Chairperson Report
Good evening everyone, you are all welcome to our 2025 AGM.
2025 was another good year for Autism Families. Even though we struggled with a small committee, we carried it off very successfully this year and thanks goes to everyone for all their hard work as always.
Once again this year we had our monthly kids club in the Brain Injury Foundation which has always been well attended and well run. The usual entertainment was brought in again, including the animals, sensory bus, drumming, dancing, arts & crafts, PSNI, Fire Service to name just a few, and on other occasions we’ve created our own entertainment with our owns arts and crafts plus our extensive sensory toys and games.
We haven’t had a Halloween party or Christmas party since our last AGM (January 2025) but they once again will be worthwhile clubs for our kids to attend in the coming months. And fingers crossed we will have the Rathore inflatable Christmas grotto with Santa and the elves which was much appreciated last year.
As has been mentioned in previous years we would ideally love to have more than one club every month but this takes a larger committee which hopefully will be the case in future.
We had two panto visits this year. Peter Pan in January 2025 in the Grand Opera House, Belfast and then Shrek in Marketplace Theatre, Armagh in April 2025, both very well attended.
Regular Sunday relaxed cinema viewings once again proved very popular and we’ve also had a few over 10’s bowling nights. Visits to St Colman’s Athletic Track, where we avail of the disability bicycles and tricycles, was another of our regular events in 2025. We hope to increase the frequency of all of these in future.
Page 1 of 2
Our extensive summer scheme was once again very well organised and very well attended. A visit to Exploris, Dublin Zoo, Ulster Folk Museum, Infinity to name just a few. I would go so far as to say we probably have the biggest summer scheme of any local charity organisation.
April 2025 saw our third annual walk for autism in Gosford park. Well attended again this year and the promise of ABC council making it a full time proper sensory trail is getting closer to fruition.
Once again huge thanks go to the 'Brain Injury Foundation' for allowing us the use of their excellent premises, without which we certainly wouldn’t be enjoying the success that we have, so a huge thank you and long may this last.
This year again we had extensive fundraising with street collections, charity dip, spinathons and many more, so well done to the fundraising team for all the hard work.
Also this year again I’d like to thank Rita for compiling our Financial Report, free of charge, and for all her help throughout the year.
Going forward into 2026 I’ve no doubt Autism Families will have continued success and hopefully with an increase in our committee and some more volunteers we will be able to provide an even better help to our local families dealing with autism.
Thank you to those who have now retired from their roles on the committee, you worked hard for the benefit of all our members and it is truly appreciated.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for allowing me another year again as Chairperson which has been a very rewarding experience and thank you to the committee for supporting me throughout the year, but for me regrettably this will be my last year seeking election as Chairperson. I am willing to continue as Treasurer if reelected, but for me three years, or it may even be almost four now, it’s time to hand the reins over to someone else - so thank you very much for all your support over the last few years.
Ch Colin Boyle Chairperson
Page 2 of 2