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STIRT
Down District
33rd Annual Report 2022123
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No child?
future should
be limited

Annual Report 2022-23 |
Chair
erson's Re
ort
governance requirements and after a review
of the revised Home Start Agreement and
Brand Licensing documents signed up so we
can continue as members of the Home Start
U.K. Network. They also continue to review,
update and implement new and revised
policies regularly, oversee Staff recruitment
and exercise financial management.
In conclusion I should like to give my heartfelt
gratitude to everyone involved in Home Start
Down District for their ongoing commitment to
the organisation.
The reason we are facing the future with
such a positive outlook is due to the
dedication and hard work of the Trustees,
Organisers, Admin Staff, Family Group and
Support workers, Shop staff and all our
Volunteers. Each and every one of you go
that extra mile and contribute to making
Home Start Down District the success story it
is. Thank you all!
2022-2023 has proved to be a busy, at times
difficult, but ultimately uplifting year for Home
Start Down District. The challenges of the
post -pandemic world have been many and
tailoring our provision in response to these
has taken creativity and hard work from
everyone.
Mental Health and Wellbeing, Social
Development and Isolation continue to be
key themes guiding our provision. Initiatives
include Family Groups which are aimed at
new parents with children under 8 months,
Little Explorers for those with additional
needs, Breasffeeding Support Groups, Baby
Massage and Messy Play. We continue to
provide our regular Family Groups and our
over-subscribed Incredible Years progTamme
as well as delivering our core programme of
home support.
Our Counselling Service is at full capacity
and a resounding Suc￿sS which is much in
demand. We were also glad to offer support
to Asylum seekers in Newcastle.
Underpinning the ability to offer these
enterprises is financial sustainability and
securing funding remains a constant focus for
Trustees and Organisers. The use of a bid
writer has proved to be successful and
relieves some pressure on the Organisers,
but it is an ongoing struggle in the current
economic climate.
Fundraising efforts continue in many forms,
from Sponsored Toddles to Quizzes and
Bingo and we are so grateful for the support
we receive from the wider community. Our
shop goes from strength to strength and a
well-deserved recognition of the teamwork
was shown by the fact they won the 'Joint
Staff and Volunteer Award 'at the Social
Enterprise Awards.
Volunteer recruitment is now mainly through
Facebook and a new hybrid model of prep
training introduced. The flexibility offered by a
combination of face to face, and online
courses has proved to be successful. Yet
another example of using technology to our
advantage!
The Trustees are diligent about ensuring the
Scheme is compliant with Home Start U.K.
Fiona Crory
Chairperson
ether with Families
Home-start's vision is to shape a country
where all children have the best possible
start in life. We want to make sure that no
parent or family feels alone in the critical task
of raising children. We want to build
compassionate communities for families,
parents and children - because childhood
can't wait.

Annual Report 2022-23 |
Treasurers Report
I have to report, with some regret that the
year to 31 March 2023, ne￿SsItated our
needing to dip into our reserves to the extent
of some £60,000. Our revenues at £198774
were down by some £24,500 whilst our
outgoings at £259640 were up by some
£54000. A difference of £78311.
In our view these figures indicated a) the
increasing difficultly of securing funds from
the various sources which have been
approached, some of which have been
exceedingly kind and helpful to us over the
years and b) the fact that we have responded
to very strong and increasing need in the
sector which we choose to serve. This latter
has involved higher staffing costs - as well we
had agreed increases for existing staff to
reflect greater cost of living as well as their
untiring efforts and commitment. Our funds
at the year-end amounted to £77269. It's
clear that we cannot sustain this level of
adverse cash flow for long. We've been
endeavouring to deal with the issue by tight
budgeting and active pursuit of sources of
funding with the help of our professional fund
raiser - with some success.
level of activity. The commitment of those
involved is admirable. As usual the return on
preserving safe investments is disappointing
erratic financial markets.
Again, grateful thanks are due to those
(individually and corporately) who have
supported us with funds. These have been
vital and have made material dIfferen￿S to
the lives of many. Again, I have to record
unqualified admiration for the commitment
and efforts of the Organisers. The
requirements of them seem to be ever more
complex and demanding.
As ever I must express my pleasure in being
associated with my fellow Trustees, Staff and
Volunteers.
Peter Smith
Treasurer
What do we do?
Parents supporting parents.
A local community network of trained
volunteers and expert support helping
families with young children through their
challenging times.
There for parents when they need us the
most.
How do we do it?
No judgement, just compassionate,
confidential help, and expert support.
Starting in the home, our approach is as
individual as the people we are helping.
Sharing local expertise to drive national and
regional change.
Currently our forecasts indicate that we shall
increase the reserves to in excess of £100,
000 by the end of March 2024 - this will be
diminished by the fact that the pension
provider, due to their processing glitch, had
neglected to collect some £23000 from us
being contributions to staff pensions - over
most of 2 years. This amount will need to be
made up over the next few months.
It now is the norm that there is considerable
home working, also zoom meetings of the
Management Committeerrrustees.
We have been inordinately gratified by the
performance of the Charity shop in
Newcastle. Its revenue was £56590
(£47422), outgoings were £47501 (£35242)
returned a surplus of £8888 (£11998) in the
year - the lower result related in the main to
increased staff costs - reflecting the greater
The issue
A child's earliest years are irreplaceable.
Without a stable, loving, and nurturing
environment, a very young child will not
develop the vital foundations they need.
They will not develop the skills that help with
everything from their behaviour, their ability to
learn, their confidence or even the some of
the most basic things, like being able to go to
the toilet by themselves.
Once the chance is missed, making up lost
ground in later life is difficult, expensive and
often just doesn't happen.

Annual Report 2022-231
During the year we have supported 390
families and 522 children thanks to the hard
work of our dedicated staff and volunteer
team.
administrative backbone of the scheme.
Acknowledgments are also due to our Family
group workers-maria, Una, Leanne, Aileen
and Kirsty-for their immense dedication and
efforts in creating happy memories in the
lives of the children we serve. Additional
thanks are directed to Jac and Debbie, who
oversee the charity shop's operations. Their
contribution has played a pivotal role in the
shop's success, firmly rooting it in the local
community.
Reports on the schemes:
Downpatrick Ballynahinch Newcastle
It is my pleasure to present Home Start Down
District's 33rd Annual Report.
This will be my last report because I will be
retiring in April after 26 years. I have had the
privilege of being a part of Home Start Down
District for over 28 years starting as a
volunteer in the Downpatrick Scheme in
1998,1 was then the Newcastle Organiser for
10 years and then the Manager of Down
District for the last 15 years.
Thanks to our dedicated team of Trustees,
they serve as the cornerstone of our
organization. This group of talented and
skilled individuals plays a crucial role in
governing the scheme. As volunteers, these
trustees work tirelessly to manage the
program across various areas of operation.
Their hard work and expertise are greatly
appreciated, contributing significantly to the
success of Home Start Down District.
This year has been another challenging year
for Home-start Down District and in particular
the cost-of-living crisis has had a direct effect
on the families that we support. This has put
pressure on our funding, in-house costs,
resources, staff, and volunteers. Despite
these difficulties the support the families have
received has not wavered, due to the
dedication of everyone involved in the Home-
Start Down District.
Under the leadership of Sharon, supported
by Kirsty and Leanne, the Home Start
Newcastle Scheme is experiencing ongoing
growth and development. Together, they
have taken an innovative approach by
spearheading the new Asylum Seekers Hotel
Scheme for the Newcastle Area, securing
funding that extends the initiative into 2024.
Sharon is actively building relationships with
Unit T, Sure start, CDRN, DEA, and
participating in interagency events.
When I started Home Start, our service was
primarily centred around Home Visiting.
Today, while maintaining our Home Visiting
service, we have expanded to include 8
active Family groups In the district. We have
also established our inaugural Social
Enterprise, a thriving charity shop-and
introduced a counselling service. The
substantial growth and progress of these
initiatives stand as a testament to the
unwavering commitment and hard work of
our dedicated staff.
A special expression of gratitude goes to
Imelda and Sharon for their tireless efforts in
developing these programs. A heartfelt
thanks is extended to Doreen, the
Furthermore, Sharon maintains close
communication with referrers, mentors
counselling students, and collaborates with
Job-share workers. She plays a vital role in
engaging with volunteers, providing support
through reviews, book club activities, planned
events, and actively building up the volunteer
base. Concurrently, Sharon is pursuing her
counselling degree, contributing to the
ongoing development of the counselling
service for Home Start Down District.
The Two Incredible Years program has been
successfully delivered, with one session
conducted on Zoom in autumn and another
conducted faCe-tO-fa￿ in all primary schools.

Annual Report 2022-23 |
Sharon's multifaceted involvement reflects
her dedication and commitment to the
comprehensive growth and success of the
Home Start Newcastle Scheme.
coming year. That survey is documented
later in this report.
Imelda led her team to successfully adapt
and expand their group activities, operating
safely in diverse venues and introducing
programs in new locations. Families, having
endured isolation due to the pandemic,
collaborated closely with the team to resume
a semblance of normalcy. Their joint efforts
focused on minimizing the spread of Covid
and other infections, ensuring the continued
operation of the groups. Recognising how
much children had suffered from the
lockdowns, Imelda and her team developed
high quality, child led play programmes to
meet their needs.
Our Charity Shop serves as a crucial source
of income, playing a vital role in our public
relations efforts, volunteer recruitment, and
creating a welcoming space where parents
can feel heard. Beyond its financial
significance, the shop provides work
placements, offering full support in a caring
and inclusive environment. Customers who
purchase or donate directly to our charity
shop are aware that their contributions stay
within the local area, with all profits dedicated
to supporting families in need.
We express deep gratitude for the generous
donations and the loyalty of our customers.
The tireless efforts of both staff and
volunteers contribute to maintaining an
appealing and well-stocked shop
environment. Special thanks go to Jac, who
continues to supervise the shop's operations.
Her encouragement led volunteers to return
to face-to-face work after the pandemic,
fostering lasting friendships.
Imelda also responded to the emerging
needs of families by introducing new and
innovative initiatives. A noteworthy
endeavour was the extended Summer Family
Support Programme, spanning six weeks and
providing play opportunities and support to
44 families and 74 children. Additional
programs, such as a breasffeeding support
group, a pelvic floor group, and a new group
for Moms and newborns, were established.
A particularly impactful venture was the
Families Together program, an extension of
the Summer Programme. This initiative
provided afterschool support to 12 families
facing various challenges, including domestic
violence, relationship difficulties, mental
health issues, and the strain of the cost-of-
living crisis. Uniquely, the project offered
intensive support to entire families in a small
group setting, utilizing play and art to foster
support networks among peers and provide
emotional and practical assistance to
parents. The success of the Families
Together program was evident in the
evaluation, with many parents expressing
that it provided a space to build trust with the
team, volunteers, and fellow parents.
Subsequently, almost all participants went on
to access additional services within Home-
Start and externally, including home visiting,
counselling, and support from external
organizations such as Women's Aid,
Addiction Services, and Further Education.
Jac's creativity shines through in her efforts
to enhance systems, including the
implementation of a successful pricing
strategy. Her valuable contributions have
propelled the shop's growth. At present, a
fantastic team of volunteers is actively
contributing to the shop's success, making it
a thriving hub for our community.
The Ballynahinch team, led by Imelda and
supported by group workers Maria and Una,
focused on crucial initiatives this year as the
community emerged from the challenges
posed by Covid-19. A primary emphasis was
placed on building parental engagement and
fortifying the volunteer base. The tearn
initiated informal conversations with families,
delving into the effects of Covid on their lives.
This dialogue culminated in a survey that
garnered 123 responses, forming the
foundation for the Scheme's work over the

Annual Report 2022-23 |
A standout moment in the year was the
Santa Party, where 100 families visited Santa
at his enchanting cottage" at Delamont.
Santa engaged with the children, led rhyme
time, and took families on a magical train ride
through the forest, creating a memorable
experience for all involved.
Undeterred by the obstacles of the past year,
Imelda focussed on building and
strengthening the volunteer team so that the
Scheme could deliver its core objective of
meeting the needs of families responsively
through home visiting. Notably, Imelda
utilized social media, particularly Facebook,
to spearhead volunteer recruitment, with one
advertisement reaching an impressive 16,422
people and generating 2,125 engagements
without resorting to paid ads. Imelda
combined the use of social media and an
innovative approach to delivering volunteer
training through a hybrid of online and face to
face training to rebuild a volunteer team
decimated by Covid.
The team also actively engaged with the
community through ne￿OrkIng with
organizations such as CDRN, local churches,
food banks, and other voluntary groups.
In summary, the Ballynahinch team's
multifaceted approach, encompassing
community engagement, program
development, and volunteer recruitment,
reflects a dedicated and impactful effort to
support families and strengthen the
community in the wake of the Challenges
brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dorothy Mcmullan
Manager
Volunteers
Volunteers are at the heart of Home Stsrt.
For over 33 years in Down District
volunteers have delivered a face-to-face
service to families and have governed our
scheme. Without our volunteers Home
Start would cease to exist. Volunteering
helps build cohesive communities, while
building the skills and confidence of those
giving their time to families in need.
Across the Home Start network there are
10,946 people giving their time as
volunteers for Home Stsrt, including 1,306
trustees. In Northern Ireland there are 508
volunteers and in Down District we are
lucky to be working with 70 of these
special people.
Home-visiting
Having our Home Visiting Volunteers able
to support families in their homes has
been a great return to normal for the
scheme. Our home visiting volunteers
understand what parents are going
through and provide a listening ear, hand
holding, and non-judgemental and
practical support to our families - Thank
you to our team of wonderful Home
Visiting Volunteers.
Referrals
Our referrals have increased dramatically
across '22-'23, indicating the increased
level of need. Needs range from coping
with parent's mental health, child's mental
health, anxiety issues, overcoming
isolation. financial concerns, and
additional needs.
522
children
ST

Annual Report 2022-23 |
FAMILY SURVEY
We conducted a survey in July and August
2022 with 123 families to assess how well
Home Start is doing and to identify any new
needs that families may have. The results
were..
I can't even express how thankful l am
to Homestart. They have been
absolutely amazing to myself and my
kids. Even forcing me to sit down and
talk to other parents, and giving me a
break, has been everything
.Before engaging with Home-start 70.3 %
identified coping with children's behaviour
and emotions as an issue
.After engaging with Home-start 95.7 felt that
they were coping well or very with their
children's behaviour and emotions
.Before engaging with Home-start 78.9
identified their own physical and emotional
well-being as an issue
.After engaging with Home-start 91.5 % felt
that they were coping well or very with their
children's behaviour and emotions
.An astounding 88.90/0 felt that they were
really listened to by the staff and volunteers
at Home-start
I have recently been going
through a stressful time
due to complications with
my second pregnancy and
it is really comforting to
know I have a support
network and people to talk
to if I need to
Homestart is always there when
you need them,
they listen to you and will never
judge you!
Time, care and
support given has
been incredible.
Having a team that
can support me
through the bad
days and help me
access other
services I may need
has been
invaluable. Thank
you so so much.
I received counselling
straight away after hitting
rock bottom

Annual Report 2022-23 |
Continuing Support to Parents
ADVICE
SUPPORT
O I to I practical and emotional support
O Access to foodbanks, oil, baby food, nappies and wipes
O Home Safety Checks
O Benefit checks
O Signposting generally
ASSISTAlibt
,UIDANCE

Annual Report 2022-23 |
THANKS TO OUR FUNDERS
Without the continued support from our funders, we would not be able to do what we do.
Thank you to all our funders below:
SEHSCT SLA
GARFIELD WESTON
Home-start UK
HENRY SMITH
AWARDS FOR ALL
PHA CLEAR
PATHWAYS
CASH FOR KIDS
NMDDC GOOD RELATIONS
NMDDC POLICING & COM.
Prior year NMDDC
HS NEWCASTLE
FUNDRAISING
BANK INTEREST
£ 80,590.00
£ 15,000.00
1,000.00
£ 33,350.00
£ 10,000.00
6,630.00
£ 25,000.00
£ 10,200.00
1,124.00
1,900.00
2,154.00
8,888.00
2,810.00
127.00
£ 198,773.00

Annual Report 2022-23 |
Staff
Dorothy Mcmullan
ManaRer
Imelda Hynds
Ballynahinch Organiser
Newcastle OrRaniser
Sharon Robinson
Doreen Belshaw
Administrator
Maria Hynds
Family Group Worker
Una Lynch
Leanne McDonald
Family Group Worker
Family Group Worker
Aileen Burns
Family Group Worker (left July 2022}
Familv Group /Support Worker (started September 20221
Kirstv Cable
Jac Love McNamara
Shop supervisor
Debbie Hall
Shop worker (started Au￿Ust 2022)
Mana
ement Committee
Fiona Crory
Chairperson
Peter Smith
Treasurer
Maureen Kearney
Trustee
Bridget Owens
Derek McGre￿or
Trustee
Trustee
Martin Walls
Trustee
Ms K Otley
South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust
Jane Dinnen
Trustee

Annual Report 2022-23 |
Our Services
COUNSELLING SERVICE
Family
Groups
Incredibl
Years
Family
Support
Groups
Home visiting
Support
Family Groups
For parents and their children aged O to 4
O Ballynahinch
o Crossgar
Drumaness
Castlewellan
Dundrum
St John's Newcastle
Newcastle PS
o Killyleagh
ME
RT

Annual Report 2022-23 |
Volunteer Recruitment
Home Start Down District
Published by Imelda Hynd5 • , 5eptember12 at 7:42 PM . Q
urninies with new babies would love a volunteer to come in to help feed or wind the baby, let
them get a cup of lea or a quick shower or just rea55ure them that they are doing a great job and
.bÈing a new Mum is really hard! Could you give 2 hours a week to support a new Mum? We can
promise you that you will make a.difference and get great training and support, expenses and lots
Of opportunitie5 to meet other v.olunteers and make new friends. We have lots of famifies across
Do,.. See more
18.422
2.125
t +5.1x higher
Distribution SCQTe
B005t post
People reached
Engagements

Annual Report 2022-23 |
Auditors
M.B. McGrady & Co.
Rathmore House
52 St. Patrick's Avenue
Downpatrick, BT30 6DS
Contact us:
Home-start Down District
downpatrick@homestartdd.org
ballynahinch@homestartdd.org
newcastle@homestartdd.org
Telephone: 028 44615727
Registered Office
14-15 Innovation House
Down Business Park
46 Belfast Road
Downpatrick
BT30 9UP
Company Number N1054548
Website:www.homestartdd.org
Because
tomorrow
starts today