North Down and Ards Downs Syndrome Support Group NIC number 107166 TRUSTEES REPORT For the financial year ended 181 February 2024 The Trustees present their Trustees report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 181 February 2024. Mlsslon, objectlves and strategy M1s8ion 8tatement: Relieve the needs of persons affected by Down's syndrome in any charitable way but in particular by: Providing services in the Ards and North Down area to encourage people with Down's syndrome to achieve their full potential. Promoting the integration of people with Down's syndrome into their communities. Providing support and assistance to parents of children with Down's syndrome regardless of distinction. Providing appropriate support and information to new parents of babies with Down's syndrome. Obj8ctiVO8 The nurturing and development of social skllls, frlendships with peers, and increased confidence so that people with Down's Syndrome feel less isolated and can provide the maximum contribution to society. They also include a greater understanding of what Down's Syndrome is, how people with Down's Syndrome can be supported to achieve their potents'al and how they can be accepted into and Contribute to everyday society. The creation of a network of people with experience of bringing up children with Down's Syndrome that can share advice with parents with younger children and babies with Down's Syndrome. Structure, governanco and management. The trustees who served during the year are as follows.. Michaela Burnside Andrea McRoberts Gillian Gedge-Duffy During the year the group met regularly, and minutes of these meetings were kept, All cheques are signed by two trustees for accountability. Revlew of actlvltl88. achlevements and performance During the year the group continued to provide weekly Drama and Yoga groups for members of all ages. In addition to this we held regular sessions with "messy mornings. and squi9gles and giggles" for babies, toddlers and their parentsl carers. We also held a summer outing for all membersl families and a Christmas paty as well as a trip to the Grand Opera house for children and young adults aged over 10 and their parentsl carers.
We held one substantial fundraising event which was a bucket collection in Bloomfields shopping centre. There were also substantial donations from new members families and fundraising undertaken by their relatives which generated sufficient income to fund all activities undertaken. Financ5al revlew See report on income and expendrture. Results and dlvidends At the end of the financial year the charity has assets of £6959.11 (2023 £6400) and liabilities of £00.00 (2023 £00.00), The net assels of the charity have increased by £558.21. Reference and Admlnlstratlvo deta118 We have an elected chairperson, secretary and treasurer with designated roles within the group. We also have three trustees which all assist in the efficient running of the organisation. Public beneflt statement The direct benefits which flow from the purpose include the nurturing and development of social skills, friendships wlth peers, and increased confidence in order that wople with Down's Syndroma feel less isolated and can provide the maximum contribution to society. They also include a greater understanding of what Down's Syndrome is, how people with Down's Syndrome can be supported to achieve their potential and how they can be accepted into and contribute to everyday society. Other benefits are that we create of a netsvork of people with expeiience of bringing up children with Down, Syndrome who can share advice with parents with younger children and babies wilh Down's Syndrome. This reduces isolation and enables them to make the correct choices for their child. More benefits include people being able to share knowledge about events, clubs and societies within the area, They also include social inclusion, the development of friendships and support nehvorks, development of various skills such as social, motor skills, and life skills. These benefits are evidenced through monitoring the development and successes of our members to identify improvements in social interaction with peers, the public, educational and employment success. They are also evidenced by monitoring how our members feel they are accepted Into society and comparing this with the experiences of older members. The benefits are also evidenced through our growing membership, especially those with very young children and babies. The benefits of the purpose are evidenced through seeing the friendships develop betr4ve&n the chlldren and their parents. The events that we hold improve communication, gross and fine motor ski118 in infants and children and social skills and confidence in the older children. The purpose does not lead to any harm. The beneficiaries are primarily people with Down's Syndrome and their families. friends, carers and the general public. Greater social inclusion and acceptance will develop whilst encountering less barriers due to greater understanding by the public as a whole. thus providing benefit to wider society. Parentsl carers of people with Down's Syndrome who can be supported through their child's development in matters such as feeding, health. toileting and education. There is no privat8 benefit as 8 result of the purpose. Approved by the Board of Trustees on 19111124 and signed on its behalf by Andrea McRoberts, trustee