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