Altnagelvin Parents Group
Annual General Meeting July 2023- June 2024
AGM Held on: Thursday 3[rd] April 2025 7.30pm
Agenda
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Welcome
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Apologies
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Chairpersons Annual Report for 2023-24
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Presentation of Annual Accounts & Financial Report- Treasurer.
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Office Bearers: chairperson, treasurer, secretary, Childrens ward rep
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Plans for year ahead
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Chairpersons Thanks & Closing Remarks
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Care Opinion Presentation.
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ALTNAGELVIN PARENTS GROUP NIC108762 ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2023-24
Registered Address
W S Sterritt & Co, Chartered Certified Accountants, Carton House, 15 Ebrington Tce, Derry, BT476JS
Trustees
Lisa Storey, Deirdre Cassidy, Kellie McGowan, Yvonne Devenney
Basis of Reporting
This report covers the activities of the Group for the year 1[st] July 2023- 30[th] June 2024.
Committee
At the AGM all committee members’ roles continued to remain filled. No Vacant positions.
Election of Office Bearers
In line with the procedure laid down in our Constitution, the Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and Childrens Ward representative were elected to office by the Committee members.
These were Chairperson – Lisa Storey, Treasurer – Deirdre Cassidy, Secretary – Kellie McGowan and Childrens Ward representative Yvonne Devenney.
Election of Committee Members
Existing Committee members Lisa Storey, Deirdre Cassidy, Kellie McGowan and Yvonne Devenney were re-elected.
Resignation of Committee Member
None
Meeting our Stated Objectives
The work of the Group continues to focus on the stated objectives in our governing document and as ever, any review and evaluation of our work must assess how well we have fulfilled those objectives in the past year.
Ongoing work
The core work of the Group continues to be undertaken by our small, dedicated team of Committee members, who keep our primary goal of support families to children with lifelong and life limiting medical conditions and who attend Altnagelvin Hospitals Childrens Wards to the fore at all times.
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We continue growing digital social media presence, to engage with our parent members and the general public, our Social Media platform includes Facebook, Instagram and X. We have 3 closed groups on Facebook, our main Altnagelvin Parents Support Group, the 2 smaller sister groups Altnagelvin Epilepsy Parents, Altnagelvin Diabetes Parents. All of which is overseen by Deirdre Cassidy and Lisa Storey. The quality of posts and photographs on social media has ensured consistency and professionalism in everything we post, share and present to the public.
The work of the Group ranges, and it is clear that we would not be able to perform our roles and provide the support we do without the ongoing and unwavering financial donations we receive from fundraisers, whether patient families, friends and generous members of the public.
In early 2023 we developed two short surveys and launched as part of a public consultation, one survey was for any parent who has had a child admitted and stayed on the children’s ward (since 2018) and the other survey was for young people who have been admitted to hospital since (2018). The feedback from both will help us shape our activities and projects going forward. These continue to capture feedback, with QR codes on the Childrens wards.
All donations we receive is put to use here in the northern sector of the Western Trust to further the charity’s goals and purposes.
- Christmas event
Our 5th annual Christmas Event was held on Sunday 26th November 2023 in The Everglades Hotel. We planned for a Santa Sunday style of event for 300 guests. Together we had a sit down Sunday lunch. We had entertainment, activities, face painting, Santa visits and a disco to just name a few. The event was successful. It was an opportunity to get together celebrate the beginning of the Christmas Season.
Everyone had a lot of fun outside of the clinical hospital environment and away from the stresses this year may have brought to them. Captured photographs for families in the grottos.
None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for funding we were granted from The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland.
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In Jan 24 we asked parents to support us raise awareness of our children’s medical conditions. Parents helped us put together a calendar of local, national and world awareness days, and we invite families to support us with drafting the information so we can share on social medial. This has been highly successful, parents appreciate this activity, feel valued and involved.
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We continue to replenish our Bravery Baskets every quarter for children who are getting medical procedures in the treatment rooms or on the ward.
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We continue to replenish and update out Parents Care Box on the ward, which has toiletry and sanitary products for parents who are staying on the ward and arrive without certain items for example toothbrush, toothpaste, wipes, deodorant, tampons etc.
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In February 24 we donated nightlight torches for the staff on the ward doing night shift, these torches are to help when conducting routine night-time checks on patients aiming to not have children being woken suddenly to bright lights and not settling back to sleep after night-time observation. Encouraging a restful night and better quality sleep to aid recovery.
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In March 24 we held our AGM for our financial year 2022-23, inviting all members of APG to attend. We reported back on the previous year, and we invited Wendy McLaughlin to present on the new children’s ward design and answer questions from parents. We had 18 attendees in total.
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In March we were delighted to be part of the University Ulster- Child Health Society at Magee’s first ever Teddy Bear Hospital. The Child Health Society are a group of graduate entry medicine students with a keen interest in paediatrics. They hosted the first of what they hope will be an annual event, called the Teddy Bear Hospital at the Model School Derry/Londonderry.
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This event featured a number of stations introducing the children to the world of medicine. The aim was to promote health and exercise, diminish any fear children may have about visiting the doctors and inspire a future generation.
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In March 24 we celebrated Mother’s Day with those admitted to the children’s ward. Being in hospital is not easy at any time of the year, but it can be especially tough on Mother’s Day. That weekend we brought cupcakes for all the mothers and carers on the children’s wards, to enjoy a little treat on us.
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We leased a VR Headset for the children’s ward for a year’s trial. VR can have huge benefits for children, parents and for the staff, saving time and most importantly ensuring that the children are relaxed, happy, and able to deal with a range of otherwise difficult procedures. The VR headset lets children experience different 360-degree environments, like swimming underwater with tropical fish, visiting outer space and walking with dinosaurs, or they can just play games.
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In April 24 we invited our families who are raising children living with epilepsy to a multisensory meet & greet coffee in Aspace2, Campsie. It was a lovely afternoon. We had full use of all 6 multi-sensory rooms and a coffee and treats in the cafe afterwards.
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In April 2024 we acknowledged on social media that we were celebrating our 5[th] anniversary as Altnagelvin Parents Group. It marked a milestone for APG– 5 years since we founded the charity. Since day one we have been overwhelmed with gratitude for the boundless generosity, kindness, and compassion shown.
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As we acknowledge our 5[th] year anniversary, we reflected on the dedication and commitment of our team, committee, parents, families, children’s ward staff, funders, and supporters. Together, everyone has helped build APG into a support network for families both on and off the wards. It’s a testament to what real codesign and coproduction can achieve when we work together.
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We continued to encourage those in our community to run the local marathons and half marathons wearing APG vest to support and raise awareness of our charity. For which we developed running packs for this fundraising.
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In May 2024 we celebrated international nurses’ day. To mark the occasion, we wanted to show our gratitude and appreciation to the nursing staff on wards 6&16. We treated them to a special breakfast/ brunch buffet.
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We were delighted to learn we aware awarded a small grant of £1000 from the acorn fund which enabled us to begin planning for a summer youth arts programme to be facilitated by UV arts.
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In June we received a Keadue grant which enabled us to plan for 2x 6week Restorative yoga programmes, wellbeing packs for parents who are on the ward for prolonged periods of time, to develop a family support role for the Childrens wards for 7.5 hours a week and to plan for a wreath making workshop in the autumn.
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In June we celebrated Father’s Day. We delivered cupcakes for all the Daddy’s and Father figures who had children on the children’s ward that weekend, to enjoy a little treat on us.
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We supported the Diabetes team from Wards 6&16 recently planned two family information days to support families who have children transitioning to a school setting such as Nursery/ P1 and from primary school to secondary education settings. We funded both these events which took place in June, at Xtreme bounce and the play shed.
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On 29[th] June 2024 we held our 2[nd] Afternoon tea event in Bishops Gate hotel. We had 80 people attend the event. The parents had a lovely afternoon, spending quality time with their guest and meeting other parents who are on a similar journey. We had a number of staff from the ward attend, this helps build partnerships and relationships between APG and the children’s ward and proves to be remarkably successful.
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We planning for the last two programmes near the end of our financial year:
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In July we started two 6week Restorative Yoga programmes for parents. Offering 12 places in each programme. Restorative yoga helps enhance mood, promoted relaxation, releases stress and tension on the body.
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In July we started a 4-week summer art programme, for children between the ages of 12-18 years old who have medical conditions or have a sibling who have a medical condition. The art programme is facilitated by UV arts and will display the work of the young people in a gallery for 2 weeks after the programme ends.
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In July 2024 we welcomed Jacqui Diamond to the role of Family support Worker for the Childrens wards, which is funded to June 2025.
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Financial Report
The total net worth of the Group on 1st July 2023 was £ 21,439 , HSBC Current Account.
Total expenditure for the year came to £ 36,649
Total donations received for the year came to £ 22,061
Total funding received from Halifax foundation and the National Lottery community fund, Acorn Fund and Keadue grant came to £ 24,345
Our governance costs including Public and Trustees Liability Insurance premium £ 432.
Administration costs £ 6,210
The year finished with a total net worth of £ 31,196
HSBC Current Account
Conclusion
2023-24 was a successful year for our small developing charity. We feel we have made great progress with the funding we received which has enabled us to build on our services and introduce programmes and staff.
I am immensely proud of how our committee has worked diligently in their service to the Parents Group, and with a strong commitment to their roles.
We are indebted to Deirdre Cassidy who is not only our Treasurer but who works diligently and voluntarily behind the scenes with myself to plan for everything Altnagelvin parents group has to offer. Thank you.
Lisa Storey Chairperson
Accounts as of 1st July 2023
HSBC Current Account £ 21,439
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Plus, Income
Donations / Funding received £ 46,406
Less Expenditure
£ 36,649 Accounts as of 30th June 2024 HSBC Current Account £ 31,196
Notes
Altnagelvin Parents Support Group Financial Statement for Period Ending 30[th] June 2024 NIC NIC108762
Signatures:
Lisa Storey
20/3/25
20/3/25
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