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Removed
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This charity was removed from the register on 23 Jun 2023
Public benefits
Our purpose is to promote the benefit of children with disabilities and their family and carers in the West Belfast (hereinafter called the 'area of benefit') area without discrimination of age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion, by the provision of advice, information, resources,
education, recreational activities and support with the object of improving their conditions of life. There is no perceived harm flowing from this purpose. The public benefit flowing from our purposes includes: - We work to support children who have been rejected or removed from other services due to the complexity of their needs and due to significant behavioural difficulties. We support those with challenging behaviours as a result of severe learning disabilities and those children from across the autistic spectrum, respecting that they have the same rights to avail of services and take part in activities as others. - We support children to realise their potential by improving their quality of life and raising their participation in the community. We make a difference by providing access to services for families in need, which then supports the individual development needs of their child. We focus on the strengths of the children so that we can contribute towards their experiences and develop their confidence and self-esteem. The main driver of the Kids Together ethos is that children with additional needs will be offered, on an equal footing, opportunities for play, socialising with others, forming friendships and developing a sense of inclusion. - Although based in West Belfast, the children and families we support travel from a range of areas from across the Belfast and Lisburn Trust areas due to the lack of support available locally and due to the complexity of their needs. Our immediate community in the Greater Lenadoon and Sullfock area has a significant number of young children with disabilities and large portions of our catchment area are also characterized by high levels of economic inactivity, poverty and ill health. As a result the children and families who engage in our services not only live with a disability, but they are also from areas of high deprivation. These children and their families already feel isolated, and are under ongoing pressure to access suitable information, support services and targeted activities which support educational, physical and personal development. - There are many benefits attributed to the inclusive services provided by Kids Together. These include, among others; enhanced cognitive and social development in all children; raised esteem and confidence; improved communication skills; improved social skills; promotion of positive acceptance; children and young people supported to challenge negative imagery and stereotypes surrounding disability. These benefits are demonstrated through extensive consultation with parents and children where appropriate, completion comment cards and questions, feedback forums which focus on specific elements of our support, their benefits and impacts and liaison with trusts and health care professionals.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
Children and Young People’s Services: Our current provision includes: after schools, early years services for Children aged 2 to 10; a Saturday Club providing activities on Saturday mornings and afternoons for older children; annual summer schemes; music therapy, art and sports programmes; youth provision for 12 to 25 year olds; Time for Me
provision specifically aimed at pre-school children and which provides respite for parents to carry out other tasks or spend time with other children in the family. Support for Parents/ Carers We provide outreach advice clinics to parents/guardian’s on topics such as sensory play, challenging behaviour and speech. We also provide services to support families with children/young people with complex disabilities particularly at the time of diagnosis. Many of the families we engage with need one to one support to deal with the daily stress of caring for children and young people with complex needs. We employ a number of Support Workers who work alongside parents to implement individualised care plans that enable the child to participate in our projects and to provide advice and guidance. SLEAM We help build language and communication skills through a SLEAM (Speech, Language, Exercise, Art, Music) early intervention programme. Sound play helps children to learn and repeat, while parents will also participate in sessions to help encourage more meaningful interactions. Makaton Training is also used as part of our programmes to provide visual support to sounds and words which have been learnt to help develop literacy skills. Arts and music activities are used as a therapeutic way to introduce sensory work, listening and responding, and improving cognitive abilities. Through art and music, children can acquire an understanding of self-expression, feelings and creativity. Overall, the five areas delivered within SLEAM help to promote and enhance the language of children along with their social, communication and creative skills.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of citizenship or community development
- The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Who the charity helps
- Carers
- Children (5-13 year olds)
- Learning disabilities
- Parents
- Physical disabilities
- Preschool (0-5 year olds)
- Sensory disabilities
- Unemployed/low income
- Volunteers
- Youth (14-25 year olds)
How the charity works
- Advice/advocacy/information
- Counselling/support
- Disability
- Education/training
- Human rights/equality
- Playgroup/after schools
Charitable purposes
The Association is established to promote the benefit of children with disabilities and their family and carers in the Belfast, Lisburn area of Co Antrim (hereinafter called the 'area of benefit') without discrimination of age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion, by the provision of advice, information, resources, education, recreational activities and support with the object of improving their conditions of life.