Documents 103 days overdue
Overdue: 103 days
- Charity no. 109020
- Date registered. 29/09/2022
Public benefits
The direct benefits flowing from our purposes are to provide a safe environment for ASD children and their families from the greater Belfast area where they can be their unique selves, free from judgement, and for parents/carers to share their experiences through being brought together. This is with the view to removing the sense of isolation that
can come with a diagnosis or suspicion of ASD within a family. Families affected by ASD are free to talk openly and honestly about feelings and experiences in regards to routines, provision of education, behaviours and medical and therapeutic interventions. We aim to increase knowledge of ASD and the difficulties caring for individuals with ASD can bring to the entire family. Siblings are encouraged to take part in activities as well, reinforcing the family unit. We aim to improve the confidence, self-esteem and social skills of our ASD children, allowing better integration with their peers. We aim to facilitate a support network of parents and carers. Snowflakes can provide advice, information and support. Parents are able to learn improved coping strategies which are developed for children with ASD. Through the provision of recreational facilities and out-of-school activities and programmes for the children and young people, they are benefitting from communicating with others with a similar disability in a safe environment. The quality of life of ASD children and families within our group is enhanced through increased opportunities for social integration, and through access to support, training and advice. Our benefits to parents are demonstrated through increasing numbers of parents contacting us regarding services and memberships, origins of their referral being word of mouth from local community of greater Belfast, GPs surgery’s, social workers, schools and teachers, and from other ASD support groups further afield. We have families that return week after week, year after year for the sense of inclusion that our group strives for. We seek and evaluate feedback on services/programs we have accommodated. We encourage active involvement in our AGM where activity timetables are an agenda item and we use this forum to seek feedback on our group. Benefits are also demonstrated by seeing improvements in how our children interact in social situations e.g. increased speech and eye contact. There have been noted improvements in how the companionship of others in similar situations providing support in a non-judgemental environment has led to improved emotional well-being of the whole family. We don’t believe that any harm will arise from these purposes. Our group in fully parent attended with all parents having acknowledged their own responsibility in protecting their children from harm while attending our meetings, trips and events. Our policies on child protection, health and safety and our risk assessments ensure that our volunteers and management are trained and aware of their responsibilities in these respects. The charity’s beneficiaries are our members that comprise families (parents and children/youths) affected by ASD in the greater Belfast area. The local community of greater Shankill would also be deemed beneficiaries of some of the activities of our group. Our management committee and volunteers can be deemed as beneficiaries of transferable skills through training that is provided for them to comply with legislation and our group policies. Private benefits flowing from these purposes is the increase in knowledge, skills and understanding of individuals with autism. The practical development of skills and knowledge acquired by management committee, volunteers and families may be transferable to other situations which will lead to private benefit, however this is incidental and necessary to comply with group policies and legislation. We consider that there are no direct private monetary benefits flowing from our group’s purposes, but is should be noted that individuals or businesses that snowflakes use to facilitate our group purposes may benefit from advertising of their service through word of mouth or posting on media outlets.
What your organisation does
1. To bring together and support families from the greater Belfast area that have been affected by ASD. We aim to achieve this by providing the opportunity to learn from each other through sharing experiences and creating management strategies that will help our children in life. 2. To help the children in the greater Belfast area affected by ASD,
and their siblings, by supporting them and helping them understand ASD. We aim to achieve this through the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure-time occupation, sensory play, art & music, helping to build bonds between siblings and others within the group and between people with and without ASD. 3. To promote and encourage participation among disabled and non-disabled people for the benefit and understanding of disabilities within the local community of greater Belfast. We aim to achieve his through our weekly group meetings where the entire family can get involved in the activities we will accommodate. 4. To raise awareness among people without a disability in the greater Belfast area and the general public about the needs and experiences and abilities of people with disabilities. We aim to achieve this through attendance, participation and representation of members of snowflakes and its management committee in local events and, through collaboration between other voluntary, statutory and private sector organisations. 5. To organise events, activities and trips for our members in the greater Belfast area, bringing to our members the same experiences as families not affected by ASD. We aim to do this through preparing a timetable of weekly activities, events and outings that cover the entire year.
The charity’s classifications
- 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
- Preschool (0-5 year olds)
- Sensory disabilities
- Youth (14-25 year olds)
How the charity works
- Advice/advocacy/information
- Disability