ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many people have to be acknowledged for the success of this charity. NI-ADD would like to pay tribute to the dedication, skill and commitment of the members of the Management Committee, who have given generously of their time and expertise.

Special thanks must go to the Co-ordinator, Sarah Salters who undertakes this role on a daily basis and progresses the work of NI-ADD. She is to be congratulated on her impressive work both within the organisation and also community liaison and media work over the last year.

Congratulations must also go to parents who participated in the extensive letter writing activity of last year for their efforts, in lending their support in such a manner and the positive result this helped bring about.

We would gratefully acknowledge the ongoing support of Mr A McCann and Mr R Long from the DHSSP, Mr M O’Kane of South & East Belfast Trust, Strategic Planning Department and Mr J Stratton of North & West Belfast Trust Family and Child Care Service. Mr C McAteer, Solicitor and Mr E Shilladay, our Accountant and his staff. They, with many others both past and present who have served and assisted behind the scenes, their many tasks without prompting and reward.

FOREWORD

NI-ADD was formed out of humble beginnings. Some eighteen months ago, this charity set out on an ambitious venture to secure substantial funding, with the intention of opening a Support Centre- specifically geared toward AD/HD. This Centre would be unique in function, offering support and assistance exclusively for those individuals with this condition.
From the formation of NI-ADD (formerly known as Belfast ADHD Family Support Group) it has been evident that there were inadequate levels of service and gaps in provision, resulting in a fragmented and inadequate response for those affected with this condition.

The role of the NI-ADD Support Centre is to bridge the existing gaps through providing effective AD/HD focused interventions, which will have a direct, positive influence on not only the individual. But the family as a whole.

Setting the Scene
Since early October 2002, NI-ADD has operated from premises set in the leafy suburbs of South Belfast. This achievement is due in no small measure other than to the vision and tenacity of the Co-ordinator, who has been ‘the face’ of the organisation for the last six year period.

What is contained within this report is the marked success of this initiative, which has gone over the intervening period to secure the reputation of this charity in championing the important subject of AD/HD within both the voluntary and statutory sectors, as well as the general population.

It has done this only through working to a clear set of values which recognise the huge contribution that intervention makes for those with this condition.

It is this belief that children and young people benefit from early diagnosis along with intervention and working together with parents and families at all levels, that has created the dynamic for change, in assisting those affected to address real needs and pertinent issues.

NI-ADD is justifiably proud of the contribution made by both the opening of our unique Support Centre and the increased recognition it has brought for our organisation within the community.

NI-ADD is committed to taking forward the ‘early learning’ it has gained to enable it to play an important central role in addressing the needs of this client group, both in the immediate future and in the longer term.

Dr Roger Austin

(CHAIRPERSON).

CO-ORDINATOR’S REPORT

Since 1997, based upon my wide and extensive involvement within this area, it has been increasingly evident that NI-ADD should provide tangible support to clients at a central point of delivery. What emerged from a simple ‘brainstorm’ and ‘wish list’ has now formed the blue print for a much needed facility to provide a range of services for those with this condition.

For NI-ADD this has provided the opportunity to pioneer new approaches and develop learning and expertise, for sharing, not only within the Belfast catchment area - but across Northern Ireland and beyond, with a view to further informing others seeking to make progress in the area of treatment and management of AD/HD within a variety of settings in the community.

NI-ADD has taken upon itself to be more than merely a conduit for information, but to initiate the opportunities to impact positively on children and young people on a wider scale, through such as initiating specialised behavior management training at source. We have forged links with both Queen’s University and the University of Ulster with regard to important research in various areas concerning AD/HD.

NI-ADD has commenced with and demonstrated a good model of practice, including developing its own technical expertise in this area.
Another important area of our work has been to provide an ‘all inclusive’ policy thus breaking own the barriers of social isolation felt by families and young people, who are already dealing with the associated difficulties of adolescence. This has been implemented on a cross cultural and cross community basis, with a view to reaching and encourage participation within all group work settings, using the principles of peace and reconciliation.

Learning Curve

NI-ADD targeted local government Ministers and MLA’s with a view to seeking support and enlisting their help, for what has been an entirely new constituency for grant monies, given the uniqueness of our project. As the process of developing and learning has continued over the intervening period, NI-ADD has identified the dual role of delivering as a service provider as well as also sourcing and extracting other funding i.e. doing and reviewing other sources of funding for the continuance of our work. This has been and will continue to be an important area of concern for our management committee and fund raising personnel.

NI-ADD has forged positive links with others in the voluntary sector; however we continue to be an autonomous organisation, which must make real decisions to meet our own stated objectives.
We are committed to the development of good governance, positive self – management principles and the running of the Support Centre in an ethical manner and by implementing fair policies.

Management Committee

A new management team and structure has come into being since February 2002, to oversee the running of the Support Centre and other business related to the functioning of NI-ADD as an organisation. It is comprised of a Chairperson who has many years experience in education and large scale budget management, a Consultant Paediatrician, Solicitor, Education Welfare Officer, a Psychologist and Social Worker.

Moving Forward – Plan for 2003 / 2004

NI-ADD has made significant progress over the last two year period in attempting to address the genuine need which exists within Northern Ireland. We have still to achieve much more and are currently considering expanding upon our current office accommodation, with a view to augmenting our existing service and further implement the items we outlined within our proposal document. This will involve employing various new staff at different levels and also making ourselves attractive in the market place as a prospective employer.
We will therefore require further significant levels of funding in order to meet this programme of expansion in the near future.

We wish to develop further the ‘NI-ADD Behaviour Management Programme’ and market this along with specialised training packages.

We wish to further develop our “one to one” counselling service for young people and adults. The different forms of practical support we would like to provide to parents and siblings within the community - again as identified within our original proposals for the Support Centre.

We also hope to organise another conference highlighting and profiling both the condition and our Support Centre.

At present our most strenuous efforts will be channeled into securing further funding to increase our capacity to meet the needs and demand as outlined.

Sarah Salters
(CO-ORDINATOR).