During this period, It’s a Family Thing CIC continued to deliver creative, inclusive, and family-focused workshops that supported the wellbeing and connection of children and their families. Our activities included: - Creative arts and crafts and nature such as basket weaving, planting, making your own suncatcher, storytelling and henna - Dance workshops, self-defence workshops and outdoor activities including picnics in the park. - Day trips for families and activities for teens such as to axe throwing - Seasonal events such as easter activities, halloween, circus visits, theatre pantomime trip also christmas show These sessions provided families with creative, safe, and low-cost opportunities to connect, express themselves, and learn together. The impact included: - Strengthened family relationships and confidence through shared experiences. - Improved emotional wellbeing and creativity in children. - Greater community connection through inclusive, regular activities. - Increased inclusion and support for SEN children and families through accessible, welcoming and flexible activities From our records approximately 700+ people attended all or some of our activities, event and trips throughout the year.

Our stakeholders are the families, children and young people who take part in our activities, our volunteers and practitioners, our community partners, and our funders and supporters. We consulted each group throughout the year in ways that suited them. We used what they told us to shape and improve our work. Families and parents/carers Our stakeholders include families who attend regularly and families who are new to our activities. We consulted them to understand their needs, their interests and anything that made it harder for them to attend. We gathered their views through verbal feedback, online comments and informal check-ins. As a result, we changed the themes and timings of our events. This helped increase attendance and satisfaction among families. Children and young people Children aged 5 to 12, and teenagers, take part in our creative and wellbeing sessions. We consulted them to make sure our activities were engaging, inclusive and accessible. We did this through their parents and carers, through pictures, and by listening to what they told us directly. Their feedback put the child’s voice at the centre of our delivery. We kept in regular contact with them, avoided making assumptions about what they wanted, and let them choose activities. Activities chosen by the children and young people included a henna workshop and axe throwing. Volunteers and practitioners Local artists, facilitators and volunteers help us deliver our sessions. We consulted them to review how sessions were delivered and to improve their quality. We used a WhatsApp group and other social media, held debriefs after sessions and made feedback calls. This improved our communication and planning. It also helped us build the child’s voice into delivery and made sessions flow better and run more safely. Community partners We worked with East Park, Circus Starr, GreenSquare Accord and Primal Mastery. We consulted them to coordinate events and outreach and to work towards shared goals. This took place through planning meetings and email. As a result, we strengthened our partnerships and developed shared referral networks. Funders and supporters Our funders and supporters this year included GreenSquare Accord, The National Lottery Community Fund, the Co-op Local Community Fund, Black Country Food Bank and community donors such as Layla’s Creations. We consulted them to report on our outcomes and to discuss future funding priorities. We did this through monitoring reports, evaluation forms and feedback meetings. As a result, we secured repeat funding and extensions to our project delivery. This allowed us to provide consistent support to the community.

During the reporting period, a total of £8,850 was paid to directors for work carried out in separate operational and project delivery roles. This included project management, volunteer coordination, and practitioner delivery. These payments were for agreed work delivered for the CIC’s projects and were separate from the directors’ statutory duties. The work supported the CIC’s community purpose.

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration