Annual Report 2004-2005

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Annual Report of The Bel Air Home .

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2004 - 2005

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The 2004- 2005 Annual Report of

The Bel Air Home for Children and Adolescents Grenada, West Indies 1. Introduction 1.1 This is the seventh Annual Report of the company and, as in previous years, is being published towards the end of the third quarter of the calendar year. 1.2 The audited accounts for 2004-2005 are an integral part of this report and are appended to this written report.

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2. The Company

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2.1 There are eight Ordinary Members of the Company. They are the Directors listed in para 2.2, plus Ms. Merle Byer, Mr. Clement Gabriel and Ms. Marcelle Lewis. 2.2 The Directors elected at the Annual General Meeting in November 2004 were:President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Director

Mr A.P.Ross Miss C. Alexis Mrs M.E. Ross Miss L. Taylor Mrs L.E. Grey

3. Staff 3.1 At start of the period covered by this report, the staff comprised:- Home Manager, Educational Needs Co-ordinator (who is also Deputy Manager), Home Co-0rdinator, Adolescent Development Programme Workers (3), Educational Needs Assistant (part-time),Nursery Coordinator, Nursery Workers (7), Cook, Laundress, and Administrative Assistant. Again, there were fewer changes in staffing during the term of this report and we hope that this trend will continue. During reassessment of the educational needs of the children, it was decided that the post of Educational Needs Co-ordinator should be changed from full-time to part-time based on the demographics of the residents. The then current incumbent of the full-time post decided not

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to apply for the part-time post and left Bel Air. There is at the time of this report no-one designated as Deputy Manager. 3.2 Following Hurricane Ivan, six members of staff resigned for reasons associated with Ivan. These six posts were advertised and filled. In addition, an additional Adolescent Development Programme Worker was appointed. 3.3 Staff training sessions fell victim to the consequences of Ivan but will commence again in 2005/2006. 3.4 The Directors are pleased to place on record their appreciation and gratitude to all the staff members who worked at Bel Air during the year. In particular, the dedication to duty and total disregard for personal interests were outstanding among the staff both during and through the long haul after Ivan. Record of this outstanding effort was recorded in a notice published in The Voice.

4. Finance 4.1 The audited accounts for the year July 1st 2004 to June 30th 2005 are attached to this report. Special thanks are given to Mr. Norman Stalker for undertaking this task yet again on an honorary basis. 4.2 The Directors express gratitude to the Trustees of St. George’s University for their generous contribution of EC$133,000 per annum paid on a monthly basis towards the running costs of the Home. 4.3 Gratitude is expressed also to the Government of Grenada for continuing the subvention of EC$ 80,000 for the year. The Directors acknowledge the many competing claims on Government revenues during the period post-Ivan and thank the Government accordingly. 4.4 The local community and businesses were hit very hard by Hurricane Ivan and this has been reflected in the support Bel Air received locally both financially and in kind. The Directors thank these groups for their support in the past and wishes them well in their endeavours to return to financial profitability. 4.5 Overseas financial support for Bel Air following Hurricane Ivan was both specific to Bel Air and also as part of wider aid packages. The CHK Charities in the UK, which have been supporters of Bel Air since

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the Home was established, donated £30,000 to Bel Air to be used as the Home determined. The Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives donated EC$107,000 which was used to replace defunct kitchen equipment such as freezers etc. USAID funded the rehabilitation of children’s homes in Grenada and this included Bel Air. The work covered roof and ceiling repairs, painting etc. Johnson and Johnson Ltd donated US$100,000 through the Resource Foundation of New York to help refurnish the children’s homes. 4.6 Funds were received also through the property insurance policy relating to the Bel Air Home. 4.7 In line with the Directors decision to maintain a reserve fund for contingency purposes, Bel Air has approximately EC$87,500 on deposit with one of the major local firms. 4.8 The Directors are very grateful to Dr Beverly Nelson, Dr Kecia Lowe and to Ms Lisa Taylor for their professional services that were provided free of charge during the period of this report.

5. Residents 5.1 During twelve months covered by this report, 52 children resided at Bel Air. On 30th June 2005, there were 34 children resident at Bel Air, 20 in the Nursery and 14 adolescent girls. 5.2 There have been 8 admissions during the year and 7 discharges, some of whom have been reunited with their biological families 5.3 The Nursery continues to operate at full capacity. The development of two of our most seriously physically challenged children continued slowly but positively. The Directors are grateful to Pastor Banfield and the Pentecostal Church of Calliste for funding the corrective surgery to the feet of a ten year old resident who had had “club feet” since birth. This has entailed three operations to date at the Princess Elizabeth Centre for Children in Trinidad and a fourth and hopefully final operation is scheduled for the near future. Both Caribbean Star and Liat have helped with financially reduced air travel for the resident and the manager of Bel Air to visit her. A number

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of individuals also have helped financially in this endeavour, as has the Child Welfare Authority. 5.4 One resident and one recently past resident of Bel Air passed the Common Entrance Examination in 2005. 5.5 Special mention must be made of the general conduct of the residents, particularly the adolescent girls who are still not back in their individual cubicles one year post-Ivan. Their patience, tolerance and respect for one another has been a great credit to the Manager, Ms Sharon Davis, and the staff of Bel Air.

6. Achievements 6.1 Without wishing to seem facetious, the greatest achievement has been ‘survival’ post-Ivan, especially bearing in mind the physical condition of the Home (the upper floor has been uninhabitable since Ivan), the stresses and strains on staff working under very difficult conditions, closure of schools etc. 6.2 An increasing number of enquiries from overseas have been received from volunteers who wish to travel to Grenada and help at Bel Air at no cost to the Home. Three of these volunteers are trainee social workers from Denmark, who should be coming to Grenada in February 2006. 6.3 Special mention should be made of the arrangement established by Petit Bacaye Cottages whereby a ‘gap year’ student from the UK spent three months in Grenada working part-time at Bel Air and part-time at the Cottages. This arrangement was of considerable financial benefit to Bel Air. 6.4 Students and Significant Others from St George’s University take the adolescents and the children from the Nursery to the beach in alternating groups. This is appreciated greatly. Many continue on an individual basis to donate gifts to the children. Special mention should be made of the Muslim Students Association who gave significant financial donations and also much of their time. 6.5 Bel Air has continued to support an ex-resident who is now 20 years old and who has graduated from NEWLO and who is now undergoing work experience with GRENSAVE.

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.. .. .. ..7. Problems .. 7.1 While being very appreciative of the Home’s currently favourable financial position, the Directors are aware that this pleasant situation will be short term only as we strive to rebuild the Home and our donor base.

8. Plans For The Future 8.1 These are in abeyance for the time being.

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AUDIT CERTIFICATE ----------------------------------I have examined the attached Statement of Receipts and Payments for the period from 1st July 2004 to 30th June 2005 and the Balance Sheet as at 30th June 2005. I have obtained all the information and explanations that I have required and I certify that, as a result of my audit, in my opinion the attached Statement of Receipts and Payments and Balance Sheet represent a true and fair view of the financial affairs of The Bel Air Home for Children and Adolescents Inc. Dated 18th October, 2005

……………….. N.B. Stalker Honorary Auditor

THE BEL AIR HOME FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS INC. STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE PERIOD 1st JULY 2004 TO 30th JUNE 2005 RECEIPTS Opening balance (cash) St. George’s University Government of Grenada Friends of Bel Air UK Business donations General donations Bank interest Hurricane Ivan Relief Insurance Claim Settlement Canadian Local Initiative

$ 75,977.21 $ 133,619.76 $ 80,000.00 $ 24,693.50 $ 17,973.81 $ 23,165.31 $ 6,786.92 $ 170,287.95 $ 69,801.00 $ 106,961.54

PAYMENTS Professional fees Salaries (including NIS) Children’s Edu./Entertainment Fittings, Furniture & Equip. Utilities Food and household Petty cash Maintenance School uniforms, books Building and contents Ins. Vehicle Insurance and upkeep Medication Stationery Transport Bank charges Miscellaneous Property development Maintenance of Equipment Disposable nappies Closing balance

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

2,500.00 261,480.65 10,148.66 93,410.66 25,353.16 32,175.11 7,500.00 54,038.49 6,922.51 11,612.41 2,706.79 3,987.02 1,223.18 12,741.70 145.00 3,647.96 240.00 1,212.95 2,419.66 175,801.09 __________

$

709,267.00

__________ $ 709,267.00

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