Every year when I sit down to write my section of our Impact Report, I reflect on what an incredible year of growth and development we have had. As this annual report reflects, we have once again seen significant growth in all areas, taking the charity in new and exciting directions.
This year, I celebrate a decade in my role as CEO of Dingley’s Promise, and I have reflected on the huge changes within the charity and its wider impact during this period. When I became CEO, we supported children through three specialist centres in Berkshire. Today, we have ten centres
reaching over 500 children a year, over 28,000 learners on our early years SEND inclusion training, and contribute to policy development at the highest level, advising Government officials. We are now the largest provider of specialist early years centres in the UK and are widely recognised as the voice of children with SEND in the early years and their families.
Throughout this growth, we have worked with incredible people who believe in the power of inclusion and support our aims and mission. The children and their families, who we are honoured to be able to support at such an important time in their lives. The strong team of committed and passionate professionals we have brought together in our organisation. The local authority teams, health professionals and education professionals we work alongside to give children the best start in life. Our amazing donors and supporters who contribute financially and in kind, to make sure we can
give the children and families everything they need. Lastly, our organisational partners, who help us to facilitate change and impact at a national scale and the decision makers who work with us to ensure children with SEND in the early years are prioritised.
Please join me in celebrating our progress this far and in looking forward to the future and continued growth and success of Dingley’s Promise. Over the next few years, I expect to see the number of services we offer in England through centres and our family support outreach programme to grow
considerably. I am excited to see our training gain momentum across the early years workforce and our influence lead to more national policy change, which directly benefits children with SEND and their families.
I am so proud of everyone who has made this possible, and we will continue to champion the voice of children with SEND and their families in everything that we do.
Catherine Mole MBE – Dingley’s Promise CEO