2023 - 2024 annual review
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We are the Together Trust
2023-24 was a big year for us and we’re proud to mark it by sharing just some of the many incredible stories and achievements of people from across the Together Trust.
For over 150 years, we’ve been championing and caring for people with disabilities, autism and complex health needs and providing life-changing care and support to looked-after children and care-experienced people.
To champion the rights, needs and ambitions of the people we support – they are at the heart of everything we do. We stand by them and we work together for change.
Our mission
Our vision
A society where people thrive because they are valued within their communities.
What we do
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Residential homes
Whether that’s a place to call your own, somewhere to rest and recharge or get stability and support. We’re proud to offer warm and nurturing homes for children and young people. We help them grow their independence and shape their own story - all while regaining a sense of belonging.
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Specialist learning environments
We support children and young people from age 5 all the way to 25 with individual learning plans.
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Foster care
We’ve been growing our foster family for over 25 years. If you’ve got a passion for helping young people succeed, you could be a Together Trust foster carer.
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Family support
We’ve helped a lot of families over the years, and we know that every family is different. Our support includes Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) mediation services and autism sleep clinics.
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Community support
We put our services at the heart of local communities, whether that’s helping adults to live independently or creating spaces for young people to learn, work and play.
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Therapy and specialist support
Our experienced multi-disciplinary team offers a wide range of therapy and training programmes to professionals, bespoke input for children and young people in a variety of settings, and universal advice for the wider community in which they live and learn. We can provide assessments, 1:1 and group therapy, programmes of support, and written reports.
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Campaigning
We work alongside the people we support to create change and make sure their voice is heard.
What we’ve achieved
402
mediations completed
children, adults and families supported
3,300
young people fostered by our carers
58
of parents would recommend our sleep services
100%
Outstanding or good
rating for all children’s homes
Good
rating for adult services
A twice-a-year holiday to a Scottish outdoor centre helps Haines House resident,13-year-old Kaiden feel settled at home and enables him to have more personal freedom and gives him something to really look forward to all year.
At ‘Holiday House’, Kaiden’s nickname for the centre, he can “run round the site without my reins on and there are lots of streams and woods to play in…… all the staff know me and say “Kaiden’s back” when I get there.… I have fun.”
Our new Bradford-based ‘Sleep Tight’ service received nearly 300 referrals in its first 6 months with positive results for children with sleep problems and good feedback from their parents.
“I found everything you told me 100 % useful. I can’t believe how quickly things have changed. C is getting so much more sleep and so am I. It’s great.”
Student, Owen shows how Bridge College’s work experience programme has benefited him with increased personal confidence and employment skills, and convinced his employer that people with disabilities can contribute positively to businesses.
“I’ve got no doubts that the students can work in most workplaces. It’s a positive step towards spreading the word about disability and not making it a disadvantage, but an ability to do something.”
““I’m thankful for the opportunities that Inscape has given me and how it’s supported me. It’s a wonderful place … such a friendly environment for people with autism.””
Twenty-three-year-old Jacob, a past student at Inscape House School, is about to start a university degree in computer science, with the ambition of working in information technology afterwards. He is grateful for Inscape’s role in his educational journey.
Fostering spotlight
Three children, arriving on his birthday, marked the start of David Gilder and his wife, Jessica’s journey as foster carers with the Together Trust. The fostering team’s availability and support, especially at difficult points, have distinguished our agency and helped the couple succeed.
“The Together Trust was very responsive during the whole process,” said David. “There was always someone you could speak to on the phone. It felt more like a family, and we wanted to be with an organisation reasonably local to us.”
Our incredible volunteers have been involved in all of our service areas and most support areas over the past year. In addition to the time contributed by our trustees and governors, they donated 5,000 hours to our services and 562 hours to our events. Our volunteer team helped with:
Our volunteers
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Researching evidence gaps to help us champion the rights of the people we support.
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Supporting our Youth Club members to have fun and advising parents at our SENDIASS service.
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Taking photographs of clothing for us to sell and raise money online.
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Supporting our Bridge College students with their studies, including sport, music, horticulture, art, and catering as well as welcoming visitors to the site.
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Creating sleep service materials to help children and families have a restful night.
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Creating sensory gardens.
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Helping us share information through writing articles, proofreading, and editing our podcasts.
Hear from one of our amazing volunteers
“There’s such a feel-good factor that comes with volunteering. Getting involved with the local community can make you feel so complete. Forming relationships with people you wouldn’t normally is such a positive thing to do and gives you something to get up for in the morning.”
Tom, Horticulture Volunteer at Bridge College
Our thanks go to all our amazing volunteers.
Our supporters
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Staff at Haines House have taken on the incredible task of raising enough money to completely refurbish the home’s garden.
Over the last year the team has committed to the Three Peaks Challenge, celebrated the home’s 5th anniversary and taken part in our annual Join Together Festival. Combined with funding secured from corporate and community supporters, Haines House has, so far, raised over £6,000!
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In February 2024, our fundraising team was delighted to be chosen as the Amaretti Chamber Orchestra’s charity for a fantastic performance of Peter and the Wolf and the Beethoven violin concerto, with soloist Nathan Fenwick.
Ticket sales were incredible, with almost 300 guests. A very generous £1,600 was donated to the Together Trust. Such an exciting and creative way to support us!
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During 2023, the company partnered with our autism sleep clinic to raise vital funds for the service and share knowledge and experience with their customers from our very own fantastic Sleep Practitioners. As a result of its giving-back scheme, the company donated almost £8,000 to the sleep clinic and also very kindly donated a weighted blanket.
Ways to support
Each week you could be in with a chance of winning the top prize of £25,000. Sign up now
Sign up to the lottery
The Together Trust sell a wide variety of new and second hand items online via our Depop and Vinted shops. Shop with us
Shop online
We recycle different items in exchange for cash donations to our charity, raising vital funds and keeping items out of landfill. Read more
Recycle with us
Nominate us
Whether you work for a company that nominates a charity of the year or are a member of a group that does fundraising events, we’d love to hear from you!
Attend our events
For a full list of our upcoming events, visit our website.
Our SEND school’s Animal-assisted Intervention (AAI) sessions help improve students’ mental, physical, social and emotional functioning. Become a sponsor.
Sponsor a support animal
Our campaigning impact
123
people wrote to their MP about teenagers living in semi-independent accomodation
40,000
viewings of our video highlighting our ‘Keep Caring to 18’ campaign
430+
national SEND survey responses on young people’s and carers’ post-school or college experiences
5
government consultations responded to
Rail ticket offices remain open
our campaigning helped reverse government’s decision
Our workforce and the people we support are shaping our plans.
We are focusing on four key goals:
Future plans
Delivering high quality, person-centred support to meet the life-long changing needs of people and families.
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Partnering with and empowering the people we support to influence our work.
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Growing to meet changing needs - including maximising fundraising opportunities.
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Caring for and listening to our flexible, talented and diverse workforce.
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Giles Gaddum
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Mark Lee
Chief Executive
