Kare has announced the release of its Annual Report and Financial Statement for 2023.
The report, which was launched at Kare’s Annual General Meeting in Newbridge yesterday, provides an update on the charity's key achievements and financial health in 2023. It also gives an overview of progress on its 2021–2025 strategic plan, demonstrating the organisation’s ongoing commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Kare reports that throughout the year it supported 550 people in its day, residential, outreach, respite and other services, operating across Kildare and parts of Wicklow, Offaly and Dublin.
The report features many stories and photographs of Kare service users and staff, celebrating numerous achievements from the year including new jobs, new homes, awards, medals, trips away and many other personal accomplishments.
Highlights include the first ‘My Emotions Month’ initiative in February 2023, focused on promoting and enhancing wellbeing within the organisation. Summer 2023 saw four athletes supported by Kare competing in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin. A key fundraising event was the ‘Show You Kare’ campaign which helped to revamp the play area of Kare’s Early Years preschool. The year culminated in a special celebration event for the entire Kare community held in December.
According to the financial statement, Kare’s income grew in 2023, as did expenditure, relative to the increase in the scale and volume of its services. The majority of Kare’s funding is provided by the HSE, with other essential support from donors and local communities also helping to develop and improve the charity’s services.
Kare’s CEO, Deirdre Murphy, commented: “In 2023, it was our privilege to support 550 adults and children across our 40 locations.
“We helped them to get where they wanted to go – be it the 1.1 million kilometres we travelled together, the 45 new jobs that were started, the 10 independent homes moved into, the 5 Olympic medals and 14 Gaisce awards, or the countless trips, projects, activities, challenges, new experiences and connections.
“This was all made possible by our 720 staff members and the commitment and compassion they show every day, and the trust and collaboration of the people we support and their families. We look forward to continuing our work and seeing even more positive results for 2024.”
The Annual Report can be viewed on Kare’s website at https://www.kare.ie/what-we-do/resources/publications.