Helping The DASH Club Move from Survival to Sustainability

Client

The DASH Club

Name of Project

Glasgow Communities Fund

Services Used

Strategic review

Overview of Organisation

The DASH Club opens its doors to young people aged 11-18 who face complex challenges – learning difficulties, physical disabilities, sensory needs, and behavioural support requirements. This small Glasgow charity creates the social opportunities that many of these young people struggle to find elsewhere. Their after-school club sits at the heart of what they do, supported by holiday programmes and Sunday outings that give families breathing space and young people the chance to build friendships.

Introduction

Back in 1999, a group of parents looked around and realised their children were missing out. While other young people had clubs, activities, and social groups to choose from, their children with high support needs faced barriers at every turn. So, they created The DASH Club.

Twenty-five years later, the organisation has grown into a regulated charity employing 2 part-time administrators and around 20 sessional support workers. Each year, they support approximately 36 young people through a mix of funding from major trusts like Glasgow City Foundation and Children in Need, smaller grants, and fees paid by families.

The Problem

By 2024, The DASH Club found itself at a crossroads. The young people walking through their doors had increasingly complex needs, requiring different approaches and more intensive support. At the same time, funding pressures were mounting. The board members could see a troubling equation: rising costs, static income, and the real possibility of closure within twelve months.

The charity knew it wasn’t operating as effectively as it could be. Parents were asking for more support, but the organisation wasn’t sure how to respond without compromising the quality of what they already provided. Something had to change, but where to start?

The Solution

CEIS worked alongside The DASH Club’s board and management team to step back and examine everything systematically. Rather than rushing into quick fixes, the approach focused on understanding the root causes behind the challenges.

Through a series of facilitated discussions, both in person and online, the team worked through each aspect of the charity’s operations. The conversations covered service delivery, finances, governance, and risk management. The board found particular value in having an external facilitator guide these discussions, helping them think through issues they’d been wrestling with for months.

The Outcome

The strategic review produced a roadmap with 27 specific action points. More importantly, several changes are already making a difference:

• Financial Stability: The charity completed a full cost analysis of their after-school club and discovered they were significantly undercharging. Armed with real data about what the service actually costs to deliver, they agreed to increase client fees by 100% over two years – a substantial change that families have accepted because they understand the value of what DASH provides.
• Stronger Leadership: The board recruited new members, including a new Chair with extensive charity sector experience. They’re also reviewing their Articles of Association to make sure their governance structures match their current needs rather than what worked 25 years ago.
• Better Planning: The charity now uses Care Inspectorate self-evaluation tools to monitor their own performance and has created a risk register that includes succession planning for key staff members.

These changes have shifted the conversation from survival to sustainability. The charity still faces challenges, but now they have a clear plan and the tools to implement it.

Testimonial

“The DASH Club found the CEIS approach very helpful in that they expertly guided the Board and management staff through a process of thinking clearly through the issues facing the charity and to identify solutions.”