2025-03-31-accounts - Resources For Autism

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ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

April 2024 – March 2025

Resources for Autism Legal and Administrative Information

Company Number 03326332

Registered Charity 1061253

RESOURCES FOR AUTISM ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

Directors and trustees:

Sir Nick Hine (Chairman) Dr V E H Booth (President) R H Esdaile (Treasurer)

C Montgomery B A Linden

R Rainbow A Levitt (resigned 18/4/24) R. Kiran Jackson (resigned 13/1/25)

M. Hommel (appointed 11/7/24)

B. Lowe (appointed 25/9/24)

Chief Executive:

Phil Cook

Company Secretary:

R H Esdaile

Registered Office:

858 Finchley Road Temple Fortune London NW11 6AB

Bankers:

National Westminster Bank plc 89 Mount Pleasant Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1PX

Auditors:

Begbies Chartered Accountants 9 Bonhill Street London EC2A 4DJ

Solicitors:

Stone King LLP Boundary House 91 Charterhouse Street Barbican London EC1M 6HR

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Letter from the Chair

2024/25 saw a number of changes at RfA. I would like to begin by expressing my thanks to Dolyanna Mordochai who stood down as the CEO leaving the organisation in May 2024. Dolyanna was instrumental in her time at RfA in restructuring and developing the charity as well as leading RfA through covid. The Head of People also moved on to a new opportunity after 7 years at RfA and 2 trustees stood down from their roles. My thanks goes to all of them for their contributions to the charity, as well as other staff that left to pursue new opportunities in the year. We wish Dolyanna, Maria, Abbi, Ritu and everyone else good wishes for the future.

We welcomed Phil Cook as the new CEO of RfA. Phil started in April 2024 and has had a busy but productive year. We are excited to have Phil join us and lead RfA in the next stage of its journey. We also welcomed 2 new trustees, a selection of new staff and of course many more people: children, adults, parents and carers and professionals who accessed our services in the year.

There were significant legacy contributions in the year facilitated by our trustee Raymond Esdaile, a big thanks goes to him and the families and estates that have recognised the importance of the work we do. We were delighted to finish the year in a financially positive place. For the first time since FY 20/21, the charity ended with a small surplus. This is a great achievement and hopefully will be a trend that continues.

Regarding services, we were delighted to have won a number of tenders and funding enabling us to deliver and introduce service provision including the following:

The set up and establishment of an all age autism hub in Lewisham
Some bespoke work in Barking & Dagenham with selected schools and families
The establishment of a Children & Families autism hub as a part of our venue in Barnet
The continuation of our counselling service for autistic adults in Barnet
An autism and mental health project for adults and parents & carers in Birmingham and Solihull
A research project with the Violence Reduction Unit in London
A bespoke piece of work with Hackney & City assessing the need for an autism hub
Investment in the West Midlands via the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to review, redesign services and move for systemic change regarding autistic 16-25 year olds regarding transitions and support.

Some notable achievements in the past year include:

Nearly 850 attendees at our virtual workshops for parents and carers.
Over 200 attendances at our virtual Parent and Carer Coffee mornings (peer support).
Nearly 350 attendances at our in person parent & carer coffee mornings.
Approximately 6500 hours of volunteering – this is mostly volunteer hours spent working with or supporting service users.
Over 1200 attendances by autistic adults at our adult groups.
Over 350 attendances at either 121 or group specialist counselling sessions.
Over 50 targeted interventions with families to support with particularly difficult behaviour or challenges.
Over 500 attendances at our professional training courses.
Over 5000 hours of support was provided to autistic individuals via Community Support.
Nearly 650 places were filled by children/ young people at our short break holiday schemes.
Nearly 1300 places were filled by children/ young people in our term time short breaks groups.
Our website had over 45,500 unique visitors.

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The year also presented some challenges, but Resources for Autism has had a busy year and the numbers provided above demonstrate a significant contribution to the fulfilment of our vision: a world where autistic people can live fulfilling lives, with equal chances to those of their non-autistic peers.

Thank you to all staff, volunteers, funders and supporters for all the hard work and contributions to RfA over this period.

Sincerely,

Sir Nick Hine

Chairman, Resources for Autism

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Report of the trustees for the year ending 31 March 2025

The trustees are pleased to present their annual directors’ report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31 March 2025, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a director’s report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019).

Structure, Governance and Management

Company Status:

Resources for Autism (or “RfA”) is a charitable company limited by guarantee. It was incorporated on 28 February 1997 and is governed by a memorandum and articles of association. These were reviewed and updated in September 2005.

Governance and internal control:

The board of directors is responsible for selecting and recruiting suitable trustees to hold office at the Annual General Meeting. The number of trustees shall be not less than three but is not subject to any maximum. One third of the trustees shall retire from office at each Annual General Meeting. A retiring trustee is eligible for re-election, and there is no limit on the number of times a trustee may be re-elected.

The minimum age for a trustee is 18 years, but there is no upper age limit imposed on trustees. The Trustees from among their number appoint a chairperson.

New trustees are inducted through a process of briefings by the Chair and executive management, and they are provided with key information relating to the charity’s governance and operation.

The board of trustees meets approximately four times per annum. Pay for senior staff is reviewed and agreed by the board of Trustees as and when necessary. The Senior Leadership Team supports the Chief Executive in the day-today running of the charity and efforts to sustain and grow the charity’s income and deliver the mission of the organisation.

Purpose and activities:

The objects of Resources for Autism, as stated in the memorandum and articles, are to:

a) Support the needs of people with Autism and related conditions; and
b) Promote and protect the health of families and carers of people with Autism and related conditions.

Specifically, the charity aims to:

Improve independence for autistic individuals
Improve emotional wellbeing for autistic individuals and their families
Improve the life skills of autistic individuals
Raise awareness about autism

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Resources for Autism seeks to identify the most-needed services that reach the largest number of families and to demonstrate how these can be provided to a measurable standard of excellence. The charity aims to establish a model for the provision of services that can be delivered either as a direct activity of the charity or through the action of other organisations.

Ensuring our work delivers our aims:

We review our aims, objectives and activities at quarterly trustees’ meetings. At these meetings we review our achievements and outcomes for the previous quarter.

The review looks at the success of each key activity and the benefit it has brought to those groups of people we are set up to help.
The review also helps us ensure our aims, objectives and activities remain focused on our stated purposes.
We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities.
In particular, the trustees consider how any planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.

In order to achieve its charitable aims in 2024/25, RFA provided:

a) Weekly specialist short breaks offers during term time and school holidays for autistic children and young people.
b) Weekly specialist groups for autistic adults throughout the year.
c) Family support for parent and carers including peer support, 121 and targeted interventions.
d) Bespoke offers including work with schools, mentoring provided by staff or volunteers and a mixed variety of services delivered through autism hubs.
e) Community support – 121 support in the community.
f) Play therapy for children and families and counselling for autistic adults.
g) Training and Consultancy to professionals and organisations.

Acknowledgement to funders and supporters

RfA is grateful to all the funders and supporters that have contributed or donated during 2024/25. We would like to formerly acknowledge and thank the following as you have made the outputs and impact stated in these accounts possible:

A big thank you goes to all our funders and supporters both newly secured and existing including: The Merchant Taylors’ Company, Propel, City Bridge Foundation, the Bloomfield Trust, The Linden Family Trust, LB of Lewisham, LB of Barnet, LB of Southwark, LB or Barking & Dagenham, LB of Waltham Forest, Birmingham Childrens Trust, Walsall Council, Hackney and City boroughs, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, The Mercers Company, The London VRU, Starbucks foundation, the National Lottery Community Foundation, Children in Need, Compass Wellbeing, the Three Guineas Trust, Garfield Weston, the Eveson Trust, 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust, the Scream Foundation, Joseph Levy foundation, Bailey Thomas Provident fund, Jack Petchy Foundation and Mk2 Real estate.

Thanks also goes to everyone else that has given or donated in the year. Every donation of any size makes a difference.

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Children and Young People Services – short breaks for children and young people

For many years Resources for Autism has provided short break services for autistic children and young people. Autism is a spectrum and as these services are mainly funded by local authorities these services are usually for children and young people with medium to higher level needs. This service offer consists of school holiday provision and termtime groups too. Whilst local authorities are the main funder of these services, RfA does receive some grant funding to support the provision as well as receiving some parental contributions towards running costs in some areas and in some circumstances.

In 2024/25 RfA provided short break services in the following areas: Barnet, Birmingham, Southwark, Walsall and Waltham Forest.

Here are some examples of the impact of this provision as reported by children attending one of our holiday schemes:

Parental quotes: (names changed for anonymity)

London Scheme: My son [James] who attends holiday scheme and Saturday club in Barnet has had a terrible year, bullied and isolated at school and generally very dysregulated and unsettled. However your organisation has been nothing but kind and supportive to him and to me as his mum, and at a time where we’ve been abandoned by everyone else have provided a massive source of respite and consistency for [J] when he’s needed it the most.

Birmingham scheme: I cannot praise the holiday scheme enough. The Resources for Autism staff supporting the children were brilliant, and so good with [Mo]. It gave us back some hope that there might be options for support / people who can really 'get' [Mo], apart from my husband and I, as his needs shift and change as he grows older.

The way that you gathered information about [Mo] and then were able to create resources, and then put them into action, in a child-focussed way, was amazing. The way that you were able to connect with, and 'see' [Mo] was wonderful. The way you were able to see beyond the tricky 'behaviours' and help him regulate was so appreciated, and we are so grateful to you all. Thank you for giving of yourselves and giving [Mo] a wonderful experience of how other people can be.

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Adult Specialist groups

Resources for Autism provides a selection of groups and activities for autistic adults with a variety of needs including adults requiring 1:1 support and adults who are more independent. These services are delivered in both London and the West Midlands and are funded mostly via grants and trusts and parental/ attendee contributions.

In 2024/25 RfA ran 511 groups/ sessions for adults to attend. These included themed groups focused on media, arts and crafts, walking groups and more. RfA also runs specialist groups for autistic adults with higher needs requiring 121 support. These groups involve art, cooking, food, play and sensory down time.

Another of RfA’s adults’ groups is AuStruck, aimed at more independent autistic adults. These groups promote independence and are coproduced by attendees meeting one week at a regular venue then meeting in the community or at an activity, chosen by the group, the following week. Sessions at the fixed venue encourage conversation, socialising and topics such as employment, inclusion and communication are explored.

Our adult groups are appreciated by both services users and their parents/carers. Quotes received in the year from attendees include:

'I feel safe when I come to the group, the staff are friendly and understand me'.
'I feel free, and can be myself'.
'I love the different activities that we do at the group'.
'I like being involved when planning future activities'.
'I feel heard'.

Family Support Services

Just under 1000 Parents benefited from direct phone advice, guidance or signposting in 24/25. There 843 attendances at our parent/carer focused workshops and 334 attendances at our in person coffee mornings. The virtual offer of the above has proven just as popular in 24/25 with 209 attendances at our virtual coffee mornings. Coffee mornings are facilitated peer support sessions for parents and carers and prove invaluable to attendees as it enables them to gain support, meet other parents and get hints/tips regarding supporting their child(ren).

Specialist support and interventions: RfA also undertakes bespoke pieces of work with service users that are struggling or finding circumstances challenging. Our specialist support team worked with 55 children and families within a more intensive framework. This additional support RfA is able to offer enables us to go above and beyond other providers who may not have the capacity to go beyond what they are commissioned to provide.

Early Help Project : this specialist project funded by London Borough of Barnet works closely with the local MASH and children’s social care team to support and work with families with autistic children. The table below demonstrates the significant impact the project is having for social care regarding the effectiveness of the intervention and the subsequent diversion of families away from social care. In addition to this the evaluation feedback received from families also demonstrates positive outcomes.

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Time frame	No. of families referred	No. of families who completed the RFA intervention (inc. current cases/ waiting list)	No. of families referred to SC whilst RFA actively involved	No. of families referred to SC after completing RFA intervention	No. of families re- referred to EH after completing RFA Intervention
March 2020 – June 2021	28	28	4	6

Sept 2021 – June 2023	36	27	2	6

June 2023 – Current	36	35	2 (0-18 Team & SAT Team)	2 (0-18 Team)	2
	100	90	8	14	2
Totals:

100% of families who returned questionnaires said they felt they better understand their child and their behaviours.
100% of families who returned the questionnaire said that they were either unchanged or that other members of their families benefited from the support.
100% of families that returned the questionnaire said that they hugely increased their confidence in using strategies.

Bespoke Services including Autism Hubs, Mentoring and Others

RfA has long delivered a volunteering mentor scheme referred to as Reach Out. This programme has been smaller this year compared to previous years due to funding however has successfully supported a number of autistic individuals in a variety of ways. Some feedback received in the year: Resources for Autism have been so helpful and understanding. I feel like my son's needs have been validated and that he is being respected and supported. So much of our experience about finding the appropriate support, particularly through his EHCP has been focused on his differences and what he struggles with rather than what he can do....how unique and wise and incredible he is.....I have always felt life R for A see and feel that too and encourage a positive experience which is so helpful and refreshing. Thank you!

RfA did secure funding for, and begin a similar volunteer programme providing mentoring alongside bespoke groups in schools and in the community funded by Propel. This project began in January 2024 and will run for 2 years. Some feedback received from one of the mentors: I’m thrilled to share that I recently completed my 30hour placement as a Youth Befriending Mentor, supporting a young autistic adult in exploring new places, trying diverse cuisines, and building independence. From February to April 2025, I had the privilege of working one-onone, tailoring activities to her passions, such as photography and crafts, while adapting my approach to honour her autonomy…

This placement taught me the importance of flexibility, cultural sensitivity, and listening deeply, especially when transitioning from my previous work with children to supporting adults. I’m grateful to Resources for Autism for

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this opportunity and their guidance. I’m excited to carry these lessons into my future work, continuing to empower and uplift through meaningful connections.

Hackney & City Feasibility Study: RfA secured a tender with London Boroughs of Hackney and City to undertake a Feasibility Study to determine if an autism hub should be set up; how it will work and function; and how it can be made sustainable. This was a 12 month contract which RfA successfully concluded in April 2025. The project was interesting to work on as a significant amount of co-production work was undertaken, different services were piloted such as an ‘Empowerment Group’ and a final report written and submitted to the 2 councils.

All Age Autism Hub Lewisham: RfA launched the All Age Autism hub in Lewisham in April 2024. The Hub is a new service offer commissioned by the local authority and is for any individual diagnosed with autism or not, and their parents and carers. In the first year of delivery the service received over 350 referrals. Services available to access included: Drop in sessions, workshops for parents and carers, coffee mornings, specialist 1:1 advice sessions and targeted case work with a selection of service users. 111 social/ peer groups were delivered

for both children, young people and adults and our professional training offer for Lewisham organisations and partners saw 18 training sessions delivered with 153 attendees from 50 different organisations. Selected stats and feedback:

Attendee of our girls group: 'I look forward to this group weekly, I feel so anxious after school but the group always calms me down.'
Parents groups: 81% of parent/carers found the parent workshops helpful, 87% of parents reported an increase in knowledge on workshop topics, with 81% stating their confidence on certain behaviours of concern had improved.
Autism and Mental Health and Autism and Good Sleep workshops - 100% of people reported an improvement in confidence and found it helpful.
Coffee morning attendee: 'It is really important hearing the experiences of other parents. I felt validated and empowered. Thank you.'

Southwark & Lewisham: RfA’s targeted work in both Lewisham and Southwark working with 16-25 year olds, funded via the Merchant Taylor’s Company became more embedded as it moved into its second delivery year. This project includes supporting autistic people aged 16-25 in both a light touch and more intensive way. The team provide mentoring support, social groups and workshops as well as providing 121, group support and workshops for parents and carers of the young people. Through this funding RfA also provides training to other professionals to build societal awareness of autism. Between September 2024 and March 2025, the following has been achieved:

213 hours of casework were delivered directly to young people
194 attendances at parent/ carer workshops/ coffee mornings
20 organisations accessing training with 149 attendees
8 social groups/ workshops were delivered, with 39 attendees
46 young people accessed the mentoring support service

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Impact from attendees of the social groups:

Quotes: “I wanted to tell you that last week’s session is still being talked about at home. [Shana] feels well informed and had many of her questions answered. … Also your story about an email you sent to someone quite late and how it made that person feel being the last thing they thought of before bed was a brilliant way of explaining why we have email etiquette. [Shana] gets it now. Thank you!” - A parent whose child joined the session around employment, navigating work and reasonable adjustments.

“I was very sceptical before I started mentoring but I would recommend it to anyone with autism. I learnt about reasonable adjustments and what my rights are and feel more understanding about my rights as someone with autism and have more understanding about who I am.” - Shared by a newly diagnosed 21 year old who received mentoring.

Children & Families Autism Hub Barnet: In partnership with the London Borough of Barnet, RfA launched the Children & Families Autism hub at out building on the Finchley Road. This service started in quarter 4 (Jan-Mar 2025) and was fully staffed by the year end. The intention of the Hub is to support autistic children and their families from across the borough. A variety of services and support will be available and will be delivered both by RfA, and by other local partner organisations from across Barnet.

Barking and Dagenham schools support project: Resources for Autism has worked directly with 2 specialist schools in the borough providing expert autism support and advice to the school, parents and families. These sessions have been well received by parents. This project will continue until the end of the school term in July 2025 with a small amount of specialist support and interventions for a selected group of parents and children over the summer holidays.

Community Support

In both London and Birmingham RfA receives funding from local authorities, families and grant/trust funding to support some autistic people in a 121 to capacity. This support can entail motivating and supporting individuals, empowering and developing life skills or independence of the service users.

Feedback from a London based family member: I wanted to let you know of some amazing progress that [the RfA staff member] is somehow managing to inspire in our daughter, [Juliette]. We all understand and recognise that the journey is unpredictable and difficult, and needs a difficult balance of compassion, perseverance, empathy, assertiveness and expertise. [The support worker] has been amazing. [Juliette] is engaging with her in contemplating outcomes that she has previously never been able to consider or discuss with anyone else. This is real special work and we are privileged to have [RfA support worker] available to support [Juliette] on this endeavour.

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Birmingham service user: The support has been really beneficial, helping me to be able to discuss issues at work, university, and within my personal life over the last year. The support has helped me with developing within my workplace and has helped me to have and maintain a clear dialogue between my line manager and myself. Without the support, I think I would have struggled to have been able to have coped with the workload I’ve had over the last year.

Counselling and Therapy services

RfA delivers a play therapy service for children and families in the West Midlands and an autistic adults Counselling service in Barnet. These 2 niche services are funded by both grant funders, service users and the counselling service in Barnet was funded via the local authority but is now funded by the North London ICB.

Feedback: “… My therapist was exceptional in listening, understanding and empathising with my comments and life experiences! she often assisted with excellent feedback and paraphrasing in her great listening skills.”

Training services

RfA delivered 52 professional training courses in 2024/25. This fulfils our 4 aim and objective of ‘raising awareness of autism’. Courses covered subjects including: Autism awareness, Autism and PDA, Autism and Mental Health and Supporting Families with Autistic Loved Ones.

524 people attended the 52 courses delivered. See below for some of the feedback received:

"As a late diagnosed autistic adult who works with YP, it is something that is close to my heart and I am glad that there is more understanding now than when I was a child and that this type of training is widespread and used by many organisations. Thanks again."

"I am new to my role and this helped me to see what I already knew- which was affirming and also learning some additional aspects and ideas- it was brilliant thanks."

"Our trainer was thoughtful and accommodating and explained really clearly and expanded on areas we had particular need for."

Challenges during 2024-25

Finances/ income generation: the pressure on RfA’s finances has been something that has required careful monitoring. Through the year work has been done to improve our finance systems to track and monitor the different income streams and associated staff allocations. Fundraising continues to be more and more competitive as donor trends show that people are giving less and pressure on grant and trust funders increases. Additional factors such as inflation, cost of living and increasing costs all add further pressure onto RfA’s financial position.

Demand : the need for services is still ever present and the limited budgets, funding from statutory sources, capacity and spaces in certain clubs and groups results in some people having to wait or not being able to access services and support.

Staffing: There have been a number of staff changes and challenges through the year, at the turn of the financial year the CEO, Head of People, Adult Services Manager and the fundraiser had left or were leaving. New projects were starting so new people were joining the organisation. In addition time has been spent

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looking at staff structures too. RfA has responded proactively and positively to these different situations ensuring the organisation is safe and robust for the future.

Our Values

We share and promote our values to support and enable the organisation to develop and progress:

Inclusive : We welcome uniqueness and difference. We accept individuals for who they are and where they are in their personal development.

Compassionate: We offer empathetic, non-judgemental support, showing respect for each individual’s lived experiences.

Courageous: We continually persevere and battle to ensure our service users, staff and community get the care and support they need.

Creative : We recognise the importance of playfulness, flexibility and fun and we empower individuals to celebrate their skills and personality.

Expert: We listen, learn, and adapt to build our autism knowledge, experience and provide relevant, high quality, autism support.

Risks and challenges

The Directors have a risk management process to assess business risks and implement risk management strategies. This involves reviewing the risks the charity faces, prioritising them in terms of potential impact and likelihood of occurrence, and identifying means of mitigating the risks in line with a risk profile accepted by the board. As part of the risk management process, the charity complies with the Charity Commission’s list of internal financial controls in all material respects.

The organisation has policies and procedures in place which are periodically reviewed and are read and signed by all staff on appointment, including a detailed child and adult safeguarding policy. The organisational risk matrix was updated in April 2024 and approved by the Board. A refreshed risk matrix has now been introduced by the new CEO; this was presented at the April 2025 board and going forward will be a standing agenda item on the trustee board.

All staff and Trustees are enhanced DBS checked, and the organisation has five Designated Safeguarding Leads. Risk assessments are completed for every activity undertaken. The organisation has employer, public, product, professional and trustee indemnity insurances in place.

RfA fully complies with fundraising best practice and is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. The organisation directly employs its own fundraisers. We do not use fundraising agencies, and no one receives commission for fundraising. The charity’s income is primarily derived from fees and grants rather than from the general public. We do not use direct marketing for fundraising purposes which protects vulnerable people and has had no complaints regarding our fundraising during the year.

Financial Review

The charity had a surplus of £2,320 for the year, compared with a deficit of £56,637 in the previous year.

Income from charitable activities, in the form of fees and contracts decreased by £285,561. This was mainly due to our school reintegration contract in Newham not being renewed.

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Expenditure decreased by £247,725 due mainly the reduction of staff cost due to the closure of our school reintegration program in 23/24.

The unrestricted funds held at the end of the year increased by £35,345 to £1,762,991 and restricted funds decreased by £33,025 to £14,189.

Total funds at the year-end stand at £1,777,180 of which £794,858 is designated as it could only be realised by selling the charity’s fixed assets, and £968,133 represents undesignated ‘free’ reserves. More details of the reserves can be seen in note 15 of the accounts.

Reserves

The aim of Resources for Autism’s reserves policy is to ensure that its ongoing and future activities are reasonably protected from unexpected variances in income and expenditure.

Resources for Autism aims to maintain reserves at a reasonable level to ensure it can meet its running costs for between 6 and 12 months. Trustees have maintained a level of 4.54 months of current expenditure and are aware of the need to increase this more towards the 6-month level.

The relevant reserves for the purposes of the reserves policy are represented by all free reserves and exclude designated funds.

Principal Funding Sources

Resources for Autism recognises the importance of having a mix of funding streams and has been successful in maintaining a balance of statutory contracts, grants, and fees. Our training offer has steadily grown and developed in the year generating a reasonable stream of income.

Resources for Autism has received a range of grants during the period, a full list of which is contained in the body of these accounts. Fees from individuals for services provided have been a crucial element in maintaining a healthy funding balance and RfA has both a regular rate and subsidised rate to support families and ensure accessible services are available.

RfA has benefitted significantly from legacies in this last financial year. We are very grateful to our trustee Raymond Esdaile who has supported and facilitated these and of course to the donors and families that have remembered Resources for Autism in this way.

Plans for Next Year

Strategy : 2025/26 will see the roll out of a new strategy for Resources for Autism. The new strategy will continue to focus on the 4 key objectives of the organisation listed earlier in this report.

Organisational development : More work will take place to ensure that the charity is robust and operating in a professional and compliant manner.

Digital progression : Thanks to funding secured we have the opportunity to update our HR system and Client CRM/Database. This will seriously modernise the way the charity works and will ensure better outcomes and impact data is captured, create more efficient ways of working and broadly move RfA forward.

Trustees : New trustees will be recruited to join the board as 2 long standing trustees will be standing down and a broader range of skillsets are required.

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Directors and their Interests

Apart from the Directors/Trustees listed on page 1, no other person served as a charity trustee during 2024/25.

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

The trustees, who are also the directors of Resources for Autism for the purposes of company law, are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that year.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP.
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Statement as to disclosure to our auditors

In so far as the trustees are aware at the time of approving our trustees’ annual report:

there is no relevant information, being information needed by the auditor in connection with preparing their report, of which the auditor is unaware, and
The trustees, having made enquiries of fellow directors and the auditor that they ought to have individually taken, have each taken all steps that he/she/they is/are obliged to take as a director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

By order of the board of trustees ,

Sir Nick Hine

Chair

Date: 29/07/25

Auditors The auditors, Begbies Chartered Accountants Ltd, are deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF RESOURCES FOR AUTISM

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Resources for Autism (the “Charitable Company”) for the year ended 31[st] March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the Charitable Company’s affairs as at 31[st] March 2025 and of its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice;
Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Charitable Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information.

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If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

the information given in the trustees’ report (incorporating the directors’ report) for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
The trustees’ report (incorporating the directors’ report) have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Charitable Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Annual Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

adequate accounting records have not been kept or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us;
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns;
certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations necessary for the purposes of our audit.
the trustees were not entitled to take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the trustees’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

Responsibilities of the trustees

As explained more fully in the Director’s responsibilities statement, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the Charitable Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the Charitable Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

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Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

agreement of the financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
enquiries or confirmation of management and the trustees as to their identification of any non-compliance with laws or regulations, or any actual or potential claims;
review of minutes of Board meetings throughout the period;
incorporating unpredictability into the nature, timing and/or extent of testing.
evaluation of the selection and application of the accounting policies chosen by the charity.
in relation to the risk of management override of internal controls, by undertaking procedures to review journal entries and evaluating whether there was evidence of bias that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud; and
we assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur by considering the key risks impacting the financial statements.

Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentations or through collusion.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: [www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities]. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of Our Report

This report is made solely to the Charitable Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Charitable Company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charitable Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Katherine Dee FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

For and on behalf of Begbies Chartered Accountants, Statutory Auditors Bonhill Street

London, EC2A 4DJ Date: 7/8/25

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