Autism BEDFORDSHIRE (A company limited by guarantee) Report and Financial Statements Year Ended: 31st March 2024 Charity no: 1100722 Company no: 04632497 Autism Bedfordshire Autism Bedfordshire Contents LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION............................. REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE............................. INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF AUTISM BEDFORDSHIRE............................................................. 16 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITES.....................................20 BALANCE SHEET.........................................................................21 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS....................................................22 NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS...... 24 Autisrri BedFordshire LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Status The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 9th January 2003, and registered as a charity on 141h November 2003. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association, which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. Under those Articles, the members of the Management Committee are elected at the A.G.M. to serve a period of 3-years, subject to ratification at each A.G.M. At each A.G.M. members may stand again. Mana ement Committee 202312024 The Members of the Management Committee are Trustees of th8 Charitable Company and Directors for the purposes of Company Law. The followlng Trustees held office durlng the year: Jeff Bulled, Finance Director Philip Delafield Pat Guy Lauraine Montgomery, Chair Peter Scott, Secretary Pamela Wrest Paula Parr Natalie Batchelor, Roles Chari Infonnatlon Registered Office and Operation Address: Suite B1, 1 Hammond Road, Elms Farm Industrial Estate, Bedford, MK41 OUD Telephone: Tel: 01234 350704 (helpline) l Tel: 01234 214871 (genera5 enquiries) Emall: enquiries@autismbeds.org Website: v￿.aUtISrnbedfOrdshire.net Company Registration Number: 04632497 Charity Registration Number: 1100722 Senior Statutory Auditor David A. Cox BA F.C.C.A F.C.A of Cox & Co (Accountancy) Limited, The Granary, High Street, Turvey, Bedfordshire MK43 8DB Bankers CAF Bank Ltd, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4QJ.Barclays Bank UK plc, 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP Page11 AutlCJm Bedfordshire REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ST FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The Management Committee presents its Report and Financial Statements for st the year ended 31 March 2024. Autism Bedfordshire is an independent charity providing support in Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Hertfordshire in a variety of ways, including offering information, advice and emotional and practical support to autistic individuals, their parentslcarers, families, support networks and associated professionals. The charity was founded in 1991 by a small group of parents of autistic children, to share information and support each other. Over the last 33 years the charity has expanded and developed its services, earning a widespread reputation for being an excellent provider of quality specialist support, including several Ofsted gradings of Outstanding. Autism Bedfordshire provides support, infomation and guidance via a telephone helpline, information packs, e-newsletters, online and social media, and training courses and events. We work with five local authorities across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire to represent our members, views and to influence local policymaking and provision. Practical support and short breaks are provided through weekend family activity groups, evening youth groups, children's summer activity schemes, adult social groups, adult skills courses, benefits advice and employment support. These services are co-ordinated by our team and run by specialist trained staff and volunteers. We have two charity shops in Dunstable and Bedford that provide volunteering and employment opportu nities. Our Keyworker team support children, young people, and adults to help avoid unnecessary admissions to mental health hospitalslsupport those currently in inpatient settings. Our Campaigns and Projects team run voice groups and develop videos to support people to access health and social care appointments. Our newly formed Oliver McGowan training team and Experts by Experience deliver training to multi-disciplinary practitioners. Additionally, Autism Bedfordshire's Training and Consultsncy team provide a suite of autism training courses for parentslcarers and practitioners. We safely manage the VCS Luton Consortium, delivering short breaks for disabled children. Finance The net incoming resources for the year were £2,346,800 (2023: £2,105,121) Of this £2,126,147 (2023: £1,816,621) was restricted to projects and £220,653 (2023: £288,500) was not restricted. The Trustee Board have officially designated £120,000 as necessary to our Supported Living Project, with the remaining £119,457 undesignated income adding to our reserves. The total undesignated reserves for year ending 31 st March 2024 is £424,722 (restricted £201,065 and unrestricted £223,657), an increase of £305,265 from 2022-23 (restricted £98,574 and unrestricted £206,691). Office and Service Stsff We are exceptionally grateful for our teams at Autism Bedfordshire, Autism Hertfordshire and Autism Milton Keynes, (delivered by Autism Bedfordshire). who have been creative in their relentless work to support the autistic community over the last 12 months. During the year we had 54 office staff and six shop staff. Page12 Autisrri Bedfordshire Volunteers Across the charity, volunteers contributed over 25,000 hours of support and leadership across all ser￿iCeS, shops, and the Board of Trustees. This equates to nearly 13 full time equivalent staff and would have cost the charity more than £325,000 annually. We are perpetually grateful to Autism Bedfordshire's Board of Trustees who volunteer their time to set the vision and high standards for the charity and ensure its safe management and sotvency through times of crisis and opportunity. We are immensely grateful and proud of all our volunteers and appreciate every contribution each one makes. Pald Staff at Servlces We are favoured to have such committed and steadfast staff working at our groups and we are enormously thankful to them for their level of conscientiousness, attention, and vivacity in providing a safe, inspiring and personalised experience for the autistic children, young people and adults who attend our services. During the year we had 206 staff both part-time and full time. Membership Autism Bedfordshire assisted with the needs of our 3,627 household memberships during the year, and supported many more through our online infonmation and guidance on our website and social media. We welcomed 299 new household memberships in the year. Infonnatlon Our e-newsletters are sent to users of our services and other interested parties: 'Grapevine' focusses on our Children's Services with 2,940 subscribers, whilst 'The Orchard, is specifically for users of our Adults, Services with 1,223 subscribers, and finally, 'Autism Herts Post, is our e-newsletter dedicated to Adults Seniices in Hertfordshire, with 258 subscribers. During the year over 40,000 people accessed our e-newsletters. We also keep our members and staff infomied through social media. We had 2,914 page likes on our Facebook page, 1,175 Instagram followers and 625 followers on Linkedln. Bedfordshlre Helpline Our Helpline service has continued to help support adults, parentslcarers, and children across Bedfordshire, and this year we have seen an increase in helpline calls and emails from professionals seeking advice with a total of 1,981 helpline calls being taken. Our telephone helpline is open from 9am 5pm. Monday to Friday for infor- mation, advice, and guidance on all aspects of autism. We provide advice and support to autistic individuals, parents, carers, partners, and professionals. Page13 Autism Be,Jfordbhire We have provided resources and information on the following: Autism Diet Behaviour and communication Sleep Learning and development Adult Services initial assessment Training and support Employment Social opportunities Diagnosis support Benefits and welfare Housing Physical and Mental Health Relationships Children's Services L.O.A.F. (Loads of Autistic Fun) L.O.A.F. is a Saturday morning social actlvity and family support group for autistlc children up to age 12 and their siblings and parentslcarers. We deliver across the county in Bedford, Biggleswade, Leighton Buzzard and Luton. At L.O.A.F. the children can enjoy a wide range of social. educational, physical and play activities, with the support of our trained staff and volunteers, while their parents can have a short break and meet other parentslcarers. In 202312024 we delivered a total of 148 L.O.A.F. sessions which supported 121 autistic children and 51 siblings. Wanted Fun and Glrls Group Our Wanted Fun and our Girls Group, evening youth groups provide social opportunities for young people aged 10-17 years with low support needs with the opportunity to meet fortnightly during term time. These sessions took place at seven locations across the county, in Bedford, Dunstable, Kempston, Flitwick, Biggleswade, Leighton Buzzard and Luton. During 202312024, we delivered a total of 127 Wanted Fun sessions, supporting 107 autistic young people and the families. Summer Activltles It was a privilege to deliver 6 separate specialist schemes for autistic children and young people in Bedfordshire. Between 24th July and 4th August 2023, three schemes operated in Bedford and three in Luton. All our schemes are specially designed to cater for the different needs, interests, ages, and abilities of each child and we take a person-centred approach. In total, Autism Bedfordshire delivered 40 days of scheme, offering a wide range of activities for autistic children and young people, whilst offering a short break for their families. We supported 125 autistic children and young people. Page14 Autism B-dfordshire Ofsted inspected our Luton Junior Activity Scheme on the 251h July 2023 where we were graded as 'Outstanding'. We are immensely proud of our team for this achievement. Farni Project Our bespoke farm activity days offered experiences to autistic young people aged 10- 17 years, who are finding mainstream education unmanageable. We delivered private sessions at Animal Edge Farm where young people could interact with animals, spend time in nature and try activities tailored to their interests to increase their comfort and security, and sense of belonging. These activities included feeding animals, walking goats, grooming ponies and horses. horse agility, collecting chicken eggs, cleaning animal pens. playing board games, arts and crafts. and painting. Our Farm Project creates positive experiences within a safe, nurturing environment and allows the whole family to enjoy the experience together. In 202312024 we supported a total of 39 children and young people and hosted 'Santa's Grotto, at the farm in December 2023, welcoming 40 families for an autism friendly experience. Additional Services Additional Services with children and young people were in high demand this year. Activities included sports, entertainment, social and creative activities countywide. The 18 additional activities ranged from one day to six weeks, and a total of 305 autistic children and young people, along viith 134 siblings, accessed 112 hours of activities. orker Functlon Autism Bedfordshire delivers the Keyworker Function Pilot Project across Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes, as part of a national initiative in response to the NHS long-tenm plan for children and young people (CYP) with autism, learning disabilities or both, who are inpatients in. or at risk of being admitted to, a mental health hospital. This service supports these children and young people, and their families and carers to make sure families are fully involved in the formulation of care plans, and that they feel listened to and informed. Keyworkers ensure that the child and young person's voice is a central part of their care planning, and that the team of professionals supporting them are using a person-centred approach. The Keyworker team make sure that local systems are responsive to fully meeting the young person's needs and that support is given at the right time, in a coordinated way, where necessary, Keyworkers challenge these systems if they are failing to provide appropriate and timely support. Page15 Autism Bedfordshire Key outcomes for children, young people, and families within the service: To feel safe and happy To feel listened to and informed To feel involved in their plans, care, and support To experience a reduction in stressluncertainty and an increase in stability Autism Bedfordshire's Keyworker Function has proven to be successful and has been recognized regionally. From April 23 to March 24 a total of 92 children, young people, and adults had an allocated Keyworker to support them and their families. The results of the team's input has been highly praised, as it included 125 de-escalations, 22 escalations and 49 cases in which a hospital admission was avoided. A total of 16 of young peopleladults up to the age of 25 were successfully discharged from a Tier 4 unit. Personal Health Budgets By working closely with young people to identify what kind of support would benefit their health and wellbeing, Keyworkers were able to facilitate some small Personal Health Budgets. As a result of providing small amounts of funding to purchase certain equipment or support, young people and their families have seen a real improvement in their daily lives and their ability to cope better. We provided £17,235.94 in total allocated budget in this period, for 31 children, young people and adults. Adults, Services BLMK Social Actlvity Groups Social Groups are designed to provide community involvement for autistic adults that are looking to build connections and friendships in a supportive and structured environment. Within these groups, individuals develop social skills and boost their self-esteem, whilst developing an independent social life which is separate from their family unitlsupport network. Group members are encouraged and supported lo decide, plan, and organise social activities with the assistance of our experienced team. Our evening social groups often utilise local community facilities, with members visiting restaurants, cinemas, and engaging in other local leisure activities. Sessions are typically supported by two staff members and are held across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. Daytime groups included bi-weekly social groups in Bedford and Luton, and monthly social groups in Biggleswade, Marston Moretaine, Leighton Buzzard and Milton Keynes. Evening Social groups were delivered during the year in Ampthill, Bedford, Biggleswade, Luton, Leighton Buzzard, Milton Keynes and Dunstable. Page16 Auiism B=dfordshire During the year we provided 7194 hours of support and delivered 268 social group sessions. Adult Skills Development Courses and Workshops Our Adult Services continue to provide a range of skills development courses and workshops, both online and in-person. Having the flexibility to offer both virtual and face-to-face courses enables us to remain accessible and flexible to meet our members, needs. Our skills courses usually run for four to six weeks. which provides attendees with opportunities to develop relationships as well as skills. Our workshops remain as one-off sessions online, which allov4E members to focus on a specific skill and to 'drop in, from anywhere. This year we joined up with NHS Talking Therapies who provided a workshop for our members on Low Mood, which has become an extremely popular session. We also launched a brand new 'dating safely, course which explores strategies to support meeting new people, developing communication and how to keep safe when dating. Across BLMK we provided 2286 hours of support through our courses and 412 hours of support with our workshops. Employment Support Our service is dedicated to autistic adults who are seeking employment, volunteering opportunities, or wanting to enter into education or training. Our person-centered service is designed to fit around the individual's strengths, needs, and aspirations. We aim to ensure every person who enters employment support leaves the service closer to accessing the job market more independently and feeling more confident. Alongside being able to offer one-to-one support, the team will regularly deliver webinars and skills courses to support those who are taking their first steps into the world of work, helping them to understand what it means to be 'work r88dy'. This year our Employment Service team supported 11 autistic people who moved into sustainable paid employment, six into volunteering roles and two were successfully accepted onto further education or training. 'My Future, Transltlons Support Adult Services have continued to run 'My Future,, which is a transition support service that is designed to support young autistic adults (ages 18-25) and their families to navigate the confusing world of adulthood. The service was split into three keys areas, following feedback from our parentslcarers and autistic individuals. These three key areas were: parent support workshops, one-to-one support for autistic adults, and holiday sessions to support young autistic adults who were transitioning into college or university. During the past 12 months our Transitions programme has held 10 parent support sessions, provided one-to-one support for 18-25-year-olds, and run some member led, interest sessions. This totalled 437.5 hours of support. Page17 sm Bedfordshire Support Groups During the year we provided 68 online support groups for our members, these groups included.. female voice group, wellbeing group, parent support group and a LGBTQ+ group. Female Voice Female Voice is an online group held monthly, which provides a safe space to share experiences, and explore relevant topics and resources. We have explored a variety of topics this year within the female voice group including: 'How to be Kind lo Yourself, 'Understanding Masking,, 'Managing Stress,, and 'Know Your Rights in Healthcare,. Parent Support Our parent support group provides a space for autistic parents to share mutual experiences of parenting whilst providing support and resources. Wellbeing Support Our Wellbeing Support Group was created in response to the number of autistic individuals requesting wellbeing SUPPOrt. Many of these members wanted a safe space to share how their weeklmonth had been and discuss the emotions they were experiencing. We have continued to run an online monthly Wellbeing group, which provides a space to explore aspects of wellbeing and learn strategies to support with mental health and wellbeing. Hear me, See me Hear Me, See Me is a campaign in partnership with the NHS, exploring inequalities autistic adults face when accessing healthcare services. Over the year we have built on the success of the previous two years and encouraged more people to have their voices heard. We held six Voice Group Meetings online, and had 400+ Health and Social Care professionals attend our webinars. We focused the professionals, webinars around the National Autism Strategy and held sessions on. Introduction to the National Autism Strategy,, 'Diagnosis Pathway,, 'Transitions to Adult Services,, and 'Reasonable Adjustments,. With help from the Voice Group members, the team have been able to create a self- advocacy booklet to help autistic adults across the East of England to advocate for themselves. Breaklng Barrler5 In co-production with autistic adults, adults with a leaming disability, the BLMK ICB and healthcare clinicians the Project Team created new videos to help autistic people know what to expect when going to an appointment. On the 27th March 2024, we hosted the Breaking Barriers Showcase event which was opened by Felicity Cox, Chief Executive of BLMK ICB, with the chance to see the newly created videos. The Page18 Autism Bedfoi dshire subjects of the films covered topics like Type 2 Diabetes (including Retinal screening and Diabetes Annual Health Checks), screening appointments, blood tests and Tier 3 Weight Management. Attendees reported excellent feedback on hearing about how the co-production model worked from a clinical and commissioning perspective. The team and the work was nominated for a Parliamentary award. Benefits Support Our Benefits Support department continues to be in dernand, and in the last 12 months, the department has supported 67 autistic adults across Bedfordshire with over 316 hours of support. The Benefits Team offers information, advice and guidance with PIP and universal credit. Pre-Diagnostic Support BLMK In April 2023 we launched a new department within Adult Services: the Pre- Diagnostic Support department. This department offers workshops and open days in Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes for individuals seeking an autism diagnosis, providing information, support, and guidance about the diagnostic pathway. The four workshops held were: 'How Do l Get an Autism Diagnosis as an Adult,, 'The Assessment Process,, 'Managing Your Emotions Whilst Waiting for an Autism Assessment or Diagnosis,, and 'The Expectations of Receiving an Autism Diagnosis or Not,. We held 26 sessions and supported 93 adults on their journey. Adults, Services Hertfordshire In 2021 Autism Bedfordshire were successful in their bld to provide life changing opportunities for autistic people aged 16+ across Hertfordshire. Known locally as 'Autism Hertfordshire,, the service was launched under the Autism Bedfordshire umbrella in November 2021. The team provide a multitude of support services including a helpline service, skills development courses and workshops, one-to-one post-diagnostic support, transitions support (ages 16-25), carers support, pre- diagnostic support, social groups, and support groups. Helplines Our telephone helpline is open from 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday for information, advice, and guidance on all aspects of Autistic Spectrum Conditions and associated problems. We provide advice and support to autistic individuals, parents, carers, partners, and professionals. Over the year we have taken 881 helpline calls, which has amounted to 453 hours of support given. Page19 , +iJm Bedfordshire Pre-Diagnostic Support In the middle of 2023, we created our Pre-Diagnostic workshops which are aimed at supporting those who may be thinking of seeking a diagnosis or are currently on the waiting list for an autism diagnosis in Hertfordshire. We cover four different topics in our online workshops that run fortnightly, which include: 'Am l Autistic? The Assessment Process,, 'Managing Emotions,, and 'Managing the Expectations of an Outcome,. Since launch we have provided 12 members with support over 12 sessions. Post-Dlagnostic Support There are various types of support someone might want to explore once they have received a diagnosis. Adults may need to approach andlor be supported to approach professionals and local services for this support. Those who accessed this service were offered up to eight one-towone sessions, either online or in-person with, a member of staff from Autism Hertfordshire. The sessions are tailored to each individual and their specific problems or concems. Over the year we have supported 50 members, giving over 215 hours of support. We also run an online peer support group for those who have been newly diagnosed. We have been able to run 10 of these sessions so far. Transltlons Support Our Transitions support service is designed to support young autistic adults, over the age of 16, as they take their first steps into the adult world, whilst also offering their parents or carers monthly workshops that helps them understand how to navigate the adult world of education, health and social care. A total of 86 members accessed the specialist skills development courses during school holidays and term time, along with a fortnightly social group. Both activities are focused on giving the young person the opportunity to learn and develop the skills to help them to thrive in the adult world. Skills Development Coursas and Workshops The aim of our skills and development courses and workshops is to empower autistic adults. Autism Hertfordshire offers a range of engaging adult skills development programs, specially designed to support autistic individuals aged 18 and above. Whether our members are newly diagnosed, or have been diagnosed for some time, our courses are tailored to meet their needs. Our top priority is to create a safe and inclusive environment where individuals can comfortably share their personal experiences without judgment. We take pride in our person-centered approach, and we value feedback from our members. The feedback we have received from our members, from over 1150 hours of attendance, helps us to facilitate new courses and workshops, specifically tailored to support autistic adults in a neurotypical world. Social Groups In April 2023, Autism Hertfordshire were able to launch several regular daytime and evening social groups. Our daytime gatherings are for members seeking to socialise Page110 Autism Bedfordsnire but who are unable to make it to our night events or prefer a more structured schedule. These community-based sessions include walks and meals at local hotspots and are supported by two friendly staff members. These sessions are on Fridays, alternating between St. Albans and Stevenage. Our monthly evening SOGial groups, which are exclusively for those 18 and above, cover Stevenage and St Albans. Some of our trips have included mini-golf madness, cinema nights and other exciting leisure activities. Our members are the heart of these groups, and we always value their feedback. Over the year we had 60 daytime social group attendees over 43 sessions, and overall we provided 933 hours of social groups. Over the 47 evening sessions we provided to 80 members, we provided 1140 hours of social group sessions. During the summer of 2023 we were also able to launch three 'Summer Social, trips for Hertfordshire mem bers. The places we went to included Paradise Wildlife Park, Southend-on-sea, London Science Museum, Cassiobury Park and Ninja Warrior. Carers Support In December 2021, Autism Hertfordshire launched a monthly parentlcarer support group. These groups have provided a lifeline to all of those that attend, and are member led. Carers are able to attend groups as and when it is convenient for them, and they are welcome to drop in as often or as little as they like. We understand that the caring role can, at times, be unpredictable and demanding. There is no cost to attend our groups. We delivered 10 sessions. Autism Trainin Core Tralnlng Our training courses cover a diverse range of face-to-face and virtual training to practitioners, health and social care services, schools, employers and community groups, to develop a deeper understanding of autism across Bedfordshire, neighbouring counties, and beyond. Where possible our training is delivered in partnership with autistic guest speakers. Our courses included: 'Autism & Behaviour,, 'Autism & Demand Avoidance,, 'Autism & Sensory Processing,, 'Autism, Women & Girls,, '5 Week Parent Carer Training Workshop,, 'Autism & Mental Health,, 'The First steps to Supporting an Autistic Individual,. and 'Autism and Eating Disorders,. During the year we delivered 26 training workshops for 319 parentslcarers, either face- to-face or virtually. We also offered 173 hours of training to practitioners from schools, businesses and community groups, including commissioned bespoke training. Over the year we provided 46 courses to 394 practitioners. Both face-to-face and online training was made available; online delivery continued to prove popular with delegates and Pagel 11 Autism Bedfordsh.ire attracted attendees who found it difficult to reach a physical training venue. 93 % of delegates said that they would recommend the courses to others. We also encourage our staff to attend training courses and workshops. this year we provided 62 courses to over 100 members of staff and volunteers. Oliver McGowan Training We successfully bid for the delivery of Oliver McGowan training in the closing months of the year. We have begun the process of recruiting, training and planning the delivery of Tier 1 and Tier 2 training sessions to a large cohort of heath colleagues, funded by the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board. Parent Su ort Conferences and Events Annual General Meetlng (A.G.M.) 2023 On Monday 30th October 2023, we held our AGM, which was presented in-person and vla zoom, to make the meeting accessible to all. This was attended by members, professionals, Autism Bedfordshire staff and trustees. Our guest speaker was Robyn Steward who presented "My Journey and Personal Experiences Parent Tralning: Workshops Over the year we offered several online workshops. We delivered 26 training workshops for parentslcarers, our courses included: 'Autism & Behaviour,, 'Autism & Demand Avoidance,, 'Autism & Sensory Processing,, 'Autism, Women & Girls,, Week Parent Carer Training Workshop,, 'Autism & Mental Health,, 'The First Steps to Supporting an Autistic Individual,, and 'Autism and Eating,. During the year we delivered 26 training workshops for 319 parentslcarers. either face-to-face or virtually. All parents said they had gained a greater understanding of autism and that they had learnt new skillslstrategies. Conference Annually we collate feedback about what themes and topics participants found to be most useful, and what parentslcarers would like to learn more about. A member-led approach ensures that as a charity we are listening and responding to the needs of our members and their families. Across January 2024, we delivered our fourth virtual conference, and this involved delivering talks and workshops over five days, where parentsl carers could choose to join these sessions, they felt were relevant to them and their family. Page112 Autism Bedfoi dshire Topics included: Monotropism and new perspectives of autism PDA Sensory Processing Autism and Puberty Autism and Behaviour Communication in School Autism & Demand Avoidance Autism and Anxiety ASC Assessments Mindfulness & Wellbeing In total, 290 parents and carers attended the conference (72 from Bedford Borough. 95 from Central Bedfordshire, 46 from Luton Borough, 47 from Milton Keynes, 10 from Hertfordshire, and 20 from other areas). Luton VCS Short Breaks Consortium Autism Bedfordshire has remained the Lead Body for the Consortium of Voluntary and Community Service short break providers for children and young people in Luton, for the last 13 years. An Operations Manager oversees the management and administration of the six Consortium members. The Consortium is funded by Luton's Community Investment Fund, which is managed by Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation (BLCF), as part of the Luton Airport Limited (LLAL) Community Investment Fund (now known as Luton Rising). 2023124 was a successful year for the Consortium, with its members helping over 375 children and young people from Luton. 297 were children and young people (aged 0-25) with disabilities, and 78 were siblings. Consortium members organised over 728 short break sessions, which provided parents and carers in Luton with over 31,749 short break hours. The 54 different clubs and activities provided included after-school clubs, evening youth clubs, weekend clubs, holiday playschemes, and outings. During the year there were six members of the Consortium: Autism Bedfordshire Centre for Youth and Community Development (CYCD) CHUMS Families United Network (FUN) Friends of Bright Eyes (FOBE) Special Needs Out of School Club (SNOOSC) Page113 Charit Sho The shops continue to increase our visibility in the community and generate income for charity. They provide excellent volunteering and employment support for autistic adults, and we are grateful to all our volunteers and staff for their hard work. Unfortunately, the Bedford shop suffered a fire in mid-February and has been closed since for the remedial works to be completed. orted Livin Accommodation On the 15th of March 2024, Autism Bedfordshire successfully completed the purchase of two properties, increasing the portfolio to three. The properties have full planning in place to extend and create seven bedrooms to total. Grants Donations and Fundralsin Grants Autism Bedfordshire would like to acknowledge and thank the below Trusts and Foundations for their generous grant awards received in 202312024: Henry Smith Charity Panacea Charitable Trust Masonic Charitable Foundation The National Lottery Community Fund The National Lottery Community Fund - Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund 60,000 10,000 20,000 92,124 60,457 Donations We have gratefully received donations over the year, totaling £25,301. Future Plans and Strate Our key plans for the coming year are largely shaped around enhancing our offer, furthering our reach geographically and across our community, and improving the quality and efficiency of our offer. We have plans to expand and open up new opportunities and keep pa￿ with new innovations, ensuring that we meet our commitment to maximise people's independence and supporting them to live a rewarding and fulfilling life. Page | 12 Autism Bedfordshire Key Plans 202412025: 1. Support at Home and Supported Living: Having completed the purchases of o further properties, bringing our portfolio to three, we aim to launch our ac- commodation in 2025 for up to 7 adults. 2. Training: Through our Oliver McGowan Training offer, we hope to increase the number of Experts by Experience securing employment, along with expanding our online offer and consultancy for parents and practitioners. 3. Milton Keynes: Pilot a suite of services in Milton Keynes for children, young people and their families and support nebNOrt