2025-09-30-accounts

NORTH STAFFS ASPERGERS AND AUTISM ASSOCIATION

NSAAA

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT for the AGM – 2026

By Jeremy Relton- Chair

Chairperson’s report

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This year has been a very successful year for the charity with continued strong growth in membership and increases in activities we are able to provide members. This seems to be how we are moving forward year on year currently. We are proud to continue serving members and always look to improve what we do. However, we are not so strong on the finances and we are quite tight. Hopefully we will secure some funding from Garfield Weston and be successful with Children in Need soon. We are short of trustees and trustees going forward. But we have a strong and experienced band of volunteers which is great news.

Committee/ Trustees and Staff

• As we come to the AGM the trustees comprise me, Jeremy Relton (chair), Pauline Hanrahan, (treasurer) Jane Titley, (secretary) Mark Collier, Natalie Leese and Chris Bakos. I want to thank them all for their hard work, great ideas and commitment to driving the organisation forward over the last twelve months. It’s been yet another good year even if a little wobbly financially as we end it.

• I have been chairperson since March 2024 and I am standing again as a trustee.

• Jane Titley has been the secretary for a great number of years and is a great asset to the committee; her expertise is around policy and processes. She will stand again.

• Pauline Hanrahan is our Treasurer. She continues to liaise with Wendy Knobbs, our current Finance Manager. Wendy continues to produce monthly accounts and makes sure the money accounts are accurate for auditing purposes. Her report will be reported later in the meeting. She will stand again.

• Chris Bakos will stand for re-election and continue with efforts in hosting groups in Leek.

• Natalie Leese is undecided at the time of the writing of this report and Mark Collier is standing down but will remain as a volunteer.

• I thank all of the trustees for the work that they do to ensure that our charity keeps running.

• The staff members are Jill Broad, Rachel Linforth, Lindsey Beckett and Wendy Knobbs. We are pleased to employ staff with such a diverse range of skills. We thank all of our staff, volunteers and trustees for their continued support and passion in helping and supporting our members.

• Our current membership is 370 as of 8[th] March 2026; this is an incredible achievement for the fourth year running now. Previously our membership had not been much more than 220. This shows that the need for our charity is greater than ever. The long waiting lists for CAMHS and the long waits for EHCPs etc. add to the need for services like ours that offer some support and help in those first days especially.

Working Practices

We have a wide range of services on offer.

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• We have the helpline open 4 days a week for a few hours. Members and potential members can phone and ask for advice and guidance.

• There is a small lending library in the office with books on Autism.

• There are several face-to-face social groups for children and teenagers that have continued to meet on a monthly rota. We have a good range of online groups on the monthly rota.

• Our face-to-face groups usually meet at King Street studios in Newcastle and our growing band of volunteers regularly support these groups; we thank them for their continued support.

• Our over 35s group continues to meet monthly.

• We have had a group meet in the Leek area too; we hope that this will happen again.

• Activities update:

• Monthly Jumbo sessions for the children and their siblings have been enjoyed by many. This group has really taken off, and we regularly have 15-20 children playing on a 3[rd] Friday. We have started to do a session during December as well now.

• Our monthly craft groups continue online using zoom and face to face, they prove popular with a range of members of all ages. Huge thanks for Rose Went who has stopped volunteering after many years as she has family commitments. The group is in good hands moving forward with Lindsey and Heather.

• Regular school holiday activities continue to take place. There are always two extra activities a week in the holidays. They have included bowling, train trips, mini golf, tubing, Trentham Gardens and many country walks to name a few. The annual trip this summer was to Alton Towers; it was a successful day. We have also been attending Hurricane Gaming more this last year.

• The monthly swimming club has been running on and off. We have changed venue again. We have been using the pool at Kidsgrove since January 2025. This is working better. We have some normal sessions with the inflatables being used every third session. The meeting/party room after is popular too. Members like the active hour followed by the sociable hour sharing food.

• The Lego group still meets and has recently changed to a Friday; it has a loyal following.

• The 16-28 young adults’ group has continued to grow from strength to strength and our aim to promote independence is evident in our young people. They love a meal out or a trip to the bowling alley or cinema and Long Rest Games.

• This year we enjoyed our under 16s party night and we had lots of fun with our younger members. This group now includes members up to their 17[th] birthday. This has evolved from themed nights to a relaxed evening with our younger members. It has a fantastic, chilled end of

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the week vibe. They have been bowling, to the circus; to name a couple of activities.

1. The games night is good too. This involves old-fashioned fun; board games and Nintendo switch are out too. This is a new group. We are lucky to have Dave Gunn who runs Dungeons and Dragons during the evening.

2. Our adult group is thriving, they are such an amazing group, and they enjoy meeting at King Street once a month, and they also enjoy meeting during the monthly outing. Activities have included many meals out, bowling, and mini golf.

3. We also enjoyed several fantastic theatre trips including the Panto, and plays at both The Regent and a Coldplay night at Crewe’s Lyceum Theatre. This is a great opportunity for the whole family to come along and enjoy a fabulous afternoon of entertainment.

4. On Saturday 28[th] February we had a great afternoon at Caudwell Children’s Centre in Keele; they have kindly agreed we can use their facilities from time to time. We used it to host a magical afternoon with Jack Dent performing his magical show; we had our usual raffle and tombola as well as food we all brought to share. We hope to do this again soon.

5. We host a Parents’/Carers’ Support Group that has continued to meet at King Street. This group provides a much-needed opportunity for a cup of tea and a supportive chat with Dee, who really offers our members such a warm welcome and friendly advice.

Fundraising and awareness raising

• We continue to raise some much-needed funds for the charity moving forward into 2025. Our largest and most successful fundraising event of the year has become the charity ball which took place in May 2025. Our accounts tell us it raised £7456. We have our next Ball on June 6th this year which we are hoping you can all support. It is not too late to get your tickets.

• This year we have fundraised £9627; this is an amazing amount and comprises a huge amount of our expenditure. We have also been given £3629 in donations. Again, this is an amazing amount from friends, families and local organisations and businesses.

Grants and Money

• A lot of work has been done in this area, which is an ongoing commitment. Pauline has detailed these in her report. Some funding has been secured from Big Lottery Awards 4 All; Foyle Foundation, Enterprise Grant and Tesco groundwork.

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which will be detailed in Pauline’s report. In addition, we received £3,500 from Alex Ferry Foundation (not included in Financial year Ending September 25). Sadly, we did not secure any funding from Children in Need but we can apply again in the summer. The process is different and also the demand for the grants is even higher so rejection is more likely. We have just been successful in a 3 year grant from the Garfield Weston on £5000 a year. The effort from the committee and the members ensures that we now have a healthy bank balance going into the next financial year. Fundraising and donations are becoming an even more important part of sustaining our work.

The Future

The NSAAA will continue to thrive even though we are struggling with funding at the moment. Support from our members is great. Karl Snape has been the golf captain locally and is collecting for us as his charity. Ryan Lloyd and his media company have taken us on as their charity to support in their 20[th] year. We are so pleased and very grateful for a recent donation of £500. We are sure that we will be alright in the long term but every now and again we have these bumpy financial rides. We will succeed. It has been a pleasure to work with such dedicated people over the last twelve months and thank you to you all.

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North Staffs Asperger/Autism Association

Accounts

: For the Year Ended 30" September 2025

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Registered Charity Number 1109817

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North Staffs Asperger/Autism Association 30" September 2025

Charity Information

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Trustees	NatalieLeese(appointed24/03/2025)
	Mark Collier(appointed 24/03/25)
	ChristopherBakos(appointed 24/03/25)
	DeeClarke(resigned 24/03/25)
HonoraryOfficers	JeremyRelton (Chair)
	Pauline Hanrahan (Treasurer)
	JaneTitley(Secretary)
Office Address	PO Box 3615
	Stoke-on —Trent
	Staffs
	STA OLY
Bankers	Unity TrustBank
	Four Brindleyplace
	Birmingham
	B12JB
	Natwest Bank
	75 High Street
	Newcastle-U-Lyme
	Staffs

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North Staffs Asperger/Autism Association 30" September 2025

Trustees report

Governance and management

The charity is operated under the rules of its constitution adopted 19/04/2005 as amended on 23/02/2006 as amended on 08/03/2008 as amended on 29/03/2012

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Charitable objects

1. to promote the relief/understanding of people with autistic spectrum conditions for their families and carers.

2. to advance the education of the public in all manners concerning autistic spectrum disorders.

The methods adopted for the recruitment and appointment of new trustees

There is an open and welcoming outlook towards potential new trustrees and every effort is made to keep numbers at a steady level. New Trustees are nominated and appointed at the AGM usually, but may be co-opted during the year as part of the monthly Trustees meeting.

Public benefit

The trustees of the Charity are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and have had regard to it in their administration of the Charity.

Summary of the main achievements during the period

As a recipient of The Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2015, and hosts of an afternoon tea reception for HRH Sophie Countess of Wessex in 2017, we have continued to gain recognition and great encouragement for what we are achieving in our work. We have continued to successfully adjust our vital work in an ever-changing climate and have secured support grants from Awards for All, Alex Ferry Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Foyle Foundation, Tesco Groundwork and Enterprise. We also hold a very successful Charity Ball each summer which is our main fundraising event of the year. The number and diversity of events that we can offer to our members has increased. Our activities, events, and support and information services are being driven forward at an impressive level by our staff team and proactive committee.

The charity's policy on reserves

Reserves will be built up In order ta adequately cover the running costs of the organisation for a maximum period of six months to assist future cash flow should funding be delayed. The policy is reviewed annually by the Trustees.

Signed on behalf of the’ charity's trustees:

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Signed Ve oe Dated [8 Of £4
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Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of North Staffs Asperger/Autism Association for the year ended 30 September 2025

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 30[th] September 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or

• the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

\LAL 05/02/2026 Signed ____ Date _______ Daryl Denson ACMA iL” Employee of VAST

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North Staffs Asperger / Autism Association Receipts and Payments for the Year Ended 30th September 2025

	Restricted	Unrestricted	Total		YearEnded
	Funds	Funds	Funds		30.09.24
	£	£	£		£
Balance B/fwd 01.10.24	4,166.78	16,015.79	20,182.57		25,227.01
Receipts
Grants /Funding	28,123.00		28,123.00		21,099.00
Donations		3,629.36	3,629.36		1,316.97
Memberships		3,240.00	3,240.00		3,180.00
Fundraising		9,626.54	9,626.54		8,980.25
Income from activities		6,213.53	6,213.53		6,074.06
Gift Aid Claim		364.56	364.56		368.08
Total Receipts	28,123.00	23,073.99	51,196.99		41,018.36
Payments
Postage / Stat / Print /Advert	80.65	254.25	334.90		378.92
Telephone / Internet/ Website	568.46	734.91	1,303.37		1,423.19
Salaries /NIC / Income Tax	12,177.75	14,321.92	26,499.67		24,392.32
Associated Staffcosts		437.50	437,50
Volunteer Costs		234.40	234.40
Car Parking		500.00	500.00		250.00
Autism sensory Pack				;	112.80
Meetings& Room Hire	3,125.42	2,489.58	5,615.00		4,962.00
Office /Computer Equipt. Events /Workshops	132.00 4,004.51	9,252.92	132.00 13,257.43		12,890.14
Insurance / Prof. Fees	201.99	1,436.66	1,638.65		1,653.43
Total Payments	20,290.78	29,662.14	49,952.92		46,062.80
BalanceC/fwd30.09.25	11,999.00	9,427.64	21,426.64		20,182.57

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North Staffs Asperger / Autism Association Statement Of Assets & Liabilities For the Year Ended 30th September 2025

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Year Ended
30.09.2024
Cash Assets
Cash at bank & in hand 21,426.64 20,182.57
Represented By :
Restricted Funds 11,999.00 4,166.78
Unrestricted Funds 9,427.64 16,015.79
21,426.64 20,182.57
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These accounts were approved by the trustees on ,
and signed on their behalf by : oe
La / ; o 4
Jeremy Relton-Chait 0.0 Of
Pauline Hanrahan - Treasurer 7......70... 5° 7 (a
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independent examiner’s report to the trustees of North Staffs Asperger/Autism Association for the year ended 30 September 2025

| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust") for the year ended 30" September 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

{ report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, | have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

| have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any materiat respect:

• accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or

e the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. SignedDaryl DensonSG ACMA — om 05/02/2026 Employee of VAST