Charity Registration No. 1124807
Company Registration No. 06472055 (England and Wales)
LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees
Mrs CD Leeland Mrs AL Swinfield Mrs S Macaffer
(Appointed 7 February 2020) (Appointed 12 January 2021)
Charity number 1124807 Company number 06472055 Registered office Unit F, Whiteacres Cambridge Road Whetstone Leicester LE8 6ZG
Independent examiner
Tessa Fowler BA FCA C/o HSP Tax & Accounts Ltd Whiteacres Cambridge Road Whetstone Leicestershire LE8 6ZG
LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 1 - 3 |
| Statement of trustees' responsibilities | 4 |
| Independent examiner's report | 5 |
| Statement of financial activities | 6 |
| Balance sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 8 - 12 |
LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2020.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 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 2016)
Objectives and activities
The charity's objects at the start of the year were:
'The relief of persons with Autistic Spectrum Conditions and/or Learning Disabilities in Leicester and Leicestershire and in particular, but without limiting the foregoing, by providing or assisting in the provision of support in employment.'
In June 2020 the objectives were changed to reflect the way the Charity has evolved to:
"To deliver support and training to young people and adults with Autistic Spectrum Conditions and/or learning difficulties and provide advice, guidance and support to their parents and carers. "
LEAT is a provider of specialist support to young people 16 plus and adults with Autistic Spectrum Conditions, with most of our service-users having a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome. The core programme is providing consultancy support to clients who have funding in place from their local authorities .
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
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LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
Achievements and performance
During the year LEAT undertook the following work and projects:
Consultancy
Providing a wide range of individual person-centred autism specialist support funded by the local Authority in the form of Direct Payments or Personal Budgets. Individual Support Plans are created by Adult Social Care for the person concerned and the support is delivered by LEAT staff in accordance with these plans. The support is delivered on a one to one basis with the main focus on encouraging and supporting the individual service-user to become more independent, this can include support to access the local community, seek and become engaged in voluntary work, employment of further/higher education. We have supported service users with their university studies and issues they have had in the workplace, thus helping them to maintain their education and/or employment.
Other priority areas when supporting service-users has been to help them improve their social and communication skills, improve confidence, understand anxiety and stress learn coping strategies.
We have assisted many service-users by advocating for them to the Benefits Agency, Local Authority, GP, Hospital, Community Mental Health Services, Employers etc. We have also been successful in representing several service-users at Benefits Tribunal Hearings resulting in them having their benefits reinstated. This a growth area for LEAT due to the high level of government cuts to clients benefits such as PIP and ESA.
As from early March when the COVID-19 restrictions came into place we have provided one to one support to clients remotely, by telephone, email, Zoom and Skype meetings. Fortunately all clients have engaged very well with the support and consequently we have not lost any income nor had to furlough staff.
Other areas of support
We have several adults with Asperger syndrome who pay privately for services due to them not being eligible for Government funding. The support delivered is the same as that delivered to Consultancy clients but at a reduced cost. We also help and support people to apply for benefits and funding for services from the Local Authority that may have been previously denied.
Social Mornings
We continued to hold weekly social mornings on Thursdays in various venues in Leicester City Centre and also arranged visits to places of interest nearby for the regular attendees until March. However, due to COVID-19 and government restrictions from early March to the end of this financial year we hosted remote social mornings by Skype. The remote social morning have proved very successful with our service-users and some prefer to communicate in this way. They have all significantly improved their social and communication skills and relate very well to one another and the support staff.
Training
Throughout the year we have also delivered online training courses in Personal Development to small groups of clients covering areas such as:
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Confidence Building
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Improving Social and Communication Skills
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Assertiveness
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Anxiety/Stress Awareness and Management
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Next Steps – introduction to options (voluntary work, further education, employment etc)
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LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
Financial review
The financial results are shown on page 5 of these financial statements.
The trustees regularly review the financial position of the charity and aim to keep reserves sufficient to cover at least three months of ongoing expenses.
The trustees has assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks .
Structure, governance and management
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
Leicester Employment for Autism Today (LEAT) was registered as a Company limited by guarantee on 14 January 2008 and registered as a Charity on 2 July 2008. It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. On 1 November 2008 LEAT took over the work then being undertaken by the unincorporated charity of the same name.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Mrs CD Leeland Mrs EK Hunt (Resigned 3 June 2021) Mrs AL Swinfield (Appointed 7 February 2020) Mrs S Macaffer (Appointed 12 January 2021)
Power to appoint new trustees lies with the Board of Trustees. Trustees are selected for their experience, skills and contacts in a variety of areas and their time is given freely. None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The trustees' r eport was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Mrs CD Leeland
Trustee Dated: 17 June 2021
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LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
The trustees, who are also the directors of Leicestershire Empowerment For Autism Today for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the 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 financial 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 charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
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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 adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and 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.
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LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Leicestershire Empowerment For Autism Today (the charity) for the year ended 31 October 2020.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) . In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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3 the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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4 the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Tessa Fowler BA FCA
C/o HSP Tax & Accounts Ltd Whiteacres Cambridge Road Whetstone Leicestershire LE8 6ZG
Dated: 6 July 2021
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LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | ||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Notes | £ |
£ | |
| Income from: | |||
| Charitable activities | 2 | 86,341 | 82,697 |
| Investments | 3 | 43 | 72 |
| Total income | 86,384 | 82,769 | |
| Expenditure on: | |||
| Charitable activities | 4 | 94,584 | 105,058 |
| Net expenditure for the year/ | |||
| Net movement in funds | (8,200) | (22,289) |
|
| Fund balances at 1 November 2019 | 82,237 | 104,526 | |
| Fund balances at 31 October 2020 | 74,037 | 82,237 |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
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LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 OCTOBER 2020
| Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 7 Current assets Debtors 8 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 9 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Income funds Unrestricted funds |
2020 £ 7,206 69,339 76,545 (2,810) |
£ 302 73,735 74,037 74,037 74,037 |
2019 £ 695 83,956 84,651 (3,119) |
£ 705 81,532 82,237 82,237 82,237 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 October 2020.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charity keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 17 June 2021
Mrs CD Leeland Trustee
Company Registration No. 06472055
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LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
1 Accounting policies
Charity information
Leicestershire Empowerment For Autism Today is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Unit F, Whiteacres, Cambridge Road, Whetstone, Leicester, LE8 6ZG.
1.1 Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 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 2016). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling , which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary a mounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
1.2 Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
1.3 Charitable funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
1.4 Income
Income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
1.5 Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.
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LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
1 Accounting policies
(Continued)
1.6 Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Plant and machinery
33% on cost
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
1.7 Impairment of fixed assets
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any ) .
1.8 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash , bank deposits and any other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less .
1.9 Financial instruments
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
1.10 Employee benefits
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
1.11 Retirement benefits
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
1.12 Operating leases
Rentals payable under operating leases are charged as an expense on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease.
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LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
| 2 Charitable activities Unrestricted Funds 2020 £ Consultancy income 86,341 3 Investments Unrestricted funds 2020 £ Interest receivable 43 4 Charitable activities Unrestricted funds 2020 £ Staff costs 77,395 Depreciation and impairment 617 Travel and client activities 4,512 Rent and serviced offices 3,600 Insurance 325 Professional fees 6,255 Telephone 840 Computer and website 518 Postage and stationery 296 Sundry expenses 226 94,584 94,584 |
Total 2019 £ 82,697 Total 2019 £ 72 Total 2019 £ 83,188 546 6,271 3,300 - 8,678 1,020 1,050 322 683 105,058 105,058 |
|---|---|
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LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
5 Trustees
Included in the figure for professional fees is £3,348 (2019: £3,546) being amounts paid to Mrs CD Leeland, Trustee. This is in respect of professional advisory services provided to the charity. These payments were made in accordance with the provisions of the governing document of the charity.
6 Employees
Number of employees
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
| 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number | Number | |
| 5 | 5 | |
| Employment costs | 2020 | 2019 |
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 71,937 | 74,696 |
| Social security costs | 2,304 | 2,375 |
| Other pension costs | 3,154 | 6,117 |
| 77,395 | 83,188 |
The total employment benefits, including employer pension contributions of the key management personnel amounted to £46,600 (2019: £49,002). In additions to this, an allowance for the use of home as an office was paid amounting to £3,600 (2019: £3,300).
7 Tangible fixed assets
| Tangible fixed assets | |
|---|---|
| Plant and machinery | |
| £ | |
| Cost | |
| At 1 November 2019 | 1,637 |
| Additions | 214 |
| At 31 October 2020 | 1,851 |
| Depreciation and impairment | |
| At 1 November 2019 | 932 |
| Depreciation charged in the year | 617 |
| At 31 October 2020 | 1,549 |
| Carrying amount | |
| At 31 October 2020 | 302 |
| At 31 October 2019 | 705 |
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LEICESTERSHIRE EMPOWERMENT FOR AUTISM TODAY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2020
8 Debtors
| Debtors | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2019 | |
| Amounts falling due within one year: | £ | £ |
| Other debtors | 7,206 | 695 |
9 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Other taxation and social security Trade creditors Other creditors |
2020 £ 658 1,289 863 2,810 |
2019 £ 891 1,608 620 3,119 |
|---|---|---|
10 Change of Name
On 6 July 2020 the charity changed its name from Leicestershire Employment for Autism Today to Leicestershire Empowerment for Autism Today.
11 Coronavirus Pandemic
As noted in the 2019 accounts, in the spring of 2020 there was an outbreak of Coronavirus which developed into a global pandemic. The charity has continued to work with it's clients in a manner which is in line with Government recommendations issued as part of their response to the pandemic, thus maintaining the safety of clients and staff whilst continuing to provide the same levels of valuable support to clients.
The trustees continue to keep the position under close review and make business decisions based on their assessment of current and future developments. The trustees are of the opinion that the measures taken to date together with the healthy levels of reserves are sufficient for the charity to continue to fulfil its objectives over the next 12 months.
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