## **THE PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR AUTISM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
**Charity No: 1144395**
**THE PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR AUTISM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **REPORT AND ACCOUNTS**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Trustees’ Report**|**2 - 5**|
|**Independent Examiner’s Report**|**6**|
|**Statement of Receipts and Payments**|**7**|
|**Statement of Assets and Liabilities**|**8**|
|**Notes to the Accounts**|**9 - 11**|
**1**
**THE PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR AUTISM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
The Trustees present their report and accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the Trust Deed, the Charities Act 2011 and guidance issued by the Charity Commission.
## **OUR PURPOSE AND ACTIVITIES**
The Trust was formed to advance the education of people with autism and / or language, communication or interaction difficulties, particularly those currently or previously attending or supported by Phoenix School.
It also aims to support international work with link organisations working with people with autism and / or language, communication or interaction difficulties.
## **Grant making policy**
Grants are awarded after submission of applications to the Trust. Applications are assessed to establish whether they are in the Charity’s objectives and the Trustees review applications that meet their requirements in terms of the benefit given. Grants have been paid during the year of £15,000 (2023– £16,912).
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Teacher Training Programme**
The Trust administers the Trainee Teacher Bursary in conjunction with Phoenix School and the London East Teacher Training Alliance (LETTA).
Five trainees completed the programme in July 2023 and three subsequently went on to be employed by Phoenix School in September 2023.
A further three trainees were taken on from September 2023 and are set to complete their programme by July 2024. Two trainees have been offered teaching positions at Phoenix School.
## **Model school in Sylhet, Bangladesh**
Phoenix Sylhet is a model special school in Bangladesh opened in September 2019 in partnership with Apasen UK and its sister organisation Apasen International. The project involved the development of the building to provide suitable classroom space including the outdoor play area; recruitment and appointment of teachers and teaching assistants; and their subsequent training and development.
The Executive Headteacher, along with staff at Phoenix School support Phoenix Sylhet through weekly online meetings and by developing curriculum resources. This year, there have been no visits to Phoenix Sylhet, however a visit is anticipated for 2024/25.
## **Youth Club and Holiday Scheme**
There were approximately 50 young people registered for the youth club and holiday schemes. Average attendance during the two weekly club sessions is around 15 young people and around 30 young people access the holiday schemes, which run during the Easter break, three half terms and summer holidays.
Ten students travelled with staff to Tonbridge, Kent, for two nights that included swimming, visiting Brighton, country walks and lots of games. They stayed in a stately home with a lot of character and very nice facilities. All the students and families were appreciative of the opportunity.
The two weekly club sessions continue to explore every corner of the local community and further afield - visiting museums, leisure centres, cinemas and country parks. Thursday sessions are focused more on independent skills including sensory play, music therapy, cooking and playing games.
**2**
**THE PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR AUTISM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT (Cont/d)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Public benefit statement**
In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including the guidance “public benefit: running a charity” (PD2). The achievements and activities above demonstrate the public benefit arising through the Charity’s activities.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
The trust is in a very healthy financial state although the reserves have dropped by around £20,000 this year. The Trustees can be very satisfied with the Trust’s financial position with a total cash balance amounting (at the year end 31 March 2024 to £168,345 (2023 - £189,209)
## **RESERVES POLICY**
It is the policy of the Trustees to maintain reserves at a sufficient level to enable activities in the medium term. Reserves are set at the level required to guarantee the continuation of activities despite any unexpected shortfalls in income. The Trust has set aside some of its reserves for the operating costs of Phoenix Sylhet. The Trust is committed to fund a further £16,000 in 24/25.
With expected reductions in education funding, the Trust will explore how it can use of its reserves to develop and maintain out of school activities at Phoenix School and to support the school with any other activities that it may be able to fund. The Trust will review this on an ongoing basis.
## **PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS**
## **Teacher Training Programme**
The current three trainees are due to complete their teacher training programme for the 2023/24 academic year. A further three trainees have been recruited by the school to start in September 2024.
## **International programme: Model School in Sylhet, Bangladesh**
The Trust along with Apasen International has committed to fund this programme for a further one year and the Trust will support Apasen International in its efforts to find a sustainable funding model to enable the school to continue long term.
## **Youth Club and Holiday Scheme**
The Trust has supported the development of a Youth Club and Holiday Scheme for young people with autism. The project encourages young people to develop their social and life skills whilst improving their well-being through participation in activities within the local community. Activities include cooking and art activities, off-site visits and residential trips.
The project has been awarded grants from the John Laing Charitable Trust (£15,000), Clifford Chance Global Foundation (£6,000) and DFN Project Search (£20,000) with Phoenix School funding staffing costs related to these activities. The Trust will seek to find longer term funding opportunities to support the continuity of the youth club provision.
## **Risk management**
The financial operating risk of the Trust is managed by regular financial reporting at Trustee meetings, analysing existing liabilities, projected income and forecast costs. These figures are updated as necessary over the course of the financial year.
**3**
**THE PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR AUTISM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT (Cont/d)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The Trust was formed through the establishment of a Trust Deed dated 3[rd] March 2010 and amended on 2[nd] December 2014 and 22[nd] March 2016. It was registered as a charity on 21[st] October 2011 under charity number 1144395.
## **Organisation**
The Board of Trustees administers the charity. The Trustees meet termly to review the affairs of the charity and to consider grant applications which are only paid to a beneficiary upon the approval of the Trustees.
The Trust supports Phoenix School’s work with the local community and follows the school’s financial management protocols.
## **Appointment of Trustees**
There are currently three Trustees, all of whom are either part of the local community or a member of staff or a governor of the Phoenix School. Any new Trustee must have some connection with either the local community or the school.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
**Charity Number:** 1144395 **Trustees** Stewart Harris MBE – Chair Lorraine Wright (Resigned on 26/01/2024) Jonathon Caunt Veronica Armson **Principal Office:** Phoenix School, 49 Bow Road, London E3 2AD **Independent Examiner:** Mr David Terry Ramon Lee Ltd, 93 Tabernacle Street, London EC2A 4BA **Bankers:** NatWest Plc, Stratford Broadway Branch, Ground Floor, Gredley House, 1-11 Broadway, London E15 4BQ
**4**
**THE PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR AUTISM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT (Cont/d)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES**
The Charity Trustees 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).
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 Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are responsible for 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.
## **APPROVAL**
This report was approved by the Board and signed on its behalf by:
## — **STEWART HARRIS MBE (CHAIR) TRUSTEE**
## **23 January 2025**
**5**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **THE PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR AUTISM CHARITABLE TRUST**
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 10.
This report is made solely to the charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's Trustees as a body, for my Independent Examination, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's Trustees, 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 Trustees’ accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and 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 material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts did 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 this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**D TERRY – Chartered Accountant RAMON LEE LTD 93 TABERNACLE STREET LONDON EC2A 4BA**
**23 January 2025**
**6**
## **THE PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR AUTISM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|**Notes**
**Receipts**
Grants and donations
**2**
Rental income
Investment income
**Total Receipts**
**Payments**
Charitable activities:
Donations
Bursaries
Grant funded activity
**3**
Governance costs
**4**
**Total Payments**
**Net of Receipts/(Payments)**
**Cash Funds Last Year End**
**Cash Funds This Year End**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
100
11,050
1,164
12,314
-
-
15,310
1,296
16,606
(4,292)
146,826
142,534|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
35,531
-
-
35,531
-
41,000
11,103
-
52,103
(16,572)
42,383
25,811|**Total**
**Total**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
35,631
62,001
11,050
19,065
1,164
452
47,845
81,518
-
10,435
41,000
47,000
26,413
36,320
1,296
2,340
68,709
96,095
(20,864)
(14,577)
189,209
203,786
168,345
189,209|
|---|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 9 to 11 form part of these accounts
**7**
## **THE PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR AUTISM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
|||**Notes**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**Funds**|**Funds**|**2024**|**2023**|
||||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Cash Funds**|||||||
|Cash & Bank||**3**|142,534|25,811|168,345|189,209|
||**Total Cash Funds**||142,534|25,811|168,345|189,209|
## **Approved by the Trustees on 23 January 2025 and signed on their behalf by:**
**…………………………………………………….** — **STEWART HARRIS MBE (CHAIR)**
The notes on pages 9 to 11 form part of these accounts.
**8**
**THE PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR AUTISM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
The receipts and payment accounts have been drawn up as a summary of the receipts and payments made during the year by the charity. Amounts are included as received by the charity or as cheques are drawn. The accounts and statements do not include accruals and prepayments in respect of income and expenses.
The receipts and payments accounts and statements of assets and liabilities have been prepared following the guidance for accounting for smaller charities issued by the Charity Commission.
## **2. GRANTS AND DONATIONS**
|**Grants and Donations**
**Trainee Teacher - Bursary Scheme**
Phoenix School
**Youth Club and Holiday Scheme**
Clifford Chance Global Foundation
**Sylhet donations**
**Other donations**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
100
-
100|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
35,000
531
-
-
35,531|**Total**
**Total**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
35,000
50,000
531
6,000
100
5,807
-
194
35,631
62,001|
|---|---|---|---|
Donations income in 2023 totalling £62,001 was attributed to unrestricted funds of £194 and restricted funds of £61,807.
## **3. ANALYSIS OF GRANTS**
|**Grants paid**
Apasen International
University College London
**Other charitable expenses**
Phoenix Sylhet School expenditure
Youth Club and Holiday Scheme|**2024**
**£**
15,000
-
15,000
310
11,103
11,413
26,413|**2023**
**£**
15,000
1,912|
|---|---|---|
|||16,912|
|||7,791
11,617|
|||19,408|
||||
|||36,320|
**9**
## **THE PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR AUTISM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **3. GOVERNANCE COST**
|**Governance Costs**
Independent examiner's fees|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
1,296
2,340
1,296
2,340|
|---|---|
## **4. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
|**Restricted funds**
Phoenix School
Youth Club and Holiday Scheme
**Total restricted funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
General funds
**Total unrestricted funds**
**Total funds**|**Balance as**
**at 01.04.23**
**£**
13,000
29,383
42,383
146,826
146,826
189,209|**Income**
**£**
35,000
531
35,531
12,314
12,314
47,845|**Balance as**
**Expenditure**
**at 31.03.24**
**£**
**£**
41,000
7,000
11,103
18,811
52,103
25,811
16,606
142,534
16,606
142,534
68,709
168,345|
|---|---|---|---|
**10**
**THE PHOENIX SCHOOL FOR AUTISM CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **4. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (Continued)**
**Movement in funds – previous year**
|**Restricted funds**
Phoenix School
Youth Club and Holiday Scheme
Sylhet Donations
**Total restricted funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
General funds
**Total unrestricted funds**
**Total funds**|**Balance as**
**at 01.04.22**
**£**
10,000
35,000
-
45,000
158,786
158,786
203,786|**Income**
**£**
50,000
6,000
5,807
61,807
19,711
19,711
81,518|**Balance as**
**Expenditure**
**at 31.03.23**
**£**
**£**
47,000
13,000
11,617
29,383
5,807
-
64,424
42,383
31,671
146,826
31,671
146,826
96,095
189,209|
|---|---|---|---|
## **Description, nature and purpose of restricted funds:**
**Phoenix School** – Grant provided to pay for the bursary scheme for trainee teachers.
**Youth Club and Holiday Scheme–** Grant provided for a Youth Club and Holiday Scheme for young people with autism. The Project encourages young people to develop their social and life skills whilst improving their wellbeing through participating in activities in the local community. Activities include cooking, physical activities, off-site and residential trips.
**Sylhet Donations** – The Charity raised funds to provide curriculum resources and building improvement work for Phoenix School Sylhet.
## **5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS**
During the year, a restricted grant of £35,000 (2023 – £50,000) was received from Phoenix School where Veronica Armson, Lorraine Wright and Jonathon Caunt are governors.
None of the Trustees received any remuneration during the year (2023 – Nil).
There were no other related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2024.
**11**