Trustees' Annual Report for the Period 2022-2023
| Trustees' Annual Report for the Period 2022-2023 | Trustees' Annual Report for the Period 2022-2023 | Trustees' Annual Report for the Period 2022-2023 | Trustees' Annual Report for the Period 2022-2023 | Trustees' Annual Report for the Period 2022-2023 | Trustees' Annual Report for the Period 2022-2023 | Trustees' Annual Report for the Period 2022-2023 | Trustees' Annual Report for the Period 2022-2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | Period start date | To | Period end date | ||||
| 01 | 04 | 2022 | 31 | 03 | 2023 |
Section A
Reference and administration details
Charity name Autism All Stars Foundation UK Other names charity is known by Autism All Stars Registered charity number (if any) 1152681 Charity's principal address Midhurst White Lodge Gardens Redhill, Surrey Postcode RH1 5DL
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominic Ramsay | Chairman | Board of Trustees | ||
| Georgina Buswell | Trustee | Board of Trustees | ||
| Rebecca Stone | Treasurer | Board of Trustees | ||
| Christopher Ramsay | Trustee | Board of Trustees | ||
| LynseyClarke | Secretary | Board of Trustees | ||
| Martin Comber | Trustee | From 27/01/2023 | Board of Trustees | |
| Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) | ||||
| Name | Dates acted if not for wholeyear | |||
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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of adviser Name Address |
Type of adviser Name Address |
Type of adviser Name Address |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant | Helen Ainsworth | HMA Accountancy Services Flat 12, Killasser Court, Station Approach, Tadworth, KT20 5AN |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Helen Wallace-Iles
Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document
[Constitution ]
How the charity is constituted[The charity is constituted as a trust governed by trust deed dated 18th ] April 2011
Trustee selection methods
[Elected by the Board of Trustees via unanimous vote. ]
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
- policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees.
Trustee Selection Process
Trustees are selected by either unanimous or majority vote by the charity's founders and existing trustees. They are selected based on their experience based on Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and its related conditions, what they can do to strengthen the charity's position, and their understanding of the aims and objects of the charity.
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the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works.
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relationship with any related parties.
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
Section C Objectives and activities
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| Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit) |
(1) TO RELIEVE THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER THROUGH SUCH MEANS AS THE TRUSTEES MAY DETERMINE. (2) TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT GOOD HEALTH BY RAISING AWARENESS OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND RELATED CONDITIONS AND TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THEM. |
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| ORGANISING AND HOSTING A VARIETY OF SOCIAL EVENTS AND FREE CLUBS FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM AND ASPERGER'S SYNDROME, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. GIVING TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF AUTISM AND ASPERGER'S SYNDROME. OFFERING EXTENSIVE ONLINE ADVICE AND SUPPORT VIA OUR WEBSITE AND ACROSS SEVERAL DIFFERENT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. OFFERING PRACTICAL HELP AND THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT TO AUTISTIC PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, LIVING IN POVERTY, VICTIMS OF CRIME ETC. The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
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You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
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policy on grant making.
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policy programme related investment.
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contribution made by volunteers.
Section D Achievements and performance
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| Section D |
Achievements andperformance |
|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year |
During the last financial year Autism All Stars has experienced a reduction its usual funding sources due in large part to the after-effects of the Covid 19 pandemic; as a result we have implemented several new ideas. The charity’s main areas of priority can be arranged into the following categories: 1. Increased Reach: Expanding local, national and international awareness of our work and the positive ethos behind it. 2. Partnerships: Establishing and strengthening on-going relationships with local organisations and businesses which can either help the charity increase autism awareness within the community or provide our supporters with additional specialist information and advice. 3. Fit for Purpose: Ensuring that the support we provide is both relevant and useful to those living with autism, and that we promote early intervention strategies to prevent families reaching crisis point. 4. Projects: Organising regular fully-inclusive events designed to appeal to both people with autism and those unfamiliar with the condition. Giving talks and presentations to schools, businesses and other organisations. Establishing an online helpline offering advice and support from people who truly understand the many struggles autism can bring. Offering free counselling and therapy services to people with additional needs and their families by working in partnership with various qualified professionals. Increased Reach Throughout the year, Autism All Stars has increased the range and diversity of its reach using the following strategies: • Social media: At time of writing, our social media pages and groups have over 54,800 members from across the globe. Our website and blog continue to provide both a carefully selected signposting service and regularly reviewed and updated information on both being autistic and caring for autistic people in a personal or professional capacity. • Leaflet distribution: We have flyers about our work in various locations throughout Surrey and Sussex including shopping centres, businesses, leisure complexes, advice centres, libraries, schools and doctors’ surgeries, as well as on many online outlets. Partnerships • We have continued to nurture relationships with local businesses including the Belfry Shopping Centre, Harlequin Theatre and Cinema, and Cineworld Cinemas in Crawley, adding Crawley’s County Mall Shopping Centre to our list of event venues. • We continue our working relationship with The Comic Shop in Crawley High Street, which provides us with added exposure while at the same time benefitting the shop itself. • We continue to make informative videos for Instagram’s IGTV channel and are still officially recognised by YouTube. • We have expanded the number of ways the public can donate to us including joining an ink cartridge recycling scheme and various others. Full details can be found here: https://www.autism-all-stars.org/fundraise/ |
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Section D Achievements and performance
Fit for Purpose Any information and advice we share with our members is regularly reviewed and assessed to ensure it is relevant and up to date. Our aim is always to promote and ensure the earliest intervention possible for families living with autism, whilst reassuring them that because autism is a life-long condition, older people on the autism spectrum are actively supported through our work as well. The unique challenges faced by families dealing with autism are thoroughly understood by all trustees and employees of Autism All Stars, and we have therefore ensured that the charity is fit for purpose in the following ways: • Inclusive social events have now been resumed: Providing safe, fully-inclusive social events for families of people with autism where all are welcome and their talents and interests are celebrated regardless of their age and ability. These events are specifically designed to appeal to people living with autism as well as to those who may be new to the condition, allowing us to break down the barriers between them which are so often caused by negative social stereotyping. Bringing people together in this relaxed way helps relieve social isolation and reduces anxiety, both of which are major contributory factors to depression and suicide in people living with autism. • Practical and psychological support: Our social media sites are updated daily with positive, uplifting stories of the successes of people with autism and how society is working to understand and accept their differences. Our website contains a large amount of information on subjects such as understanding clinical terminology, navigating the process of diagnosis and increasing self-awareness through ongoing study as well as sign posting its visitors to other carefully chosen support sites. Being a fully qualified psychotherapist who has worked for over 25 years specialising in the treatment of families living with autism, our CEO offers specialist psychological support and advice when it is required, in the form of talks and presentations to schools, clubs, businesses and other organisations, plus e-mail support to our members and this is something we plan to continue in the future. Projects We have organised a number of successful projects this year, with more planned in the near future. This year’s projects included: • Regular autism friendly film clubs: these are held at Cineworld in Crawley and The Harlequin Theatre and Cinema in Redhill and help many local families. • Inclusive social events: Each event is designed to be both visually appealing and of interest to those with and without autism, whilst raising awareness and promoting acceptance of the condition. Whenever possible, we bring our large, purpose-built sensory den to events to give autistic people somewhere quiet to relax if they feel overwhelmed. We also encourage people with autism to contribute to the events by running stalls, making cakes, dressing in costume, distributing flyers etc. which increases their self-esteem and allows them to practice their social skills in an accepting and controlled environment. A full record of these events can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/autismallstars/photos_albums • Adding an online helpline to our website which offers advice and support from people who truly understand the many struggles autism can bring.
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Section D
Achievements and performance
• Offering free virtual counselling and therapy services for people with additional needs and their families by working in partnership with various qualified mental health professionals. • Increasing the work our CEO does behind the scenes to help people with a wide variety of issues including guidance on finding university places, buying specialist equipment to help autistic children’s development and their parents’ wellbeing, and offering free psychotherapy services/free copies of her book, The Ringmaster’s Tale, to anyone who is struggling financially.
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Section E
Financial review
Charity’s Policies on Reserves Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves Reserves are resources not immediately required to finance operations and which can be deployed by the trustees to fund future expenditure if required. To make clear the nature of the accumulated funds of the charity they will be shown in the balance sheet of the Annual Accounts as: Unrestricted Reserves - these comprise the accumulated surplus which is available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the charity's objects, and base reserves which are based on the ratio of reserves to expenditure. Designated Reserves - These are amounts that have been put aside by the charity for specific purposes. Restricted Reserves - These are those monies subject to specific conditions imposed by the donors.
Details of any funds materially in deficit
Further financial review details (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:
- the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
Unfortunately our CEO has been extremely ill recently which resulted in our Annual Return being late for the first time since we were founded in 2010.
Steps have now been taken to ensure this does not happen again in the future.
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how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
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investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
Section F
Other optional information
Autism All Stars Mission Statement
The intention of Autism All Stars is to raise awareness of the different manifestations of autism and to offer support and encouragement to all those affected by it, and by its related conditions.
Our mission includes spreading a message of equality for people of all ages and abilities, and promoting acceptance of what autism and its related conditions - ADD, ADHD, Tourette's, dyslexia, dyspraxia, PDD etc. - are really about.
We aim to demystify autism and make it appear less frightening by informing people of the positives of living on the autism spectrum as well as the challenges.
We therefore use an upbeat and proactive approach via our website, blog and extensive social media platforms, which helps raise self-esteem and self-confidence in autistic children and adults, their families and friends, working tirelessly to support distressed and/or isolated teenagers and adults with autism, including any adults who may have missed their diagnosis.
We work tirelessly to break down barriers between autistic people & those who are new to the condition, using advice, education, humour & fun, plus our outstanding character events, to bring people of all ages & abilities together.
Funds raised at our events, through grant funding and social media appeals are used to buy specialist equipment and clothing for autistic people and their families living in crisis situations. Victims of crime, those
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living in poverty and those struggling with their mental health all benefit from our practical advice as well as therapeutic and counselling services.
We are a very small charity with a huge drive to help create a happier, more inclusive world for autistic people, and since we were founded in 2010 we’ve made a really big difference to many people’s lives.
Section G Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Signature(s) Dominic Patrick Ramsay Rebecca Louise Stone Full name(s) Position (Chair etc.) Chair Treasurer Date: 30/04/2024
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AUTISM ALL STARS FOUNDATION
(charity number: 1152681)
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 March 2023
| Receipts Fundraising activities Donations Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Grants Payments CEO's remuneration CEO’s pension contributions Fundraising and advertising Printing, postage and stationery Internet and social media Travel and subsistence Bank charges and interest Professional fees Grant Application Advisors Office running costs Office equipment and consumables Safeguarding checks Public liability insurance Grants and donations Gifts PPE Net income (payments) Increase (decrease) in expenses accrued at year Cash funds brought forward from previous year end Cash funds at year end |
£ 17,437 361 10,535 63 751 992 - 808 - 1,124 465 62 279 - 226 8 |
2023 £ 14,522 9,132 - 7,100 |
£ 14,196 239 9,008 420 1,900 979 - 1,235 100 1,352 2,291 169 522 - 905 75 |
2022 £ 5,100 12,863 4,086 11,080 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30,754 (33,111) |
33,104 (33,391) |
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| (286) 428 6,630 |
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| 6,771 |
AUTISM ALL STARS FOUNDATION
(Charity number 1152681)
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES As at 31 March 2023
| Cash funds NatWest current account Total cash funds |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 3,526 3,526 |
Unrestricted funds 2022 £ 6,771 |
|---|---|---|
| 6,771 |
Signed on behalf of the trustees by
...........................................................
Rebecca Stone, Treasurer
................................................................ Name
26.04.2024 .................................... Date
AUTISM ALL STARS FOUNDATION
(Charity number 1152681)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
For the year ended 31 March 2023
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 March 2023.
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.
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:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act, or
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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.
29th April 2024
……………………………………………
………………….
Helen M Ainsworth FCA
12 Killasser Court Station Approach Tadworth Surrey KT20 5AN
AUTISM ALL STARS FOUNDATION
(Charity number 1152681)
For the year ended 31 March 2023
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the
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.
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.
Helen M Ainsworth FCA
12 Killasser Court Station Approach Tadworth Surrey KT20 5AN