Autism Angels Ltd - Year ended 31 August 2022 




|Contents||
|---|---|
|Foreword|1|
|Values, vision and mission|3|
|Statistics around Autism, SEN and Mental Health|7|
|Mental Health & Wellbeing Dissertation|9|
|Coast to Coast Walk|11|
|Photos of our sessions|16|
|A word from our families|17|
|Case Study|20|
|Referrals|21|
|Impact of our work|22|
|Team|23|
|Trustees|25|
|Volunteers|26|
|Achievements|27|
|The Future|28|
|Our year in photos|29|
|Autism Angels Ltd Information|31|
|Financial Statement|33|
|Independent Examiner’s Report|42|



71 West Cliffe Terrace 

Harrogate North Yorkshire  HG2 0PU 

Tel: 07376 134007 Email: info@autismangels.co.uk Web: www.autismangels.co.uk 

Registered Charity number: 1160289. Company limited by guarantee number 08168948 



## **Here is our 2021-2022 Annual Report. We hope you enjoy reading about our progress, achievements and learning points over the year.** 

Our doors flew open on the 3rd September and we started our new season off with a Teacher Team Building Day. Fourteen teachers came to feel the peacefulness of the farm, brush up on some team building skills and to learn about the magic the horses can bring to our lives. We enjoy and continue to build relationships with schools in the local community with many now funding children to attend sessions with us. 

September and October were glorious months at the farm with Wellbeing Days, Kids Clubs and Private Sessions fully booked. With the sun shining the vegetables were still growing and the children really enjoyed picking them, in particular the potatoes which they took home to cook and eat. 


Our sessions just for parents continued to be popular. In September we started another successful Parenting Programme and in October took eight Mums away for a long weekend to the Lake District paddleboarding. The weekend was magical for our Mums as they felt the freedom from having someone else to care for and could focus on themselves. Tears and laughter were shared, connections were made as stories were shared about the difficulties of bringing up children with additional needs, but also the joys. The Mums were a great support to each other and continue to be. 

We finished the Autumn term with a wonderful Halloween party, dressing up and enjoying a trail around the farm. Sessions continued up to Christmas and we ended the year with a party sharing our wishes around the fire and celebrating all our achievements over the past year. 


The New Year arrived with excitement for our big annual fundraiser. This year it was the Coast to Coast with our horses and families. For 12 weeks from January to March children and families from our sessions trained walking and riding. We started on the farm with all the children learning to support each other with leading, helping with stirrups, legging up and getting fit. Once we had established a level of fitness and safety training we progressed the walking and riding off the farm. By the end of the 12 weeks the children could walk 5 miles in one go, supporting each other, carrying their own rucksacks, remembering their own kit for all weathers and riding for as long as they wanted. The journey to this point was truly transformational for everyone and showed the children and their parents just what they were capable of. Then the event began. 

From 2nd to 12th April we walked 174 miles across the country from Carnforth on the west coast to just below Bridlington on the east coast. We put all the learning into practice and it was such an enormous achievement not only for our team but also for each individual involved. Over 70 people and 2 horses joined us on our challenge, from children as young as 2 years old to grandparents coming out to support their grandchildren. We even appeared live on Channel 

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4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch. It was an epic event of a community coming together to help raise funds to keep services going. £13,602 was raised through sponsorship by the children and their families. Even after the event breakthroughs continued to happen as families took their learning forward into other activities that they never thought would be possible from going to concerts to abseiling and the children reassuring the adults on overcoming their fears. It was a truly magical experience for everyone involved and one we will talk about for years to come. 


Our Summer season flew by with the sun shining, BBQ’s and the children learning to cook the food they had grown. We introduced a second Wellbeing Day with lots of riding and friendships being formed by both children and parents. We saw families in our community starting to meet up outside our sessions for days out which is what it’s all about for us. We saw more volunteer days from corporate organisations coming to support us. We also took another group of Mums away paddleboarding again, this time to the coast. As the season came to a close all the children who attended our Wellbeing Days received photo books from their year and all their achievements. 

It has been another wonderful year at the farm bringing families back together, healing past traumas so everyone can move forward into a happier and healthier life together. 


We are very proud of our communities’ welcoming nature to support the new families who continue to come through our gates. We are extremely grateful to our dedicated team and volunteers who show up regardless of the weather, day in and day out, to support and encourage our families to keep going. 

We are very pleased with this year and can see the areas we can continue to develop as we step into our 2023 season. We look forward to continuing to journey with our families and team, building deeper relationships and achieving great things together. 

## Sarah 

Sarah and the Autism Angels Team 

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Faith… in you Hope…for the future Love…enables 


**The values for Autism Angels were created 10 years ago. Every year I go back to them to see if they need adjusting in any way. I am yet to find 3 stronger words that can describe as quickly and deeply about what we represent at Autism Angels.** 

I understand that these words are faith based words and I don’t want them to put anyone off but sometimes in this world when life can feel a real struggle, where hope is a faint memory and in those moments all you feel is fear taking over your life, in those moments, I have found that something magical happens. Something arrives in front of you. That could be a conversation 


with someone, a post on Facebook or a random e-mail, who knows, but in that moment you see another chance, an opportunity to try something one more time. 

This is often how people arrive at our door. They have lost hope, they have no understanding of why this is all happening to them, the fear of failure, not being good enough, making mistakes and so on, have taken over every thought. It is here where we can shine a light on some dark times and begin to see them for what they really are; untruths. 

We are not a group of people that are routed in any particular faith but we believe in miracles because we see them every day. The combination of a belief in what people can overcome, a calm nurturing environment and a commitment to getting to the truth is a recipe for miracles to happen. 

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## **Vision** 

Autism Angels was founded 10 years ago. It started out by delivering summer camps to families so they had somewhere to go that was more understanding and in keeping with what their children needed. It was simple - nature, animals, a lot of love and a tent! 

I had no idea then how it would develop and change shape to meet the needs of so many families. A few things have remained the same - nature, animals and a lot of love. 


Whether we deliver a private session, a group session, call it Well-being Wednesday or Day Camp, the way we support our families is the same. They are accepted for exactly where they are when they arrive, we believe wholeheartedly that they can overcome whatever challenges they are going through and they can stay with us for as long as they need. 


Our vision has grown significantly from where it started. We now have access to a 60 acre farm with a naturally therapeutic environment, including woods, rolling grassland, hills, a river and specialised equine facilities. It is important that we continue to grown organically, focussing on the quality of the sessions, not quantity, small groups that are able to adapt to the needs and ages of the children. With this in mind, this is our vision for Autism Angels... 


‘To be there for any family going through a tough time’ 

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1 in 6 children aged five to 16 were identified as having a probable mental health problem in July 2021, a huge increase from 1 in 9 in 2017. That’s 5 children in every classroom. 

83% of young people with mental health needs agreed that the coronavirus pandemic had made their mental health worse. 

_www.youngminds.org.uk_ 

10.6% of 6 to 16 year olds missed more than 15 days of school during the 2020 Autumn term. 


_NHS Surveys Mental Health of Children and Young People in England February 2021_ 

Over the pandemic, girls and young women, older young people (16 to 24 year olds), disadvantaged children and young people, and those with SEND were more likely to report difficulties with mental health and well-being. 

_www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk The Big Ask Report September 2021_ 

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of many children and young people. 

Data shows that the pandemic has impacted on many people’s relationships, financial situations, and their physical and mental health. This has placed many families under heightened pressure. 

Professionals, who would normally be providing children and their families with support and advice as well as identifying and referring child protection concerns, have not been seeing children and families as regularly as usual. 

_NSPCC_ 


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Around one in 57 (1.76%) children in the UK is on the autistic spectrum, significantly higher than previously reported, according to a study of more than 7 million children carried out by researchers from Newcastle University in collaboration with the University of Cambridge’s Department of Psychiatry and Maastricht University. _Newcastle University March 2021_ 


Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns. 

Many suffered isolation and had their access to education, health services and social, emotional and mental health support disrupted or withdrawn. 

_National Institute for Health Research‘s (NIHR) Policy Research Programme May 2021_ 



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**Between 1st September 2021 and 31st August 2022 Autism Angels have supported 162 families, supporting 583 unique individuals across the family and support unit. This is an increase of 29% from the previous year.** 

Between 1st September 2021 and 31st August 2022 Autism Angels have delivered 396 therapeutic sessions, an increase of 25% from the previous year. Private Riding Therapy and Family Sessions being our most popular, followed by Saturday Kids Clubs and our Wellbeing Days. 


## **Sessions Delivered** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
1%<br>22%<br>41%<br>5%<br>1%<br>2%<br>16%<br>12%<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Private Riding Therapy 

Wellbeing Days 

Saturday Kids Clubs 

Family Day Camps 

Parent Programme 

Santas Grottos 

Tasters 

Corporate Volunteer Days 

families who attended a taster returned on one or more sessions/programmes 

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Between 1st September 2021 and 31st August 2022 Autism Angels saw a substantial increase in sessions being funded by local schools and local authorities. A total number of 158 sessions were funded, an increase of 527% from the previous year. 

## **Sessions Funded by Schools and Local Authorities** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Total Funded<br>Sessions<br>0 50 100 150 200<br>2020/21 2021/22<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Autism Angels have shown growth in all areas over the last three years. See below charts for a breakdown of total sessions, total number of unique families and individuals supported. 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
700<br>600 583<br>500 452<br>396<br>400<br>316<br>300 256<br>200 146 162<br>100 70 59<br>0<br>2019 to 2020 2020 to 2021 2021 to 2022<br>Unique Families Unique Individuals Therapeutic Sessions<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


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## **Experiences of Equine Facilitated Learning Programmes at Autism Angels for Parents of Autistic Children and Young People.** 

One of our volunteers Rachel Gilby who was studying a MSc Mental Health and Wellbeing in Education at The University of York invited parents at Autism Angels to take part in a research project on their experiences of Equine Facilitated Learning at Autism Angels to support her Dissertation. 

## **Abstract:** 

Improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people is of increasing concern in the United Kingdom. This includes neurodiverse children, with research suggesting vulnerabilities in the autistic community towards lower wellbeing outcomes. One avenue to improving the wellbeing of autistic children and young people is through providing support to their parents, equipping them with additional skills to enable their children to flourish. 

Autism Angels is a small charity which utilises equine facilitated learning methods and coaching to support the mental health and wellbeing of autistic children, young people and their families. An environment known well to the researcher prior to the study, this masters dissertation research project aims to explore 


the foundations of the novel approaches utilised, with emphasis on parents experiences of the equine facilitated learning methods. 

The study explored 4 key research questions including: why parents chose to access the provision, what their experiences were of the equine facilitated learning programmes, if they felt there were any benefits for their children and their perceptions towards wellbeing outcomes. 


19 parents completed an online questionnaire exploring their experiences of the Autism Angels Parent Programme and Parent/Family Private Coaching Sessions. 

Findings suggest that parents chose to engage with the programmes provided by Autism Angels for two key reasons: mental health and wellbeing support and the acquisition of skills. 

Environmental factors also appealed to families, with some citing that their needs were not being met by other services. Discussing positive experiences, parents highlighted the qualities of the approach, coaches and the environment as important to the programmes. 

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Parents perceptions suggest that, in addition to receiving wellbeing support and the acquisition of skills, the equine facilitated learning methods also provided knowledge and understanding beneficial to supporting their child(ren). Within their responses, parents suggested positive impacts for their children, focusing particularly on relationship and wellbeing outcomes. Finally, parents reported positive wellbeing outcomes for the whole family from engaging in the equine facilitated parents support programmes at Autism Angels. 

Future research should look to provide further evidence of the efficacy of equine facilitated learning methods to improve wellbeing outcomes for autistic children, young people and their families. In addition, developing further knowledge regarding the underlying mechanisms of approaches which appear beneficial, may assist in supporting Autistic children and young people in other settings. 

## **Conclusion:** 


To conclude, experiences of equine facilitated learning programmes at Autism Angels for parents of autistic children and young people appear are generally positive, with parents discussing positive impacts on their own and their children’s wellbeing. The qualities of the approach, coaches and environment contribute to people’s experiences of the programmes. 

Experiences of safety, trust, honest communication, empowerment and calmness appear prominent throughout parents’ responses. Parents discussed why they chose the provision, citing a need for mental health support, consistent with previous research and a desire 

to acquire skills to support their children. In addition to this support and skills acquisition, there was notable mention of gaining knowledge and understanding, as well as empowerment and the development of relationships both within and external to the family. 

Parents experiences of the parent programmes and coaching at Autism Angels suggest that more can be learnt from exploring novel approaches and alternative provisions of mental health and wellbeing support. Future research may explore the efficacy of the provision in further depth and a deeper understanding of the components which lead to the positive experiences found within the present study. Not only may this add to the evidence base for the use of equine facilitated learning to support parents of autistic children, but further insight on best practices to support autistic children and young people, transferable to other environments including education and therapeutic settings. 

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## **2nd to 12th April 2022** 

Walked 174 miles across the country from Carnforth on the west coast to just below Bridlington on the east coast. 

Over 70 people, 2 horses and one support vehicle joined us on our epic challenge 

- £13,602 was raised through sponsorship by the children and their families. 

We were truly overwhelmed by the amazing support and sense of community shown to us on our Coast to Coast Challenge from our families giving their time to come and walk with us, leading horses and managing traffic. Families and supporters who went the extra mile for us with fundraising, gaining sponsors and raising our profile. Across the breadth of the country we had accommodation donated to us for both horses and the team, breakfasts and lunches made, home baked cakes, hot water for drinks, evening meals bought and so much more. 

We would also like to say a huge thank you to our dedicated team and volunteers who gave up their time and fully supported this amazing challenge. There is a lot of work that goes on in training, behind the scenes and also on the actual challenge. Every single role is important, no one more than the other, with everyone needed to make it work. 

Acts of kindness change lives and we couldn’t have done any of it without all the wonderful support we had and we wouldn’t want to either. Thank you 






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## **Community Donations and Acts of Kindness:** 

## A huge thank you to 

Wild Duck Hall, Carnforth Lane House Farm The Coach Inn, High Bentham Harts Head Hotel 

Jill and Henry White 

The White Horse, Ampleforth 

Wolds Inn, Huggate Life Hill Farm 

Millfield Stud Kilnsey Trekking and Riding Centre Tenant Arms, Kilnsey Robert Kreutzer Brett Carthorpe House Farm Yorkshire Steel Buildings Pickhill Highness Farm Tracy Thompson 

West End, Ampleforth 

The Old Chapel, Claxton Blacksmiths Cottage, Kilham The Old Star, Kilham 

Katie and Nick, Burton Agnes 

Transport Kate Kerr 

Sponsored T Shirts and Kit from The Together Group Construction Ltd 

## **Media Support:** 

Harrogate Advertiser Charity of the Week 

Greatest Hits Radio World Autism Acceptance Day bulletin 

Driffield and Wolds Weekly 

Live on Steph’s Packed Lunch 

BBC Radio Humberside 

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“My family got so much out of being involved with the C2C. The training up to it was amazing for motivation and gave us all a shared goal on the Wellbeing Wednesdays. The actual challenge was amazing to be involved in. We were lucky enough to be involved in 3 of the days. Each day was different and brought us closer to the families we walked with. It gave us opportunities to build on friendships, meet new people, see new landscapes and most of all have fun and feel part of a very special team of people. We feel blessed to have been involved in this challenge and welcome more opportunities for new challenges in the future.” 

“Just a quick message to say thankyou. Since getting home from the coast to coast the children have been so much more confident and we’ve all bonded so much more. It gave so much confidence to the point I decided to take them to a concert last night in Sheffield, we used what we had learnt from coast to coast so we planned it all out, I called the venue to say what we would need (they were awesome and so supportive) each child made up a backpack of what they needed (eg spare clothes / fidget toys / drinks). Then we set off - loads of team work and encouraging each other with the tricky stuff. And we all had the best time, singing and dancing and not getting home til midnight. Thank you so much for helping me see that knowing these issues means we make plans to manage things easier, rather than allow those issues to stop us engaging with trickier things! “ 


“Being part of the coast to coast has honestly changed my life. I've found a vibrant, understanding and inclusive community who will lift one another up, without judgement and with all the support I've never felt from anywhere else. 

For me, as an individual, I've found a space that I can resonate with, feel accepted, and feel like part of a team. This is huge for me as I've always felt on the outskirts of life. 

For my children, it's been massive. My youngest has taken part in the 12 week challenge which has provided him with strength, resilience, and a sense of purpose and belonging. My other 2 children have rallied round and supported both my youngest and myself to be able to partake in this immense challenge. 

I feel like we have all come out of this challenge with new tools under our belt, an increased sense of family and belonging, and able to support one another more holistically and without judgement.” 


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“This challenge and all the preparation leading up to it has been amazing for XXXX – she loves riding Akua and enjoys learning about horse management. XXXX Occupational Therapist has said this of her taking part in the Coast to Coast challenge; "I hope she is rightly proud of herself and enjoys the challenge - she is an inspirational young lady!" As parents we can't thank the team at Autism Angels enough for providing this opportunity for so many children, helping them to feel empowered and improving their self-esteem.” 



“The training for the coast to coast challenge has helped me and my son so much. We have both got fitter and stronger with my son recently been able to complete 8 mile walk! The training has also deepened my sons connection with the other children and parents. We have really learnt to work as a team and it has also improved my sons self esteem. Following last Wednesdays training walk he said to me, ‘mummy, I actually felt for the first time that I loved myself after that walk.’ Training for this event has been an amazing experience for both of us and I feel brought us closer together, given us purpose and improved our mental health . Thank you for giving us this opportunity.” 

“The coast to coast training has created so many positive outcomes for me. Being part of a supportive group of strong and knowledgeable women, out in nature and being able to take time for myself and address my own needs has helped me to establish time for my own self care. I am blessed to spend my time walking and talking, connecting with the horses and enjoying beautiful surroundings. It has helped both my mental and physical health and I've loved every moment!” 


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“Sarah has had such an incredibly positive impact on my daughter and indeed, all my family…I thought I’d join the C2C training to try to help out, perhaps make the tea but gradually with the support of these strong and kind women, I’ve got a little braver and become more involved and week by week, I’ve felt stronger and stronger and very much part of this fantastic team. I feel, after my daughter’s recovery, that I’m now recovering my old self.” 


“I’ve been really thankful for the opportunity to join in weekly training for the Coast to Coast walk. Training has not only improved my physical health but also my mental wellbeing. 

It has enabled me to take some time for myself, spending time with others on a similar journey, understanding and supporting each other. “ 


“I am so incredibly grateful to be able to participate in the training for the coast to coast. The training has given me great structure every Monday to take time out for myself, spend time with amazing strong women, connect with the horses and just walk! It has been inspiring, strength building mentally, physically and has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on my life. I am so very grateful and loving every single minute of it” 

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Wellbeing Days 


Parent Programme 


Kids Club 


School Funded Sessions 


## Volunteer Training 


Riding Therapy 


Halloween Event 


Parent Adventures 


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‘The environment of AA appealed to me greatly. I met other parents with autism in the family. It was a great experience’ 


‘We needed the support from the team who we could immediately tell got us and our situation, there was a genuine understanding in their approach and language. ‘ 


“Amazing session with Sarah at Autism Angels ….a chance to reflect on how far myself and **** have come in the past seven months. It’s been an incredible, life changing experience for us both. We’ve met some amazing people on the way who also believe in magic.... We can’t be more grateful for Sarah’s dedication to supporting families with children with Autism and her wise insights into life...Also grateful for the staff,  volunteers and horses who have helped guide us on our way...” 


“Absolutely amazing women who have literally changed our lives in only a matter of a few weeks. ***** was so scared of dogs she would run into on coming traffic to ensure she went no where near. She now runs towards Yume which now means we are able to go out on weekends. I can not thank you enough.” 

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‘The taster gave me hope when no other service did. We were broken and desperate for support but all agencies kept saying we didn’t meet the criteria.’ 

‘I attended the parent course to develop my own strategies for positive parenting, to better understanding myself and what behaviours from all the family particularly my own increase the chances of meltdown.’ 



‘Hearing someone tell me that putting myself first sometimes isn’t selfish, but is actually a great example to set for the children, has caused a massive shift in my mindset. I had got so overwhelmed prioritising everyone else and trying to make things better for all of them, I had forgotten about myself.’ 

‘by working with [the horses] in the sessions it is easier to relate to problems happening in day to day life and how to work through these. The memory of having worked through these with the horses is confidence boosting and somehow the memory of having practically worked through something is more vivid.’ 

‘really important to be able to access somewhere that feels safe and where you can be yourself and be honest.’ 


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‘The staff are all amazing. Their experiences of working with children with additional needs showed me a different approach to supporting my son.’ 


‘..a genuine understanding and appreciation of what we were going through.’ 

‘We were so isolated and limping through life. Now my son has wonderful, deep friendships.’ 

‘Learning to step back and not do everything for my child. Empower them so that they can be stronger and more confident.’ 



“We haven’t been with Autism Angels very long but in the time we have been there, they have changed our lives and we can’t thank them enough. Instead of feeling extremely lonely we feel part of the family” 

“…Had the most magical morning at  Autism Angels. Found this amazing charity last year. The space they have created and the work they do is invaluable. So grateful to have found it…” 

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Our Daughter Maddie who has Hemiplegia (Cerebral Palsy) affecting the right side of her body, a mild learning disability and who is a young person on the autistic spectrum suffered greatly with transitioning to secondary school during the pandemic years. Her mainstream school didn’t execute her EHCP very well or in fact want to listen to Maddie (or us) about how things needed to be for her to be successful at school. As a result, she suffered autistic burnout and went into a very poor state of mental health, refusing to go to school for months on end. We arrived as a family at Autism Angels for a taster session in July 2021. I had seen information on the website that encouraged me to know that this could be a great place. Maddie loves horses and has been riding for a few years but what we didn’t realise was the magic that equine facilitated rehabilitation and learning has on situations for children and parents. Sarah welcomed us with compassion, understanding and love from the offset. Sarah facilitated our first session brilliantly, ensuring everyone’s voice was heard and was able to sense from us all individually what the stresses and strains might be. It was so refreshing and nurturing to be in the countryside and to meet people that you felt safe with and where we could all share the huge mental strain, we were all experiencing. The team already seemed to know the difficult pathway we had already trodden and the challenges ahead and there was no judgment when I admitted “we were broken”. 

Subsequent equine facilitated rehabilitation sessions with the team for Maddie and for us allowed us to explore the state of panic and fear about not going to school. To accept it, move on and find a brighter future. The team worked with the horses to create a connection and example of how fear manifests itself and how we all must be able to express our true feelings and be courageous in stepping out to say what isn’t working and what we need. Maddie attended the Wednesday Wellbeing Sessions for a full academic year, it was the highlight of our week while we were creating a model of home schooling and battling with the LA. Maddie was able to enjoy nature, horses and meet others in the same situation which really helped to get a perspective. Knowing that others have similar problems with educational settings was important for both Maddie and us as parents, it provided a reference and helped us talk through as a family what next steps might be. 

The encouragement, love, understanding and relationship with the team at Autism Angels has allowed Maddie to know how great she is, to celebrate her skills, it has encouraged her to do more physically and for the first-time inspired Maddie to begin her pathway of acceptance. For years Maddie had been a very angry young girl growing up with a physical disability, finding things tricky with learning, socially and physically but inside wanting to be just like all the girls she saw around her. As a family we have experienced years of very challenging behaviour and family life has been difficult. 

We can’t thank Autism Angels enough for how they have turned Maddie’s life around and the knock-on effect it has had on all family members. Maddie attends on Saturday afternoons and is learning to be a volunteer at the farm. She is back in full time education in a resourced provision, and I can’t see a time when we won’t be involved with this fantastic charity doing such transformational work. Seeing the family unit from a holistic viewpoint is key, equipping, and empowering young neurodivergent people to be their true self’s and offering a beautiful learning and work experience setting with horses, animals and horticulture is just fantastic. The way the team builds parents up, offering guidance, support and SEND knowledge is a gift that SEN parents don’t find anywhere else as our plight is constantly fighting a broken and underfunded system. Offering respite, mentoring, fun activities, creating a sense of community and communicating the importance of emotional self-care and how parent / carers might improve their mental health is truly life changing. 

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Schools NHS Private social Word of Media mouth 


guilt addictions Depression Stress Trauma Self esteem Fear Socialising 

Isolation as a family 

Attachment issues 

Autism Nowhere else to turn mental health Abuse Neglect Shame 

## Bullying 

Anger issues 

Struggling at School Marriage breakdown Animals Nothing else has worked 

Not coping Loneliness Sexuality Insecurity 

Confidence building Nature 

Eating-Disorders 

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## Impact of sessions on people 

Adults Improved increase happiness confidence Improved improved resilience medical conditions reduce medication less stressed Improve family dynamics Remove self from abusive Back to work relationships 

## Children 

More empathetic 

More Compassionate Improved Less aggressive medical conditions reduce medication 

Stopped self harming 

## Improved speech 

Improved communication with family peers Increased self esteem 

Reduced anxiety Stopped physical violence 

Returned to school 

Won awards in school 

Increased self Engaged in school awareness 

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This year we would like to feature our truly inspirational Team. They dedicate their time way beyond renumerations given and really do add to the uniqueness of what we can offer at the farm. 

## Sarah 

Sarah is the founder and beating heart of Autism Angels. When she meets new clients, it is like being welcomed by sunshine. Her vast experience and intuition enable Sarah to guide families on their initial steps of their journey within the Autism Angels community. 

Sarah manages to balance encouragement, love and challenge when working with our families. She is especially successful when working with parents in private or group sessions including the landmark Parent Programme and a range of empowering experiences, challenges, and adventures. 

Sarah can be found working on all our sessions along with her malamute, Yume, and her kelpie, Toffee bar.  A talented and instinctive horsewoman, Sarah has trained the team members in her equine-facilitated therapeutic approach and ensures that the volunteers are also constantly learning and developing their skills. 

Thank you Sarah for all that you do. 



## Amanda 

Amanda is a familiar face of the farm working across all services and she is also our Safeguarding Lead. She loves to work with Blackjack and the younger children who are maybe nervous to start with. Amanda is often seen at the farm setting up early, visiting the horses and walking her dog Ziggy. 

Amanda was previously a Special Needs Teacher and Teacher in Charge of an Enhanced Mainstream School for children with Communication and Interaction needs – supporting children with autism in 41 primary schools. With her knowledge Amanda also supports our families in understanding the pressures of school on children and writing reports for EHCPs to ensure that children are able to access the support they need. 

Thank you Amanda for all you do for us. 

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## Yvonne 

Yvonne is a qualified Life and Equine Facilitated Coach. She can often be found in the field checking the horses, in the tack room sorting things out or teaching our children valuable horse skills. Yvonne brings a wealth of experience to the team both from the horse perspective but also as a Mum of an autistic child, so knows all too well of the challenges for our parents. 

Yvonne also takes care of our Licensing requirements creating and ensuring policies and procedures are carried out. With her hard work she recently improved our licensing score from 1 star to 3 stars. 

Thank you for all you do Yvonne. 



## Katherine 

Katharine is our business manager and she works tirelessly behind the scenes to support both the charity and our families. Being a Mum of a child on the autism spectrum she knows all too well how hectic things can feel. She is dedicated in creating as much as ease as possible for our families from creating easy booking systems, adding informative posts about what is going on at the farm, answering enquiries; all which is critical in helping our families access us. 

Katharine also writes grant applications and fundraising bids for us continuously trying to reduce fees for our families. 

You will often see Katharine and her family as events always making sure things are running smoothly and volunteering her help on the day. 

Thank you for all you do for us Katharine. 

## Cath 

Cath works behind the scenes volunteering her time and supporting us with our website and marketing materials. Cath loves to help organise our fundraisers and new adventures. She can often be seen supporting our Mums on their adventures away usually on a horse or paddle board or supporting our fundraising challenges. 

Thank you for all you do for us Cath. 


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## Howard 

Howard is our designated Health and Safety Officer and brings a wealth of knowledge to the charity. He carries out risk assessments, ensures health and safety procedures are in place all to help us run a safe environment allowing our families to access the farms natural environments, horse activities and fundraising challenges. 

Howard can often be seen walking on the hills to achieve the latest challenge all whilst supporting our families. He also loves to visit the farm to see how everyone is doing, when he is not playing golf! 

Thank you Howard for all you do for us. 



## Paddy 

Paddy is a Dad of a child on the autism spectrum and knows all too well the challenges of day to day life our parents and families can face. Paddy also supports us through keeping an eye on costs, seeing where we can make savings and keeping the charity running. 

Paddy also fundraises for us and can be seen running a marathon or climbing mountains. 

Paddy has more recently set up a Dad Support Group as he feels there is a real need for Dads to get together and be supported also. 

Thank you for all you do for us Paddy. 

## Helen 

Helen supports us with our safeguarding policies and procedures bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience from working in Probation. Helen is also a Mum of 3 children and understands the ups and downs of parenting. Helen visits the farm to support our team training days and also to meet with our families. 

Thank you for all you do for us Helen. 


25 



We featured our volunteers last year and would like to continue in thanking them this year. 

Our volunteers are a crucial part of our team and we know the work we do is not possible without them. They are extremely dedicated, attending week after week to support our children and families no matter what the weather. From poo picking a field, leading horses, making drinks to climbing mountains for us our volunteers continue to change our families lives. 

A huge thank you goes to Rachel, Lindsay, Jess, Paul, Ellie, Elle, Briar, Liz and Bella for the hours of volunteering you do for us throughout the year. We love working with you and thank you all so much. 


26 



We have provided love and support to 162 families in our safe and accepting environment. This year we continue to achieve so much as a community pushing through limiting beliefs, showing just what our children and parents are capable of. 

We continue to work alongside our parents raising awareness and supporting them to find their own ways and to achieve more than they believed possible. 

To meet increasing demand a second wellbeing day was introduced supporting those children who are struggling in school. Children have learned to communicate their needs and express their emotions in an authentic way. For some this has led to the children staying in school or moving to a different school in which they could flourish. In other cases, parents have chosen to home educate. 

Whatever decision the families have made, they have our ongoing support and acceptance. 

## Kindness of others 

The team, as always, continue to work tirelessly to raise much need awareness and funds for Autism Angels. We are also thankful to our community who are active in their support of us whether that be with fundraising donations, raising awareness or volunteering their time helping at the farm. 

## Other achievements 


Santa’s Grottos at Stockeld Park 

Teacher Wellbeing and Team Building Day Broadwood School 

Introduction of new Wellbeing Day 

Parent Programme 

Corporate Volunteer Days- HSE, DLA Piper, Neom, Smith+Nephew 

Volunteer Training Days 

## Other donations: 

Asda Community Grant £500 

The National Lottery Community Fund £10,000 Co-op Community Fund £6,063 

Facebook Birthday Donations WLPratt £1,000 

The Basil Samule Charitable Trust £5,000 

Leathersellers £1,400 

The Local Lotto Donations Forrester Family Grant £5,000 North Yorkshire Stronger Communities £3,430 The Loriners’ Charitable Trust £1,000 

Tom Brittain Jumble Sale £50 

Catherine Flynn Cartwright School Summer Fair £130 Cambian Spring Hill School Market £75.25 

Ken and Edna Morrison Charitable Trust £5,000 Patrick Hammond Edinburgh Marathon £825 

Two Ridings Community Grants £2,000 

Albert Hunt £1,000 

Magic Little Grants £500 

Comic Relief £4,850 

Duke of Devonshire DDCT Grant £2,500 

Dawn Sherbet Fundraising £452 

Thea Oliver 1k Brilliant Bounce £450 

Collette Ellingford Skydive £338 Lindsay Winter Paddleboarding challenge £325 

Calvin Perks UTMB in memory of Judith Taylor £2,500 

27 



As we leave another successful year of connection, growth and opportunities we are grateful to have achieved so much as a community. 


Looking to the future we are clear of what is working well and where we want to be able to support our families more. 

All our current sessions are working really well, Private sessions, Wellbeing Days and Kids Clubs remain consistent and full most of the time. Winter months can drop due to the weather conditions so we want to remain creative with activities to keep everyone warm. 

Our sessions run during school term times and we would like to expand into the holidays with holiday clubs running for parents who need to keep working. We look to trial these from Spring onwards. 

We are also looking to bring more seasonal events in. Currently we run a Halloween and end of term Christmas events for our Wellbeing children. We would like to expand this into a Christmas party, Easter and Bonfire events plus summer picnics which will be open to the whole community. Our events are more accessible for our families and the children know our environment and team well so feel more able to attend these kind of events at the farm. 

We are also looking to bring the overnight Summer Camps back as these were very popular before the covid pandemic. 


We love to hear from our families about what their needs are and how we could be of more support. Reducing cost is often the primary response and more work with the horses. On this basis we will look to expand our herd with another ridden horse but also look for partnerships where we could work with their horses but not incur more costs. 

Our business manager continues to thrive with office systems. Katharine is also writing fundraising bids; being a parent of a child on the autism spectrum she is well placed and understands the needs of our families. Her focus has been reducing costs to our families whilst balancing the increasing costs that the charity is seeing. 

Reducing costs is always a primary focus for us and we will continue to be creative in ways we can do this. Another way for us to secure funding to support our families, or at least make it easier for schools to fund, is for Autism Angels to gain accreditation and get on the ‘Alternative Provision’ register with the local authority. We aim to have this achieved by July 2023 ready for the start of the Autumn Term in September 2023. This would massively support our families financially and make it easier for schools to send children to our sessions. 

Our future is bright with still many areas we can develop into around the farm to offer a wider range of activities. Funding and grant applications remains a competitive area due to such high demands. 

Our team remains absolutely dedicated and committed to supporting our community. We feel so blessed to have such a diverse and enthusiastic team who continue to grow and develop with us. 

We are very much looking forward to our 2022-2023 season. 

We hope you have enjoyed our Annual Report. Please feel free contact us if you have any questions or would like to offer us any feedback on what else you would like to see in our report. 

## Sarah 

Founder and Director of Autism Angels 

28 



## September 

Teacher Team Building Day 


## November 

Corporate Volunteer Days 


## January 

Coast to Coast Mums Training 


## October 

Mums Paddle Boarding 



## December 

Christmas 


## February 

Coast to Coast Kids Training 

29 



## March 

Parent Programme 



## May 

Horse Care 

## April 

Live on C4 Steph’s Packed Lunch 


## June 

Harvesting 


## July 

Parent’s Adventure 


## August 

Turning 10 


30 



## **Directors and trustees** 

The directors of the charitable company (the charity) are its Trustees for the purpose of charity law. The trustees and officers who served during the year were as follows: 

## Key Management Personnel for 2021 - 2022 

## Trustees/Directors 

## Chair 

Sarah Kekoa Sarah Kekoa Howard Whittaker Treasurer Patrick Hammond Patrick Hammond Helen Chapman Secretary Howard Whittaker 

There were no changes to the trustee board during 2021-2022. 

The trustees aim to recruit further trustees to expand the board including those who could support us with fundraising and governance duties. 

## Structure, governance and management 

## **Governing Documents** 

The charity is governed by its articles of association, which are based on the model articles for a charitable company. These were initially approved on 06 August 2012 and subsequently amended 10 October 2014. 

## **Appointment of trustees** 

Trustees are appointed by the members in accordance with the provisions contained in the Articles of Association. 

## **Trustee training and induction** 

New trustees are briefed on their obligations under charity law, the constitution of the charity and on the Charity Commission Guidance on public benefit. Trustees attend external training events to facilitate the undertaking of their role, where appropriate. 

## **Organisational structure** 

The Board of Trustees administers the charity and appointed Sarah Kekoa (Shearman) (a Trustee) to act as Chair on 13 February 2015. She also deals with the day to day operational matters and manages the Centre. 

## **Objects of the charity** 

For the public benefit, the relief of those in need by reason of autism and other disabilities, in particular but not exclusively by: 

- Advancement of education through training programmes and development activities to improve their skills, capacities and capabilities. 

- Advancement of education through training and development programmes for the families, carers and professionals who have a role in supporting the individuals with disabilities. 

- Advancement of health and wellbeing, in particular but not exclusively, by raising awareness and removing limiting beliefs of the benefits of the natural environment and working with animals 

The trustees have given due consideration to the Charity Commission’s published guidance on the Public Benefit requirement under the Charities Act 2011 and its activities are detailed with this report. 

31 



## **Financial review and reserves** 

Income has increased by £41,673 during the year. The free reserves of the charity as at 31 August 2022 were £8,285 (2021 -£6,505). This is the equivalent to 1 months of unrestricted expenditure. 

## **Risk management** 

The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises: 

- Periodic reviews of the risks the charity. 

- The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate the identified risks. 

This work has identified that financial sustainability is the major financial risk. Attention has also been focused on non-financial risks arising from child protection issues, fire, health and safety of employees, associated members and members of the public. A key element of the management of financial risk is the retention of adequate working capital. 

The trustees are satisfied that systems and procedures are in use to adequately manage the risks to which the charity is exposed. 

## **Reference and administrative details** 

- **Charity number** 1160289 

- **Company number** 8168948 

**Principal / registered office** 71 West Cliffe Terrace, Harrogate, HG2 0PU 

## **Advisors** 

## **Independent Examiner:** 

Sarah Wearing, Partner: HPH Chartered Accountants LLP, Conyngham Hall Business Centre, Bond End, Knaresborough HG5 9AY 

## **Bankers** 

Barclays, 15 James Street, Harrogate HG1 1QX 

## **Related parties** 

Related party transactions are set out at note 8 to the financial statements. 

## **Trustees responsibilities in relation to the financial statements** 

The trustees (who are also directors of Autism Angels Ltd for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

Company and charity 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 charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources for that year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; 

- make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business 

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company 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 charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

In preparing this report advantage has been taken of the small companies exemption within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. 

## **Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees on 26 May 2023.** 

## _**Patrick Hammond**_ 

32 



## **AUTISM ANGELS LTD** 

(A company limited by guarantee) 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022** 

|**Note**<br>**INCOME**<br>**Donations and legacies**<br>**_3_**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>**_4_**<br>**TOTAL INCOME**<br>**EXPENDITURE**<br>**Raising Funds**<br>**_6_**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>**_7_**<br>**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**<br>**Transfers between funds**<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>**Reconciliation of funds**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>**_12,13_**<br>**Total funds carried forward**<br>**_12,13_**<br>**Net expenditure before transfers**|**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>64,750<br>40,427<br>105,177<br>5,245<br>100,778<br>106,023<br>(846)<br>-<br>(846)<br>14,345<br>£ 13,499|**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>10,280<br>-<br>10,280<br>-<br>12,950<br>12,950<br>(2,670)<br>-<br>(2,670)<br>8,199<br>£ 5,529|**2022**<br>**£**<br>75,030<br>40,427<br>115,457<br>5,245<br>113,728<br>118,973<br>(3,516)<br>-<br>(3,516)<br>22,544<br>£ 19,028|**2021**<br>**£**<br>39,355<br>34,429|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||73,784|
|||||4,248<br>78,908|
|||||83,156|
|||||(9,372)<br>-|
|||||(9,372)<br>31,916|
|||||£ 22,544|



All activities derive from continuing operations. 

The notes on pages 35 to 41 form part of the accounts. 

33 



## **AUTISM ANGELS LTD** 

(A company limited by guarantee) 

## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2022** 

**Company registration number: 08168948** 

|**Note**<br>**FIXED ASSETS**<br>Tangible Assets<br>**_9_**<br>**CURRENT ASSETS**<br>Debtors<br>**_10_**<br>Cash at Bank and in hand<br>**LIABILITIES: amounts falling due**<br>**within one year**<br>**_11_**<br>**NET CURRENT ASSETS**<br>**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**<br>**NET ASSETS**<br>**THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY**<br>Restricted Funds<br>**_12_**<br>Unrestricted Funds<br>- Undesignated<br>**_13,14_**<br>- Designated<br>**_13,14_**<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|**£**<br>**£**<br>5,214<br>3,570<br>16,205<br>19,775<br>(5,961)<br>13,814<br>19,028<br>£ 19,028<br>5,529<br>8,285<br>5,214<br>£ 19,028<br>**2022**|**£**<br>**£**<br>7,840<br>2,300<br>15,583<br>17,883<br>(3,179)<br>14,704<br>22,544<br>£ 22,544<br>8,199<br>6,505<br>7,840<br>£ 22,544<br>**2021**|**£**<br>**£**<br>7,840<br>2,300<br>15,583<br>17,883<br>(3,179)<br>14,704<br>22,544<br>£ 22,544<br>8,199<br>6,505<br>7,840<br>£ 22,544<br>**2021**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
||||22,544|
||||£ 22,544|
||||8,199<br>6,505<br>7,840|
||||£ 22,544|



For the financial year ended 31 August 2022, the Charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The Members have not required the Charitable Company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. The Directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part VII of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. 

The notes on pages 35 to 41 form part of the accounts. 

These financial statements were approved by the trustees on 26 May 2023 and signed on its behalf by: 

Sarah Kekoa - Director and Trustee 

34 



## **AUTISM ANGELS LTD** 

(A company limited by guarantee) 

## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022** 

## **1 GENERAL INFORMATION** 

The Charitable Company is a private company limited by guarantee, which is incorporated and registered in England and Wales (no.08168948). The Charity number is 1160289. In the event of the company being wound up or dissolved the members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10. 

The address of its registered office is 71 West Cliffe Terrace, HARROGATE, England, HG2 0PU. 

## **2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **2.1 Basis of preparation of accounts** 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. 

Autism Angels Ltd meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s). 

## **2.2 Going Concern policy** 

The Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charitable Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. They continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial statements. 

## **2.3 Fund accounting** 

The trustees have a defined policy for identification of different types of income: 

- a) Designated funds are unrestricted funds but are specifically earmarked by the Trustees for a particular purpose. 

- b) Restricted funds are only to be used for the specific purpose laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets this criteria is charged to the fund. 

- c) Unrestricted funds are the residue of income receivable or generated from the objects of the charity without further specified purposes and are available as general funds. 

## **2.4 Income** 

All income is recognised in the statement of financial activities when the conditions for receipt have been met and there is reasonable assurance of receipt. Except for the following: 

## _Grants receivable_ 

Grants for immediate expenditure are accounted for when they become receivable. Grants received for specific purposes are treated as restricted funds. Grants which are received for a future accounting period are deferred and recognised in those periods. 

Capital Grants for specific fixed assets are included in restricted income when received. Once the asset is purchased these monies are transferred to unrestricted funds unless there is a restriction on the disposal of the asset. If so, the net book value of the asset is shown as a restricted fund. 

35 



## **AUTISM ANGELS LTD** 

(A company limited by guarantee) 

## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022** 

## **2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)** 

## **2.5 Expenditure** 

Expenditure is recognised on a accruals basis. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. 

- 

- Costs of generating funds costs associated with attracting voluntary income. Charitable activities - costs incurred by the Charitable Company in delivering its counselling services to clients. It includes costs that can be allocated directly and those of an indirect nature necessary to support them. 

- Support costs - allocated to charitable activities on an actual basis. Governance costs - costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements 

## **2.6 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation** 

Fixed assets for the Charitable Company to use are capitalised at cost. Donated assets are valued at market value on donation. They are stated in the accounts at cost/original value less depreciation. 

Depreciation is calculated to write off the cost or valuation of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases: 

Equipment, fixtures and tools 10% to 33.3% straight line basis per annum 

## **2.7 Debtors** 

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any trade discounts due. 

## **2.8 Cash at bank and in hand** 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value. 

## **2.9 Creditors** 

Creditors are recognised where the Charitable Company has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due. 

## **2.10 Financial Instruments** 

The Charitable Company 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. 

36 



## **AUTISM ANGELS LTD** 

(A company limited by guarantee) 

## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022** 

|**3**<br>**DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**<br>Donations and gifts<br>Grant income|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>21,486<br>43,264<br>£ 64,750|**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>-<br>10,280<br>£ 10,280|**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>21,486<br>53,544<br>£ 75,030|**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>22,491<br>16,864|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||£ 39,355|



Restricted donations and legacies in 2021 was £10,900 

The Charitable Company also benefits greatly from the involvement and enthusiastic support of its many volunteers. In accordance with Charities SORP, the economic contribution of general volunteers is not recognised in the accounts. 

## **4 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES** 

Session fees £ 40,427 £ - £ 40,427 £ 34,429 

Restricted income from charitable activities in 2021 was nil. 

## **5 TOTAL STAFF COSTS** 

The key management personnel of the Charitable Company comprise the trustees, see note 8 for details of transactions. No staff are directly employed by the charity. 

## **6 FUNDRAISING EXPENDITURE** 

|**FUNDRAISING EXPENDITURE**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Advertising and promotion|5,245<br>£ 5,245|-<br>£ -|5,245<br>£ 5,245|4,248|
|||||£ 4,248|



37 



## **AUTISM ANGELS LTD** 

(A company limited by guarantee) 

## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022** 

## **7 ANALYSIS OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE** 

|**Funds**<br>**2022**<br>**7.1 Charitable activities**<br>**£**<br>Horse and animal expenses<br>6,037<br>Facilitators<br>34,820<br>Food and refreshments<br>1,908<br>Equipment<br>2,881<br>Training<br>-<br>Management fee<br>18,000<br>Support costs (below)<br>35,267<br>Governance costs (below)<br>1,865<br>£ 100,778<br>In 2021 £6,800 related to restricted funds<br>**7.2 Support costs**<br>Rent and facilities costs<br>9,057<br>Office costs<br>13,965<br>Computer costs<br>343<br>Telephone and internet<br>1,238<br>Printing and stationery<br>111<br>Repairs and maintenance<br>408<br>Insurance costs<br>5,898<br>Travel costs<br>404<br>Sundry costs<br>1,217<br>Depreciation<br>2,626<br>£ 35,267<br>In 2021 £nil related to restricted funds<br>**7.3 Governance costs**<br>Independent examiner's fee<br>1,140<br>Professional fees<br>725<br>£ 1,865<br>**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>-<br>10,950<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>400<br>1,600<br>£ 12,950<br>-<br>400<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>£ 400<br>-<br>1,600<br>£ 1,600|**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>6,037<br>45,770<br>1,908<br>2,881<br>-<br>18,000<br>35,667<br>3,465<br>£ 113,728<br>9,057<br>14,365<br>343<br>1,238<br>111<br>408<br>5,898<br>404<br>1,217<br>2,626<br>£ 35,667<br>1,140<br>2,325<br>£ 3,465|**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>4,748<br>24,408<br>212<br>2,233<br>177<br>15,600<br>26,723<br>4,807|
|---|---|---|---|
||||£ 78,908|
||||7,846<br>8,907<br>391<br>928<br>752<br>50<br>3,489<br>956<br>778<br>2,626|
||||£ 26,723|
||||1,080<br>3,727|
||||£ 4,807|



In 2021 £3,000 related to restricted funds 

38 



## **AUTISM ANGELS LTD** 

(A company limited by guarantee) 

## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022** 

## **8 RELATED PARTIES AND TRUSTEE TRANSACTIONS** 

## **Trustee Transactions** 

An amount of £42,500 (2021 - £34,196) was paid to a business operated by S Kekoa (a trustee) for time spent in management and facilitation as well as £nil (2021 - £nil) for fundraising work. In 2022 £8,920 (2021 £11,509) was paid to that business under a shared services agreement to cover of property and other costs, such as phone, utilities insurance and horse care jointly incurred by the charity and the business. 

No trustees were reimbursed for expenses other than the transactions disclosed above. 

## **Related Parties** 

During the year payments were made to members of trustees' families. An amount of £12,525 (2021: £2,100) was paid to A Whittaker in respect of facilitators fees and £16,884 (2021: £5,282) to K Hammond in respect of administration fees. 

## **9 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** 

|**Cost**<br>At 1 September 2021<br>Additions<br>At 31 August 2022<br>**Depreciation**<br>At 1 September 2021<br>Charge for year<br>At 31 August 2022<br>**Net Book Amounts**<br>At 31 August 2022<br>At 31 August 2021<br>**10**<br>**DEBTORS**<br>Trade Debtors<br>Accrued income|**Fixtures**<br>**& Fittings**<br>**£**<br>11,600<br>-<br>11,600<br>4,640<br>2,320<br>6,960<br>£ 4,640<br>£ 6,960|**Equipment**<br>**£**<br>2,620<br>-<br>2,620<br>1,740<br>306<br>2,046<br>£ 574<br>£ 880<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>2,200<br>1,370<br>£ 3,570|**Total**<br>**£**<br>13,034<br>-|
|---|---|---|---|
||||14,220|
||||6,380<br>2,626|
||||9,006|
||||£ 5,214|
||||£ 7,840|
||||**2021**<br>**£**<br>1,640<br>660|
||||£ 2,300|



39 



## **AUTISM ANGELS LTD** 

(A company limited by guarantee) 

## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022** 

|**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**<br>**FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022**|||
|---|---|---|
|**LIABILITIES: Amounts falling due within one year**<br>Trade Creditors<br>Accruals|**2022**<br>**£**<br>4,574<br>1,387<br>£ 5,961|**2021**<br>**£**<br>1,841<br>1,338|
|||£ 3,179|



**11 LIABILITIES: Amounts falling due within one year** 

## **12 RESTRICTED FUNDS** 

|**Current year**<br>Playground<br>Bid writer project<br>Recording equipment<br>Private therapy days<br>Wellbeing days<br>**Prior year**<br>Playground<br>Bid writer project<br>Recording equipment<br>Computer Equipment<br>Wellbeing days|**Balance at**<br>**1 September**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>2,699<br>2,000<br>1,800<br>-<br>1,700<br>£ 8,199<br>**Balance at**<br>**1 September**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>3,000<br>-<br>1,800<br>-<br>-<br>£ 4,800|**Income**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>3,430<br>6,850<br>£ 10,280<br>**Income**<br>**£**<br>-<br>5,000<br>-<br>400<br>5,500<br>£ 10,900|**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>-<br>(2,000)<br>-<br>(2,400)<br>(8,550)<br>£ (12,950)<br>**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>-<br>(3,000)<br>-<br>-<br>(3,800)<br>£ (6,800)|**Transfers**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>£ -<br>**Transfers**<br>**£**<br>(301)<br>-<br>-<br>(400)<br>-<br>£ (701)|**Balance at**<br>**31 August**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>2,699<br>-<br>1,800<br>1,030<br>-|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||£ 5,529|
||||||**Balance at**<br>**31 August**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>2,699<br>2,000<br>1,800<br>-<br>1,700|
||||||£ 8,199|



Playground - Monies received for the installation of a playground from the local fence club. 

Bid writer project - Monies received for the cost of bid writer services. 

Recording equipment - Money was received for the purchase of recording equipment. 

Computer equipment - Money was received for the purchase of computer equipment during in the year. Wellbeing days - Monies received for the provision of Welling sessions held during the year. 

Private therapy days - Money was received to support private riding therapy sessions. 

40 



## **AUTISM ANGELS LTD** 

(A company limited by guarantee) 

## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022** 

## **13 UNRESTRICTED FUNDS** 

|**UNRESTRICTED FUNDS**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Current year**<br>**_Designated_**<br>Fixed Assets<br>**_Undesignated_**<br>Free reserves<br>Total Unrestricted Funds<br>**Comparative year**<br>**_Designated_**<br>Fixed Assets<br>**_Undesignated_**<br>Free reserves<br>Total Unrestricted Funds|**Balance at**<br>**1 September**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>7,840<br>6,505<br>£ 14,345<br>**Balance at**<br>**1 September**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>9,280<br>17,836<br>£ 27,116|**Income**<br>**£**<br>-<br>105,177<br>£ 105,177<br>**Income**<br>**£**<br>-<br>62,884<br>£ 62,884|**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>(2,626)<br>(103,397)<br>£ (106,023)<br>**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>(2,626)<br>(73,730)<br>£ (76,356)|**Transfers**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>£ -<br>**Transfers**<br>**£**<br>1,186<br>(485)<br>£ 701|**Balance at**<br>**31 August**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>5,214<br>8,285|
||||||£ 13,499|
||||||**Balance at**<br>**31 August**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>7,840<br>6,505|
||||||£ 14,345|



## **Designated Funds** 

The Fixed Asset Fund represents the level of money invested in fixed assets for the use of charity. 

## **14 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS** 

|**Current year**<br>Tangible Fixed Assets<br>Current Assets<br>Current Liabilities<br>At 31 August 2022<br>**Comparative year**<br>Tangible Fixed Assets<br>Current Assets<br>Current Liabilities<br>At 31 August 2021|**Undesignated**<br>**Designated**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>5,214<br>14,246<br>-<br>(5,961)<br>-<br>£ 8,285<br>£ 5,214<br>-<br>7,840<br>9,684<br>-<br>(3,179)<br>-<br>£ 6,505<br>£ 7,840<br>**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**£**<br>-<br>5,529<br>-<br>£ 5,529<br>-<br>8,199<br>-<br>£ 8,199|**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**£**<br>5,214<br>19,775<br>(5,961)|
|---|---|---|---|
||||£ 19,028|
||||7,840<br>17,883<br>(3,179)|
||||£ 22,544|



41 



## **AUTISM ANGELS LTD** 

(A Company Limited by Guarantee) 

## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees** 

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 August 2022, which are set out on pages 33 to 41. 

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and the charitable company’s trustees as a body in accordance with section 154 of the Charities Act 2011. My independent examiner’s work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charitable company’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 charitable company, the charitable company’s members as a body and the charitable company’s trustees as a body for my independent examiner’s work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’). 

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company 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 your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the 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: 

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

3.  the accounts 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 

4.  the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities. 

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. 

HPH, Chartered Accountants Conyngham Hall Business Centre Bond End Sarah Wearing, FCA, DChA KNARESBOROUGH 26 May 2023 HG5 9AY 

42 




AutismAngelsUK 

E: info@autismangels.co.uk w: www.autismangels.co.uk Registered Charity No. 1160289