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2023-04-30-accounts

The Simon Trust (Autism) CIO Registered Charity Number: 1163069

Report of the Trustees

for the period ended 30 April 2023

Contents

Chair’s Report 2
Report of the Trustees 5
Notes to the Financial Statements 7
Independent Examiners Report 9

The Simon Trust (Autism) CIO

CHAIR’S REPORT for the period ending 30 April 2023

Linden Farm has been up and running for over four years now and I am pleased to say that there are now ten residents happily settled there. The Choice Care team is slowly growing and although they do use agency staff, there is a good core team which is important as consistency makes a huge difference to these severely autistic, vulnerable young people.

The 400-metre cycle track was finally built and we are seeing the benefits, on a daily basis, to the physical and mental health of the Linden Farm residents. The bikes and trikes are brought out and the young people cycle, walk or fly kites around the track. We installed a roundabout beside the track, primarily for one young lady who, because of her severe autism, finds it difficult to leave the site. We also bought two sturdy benches to put around the track, for those who want to sit and enjoy this outdoor space. And in June 2023 we held the official Opening of the Cycle Track at Linden Farm, attended by over 70 people including our patron Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey Michael More-Molyneux, the Mayor of Waverley, several officers from Surrey County Council, parents, trustees and many supporters including Sally Borrows of the Borrows Charitable Trust, who had donated very generously for the cycle track. And we were most honoured that Dame Stephanie Shirley CH came to give a speech, cut the ribbon and officially open the track. Refreshments were then enjoyed while a group of students from Prior’s Court School played instruments and sang, and many of our guests had fun cycling around the new track.

The Simon Trust has continued to donate and provide other items as requested, to enhance the lives of the Linden Farm residents. We paid for repairs to the Sensory Room, and will do so again in due course. We have replaced the basketball ball and net, repaired staff bikes and outdoor furniture, and paid for gardeners to come and look after the communal flower beds. We bought an air conditioning unit for one young person who was suffering from a chronic skin condition, and this has helped him greatly. More recently we have bought a large screen TV to put on the wall (in a protective case, to guard against any unexpected behaviours) in the Activity Centre, so that the young people can be encouraged to watch a film with their peers, maybe on a Friday or Saturday evening.

In June 2022 The Simon Trust held an “Information Evening” in the nearby church hall, for locals to come and learn about autism and hear about the young people now living in their neighbourhood. This was hugely successful and helped build and re-affirm positive relationships between Linden Farm and the local community.

In July 2022 we installed a worktop and units to create a communal “Cookery Room” for the young people to use. We had personalised aprons made and bought bar stools, utensils and cookware and the carers have been helping the young people to make pizzas.

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We were given permission by Surrey County Council to provide a 36-metre-long wooden trim trail and this has now been carved, created and installed alongside the cycle track. This provides another incentive for the young people to spend time outside, and benefits their physical and mental health.

We have also had a 3-metre-tall living willow wigwam planted in the track area, which will grow and create a fun place for the young people to go to, either by day or in the evening with fairy lights.

Surrey County Council has granted us permission to provide a pergola at Linden Farm, and we have now obtained planning permission for its installation. This will create a very useful outdoor space where the young people can do activities in hot weather, as there is virtually no shade there at the moment.

In June 2023 Peter Lawrence (trustee) and I spoke on behalf of Choice Care at The Autism Show in London, giving “A Parent’s View on Supported Living”. We described our son’s early life, our journey in helping create Linden Farm, the shortage of provision for adults with severe autism and the need for many more “Linden Farms” around the country. Two weeks later I was interviewed by “The Guardian” for an article in their newspaper, and in August by BBC’s Nikki Fox for one of their “Access All” podcasts. Our Linden Farm story then appeared on the main BBC online news, and since then we have been contacted by over 300 parents, all desperate to have a home like Linden Farm for their disabled son or daughter. As a result, we have started a campaign to help make this happen: it is wrong that after the relative “honeymoon” of education, disabled adults are either sent home to live with their ageing parents or sent to live in inappropriate care homes, often in the opposite end of the country from their families. We are working hard to raise awareness of this desperate need, and we hope that county councils will listen and respond.

Three supporters ran the Pilgrim Half Marathon in aid of The Simon Trust in September 2023 and this raised nearly £1,000. Donations keep coming in and we are so fortunate to be in the position to provide the “extra essentials” for the residents of Linden Farm. These are all things that they would not otherwise be able to have, so we are thrilled to be instrumental in helping them have a more meaningful life.

As ever, I am incredibly grateful to all our donors, supporters, and all the trustees and patrons of The Simon Trust, and of course to Choice Care who provide the 24/7 support to the young people at Linden Farm. I look forward to another positive year ahead.

Sally Lawrence Chair The Simon Trust 24 January 2024

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The Simon Trust (Autism) CIO

Report of the Trustees for the period ended 30 April 2023

Registered Charity Number: 1163069

Principal Address

Gairholm Littleworth Road The Sands FARNHAM, Surrey. GU10 1JW

Trustees

Sally Lawrence (Chair) elected 10 Aug 2015 Peter Lawrence elected 10 Aug 2015 Gill Gillard elected 10 Aug 2015 Annette Lanaghan elected 10 Aug 2015 Simon Slater elected 10 Aug 2015 Anthony Lawrence elected 10 Aug 2015 Amanda Perrin elected 2 July 2021

Simon Slater is also a trustee of The Matrix Trust (1081852)

Bankers

Lloyds Bank plc Farnham Branch PO Box 1000 Andover. BX1 1LT

Structure, Governance and Management

Organisation and Governance

The Simon Trust (Autism) CIO is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered on 10 August 2015.

The Chair, reporting to the Board of Trustees, carries out day-to-day management. The Board keeps the skill requirements for the trustee body under review.

New trustees may be sought through a dialogue with candidates in relevant sectors. The ultimate decision on selection is a matter for the Board of Trustees.

When new trustees are appointed, they are given an introduction to the work of the charity and provided with the information that they need to fulfil their roles.

Financial Controls (including Reserves and Investments) Policy

This policy covers all aspects of how the charity handles its receipts, payments and investments. It will be reviewed each year. The policy is made available to the trustees.

Trustees debate six-monthly reports on all transactions relating to and the status of, the financial position of the charity.

An independent examiner is appointed when relevant.

All data stored complies with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The annual report and accounts are filed in accordance with the requirements of the Charity Commission after approval by the trustees.

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Report of the Trustees (continued) for the period ended 30 April 2023

Budgets setting out future expenditure are prepared and approved by the trustees.

The bank and investment accounts are regularly reconciled. Unexpected transactions are reported to the trustees. The trustees regularly review the investment accounts to ensure an acceptable risk and suitable rates of return.

Significant payments (in excess of £50) require a proposal form and the approval of the trustees. Donors are identified with further consideration as to tainted money. Gift Aid is claimed in a timely manner in accordance with HMRC requirements.

All assets are recorded and any valuation maintained as relevant.

Risk management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure that appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. The trustees are of the opinion that the reserves and known subsequent income are sufficient for at least short to medium term financial requirements.

Public benefit

The charity had due regard to the guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit

Objectives and Activities

The objects of the Simon Trust (Autism) CIO are:

Trustees Responsibility Statement. The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice: UKGAAP).

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

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Report of the Trustees (continued) for the period ended 30 April 2023

The trustees are responsible for keeping records that disclose, with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

On behalf of the Board:

Sally Lawrence Chair

Date: 24 January 2024

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The Simon Trust (Autism) CIO

Notes to the financial statements for the period ended 30 April 2023

1/ Comparative figures.

Comparative figures relate to the previous period of twelve months.

2/ Accounting policies.

Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the “Receipts and Payments Accounts scheme (CC16c)”.

Income resources

All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Resources expended

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Reserves

At the end of the period, the charity had no future commitments and, therefore, the reserves are uncommitted.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds, should they become relevant, can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purpose.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

estimated useful life.
Marketing Equipment 2 years
3/ Voluntary Income 2023 2022
Restricted funds £21,000 £20,000
General donations £4,413 £5,185

The notes form part of these financial statements Page 7

4/ Balance Sheet & Expenses Analysis

Opening Balance 1/05/2022

made up as:
Assets Current account £48,077
Deposit accounts Cambs & Counties £60,982
Redwood Bank £36,310 £97,292
Liabilities nil
£145,369
Transactions during the year
Restricted funds £21,000
Unrestricted funds £4,413
Monies received by donation £25,413
_less_Expenses paid out (£59,708)
_less_Administration costs (£80)
_add_Deposit interest earned £1,839
Closing Balance as at 30/04/2023 £112,833
made up as:
Assets Current account £23,702
Deposit accounts Cambs & Counties £21,593
Redwood Bank £67,538
Liabilities nil £112,833

5/ Investment income

Cambridge & Counties Bank (180 day) yielded £611 interest (2022: £824). Redwood Bank yielded £1,228 interest (2022: £313)

6/ Costs of generating income
6/ Costs of generating income 2023 2022
Fund raising expenses nil nil
Depreciation nil nil
7/ Governance costs
General expenses £80 £842
Audit nil nil
Professional fees nil nil

8/ Trustees Remuneration and benefits

There was no trustee remuneration or other benefit for the period (2022: nil).

No trustee expenses were incurred in carrying out relevant duties during the year (2022: nil).

9/ Tangible Fixed Assets

There were no tangible fixed assets acquired or sold in the period.

10/ Debtors: Amounts falling due

There were no Debtor amounts due (2022: nil).

11/ Creditors: Amounts falling due

There were no Creditor amounts due (2022: nil).

12/ Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the period (2022: nil).

13/ Ultimate Controlling Party

Trustees have equal rights with no controlling party. Decisions are made on a majority basis.

The notes form part of these financial statements Page 8

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ The Simon Trust (Autism) CIO members of

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On accounts for
the y/e 30 April 2023 Charity no 1163069
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Set out on pages

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Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s responsibilities trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities of trustees and Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. examiner

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity independent Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity examiner’s and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes statement consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

The notes form part of these financial statements Page 9

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention ( ~~other than that~~ Independent ~~disclosed below *~~ ) examiner's

Date: Signed: Name: Mr P Robinson Relevant Fellowship of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) professional qualification(s) or body): Address: 37 Meadowlands, GUILDFORD, Surrey. GU4 7TA

The notes form part of these financial statements Page 10

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems.

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

The notes form part of these financial statements Page 11