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2024-04-30-accounts

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

Report of the Trustees

for the period ended 30 April 2024

Contents

Chair’s Report 2
Report of the Trustees 4
Notes to the Financial Statements 6

The Simon Trust (Autism) CIO

CHAIR’S REPORT for the period ending 30 April 2024

Linden Farm is currently “between Managers” as we wait for Choice Care to appoint a new Manager. We hope that this will be as seamless as possible, as all the severely autistic residents struggle with change.

That said, the last year has been a time of positive growth at Linden Farm. There is a good community spirit amongst Choice Care staff and young people, and the Activity Committee (run by parents) has been very busy, providing regular discos, a Bird Club and a Gardening Club. A Linden Farm Olympics Family Day was held in the summer, which was much enjoyed by all. Staff are now organising weekly Movie Nights (thanks to the large screen TV provided by The Simon Trust), weekly yoga evenings and weekly Music Nights. They also host a Communal Roast for staff and young people together, once a month. It has been lovely to see the young people beginning to be more involved at these events.

Our hopes were raised when we were offered a Royal Visit for April 2024. This would have been a chance to showcase what Surrey County Council (SCC) and The Simon Trust have achieved at Linden Farm, and an opportunity to raise the morale of the care staff. However, SCC cancelled the event at very short notice saying that the residents had not been consulted and that despite Choice Care’s risk assessments, a Best Interest meeting should have taken place for each resident individually.

The Simon Trust has continued to receive donations from our loyal supporters and we have continued to provide facilities for Linden Farm as needed … we were granted Planning Permission for the revised location of the Pergola, so this was installed beside the track in April 2024. And for seating under the Pergola we have provided two very sturdy L-shaped garden benches, as well as another one outside the Activity Centre. We paid for the two main rooms in the Activity Centre to be re-decorated, which has definitely given them a fresher look. We also bought two giant beanbags to go inside the Willow Wigwam, and a Table Tennis table for those who might be able to learn how to play. Our gifts to Linden Farm amounted to over £21,000 in the year of 2024.

In February 2024, I was invited to represent The Simon Trust at the Rotary Club of Farnham Weyside annual dinner for charities receiving donations from them. We were very grateful to be one of their chosen charities for their annual Pilgrim Marathon and Half Marathon in September 2023 and 2024.

In April 2024, Peter Lawrence (trustee) and I attended a meeting with the SCC Head of Adult Social Care, and the County Councillor responsible for Adult Social Care. We took with us a representative Surrey parent whose severely autistic adult son is still living out of county, and asked what SCC is doing about providing homes, in Surrey, for such people. They claimed that they are building several homes at the moment, but we explained that accommodation in the middle of a town, with no space and no onsite facilities, will not meet their needs. We are so grateful to have Linden Farm for our ten young people, but we are

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very aware that such a site needs replicating over and over again within Surrey, for others with severe autism and complex needs.

Cranleigh School held their end of year concert in May 2024 with the theme of raising awareness of autism. Their school orchestra and choir performed a specially revised version of “Let Me Shine”, a song which was originally written for Prior’s Court School to perform at the Abbey Road Studios in London. Some of the Linden Farm residents attended the concert and stood on stage; this performance moved several of the school staff and audience to tears.

Cranleigh School concert was originally going to be a fund-raiser for a proposed Arts, Craft and Music Centre at Linden Farm, in place of the Old Barn. However, SCC has now boarded up the Old Barn and the area is currently out of bounds, due to asbestos still being present in the ground there. So, the future of that area is, for the moment, undecided.

Local builders Thakeham have very kindly provided Linden Farm with two Volunteer Days this year, which has been a huge help. Their team of helpers cleared rubbish, weeded flower beds, cut hedges, cleaned windows and generally tidied the site. They also helped at the allotment, which was very much appreciated too as they built raised flower beds to protect against flooding at the site.

We sent the side-by-side trike back up to Scotland to be repaired as it had been badly damaged, partly due to the fact that it is very difficult getting it in and out of the Linden Farm bike shed, which has a very high step up into it. We are looking into putting a ramp here, which will greatly help. Jorvik Trikes very kindly gave The Simon Trust another new adult trike for Linden Farm, which means the main bike shed is quite full, so we are now looking at providing a second bike shed near the track, for the bigger trikes.

In June 2024 we were delighted to welcome and elect a new trustee into The Simon Trust, namely James Forward, the new Rector at Alfold Church. He is already greatly contributing to life at Linden Farm by taking part in our Christmas, Easter and Harvest Family events.

Finally, I would like to say a huge thank you to our trustees, our patrons and all our donors and supporters for their manifold contributions to The Simon Trust. I am truly grateful, and look forward to another positive year ahead.

Sally Lawrence Chair The Simon Trust 21 January 2025

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Report of the Trustees for the period ended 30 April 2024 The Simon Trust (Autism) CIO

The Simon Trust (Autism) CIO 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 James Forward elected 10 June 2024

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 Governing Document

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.

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

Report of the Trustees (continued) for the period ended 30 April 2024 The Simon Trust (Autism) CIO

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 has 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:

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: 21 January 2025

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Notes to the financial statements for the period ended 30 April 2024 The Simon Trust (Autism) CIO

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. There were no restricted funds held at this period end.

Tangible fixed assets

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

Marketing Equipment 2 years 3/ Voluntary Income 2024 2023 Unrestricted donations £4,934 £4,413 Restricted donations £12,010 £21,000

The notes form part of these financial statements Page 6

Notes to the financial statements for the period ended 30 April 2024 The Simon Trust (Autism) CIO

4/ Balance Sheet & Expenses Analysis

Opening Balance 1/05/2023

made up as:

Assets Current account £23,702 Deposit accounts Cambs & Counties £21,593 Redwood Bank £67,538 £89,131 Liabilities nil £112,833 Transactions during the year Monies received by donation £16,944 less Expenses paid out (£29,147 less Administration costs (84) add Deposit interest earned £3,331 Closing Balance as at 30/04/2024 103,877 made up as: Assets Current account £1,414 Deposit accounts Cambs & Counties £22,521 Redwood Bank £79,942 Liabilities nil £103,877

5/ Investment income

Cambridge & Counties Bank (180 day) yielded £928 interest (2023: £611). Redwood Bank yielded £2,403 interest (2023: £1,228)

6/ Costs of generating income
6/ Costs of generating income 2024 2023
Fund raising expenses £605 £nil
Depreciation £nil £nil
7/ Governance costs
General expenses £84 £80
Audit nil nil
Professional fees nil nil

8/ Trustees Remuneration and benefits

There was no trustee remuneration or other benefit for the period (2023: nil). Trustees Expenses

No trustee expenses were incurred in carrying out relevant duties during the year (2023: 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 (2023: nil).

11/ Creditors: Amounts falling due

There were no Creditor amounts due (2023: nil).

12/ Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the period (2023: 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 7