Autlstic Chlldren and Carers Together Registered Charity Number 1169099 TRUSTEES, REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025 Page Trustees. report Independent examiner's report Statement of financial activities Balance sheet 10 Notes to the accounts 11-15
Autistic Children and Carers Together Trustees, Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. Legal and Administrative Infonnation Trustees: Helen Gilder- Chair Claire Dyson - resigned 6 August 2024 Margaret Kilner Nadine Cain Sara Bartlett Brown Sharon Court- appointed 24 June 2024 Janet Himan - appointed 21 October 2024 Honorary Trustees: Dr. Nevyne Chalhoub. Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust Dr. Val Harpin. Retid Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician Stsff: Manager, 17.5 hours per week. Fundraising & Finance Coordinator, 16 hours per week. Deputy Coordinators tiob share). 13 hours per week; Project Manager, 6 hours per week. Sessional Playworkers x 22 Principal Address: St Mary's Community Centre Bramall Lane Sheffield S2 4QZ Independent Examiner. Tery Scully Bankers: Lloyds Church Street Sheffield
Autistic Children and Carers Together Trustees, Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 Report from the Chair Tliank you for reading the 2024-25 annual report of Autistic Children and Carers Together (ACCT). our Sheffield charity supporting autistic young people and their families. We were pleased to be able to offer such a wide range of activities last year with up to eight sessions available each week, including the multi-activity Acctivale and Teenage Club, ACCT Academy football sessions. online and in-person Dungeons & Dragons and other creative gaming sessions, InterACCT teenage drama group. ACCTing Out young adults, social group, parent-carer meetings, autism-friendly family swimming and other family trips. Places at ACCT sessions remained in high demand. We are seeing more young people who need additional behavioural support to help them access our activities. While challenging. it is testament to the skill and commitment of the staff and volunteer team that we have been able to work with so many families to devise strategies and approaches that help young people in need benefit from their engagement viith ACCT sessions. ACCT has a strong core staff team supported by excellent sessional workers and volunteers. Our thanks and best wishes to sessional staff and volunteers who have moved on from ACCT over the year and a warm welcome to new and retuming personnel. Financially, we are delighted to have been reappointed to the Sheffield City Council SNIPS framework for 2025-29 and to have secured Reaching Communities funding for a three-year project. This funding provides some financial stability as we move into 2025-26 and enables us to focus on several areas of development work that we hope will improve our financial sustainability for the long-temi. It is wonderful that so many people also support ACCT with donations. In addition to the people who provide monthly or one-off donations towards our work, we also organised a team of runners who took on the challenge of the Sheffield 10k in September 2024: through sponsorship from friends, colleagues and families. the runners raised more than £5,000 for ACCT. Two runners also completed the Sheffield HaEf Marathon in March 2025. raising a further £1.200. We were honoured to be selected as one of the chartties supported by the Sole Sisters, a group of women organising events and challenges to raise money for good causes. Ending their campaign with an epic 20 mile Edale Skyline walk. the Sole Sisters raised more than £4,000 for ACCT - an amazing effort. At governance level. long-stsnding trustee Claire Dyson left the board in August 2024. A huge thank you to Claire for all she has given to ACCT over the years and we are so pleased that Claire is continuing to be involved as a facilitator of the parent-carer meetings. We also welcomed Sharon Court and Janet Himan as trustees, who have brought a wealth of experience to their roles. Many thanks to all my colleagues on the board who volunteer their time and skills to provide excellent governance and strategic support to the charity. members and the staff team. The Manager and Trustees have reviewed ACCT'S policies and procedures, ensuring we are following best practice for a charity of our size working with vulnerable children. Finally. thank you to all ACCT members and supporters for everything you do to help improve the lives of autistic children and their faMilS in Sheffield. Helen Gilder, Chair
Autistic Children and Carers Together Trustees, Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 Structure. Governance and Management The charity is operated under the rules of its constitution dated 81h September 2016 and as amended on 17 March 2023. ACCT previously operated as an unincorporated charity - Asperger's Children and Carers Together (ACCT) Sheffield. regislered charity 1123714 - which was re-formed as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation {registered charity 1169099) from 151 April 2017. The charity name was fomially changed to Autistic Children and Carers Togelher on 17 March 2023 with an amended constitution and charitable object which updated the language used in relation to autism.. The object of the CIO is to support the needs of autistic children and young people living in the Sheffield aa. in particular by provision of services and assistance to them and their family and carers. irnespectwe of political or religious affiliation. ra, gender or sexual orientation. Overall governan of the charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected from the membership and COryOPted at the Annual General Meeting under the terms of the constitution. The Board of Trustees meets 10 times per year and has responsibility for managing the business of the organisation, safeguarding the assets and managing funds. Day to day acttvity is delivered by paid stsff and volunteers. Trustees serve for a tem of three years at the end of which they are eligible to stsnd for re- election. Trustees are primarily drawn from ACCTS 700+ members, who are mainly parents and carers of autisticlneurodivergent children. or autistic people themselves. We may also coFopt Trustees from outside the membership to bring additK)nal skills or experience onto the board. Risk Assessment The Board of Trustees regularly discusses and reviews all the major risks to which ACCT is exposed. and establishes suitable systems to mitigate Ihose risks. We maintain an organisation- wide risk regisler which is regularly reviewed and updated by trustees, with risk assessments carried out for all activities and managed by the ACCT Manager. Financial Review Our annual income for the year was £181,092 and expenditure was £195.916. Just over £20,000 of restricted reserves carried forward from 2023-24 were spent during 2024-25, mainly the rernainder of our Lottery People's Projects grant. We would like to thank the many funding bodies and individuals who continue to support our work financially. Our current contract agreement with Sheffield City Council's Short Breaks for Disabled Children {SNIPS) programme ended on 30 April 2025. We applied to the delivery framework for the new contrad period and were very pleased lo be reappoinled to provide places at Acctivate and Teenage Club for autistic young people referred via the local authority Short Breaks programme for the period 2025-29. This local authority contract has long been ACCT'S single biggest source of funding and its continuation with an uplift to ensure costs are covered is a real boost to ACCT'S financial stability for the next four years. We also secured a grant of £10,792 from Sheffield City Council's Universal Youth Grants programme which supported our InterACCT Drama group through 2024-25.
Autistic Children and Carers Together Trustees, Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 We have been developing our focus on creativity and gameplay and were graleful that the Nalional Lottery Reaching Communities programme offered ACCT a £120k three-year grant towards this. Starting in January 2025. the grant supports the continued development of our online and in-person tabletop and role-playing gaming sessions, and our creative drama-based activilies group. It is also hugely welcome to receive unrestricted furKJing from grant-makers who are happy to support the core work of charities like ours. Amongst others. we were very grateful to receive £15,000 from the Wharfedale Foundation, £5,000 from the Masonic Charitable Foundation and to be reappointed to the Sheffield Town Trust's subscription list of grant recipients. Similarly, we really appreciate the support of ACCT members and other individual supporters who continue to be generous donors. with regular giving. one-off donations, sponsorships and gift aid providing 190/0 of ACCT'S income in 2024-25. In 202&26, we will continue to raise money from a range of contracts. grants and donations. and wyll be focusing on better engagement with wr wider supporter neork. Resarves policy ACCT needs to hold financial reserves in a realisable fom in order to manage cashflow, meet unforeseen expenditure needs and ensure an orderly wnd down in the unlikely event that the charity needs to close. The trustees consider it prudent that the charity should hold unrestricted reserves sufficient to cover at least three months. running costs plus an amount set aside to ensure that ACCT can meet statutory redundancy payments to stsff and other financial obligations in the event that the charity had to close down. For 2024-25, this equates to £48.979 to cover three months running costs and £27,737 for dose-down costs, a totsl tsrget unrestricted reserves level of at least £76,716. At 31 March 2025, our total unrestricted reserves were £86.739. Public Benefit Autistic Children and Carers Together provides public benefit by delivering group activity sessions which support autistic children and young people to develop confidence and emotional resilience, practice vital lrfe skills and engage with the w(Kld. make lasting friendships, and become empowered to better understsnd and celebrate the role their neurodivergence plays in their identty- We aim to support parent-carers to gain knovAedge. skills and confidence around parenting autistic children, and for families to develop the emotional resilience to address internal and external challenges related to neurodivergence. such as managing stressful times of transition, or dealing with bureaucratic intransigence. Our activities are designed to enable stronger mutually supportive peer relationships betsyeen young people, between parents and between families that can continue outside of ACCT. By supporting a growing and empowered autism community in Sheffield, we can increase autism awareness in wider society, im0vIng outcomes by helping families identify neurc(liversity and seek support at an earlier stage. Achievements and Perfomiance ACCT has been supporting autistic children and their families in Sheffield since 2006. We have
Autistic Children and Carers Together Trustees, Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 learned a lot about the use of fun activities as a way of helping young people to relax and be themselves without having to mask or hide behaviours that don't ftt in with what neurotypical people might expect. And we have continued to develop our activities in order to support the social development of neurodivergent young people and provide support to parents and family members. During 2024-25, we delivered.. Acctivate multi-activity club for 30 children aged &12 on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evening Teenage Club for 30 teenagers. Sessions include games and construction. arts and crafts. a sensory room and football and outside activities. Amongst other activities, we were happy to welcome several University sports teams to run taster sessions for our young people. These sessions continued to be busy and we manage bookings carefully to ensure that all places are taken up and that as many young people as possible are able to get the support they need. We work with Sheffield City Council as part of the SNIPS contract framework on referrals to these groups as well as supporting a small number of self-referrals from families with young people in need who are outside the SNIPS eligibility. ACCT Academy football coachlng for up to 24 children and young people aged 7-16 per session. These sessions, focused on fun and inclusivity, are held every Friday evening, 6-7pm at Goals Sheffield. We have two groups for younger and older children. ACCT Gaming Clubs support cooperative gameplay, imagination, flexibility and promote safe and positive online behaviour. We ran sessions per week with sessions focusing on Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop and role-playing games. ACCTing Out is our vibrant group for young autistic adults which runs fortnightly social events, supporting young adults to develop independent living skills. This project has gone from strength to strength and celebrated 100 sessions in May 2025. Our InterACCT teenage drama group continued with three blocks of sessions during the year. Many thanks to Forced Entertainment who provided the expert drama facilitation at the beginning of the year and to A Mind Apart who facilitated sessions in the lalter part of the year and will continue in 2025-26. Parentvcarer meetings ran every fortnight, offering a space for discussion, information sharing. practical advice and peer support, facilitated by ACCT trustees, volunteers and ACCT'S Manager, Nicola Hough. We continued to offer whole family activities, including autism-friendly family swimming ev8ry two weeks at Hillsborough Leisure Centre. As a private hire session, we can better manage the leisure centre environment to make the sensory experience more accessible to neurodivergent people. We take a similar approach to our regular private hire family SsIonS at Air Haus. Thanks to support from the Happy Days programme. we organised a trip to the pantomime at Sheffield Theatres on a donate-if-you-can basis, an always popular trip that offers many families an experience they would not otherwise be able to access. We supported more than 500 autistic children and young people during the year, more than 250 through accessing in-person and online group activities, and 250+ via participation in family activities. In addition, more than 40 parent-carers accessed support via Parents. Meetings, with 100+ siblings and other family members benefiting from our whole family activities.
Autistic Children and Carers Together Trustees, Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 Plans for 2025-26 In addition to continuing to develop and deliver a full programme of supportive groups for autistic young people and their families, there are several key areas of development we are planning to progress in 2025-26: Deaf accessibility= including offering interpreters at some family Air Haus sessions to enable deaf and hard of hearing parents of autistic young people to engage with ACCT. Swimming accessibility: exploring the issues around accessing leisure swimming as autistic children or adults, and developing resources for people and providers to help make swimming more accessible. Parents and families programme= identifying unmet needs for families within our existing provision and implementing new and redeveloped activities that best support parents and families. Membership engagement: development work to ensure that the wider ACCT membership has every opportunity to engage with the charity and be involved in shaping our work. Trustees, Responsibllltles for the Flnanclal Statements The Trustees are responsible for preparing financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the surplus or deficit for the period. In preparing these financial statements, Trustees are required to- Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to prepare the financial statements. 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. Independent Examiner The trustees have appointed Mr. Terry Scully to provide an Independent Examination Report on the accounts for the year. On behalf of the board of trustees. Helen Gilder, Chair 9th October 2025
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Autistic Children and Carers Together I report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 9-15. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act} and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Ac(. follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of independent examiner's report My examination was carried out in accordan with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as 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. Independent examine$ statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act. and * to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met., or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. T G Scully 63 Argyle Road, Sheffield, S8 9HG Date 9th October 2025
Autistic Children and Carers Together Ststement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 st March 2025 Unrestricted Restricted funds funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Notes £ Contracts Grants Donations Bank Interest 66,198 44,256 66,198 78,216 34.994 1,684 181,092 57,469 126,165 26,721 1,379 211,734 33,960 34,994 1,684 70,638 110,454 Salaries Nl and Pensions Rent rates and Room Hire Activity Delivery Costs Equipment Training Travel Volunteer costs Office costs Fundraising costs Finance and accountancy costs DBS checks Professional fees Insurance Depreciation Examiners Fees 48,579 13,511 4.694 87,371 16,572 8,872 135,950 30,083 13,566 138,865 26,945 17,166 102 2,329 43 675 3,120 872 2,354 905 1,293 1,439 3,758 350 200,216 1,019 1,019 506 2.166 1.607 2.531 859 479 1,492 610 600 78,661 172 678 2,166 1,607 2,531 859 1,957 1,492 3,400 600 195,916 1.478 2,790 117.255 Surplusl(Deficit) (8,023) (6,801) (14,824> 11,518 Total funds brought forward 94.762 25,278 120,040 108,522 Total funds carried fothrd 86.739 18,477 105,216 120,040
Autistic Children and Carers Together Balance Sheet At 31 March 2025 2025 2024 note Fixed Assets 1,825 5,225 Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand Debtors and accrued income 105,053 118,120 105,053 118,120 Current Liabilities Accruals and deferred income 1,662 1,662 3,305 3,305 Net current assets 103,391 114,815 Net Assets 105,216 120,040 Funds Restricted Unrestricted Total Funds 18,477 86,739 105,216 25,278 94,762 120,040 The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on the 20th October 2025 and signed on their behalf by: Helen Gilder, Chair 10
Autistic Children and Carers Together Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31st March 2025 Accounting Policies 1 The financial statements are prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of investments and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice . Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and wth the Charities Act 2011. a) Incoming resources Incoming resources have been induded on a receivable basis. Grants and voluntary income are accounted for in the year in which they are received unless receipt has become certain at the balance sheet date, and allocated to the period in which it applies rf appropriate. Resources restricted to a specific purpose are carried forward until spent. Other income is accrued as it becomes due. b) Resources expended ReSoUrS expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred, and include attributable VAT vthich cannot be recovered. The analysis follov a natural classification. c) Allocation of costs Costs directly related to an activity are allocated to that activity. Support costs, which are necessary to deliver an activity but do not themselves deliver the activity, are allocated in proportion to the benefrt attributaNe. Govemance costs are those costs incurred in meeting statutory and constitutional requirements. d) Restricted funds Funds are identified as restricted where they are reiVed for a specific purpose or project and where the donor may require repayment if the conditions are not met. e} Donations in kind Donations in kind or goods or services are accounted for using the trustees, estimate of their value. No value is attributed to the activities of trustees or voluntary helpers.
Autistic Children and Carers Together Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 315t March 2025 Accounting Policies - continued fj Tanglble fixed assets and depreclatlon Tangible fixed assets are included at original cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided to write off each asset over its estimated useful lrfe on a straight line basis. The applicable rates are: IT and wsual equipment 25% Notes to the A¢Unts 2 Taxation As a registered chartty, ACCT is exempt from income and capital taxes on its charitable activities. 3 Trustees. remuneration and relatèd party transactions Trustees received no remuneration. Expenses were paid in reimbursement of costs incurred on behalf of the charity. No more than £100 was involved in total. No trustees reported any interests in contracts involvtng ACCT. 4 Staff costs and numbers: 2025 2024 Wages and salaries Pension contributions Health care scheme 127.084 6,501 2,365 135.950 130,547 6,216 2,102 138,865 2025 28 2024 24 Average number of Staff (part time) No employees were paid more than £60.000. 5 Fees for examination of accounts Independent examiner 2025 2024 600 350 12
Autistic Children and Carers Together Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31st March 2025 6 Contracts 2025 2024 SCC Short break contract 66,198 57,469 The SCC contract is part of the Special Needs Inclusion Playcare servi (SNIPS) framework and funds Short Break activity places for autistic ohildren and young people at Acctivate and Teenage Club 7 Grants Unrestricted Restricted funds fund$ Total 2025 Total 2024 Ann Rylands Small Doations Scheme Co-op Local Causes Fund Cutler's Company Charitable Trust Fitton Trust Forrester Family Trust Hyman Winstone Foundation James Neill Trust Fund Kaye Charitable Trust Masonic Charitable Foundation National Lottery Reaching Communtties Olive Lawrence Charitable Trust SCC Universal Youth Grants Sheffield Parent Carer Forum Sheffield Tov4n Trust STA COMMUNITY STArters Tesco Community Grdnts Tesco Stronger Starts Trustees of Elsie Lawrence Deceased United Way Wesleyan Foundation Wharfedale Foundation 1,500 500 1,000 300 5,000 500 1,500 500 1,000 300 5.000 500 2,500 1.000 5,000 19,569 1.000 10.792 1.000 2.500 1.000 375 1,000 660 1.500 6.520 15,000 78.216 1,000 200 500 2,500 1,000 5.000 19.569 1,000 2,000 10,792 1.000 4,500 1.000 375 1.000 2,125 660 1,500 6,520 15.000 33,960 44.256 10,325 13
Autistic Children and Carers Together Notes to the Financial Ststements For the year ended 31st March 2025 Accounting Policies - continued 8 Fixed Assets IT Visual Equipment Equipment Totsl Cost At 114124 Additions At 3113125 14,485 549 15.034 14,485 549 15,034 Depreciation At 114124 Charge for the year At 3113125 9,363 3.297 12.660 9,809 3,400 13,209 103 549 Net Book Value At 3113125 At 3113124 1.825 5,122 1,825 5,225 103 9 Creditors - amounts falling due within one year 2025 2024 Taxes and pensions Trade debtors Accnjals 724 2,231 350 3,305 1.062 600 1.662 10 Analysis of Net Assets between Funds Unrestricted Restricted funds funds Totsl 2025 Tangible fixed assets Current assets Creditors falling due within one year 27 88,375 {1.663) 86,739 1,798 16,679 1,825 105,054 (1,663) 105,216 18,477 14
Autistic Children and Carers Together Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31st March 2025 11 Restricted Funds Balance at Incoming Resources 0110412024 resources èxpended Transfers Balance at 3110312025 SCC Contract James Neill Trust Fund Tesco Community Grants Hargreaves Foundation Nat. Lottery People's Projects Sheffield Parent Carer Forum SCC Universal Youth Grants Wesleyan Foundation Nat. Lottery Reaching Comm's United Way STA COMMUNITY STArters Tesco Stronger Starts Restricted Asset fund 66,198 2,500 375 (66,198) (1,040) {1,013) {1,875) (17,677) (1,500) (10,792) (3,803) (9.067) (1,500) 1,460 638 1,875 17,677 500 1,000 10,792 6,520 19,569 1,500 1,000 1,000 2,717 10,502 1,000 1,000 1,798 18,477 4,588 25,278 (2,790) 117,255 110,454 Restricted funds were received for the following purposes: SCC Contract Staff. venue and activity costs for 28 Acctivate places and 24 Teenage Club places James Neill Trust Fund Friday football coaching sessions Tesco Community Grants Towards swmming costs (hire and staff time) Hargreaves Foundation Football project expenses Nat. Lottery People's Projects Delivery costs of all young people's groups Sheffield Parent Carer Forum Stsff costs and venue hire costs for Air Haus family trips SCC Universal Youth Grants Drama club Wesleyan Foundation In-person ACCT Gaming sessions Nat. Lottery Reaching Comm's ACCT Gaming, Drama and ACCTing Out sessions plus contribution towards core Swimming pool hire and staff coordination costs To improve swimming accessibility for autistic people Friday football coaching sessions United Way STA CornmUNITY STArters Tesco Stronger Starts 15