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2023-03-31-accounts

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31st March 2023

Autism Initiatives Group Charity Number 1170634 Company Number 07120634 ANNUAL REPORT AND CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS Year ended: 31[st] March 2023

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31st March 2023

Our Mission Statement

Our mission is to meet the needs of people with autism, their families and carers by providing a range of services which are personal, professional and innovative.

Our Vision Statement

Our expectation is that people with autism can learn and develop and we support this process every single day. We will create unique services for people to enable them to have ownership of their own lives and future.

Our Philosophy

Our philosophy is such that we want people to be at the centre of their service and furthermore we:-

In order to help people become:

We work within a culture of:

With an emphasis on:

Everything we do is:

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31st March 2023

CONTENTS

Pages
Reference and Administrative Details 1
Chair’s Statement 2 - 3
Trustees’ Report (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) 4 - 33
Independent Auditor’s Report 34 - 36
Accounting Policies 37 - 40
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities 41 - 42
Company Statement of Financial Activities 43 - 44
Company and Consolidated Balance Sheets 45
Company and Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 46
Notes to the Financial Statements 47 - 69
Acknowledgements 70

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS For the year ended 31st March 2023

BOARD OF TRUSTEES B Williams Chairperson R Carter E V Slater COMPANY SECRETARY A Grainger

EXECUTIVE STAFF A Grainger Chief Executive K Silver Deputy Chief Executive T Bourke Acting National Director – Republic of Ireland E Slevin National Director – Northern Ireland C Steedman National Director - Scotland J Howard Director of Finance REGISTERED OFFICE WEBSITE Sefton House www.autisminitiatives.org Bridle Road Bootle L30 4XR REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER 1170634 07120634

AUDITORS

DSG Chartered Accountants Castle Chambers 43 Castle Street Liverpool L2 9TL

PRINCIPAL BANKERS SOLICITORS The Royal Bank of Scotland Brabners 10[TH] Floor Horton House The Plaza Exchange Flags 100 Old Hall Street Liverpool Liverpool L2 3YL L3 9QJ

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP CHAIR’S STATEMENT For the year ended 31st March 2023

Chair’s Statement

This financial year has proved to be another challenging one for many charitable organisations working within social care, especially set against inadequate funding and spiralling costs.

Whether as a consequence of Covid or Brexit, recruitment has been particularly difficult in many of our services, and as during Covid we have been able to rely on our brilliant staff teams to maintain both the quality of services and the positive outcomes for our beneficiaries. Development as well didn’t stop during this period, the organisation grew its income by £5.6 million during this financial year.

I am pleased to report however that due to investment in systems and people, and innovative thinking and planning from our Human Resource colleagues, we saw a good improvement in the second half of this year. Further investment in employee pay and benefits, also helped ease the situation, and our HR team continues to analyse risks and trends within the sector and develop proactive strategies alongside their operational colleagues.

The way the organisation has bounced back in so many ways from Covid has been amazing, whether this has been in the development of new and innovative services, renewed training initiatives, restructure and review of senior management responsibilities, our continued thinking and development of our specialist support, this has been a privilege to witness. And of course the Board and myself are particularly interested to see and hear about the progress of the people supported, and we heard many instances during this year of the impact of our specialist service on the lives of autistic people and their families.

Our fundraising teams support to services and projects has increased this year, and we have seen great improvements in how the fundraising team have supported colleagues to access fundraising income that both enhance the lives of autistic people and their families. The Walk for Autism campaign was another successful event, the money wholly applied to projects across the UK.

The organisation continues to work within strategic aims which are reviewed yearly and this is a fantastic and collaborative piece of work led by our Deputy CEO and Director of Autism Practice, Dr Kate Silver:

Our key words for this financial year:

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP CHAIR’S STATEMENT For the year ended 31st March 2023

Our future Aims, building on from last year:

  1. To embed our culture of collaborating, listening and a passion for learning to ensure continuous improvement of our services.

  2. To be a kind, understanding and aspirational employer and support provider where our expectations are clear - a Charity where connections between people are valued, where colleagues feel confident in making a positive impact through their work, and where people feel confident in their support.

  3. To ensure shared understanding and development of our autism specialism and the benefits, outcomes and costs of this.

  4. To ensure good operational and practice leadership of all services and effective performance of each team.

  5. To ensure that our services are sustainable, safe and socially minded.

  6. To use understanding in work with all external stakeholders (commissioners, autistic people, families) to understand their needs and respond to these through development of innovative solutions to support Quality of Life and wellbeing of autistic people.

I would like to thank our brilliant Executive, Senior management and Teams, and all those people within the organisation who support people to deliver effective service and build our success and reputation as a responsive, flexible, innovative, and specialist care provider.

Brian Williams

Chair of Board of Trustees

July 2023

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) For the year ended 31st March 2023

INTRODUCTION

The trustees are pleased to present their Report and Financial Statements for Autism Initiatives Group (“the Charity”) and its subsidiaries (“the Group”) for the year ended 31st March 2023 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and strategic report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charity’s Memorandum and Articles, the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, applicable law and 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 (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES and ACTIVITIES

The objectives of the Charity are:-

‘To promote the relief, personal development and education of children and persons diagnosed with an autistic spectrum condition and/or non-communicating persons with autistic tendencies.’

The Charity interprets the objects today as providing assessment, education, employment, support and meaningful activity to autistic people, their families and commissioners of services.

There has been no change in the above during the year.

The Group works to a specific philosophy and within an understanding of the autistic person informed by our 5 Point Star Approach. This involves understanding, motivating and communicating with the people we work with alongside establishing the nature of their sensory perception and managing expectations.

The vision of the Group is to:

Provide specialist services to support Autistic people to learn and develop.

Create unique services enabling people to have ownership of their own lives and futures.

The strategies employed to achieve the Group's objectives are:

Autism Initiatives Group undertakes regular and comprehensive reviews of its services that involve its users and stakeholders. Trustees and staff at all levels participate in self-assessment reviews on an annual basis seeking to identify areas for continuous improvement and growth.

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

OBJECTIVES and ACTIVITIES (continued)

PUBLIC BENEFIT

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

Autism Initiatives Group achieves public benefit through the education, treatment, and support of autistic people and their families. The trustees are confident that the charitable aims of Autism Initiatives Group and its charitable subsidiaries satisfy the principles of public benefit as defined in the Charities Act 2006.

HOW THE ORGANISATION’S ACTIVITIES DELIVER PUBLIC BENEFIT

The Group's charitable activities focus solely on meeting the needs of autistic people and these activities are undertaken to further the charitable purposes for the public benefit.

The Group considers equal access to its services is an important issue. Autism Initiatives Group has an Equal Opportunity Policy and a Diversity Statement ensuring it has a culture, (which is reinforced through its learning and development programme), that guarantees equality of access to its services regardless of gender, religious conviction, disability, ethnicity or sexual orientation. The trustees believe equal access to its services is vital to the Charity's success, and that successful outcomes must be shared by all communities that use its services. Autism Initiatives Group aims to ensure that the Charity and its subsidiaries are fully accessible to everyone who receives a service from the organisation and to everyone who works for it.

Education and support services are accessed through referrals across the country and fees are paid by the relevant local authority, either directly or indirectly through personal budgets, which people receive after being assessed by their local authority.

The Charity provides specialist and personalised services to autistic people, which include:

Referrals to its services come from a variety of sources. People with autism spectrum conditions and their families sometimes self refer, or are supported through referrals from social or health care professionals. Referrals will also originate directly from health, social work or education.

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ACTIVITIES

To deliver its objectives the organisation provides a broad range of services, through its charitable subsidiaries, which include the following:

EMPLOYMENT POLICIES

The employees of Autism Initiatives Group are its most important resource since their performance determines the quality of services provided. Once again, as indicated by the numerous regulatory inspections that have been completed, the employees of the Group have made a significant contribution to its continued success.

During the year significant training was undertaken to ensure employees reach and maintain the skills required enabling them to perform effectively, and for the organisation to deliver its objectives. This includes employees also undertaking vocational qualifications, supported by the organisation.

The organisation has a partnership with a Trade Union and employees are consulted on issues of concern to them by means of a regular Consultative Committee and team meetings.

In accordance with the Group’s equal opportunities policy, the organisation has long established fair employment practices in the recruitment, selection, retention and training of staff with disabilities. STRATEGIC REPORT The strategic report below includes a Section 172 statement, summary of achievements and performance, a financial review, plans for future periods and a summary of principal risks and uncertainties and plans for future periods.

Section 172 statement

In accordance with Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 each of the trustees acts in a way that he or she considers, in good faith, would most likely promote the success of the Group for the benefit of its stakeholders as a whole. The trustees have regard, amongst other matters, to the:

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Section 172 statement (cont.)

Autism Initiatives Group depends on the trust and confidence of its stakeholders to operate sustainably in the long term. The Group seeks to put its service users best interests first, invests in its employees, supports the communities in which it operates and strives to work positively alongside people with autism, their families and carers providing specialist services tailored to each individual whilst maintaining the financial stability of the organisation. Section 172 considerations are embedded in decision making at Board level and throughout the Group. Issues, factors and stakeholders which the trustees have considered when discharging their duty under section 172(1) are detailed throughout this Trustees Report along with the organisation’s vision, purpose, and values together with the risks facing the organisation and the mitigating action taken.

When making decisions the Trustees review both the immediate and longer term implications of the decision and look to balance financial and compliance considerations with the need to deliver our mission to the benefit of autistic people and families.

In particular the Trustees consider:

Impact on employees

Autism Initiatives Group views its employees as its most important resource, it is their performance that determines the quality of services provided and the ability of the Charity to meet its core objectives successfully.

Staff training and welfare are at the forefront of our operations with training being maintained throughout a staff member’s employment with the organisation and support structures are made available for continuous access.

The organisation has a partnership with a Trade Union and employees are consulted on issues of concern to them by means of a regular Consultative Committee and team meetings.

In accordance with the Group’s equal opportunities policy, the organisation has long established fair employment practices in the recruitment, selection, retention and training of staff with disabilities. Trustees and staff at all levels participate in self-assessment reviews on an annual basis seeking to identify areas for continuous improvement and growth.

Stakeholders

The Group works to a specific philosophy and within an understanding of the autistic person informed by our 5 Point Star Approach. This involves understanding, motivating and communicating with the people we work with alongside establishing the nature of their sensory perception and managing expectations. Maximising the benefit of our services to our Service Users and ensuring they live the most independent lives possible is our main priority.

Throughout our response to the pandemic there has been a focus on maintaining as much normality as possible for the beneficiaries, and ensuring that their quality of life is maintained, where there have been difficulties for people supported and families we have worked together to find solutions to these.

Autism Initiatives Group undertakes regular and comprehensive reviews of its services that involve its users and stakeholders. Results of these reviews are reported to the Trustees.

The wider community

When planning our activities Autism Initiatives aims to be a helpful provider, keen to support Local and Health Authorities, Trusts in Northern Ireland and the HSE in Ireland to meet their obligations. Similarly, we have evidenced good partnership working with stakeholders and families, being flexible and innovative is at the heart of our strategic aims.

Many of Autism Initiatives Group services, such as our School, OSSME services, Resource centres and One Stop Shops are an important part of their local communities and seek to maintain a visible presence in local community life.

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ACHIEVEMENTS and PERFORMANCE & FUTURE PLANS

The Autism Initiatives Group comprises, Autism Initiatives Group (AIG) and its following subsidiary charities:

Some of the individual achievements and performance of the individual charities within the Group, are as follows, more detailed information can be found in the individual annual reports of each entity in the group

Autism Initiatives UK

In the first quarter of this year and with the launch of the Governments ‘Living with Covid19 plan’ and the easing of Covid restrictions, we saw a rise in Covid related staff absence over the last quarter. To support infection prevention and control, we continued with the organisation’s Covid absence scheme, meaning that staff received full pay when absent with Covid. Following easing of restrictions in Social Care from April 1st, published in a Government document describing a renewed focus on infection prevention and control (IPC) in Adult Social Care, including all infection, not just Covid, we reviewed the IPC requirements and implemented plans to meet the new IPC requirements. This year Infection Prevention and control (IPC) audits have remained a priority of the local authorities and we have received good feedback from audits undertaken in our services.

As things have been getting back to normal contact monitoring has started to increase. We had a contact monitoring visit from Sefton Council to the Cedars Resource Centre. Feedback was very good, praising the attention to detail in our documents, the way we use the space and the meaningful personalisation of the service we provide.

“We received compliments from different stakeholders during the year, particularly in relation to our understanding of the people we support and our commitment to them. Below are examples from families given during stakeholder feedback:

We are really pleased with the support X and ourselves have been given during this very difficult time. Staff are unfailingly polite, helpful and communicative . They keep cheerful even when things are challenging.

Staff have gone out of their way to ensure we have had contact with X while keeping everyone safe.

We are confident X is in safe hands . Thank you for your thoughtfulness and for keeping X part of our lives. Thanks to all those that understand and "get" X traits, you are all thought of very highly.”

We received more compliments from commissioners who commented on the quality and specialism of our services. We are increasingly recognised as a specialist provider whose understanding and approaches result in good outcomes for the people we support, particularly in Lancashire and Liverpool. This is leading to development of our type and range of services.

We started the process of establishing local Quality and Practice leadership to reduce dependence on a small number of people based at ‘Head Office’. We are also having regular meetings to ensure that the Assistant Directors start well in their new role and work to agreed priorities. These changes were welcomed by everyone.

Retention remains a priority and practices have been reviewed to establish a retention strategy which focuses on encouraging staff who are leaving the organisation to provide feedback. The Leaver Questionnaire has been reviewed and updated to capture as much information as possible. The questionnaire is undertaken by either the Business Development Managers or HR Advisers and is an opportunity to obtain vital information on why staff choose to leave Autism Initiatives. Feedback is discussed at HR BP meetings with Area Managers and also in the HR & Recruitment Strategy meetings.

As part of our review of recruitment processes we have included feedback from people supported, for example:

‘ I am currently employed by Autism Initiatives as an Additional Interview Co-ordinator I have also been supported within a supported living setting by Autism Initiatives for over 13 years. My role initially developed from me taking an interest in the recruitment process and attending some of the recruitment days and taking a minimal part in the new employee interview process on a voluntary basis.

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ACHIEVEMENTS and PERFORMANCE & FUTURE PLANS (continued)

I found my views on the recruitment process were listened too and adaptions have been made as a result of ongoing feedback I have provided to make the recruitment process focus not only on Autism as a condition and the legal side of support work such as safeguarding but also on person specific needs for each individual and service so that the way a person uses communication, their ability to cope with specific needs for each person and service, and to include a focus on what is most important to each individual within a service is all taken into account when placing a new support worker into a service.

I have worked directly with Service managers to compile recruitment data sheets which have recently evolved from one that just looked at behavioural needs, personal care needs and hobbies & interests to a new format that looks at the size of a service, behavioural needs and sensory needs, personal care needs in greater depth such as hands on support and non-contact personal care e.g., prompting and oversight. Instead of just listing hobbies and interests I asked the managers what was most important to the people they support to ensure those fundamental needs are met in the best way possible. The most important addition has been the addition of a section focusing on the way people who are supported communicate to ensure they get the best from the people that support them. I am always aware that I need to be respectful of a person’s privacy and pride myself on maintaining GDPR.

I attend all the local area recruitment events and feel I can tell potential employees how their role impacts people like me and others on the Autistic spectrum and what a benefit that support has made to my life.

I am involved in the interviewing process on a weekly basis, and I will focus my questions on service and person specific needs and consult with managers after the interview to decide which people best fit the needs of those that we support.

Recently another person supported wanted to get involved in recruiting their own staff and I met this person and was able to talk with them about the interviewing process. They then sat in on some interviews and posed their own question about something that was important to them. Since that first event I met up with that person again and we went into greater depth over the entire interview questions and process, and I explained why we ask what we ask and what answers we are looking for. This person has since gone on to do their own recruitment for their own staff alongside service managers which not only has given them an immediate opportunity to express in their words what is important to themselves but also it has given them an important first introduction to potential staff to start the process of building up trust and a working relationship.’

During our monthly risk and strategy meeting this year, we have recognised that our electronic data management and reporting systems continue to be an area of weakness for us and we have work in progress in response to this, but we anticipate that further resources will be needed.

While recruitment remains significantly improved, retention remains an area of concern for us and we have a number of measures in place to support retention.

We have enjoyed our useful discussions in our monthly SMT meetings where one person leads a review of our Aims relating to their area of responsibility. For example, in September we reviewed learning from Safeguarding alerts and agreed a number of actions to strengthen our safeguarding learning and practices. Using data as a ‘tool for learning’ is one of our aims in several areas of our work.

We further revised the induction process, three established Managers and three new Managers with new starters have trialled the new induction programme and feedback informed the final review and development of training. Staff engagement has been added to the Induction Support for Managers Workshop where managers are encouraged to share ideas on how best to engage staff on their first day and keep them engaged throughout their induction period.

We have made good progress with the development of our Learning and Development (L and D) database with the support of the IT consultant. Members of L and D and the Area Manager team have been working together in a focus group resulting in feedback and suggestions from individual AMs and feedback via the SMT regarding changes required to current reports from the L and D database.

We delivered a session to the SMT on how to listen in order that staff feel listened to, to support their feeling of value and problem solving and so support retention. This was a very successful session which has already enabled people to make changes to their approaches to listening. Further sessions are planned.

In August, 6 people will be completing the Sign along one day Foundation fast track course and a 4 day tutor training course.

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ACHIEVEMENTS and PERFORMANCE & FUTURE PLANS (continued)

Autism Initiatives have been working in collaboration with a local charity called The Feel Good Factory. This charity provides support to local partners in the delivery of healthy eating sessions. They also have access to a community garden site leased to them by the local authority.

Following a meeting between AI and The Feel Good Factory it was agreed that the people we support could access this garden space. It was agreed that there would be designated areas for AI staff and people supported, shared areas to support with social interaction, encouraging people to get involved with projects and a potential to develop enterprising activities for those accessing resource centres. Access to the garden is also flexible and creates further opportunity for those who don’t have a garden and may benefit from the space provided.

Autism Initiatives continue to work with the Feel Good Factory and in collaboration with Southport college have been offered an opportunity to access a foundation course on healthy eating. There is an opportunity for people to continue onto a qualification.

Prior to this offer we piloted two sessions within The Cedars to determine how the people we support could benefit from this. The sessions were led by the Feel Good Factory and staff from A Great Little Place ( Autism Initiatives local social enterprise). The initiative provided simple yet effective food preparation and cooking workshops to enable people supported and staff to learn new kitchen skills and utilise these in their everyday lives.

Outcomes generated for the people we support included:

Working in collaboration with Liverpool County Football Association, Autism Initiatives was eligible for a start-up grant of £500 and 20 weeks of funding for the football sessions. The objective was to set up and sustain weekly football session in the Liverpool area for autistic people. Autism Initiatives committed further funding to provide 52 weeks of football sessions and funding for an activity and engagement lead to complete a formal qualification (level one football coaching). Both people we support with an interest in football and their support staff attend weekly sessions in a local football facility.

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ACHIEVEMENTS and PERFORMANCE & FUTURE PLANS (continued)

The LFC tour gave an opportunity to people we support who attend weekly football sessions within AI to attend a professional football stadium, some for the first time. The LFC tour helped to further connect both AI and the local community through partnership work keeping the PWS connected to football and the local community, and to continue engaging in weekly football sessions.

The stadium tour included all key areas that fans wish to visit such as press room, dressing rooms, the famous ‘This is Anfield’ sign, Managerial Dugout and The Kop Stand. The group also had access to The LFC Story, a museum which is showcasing LFCs newest exhibition: The Boot Room: The Epic Story of Jürgen Klopp's Dream Team.

Feedback from a parent:

“After the recent trips out AD (PWS) has taken part in, we thought that you and the team would like to know how much AD has enjoyed these days and how they have had an effect on him and us. AD has been attending The Cedars for over 3yrs now and in that time he's not wanted or attempted to venture outside the building. AD has always felt safer in his own little "bubble. AD began to play football in the garden at the centre. This is an achievement in itself, this has continued but to a different level. The next "mind blowing" event was AD going on a day trip to Anfield, holy ground, the pilgrimage for all Liverpool fans. AD, if you haven't guessed is the number one fan. Again he continually made comments about the trip. For us, and AD brother and sister these are amazing events that have had huge benefits for AD. He's recalling the day, telling us what he's done, who he's been with and what he's done. It's fabulous to hear him speak, to see him smiling and more importantly he seems to have gained a bit more confidence, that it's OK to go outside and that he's safe outside with the people he knows, that he can have fun doing the things he likes best, football!!!”.

On the 14th January, both the regions of Liverpool and Blackpool came together to enjoy a friendly and social football match.

The 14[th] January saw Liverpool host Blackpool in a friendly game of football and then going on to attend the Tranmere Rovers football game against Walsall afterwards.

This was then reciprocated by Blackpool on the 18[th] April, as Blackpool hosted a friendly football match before both sides attended the AFC Fylde v Leamington football match.

Local Groups were also set up for people supported by our Health and Wellbeing Lead (this post has been funded for 3 years using Walk for Autism Monies), for example in Blackpool, we also set up football Sessions – Running every Friday 13:30 – 15:30 at Stanley park and open to all people supported who wish to attend.

The session involves 30 Minutes of warm ups and training followed by a match against another group of people who they have connected with whilst attending the sessions, the match will normally last around 45 – 60 minutes followed by a warm down session and shooting drills. This group has incorporated People supported from different supported living settings, creating new friendships and connections across our services.

Coffee Mornings – Weekly Coffee mornings were also established to take place at The Solaris Centre, where people from multiple supported living settings across Autism Initiatives can get together and spend time with people to make new friendships and connections they may have not had the opportunity to meet. Any People we support who have a keen interest in baking are encouraged to come along with food they have baked in the hope of giving the People supported ownership of the session in a different way.

Gaming Sessions – Autism Initiatives has recently purchased an X Box series 5, Nintendo switch, a 100 inch projector and a variety of different games, this weekly session was set up as a lot of People we support enjoy gaming which allows an opportunity to bring together People supported who otherwise may never have met, boosting the People supported social interaction and friendships with likeminded individuals. These sessions have been popular with a lot of the People we support across the area and have already been successful in People we support making friendships which go beyond the Gaming session.

Our Health and Wellbeing lead has now started to take these sessions to various supported living settings in order to generate more interest, as some people we support would enjoy the session but may become anxious to attend sessions at The Solaris.

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ACHIEVEMENTS and PERFORMANCE & FUTURE PLANS (continued)

Quiz Nights – A Monthly Quiz night was set up at The Solaris Centre, The quiz nights feature a number of different rounds and topics handpicked by the People supported who attend. Rounds so far have included, Sci- Fi, Gaming, Cristiano Ronaldo and Star Trek amongst others, again this has been a great opportunity to boost social interactions.

Local Walking Groups – Autism Initiatives developed weekly local walking groups for all people we support across all services, these sessions are currently taking place around Stanley Park such as Marton Mere and The DeVere walking paths. Outcomes for the PWS focused on through the health and well-being lead role are based around the five ways to well-being which include;

This year we also presented to Blackpool commissioners regarding a particular piece of work:

A person we support has fulfilled a lifelong dream of learning how to fly. The person supported has currently had three flying lessons with further lessons booked and his instructors have said that he is doing very well and is quite the natural and picking up instructions very quickly. The person supported has invested in air charts and check lists which is official reading material to help him achieve the goal of obtaining a pilot license. The owners of the flying school requested and was granted permission by the person we support to take some photos for use on their official Facebook page which he was happy to oblige.

The person we support had the following to say - “I have wanted to do flying lessons for a very long time, to be more specific, I have wanted to do them since I was 6. This is when I went on my first flight with TUI to the Canary islands in Spain. I loved the experience of flying and immediately thought how much I would like to fly a plane. Before being supported by AI, I didn’t get any encouragement to do the things that I wanted to do, especially flying lessons. This is because my previous staff team had very little confidence in my ability and didn’t want to be in an aircraft, if I was in control. However the Staff team I have had since being with Autism Initiatives have been very supportive and helpful making it easier for me to achieving my goals, such as starting Flying lessons.

Since starting my flying lessons I have been much happier in general, but it has also given me more confidence allowing me to interact more with others as well as being more open to potential changes in life. Since being with Autism Initiatives I have noticed a massive reduction in restrictions. This new found freedom, paired with my new, supportive staff team has enabled me to achieve goals that would have been extremely hard/impossible with previous carers. Because of this my Quality of life has improved drastically. I look forward to seeing what else I can achieve with the support of Autism Initiatives”.

Other examples of our achievements for beneficiaries include:

Twelve months ago, Autism Initiatives began supporting A. who was new to supported living and was finding it difficult to adjust. The person presented many behaviours that put them at risk and had little meaningful connection within their life. A. really enjoyed drawing however was very worried about sharing their work. Like many aspects of A’s life, they lacked confidence in their ability. The team built on this and wanted to increase the persons connections, self-esteem and confidence, and identified that through the persons passion for drawing, it was possible to build upon the key elements of the persons support. As more time was spent with the person, it was found that each picture had a great story behind it. The person seemed to want to share their drawings and stories but was worried about peoples reaction. Through this, a ‘safe space’ was established where the person would be able to express their interest with like-minded people. Following this, another person we support with similar interests was identified to join the group.

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ACHIEVEMENTS and PERFORMANCE & FUTURE PLANS (continued)

B. lived and is supported in another one of AI’s services. B really enjoys creative writing and poetry. This person really enjoyed sharing their work but was often apprehensive, worrying about negative reactions to their work. It was identified that both these people could be helpful to each other. It was discussed that bringing these two people together would be the perfect opportunity to grow the ‘safe space’ project. The idea of bringing them together to share their work was discussed with both people. Bravely, they agreed to try. On the first session, both people were very quiet and it took all the skill from the staff member to start conversation. Through this, both people began to share the work they had brought with them. The reaction was positive and interactive from both people supported. Both people felt valued and enjoyed sharing their art and experiences. Immediately, the team saw A. purchasing new pencils, new note pads, paints and various other tools to indulge their creative skills. B. reported the motivation to do new pieces of work, something they had not explored for years.

As the project moved forward, the group was self-named ‘The Creative Group’. The group felt this broad title best incorporated their wide range of creative skills.

Since the group has begun, the following outcomes have been achieved;

In January of 2023 we were introduced to ‘at home safari’ at Mere Brow Community Resource Centre. There have been huge progressions in the research surrounding the link between animal-assisted therapies and positive correlations in people's mental health and well-being. This is in keeping with AI’s Strategic Aims which refers specifically to the work we can do as a charity to better support the mental health and well-being of the people we support and staff. At home safari provided details of the services they offer and a meeting was arranged with the At Home Safari team and managers from the West Lancashire services.

The first session was very well received by people supported in attendance and lasted for an hour. After the initial session a meeting was put in place with At Home Safari to gather feedback and to ascertain whether any changes needed to be made to how we structured the sessions. At Home Safari suggested breaking up the sessions into two half hour sessions. This was due to the high uptake of the invite, breaking the sessions down would mean that we could reduce numbers In the groups attending, ensuring that they were able to gain a positive experience from the activity.

A further six, half hour sessions were delivered over the following weeks, with feedback being positive. Particularly for one person supported who had previously had access to the site therapy dog. Historically, It was always very clear that this person benefited from being around animals. They often had a calming effect on her, when an animal was present the PWS would sit and interact with the animal by handling them or petting them and would engage in this for much longer than she would engage with other activities. Different animals were brought to each of the sessions and this included some insects.

Since the sessions ended the person supported mentioned above has been to a variety of different petting zoos in both the local and wider community. This has been incorporated into her activity plan and she appears to look forward to the activity, always choosing it in favour of any other activities that are offered. This person has also been accessing a horse-riding stable for people with disabilities for approximately 18 months. Staff have observed visible excitement and happiness from the person when in the presence of animals and the at home safari gave her and her peers the opportunity to experience and learn about different animals.

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Outcomes of Project:

New Services Opened in the Year

Throughout this financial year, we have continued to receive referrals for our services as a result of good working relationships with commissioners and through completion of bids. We discussed requirements with commissioners and planned different types of service, including ‘intensive respite’ in Liverpool, flexible outreach services aimed to support young people to avoid admission to psychiatric inpatient services, assessment services and specialist outreach services requiring greater clinical supervisions.

Liverpool and Blackpool remained our areas of greatest development, but this year has also seen recent meetings with commissioners in Lancashire and Sefton resulting in further referrals to us. We closed one of our children’s homes last year and Sefton commissioned a supported living service for young adults, after extensive refurbishment, this was achieved by the end of the financial year.

We have continued to grow in numbers and types of services. We now have 127 services either open, or planned to open very soon and we recognised that in order to support continued future development, we required a review of our management structure. We know the value of strong local leadership and of personalisation of support to local area teams, particularly in relation to staff engagement and to retention, and we know that this is also valued by local commissioners. Therefore, in December we appointed three Assistant Directors to join our leadership team. They will oversee the Lancashire/Blackpool, Sefton/Liverpool/Wirral and Warrington/St Helens/Trafford/Tameside areas. We have also appointed new members to the Area Manager team, most of whom were previously ‘Developmental Area Managers’, meaning that they were well prepared for their new role.

In Southport we had a children’s home. Working in collaboration with key stakeholders, commissioners and the regulators the accommodation was deregistered and designed to meet the individual needs of the people referred. Reconfiguration included thinking about the space and how this could be used differently. The plan was to enable the tenants to have space to themselves and space to connect on their terms. Self-contained areas were allocated to each tenant including installation of a bespoke wet room for one individual. Two of the young people residing within the children’s home remained through transition into adulthood. Planning and renovations were funded by Autism Initiatives. In Liverpool we adapted a bungalow to create a single tenancy supported living.

New properties were also purchased in partnership with HALO housing association. The properties comprise two bungalows with two bedrooms in each and designed for two tenants in each property. One of the bungalows was purchased for a person we support whose needs had drastically changed following a significant decline in her mobility and health and therefore required level access accommodation. The person had remained an inpatient at the local hospital on a delayed discharge. Following multidisciplinary meetings, it was deemed in the persons best interest to continue to be supported by Autism Initiatives who were the preferred provider. Following these meeting it was agreed that one of the bungalows would be converted to a single tenancy and would be adapted to meet the needs of the person . To ensure a smooth transition from hospital to her new home, a detailed transition plan was implemented and supported by the practice support team.

In Sefton we adapted another bungalow for shared supported living. This development consisted of a fully accessible bungalow designed and adapted with Assured Living . This property was specifically designed to meet the needs of the two people supported who were referred by Sefton Complex Care Team. Both persons have physical disabilities, both of who rely on wheelchair usage to live a fulfilled and healthy life. The bungalow was designed in consultation and collaboration with the people supported and key stakeholders. Autism Initiatives Practice Support Team, Health and Safety, Learning and development, were all involved in this project as with all new projects. Both individuals successfully transitioned into their new home.

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Use of Fundraising

The fundraising team were provided with an opportunity to apply to the Motability Foundation to provide transport to geographical areas in need of additional transport. In discussion with the SMT, the fundraising team discussed areas of need with feedback indicating additional transport would be beneficial to the people we support in a number of locations. Following a substantial bid to the Motability Foundation, four 7 seater minibuses and a Motability car were able to be purchased.

These vehicles are now utilised regularly in; Liverpool, Blackpool, Middlesbrough and two at Peterhouse school, providing opportunity to access the community and live a better quality of life.

Measurable outcomes achieved through use of the funded 7 seater in Blackpool: Blackpool – 25 autistic children in Blackpool have increased access to new people and community places. Blackpool – 35 autistic adults in Blackpool have improved health & wellbeing and increased choice and control over community access. Visits – groups meeting at the Solaris centre, 161 Bristol & The Studios, medical appointments, football matches, Lake District, Fleetwood Willow Garden. Plus – Shopping & Supermarkets & tailing people as they get used to public transport, picking up from the bus stop.

Measurable outcomes achieved through use of the funded 7 seater in Liverpool: Liverpool – 20 families / children overcome poor transport access. Liverpool – 35 adults have access to new people and places. Visits – MANNA Hydro Therapy, Twinkle House, Wheels for All, Brockholes nature Reserve, West Kirkby Marina, Wepre Park Deeside, Rivington Pike, SPACE in Preston, shopping centres, supermarkets. Plus – Shopping centres & supermarkets.

Measurable outcomes achieved through use of the funded 7 seater in Teesside: Teesside – 8 autistic children / families overcome poor transport access. Teesside – 8 autistic adults have improved health & wellbeing. Visits – Beamish, Redcar and Ropner, Preston, Whnyard, Hardwick, Ingleby Barwick & John Whitehead Park, Clip n Climb at the Forum, Dorman Museum, Billingham Ice Skating, Ragworth. Plus - shopping centres, supermarkets.

Measurable outcomes achieved through use of the funded 7 seater & 5 seater at Peterhouse:

Southport – 70 autistic children have increased access to community education. Southport – 12 autistic children have access to flexible education. Visits – Atkinson, Sefton Parish Church, Rufford Old Hall, Little Theatre, Cinema, Martin Mere, Marshside, Sefton Coastal Path, Red Squirrels at Formby, Sandhills Nature Reserve, Team Sports activities, Tenpin Southport, Farmer Ted’s, Air Show, World Fireworks. Plus – Social enterprise placements, Shops & Supermarkets & Flexible Education home visits.

Future Plans

A date has been arranged for the team and staff to attend AFC Fylde for a training session, AFC Fylde have also offered one of their trainers to work with the people supported. Our leads on this are discussing plans with the trainer to understand the people we work with to ensure the session will make sense for the people we support and give them the best experience. AFC Fylde have also been kind enough to provide food on the day for all the people attending.

Chapel Court is a building consisting of nine apartments. Chapel Court was developed following consultation with local commissioners who identified a shortfall in apartments within the Liverpool area. This is a new development opened this year, with one person due to move in and others in the referral process with moving in dates imminent.

Apartments have been developed in line with the market position statement of people sharing buildings whilst also providing individual spaces for people to live independently. People identified will be younger adults who will be supported to transition from school and home life to independent living.

In Liverpool, in the Caldway Drive area a new intensive short breaks service will be established due to open in December 2023. This will be a preventative short breaks service for autistic adults who present with significant risk to themselves and/or others. This service is designed to prevent a hospital admission, or at risk of placement breakdown for those residing in the North West.

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The development will have level access throughout with individual private garden spaces to utilise, individual entrance and exits and close to local transport links in the Liverpool area. Autism Initiatives are working in collaboration with Liverpool city region commissioners, Transformation of Care Team and Merseycare.

Along with providing a preventative short breaks service for autistic people Autism Initiatives are also committed to ensuring that we include green initiatives in new developments this includes sustainable designs, focusing on materials, transport, water and waste. The service will utilise durable energy efficient building materials concentrating on insulation, air quality and temperature which will have a positive effect on lighting, heating and mobility.

The team are committed to strong partnership work with commissioners to provide a range of bespoke services to autistic people, which will see further development of supported living services developed alongside the people we support and our housing partners.

Further innovative work will continue in our education services and social enterprise, offering vocational experiences and learning opportunities across a range of environments.

Autism Initiatives are also committed to the development of its current school, Peterhouse, which will see either substantial refurbishment or the building of a new school on a different site.

Scotland

During the year, as with many other social care organisations we experienced significant challenges to staff recruitment. We invested in increasing our Recruitment team, to ensure we were more responsive and our processes take the shortest amount of time to on-board people. We also increased our efforts to recruit in different ways – via Social Media; through the AI website; information leaflets in local Community Centres and Libraries; events within our premises and through word of mouth.

We continued to have positive relationships with Commissioners – from areas we are currently working in, but also from areas out with. They have sought advice on service delivery, or wanted to know more about what we deliver as part of their Strategic Planning. We are viewed as a trusted provider, and there is a desire for us to develop further across areas.

We are working with one hospital in particular in order to help the future transition of one of their patients – our Concierge Model would be helpful to many in a delayed discharge position.

We continued to offer a wide range of services to meet the very individualised needs of autistic people. Our One Stop Shops continued to grow and expand the range of services they offered. In 2022-23 we had 5,870 people using these services – Number 6 – 4,202; Highland – 925; Tayside – 743.

Our Diagnostic service continued to grow and expand into new areas – in 2022-23 we received 743 referrals for autism assessment.

We continued to support CAMHS referrals for 16-18yr olds, and increased our delivery of this service.

With Scottish Government funding, we delivered a hugely successful National Post Diagnostic service. This was a remote eight-session programme to support those with a diagnosis of autism.

We have a wide range of training offered to staff. Annual Training Needs Analysis takes place. In addition to mandatory training we have a suite of training, which aims to increase people’s knowledge and understanding of autism. In addition to training our staff, we also deliver training to some external agencies – including the Scottish Procurator Fiscal Department. Feedback on this training has been excellent, with positive evaluations being given - “Your sessions are changing lives…” Procurator Fiscal Depute.

Training Forums have been provided for all trainers to attend and learn skills in the delivery of training sessions and workshops. It’s a forum which provides support to the trainers and promotes a cohesive team. 55 staff were undertaking SQA qualifications in this time period - SVQ 3, SVQ 4, PDAs.

We provided new 24-hr Housing Support and Care-at-Home services to three people who moved out of a shared living settings into their own, single-tenancy properties.

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We re-modelled a shared living service, to reduce the numbers of tenants, to improve the sensory and social environment for those living there. We have been delighted by the response to the Walk for Autism Campaign. This has provided our Scotland One Stop Shops with essential funds to continue providing the widest range of Post-Diagnostic services across Scotland.

Our University Team have provided some wonderful support services to autistic people undertaking University and College courses. The teams approach varies dependant on the need of the student and ranges from ‘light touch’ - checking in with students on a weekly basis; being the conduit between the student and the University; study support; supporting the student at lectures; helping them with social communication; managing relationships to managing student life, in general. A number of students have successfully graduated this year.

We also developed a Young Persons Service – 16yrs-24yrs, and developed a Young Person’s Late Diagnosis Groups, alongside groups for gender minority people.

An emergency situation occurred in a property we rented from a Housing Association - there was a carbon monoxide leak. Four people we supported had to be supported to move out of their home overnight – shortly before Christmas and in freezing temperatures. This was a fabulous example of everyone working together – families; people we support and staff, to make this period of time as positive and as stress-free as it could be.

Some examples of the support we have provided and the impact of this:

A. is 34 years old and was referred for an autism assessment after she was signed off from work with stress and anxiety. Due to watching a TV programme and reading blogs by autistic women, she felt that she might be autistic – a lot of what was being said, resonated with her.

She met with one of our assessment team on four occasions to talk about her experiences throughout her life – what was difficult for her, and her social relationships and how she managed at work. This was a very therapeutic process for A as she was able to talk about things she never had before, as she felt safe and listened to. “The staff understood me and helped me express things I'm not keen to say out loud. Even before the diagnosis you did help me think about myself differently, in a more positive way”.

Following her diagnosis A. participated in a Late Diagnosis group (LDG) and was able to learn more about her diagnosis and learn more about herself. A described that she now has a better understanding of what she needs and how to balance her health and employment and has been able to successfully return to work.

A reported that her confidence has greatly improved and she found the information she learned through both the diagnosis and her attendance at the late diagnosis group have helped her relationships with friends and family. She no longer feels guilty or ashamed if she has to take time for herself. Even when people visit her home she might have to take herself off to her bedroom for five minutes to be alone and recharge. Having the diagnosis has enabled her to explain to those around her why she needs this time and she no longer worries about being perceived as rude.

“It's such a relief to have a diagnosis”. Personal Outcomes:

Self-understanding, self-compassion

The ability to explain herself to others

Improved mental health and wellbeing

Return to work

Increased finances – due to returning to work

Improvement in personal relationships

Reduce social isolation

Support for self-management of long- term condition

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J started receiving 24-hr support from Autism Initiatives following the closure of the long-stay hospital he had lived in for several decades. He coped with the move to his new home in the community well and benefited from the reduced amount of people he had to live with – from about 25 to four other people. He benefited from 1:1 support and was able to do what he wanted, when he wanted, due to his new environment being less restrictive than the institution he previously lived in. J’s quality of life markedly improved over the time he spent living in the Autism Initiatives’ supported living. However, as he got older he showed signs of increased anxiety relating to being around other tenants, and the noisy and busy environment – the sensory environment and the social environment was no longer meeting his needs. Behaviours of concern were increasing, and J.’s unhappiness with his living situation was also having a negative impact on the people he shared his home with.

When J. went on holiday with staff, he appeared less anxious and was more communicative and appeared ‘happy’. As a team, we felt that the next stage in his life should be to live on his own – still with 24-hr support from AI staff. We consulted with J, and his guardian and everyone thought it was a great idea for him to move to a different property on his own. This was with some trepidation, as he’d lived with others for over 50yrs.

J. and his staff team worked on a transition plan, which his family were involved in writing and we supported J. with his first visit to his new house. Although he had seen photos of it, nothing could fully prepare him for his first visit. It was a huge success – J. decided he wanted to move in there and then. J. successfully and smoothly moved into his new home. He has control over who comes into his house, and he is able to have time on his own when he wants it. He no longer has to have a member of staff wherever he goes in his house. There are communal areas where he can meet with old friends and socialise with new friends in this Community Cluster service. His levels of anxiety have decreased and his family are delighted by the move. J. asked staff, ‘Why do I deserve this’? when shown his new home for the first time – ‘Because you do’ was the answer.

Personal Outcomes:

Decreased anxiety

Increased autonomy

Decreased restrictions

Increased quality of life

B is 54 and was referred to Autism Initiatives for autism assessment, having been absent from work for 18 months due to mental health difficulties. He has experienced significant periods of ‘burn-out’ throughout his life – worsening as he got older, and culminating in two failed suicide attempts.

The data gathering process allowed B to discuss areas of his life that had been difficult for him. He commented that he’d never been able to do this before, and that the mental health professionals he had seen over the years, had focused on depression, and hadn’t looked at how he had been throughout his life.

“I was made to feel at ease by staff and felt really listened to. I felt it was an understanding environment and felt very supported throughout the process”.

After diagnosis, B attended our late diagnosis group, and had 1-1 sessions to discuss employment and reasonable adjustments with the No 6 Employment Co-ordinator. When considering the physical/sensory environment of his workplace, B came to the conclusion that this was not a good fit for him, and was contributing to his poor mental health. No 6 supported B to resign, and to successfully claim ESA and PIP in order to ease the financial burden of not working. This gave B time to consider his options and to use Number 6’s Peer groups and 1-1 sessions to improve his mental health.

We then discussed employment again, and B. has changed career and is now working in academia - in an environment that works well for him. His mental health has significantly improved and he feels very hopeful about the future. He attends some of our activity and interest groups and knows that he can get 1:1 support whenever he needs it.

“I kept thinking that I must be the odd one out who has something that no one else can relate to. I can’t believe how much my life has changed since coming to No 6. I daren’t imagine how different things would have been if I hadn’t received my diagnosis”.

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Personal Outcomes:

Improved mental health

Decreased risk of suicide

Happiness

New career

A safety-net of post diagnostic services

Future Plans

In 2023/24 we aim to develop a further Community Cluster in the North of Edinburgh – the site is currently under development. This service would be for autistic people with mixed needs and varying levels of support.

Increased, and ongoing, delivery of our assessment service in the areas we are currently delivery it.

Expansion of our diagnostic service into new areas within Scotland. This is only possible due to the expertise, knowledge and training of our staff.

Deliver more National projects, which ensure our specialist services are accessible to any autistic person living in Scotland, irrespective of post code.

The further development of social activities in our older autistic people service. The communal areas – roof terrace, sun room and dining room, allows for various groups to be offered to those who reside in flats within this Community Cluster Service. These include - Coffee mornings; cinema nights; dance classes; gardening groups; arts and crafts groups. Through consultation with autistic people, we recognised that opportunities to connect with others - who are not staff, is extremely important. This Service offers the benefits for individual and community living under one larger roof.

Isle of man

Autism Initiatives services on the Island have continued to grow and flourish, and we continue to work closely with autistic people, their families and the Department of Health and Social Care to develop our specialist service.

Due to an increase in our services In line with how the services operate we extended our senior management to include a Deputy Head of Service, who has responsibility for all operational matters. It is pleasing to note this was from one of our existing area managers and one of our longest-serving and most experienced staff members.

As with our colleagues across Autism Initiatives, retention of staff post-Covid has proven to be a serious challenge on the Island regrettably. To address this issue we have worked very closely with our managers and team to ensure that staff retention is everyone’s responsibility and not seen as something for senior managers to deal with in isolation. In line with our Aims, we are committed to the health and well-being of our staff and continue seeking ways to engage with our staff to capture their ideas and thoughts to contribute to the ongoing review of our services. A good example of this is our commitment to staff surveys every two years, for which the response rate is extremely high.

We have also tried to be responsive to the lack of those applying to Social Care roles by working closely with our marketing department to strengthen our recruitment process through the use of social media, featuring pictures and comments from current staff members.

The 2022 Isle of Man Government Plan includes growing the working population on the island by a further 20,000 people by 2030. As a commitment to this, we have explored the option of recruiting qualified staff from off-island, which also includes people who have a Health and Social Care background outside of the UK. This has proven to be a very successful strategy and we have sufficient recruitment to not only fill all of our vacancies, but to enable us to expand our service provision and include several more referrals into 2024.

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Achievements and Performance

Our Ready to Work program has continued to flourish and this has been praised by our Social work manager and separately the Head of the Isle of Man Governments Disabilities Employment Team. The model we use has built on the successes we made using the ASDAN model. Whilst this was more of a classroom-based approach, we have now moved to more community-based support. This has reaped many rewards and seen people who have been out of employment for some time settle back into full and part-time paid work, and people finding their first employment opportunities. In addition, we have also secured several voluntary positions with employers.

Whilst the risk of community transmissions of Coronavirus on the island has massively reduced, the risk of contracting Coronavirus remains a threat. We were fortunate to support all of our residents in successfully obtaining their vaccinations and their boosters. There was also 100% take up from our staff on receiving vaccinations.

For some beneficiaries we support in our Resource Centre, Supported Living and in our Outreach Team, the impact of the news around Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the atrocities that were taking place caused some anxiety. As a result, we introduced some easy-to-read documents and strategies around the role of the press and the support we can provide should they feel uneasy or at risk. This was received favourably by the people we support and their parents who had seen similar anxiety in their children.

As part of our ongoing commitment to support those who access our services to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme, we have this year successfully supported one of our residents to achieve their Gold certificate.

Whilst travelling off-island can be an extremely enjoyable and exciting experience, we are mindful that for some of the people we support, travelling by boat or aircraft can present challenges. It is therefore commendable that post-Covid we have been able to facilitate a number of off-island holidays, including day trips, for the people we support.

As part of our commitment to added value, we have successfully developed a signposting service for people who are struggling with their autism, those who want a diagnosis and those that require additional support to help them live independently or to seek employment. Through this scheme we have enlisted several partner agencies across government, such as GPs, schools, colleges and CAMHS together with Mental Health Services. Several of these referrals have resulted in the government departments commissioning additional work from us, which has been very positive for the autistic community on the Island.

The Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care is in the process of producing its first Autism Strategy and the islands Head of Service has consulted with the Department to help appraise them of the needs of the autistic community on-island.

The Head of Service has also been an active participant in helping shape the Government’s ‘Autism Pathway’ being developed on the Island.

A parent carer survey took place during this last year concerning the people we support across our residential services, our Outreach, Resource Centre and Supported Living services. The response rate was excellent and their comments were extremely positive to our provision of safe services, our commitment to communication and the outcomes we were achieving for the people we support. The survey was followed up by a couple of public meetings to share first-hand the findings of the surveys and how we intend to use the feedback as part of ongoing development.

External inspections of our services which included CQC being invited to the island to visit all residential, Outreach and Supported Living services. It was pleasing that most services received 100% in inspections without recommendations or requirements. This was commented upon by our commissioners who were extremely pleased with the high standards we had set in place.

This was followed up by an Independent review of island Day Centres - again commissioned by The Department of Health and Social Care. Whilst we are awaiting the final report, our commissioners have seen the findings and we have again received favourable feedback from them.

Future Plans

The development of our Resource Centre. Whilst under the current tender we are commissioned to provide a traditional Day Centre, we are keen to be able to offer our commissioners and the people we support a much more innovative, professional and flexible service that is equipped to meet the modern day needs of people who access our services. As a result, we have completed a Development Plan for our Resource Centre at Nunnery Howe to ensure that we continue to build on our successes and grow as a service. We are fortunate to have already secured funds to enable us to refit our ‘Polly’ Tunnel and develop additional rooms for ceramics and woodworking.

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We are continuing to work in collaboration with several government departments (i.e.: Health and Education) and are looking to expand our Signposting Service even further. This is intending to create a listening service for teenagers in secondary school with a diagnosis of Autism. This will hopefully be linked with the Isle of Man Youth Service, schools, CAMHS and the Department’s Educational Psychologists. The service will be designed to offer young people support in helping them understand and manage how their autism impacts them and an opportunity to form wider friendships.

We have been asked by our commissioners to open additional adult and children’s residential services together with supported living services in the forthcoming year and are already in the process of trying to identify suitable properties and recruit the necessary staff.

It was anticipated that some or all of our services would be going for tender in 2023 However, this has now been extended by our commissioners until 2025. This is something we are already preparing for.

Our ambition is to continue to maintain a strong presence locally by the use of good media stories and attendance at public events to ensure we can carry on to meet the needs of the Autistic community on the Island.

Our Head Office is based in the north of the island and this does present difficulties in access by people we support who do not have access to a car or our stakeholders as the majority live or work in the Douglas areas. We are mindful too that it is an older Victorian Semi-Detached building that is starting to show evidence of general wear and tear. With this in mind we are committed to identifying a new HO that will be centrally based and have the advantage of providing modern purpose built offices and facilities with perhaps the added advantage of dedicated space for board meetings and a training room.

Autism Initiatives Ireland

Achievements and Performance

We continued to work with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in response to challenges in the provision of services. There has been a greater focus on the HSE funding model with HSE requesting that we operate within their assigned ‘funding bands’. This is met with a consistent response whereby we outline our costing model. The new ‘meeting model’ of quarterly meetings with the HSE is becoming more consistent throughout the varied Community Health Organisations (CHO). The regular quarterly meetings have provided more up-to-date communication and collaboration opportunities. Relationship building and active collaboration is essential in response to the increase in ‘social care emergency’ referrals.

We have completed and ‘signed-off’ on all Service Level Agreements for CHO’s 5-6-7-9. The new scheduling of meetings has created an opportunity to discuss resource planning and strategic development in partnership with all the CHOs. National resource challenges for the HSE have been highlighted on national media this year, in particular school referral placements and chronic respite shortages with social care emergencies now becoming more evident. In response to these challenges, we continue to collaborate with the CHO’s in the provision of assessments, problem solving, guidance and supports.

At every opportunity we continue to support the HSE in their strategic priorities in particular the rolling out New Directions, Easi-Tool and the new person centred planning framework. We have registered with the National Ability Support System (NASS) which is run by the HSE and the Health Research Board (HRB) to track all HSE funded disability supports and unmet needs on an annual basis. Compliance is linked to the SLA’s and require new ‘updating’ protocols re: vacancies, staffing shortfalls re: delayed placement uptake. AII are fully compliant.

The organisation has continued to receive a high number of referrals for the service from several HSE areas, however following the submission of costs, many are placed elsewhere as, with the HSE citing high costs. However the financial situation of many Section 39 organisations has demonstrated to us, the prudence of maintaining our fee levels, which also take into account HSE’s refusal to pay yearly increments.

Due to our financial health, we invested a significant amount of resources into building maintenance, learning and development, staff funding (increments), quality and development. The environment and the health and safety of our buildings has been improved and this has been reflected in positive feedback during inspection from the regulator.

Regulation 27, Infection Control has been rolled out throughout the organisation with an emphasis on improved standards and compliance. It is evident from recent inspections that training and increased auditing of services have significantly met the new requirements.

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This year the number of autistic people supported by the organisation is 147, which is down by 9 people from the previous year due to planned exits from resource centres.

The organisation has maintained its level of services however, and despite staffing challenges in the earlier part of the year, we have maintained all our contractual obligations in relation to our residential, day resource and respite.

Consultation with people supported and their families indicated high levels of satisfaction both individually and at service level, having received 32 compliments up to March 2023. Considering the many operational challenges we have faced as a provider, many families and the people we support appear to recognise and appreciate how priorities are being made in response to ‘meeting needs’ with respect to front-line workers, balancing their safety with essential service provision.

Recruitment and Retention

As of the end of March 2023, Autism Initiatives Ireland have a total headcount of 243 staff, of which 156 are full time and 42 are Part Time. We also have 45 Waged Flexi Part time employees.

Our recruitment challenges are in relation to recruitment and retention are reflective across all Section 39 organisations, due to the better salaries that are offered by Section 38 organisations. Until we get pay parity with Section 38 organisations this will likely remain the case, and this year we have supported the Federation of Voluntary Bodies (FEDVOL) in their campaign to achieve change in this area.

We have continued to recruit through the Autism Initiatives web site, but also developed other platforms such as Indeed, which has helped increase the number of applicants to vacant positions.

We have trialled several software systems to support the speed of the recruitment process and will be rolling the new system out on in the next financial year.

Future Plans

The biggest challenges to new services/new business is the constant position of the HSE that our staffing costs are too high and that we need to operate within the funding bands set out by the HSE. This coupled with the national recruitment crisis for social care is exacerbating a crisis, ‘fuelling’ the current national crisis, with many Section 39 organisations citing the unsustainable position of providing underfunded social care packages that are not reflective of what is needed to adequately fund Social Care provision in today’s market. We will continue to actively support FEDVOL in their campaign to achieve pay parity between Section 38 and 39 organisations.

We will continue to strategically focus on meeting recruitment needs and ensure current services are at full staffing levels. Where feasible, a small number of referrals have been accepted on an individual basis where the HSE have identified a strong need for specialised autism needs supports and this will be new income in the next financial year.

A systems review of HR, H&S and all administration are a response to ‘streamlining’ the increasing documentation requirements for all CHOs, the National Office (NASS) and the inspectorate (HIQA), thus meeting our contractual obligations with funders.

Responding to these challenges requires that we continue to focus on retention and recruitment of staff to ensure full support provision within our current services. In achieving this, we can then focus on the strategic planning of new resource centre locations across all CHO’s, successfully placing 2023/24 school referrals.

The Walk for Autism (WFA) monies continue to prove invaluable in supporting service users and families with holidays, recreational activities, individualised projects, garden refurbishments and art exhibitions. The promotion of ‘health & wellbeing’ and the proposal to fund a health & wellbeing officer for one year in support of the people we support is being explored. WFA funding in support of the Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) continues to promote mental health, resilience training and wellbeing.

Next year we will be enhancing our social media activity to promote WFA.

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

ACHIEVEMENTS and PERFORMANCE & FUTURE PLANS (continued)

We will continue to monitor and comply with all public health requirements re: Infection Control. Business Contingency Plans continue to operate in place, particularly where there are absence challenges, these will be reviewed at the beginning of the new financial year. This together with risk assessments in response to staff absences, redeployments of staff and resource management will support our continued focus next year in maintaining safe services.

Some PPE stocks are now coming to the ‘end of life’ re: manufacturer guidelines. These are being disposed of/incinerated as per national guidance from the HSE. Replacement stocks are currently being sourced in anticipation of future outbreaks and surges.

In continuing to meet complex needs and adapting residential services to better meet the needs of the people we support, we are actively pursuing planning permission with Wicklow County Council. As a specialist provider, a strong focus is the building and adaptation of services that best meets with individual requirements. The challenges of shared living spaces may present with many design and creative solutions for requirements for personal space, work stations, social and shared living arrangements.

We will be exploring a number of living arrangements and will engage with architects to explore adaptations. The planning and design will identify and enhance opportunities for greater independence for people supported.

We will meet with families and the people we support to explore their housing needs we are continually informed from the feedback we receive from families and the people we support. Responding to challenges and meeting complex needs where there is a national staffing crisis, cost of living crisis and not yet fully ‘post pandemic’ is very challenging at all levels throughout our organisation.

It is encouraging to witness the ‘buoyancy’ evident at our Future Planning Meetings (FPM’s) which are designed to plan for and respond to the individual needs of the people we support. A common theme of these consultations are the meeting of future independent living needs. The housing crisis in Ireland is hampering these opportunities, whereby demand continually exceeds supply for independent living units. Accessing one’s own home re: housing is becoming more like a lottery with 68% of young adults now living with parents from ages 25yrs to 29yrs. This statistic is all too evident with the people we support. How this impacts family’s ability to ‘plan for the future’ care needs where there is a lack of housing availability and independent living units, creates a huge sense of frustration and hopelessness. As a service provider we are mindful of these challenges for families and are aspirational for the people we support to have ownership of their own lives and sustainable futures. In response to these challenges, we will continue to network and build up relationships with social housing providers. Where feasible, we will explore housing opportunities with these agencies, or provide solutions through our own resources.

Alongside the planned appointment of a Health and Wellbeing officer through Walk for Autism funding, social enterprise initiative is also being explored. The planning and the funding of this proposal are in the ‘writing-up’ phase, but we plan to develop the opportunity for the people we support to gain access to much needed work placements and interaction with the community. Pop-up shop locations are also being explored.

Autism Initiatives faced a number of challenges throughout the year. It was increasingly evident that cost of living and staffing crisis are both related, impacting hugely on our ability to sustain secure staffing levels for the maintenance of frontline services. Reoccurrence of Covid recently is a reminder for vigilance with regards to the need for ever ready business contingency planning. Our priority and commitment in the provision of day and outreach resources services while maintaining a 24/7 residential and respite services throughout the pandemic requires a high level of flexibility from staff. Responding to these operational challenges and maintaining new infection standards were maintained. Whenever challenges present themselves, decisive responses with strategic planning and prompt resourcing have proved effective. The more recent reports from HIQA suggested that significant improvements were made in meeting these standards and we will continue to focus on this during the next financial year.

The feasibility for the purchase and adaptation/refurbishment of a residential/respite service for all CHOs will continue to be explored. The ageing profile of families and the people we support will necessitate strategic planning in response to these needs. New HSE capital projects developments are focussing on state provision of future buildings. These too will be explored in collaboration with the HSE.

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

ACHIEVEMENTS and PERFORMANCE & FUTURE PLANS (continued)

Autism Initiatives Northern Ireland

Achievements and Performance

Some examples of the impact of our work for people supported:

In Cookstown we were able to support one person we support into her first work placement/volunteering role. Through our understanding and approaches of autistic people we were able to successfully consult and support her thinking around her preferred activities. The person now works one day each week volunteering in a local animal park with her favourite animals; feeding and caring for animals, as well as teaching members of the public about these animals. This has had a tremendous impact on her social skills and confidence, and this has been acknowledged in recent compliments received from the parents.

The people we support have been encouraged and supported to explore their wider community areas and beyond, for example one person supported was able to plan and attend an overnight stay in Belfast and Newcastle, with the help of staff to plan and attend this.

One of the people we support has been able to become more financially stable, reducing their spending, credit card debt and making safer financial choices. Through support, plans, consultations, MDT meetings and ongoing close partnership working with the person supported, their family and the Trust, the individual has learned to better manage their finances to promote economic wellbeing, consolidate their debts into a more manageable payment system, reduce risky financial decisions and achieve greater financial security overall.

A person supported was supported to join a new social club to widen their social circle and explore their hobbies and interests with other adults with learning disabilities and additional needs. The person supported now attends a weekly social club on a Friday night called “Superstars”, where attendees are encouraged to learn and develop social skills, as well as explore their own hobbies and interests, through activities such as baking, arts and crafts, and gaming. The person supported has expressed to staff how much they enjoy attending this club, and has been able to build strong friendships with other individuals in his local community.

A person we support in a new service in 22/23 has arranged to go on a holiday to Disney Land Paris. Previously in the home setting she lived in before AI, she had not been out very much in the community in a five year period. She has come on so well in the short time she has been in an AI service. Her confidence is growing, she is enjoying many activities including horse riding. Through having 2.1 support her support has been very person centred to her needs helping her achieve her short term goals and her future long term goals. The support staff have a good understanding of what motivates her and how she likes to communicate her likes and dislikes.

We continue to utilise our specialist approaches to supporting autistic people to generate good outcomes for the people that we support.

Recruitment and Retention

Following the retirement of the Operations Director we have successfully recruited to this post, and welcomed our new Director.

A Pay uplift was implemented in December 2022. Also, in the later part of the financial year (Feb/Mar 2023) proposals and costings were completed and plans were agreed to introduce another pay uplift at the start of the next financial year (1st April 2023).

Medicash Employee Health Scheme introduced in 2022, for those employees who meet eligibility (two years’ service plus). Eligible employees can claim costs back for a variety of health related costs, including, but not limited to: dental and optical charges. The scheme allows employees to claim up to a certain limit, under each category, each year.

We have invested in systems to increase both the speed of recruitment and the effectiveness of on boarding for new employees, this and a more flexible approaches to interviewing and engagement with those people in pre-employment saw an upturn in staffing levels and a corresponding downturn in agency usage.

Throughout this year we have benefitted from a stable and effective senior management team, who have gone above and beyond to support services through a difficult period in relation to staffing that has been experienced by many agencies within social care.

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

ACHIEVEMENTS and PERFORMANCE & FUTURE PLANS (continued)

Staff development and Training

We have continued to adapt to changing requirements and have moved to more face to face training as we move to a post Covid environment:

Within some of our services we have run a 4 week person centred mental health training programme to provide bespoke training to the staff team on supporting individuals with additional mental health needs and improving wellbeing for the people we support. Feedback from the manager and staff within this service has been overwhelmingly positive in allowing staff to provide more bespoke support.

Following RQIA and Trust recommendations we introduced Dysphagia Training for all staff in June 2022. Face to face First Aid training was rolled out to all staff in October 2022 to equip them deal with choking and to use the defibrillators which are now in every service. Managers also had access to free training in Dementia and Learning Disability and in Quality Improvement in Social Care via ARC.

The workforce development plan has again been reviewed this year, and some aspects of our specialist training in relation to autism and effective approaches to support have been enhanced.

We have continued to be highly effective in all aspects of compliance with mandatory training.

Future Plans

The new Director is working closely with the Senior Leadership Team in NI to establish the priorities for AI Northern Ireland post Covid-19. These include:

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Overview of the year

Total income in the year ended 31 March 2023 was £76.8m (£71.2m 2022), an increase of 7.9% on the previous year. The increase was mainly the result of fee increases, new services commencing during this year and a full year of income from services commencing partway through the previous financial year.

Fee income from statutory bodies for clients cared for by the Group continues to account for the majority of overall income.

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

FINANCIAL REVIEW (continued)

Voluntary income decreased to £1,910k from £2,419k.. The Fundraising Team has had a successful year in which has seen the return of in-person events such as the Edinburgh Marathon Festival and other running events since the pandemic. The Fundraising Team has also had to respond to meet new challenges amid the cost of living crisis, for example focusing on digital platforms to diversify income streams and improve the system for claiming Gift Aid. More focus has been given to the weekly autism lottery and exploring legacy fundraising. The 6[th] Walk for Autism fundraising campaign saw registrations exceed 5000 for the first time and income exceed £400K of unrestricted income for the second year running. Trust income remained strong with a multi year award from National Lottery Scotland Improving Lives and an additional award from the Cost of Living Fund. Further highlights saw 4 successful applications to the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund resulted in almost £40K income between the One Stop Shops.

Total resources expended in the year ended 31 March 2023 were £76.1m (£69.7m in 2022) an increase of £6.4m. from the previous year. This represents a rise in expenditure of 9.1% which in addition to setup and running costs for services commencing during this and in the previous financial year is mainly due to significant increases in wage and staff costs as a result of actions we have taken to improve recruitment and retention of staff in the face of increasing challenges in the care sector as well as continuing legislative changes in minimum and living wage requirements and holiday pay rates.

The Group reports a surplus of £0.6mfor the year ending 31 March 2023 (£1.5m surplus for the year ending 31 March 2022). The Group requires a surplus to fund future developments and build up general free reserves in line with its reserve policy.

The parent Charity reports a deficit of £8k (2022: Surplus £17k) for the year ending 31 March 2023. This result is after recharging central management costs to group companies. In accordance with the Group’s reserves policy, designated funds have been established to provide for future capital developments and strategic initiatives.

The main operating Charities continue to face pressures on fee income as statutory bodies seek to achieve budgetary savings while economic difficulties remain. In addition continuing legislation in the areas of minimum wage levels and the need to improve pay and conditions in order to recruit and retain staff has resulted in increasing costs in the organisations key areas of wages and salaries.

The Group is continuing to monitor all costs with a view to achieving savings wherever possible and is also embarking on a programme of fee negotiation in the light of new pay rates.

As noted elsewhere in this report, the Coronavirus Crisis has presented the Group with considerable challenges, The Group’s management continues to assess the ongoing consequences, and are confident that the Group is currently well placed to minimise the effect of the crisis on the Group’s finances.

 Balance Sheet

The Group’s balance sheet remains healthy with net assets of £23.4m (2022: £22.8m). This represents an increase of £0.6m over the previous financial year. Unrestricted funds amount to £21.0m (2022: £20.7m) and restricted funds £2.4m (2022: 2.1m). At 31 March 2023 the cash position was £14.9m (2022: £15.8m).

 Subsidiary undertakings

A summary of the results of subsidiary undertakings is reported in note 18 to the accounts.

 Capital expenditure

Significant capital expenditure for the year of £0.3m includes property acquisitions in Republic of Ireland and Property improvements in UK.

Principal Funding Sources

The principal funding sources for the Group is fee income from local authorities and education authorities for students and adults cared for and educated by the Group.

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

FINANCIAL REVIEW (continued)

Reserves Policy

The trustees consider the Charity and the Group’s free reserves policy on a regular basis. Now more than ever the trustees are aware that the Group needs to maintain sufficient reserves to allow it to not only meet future known commitments and liabilities but also to absorb unforeseen setbacks and to react to change or take advantage of opportunities.

The trustees define the level of free reserves at any time to be the total of all undesignated unrestricted reserves less the book value of fixed assets, net of any long term loans.

The trustees also consider it important to be able to continue to advance the work of the Group by continuous programmes of research and development into its operations. Given this, the trustees consider that a target amount of between three to six months of core expenditure should ideally be maintained as free reserves to ensure the above and to give the reassurance to beneficiaries and funders. Based on the financial statements to 31 March 2023 this would equate to committing to build a level of free reserves within the Group in the long term of circa £28.6m.

Autism Initiative Group’s principal objective is to continue to advance and improve the work that is delivered by its subsidiaries through programmes of continuous research, development and investment into all areas of operations. In order to advance this, Autism Initiatives Group seeks donations from its subsidiary charities. Funds from donations received are held in designated reserves in Autism Initiatives Group for the benefit of its subsidiary charities.

Therefore when assessing the level of free reserves available for the Group the trustees consider the combined level of undesignated unrestricted reserves held in subsidiary charities together with any designated funds within Autism Initiatives Group, which have arisen as a result of donations that have been made.

As at 31 March 2023 the Charity had unrestricted reserves of £3.6m (2022: £3.6m) and £2.2m (2021: £2.2m) held as designated in respect of donations from Subsidiaries in line with the above. The trustees are aware that combined free reserves of £8.3m falls short of the aspirational target that they have set but they are fully committed to working towards this goal in the long term.

Investment Policy

The Group has the power to invest funds not immediately required for its general purposes in such investments as it deems fit for purpose.

The Group’s investment objectives are to:

The Charity’s policy continues to be to maintain cash deposits rather than to invest in stocks and shares, property (other than for the Charity’s general purposes) or any other investment. This policy is kept under review.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The trustees are committed to adopting best practice in the identification, evaluation and cost-effective control of risks, to ensure that the Group’s exposure is minimised or eliminated where possible.

In order to identify, and manage risk a dedicated committee is in place, to which trustees, senior management and senior staff all contribute, an independent expert also forms part of the committee.

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

FINANCIAL REVIEW (continued)

Principal areas of risk identified as a result of the processes in place include;

Financial Risk

The highest risk identified is the impact of the current economic climate on revenue streams from statutory bodies (95% of the Group’s income is derived from these sources) and the effect of external influences and legislation on its ability to manage costs. To manage this risk a stringent budgeting procedure has been established to identify and maximise all income streams and to tightly manage cost control. In addition, an ongoing program of reviewing and updating the entire organisation’s operating procedures and policies has commenced. The Group has also invested in expanding its fundraising department in order to identify and maximise income streams from alternative funding sources.

Operational Risk

Ensuring the provision of its services to the many people affected by ASC who are served by the Group remains of the highest order. Quality assurance is given the highest priority within the group, services are subject to external inspection from regulatory bodies, and contract compliance reviews. Internally the Quality Assurance Manager, co-ordinates peer reviews and internal inspection and reviews, the organisation is also part of the Autism Partnership Validation, a peer review process developed through the Autism Alliance.

Health and Safety

A detailed plan of assessments, training and reviews has been developed and implemented to ensure the physical risk of injury or liability to any service user, staff member or member of the public when accessing the Group’s facilities or services is minimised.

In addition to the above a detailed risk register is kept and reviewed by the trustees and they are satisfied that the systems in place manage exposure to the major risks identified.

CHARITY INFORMATION

Autism Initiatives Group was incorporated as a company limited by Guarantee on 8[th] January 2010 in order to register the group name. The company remained dormant until April 2017. Following a re-organisation of the Autism Initiatives group of operating charities and companies, Autism Initiatives Group was established as the parent company in place of Autism Initiatives (UK) and commenced activities in April 2017. As part of the re-organisation, Autism Initiatives (UK) became a subsidiary of Autism Initiatives Group. Autism Initiatives Group was registered with the Charities Commission on 8[th] December 2016.

The Group’s principal operating subsidiary, Autism Initiatives (UK) was registered with the Charity Commission in 1990. Initially it had a borough-wide brief to ensure that people with autism in Liverpool and Lancashire had access to a comprehensive range of direct and supportive services, which were personal, professional and innovative. All users of Autism Initiatives’ services have a diagnosis of an ASC or would otherwise benefit from the Group’s philosophy and approach.

The aim of the organisation continues to be to represent and provide for the needs of people with autism, their families and carers. The last 25 years has seen significant growth in the number of people with autism which the Charity supports and in the range of services provided throughout the UK. The Group’s reputation for the quality and depth of the service it provides has resulted in many local authorities and area health boards requesting that it set up similar services all over the UK and Ireland.

Initially, this began in other parts of the North West region of England, and comprehensive services are now also established in the North East of England, Scotland, Isle of Man, Wales and Northern Ireland in its charitable subsidiaries and in Southern Ireland under Autism Initiatives Ireland (formerly ASDI). The organisation is committed to service development that allows people to benefit from its services across a wide geographical area.

The strength of the organisation lies in its strong governance, management structure and policy coverage. The Autism Initiatives Group has demonstrated an ability to be flexible to meet the constantly evolving needs of its client base in the context of the ever changing government legislation and funding structures.

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and MANAGEMENT

Governing Document

Autism Initiatives Group is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated 8[th] January 2010, as amended by special resolution dated 13[th] October 2016. It is registered with the Charity Commission.

Group Companies

As of 31 March 2021, the Charity had five wholly owned active subsidiary companies, namely Autism Initiatives (UK) (No. 02436777/Charity Reg:702632), Autism Initiatives Northern Ireland (No. NI047238/Charity Reg:XR72211), Autism Initiatives Ireland (No. 435497/Charity Reg:20066031), , Autism Ventures (No 07260299/Charity Reg. 1137068), Autism Spectrum Connections Cymru (No. 08461023/Charity Reg. 1158045). In addition, Living Initiatives Limited (No 05648762) did not trade and The Bridge Project (No: 03039158/Charity reg: 1055005) was dissolved in the previous finanical year. In addition, the Charity had six wholly owned dormant subsidiary companies, namely, Autism England Limited (No. 06083307, Autism Initiatives England (No. 06467503), Autism Initiatives Cymru (No. 06461249), Autism Initiatives Scotland (No. SC335885).

Trustees

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of the company law, and who served during the year are;

B Williams R Carter E V Slater

There are currently three trustees who oversee the activities of the Charity. Trustees are elected to the Board by the members who are also the trustees, subject to the Board’s requirements of the Charity at that time. Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the Charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the Charity are set out in note 8 to the accounts. As permitted by the Charity’s governing document an amount of £25k (2022: £15k) was paid to Mr Brian Williams in respect of remuneration.

All trustees undergo a training and induction programme and work within the code of conduct and good practice guidelines as set out by the Charities Commission.

All trustees have a job description and designated responsibilities within the committee that they sit on. The committees are Finance and audit, Education, Human Resources, development committees and Wales and Scotland committees, who report back to the main Board on a quarterly basis.

The Board has appointed a Chief Executive to manage the operations of the Charity. To facilitate effective operations, the Chief Executive has delegated authority within terms of delegation approved by the trustees. The working relationship between the Board and the Chief Executive is a tribute to the strategic development of the organisation and as such the Board meet on a quarterly basis.

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and MANAGEMENT continued

Executive Management

The Chief Executive has global responsibility for all Autism Initiatives Group operations, including the implementation of the policy and strategic direction of the organisation. The Chief Executive is the interface between the governance and management functions of the organisation.

The Chief Executive has an executive management team which comprises the National Directors for England, Ireland and Scotland, together with the Directors of Finance, and Human Resources. He has principal responsibility for liaising with external agencies, e.g. through partnerships. The Chief Executive is also the Company Secretary and liaises directly with the Board of Trustees.

All executive directors, who are not directors for the purposes of company law, have specific responsibilities in their own area and form the executive group advising on the corporate and strategic direction of the organisation, reporting directly to the Chief Executive.

Remuneration Policy (key management personnel)

The Board of Trustees is responsible for reviewing the pay of the senior executive staff. The Board periodically benchmark against pay levels in other comparable organisations of a similar size, with the support of external advice as required.

During the previous year the Board undertook a review of the service contract for the Chief Executive. The Board felt that changes were necessary to certain clauses within the contract to protect the Charity from potential operational and financial risk going forwards. In consideration for agreeing to changes to certain terms and conditions within the contract, compensation was paid of £320k to the Chief Executive.

Organisational Structure

The Organisational Structure is as follows:

Autism Initiatives Group

Organisational chart for Trustees, Chief Executive & Directors Team:

----- Start of picture text -----
Trustees
Wales Sub Education Sub- Finance Sub- Human Resources and Audit Sub- Scotland
Committee Committee Committee Development Sub- committee Sub-
1 Trustee 2 trustees 2 trustees Committee 1 Trustee committee
2 trustees 1 Trustee
Chief Executive
Personal
Assistant (CEO)
To CEO
Head of National Directors for
Assistant Human Director Head of England, Scotland, Area Manager
Director Resources Finance fundraising Northern Ireland and Wales
Housing and media Ireland
----- End of picture text -----

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and MANAGEMENT continued

Risk Management

The trustees have a risk management strategy that comprises of:

This work is ongoing and the particular formulation of the risks identified through the procedure allow for the contingency plans to be drawn up through the identified risk procedure, the main focuses being corporate risk. There is also a robust risk management procedure that looks at the direct risks faced by the individuals that are supported directly by the group Charities.

Business Planning

The three year Business Plan, which is revisited on a regular basis, is based on detailed review of the organisation, its aims and its objectives and provides the framework, based on the core values, through which the organisation is managed. The plan provides a clear statement of the current position and how the Autism Initiatives Group will overcome any challenges it may face and, critically, continue to meet the needs of the individuals the Group support, their families and other partners.

The current plan is based on an understanding both of the needs of individuals with autism, their carers, other partners and Autism Initiatives Group’s resources and lays out the key issues and objectives for the period 2019 to 2023.

Business Planning

The plan sets a challenging agenda for the medium term future of the organisation. These objectives will be achieved because Autism Initiatives Group and its subsidiary charities:

A set of strategic aims and priorities for the organisation has been developed which focuses on the deliverance of robust and growing services in the Autism Initiatives way. This plan, which is regularly reviewed recognises the changing landscape of social care and the increasing complexity of referrals received by the organisation.

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

ENERGY AND CARBON REPORT

Energy and emissions report

During the period total UK energy use was 3,587,184 kWh

During the period total greenhouse gas emissions due to UK energy use was 768,578 kgCO2e During the period the Group intensity ratio was 0.39 (Tco2E per total tonnes of production)

During the financial reporting period, for its UK based entities, Autism Initiatives Group have made the following energy efficiency improvements:

The group has followed the 2019 HM Government Environmental Reporting Guidelines. The group has also used the GHG Reporting Protocol – Corporate Standard and have used the 2020 UK Government’s Conversion Factors for Company Reporting.

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP TRUSTEES’ REPORT (incorporating Directors’ Report and Strategic Report) continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees, who are also the directors of Autism Initiatives Group for the purposes of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees Report and accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice)

Company law requires the trustees to prepare accounts 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, including the income and expenditure, of the Charity for that year.

In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the above requirements in preparing the financial statements.

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

AUDITOR

In accordance with the Charity’s articles, a resolution proposing that DSG be reappointed as auditor of the Charity will be put at a general meeting.

STATEMENT OF DISCLOSURE TO AUDITOR

In so far as the trustees are aware:

This report, including the strategic report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 23rd November 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

B Williams Chair

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AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S’ REPORT to the Members of Autism Initiatives Group For the year ended 31st March 2023

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Autism Initiatives Group (the ‘parent charitable company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the Group and Parent Charitable Company Statement of Financial Activities, the Group and the Parent Charitable Company Balance Sheet, the Group and the Parent Charitable Company Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group’s or parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other infomation

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Page 34

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S’ REPORT to the Members of Autism Initiatives Group For the year ended 31st March 2023

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the group and parent charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors’ report included within the trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group’s and parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with the Acts and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

Page 35

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S’ REPORT to the Members of Autism Initiatives Group For the year ended 31st March 2023

Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities, including fraud

Based on our discussions with the charity’s management and the Trustees, we identified that the following laws and regulations are significant to the entity:

These matters were discussed amongst the engagement team at the planning stage and the team remained alert to noncompliance throughout the audit.

Audit procedures undertaken in response to the potential risks relating to irregularities (which include fraud and noncompliance with laws and regulations) comprised of: inquiries of management and the Trustees as to whether the entity complies with such laws and regulations; enquiries with the same concerning any actual or potential litigation or claims; inspection of relevant legal correspondence; review of Trustee meeting minutes; testing the appropriateness of journal entries; and the performance of analytical review to identify unexpected movements in account balances which may be indicative of fraud.

No instances of material non-compliance were identified. However, the likelihood of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is limited by the inherent difficulty in detecting irregularities, the effectiveness of the entity’s controls, and the nature, timing and extent of the audit procedures performed. Irregularities that result from fraud might be inherently more difficult to detect than irregularities that result from error. As explained above, there is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements may not be detected, even though the audit has been planned and performed in accordance with ISAs (UK).

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use of report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

J M Ellis BA FCA CTA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of DSG Date 23rd November 2023 Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 43, Castle Street Liverpool L2 9TL

DSG is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

Page 36

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and the preceding year by the Charity and its subsidiaries.

(a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”), “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” the Statement of Recommended Practice for Charities applying FRS102, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice as it applies from 1 January 2019. The Charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS102. The accounts are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £k. Autism Initiatives Group was incorporated as a company limited by Guarantee on 8[th] January 2010 in order to register the group name. The company remained dormant until April 2017. Following a re-organisation of the Autism Initiatives group of operating Charities and companies, Autism Initiatives Group was established as the parent company in place of Autism Initiatives (UK) and commenced activities in April 2017. As part of the re-organisation, Autism Initiatives (UK) became a subsidiary of Autism Initiatives Group.

The introduction of the new holding company constitutes a Group reconstruction and has been accounted for using merger accounting principles. Therefore the consolidated financial statements of Autism Initiatives Group are presented as if Autism Initiatives Group had always been the parent company. Accordingly, the results of the Group for the year ended 31 March 2023 the comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2022 are prepared on this basis.

These financial statements consolidate the results of the Charity and its subsidiaries on a line-by-line basis.

(b) Company status

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee. The members of the Charity are the trustees named on page 1. In the event of the Charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the Charity.

(c) Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the Charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

The specific policies used are as follows:

(d) Resources expended

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to that category. Restricted expenditure is set against restricted income.

The specific bases used are as follows:

Page 37

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

(e) Depreciation of tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets costing more than £5,000 are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition.

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

Freehold land and buildings 2% straight line Long leasehold land and buildings Over the life of the lease Office, furniture and fittings 25% and 33% straight line Property improvements 10% and 20% straight line Computer equipment 25% and 33% straight line Motor vehicles 25% and 33% reducing balance

Assets under £5,000 are not capitalised and are expensed in the year in which they are incurred.

(f) Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in income/(expenditure) for the year, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried in at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

(g) Investment Property

Investment Property, which is property held to earn rentals and for capital appreciation, is initially measured at cost and subsequently measured using the fair value model and dated at its fair value as at the reporting date. The surplus or deficit on the revaluation is recognised in net income/expenditure for the year. The cumulative gains or losses on revaluation are un-distributable.

(h) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

(i) Financial Instruments

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Page 38

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Other financial assets

Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure), except that investments in equity instruments that are not publically traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.

Impairment of financial assets

Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through income and expenditure, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date. Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.

Derecognition of financial assets

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the charity transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised. Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method. Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

(j) Employee benefits

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received. Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

(k) Investments

Investments are stated at the lower of the cost and market value.

(l) Stock

Stock is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

Page 39

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

(m) Leasing and hire purchase commitments

Assets held under finance leases and hire purchase contracts are capitalised in the balance sheet and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. The interest element of the rental obligations is charged to the SOFA over the period of the lease. Lease payments under operating leases, where substantially all the risks and benefits remain with the lessor, are charged as expenses in the periods in which they are incurred.

(n) Pension costs

The company operates a money purchase (defined contribution) pension scheme. Contributions payable to this scheme are expensed in the year to which they relate. These contributions are invested separately from the company’s assets.

The company participates in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (England and Wales) (“the TPS”) for its teaching staff. This is a multi-employer defined benefits pension scheme and it is not possible or appropriate to consistently identify the liabilities of the TPS which are attributable to the School. As required by FRS 102, the Charity accounts for this scheme as if it were a defined contribution scheme.

(o) Funds

Unrestricted funds represent funds which the trustees are free to use in accordance with the charitable objects. Designated funds are unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for specific purposes which are set out in the notes to the accounts. Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The details of the nature and purpose of each fund is set out in the notes to the accounts.

(p) Foreign currency exchange rate gains/losses

Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the average rate of exchange. Exchange differences arising from the re-translation at year end of Group assets and liabilities are recognised as unrealised in the Statement of financial activities.

(q) Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

Page 40

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT For the year ended 31st March 2023

Notes
INCOME FROM:
Donations and legacies
1
Other activities
2
Investments
3
Charitable activities:
Education income
4
Client support income
4
Other
4
Other income
5
Total income
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds :
Fundraising and publicity
Charitable activities :
6
Education services
Client support services
Other
Exchange rate loss/(gain)
Total expenditure
Net incoming resources before transfers
Transfers between funds
Net income for the year/Net movement in funds
Fund balances at 1 April 2022
Fund balances at 31 March 2023		 Notes
INCOME FROM:
Donations and legacies
1
Other activities
2
Investments
3
Charitable activities:
Education income
4
Client support income
4
Other
4
Other income
5
Total income
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds :
Fundraising and publicity
Charitable activities :
6
Education services
Client support services
Other
Exchange rate loss/(gain)
Total expenditure
Net incoming resources before transfers
Transfers between funds
Net income for the year/Net movement in funds
Fund balances at 1 April 2022
Fund balances at 31 March 2023		 Unrestricted
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Total
2023		 Total
2022
£’000
2,419
137
7
5,469
62,609
540
-
£’000
587
37
63
4,128
65,309
588
-
70,712
453
4,377
65,170
644
(273)
70,371		 £’000
1,323
-
-
-
4,735
-
-
6,058
-
1
5,654
114
-
5,769		 £’000
1,910
37
63
4,128
70,044
588
-
76,770
453
4,378
70,824
758
(273)
76,140
71,181
380
5,470
63,111
571
122
69,654

630
341 1,527
-
341
20,686
21,027		 -
289
2,075
2,364		 -
630
22,761
23,391		 -
1,527
21,234
22,761

The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The prior year’s comparative figures are shown on page 42.

The Statement of Financial Activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.

Page 41

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT For the year ended 31st March 2023

Prior financial year
Notes
INCOME FROM:
Donations and legacies
1
Other activities
2
Investments
3
Charitable activities:
Education income
4
Client support income
4
Other
4
Other income
5
Total income
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds :
Fundraising and publicity
Charitable activities :
6
Education services
Client support services
Other
Other expenditure
Exchange rate
Total expenditure
Net incoming resources before transfers
Gross transfers between funds
Net income for the year/Net movement in funds
Fund balances at 1 April 2022
Fund balances at 31 March 2023		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
1,359
137
7
4,621
58,936
540
-
65,600
380
4,653
58,530
563
-		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
1,359
137
7
4,621
58,936
540
-
65,600
380
4,653
58,530
563
-		 Restricted
Funds
£’000
1,060
-
-
848
3,673
-
-
5,581
-
817
4,581
8
-		 Total
2022
£’000
2,419
137
7
5,469
62,609
540
-
71,181
380
5,470
63,111
571
-

122
64,248
-
5,406
122
69,654
1,352
-
1,352
19,334
20,686		 175
-
175
1,900
2,075		 1,527
-
1,527
21,234
22,761

Page 42

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP CHARITABLE COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT For the year ended 31st March 2023

Notes
INCOME FROM:
Donations and legacies
1
Other activities
2
Investments
3
Total income
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds:
Fundraising and publicity
Charitable activities:
Client support services
6
Exchange rate gain
Total expenditure
Net incoming resources for the year before
transfers
Net income for the year/Net movement in funds
Fund balances at 1 April 2022
Fund balances at 31 March 2023		 Notes
INCOME FROM:
Donations and legacies
1
Other activities
2
Investments
3
Total income
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds:
Fundraising and publicity
Charitable activities:
Client support services
6
Exchange rate gain
Total expenditure
Net incoming resources for the year before
transfers
Net income for the year/Net movement in funds
Fund balances at 1 April 2022
Fund balances at 31 March 2023		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
483
217
-
700
390
318
-
708
(8)		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
483
217
-
700
390
318
-
708
(8)		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
483
217
-
700
390
318
-
708
(8)		 Restricted
Funds
£’000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total
2023
£’000
483
217
-
700
390
318
-
708
(8)		 Total
2022
£’000
558
317
-
875
333
525
-
858
17
8 8
17
()
3,589
3,581		 -
-
-		 ()
3,589
3,581
3,572
3,589

The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The prior year’s comparative figures are shown on page 44.

The Statement of Financial Activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.

Page 43

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP CHARITABLE COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT For the year ended 31st March 2023

Prior financial year
Notes
INCOME FROM:
Donations and legacies
1
Other activities
2
Investments
3
Total income
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds:
Fundraising and publicity
Charitable activities:
Client support services
6
Exchange rate gain
Total expenditure
Net income for the year/Net movement in funds
Fund balances at 1 April 2021
Fund balances at 31 March 2022		 Prior financial year
Notes
INCOME FROM:
Donations and legacies
1
Other activities
2
Investments
3
Total income
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds:
Fundraising and publicity
Charitable activities:
Client support services
6
Exchange rate gain
Total expenditure
Net income for the year/Net movement in funds
Fund balances at 1 April 2021
Fund balances at 31 March 2022		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
558
317
-
875
333
525
-		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
558
317
-
875
333
525
-		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
558
317
-
875
333
525
-		 Restricted
Funds
£’000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total
2022
£’000
558
317
-
875
333
525
-		 Total
2021
£’000
652
231
-
883
280
119
(15)
858 - 858 384
17
3,572
3,589		 -
-
-		 17
3,572
3,589
499
3,073
3,572

Page 44

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP CHARITABLE COMPANY AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS For the year ended 31st March 2023

Notes
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
10
Investments
CURRENT ASSETS
Stock
11
Debtors
12
Cash at bank and in hand
LIABILITIES
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
13
NET CURRENT ASSETS/(LIABILITIES)
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one
year
14
NET ASSETS
FUNDS
Restricted Funds
15
Unrestricted Funds
- Designated
16
- General
TOTAL FUNDS		 Group
2023
£’000
2022
£’000
8,029
8,190
-
-
8,029
8,190
25
18
7,206
5,640
14,873
15,780
22,104
21,438
(5,644)
(5,659)
16,460
15,779
24,489
23,969
(1,098)
(1,208)
23,391
22,761
2,364
2,075
5,914
6,208
15,113
14,478		 Charitable
Company
2023
£’000
2022
£’000
3,843
4,086
-
-
3,843
4,086
-
-
294
343
1,086
1,190
1,380
1,533
(671)
(966)
709
567
4,552
4,653
(971)
(1,064)
3,581
3,589
-
-
2,225
2,234
1,356
1,355
21,027
20,686		 3,581
3,589
23,391
22,761
3,581
3,589

Approved by the trustees of Autism Initiatives Group and authorised for issue on 23[rd] November 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

B Williams Chair

Company Number: 07120634 Charity Number: 1170634

L Slater Trustee

Page 45

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP CHARITABLE COMPANY AND CONSOLIDATED CASHFLOW STATEMENT For the year ended 31st March 2023

Group Charitable
Company
2023
2022
£’000
£’000
14
1,045
Notes
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Cash (expended)/generated from operations
19
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Proceeds on disposal of tangible fixed assets
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from new loans
Repayment of bank loans
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
NET (DECREASE)/ INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH
EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of year
20
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
20		 2023
2022
£’000
£’000
(509)
1,623
(509)
1,623
(295)
(939)
24
379
14
1,045
(25)
(478)
-
370
(271)
(560)
-
-
(109)
(22)
(109)
(22)
(889)
1,041
15,762
14,721
14,873
15,762		 (25)
(108)
-
-
(93)
(99)
(93)
(99)
(104)
838
1,190
352
1,086
1,190

Page 46

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31st March 2023

1. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

Group
Donations
Charitable Trusts
Grants
For the year ended 31
March 2022
Charitable company
Donations
Charitable Trusts
For the year ended 31
March 2022
2.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Group
Rent and Training income
Profit on disposal of assets

For the year ended 31
March 2022
Charitable company
Rent & service charges
Profit on disposal of assets
For the year ended 31
March 2022		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
400
344
50
25
137
954
587
1,323
1,359
1,060		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
400
344
50
25
137
954
587
1,323
1,359
1,060		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
400
344
50
25
137
954
587
1,323
1,359
1,060		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
400
344
50
25
137
954
587
1,323
1,359
1,060		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
400
344
50
25
137
954
587
1,323
1,359
1,060		 Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
400
344
50
25
137
954
587
1,323
1,359
1,060		 Total
2023
£’000
744
75
1,091
1,910
Total
2023
£’000
433
50
483		 Total
2022
£’000
652
26
1,741
2,419
2,419
Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
433
-
50
-
483
-		 Total
2022
£’000
558
-
558
55 8 - 558
Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
37
-
-
-		 Total
2023
£’000
37
-
37
Total
2023
£’000
217
-
217		 Total
2022
£’000
45
92
137
137
Total
2022
£’000
225
92
317
317
37
-
137
-
Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
217
-
-
-
217
-
317
-

Page 47

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

3. INVESTMENT INCOME

Group
Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
Total
2023
£’000
Interest receivable
63
-
63
For the year ended 31
March 2022
7
-
Charitable company
Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
Total
2023
£’000
Interest receivable
-
-
-
For the year ended 31
March 2022
-
-
4.
INCOMING FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Group
Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
Total
2023
£’000
Education income
4,128
-
4,128
Client support income
65,309
4,735
70,044
Other
588
-
588
70,025
4,735
74,760
For the year ended 31
March 2022
64,097
4,521
5.
OTHER INCOMING RESOURCES
Group
Unrestricted
Funds
£’000
Restricted
Funds
£’000
Total
2023
£’000
Other income
-
-
-
-
-
-
For the year ended 31
March 2022
-
-		 Total
2022
£’000
7
7
Total
2022
£’000
-
-
Total
2022
£’000
5,469
62,609
540
68,618
68,618
Total
2022
£’000
-
-
-

Page 48

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

6. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

(a) Analysis of expenditure on charitable
activities
Group
Staff costs
Other direct costs
Governance costs
Share of support costs
Depreciation
Analysed by Fund
Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
For the year ended 31st March 2022
Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
Charitable Company
Staff costs
Other Direct Costs
Governance Costs
Share of Support Costs
Depreciation
Analysed by fund:
Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
For the year ended 31st March 2022
Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds		 Education
£’000
Client
Support
£’000
3,203
52,346
725
11,927
-
177
409
6,150
41
224		 Other
Activities
£’000
432
316
-
-
10		 Total
2023
£’000
55,981
12,968
177
6,559
275
75,960
70,191
5,769
75,960
23
401
34
(154)
14
318
318
-
318		 Total
2022
£’000
52,418
11,289
141
5,022
282
4,378
70,824		 758 69,152
4,377
65,170
1
5,654		 644
114		 63,746
5,406
4,378
70,824		 758
4,653
58,530
817
4,581		 563
8
5,470
63,111		 571 69,152
-
23
-
401
-
34
-
(154)
-
14		 -
-
-
-
-		 399
233
30
(148)
11
-
318		 - 525
-
318
-
-		 -
-		 525
-
-
318		 -
-
525
-
-		 -
-
-
525		 - 525

Page 49

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

6. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES continued

(b) Support and Governance
Group
Staff costs
Depreciation
Head office costs
Audit fees
Other professional costs
Meeting costs
Analysed between
Raising funds
Education
Client support costs
Charitable Company:
Staff costs
Depreciation
Other costs
Costs recharged to group charities
Audit fees
Other professional costs
Meeting costs
Analysed between
Client support costs		 Support
Costs
£’000
Governance
£’000
4,634
37
252
-
1,674
-
-
67
-
70
-
3		 Total
2023
£’000
4,671
252
1,674
67
70
3
6,737
1
409
6,327
6,737
1,085
251
-
(1,490)
25
8
1
(120)
(120)
(120)		 Total
2022
£’000
3,802
226
1,037
62
35
1
6,560
177		 5,163
1
-
409
-
6,150
177		 1
291
4,871
6,560
177		 5,163
1,085
-
251
-
-
-
(1,490)
-
-
25
-
8
-
1		 897
226
-
(1,271)
23
6
1
(154)
34		 (118)
(154)
34		 (118)
(154)
34		 (118)

Basis for support cost allocation

Management, finance and property have been allocated on the basis of staff time. Human resources have been allocated on the basis of number of employees.

Page 50

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

6. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES continued

Group Charitable Company
Total Total Total
Total
(c) The total resources expended above include: 2023 2022 2023
2022
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Auditors’ remuneration 68 64 25
23
Auditors’ remuneration – other services - 2 -
1
Depreciation on owned assets 533 507 267
237
Trustees’ expenses 39 42 1
1
Interest payable on bank loans 48 29 48
29

7. STAFF NUMBERS AND EMOLUMENTS

The average number of persons employed during the period was :

(a) Staff numbers
Operational Support Staff
Teachers
Care workers		 2023
Number
2022
Group
247
223
98
101
2,168
1,997
2,513
2,321		 2023
Number
2022
Group
247
223
98
101
2,168
1,997
2,513
2,321
2,321

The aggregate emoluments of these persons were as follows :

(b) Staff costs
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs (note 8 (d))
Other wage costs		 Direct
Staff
Costs
£’000
Support
Staff Costs
£’000
Total
2023
£’000
Total
2022
£’000
Group
49,982
3,998
53,980
50,692
4,288
411
4,699
4,220
1,100
194
1,294
1,193
878
26
904
306
56,248
4,629
60,877
56,411		 Direct
Staff
Costs
£’000
Support
Staff Costs
£’000
Total
2023
£’000
Total
2022
£’000
Group
49,982
3,998
53,980
50,692
4,288
411
4,699
4,220
1,100
194
1,294
1,193
878
26
904
306
56,248
4,629
60,877
56,411
56,411

Excluded from wages and salaries are agency costs of £4,925k (2022: £1,675k) charged within ‘Other direct costs’. Agency staff are used to cover staff shortages.

Page 51

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

7. STAFF NUMBERS AND EMOLUMENTS continued

(c) Emoluments of employees

The number of employees whose annual emoluments were £60,000 or more were : 2023
Number		 2022
Number
Group
£60,001 - £70,000 8 4
£70,001 - £80,000 3 3
£80,001 - £90,000 1 1
£90,001 - £100,000 1 1
£120,001 - £130,001 1 -
£140,001 - £150,001 1 -
£160,001 - £170,001 1 -
£490,001 - £500,000 - 1
£’000 £’000
Total trustee and key management personnel remuneration 910 1,185

Of the employees whose emoluments exceeded £60k fourteen (2022: nine) have retirement benefits accruing under a money purchase pension scheme and two (2022: two) have retirement benefits accruing under a defined benefit pension scheme. Pension contributions of £144k (2022: £95k) were made in the year to the money purchase pension scheme and £16k (2022: £23k) to the defined benefit pension scheme.

Key management personnel above includes the trustees and the executive staff.

During the previous financial year the Board undertook a review of the service contract for the Chief Executive. The Board felt that changes were necessary to certain clauses within the contract to protect the Charity from potential operational and financial risk going forwards. In consideration for agreeing to changes to certain terms and conditions within the contract, compensation was paid of £320k to the Chief Executive.

(d) Pension scheme

The Group participates in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (“the TPS”) for its teaching staff. The pension charge for the year includes contributions payable to the TPS of £204k (2022: £192k) and at the year-end £27k (2022 - £22k) was accrued in respect of contributions to this scheme.

The TPS is an unfunded multi-employer defined benefits pension scheme governed by The Teachers’ Pensions Regulations 2010 (as amended) and The Teachers’ Pension Scheme Regulations 2014 (as amended). Members contribute on a “pay as you go” basis with contributions from members and the employer being credited to the Exchequer. Retirement and other pension benefits are paid by public funds provided by Parliament.

The employer contribution rate is set by the Secretary of State following scheme valuations undertaken by the Government Actuary’s Department. The most recent actuarial valuation of the TPS was prepared as at 31 March 2016 and the Valuation Report, which was published in March 2019, confirmed that the employer contribution rate for the TPS would increase from 16.4% to 23.6% from 1 September 2019. Employers are also required to pay a scheme administration levy of 0.08% giving a total employer contribution rate of 23.68%.

The 31 March 2016 Valuation Report was prepared in accordance with the benefits set out in the scheme regulations and under the approach specified in the Directions, as they applied at 5 March 2019. However, the assumptions were considered and set by the Department for Education prior to the ruling in the ‘McCloud/Sargeant case’. This case has required the courts to consider cases regarding the implementation of the 2015 reforms to Public Service Pensions including the Teachers’ Pensions.

On 27 June 2019 the Supreme Court denied the government permission to appeal the Court of Appeal’s judgment that transitional provisions introduced to the reformed pension schemes in 2015 gave rise to unlawful age discrimination.

Page 52

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

7. STAFF NUMBERS AND EMOLUMENTS continued

The government is respecting the Court’s decision and has said it will engage fully with the Employment Tribunal as well as employer and member representatives to agree how the discriminations will be remedied. A consultation was launched by the government on 16 July 2020, and closed to responses on 11 October 2020.

The TPS is subject to a cost cap mechanism which was put in place to protect taxpayers against unforeseen changes in scheme costs. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, having in 2018 announced that there would be a review of this cost cap mechanism, in January 2019 announced a pause to the cost cap mechanism following the Court of Appeal’s ruling in the McCloud/Sargeant case and until there is certainty about the value of pensions to employees from April 2015 onwards. The pause was lifted in July 2020 and the government is preparing to complete the cost control element of the 2016 valuations, which is expected to be completed in 2023.

In view of the above rulings and decisions the assumptions used in the 31 March 2016 Actuarial Valuation may become inappropriate. In this scenario, a valuation prepared in accordance with revised benefits and suitably revised assumptions would yield different results than those contained in the Actuarial Valuation.

Until the consultation and the cost cap mechanism review are completed it is not possible to conclude on any financial impact or future changes to the contribution rates of the TPS. Accordingly no provision for any additional past benefit pension costs is included in these financial statements.

8. TRUSTEES’ EMOLUMENTS, REIMBURSED EXPENSES AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

As permitted in the Charity’s governing document, an amount of £25,000 (2022: £25,000) was paid to Mr Brian Williams in respect of remuneration. None of the other trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year.

The aggregate amount of expenses reimbursed to four trustees during the year was £1,012 (2022: four, £1,012). Indemnity insurance is provided for trustees, premiums paid during the year totalled £4,050 (2022: £4,050).

At the year-end Autism Initiatives Ireland owed £7k to Autism Initiatives (UK), £4k to Autism Initiatives Northern Ireland and £1k to the parent company, Autism Initiatives Group.

There were no further transactions with related parties undertaken such as are required to be disclosed under FRS 102.

9. TAXATION

Autism Initiatives Group is a registered charity and is thus exempt from tax on income and gains falling within paragraph 1 of Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 or s256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the Charity.

Autism Initiatives (UK) is a registered charity and is thus exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or s256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the Charity.

Autism Initiatives (NI) has been accepted as a registered charity by HM Revenue & Customs and is exempt from tax under Section 505 Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

Autism Initiatives Ireland has been accepted as a registered charity by Office of the Revenue Commissioners, Ireland and is thus exempt from tax on income and gains falling within Section 207 (as applied to companies by Section 76), Section 609 (Capital Gains Tax) and Section 266 (Deposit Interest Retention Tax) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997.

Page 53

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

10. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Group

Land &
buildings
£’000
Property
improvements
£’000
Fixtures,
fittings &
equipment
£’000
Cost:
At 1 April 2022
9,420
2,407
507
Translation difference
165
-
5
Additions in the period
57
194
44
Disposals in the period
(21)
-
(4)
At 31 March 2023
9,621
2,601
552
Depreciation:
At 1 April 2022
2,582
1,595
200
Translation difference
68
-
5
Charged in the period
184
182
93
Disposals in the period
2
-
(4)
At 31 March 2023
2,836
1,777
294
Net book value:
At 31 March 2023
6,785
824
258
At 31 March 2022
6,838
812
307
Analysis of net book value of land and buildings
Freehold
Leasehold - Over 50 years unexpired
Net book amount		 Land &
buildings
£’000
Property
improvements
£’000
Fixtures,
fittings &
equipment
£’000
9,420
2,407
507
165
-
5
57
194
44
(21)
-
(4)		 Motor
vehicles
£’000
997
0
25
-
(78)
944
0
`
764
5
19
73
(74)
782
X
162
X
233
X		 Total
£’000
13,331
195
295
(103)
9,621
2,601
552		 13,718
2,582
1,595
200
68
-
5
184
182
93
2
-
(4)		 5,141
92
532
(76)
2,836
1,777
294		 5,689
6,785
824
258		 8,029
8,190
6,838
812
307
2023
£’000
5,130
1,655
6,785		 2022
£’000
5,132
1,706
6,838

Page 54

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

10 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS continued

Charitable Company

Land &
buildings
£’000
Property
improvements
£’000
Fixtures,
fittings &
equipment
£’000
Cost:
At 1 April 2022
4,393
1,378
385
Additions in the period
-
-
25
Disposals in the period
-
-
-
Transfers in the period
-
-
-
At 31 March 2023
4,393
1,378
410
Depreciation:
At 1 April 2022
1,016
935
119
Charged in the period
84
108
76
Disposals in the period
-
-
-
Transfers in the period
-
-
-
At 31 March 2023
1,100
1,043
195
Net book value:
At 31 March 2023
3,293
335
215
At 31 March 2022
3,377
443
266
Analysis of net book value of land and buildings
Freehold
Leasehold - Over 50 years unexpired
Net book amount		 Land &
buildings
£’000
Property
improvements
£’000
Fixtures,
fittings &
equipment
£’000
4,393
1,378
385
-
-
25
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Land &
buildings
£’000
Property
improvements
£’000
Fixtures,
fittings &
equipment
£’000
4,393
1,378
385
-
-
25
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Motor
vehicles
£’000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2023
£’000
2,222
1,071
3,293		 Total
£’000
6,156
25
-
-
4,393
1,378
410		 6,181
1,016
935
119
84
108
76
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2,070
268
-
-
1,100
1,043
195		 2,338
3,293
335
215		 3,843
4,086
3,377
443
266
2022
£’000
2,282
1,095
3,377

Page 55

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

11. STOCK

Finished goods for resale 2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Group
25
18
25
18		 2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Charitable Company
-
-
-
-		 2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Charitable Company
-
-
-
-
-

12. DEBTORS

Trade debtors
Amounts due from group undertakings
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors
3. CREDITORS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Bank loans and overdraft
Trade creditors
Amounts due to group companies
Taxation and social security
Payments on account
Other creditors
Accruals		 2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Group
6,467
5,116
-
-
290
299
449
225
7,206
5,640
2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Group
106
123
1,137
1,236
-
-
1,316
1,223
485
533
875
719
1,725
1,825
5,644
5,659		 2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Charitable Company
14
2
156
96
96
93
28
152
294
343
2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Charitable Company
88
88
18
16
443
416
58
43
-
-
4
3
60
400
671
966

13. CREDITORS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

The loans and overdrafts are secured on property owned by Autism Initiatives Group.

Page 56

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

14. CREDITORS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR

Bank loans
Borrowings – Bank loans and overdraft
The maturity of borrowings is as follows:
Repayable within one year or on demand
Repayable between one and two years
Repayable between two and five years
Repayable in five years or more
Included in liabilities falling due within one year		 2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Group
1,098
1,208
1,098
1,208
2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Group
106
105
106
106
320
319
672
783
1,204
1,313
(106)
(105)
1,098
1,208		 2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Charitable Company
971
1,064
971
1,064
2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Charitable Company
88
88
88
88
264
264
619
712
1,059
1,152
(88)
(88)
971
1,064		 2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Charitable Company
971
1,064
971
1,064
2023
£’000
2022
£’000
Charitable Company
88
88
88
88
264
264
619
712
1,059
1,152
(88)
(88)
971
1,064
1,152
(88)
1,064

Total bank loans of £1,098k (2022: £1,208k) are secured by legal charges on land and buildings.

Financial instruments

The loan financing is in the form of secured loans with a mix of fixed and variable interest rates. The loans have recently been re-negotiated with interest rates reflecting current market rates.

Page 57

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

15. RESTRICTED INCOME FUNDS

Autism Initiatives (UK)
Covid Relief Grant
Bristol Avenue
Lilford Court
One Stop Shop Central Funding
One Stop Shop Inverness
One Stop Shop Perth
Peterhouse School
Scotland Outreach Support
Cambridge Road
Local Fundriasing for individual
Services
Greenside
Autism Alliance
Other Grants and Donations
Isle of Man service/donations
Autism Initiatives NI
Northern Ireland Housing
Executive
NMANDD Grant
Other Donations
Autism Ventures
Placement Grants
MeCycle Grants & Donations
STFA Salary Grants
Southport Café Equipment
Donations
WeGrow Sundry Donations
Autism Spectrum Connections
Cymru
Welsh Government One Stop
Shop Grant
Group Total		 1 April
2021
£’000
Income
£’000
Expenditure
£’000
T/fer
£’000
Reval’
n gain
£’000
31 March
2022
£’000
Income
£’000
Expenditure
£’000
T/fer
£’000
31 March
2023
£’000
21
-
(21)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
15
(17)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
(1)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
363
(363)
-
-
-
463
(463)
-
-
-
153
(153)
-
-
-
76
(76)
-
-
-
132
(132)
-
-
-
132
(132)
-
-
-
7
(1)
-
-
6
4
(1)
-
9
2
-
(2)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
-
5
-
(5)
-
-
47
83
(75)
-
-
55
67
(74)
-
47
-
1
(1)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
270
(87)
-
183
3
-
(3)
-
-
-
1
(1)
-
-
1,804
3,700
(3,508)
-
-
1,996
3,915
(3,800)
-
2,112
-
821
(821)
-
-
-
820
(820)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
(2)
-
-
12
1
-
-
-
13
-
-
-
13
-
-
-
-
-
-
10
(10)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
9
(9)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
(2)
-
-
1
-
(1)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
5
(7)
-
-
-
4
(4)
-
-
-
300
(300)
-
-
-
283
(283)
-
-
1,900
5,581
(5,406)
-
-
2,075
6,058
(5,769)
-
2,364

Page 58

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

15. RESTRICTED FUNDS (continued)

Autism Initiatives (UK)

Page 59

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

15. RESTRICTED FUNDS (continued)

Autism Initiatives (NI):

Autism Ventures:

Autism Spectrum Connections Cymru

Page 60

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

16. DESIGNATED FUNDS

Included within the unrestricted funds of the group are designated funds which are set aside by the trustees for specific projects and purposes. These funds are designated as follows:

Designated Reserves -
Autism Initiatives Group
ICT Development Fund
Group Development Fund
Peterhouse School Development
Fund
General Fundraising Projects
Fund
Autism Initiatives (UK)
ICT Development Fund
Covid-19 Fund
Peterhouse School Development
Fund
Autism Initiatives (NI):
General Fundraising Projects
Fund
ICT/IS Strategy Fund
Capital Fund – Service
Development
Capital Fund – Head Office
Reinstatement Fund
Vehicles
Covid-19 Fund
Autism Initiatives Ireland:
Covid-19 Fund
Unplanned cessation of services
fund
Leasehold re-instatement costs
ICT Infrastructure
Motor Vehicles
Respite - Residential Service
Resource Centre
Regulatory & Compliance
General Fundraising Projects
Group designated funds		 1 April
2022
£000
Exchange
rate
difference
£000
Incoming
resources
£000
Expenditure
£000
Transfers
from/(to)
general
fund
£000
31 March
2023
£000
500
-
-
-
-
500
770
-
-
-
-
770
192
-
50
-
123
365
772
-
420
(479)
(123)
590
500
-
-
-
-
500
500
-
-
-
(500)
-
657
-
-
-
(83)
574
10
-
-
(18)
22
14
50
-
-
-
10
60
350
-
-
-
25
375
400
-
-
-
100
500
40
-
-
-
10
50
25
-
-
-
(25)
-
70
-
-
(29)
(41)
-
50
3
-
(32)
(21)
-
736
46
-
-
(51)
731
59
3
-
-
6
68
50
3
-
-
18
71
100
7
-
-
-
107
251
16
-
-
44
311
84
5
-
-
133
222
42
2
-
(34)
52
62
-
-
-
(25)
69
44
6,208
85
470
(617)
(232)
5,914

Page 61

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

16. DESIGNATED FUNDS (continued)

Designated Reserves -
Autism Initiatives Group
ICT Development Fund
Group Development Fund
Peterhouse School Development
Fund
General Fundraising Projects
Fund
Autism Initiatives (UK)
ICT Development Fund
Covid-19 Fund
Peterhouse School Development
Fund
Autism Initiatives (NI):
General Fundraising Projects
Fund
ICT/IS Strategy Fund
Capital Fund – Service
Development
Capital Fund – Head Office
Reinstatement Fund
Vehicles
Covid-19 Fund
Autism Initiatives Ireland:
Covid-19 Fund
Unplanned cessation of services
fund
Leasehold re-instatement costs
ICT Infrastructure
Motor Vehicles
Respite - Residential Service
Resource Centre
Regulatory & Compliance
Group designated funds		 1 April
2021
£000
Exchange
rate
difference
£000
Incoming
resources
£000
Expenditure
£000
Transfers
from/(to)
general
fund
£000
31 March
2022
£000
500
-
-
-
-
500
1,000
-
-
(230)
-
770
-
-
92
-
100
192
498
-
427
(53)
(100)
772
500
-
-
-
-
500
750
-
-
-
(250)
500
657
-
-
-
-
657
-
-
10
-
-
10
80
-
-
-
(30)
50
310
-
-
(98)
138
350
400
-
-
-
-
400
30
-
-
-
10
40
30
-
-
(47)
42
25
150
-
-
(66)
(14)
70
61
(2)
-
(49)
40
50
599
(18)
-
-
155
736
60
(1)
-
-
-
59
70
(3)
-
-
(17)
50
39
(1)
-
-
62
59
234
(8)
-
-
25
251
65
(2)
-
-
21
84
43
(1)
-
-
-
42
6,076
(36)
529
(543)
182
6,208

Page 62

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

16. DESIGNATED FUNDS (continued)

Autism Initiatives Group

Autism Initiatives (UK)

Autism Initiatives (NI):

Page 63

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

16. DESIGNATED FUNDS (continued)

Autism Initiatives Ireland:

17. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Group
Fund balances at 31 March 2023 are represented by :
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
Fund balances at 31 March 2022 are represented by
Tangible fixed assets
Current Assets
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year		 Unrestricted
funds
£’000
Restricted
funds
£’000
Total
£’000
7,992
36
8,028
19,768
2,337
22,105
(5,644)
-
(5,644)
(1,098)
-
(1,098)
21,018
2,373
23,391
8,139
51
8,190
19,414
2,024
21,438
(5,659)
-
(5,659)
(1,208)
-
(1,208)
20,686
2,075
22,761

Page 64

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

17. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

(cont)
Charitable company
Fund balances at 31 March 2023 are represented by :
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
Fund balances at 31 March 2022 are represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year		 Unrestricted
funds
£’000
Restricted
funds
£’000
Total
£’000
3,843
-
3,843
1,380
-
1,380
(671)
-
(671)
(971)
-
(971)
3,581
-
3,581
4,086
-
4,086
1,533
-
1,533
(966)
-
(966)
(1,064)
-
(1,064)
3,589
-
3,589

Page 65

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

18. SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Autism Initiatives (UK) A charity providing care for people in Great Britain & Isle of Man with autistic tendencies. Autism Initiatives Northern Ireland A charity providing care for people in Northern Ireland with autistic tendencies. Autism Ventures A Social Firm operating coffee shops, a cycle shop and workshop and a growing project to provide a work and training experience for people with autism spectrum condition. Autism Spectrum Connections Cymru A Charity established to provide services to people with autism spectrum condition in Wales. Living Initiatives Limited A subsidiary formed in December 2005. This company commenced trading in October 2009 providing accommodation for a person with Autism Spectrum Condition in the Isle of Man. The company has ceased trading. Autism England Limited A 100% dormant subsidiary of AI(UK) formed in February 2007. Autism Initiatives England A 100% dormant subsidiary of AI(UK) formed in January 2008 Autism Initiatives Cymru A 100% dormant subsidiary of AI(UK) formed in December 2007 Autism Initiatives Scotland A 100% dormant subsidiary of AI(UK) formed in January 2008

The above have been consolidated on a line by line basis. A summary of the individual results is shown on the following page.

Page 66

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

18. SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES continued

Income
Charitable Expenses
Governance
Exchange Rate
(loss)/gain
Donation to Parent
Net Surplus/(Deficit)
The aggregate of the asse
Assets
Liabilities
Represented by:
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
General funds
Restricted funds		 Autism
Initiatives
UK
Autism
Initiatives
(NI)
Autism
Initiatives
Ireland
Autism
Ventures
ASCC
Living
Initiatives
Limited
Total
2023
£’000
Total
2022
£’000
57,775
8,012
9,867
658
641
-
76,953
70,631
(58,380)
(7,570)
(9,169)
(657)
(667)
-
(76,443)
(68,888)
(65)
(16)
(63)
-
-
-
(144)
(111)
-
-
273
-
-
-
273
(122)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(670)
426
908
1
(26)
-
639
1,510
ts liabilities and funds was:
14,996
4,734
5,582
155
321
1
25,789
24,595
(4,364)
(445)
(733)
(91)
(321)
-
(5,954)
(5,399)
10,632
4,289
4,849
64
-
1
19,835
19,196
1,074
999
2,860
-
-
-
4,933
3,974
7,207
3,277
1,989
64
-
1
12,538
12,905
2,351
13
-
-
-
-
2,317
2,317
10,632
4,289
4,849
64
-
1
19,835
19,196

Related party transactions between the above companies are excluded in the consolidated accounts per FRS 102.

Page 67

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

19.CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS

9.CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS
(Deficit)/Surplus for the year
Adjustments for:
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed
assets
Investment income recognised in Statement of
Financial Activities
Currency exchange (profit)/ loss on translation
Loss/(profit) on disposal of tangible fixed assets
Movements in working capital:
(Increase)/Decrease in stock
(Increase)/Decrease in debtors
Decrease/(Increase) in creditors
Cash generated from operations		 Group
Charitable Company
2023
£’000
2022
£’000
2023
£’000
2022
£’000
630
1,527
(8)
17
532
507
268
237
-
-
-
-
(103)
58
-
-
3
(95)
-
(92)
(7)
(5)
-
-
(1,566)
(944)
49
205
2
575
(295)
678
(509)
1,623
14
1,045

20. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET (DEBT)/FUNDS

0. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET (DEBT)/FUNDS
Group
Cash at bank and in hand
Bank overdrafts
Loans falling due within one year
Loans falling due after more than one year
Charitable Company
Cash at bank and in hand
Loans falling due within one year
Loans falling due after more than one year		 At 1 April
2022
£’000
Movement
£’000
At 31 March
2023
£’000
15,780
(907)
14,873
(18)
18
-
(105)
(1)
(106)
(1,208)
110
(1,098)
14,449
(780)
13,669
1,190
(104)
1,086
(88)
-
(88)
(1,064)
93
(971)
38
(11)
27

21. COMMITMENTS UNDER OPERATING LEASES

At 31 March 2023 there were outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, as follows:

Within one year
Between two and five years
Over five years		 Group
2023
£’000
2022
£’000
1,008
825
1,311
1,043
-
60
2,319
1,928		 Company
2023
£’000
2022
£’000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Page 68

AUTISM INITIATIVES GROUP NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS continued For the year ended 31st March 2023

22. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

The group had no material capital commitments at the balance sheet date.

23. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Grants and other income received from certain parties may be repayable where specific conditions are subsequently found not to have been met.

Page 69

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Autism Initiatives is immensely grateful to the following funders who have generously given grants and donations to support our work over the last year. Sadly we cannot list everyone, but every single gift we receive is important to us, helping to make a real difference to the lives of those people we support.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has given generously of their time or money to help make our achievements possible and we hope you share our deep sense of pride. We certainly could not do it without you. We would also like to thank all of our staff and volunteers for the hard work and commitment they have shown and for their continuing dedication to our service users and the organisation as a whole.

A very big thank you to all our supporters below and to many others not listed.

Alpkit Foundation

Rural Community Engagement Fund National Lottery Community Fund Scotland – Grants for improving Lives Highland Innovation Challenge Fund

Edinburgh TSI – Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Y2 Angus TSI – Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Y2 Midlothian – Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Y2 Highland TSI – Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Y2 National Lottery Community Fund Scotland – Cost-of-Living Support Fund The Hodge Foundation Lothian Buses GM Morrison Lord Hanson The Health and Social Care Self Management Fund The Gannochy Trust

Page 70

To ask for this document in a different format, contact the address below.

autism initiatives group

Sefton House

Bridle Road

Bootle L30 4XR

Tel: 0151 330 9500

E-mail: headoffice@autisminitiatives.org

Web: www.autisminitiatives.org

Autism Initiatives Group is a company limited by guarantee, Registered in England no: 07120634 and a registered charity no 1170634. Registered office: Sefton House, Bridle Road, Bootle. L30 4XR