Charlty r8gistration number". 1171704 AUTISM FORWARD AUTISM FORWARD ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
AUTISM FORWARD CONTENTS Reference and Administrative Detsils Trustees, Report 2to20 ststement of Truslees, Responsiblllties 21 Independent Examlnefs Report 22to23 ststement of Financial Activities 24 Balance Sheet 25 Notes to the Flnanclal Statements 26to31
AUTISM FORWARD REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Trustees Ms A Leverett Ms J Pierce Dr E Gokcen Ms H Needham Principal Offlce 37 Granville Park London SE13 7DY Charlty Reglstratlon Numbor 1171704 Website WW•V.autismforbvard.org.uk Bankers Metro Bank PLC One Soulhampton Row London WC1B SHA Independent Examiner Rotherham Taylor Limited 21 Navigation Business Village Navigation Way Ashton-on-Ribble Preston PR2 2YP Page 1
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT The trustees present the annual report together with the financlal ststements of the charlty for the year ended 31 Marth 2025. The financial statements have been prepared on an accruals basis in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the financial statements and comply with the charitys constitution. Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Ststement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Finanrjal Reporting Standard applicable in the UK 8nd Republic of Ireland published on 16 July 2014. The financial statement5 have been examined by an Independent Examiner. THE TRUSTEES The trustees served the charty during the period were as follows: Jane Pier (Chair and Secretary) Ann Leverett (Treasurer) Elrf Gokcen Helen Needham STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT The charity is a Charitsble Incorporated Organisation, registered number 117104 and is Constituted under a Foundation Constitution which came into force on 20 February 2017. Ann Leverett, Jane Pierce and Elrf GOkn were the three co-founders of the charity and were all reappointed for a further period of 3 years commencing on 23 January 2023. Helen Needham was appointed as a trustee on 20 October 2020 and was reappointed for a further period of 3 years commencing on 1 November 2023. At the AGM on 3 July 2024 the Trustees accepted the resignation of Ann Leverett as Chair of the charity arKI approved the appointment of Jane Pierce as Chair with effect from 1 September 2024. Ann Leverett confirmed that she would continue her roles as Truslee and Treasurer of the charity. New truslees are appointed by the existing trustees and in selecting individuals for appointment as tharity trustees. the trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity. The Constitution provides for a minimum of 3 trustees and there is maximum. Trustee5 are eligible for appOIntMent at the end of their term. As the charity is primarily a grant-making charity. it does not have any paid employees and all fundraising and administrative work is undertaken by Ihe trustees. The trustees attend extemal trainiro courses as necessary and appropriate for their responsibilities and roles within the charity. All trustees are requId to read the Charity Commission's guidance "The Essential Trustee: What you need to know, and the new Charity Commission Govemance Code. The Irustees aim to meet at least once every quarter to discuss fundraising. finanS. governance issues. events. new mentor partnerships or initiatives with other autism charities or potential corporate sw)nsors and to confirm approval of grants. The day to day administration of grants and the processing of applications is handled by the Chair and Secretary. A Grant Approval Sub-comrnittee was estsblished by unanimous agreement of the trustees on 20 October 2020 and currenlly comprises three trustees (Ann Leverett. Jane Pierce and Elif Gokcen) which approves grant applications and grant extensions in accordance with ils ternis of reference (as amended in wriling and approved by the trustees from tim8 to time). Details of all grants and grant extensions approved by the Grant Approval Sub-commlttee are made available to all trustees and are pr8sent8d at each board meeting. Page 2
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT All trustees give their time freely and no trustee remuneration was paid in the year and no expenses Vre daimed by them. Trustees 8r8 required lo disdose all relevant interests and reglster them with the charity secretary in accordance with the charitys Conflict of Interest Policy and withdraw from any de¢lslons where a conflict of interest arises. No disclosures have been made by the Trustees since the charty was constituted. RISK MANAGEMENT The trustees have considered the major risks to which the charity i8 exposed and have revlewed those risks and established systems and procedures to manage those risks whlch are set out In the charity's Rlsk Management Strategy which is reviewed by the Treasurer annually. Thls contslns procedures to ensure the Charity is complying with the Charity Commission guidance in relat5on to due diligence procedures in relation to beneficiaries, donors and partners. The charlty Is prlmarlly a grant making charty and it raises funds to provlde grants for specSallst employment related mentorlng and workshops for 8Utistic adults who are actively seeking pald or voluntary employment. The mentorlng and workshops are provided by independent specialist mentors vtho have proven experience of providing employment related mentoring to autistic adults. The mentor partners are entirely independent of the chaiity and the charity carries out due diligence in relation to each proposed mentor partner in accordance with Ihe Charity Commission 'Know Your Partnerf guidelines to verify their experience, good standing and suitability. The charity also enters into a Referral Agreement with each proposed mentor pather which sets out the process for referring grant applications to the charity and the rights and obligations of the mentor partner and the charity in relation lo the mentoring services which are funded by grants provided by the Gharity. The charity has put in place processes to obtain regular feedback from grant holders and menlors in r81ation to the mentoring provided and their progress lo monitor the use of the charity's funds and outcomes and demonstrate the public benefit derived from the funding of the specialist mentOTing and workshops. The charity also reviews each mentor partner annually to check they continue to meet the good stsnding and other relevant requirements of the "Know Your Partner guidelines. The charfty is currently working with Ihirteen independent speclallst mentor partners across the county. We have 8dded two new mentor organisations to our network thls flnancial year to expand our geographical reach. The charity's surplus funds are divided b8tween the charitys business saving account at Metro Bank plc, the charitls business saving 8ccount with the Nationwide Bullding Society account, the charivs deposft account wlth United Trust Bank and a new 31 day Business Noti Account with Cambrldge & Counties Bank In order to benefit from the FSCS compensation scheme with all four financlal institutlons, mlnlmlslng the charitys financial exposure. All payments made by the charlty from Its bank and buildlng soclety accounts require authorisation by two trustees (except where withdrawals can only be made Into the Metro Bank account, whlch requires authorisation by two trustees for any withdrawal). OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT The objects of the charity are the promotion of social inclusion for the public benefit amongst people aged eighteen or over who are excluded from society, or parts of society, due to an 8Utisrn spectrum condition, to relieve the needs of such people and assist them to integrate into society and achieve their potential as individuals after they leave education. in particular but not exclusively through funding Ihe provision of: (a) pre-employment support, including social skills and other relevant tralning whlch enhances employabilty, Page 3
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT (b) coaching, mentoring, advice and support in relation to employability., (c) provKliro specialist skills and a)Nareness training and workshops relating to employablllty, (d) facilitating access to a range of social and leisure activities; and (e) action to increase public and employer awareness of such disabilities and conditions and promote steps that can be taken to facilitate such social inclusion through employment. The trustees confimi that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Chaiity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and planning fuiufe activities and setting the grant making policy for the charity. The charity carries out these objects by: (a) providing grants to autistic adults to allow them to a¢sS specialist mentoring andlor workshops to help them prepare for, find and maintain paid or voluntary employment and to improve their social inclusion by accessing clubs, groups, workshops and work plaMents, (b) providing information and resources for autlstlc people and employers on Its website. including detsils of specialist mentors offering one-ttrone support andlor workshops to autistic people to help them ppare for, flnd and malntaln pald or voluntary employThent and Ilnks to other websites and resources: (c) raising awareness among employers of the needs and strengths of autistic employees and providing advice and signposting services with the aim of increasing access to 8mployment for autlstic people and creating more inclusive workplaces; and (d) liaising with universities and colleges to raise awarene&8 of the charitls services for autistic students upon graduation and other initiatives which can improve employment outcomes for autistic students. Our approach ensures that mentoring support is provided on a one lo one basis, with regularlty and consistency by a mentor who has lived andlor professional experience supporting autistic people into emploJTnent with the right adjustments. Support is also given to help access benefits, social activities, training and navigate social expectations at work. We do not have a set timeframe or timetable for support, the mentor will tailor this to the needs of the individual. We can generally extend support until the individual has achieved their employment goals or is equipped to pursue thern without further support and often our clients continue to work with the same mentor once they are in employment, funded by Access to Work or the employer. The Buckland Review of Autism Employment, which we contributed to last year, stated that the estimated cost to the UK economy of the autistn employment gap is around £14.5 billion per year, with the Labour Force Survey showing that only 3 in 10 working age autistic people are in employment. Thi5 is a tragic waste of tslent and leads to social isolation and financial hardship for so many autistic people. The current Labour govemment has also identified the lack of support available to help disabled and neurodivergent people into work and has set up a formal review panel to reporl on this later this year. However. as yet no specffic funding or plan has been put in place. so our work remains as important as ever. We hope that the renewed focus on support to help disabled and neurodivergent people Into work and also on what employers can and should be doing to make workplaces more accessible for disabled and neurodivergent people will benefit our grant holders and autistic people across the country. Page 4
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT The specialist mentoring funded by the charity enables autistic people to prepare for, find and maintain suitable employment which improves their independ6nGe and social inclusion. On average, over Ihe last seven years, including the two years when covid restrictions applied, 81 vo of the autlstlc job seekers we have supported have secured paid or voluntary employment (60DA paid and 21% voluntary), malntalning the excellent results achieved last year. The impressive outcomes for our beneficiaries. as sel out in further detail in sectlon 8 of this report, demonstrate the effectiveness of the specialist mentorlng support we fund. The qualitative feedback shows the broad nature of the support which goes above and beyond employment related support. helping our clients to access b8nefits. training, soc181 activities and to develop strategies to help them cope with the barriers they face in a world that is not yet adapted for aut5sllc pwle. We always seek to ensure that the support we fund Is in line with the requirernents and values of the autistic community and we recognise the Importan of including autistic people at all levels of our organisstion. Helen Needham. who is autistic herself, Jolned our Board of Trustees in 2020 and an increasing number of the specialist emplonent mentors we work with ar8 also neurodivergent. We seek regular feedback from the autistic job seekers we support to ensure that the support we fund is of value to them. We also use our social media and newsletters to promote the work and events of autislic and neurodiverg8nt led organisatlons. We also fund regular Peer Support meetings which are n by our mentor partner. AS Mentoring and continue to fund the successful Culture Club (prevlously called the Movie Club) for Autism For4NBrd clients in Brighton run by our mentor partner Karen-Anne Manghan of ASC Key Mentoring. who meet on a weekly basls to discuss a wide range of topics selected by the group. Three members of Ihe group secured pald employment recently. with their mentor noting that their self-confidence had improve(J considerably due to being part of the group. We Ilalse wth employers. universitles arbd colleges to raise awareness of the strengths and needs of aullstic people, promoting employment opportunities for autistic people across the UK. We have created a network of employers and continue to participate in events wSth employers, universities and researchers. We are actively involved with the Legal Neurodiversity Netrwork and are also a member of GAIN (Group for Autlsm, Insurance, Investment and Neurodlversity) and Autlsm Action (fomerly Autism Employment Network) launched by the Autism Cenlre for Excellence. PRO BONO CONTRIBUTIONS The charity has no paid employees and the expenses of the charity are kept to a minimum as the charity has no Offi space or fixed overheads. All of the grant administration, record keeping, dats analysis. fundraising, event organisation, employer roundtsble events, universities and communication is carried out by the trustees on a pro bono basis. drawing on their professional experience. neorkS and resources. All of the charlvs awareness raising events and roundtables to date have been hosted by corporate supporters at no cost to the charity or attendees. This maximises the use of the charity's funds for its beneficiaries and ensures its awareness raising events reach wide audience. GRANT MAKING POLICY The charity has established its grant making policy with the aim of promoting the social inclusion of autlstlc people and assist them to Integratè into society and achieve thelr potentlal by providing grants for fundlng specialist one-to-one mentoring to help them prepare for, find and maintain paid or voluntary employrnent or for training activities which are relevanl to improving employability. The charity currently works wlth thlrteen specialist mentoring organisations across the county and has carried out due diligence checks and entered into Referral Agreements with the organisations listed below which between them cover London, Surrey, Essex. Suffolk, Brighton, Blrningham, Manchester, Bedfordshire, Devon, East Mkllands, N¢xthamplon, Plymouth, Hull, Liverpool. CEster, Bristol. Poole, Cambridgeshire and Nottingham. All our mentors now offer remote mentoring seniices, which extends their geographical reach and increases the number of dients they are able to supporL Page 5
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT Autislic Nottingham Autism East Midlands AS Mentoring Llmited ASC Key Mentoring (Karen Manghan) Autistn Success Formula Limited Connect Coaching Faraday Fearnside Matthew's Hub Responsa Coaching Spectrum Career Coach Think Musique Track NN Limited Waymakers Devon CIC The charity has further expanded its reach this year wlth two new mentor partners, Connect Coaching and Responsa Coaching. The charity accepts applic8tions from grants via its mentor partners and directs enquiries from its webslte to the mentor partners listed on its website. All grant applications must be made via an approved mentor partner and all grant payments are made directly to the mentor partner. The charity 8wards Inltial grants for up to one year of weekly or fortnlghtly one-to-one mentoring support al will consider requests for grant extensions where the grant holder is making good progress towards employment arKI is engaging well with the mentoring support. The applicants must be aged 18 or over and mLL8t have a diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition or evidence that they are actively seeking such a diagnosis. They must also provide evidence that they live and are entitled to work in the United Kingdom and priority is given to applicants in firkqncial need and those who have not previously had any employment related mentoring support. While many of our applicants are looking for their first role after leaving education, we also support many people who are late diagnosed. long term unemployed or who have struggled to find a suitable role or an employer who is willing to offer the adjustments necessary for them to succeed at vrk. The charity qUireS regular feedback from the meritors on the progress of the beneficiar*s and feedback from the beneficiaries on the mentoring they receive in order to monitor the use of the charitrfs funds and outcomes. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (a) Grants for Mentoring Support In the financial year ending 31 March 2025. the charity awarded grants for specialist rnentoring support to 97 autistic people around the country with the aim of improving their social inclusion and helping them to secure paid or voluntary employment. The charity also continued to fund mentoring support for 121 of the grant holders from previous financial years. thus providing support for a totsl of 218 autistlc job seekers during the financial year ended 31 March 2025. 120 of whom were still receiving support at the end of the financial sear. This was the largest ever cohort supported by the charity and we continue to See a rise in applications from all areas of the country. Page 6
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT The average age of our 2024-25 granl holders is 31 years old, with 540/e male, 45Yo identifying as female and 1D/o non-binary. The qualifications held by the grant holders range from no fomial qualifications to Masters an(J PhD level degrees and professional qualifications, The sectors in 1¢h the appllcants have secured or are seeking employmenl are incredlbly vari8d, including education, health and care sector, research, game design, phannacy, IT, hospitality, horticulture, film, music, accountancy and retail. The wide variety of careers pursued by our grant holders dispels common preconceptions of the types of roles that are su¢table for autistic people and demonstrates that autistic people can pursue any career choice which matches their interest and skills wlth the righl guidance and support. Some are also given support to pursue self4mployment, Includlng publishing novels or freelance photography, which can be an attractive option for autistic people given the challenges some workplaces can present. In addition to supporting our beneficiaries into employment. the mentors help with anxiety, communication, sensory and also practical issues they may be facing. which improves their autonomy. well-being and soci81 inclusion. For 8xample, our mentors have helped beneficiaries wilh anxiety, travelling on public transport. relationship issues arKI organisational Skills. On a practical level. our mentors have helped beneficiaries deal with benefits claims, tenancy problems. debt problems and referrals to appropriate health and mentsl health services. The mentors have also facilitst8d participation in new clubs, groups and social activities as well as workshops and training to Improve thelr employability, social inclusion and well-being. {b) Oulcorne8 from Mentoring Support The Government stated in the Buckland Review of Autism Employment that fewer than 3 in 10 autistic people are in work, so the results achieved by our beneficiaries are particularly impressive, emonstrating the effectlveness of the speclallst mentorlng support that we fund, The outcomes for grant holders awarded grants during the flnanclal year 2024-25 who have had betrween 3 and 12 months, support were as follows: 92% made job applications 730kn attended job interviews 36Yo joined new clubs or groups 47°/o undertook some fomi of tralnlng or placement 26°k secured voluntary rol88 480k secured paid employment We anticipate thai our beneficiaries will contlnue to move into employment, improving the employment outcomes for our 2024-25 grant holders, as has happened with all previous cohorts. The total employment figure for our 2024-25 granl hdders is 71 % (48% paid; 23% voluntary) The total employment figure for our 2023-24 grant holders is 86OA (700/0 paid. 16% voluntsry) The totsl employment figure for our 2022-23 grant holders is 75% (560/0 paid., 19 OA voluntsry) The total employment figure for our 2021-22 grant holders is 75% (58 % paid,. 170A voluntary) The total employment figure for our 2020-21 grant holders Is 81 OA (67D/o paid,. 14Q/o voluntary). The total employment figure for our 201 20 grant holders is: 900A (65'h pald., 25°/o voluntary). The total employment figure for our 2018-19 grant holders is: 90% (58% paid,. 32°/ovoluntary). Page 7
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT The above figures for all financial years include clients whose support was ended eaty due to health or other issues and clients whose granls have been lemporarily paused. The figures for the current financial year include only grant holders wfK) have had between 3 and 12 months, support. Some of the grant holders who were awarded grants In prevlous financial years have had more than 12 months, support. (cl Fe8dback from our Beneficlarles We introduced a new formal for the regular feedback from our grant holders in 2021 which enables us to assess the value of the support we fund in more detail. The results of the feedback from grant holders who have had at least 6 months. menloring support during the financial year ended 31 March 2025 are set out in the charts below. This indudes grant holders who were avrfarded grants in pVIouS financial years and who continued to re1ve support this year. The responses dernonstrata the wider impact and value of the specialist mentorin9 SUPPOrt we fund, beyond employment outcornes. Has Ihe mentorin9 improved your underanding of what lob Is sultable fw you7 •Y•• Has ihe rnentorlng Improved your undéfslanding of how kn find a Job? •Y Page 8
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT Has menioring held you draft or updAte your C •Y4s 4% Has the mentoring rnade yov more confKl¢nt aboul disclosing your th'agnosis? •Y 14.1% Has ihÈ m¢ntQfing 9iven you a better understanding of the 'ftas¢nabl¢ 8dJustrneni$' yw ¢8n requesi fiom an employer to help you in the Workpl7 Page 9
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT Has ihè mentorirVJ helped you prepare fof Iniérvlews? 71 r•wiMS 127 2PA4% Has ihe memorlng Improved y¢Jur social contacl eg helped you join 9uP5, nmke friend& partkipaie In a¢tfvMes? 466 15.y 38 Has the mentQfing Improved youi sdlvconfidence? 71 i•spw•s 117% 71J% Page 10
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT Has ihe mentorlng helped you access beneffts, heahh cafe or Oiher publk Ser1$? •Y•J 493 J2.4% Has Ihe mentQfing helped you access tralnlnw workshops or further educalion? •Y 4&1% Would you recommend mentodng $POrt to other 8uliSticJobs¢ÈkefS? Page11
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT The qualitative feedback responses below from some of the autlstic job seekers we have supported this year provide further evidence of the value of the specialist support we fund, including the workshop programmes and our employer roundtables. Thls support enables people not only to find paid or voluntary employment, but also to improve thelr Independence, soclal Inclusion, confidence and self*steem, to understand better how thelr autlsm affects them and to develop strategies to address issues which may be holding them back. This is beneflclal not only to the Indlvlduals and thelr families, but also benefits the public purse as it reduces the need for rellance on benefits and public services such as mental health provision and leads to a more Incluslve and coheslve soclety and diverse workforce. The feedback also highlights the gap in support for autistic people when they leave education, or obtain a late diagnosis, that is so often needed to enable them to fulfil their potential in Ihe workplace and beyond. Autlstlc Nottlngham Cllent The halp 8nd input I h8V8 r8C8IV8d from Phil has been incredibly helpful. l am making progress that seemed impossible to me six months ago. l also tried approaching the local careers setvice, and a key worker from the group who diagnosed me - both were significantly lacking. In the fonner case they clearly h8d no id88 how to handle my being autistic 8nd so it was up to me to mask,, to appear as non-autistic as possibl8 this inevitably gets in the w8y of 8Ctually getting h8lp. In the latter case. they treated me as they'd been trained, having no appreciation of, or inter8St in, individual experience. It has been vital to Speak Mth someone who has been where l find myself, 8nd who understands the diifKulties from the inside. I wish careers etc organisations at large h8d 8om8 8Utistic (or at least neurodivergent) people among their staff, to allow for that common understanding of difficulties. Until then, l am Incredlbly grateful that thls SeiCe exists, and to Phil in particular. AS Mentoring Cli•nt (London) My heartfelt appreciation Èo Autism Fonyanl for your initiative and support wlth mentorlng, education and providing sourceS to employers and employees, raising awareness and building bridges. I m specifically grateful for the opportunily to be able to aesS rnentoring during a time of economic hardship and being unemployed, whilst being in the process of beGoming more aware of my neurodiverse traits and needs - leaming to verballse them, to nawgate the process of gethng back into wort. and to find balance in more sustainable and inclusive ways. It's been quite 8 journey to get here, and it's 8 lot to get my head around, and I m still working on my confidence - so I'll keep it short for now with 8 huge - Th8nk you so much. the mentonng is very helpfull Faraday Fearnslde Cllent (Plymouth) It has been really helpful for me to have some extra support on a gUlar basis. My husband has commented that l am getting my 'spark' back. I realty like Faraday's hollstlc 8pproach." she views you as a whole person and considers the bigger picture. It is not quite what l expected when l applied to have a work mentor. It is so much morej She gives me much-needed emotlonal support because she reallses that that is what I need, When you haveny worked for a long time (because you have been traumalised by the world of work), starting to look for wort¢ again can bring up a lot of emotions. Faraday realises that neurodivergent people can often have a bumpy mad to finding the right work for them. Page 12
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT I have sometimes found the process diffiGuIt but thays because making changes (even positive ones) can b8 overwhelming for me as an autistic person. Faraday has identified that I may have ADHD in 8ddibon Èo autism, whAch may explain why Ihe dlagnosis of autism doesnt Seem to cover the fvll range of challenges that l experience. It is her extensfve expgrience of working with neumdivergent people that allowed her to quickly notice that somethlng else might be going on with me. l find that Faraday is jusl the right combination of encouraging and no-nonsense and sensitNe and perceptive. She gives me the push that I sometimes need but knows when 18m f881ing overwhelmed and when we need to slow down 8 bit. She has helped me to start volunteering 8gain which is heln9 with my confidence and helping me to feel like a useful member of society 8gain. She is helping me to leam how to bg patient with myseff and that big changes cannot be made ovemight (especialty rfyou are autistlGII). I was feeling hopeless and stuck and now I feel empowered to make positive changes in my life. She is helping m8 to change mylife for the better and I feel so gr8tefiJl. Autlsti¢ Nottingham Cllont I h8d the prwilege of belng mentored by Phil. whose exceptional guldance significantly enh8nced my workplace soft skills and job-seéking strategies. His insighlful advice Improved my interactions with colleagues 8nd client8, whlle his support in refining my job search approach was invalu8ble. Phils ndness and dedication created 8 comfortable environment for growt17, 8nd I wholeheartedly recommend hls mentorship to 8nyone seeking professional development. Spectrum Career Coach Cllont (Bodfordshire) tts really helpful, In terms of improving my Cvs and to know what employers are looking for. Understanding what I'm good at and broadening my parceptions and awaeSS. Also Sonya has fonvarded me some really helpful SOurCeS and opportunities. Sonya is a really nice person, very positive, tmthful and easy to connect with as well. I don't think I could have rnuSted up the confidence to go in person to the sollcltors or to the bookshop if it hadny been for the mentoring. tt h8S helped to dispel the fears that I have of making a fool of myself. Waymakers (Devon) Cllent Mentoring has helped me to build my confidence, partlcul8rty 'th setting boundaries and advocating for myself and my needs/adjustmenls. Since starbng mentoring last year, I h8ve completed a Level 2 Admin cours8 via Free Courses forjobs, have started a fitness class once 8 wgek and am about to start volunteering. Mentoring helped me to make the initial email contact and plan what to say when I had a face to face meeting about volunteering. l am more comfortable sharing about my dlagnosis if needed to help me to access and support that may help me thrive/stay in a role. Mentoring has also helped me with planning and time management skills. somethlng that was an issue for me with my neumdiversity - I have leamt about specific tool&/techniques that can help with Ihis. l am rK)w looking at going back into self-employment or a part-time role in the future. Thlnk Muslque Cllent (Manchester) The mentoring h88 helped me thmugh the dlfficult challenges of 8ttending interw'ews following distressing previous work situations and get around the feelings of PTSD that have bean bmught up. Its dilTicult as allhough I have applieintervieWed for many jobs, at the moment I have been jected 8 lot. Th8 mentoring has also supported me with processlng that and finding ways to keep t7g. Page 13
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT AS Menlorlng Client (London> I have h8d 8 f8nt88tic experience with my mentor. On my own, I struggled for a year and a h81f to secure a role, but 8fter joining AS Mentoring, I was able to secure a position in just five months, thanks to my mentor's incredible guidance and support. ASC Key Méntoring Cllent IBrlghton) My mentor has been a fantastic support for both my ongoing dlfficultles at my job with implementing reasonable adjustments and wlth helping me find new jobs to apply for. One of the areas I struggle with in life is accesslng healthcare because of the stress thls causes me, and she has been an invaluable source of Informatlon as well as support in this a2 too. ASC Key Mentoring Cllent (Brlghton) Thanks to the support of my mentor, I have been gradualty able fo understand my AUDHD brain, and start building a life that is sustainable for It. Wlthout that support, I was unabl8 Èo really funclion in society, let alone attempt to contrlbutel l am hugely grateful for the mentoring I receive, it is integral to l)oth my personal well-being and my ability to find end retain employment. Faraday Fearnslde Cllent (Plymouth) My cOnfenCe has vastly improved working with Farad8y over time as w81188 my own org8nisation81 S'11s. Ie found a job and am hoping to start in the next few weeks with the help of Far8day to move back into employment. Autlsm East Mldlands Client The mentoring I have reGeived thus f8r has been exceptlonal due to the fact th8t I felt Ilstened to and understood by my advisor. I felt very comfortable talklng about the klnd of work I want to do without judgement and was given 811 the necessary support to get to the polnt that I was able to publish my own book, Includlng havlng support in getting my book into libraries and bookshops in the future. (d) Employer Network Autism For4vard has created a nelwork of employers, autistic employees and professionals to discuss and implement initiatives to improve opportunities and inclusion for autistic people. By sharing besl practi, we can drive change foNard more effectively and 8nsure that th8 chang88 autistic people require to access employment and thrive in the workplace are implemented. Our network includes a wide rangè of employers including18w firms, accountancy firms, management consultants, banks, investment banks, technolcyJy companies, telecoms companies, insurers, asset management firms, universities and other autism charities. This year we were fortunate to be selected as charity partner of the year for IDEX Consultlng, who are award winning, independent, tslent and buslness growlh consultancy speclalising in the General Insurance, Financial Services and Legal professlons. Through a range of events, the IDEX team raised over £29,000 for the charlty over the year, which will enable us to fund support for many more autlstlc Job seekers. We also held awareness raising sessions for the IDEX team and two of thelr team are presenting to the autistic job seekers peer support group that we fund. The series of roundtables we previously held have now largely been replaced by peer networks within law (Legal Neurodiversity Network and Neurodiversity in Law) and insurance. investment and banking (GAIN) as well as Neurodiveristy in Business. who now hold their own regular events which are driving change forward at an impressive rate across many emplonent fields. Page 14
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT We continue to see impressive Inltiatlves resulting from our roundtables and introduclion of our corporate contacts to our mentor partners such as AS Mentoring. This year, Publicis Groupe have launched their first intemship for a neurodivergent candidate and Invesco are continuing to run thelr SucsSfUl neurodiversity internship programme. both with support from AS Mentoring. (e} Peer support groups for Autistic Aduhs We have continued to fund a series of online support groups, which are an exlIent way to provide cost effective and peer to peer support for autistic adults. Our rnentor partner, AS Mentoring, runs a number of programmes which we have committed to fund in line with agreed costing proposals. The current programmes that the charty supports are as follows: (i) AS Mentoring Peer Support Groups AS Mentoring runs regular peer support groups for autistic job seekers and for neurodivergent people who are or wish to be self-employed. They also run a peer support group for autistic women as well as regular Lunch & Learn workshops on a variety of topics including reasonable adjustrnents, managing anxiety, burnout and understanding sDur diagn05i5. {il) Culture Club Autism Forward funds a peer support group, known as the Culture Club (previously the Movie Club), for the autistic job seekers supported by our mentor partner in Brighton. Karen-Anne Manghan, to enable them to meet up socially, The club is provlng a great success and several group members have been successful in securing employment over the last year, partly due to the increase in self-confidence from being part of this supportive group. (fj Neurodlverslty Awar•n6ss Raislng Events In addition to our work with employers. this year we were agaln Invlted to present a session on neurodiversity at work to the current cohort of young people on the excellent 20120 Levels .1 Am Change. programme covering declaring a diagnosis, Equality Act rights, reasonable adjustments. Access to Work and other support available for neurodivergent people In the workplace. 20120 Levels is a social mobility organisation, empowering Black and racially underrepresented young people through opportunities to maximise their potential. Their programmes have transformed the lives of over a thousand young people across London. wwlh over 60'k of their candidates gaining new ernployment within 3 months of completing their prc*3ramme. In July 2024 we teamed up with Avatar Jo to produce a webinar aimed at helping employers leam how to support autistic candidates at interviews through simple changes to the environment and communication style. The webinar included a role play between an autistic candidate (played by an autistic actor) and an interviewer. modelling first a difficult interview for the candidate. then showing how simple changes to the structure of questions and attlde of the interviewer can help the autistic candidate to perform at their best. We vRre also invited to take part as a panel member alongside other professionals and alumnl for the first ever neurodivergent careers event for students. focusing on what it means to be neurodivergent in work environments and professional spaces at the University of Southampton in March 2025. The panel spoke about their experiences and advice in relation to looking for work or becoming self-employed and answered questions on a wide range of topics including reasonable adjustments al interview and at work. sharing your diagnosis with an employer, strategies for time management, rights under the Equality Act and support and resources available to n8urodivergent job seekers. Page 15
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT (g) Fundraising We are extremely gratsful to our supporters and regular dcmors who have enabled us to continue lo provide vital support to autistic job seekers throughout this challenging time and ensu that we have certainty of funds for the corning financial year so that we can continue to InC8$e the number of autists'c job seekers we a able to support across the county. Autism Fonvard is registered 7th the donation platforms Just Giving and Charities Aid Foundation and we rely mOsY on individual donors to support our work. This year we have had some magnificent fundralslng events, Indudlng the followlng: Autlsm Forward Sponsored Cycl• . 100kn1 Kent Loop On a bleak Sunday moming in September, five teams of cyclists tumed out to cycle a 100km loop into Kent to raise funds for Autism Forward. This was Autism Forward's first large sponsored event post-covid and our funding levels yre ai an all time low. The hard work of the organlsers and team captains and the trernendous efforts of everyone involved paid off and the day was a great success. After a night of torrential rain, the roads and skies were drier than expected and all teams completed the challenging routes commendably. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the cyclists and their sponsors, the ride raised over £11XI,000, which was an absolutely fantastic achievement and has put the charity on a healthy financial footing for the coming year. We are also very grateful to the cyclists from local club Blackheath Velo who helped organise the rkle and our friends who provided back up support for the riders. Brfghton Marathon On April 6th. Neil, his son Charfie. and three of Charlie's friends4ames, Joe. and Kami14ook on the Brighlon Marathon in supwrt of ALrtism Forward. The Brighton crowd. known for their enthusiasm. played a crucial role in keeping spirits high. cheering on runners as they made their way through the scenic coastal course. The team's dedication paid off, as all five successfully completed the marathon, a testament to their preparation and determination. Running for Autism Forward added deeper purpose to the challenge, making every mlle mixe meanlngful. Page 16
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT The event Itself was part of the larger Brighton Marathon Weekend, which saw over 12,500 participants taking on the 26.2-mile course. celebrating endurance. community, and charilable causes. With the support of the vibrant Brighton atmosphere and each other, the Autism Forward team crosse(1 th8 finish line, not just achieving a personal milestone but also contrlbuting lo a cause close to their hearts. The day was one of camaraderle, achievement. and shared JO marathon Manchester 100 Mil8 CyGle Challeng• In another epic cycllng event, David Hargreaves, partner of one of our mentors, Sarah Muslque, completed the gruelllng Manchester 100 Mile Cyde Challenge to raise funds for ALrtism Forward in September 2024. IDEX Consultlng . Charlty Partner of the Year IDEX Consulting, a business growth consultancy advising the Flnanclal Servlces, Legal and General Insurance sectors chose Autism Forward as thelr charity of Ihe year in a successful partnership for both IDEX arKI Autism Forward. ALrtlsm FoThYard provided webinars for the IDEX team to help them understand how better to support autlstic candidates with job seeking, Interviews and in Ihe workplace. These were very interactlve sessions, buikjing better awareness wlthln the teams and resonating on both a professional and personal level. In tum, members of the IDEX team are presenting to Ihe AS Mentoring job seeker groups, providing professional guidance 8nd feedback. We are incredibly grateful to IDEX for all their fundraising efforts for Autlsm Forward throughout the year. raising over £29,000 in total. Two members of the team have signed up for sponsored skydives whlch have raised several thousan(I pounds. one of the team took part in the 100km Kent Loop Sponsored Cycle in September 2024 and they held charlty cricket matches and raffles to support our Page 17
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT FINANCIAL REVIEW At the end of the financial year ending 31 March 2025. the chaiity had reseNes of £161,785 available. The charty awarded 97 new grants for mentoring support and provided funding for various workshop programmes and peer support groups run by our mentors for the benefit of autistic job seekers and self-employed people. We also continued to support 121 grant holders from previous financial years, making this our largest ever cohort of autistic job seekers. This financial year. the initial grant amount for all dients increased from £1,500 to £1.800. with extensions of £900 being awarded where appropriate, up to a maximum total grant of £3.600. This is to ensure that clients are still getting sufficient hours of support and reflects the effect of inflation over the last seven years. During the financial year ending 31 March 2025. the charty received donations totalling £159,701 and £24,250 in gift aid receipts. None of the donalions received by the charity had any conditions attached. The charitvs grant making function 15 entirely reliant on funds thal are raised through donations and sponsored events. employer match funding of donations and trust or foundations granls. The trustees are extremely grateful to all the individual donors, fundraisers and corporate supporters who hav8 enabled the charity to provide so many autistic people with the support they need lo acce&8 employTnent and fulfil their potential. The Cost of fundraising has increased this year to £3,527. due to the increase in fees payable to Just Giving and the cost of cycling shirts for th8 Sponsored Cycle and enty fees and shirts for the Brighton Marathon runners. The charity only makes grants available if it has sufficient funds available to be 8ble to fund the entire grant )ch ensures its financial stability. When the charity awards a grant, it designates funds in relation to the full amount of the grant awarded at the time the grant is approved, even though the grant will generally be paid out at regular intervals over Ihe course of the grant period rather than in one upfront payment. If the grant Is curtailed for any reason, for example if the beneficiary finds paid employment or no longer wlshes to contlnue wlth the mentorlng, any funds designated for Ihat grant but not used will be reallocated to the charitys general funds and be avallable to fund other grants. The charity keeps designated funds to cover Ihe full amount of any grant awarded which ensures that its obligations to grant holders Can always be met in full. All of the charity's grant administration, record keeping. data analyEiS. fundraising, event organisation and aWaeSS raising with employers and universities is carried out by the charity trustees on a pro bono basi5. As the charity relies largely on individual dorwlions which can be unpredictable. based on currenl levels of expenditure and in order to ensure that the charity is able to renew and continue making grants through periods where donations are lower. the trustees have agreed that appropriate level of reserves should be kept at the level of at least £20,000, to be reviewed at the end of each financial year or more frequently if requested by the Treasurer. The charity currently has a higher than USl1 level of reserves that will enable it to continue to award new grants and grant extensions wrthout having lo seek new sources of funding for the upcoming financial year, but trustees wll continue to review the financial situation on a monthly basis to ensure that the charity can continue to operate effectively. Page 18
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT PLANS FOR THE FUTURE The chaiity is currently funding 8pecialist one-to-one support for around 120 autistic job seekers to help them prepare for, find and maintain paid or voluntary eMplOent and to improve their social inclusion, support which they would nol otherwise have been able to access. This financial year we have supported 218 autistic job seekers, which is our largest ever cohort. We will continue lo extend grants for existing beneficiaries who are engagirKJ well with support and making progress towards employThent. We are continuing to see successful outcomes for our job seekers across a wid8 range of sectors and continue to be actively sought out by employers to signp08t $8rvices to support and attract neurodivergent talent. We work with specialist mentors coveriro a wide area of the country and continue to seek out experienced mentors in new geographical areas. In addition to this, our current mentors all offer remote support so that we can support autistic job seekers in all areas of England and Wales. This year we have welcomed two new mentor partners to our network, Responsa Coaching and Connect Coaching, which has further expanded our reach. Over the last financlal year, the charty has contlnued to grow Its network of employers are keen to Improve Incluslon and support for autlstic employees. We were delighted to have been nominated Charity of the Year by the recruitment consultancy, IDEX Consultlng and enjoyed working with them to improve recruitment procedures and neurodiversity incluslon, as well as helping them better support neurodivergent candidates. IDEX employees also volunteered to speak at the workshops for autistic job seekers run by our partner, AS Mentoring. In additlon, the IDEX team raised over £29,000 for the charity through a number of events induding skydives, cricket matches and partlcipating in our 100km Kent Loop sponsored cycle ride. We are also continuing to expand our connections and to work with other charities and to promote the work of neurodivergent led groups such as Employment Autism, the Legal Neurodiversity Network, GAIN and Autism Action (formerly the Aulism Employment Network) to improve inclusion and employment outcomes for autistic people. This year has seen the creation of a new internship with Publicis Groupe and a continuation of the Invesco internship programme. The outcomes and feedback from the autistic job seekers we support demonstrate the value of the SP8cislist support we fund and we are pleaséd to S8e more ernployers recognising the value of neurodiverse workforce and a continuing increase in neurodivergent led support groups. While the govemment ha8 recognised the need for more support to hélp autistic and disabled people into work to help address the woeful employment gap, at present there are no tangible plans or spending commitments for this, so our work remains as important as ever. Page 19
AUTISM FORWARD TRUSTEES. REPORT The annual report was approved by the tfustees of the charity on .................... and signed its behalf by. 8ECURELY l&l)W2025•l•A1:1J Pll ibTC Ms A Leverett Trustee IWR025at•:51:W PIAU Ms J er¢8 Trustee SECURELY 18MU12DZSal6:32:51 PM vrc Dr E Gokcen Trustee SIGNEOSECUAÉLY IWW42S•t•;W.47PII U i¥ls H Needham Trustee Page 20
AUTISM FORWARD STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES. RESPONSIBILrriES The trustees are responsible for preparing trustees. report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Slandards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practi> and applicable law arKI regulations. The law applicable to charities requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year whith give a true and fair view of the stale of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparlng these financial ststements, the tfustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistenlly. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; make judgements and estlmates that are reasonable and prudent, stste whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial slatemenls; and prepare the financial stalements on the going concem basls unless it is inappropriate to presume that Ihe charity will continue in business. The tfustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations. and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for tsking reasonable steps for the pventIOn and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the trustees of the charty on .................... and signed on its behalf by. 5NJNE SECURELY IIM6ll02SallAI:13PM iITC Ms A Leverett Trustee D 8EeURELY Ms J Pierce Trustee 81GN 8ECUR&Y 1810612025 *8:32:51 PklUTC Dr E Gokcen Trustee sED SECURELY 1WW2025 at8..40'.47 PAI IITC Ms H Ne8clh8m Trustee Page 21
AUTISM FORWARD INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF AUTISM FORWARD l pOrt to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Autism Forw8rd ('the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activikn'es, the Balance Sheet and related notes, which are set out on pages 24 to 31. This report is made solely to the charitys trusiees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's trustees those matters l am required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law. I do not accept or assume responsibility lo anyone other than the charity and the charitsls Irustees as a body, for my work, for this report. or for the opinions I have formed Respectlve responslbllltles of trustees and examlner As the trustees of Autism Forward you are responsible for the pParatIon of the financial stalements in accordance with the requirements of the Charilies Act 2011 ('the Act.). I report In respect of my examlnatlon of the financkal statements of Autism Forward carried out urKler sectlon 145 of the Act and In carrylng out my examlnatlon I have followed all the applicab Directions glven by the Charlty Commission under section 145(5)(b} of the Act. An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the financial statements. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assuranc6 that an independent examination can provide. Consequently l express no opinion as to whether the financial statements present a 'true and fairf view and my Teport is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examinerfs statement. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records Vre nol kept in respect of Autism Forward as required by section 130 of the 2. the financial ststements do not accord with those records. or 3. the financlal statements do not comply with the accountlng requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out In the Charlties (Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons 2008 other than any requirement that the financial statsments give a 'true and falr vlew, whlch Is not a matter considered as part of an independenl examination. Page 22
AUTISM FORWARD INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF AUTISM FORWARD I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should drawn in this report in order to enable a proper underslanding of the accounts to be reached. Mr N Fi Smith FCCA Rotherham Taylor Limited 21 Navigation Business Village Navigation Way Ashton-on-Ribbl8 Preston PR2 2YP Page 23
AUTISM FORWARD STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Unrestrfcted funds Total 2025 Not Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies Investment income 183.951 5,045 183.951 Total incorne 188,996 188,996 Expendlture on: Raising funds Charftable activities Support costs (3,527) (154,028) 1.966 (3,527) (154.028) 1,966 Total expenditure (159.521) 29,475 (159.521 29,475 Net incorne Net movement in funds 29.475 29,475 Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 132,310 161,785 132,310 12 161,785 Unroslricted funds Tolal 2024 Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies Investment income 90.319 3.436 90,319 3.436 Total income 93.755 93.755 Expenditure on: Raising funds Charitable activities Support costs {779) (112,042) {1,621) (114,442) {779) (112,042) (1,621) (114,442) Total expenditure Net expenditure Net movement in funds (20,687) (20,687 (20,687) (20,687) Reconciliation of funds Totsl funds brought forward 152,997 152,997 Total funds carried for4vard 12 132.310 132.310 The notes on pages 26 to 31 fomi an integral part of these financlal ststements. Page 24
AUTISM FORWARD (REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1171704) BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025 2025 2024 Currenl assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 10,975 278.152 289,127 10,275 219.420 229,695 10 Credltors. Amounts falllng du• wfthln one year Net assets 11 127,342) 161,785 97,385 132,310 Funds of the ¢harlty: Unrestri¢ted Income funds Unrestricled funds 161,785 132,310 Total funds 12 161.785 132.310 The financial slalements on page6 24 to 31 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for Issue on .................... and signed on Iher behalf by: SECURELY IDIO015 a16:41:13pM lir¢ Ms A Leverett Trustee D SECURELY 1WOW25 •ti:57:W PII UTC Ms J Piert Trusiee stGN SECURELY 1B106f202S ¥6a2:51 Pll U Dr E (>)kcen Trustee SIGMED lELy 1WOW2025a16..40..47 PIAUTC Ms H Needham Trustee The notes on pages 26 to 31 fomi an Integr81 part of these financial stalements. Page 25
AUTISM FORWARD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEKfs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES ststement of compllance The financial ststements have been prepad in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reportlng Standard applicable In the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effectlV8 l January 2015) - (Charltles SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. Basls of preparatlon Autism Fonvard meets the definltlon of a public benefit entlty under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historlcal cost or transaction value unless otherwi88 Stst8d In the relevant accounting pdicy notes. The finsncial statements have been prepared to give a Irue and fairf view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair, view. This departure has involved following Accounling and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republtc of Ireland (FRS 102) Issued on 16 July 2014 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: statement of a Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been wlthdravm. Golng concern The trustees consider that there are no matsrial uncertainties atrtt the charitys 8bilFty to continue as a going concem. Income and endowments Voluntary Income including donations. gits. legacies and grants that provide core fundlng or are of a general nature is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the income, It Is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufflclent reliability. Donations and legacies Donations and legacies are recognised on a receivable basls when receipt is probable and the amount can be reliably measured. Glft ald Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there Is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise. Investment Income Income fr(xn interest, royalties and dlvldends are included in the accounts when receipt is probable and the amount received can be measured reliably. Page 26
AUTISM FORWARD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Expendllure and liabllties Grant expenditur8 Grants ar8 recognlsed in the financial statements as liabilities after they have been approved by the trustees. the CIpIents have been notified and Ihere are no further terms and conditions to be fulfilled within the control of the charity. In these circumstances there Is a valid expectation by the recipients that they will receive the grant. Liability recognltion Llabillties are recognised where it Is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructlve obligation Committing the charlty to pay out resources and the amount of the obligatlon can be measured with reasonablè certainty. Support costs sUprt costs have been allocated between governan costs and other support. Govemance costs comprise all costs Involving publlc accountabilty of the charity and its compliance with regulation and go)d practice. Creditors The charty has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts. Provlsions for liabllties A Ilabilty is measured on recognltion at its historical cost and then subsequently measured at the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation at the reporting date. Flnanclal Instruments The charity accounts for basic financi81 instruments on initial recognib'on as per paragraph 10.7 FRS 102 SORP. Subsequent measurement is as per paragraphs 11.17 to 11.19, FRS 102 SORP. Fund structure Unrestricted income fund8 are general funds that are available for use at the trustees's discreiion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity. Debtors Debtors are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity. Subsequently. they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received. Grft Aid receivable is recorded as accrued income at the reporting date. Page 27
AUTISM FORWARD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 2 INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES Unrestrict funds General Total funds Donations and legacies; Appeals and donations Gift Aid reclaimed 159,701 24.250 159,701 24.250 Total for 2025 183.951 183.951 Total for 2024 90,319 90,319 3 INVESTMENT INCOME Unrestrlctod funds General Total funds Interest recelvable and similar income., Inlerest receivable on bank deposits 5,045 5,045 Total for 2025 5,045 Total for 2024 3,436 3,436 4 EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS A) COSTS OF GENERATING DONATIONS AND LEGACIES Unrestrlcted funds General Totsl funds Donations 3.527 3,527 Total for 2025 3.527 3,527 Total for 2024 779 779 Page 28
AUTISM FORWARD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 5 EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTMTIES Unrestricted funds General Total fund$ Grant fundlng of activities Total for 2025 154,028 154,028 154,028 154,028 Total for 2024 112,042 112,042 6 SUPPORT COSTS Unrestrlcted funds General Total funds Independent examiner fees Examination of the financial statements Marketing and publicity Adminislrative expenses Total for2025 Note 1,328 93 547 1,326 93 547 1,966 1,966 Total for 2024 1,621 1.621 7 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REMUNERATION 2025 2024 Examination of the financial statements 1,326 1.260 8 TAXATION The ch8rity is a registered charty and is therefore exempt from taxation. 9 DEBTORS 2025 2024 Accrued income 10,975 10,275 Page 29
AUTISM FORWARD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 10 CASH AND CASH EQUWALENTS 2025 2024 Cash at bank 278,152 219,420 11 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2025 2024 Other creditors Accruals 126,016 1,326 96,125 1.260 127.342 97.385 12 FUNDS Balance at 1 Aprll 2024 Incomlng resources Resources expended Balance at 31 March 2025 Unrestricted funds General 132,310 188,996 (159,521) 161,785 Balance at 1 April 2023 Incomlng resources Resour¢•s expended Balance al 31 March 2024 Unrestricted funds General 152.997 93,755 114,442 132,310 Page 30
AUTISM FORWARD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 13 ANALYSIS OF NEf ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS Unrestrfcted funds General Total funds at 31 March 2025 Current assels Current liabilities 289,127 127,342) 161,785 289.127 (127.342) 161,785 Total net assets Unrestrlcted funds General Total funds at 31 March 2024 Current 8ssets Current liabilities 229,695 97,385 132,310 229.695 97,385) 132.310 Total net assets Page 31
AUTISM FORWARD STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES BY FUND FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Total Total Unrestricted Unrastrlcted Funds Funds 2025 2024 Income and Endowm•nts from: Donations and legacies Investrnent income 183,951 5,045 90.319 3.436 Total income 188,996 93,755 Expenditure on: Raising funds Charitable actsvities Other expenditure (3,527) (779) (154,028) {112,042) (1,966) 1,621 (159,521) (114.442 29,475 (20,687) Total expenditure Net incomel(expenditure) Net movement in fijnds 29,475 (20,687) Reconciliation of funds Totsl funds broughl forward Total funds carried forward 132,310 152,997 161,785 132.310 Thls page does not form part of the statutory financlal staternents. Page 32