2024-03-31-accounts - Autism Support Crawley

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date Day1 Month4 Year2023 Day31 Month3 Year2024 To

From

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Autism Support Crawley

Other names charity is known by ---------- Registered charity number (if any) 1179383 Charity's principal address 1 – 7 Station Road

Crawley West Sussex Postcode RH10 1HT

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Maria Cook	Chairperson
Lee Cook	Trustee	Co-opted 18thOctober 2024 / Voted on at AGM 24 January2025
Simon King	Trustee Safeguarding	Co-opted 18thOctober 2024 / Voted on at AGM 24 January2025
Carol Jackson	Trustee Secretariat	Voted on at AGM 24 January2025
Jane Wilson	Agreed to continue as Interim Treasurer	Voted on at AGM 24 January2025
Georgina James	Trustee	Stepped down 24 January 2025
Janet Flanagan	Vice Chair	Resigned with immediate effect 15 October 2024
Vee McMath	Trustee	Resigned with immediate effect 23 August 2024
Dorota Soronna	Trustee	Resigned with immediate effect 15 October 2024
Jessica Grant	Trustee	Resigned with immediate effect 17 October 2024

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

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Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address
Groups Adviser	Karl Parks	Crawley Community & Voluntary Service, The Orchard, 1-2 Gleneagles Court, Brighton Road, Crawley, RH10 6AD
Richard Place Dobson Accountants	Darren Harding	1-7 Station Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1HT
Autism Specialist, Autism rights, School procedures.	David Burns MBE	No business premises
Autism Consultant/Specialist	Nicole Goodman	No business premises
Community Development Officer	John Dale	Crawley Borough Council, Town Hall, The Boulevard, Crawley, West Sussex,RH10 1UZ
Psychotherapist	Tara Cresswell	No Business Premises
Community Development Officer	Adam Wickings	Crawley Borough Council, Town Hall, The Boulevard, Crawley, West Sussex,RH10 1UZ
Adastra HR Ltd	Alison Daymond	Unit 10, Newhouse Business Centre, Horsham RH12 4RU
CaPS Ltd (GDPR)	Derek Mann	Freedom Works, Spectrum House, Beehive Ring Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH6 0LG

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document

Constitution

(e.g. trust deed, constitution)

How the charity is constituted

CIO (Charitable incorporated Organisation)

(e.g. trust, association, company)

Elected at Annual General Meeting and up to two trustees can be coTrustee selection methods opted during the year by the existing trustees. All positions are advertised (e.g. appointed by, elected by) on our closed and public social media and via email to our stakeholders.

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system

Policies

Reviewed 2021 Financial Controls Whistleblowing Safeguarding

Existing policies Social Media Code of Conduct for Trustees Conflict of Interest for Trustees Environmental Policy Confidentiality Equality & Diversity Health & Safety Skills Audit x Induction for New Trustees Fundraising Policy

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and procedures to manage them.

Autism Support Crawley organisational structure : Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Safeguarding Trustee, Officers.

Induction of New Trustees

New Trustees receive necessary training depending on their individual responsibilities. They are required to undertake safeguarding training or provide evidence if they have had this training from another organisation.

Section C Objectives and activities

The objects of the CIO are for the public benefit to promote and protect the good health and relieve the needs of people and their families/carers affected by Autistic Spectrum Condition or social communication and Summary of the objects of the interaction difficulties (with or without a diagnosis) living within the charity set out in its counties of Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Brighton and Hove by the provision governing document of support, information and activities and such other means as the trustees deem fit. Autism Support Crawley is a parent/carer peer support charity for parents, grandparents and other family members over the age of 18, who help support someone with autism or other social communication difficulties. Our main support platform is our closed Facebook page, which is an invaluable source of carer peer support, where members can receive support, ask questions, share information and make friends in a relaxed understanding environment. We also add to the group page events, courses and services run by our charity and other relevant charities/organisations. We have over 2.6k members on our closed charity page. We also have a mailing list which we use to send all events, courses and services organised by our charity and other relevant Summary of the main charities/organisations to our members who do not use social media or activities undertaken for the don’t want to miss the information added to our page. We also have a public benefit in relation to professionals email list where we circulate events and services run by our these objects (include within charity that may be of interest to them or to share. For anyone who does this section the statutory not fit the criteria for our closed Facebook page we have the following declaration that trustees have platforms where anyone can follow our charity. Our public Facebook had regard to the guidance page has over 2K followers, we also have public accounts on X, issued by the Charity Instagram and LinkedIn. Commission on public benefit) We hold regular monthly meetings for our members. These are - coffee mornings, often with relevant speakers invited. Evening social face to face support meetings. Some of our members find it difficult to attend face to face support meetings because of their family/caring roles, therefore, we also hold a monthly evening online support meeting via Teams. This year we have added a new face to face evening meeting, which is currently held every three months for our male carers. We introduced these because we had noticed not many male carers were attending our main face to face or online meetings. These peer support meetings are proving to be very popular. Our meetings are held at The Coaching Halt in Crawley, who also organise fun events for our members

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and their families, so they can relax and enjoy events in an inclusive environment.

Last summer we returned to holding our annual family picnic for our members at Kilmarnock Horse Rescue where again our members can relax in a supportive friendly environment.

Autism Support Crawley improves awareness and understanding of Autism by providing talks by its Trustees to front line organisations. This started by us working with doctors’ surgeries for which we won the HealthWatch #ItStartsWithYou national award in 2017. Since then, we have continued working with local doctors surgeries and have also delivered talks to many other organisations including staff and managers at Tilgate Nature Centre, Crawley Police Station, local Job Centre Plus, doctors and nurses at Crawley Urgent Treatment Centre, Leisure Centre staff/managers and staff at some children’s nurseries. These had to stop during the Covid 19 Lockdown/restriction periods other than a few we delivered remotely. We have now restarted our talks with more detailed content based on a new set of slides. We have delivered a refresher talk at a doctors surgery. We have received other enquiries for talks and are in the process of confirming dates for these.

We also have close links with the Disability Engagement Officer for Crawley Police and Disability Liaison Officer at Crawley Borough Council. Our Chairperson Maria Cook represents our charity at meetings with Crawley Ambassadors Forum, Crawley Disability Forum and Sussex Police. She has advised Sussex Police on autism acceptance and inclusion. We are part of the Crawley Pathfinder Local Planning Group, a forum dedicated to improving mental health in the area.

Autism Support Crawley continues to fulfil its public benefit statement and raise acceptance and awareness of autism, by having a presence at events where members of the public can find out about our charity and autism. These include Crawley Borough Council public celebration events in the town centre. We have attended disability events throughout the year with our information stand to provide parents and other family members with information of how our charity can support them and their families.

We hold an annual event that is open to anyone who is interested in attending, not just our members, with a relevant speaker at Manor Green College Crawley. During the covid restrictions this was held online and since resuming after the restrictions were lifted, we made these talks even more accessible by continuing to offer a hybrid option. This has also enabled people to attend from all over the UK.

We continue to work closely with other organisations to improve Autism Acceptance. We continue to liaise regularly with Crawley Community Action, including being part of their social prescribing scheme. We also feature in the West Sussex Local Offer, Crawley Older Persons Directory.and CCA’s Volunteer Directory.

We have been working with local theatres with their relaxed performances and helped some of our members and their families attend by offering a free carers ticket to the performance. We produced a guide to help people attending the relaxed performances.

We are still holding regular quarterly committee meetings via Teams. For the last few Christmases one of our trustees decorates their house and front garden with an amazing lights display to raise funds for our

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charity, we are so grateful to them for putting in so much time with this display to help our funds.

Additional details of objectives Youmay chooseto include further statements, where relevant, about: •policy on grant making; •policy programme related investment; •contribution made by volunteers.	and activities (Optional information)
	The charity has one part time employee, which is a secretarial position, to assist the trustees, committee members and volunteers. A huge contribution is made every day by members offering support and answering queries from other members on our closed charity Facebook page. Autism Support Crawley is very grateful for the time taken and advice given without charge by Crawley Community Action and Richard Place Dobson (accountants). We would like to thank the following organisations for their support with awarding our charity with much needed grants. National Lottery Community Fund Sussex Community Foundation We would also like to thank the following organisations for their support. The Coaching Halt, Crawleyfor letting us use their premises for our support meetings and for all the other help and support they give our members with their events. Kilmarnock Horse Rescuefor letting us use one of their fields to host our members picnic, showing our members and their children the animals and for making us very welcome. We returned back again after a successful event in 2022, but in a different location closer to Crawley. Manor Green Collegefor the use of their premises for public speaker events and for other help throughout the year. We chose to give them a donation for the use of their premises for our public talk, but they do not charge us directly for this. The National Lottery Community Fundfor donating the funds to allow us to develop our new website Tesco Hazelwickfor donating food and drinks for our events throughout the year. Tesco Distribution Centrefor donating food and drinks for our events throughout the year. Waitrose, Horleyfor their ongoing donations and support. Our Trustee of Fundraising/Marketing, Gina James and her Partner Davidfor their Christmas lights display to raise funds for us. Fred and Rosemary Lanefor their kind donation towards our next members meal and social evening. Stockwell Lodge Masonsfor their kind donation. UK Garrisonfor their unmatched loyalty in helping entertain our families!

Additional details of objectives
Youmay chooseto include
further statements, where
relevant, about:
•policy on grant making;
•policy programme related
investment;
•contribution made by
volunteers.

and activities (Optional information)

The charity has one part time employee, which is a secretarial position, to
assist the trustees, committee members and volunteers.
A huge contribution is made every day by members offering support and
answering queries from other members on our closed charity Facebook
page.
Autism Support Crawley is very grateful for the time taken and advice
given without charge by Crawley Community Action and Richard Place
Dobson (accountants).
We would like to thank the following organisations for their support
with awarding our charity with much needed grants.
National Lottery Community Fund
Sussex Community Foundation
We would also like to thank the following organisations for their
support.
The Coaching Halt, Crawleyfor letting us use their premises for our
support meetings and for all the other help and support they give our
members with their events.
Kilmarnock Horse Rescuefor letting us use one of their fields to host
our members picnic, showing our members and their children the animals
and for making us very welcome. We returned back again after a
successful event in 2022, but in a different location closer to Crawley.
Manor Green Collegefor the use of their premises for public speaker
events and for other help throughout the year. We chose to give them a
donation for the use of their premises for our public talk, but they do not
charge us directly for this.
The National Lottery Community Fundfor donating the funds to allow
us to develop our new website
Tesco Hazelwickfor donating food and drinks for our events throughout
the year.
Tesco Distribution Centrefor donating food and drinks for our events
throughout the year.
Waitrose, Horleyfor their ongoing donations and support.
Our Trustee of Fundraising/Marketing, Gina James and her Partner
Davidfor their Christmas lights display to raise funds for us.
Fred and Rosemary Lanefor their kind donation towards our next
members meal and social evening.
Stockwell Lodge Masonsfor their kind donation.
UK Garrisonfor their unmatched loyalty in helping entertain our families!

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Plus, a huge thank you to everyone else who has supported us with volunteering their time and donated to our funds. We are so grateful for the help and support we have received.

Section D Achievements and performance

We have increased our support meetings and introduced an online Summary of the main support meeting. We send out regular emails with information about our achievements of the charity and other charities/organisations events, training courses and services. during the year There is also an email list for professionals, this is so that we can send information out to those interested in our charity, but do not qualify to be members. We have popular public accounts on X, Instagram and our public Facebook page which has over 1500 followers. We also have a LinkedIn page. Our membership continues to increase. We have over 2K members on our closed Facebook page and mailing list. We have over 150 full members and the rest are associate members. Full members are members who attend events in person or via Teams list who do not attend events. Our closed Facebook page is a lifeline for so many, a perfect social media platform to ask questions, share information and help with the isolation that is experienced by so many parent carers in the security of a closed page. We have strict guidelines in place to protect ourselves and the individuals that have posts approved on the page. We have restarted our information talks and stands that were halted by the pandemic. Pre-pandemic we were resident supporters at London Gatwick Airport twice yearly Accessibility Days, usually held in April and November, regularly helping 40 plus families familiarise themselves with the Hidden Disability Programme by visiting check ins and security searches, meeting the police, border force and their dogs and the fire brigade as well as a ride on the assistance buggies, visit the Sensory Room, access an aircraft and talk to staff about how they can navigate the airport successfully when they go away. The airport staff have been concentrating on recovery after the pandemic.

Section E Financial review Autism Support Crawley always ensures that a full year running costs for Brief statement of the the charity remains in the bank account. charity’s policy on reserves Details of any funds materially in deficit Further financial review details (Optional information)

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You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;

The key objective of our charity is to support our parent/carers and their families to help them feel connected and not alone. We organise events to help prevent feelings of isolation for our families and therefore they can feel relaxed in a non-judgemental and supportive environment.

Our funds have enabled us to achieve this, and we have plans to expand our events and services to benefit our members by bringing back some of our popular events that we held before the pandemic e.g. Golf Day / Evening Fundraiser and applying for grants to fund the provision of some informative and invaluable workshops.

investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

We are currently in the process of redesigning our website www.autismsupportcrawley.co.uk The new website will be an invaluable resource for information, signposting and will be celebrating our members events. To make the website accessible, it will be disability friendly and available in other languages and was dependent upon a successful funding application to The National Lottery Community Fund, for which we are very grateful.

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Maria Cook Simon King Position (e.g. Secretary, Chair, etc)[Chairperson ] Trustee of Safeguarding Date 30[th] January 2025

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	Autism Support Crawley	Autism Support Crawley	Autism Support Crawley	1179383	CC16a
	For the period from	01/04/2023	To	31/03/2024

Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 8,562 5,312 71 20,000 - 1,259 - - 35,204 - - - 35,204 9,398 - - - 2,300 2,001 1,298 200 - 15,197 - - - 15,197 20,007 - 13,818 33,825	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - 7,000 - 500 10,000 17,500 - - - 17,500 121 4,723 4,518 1,089 - - 500 909 6,549 18,409 - - - 18,409 - 909 - 1,321 412	Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Total funds to the nearest £ 8,562 5,312 71 20,000 7,000 1,259 500 10,000 52,704 - - - 52,704 9,519 4,723 4,518 1,089 2,300 2,001 1,798 1,109 6,549 33,606 - - - 33,606 19,098	Last year to the nearest £
golf day	8,562				-
donations	5,312				3,476
pettycash	71				-
west sussex	20,000				-
sussex community	-				-
co op	1,259				-
meal donation	-				-
grant	-				6,500
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	35,204				9,976

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-
	-				-
*Sub total*	-				-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
					9,976

staff	9,398				4,091
office supplies and equipment	-				3,504
creativepod	-				-
advertising/promo	-				-
golf day	2,300				-
groupevents	2,001				-
members meal	1,298				-
misc costs	200				8,234
speaker	-				185
**Sub total **	15,197				16,014

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
	-
	-
**Sub total **	-				-
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
					16,014

	20,007	- 909	-	19,098	- 6,038
	-	-	-	-	-
	13,818	1,321	-	15,139	-
	33,825	412	-	34,237	- 6,038

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets	Signature Details bank account Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details Details	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 33,825 412 - - - - 33,825 412 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Maria Cook,Chairperson Simon King, Trustee Safeguarding	Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			OK
			Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			When due (optional)






			Date of approval
		Maria Cook,Chairperson	23.12.24
		Simon King, Trustee Safeguarding	23.12.24

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl mèmbers of Autism Support Crawley On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 Charity no (rfany) 1179383 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {he Trusf) for the year ended Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the a¢¢ounts in accordan with the requirements of the Charities Ac 2011 ('the Acr). I report in resped of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried OLrt under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in ¢arying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below") in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material Independent examiner's statement accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord wtth the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the words in the bTrckats rfthey do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: Darren Harding Relevant professional qualifiGionls) or body (rfany): ACA FCCA DChA Address: Richard Pla Dobson, 1-7 Station Road. Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1 HT IER October 2018

Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Indendent examination of Charity accounts: directions and guidance for exarniners). Glve her• brlef details of any items that the examiner wlshes to dis¢lose. IER October 2018