## SPARCS End of Year Report
## 2023-2024
Celebrating Success: Autistic Neurodivergent Support Group
## Introduction
As we conclude another fantastic year, we are absolutely thrilled to reflect on the numerous achievements and memorable moments that SPARCS has experienced. This annual report is a joyful celebration of our collective successes, an acknowledgment of the challenges we have bravely faced, and an enthusiastic outline of our hopes for the future.
## Our Mission and Vision
Our mission is to passionately provide comprehensive support, advocacy, and resources to autistic or neurodivergent people and their families. We envision a world where neurodiversity is not only embraced but celebrated, where every person is empowered to reach their full potential, and where inclusivity is at the heart of all we do. Our community-based approach ensures that support and resources are accessible to all members, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual aid.
## Key Achievements
## Expanding Our Reach
This year, we are delighted to report a phenomenal increase in the number of children and families we have had the privilege to support. Our outreach programmes have flourished, allowing us to touch the lives of over 1,000 new members. Through engaging workshops, holiday timetables, youth clubs and vibrant community events such as our SPARCS Mini Convention, and the obtaining of our SPARCS community allotment we have cultivated a strong support network that embodies inclusivity and understanding.
## Programs and Initiatives
Our amazing programmes have been the cornerstone of our success. Highlights include:
- Youth clubs and social groups: Designed to empower neurodivergent children with the skills needed for socialising and building friendships in a fun and engaging way.
- Providing a nurturing space to share experiences, make friends, and build connections within the community.
- Day trips and visits: Developing confidence and independence based on hobbies and special interests
- School holiday activities: Offering child led activities both at our centre and in the wider community
- Mental health library: resources to support young people and families to navigate the neurodivergence journey.
- First aid course: as part of a wider first aid project, we offered our members access to a certified first aid course.
## Advocacy and Awareness
We have energetically intensified our advocacy efforts, working tirelessly to champion the rights and inclusion of neurodivergent children. This year, we launched several exciting awareness campaigns, including:
- Neurodiversity Celebration day, SPARCS Messtival : A vibrant event featuring inspiring activities, and super fun community activities.
- Educational Outreach: Partnering with schools to provide parents/schools with essential support, training and resources on neurodiversity.
## Fundraising and Financial Growth
Our fundraising initiatives have been met with overwhelming success this year. Through generous donations, grants, and cheerful community fundraisers, we have raised vital funds the have been integral in expanding our programmes and ensuring our services remain accessible to all who need them.
## Community Engagement
Building a strong, inclusive community remains a cornerstone of our work. This year, we hosted several delightful community events, including:
- Annual Beach Hut picnic and fun day: A joyous day for families to connect, play games, and celebrate our wonderful community.
- Volunteer: Our young adults became volunteers at our youth clubs
- Holiday Celebration Christmas event: Bringing our members together for a festive and heartwarming end-of-year celebration, full
of fun and laughter. Including a forest school Santas grotto with fire pit and toasted marshmallows.
- Hosted a successful open day: showcasing our activities and space, welcoming old and new members.
- Winning the High Sheriffs Award: This was in recognition of great and valuable services to the community
## Challenges and Learnings
While we have much to celebrate, we also faced challenges that have provided valuable learning opportunities. Key challenges included:
- Resource Limitations: Balancing the growing demand for our services with available resources.
- Accessibility: Ensuring all programmes are accessible to children with diverse needs.
- Cost of living Impact: Adapting the ongoing activities to identify and subsidise families and young people to remove financial barriers.
Through these challenges, we have learned the profound importance of flexibility, resilience, and continuous improvement.
## Future Goals
Looking ahead, we are passionately committed to building on our successes and addressing the challenges we face. Our goals for the coming year include:
- Expanding Outreach: Reaching more young people and families through targeted and innovative outreach programmes.
- Enhancing Programmes: Continuously improving our programmes to meet the evolving needs of our vibrant community.
- Strengthening Advocacy: Amplifying our advocacy efforts to influence positive change at local and national levels.
- Increasing Funding: Securing additional funding to support our initiatives and ensure sustainability.
## Conclusion
As we close this extraordinary chapter and prepare to embark on a new year, we extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported our mission. Your unwavering contributions, whether through time, resources, or advocacy, have made an indelible impact. Together, we are creating a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. With heartfelt appreciation,
## SPARCS
## USER TESTIMONIALS
At SPARCS, we are dedicated to touching countless lives through our unwavering commitment and compassion. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, our efforts create lasting change. We are excited to share some testimonials from those supported by our work. These stories of hope and resilience highlight the profound impact of SPARCS and inspire continued support.
“I cannot thank SPARCS enough for the support they have provided my teenage son. Navigating the world as a neurodivergent teenager, feeling like you don’t belong and all while studying for GCSEs has been a challenging time to say the least. SPARCS have provided a safe space and support at his lowest point. We continue to watch him grow in confidence, develop his sense of self and all while making new friendships. He spends all week waiting for Saturday night to come around. I'm not kidding when I say SPARCS has been a lifeline to our son and our family”
“C’s happiness and confidence have soared, and our family has found immense comfort and support from the SPARCS community. Joining SPARCS has been life-changing for us. We are incredibly grateful for the support SPARCS has provided”
“E has attended the SPARCS group since 2023. E struggled with participating in mainstream sports/groups due to his diagnosis. SPARCS has been a constant social group for E outside of his school socialising, E loves attending and won’t miss a session. It has helped with his confidence and social interactions with people”
“We cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible support SPARCS Club has provided to C. The welcoming environment, tailored sessions, and understanding staff have made a world of difference in his confidence and social skills. He looks forward to each session, where he feels valued and understood. SPARCS Club has not only supported him but also provided us with a community of parents who share similar experiences. We're truly thankful for everything they've done for our family “
“My son has been attending SPARCS for quite some time. SPARCS offers my son a unique safe space to enjoy, engage and grow his confidence with others of similar ages. SPARCS offers free food at these sessions and also a tuck shop which allows my son to engage in conversation with
volunteers and gain money skills. My son attends the sessions with others that he has met at this group and have similar interests. As a parent/carer just knowing that he is in a safe environment and enjoying his time makes all the difference to me. I know that SPARCS offer so much more than just this session and all the volunteers are helpful and supportive. Having SPARCS provide this session is extremely beneficial to my son who looks forward to each session that he attends. We have attended lots of different activities that have been planned by SPARCS in the school holidays as well and we know how lucky we are to have them”
“I am so grateful to SPARCS, the youth club my child is signed up to is so helpful for both my child and me.
I can find some time for myself knowing that they are well taken care of, in an environment that understands their needs and is always positive and supportive.
I have been able to easily book the sessions, pay for it and communicate with the team. The team is really amazing and understanding. They organise different events following the children’s likes, there are different clubs available during the week and I couldn’t be happier with it! Thank you, SPARCS!”
“SPARCS really helped both my children to develop socially and gave some structure at the weekend and during holidays. It really helped to give us some respite and to spend time with each child one in one. It’s such an amazing organisation and has given my kids more confidence. The staff have been so kind and helpful, and I always feel they are in safe hands. I feel really lucky that our children have been able to access this service.”
“SPARCS has been a lifeline for us, and I’m forever grateful for the kindness, understanding, and practical support they’ve given. It’s not just a place for kids with special needs; it’s a community where families can truly belong”
**SPARCS No (if any) 1193049 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period** Period start date Period end date **To from** 1-Apr-23 31-Mar-24
## **Section A Receipts and payments**
|**Section A Receipts and payments**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**A1 Receipts**
Grants
**27,717**
Donations
**14,334**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**42,051**
**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ -**
**_Total receipts_ 42,051**
**A3 Payments**
Activites withyoung people
**24,311**
Administrative Expenses
**7,226**
storage and room hire
**13,073**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ 44,610**
**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ -**
**_Total payments_ 44,610**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_ - 2,559**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**-**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**3,752**
**_Cash funds this year end_ 1,193**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for AR)_
**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**
**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**|**to the nearest £**
**Restricted**
**funds**|**to the nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Last year**
**to the nearest £**|
||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**27,717**
**14,334**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**42,051**|**14,703**|
|||||**11,456**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**26,159**|
||||||
||**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**||
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
||||||
||**-**|**-**|**42,051**|**26,159**|
||||||
||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**24,311**
**7,226**
**13,073**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**44,610**|**19,719**|
|||||**3,973**|
|||||**6,084**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**29,776**|
||||||
||**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**||
||||||
|||||**-**|
||||||
||**-**|**-**|**44,610**|**29,776**|
||||||
||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**- 2,559**
**-**
**3,752**
**1,193**|**- 3,617**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**7,369**|
|||||**3,752**|
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
|**Categories**
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B3 Investment assets**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees|**Details**
Bank Balance
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
Signature
Karen McGuinness
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))|**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**1,193**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**1,193**
**-**
OK
OK
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
Karen McGuinness
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**|**to nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||OK|
||||**to nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**When due**
**(optional)**|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
||||Date of
approval|
||Karen McGuinnes|
Karen McGuinness|29-Jan-25|
|||||
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees** Charity Name SPARCS **On accounts for the year** 31 March 2024 **Charity no** 1193049 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** 1,2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
**Report to the trustees**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2024.
**Responsibilities and** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the **basis of report** accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
**Independent** [I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
* _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._
**Signed:** Nick Brereton **Date:** 29 January 2025 **Name:** N Brereton **Relevant professional** MAAT **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 17a Northumberland Square North Shields NE30 1PX
1
**Oct 2018**
**IER**
## **Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to** NONE **disclose** .
2
**Oct 2018**
**IER**