Annual Trustee Report
September 2023 to September 2024
Aims and Description of the charity
Gecko Community is a registered Charity (1195860) providing innovative teaching, therapeutic projects and mentoring. We are a Neurodivergent led Charity and we are uniquely skilled in supporting neurodivergent young people. Our Mentors and Teachers are highly skilled and experienced. We understand our young people from a neurodivergent perspective as most of us are Autistic, ADHD, PDA and/or dyslexic. We work 1:1 online with our students.
We have expertise in:
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Pathological Demand Avoidance/Persistent Drive for Autonomy (PDA)
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Monotropic thinking styles
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Alexithymia
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Autistic Masking
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Autistic Burnout
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Double Empathy Theory
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Trauma/cPTSD
We support young people aged between 5 -25 who are
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ADHD
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Autistic
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experiencing anxiety and mental ill health
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at risk from exclusion or have self-excluded from formal education
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Experiencing bullying and trauma
Young people can be with us because they’re out of school, while they wait for a placement or as part of their EOTAS package. We support neurodivergent young people for as long as they need.
We aim to inspire, support and educate young people who have been let down by mainstream education and who need alternative teaching methods.
Referral process
We currently have 98 young people with us who are either in academic sessions or mentoring sessions. Young people can attend online with the choice to be on or off camera, speak or type, email or share communication types through music, film, stories or gaming platforms.
Any student can join us. Referrals come in through Families, Schools, Local authorities or the Third Sector e.g. Social Services.
Staff
We believe that Gecko needs to work for us, too. We do not believe in tiers or hierarchies and treat all staff as equals and part of our team. People do not work for Gecko Community, they work with Gecko Community.
Although all appointments are open to Neurotypicals and Nerodivergents alike, currently almost all our staff members are ND and many are Autistic or ADHD. This means that we truly understand how our brains and our young peoples’ brains work and can empathise with their journeys, adapting to a learning style that best suits them. All staff understand that Gecko is entirely student-led.
Supporting our staff
As we grow we are giving thought as to how best to support our staff and their wellbeing. With this in mind almost half our staff have supervision, we are aiming for all our staff to have this. Supervision is 1:1, confidential, either fortnightly or monthly and support by trained counsellors.
We also now run weekly teacher meetings and mentor meetings. These may involve discussing young people, teaching methods and supporting one another.
Mentoring sessions
Mentor sessions are led by the young person. The aim is to support them in exploring their neurology through a neurodivergent-affirming lens, re-building self-confidence, helping them re-discover their love of learning (on their terms) and act as a positive Neurodivergent role model. Mentors also support young people who are in crisis, have cPTSD and work therapeutically with them to process trauma.
All sessions are student led. Self-discovery and recovery is achieved through the therapeutic relationship between the mentor and the young person. The length of this process is determined by the young person and is organic, not time limited or prescriptive.
All mentors use a trauma informed framework (PACE).
Academic Sessions
With an expanding staff and student profile, we now offer sessions in English Literature and Language, Drama and play therapy, Art, History, Science including Physics, Computer Science, Biology, and Maths.
We offer GCSEs in English Language and Literature, Maths, Computer Science and Biology.
We have staff members running ASDAN programmes, subjects include short courses in Animal Care, English, Environmental, Expressive Arts, Foodwise, History, Living Independently and Mathematics.
We have 2 staff members trained to teach Bronze and Silver Arts Award.
Our support and what this means
We are widely recognised and acclaimed within the Autistic community. We are currently oversubscribed with a waiting list and are full this academic year. With us, our students are able to learn about their true selves through a Neurodivergent lens.
Safeguarding
Our young people have been through traumatic experiences in their school time. Some have a diagnosis of PTSD. Some of our young people self-harm and some young people have tried to commit suicide. All our staff are Level 2 Safeguard trained and we have one Designated Safeguarding Lead (Level 3 trained) and one Deputy (Level 2 trained).
Finances
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We have a three tier payment system for our fees. We receive donations which we use to support our low income families, they pay £15 or £20 a session. For high income families, they pay £35 a session. For schools and LAs, they pay £50 or £60 a session. When schools and LAs are involved we send weekly or half termly reports and attendance data. We also attend monthly or half termly meetings and attend Annual Reviews.
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We have received a donation of £15,000 each year from Wrenlabs. We use this to support our grant funded spaces.
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We receive £1,000 each year from the Singer Foundation. This supports our staff Supervision costs.
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We receive £2000 in Spring each year, from the Ingles Foundation which is used for staff training.
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We gave all staff a 2% pay rise in July 2024 to continue supporting the rise in the cost of living.
Rivers
In September 2024, we opened an alternative provision site for six to eight neurodivergent children in years four and five. This is in addition to our current provision. The location is in the Frome area, Somerset. We run for 16.5 hours over three days a week, 9:30 – 3 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, term-time only (38 weeks). We took on 3 new members of staff to help run this facility.
The children who have joined us are neurodivergent and have EOTAS or an EHCP because they are unable to access mainstream education. Some may also have had previous traumatic experiences in school such as bullying or feeling unable to cope with what was expected. They may be experiencing anxiety or mental ill-health.
This site provides the innovative educational and emotional support that people have come to expect from Gecko, as well as the opportunity for children to meet teachers and peers face-to-face in a warm, welcoming and safe environment.
The hub is run by expert and highly experienced teachers and provides lessons based around English, Maths and Science, in a style that meets the individual needs of each child. Alongside these core subjects, we also run an Arts Award and the Neurobears program. Neurobears is a neurodivergent-affirming course which allows children to explore what neurodivergence means for them, boosting not only self-understanding but also confidence in who they are.
This hub supplements the main learning a child receives elsewhere, as it is not in place of the child’s main education. The hub ise registered with Ofsted on the voluntary childcare register. The children do not need to attend for the full 16.5 hours, and we are aware that children may need transitional support to build up to attending a new provision. Each child initially has a bespoke timetable as they build up their attendance to what is right for them.
We have experienced a high level of demand for this service, but unfortunately have limited places to offer. We will have a waiting list for any students who wish to join us after the initial places have filled.
In Summer term 1 we offered one day a week for potential pupils to get to know the team and other young people.
Going forwards
Our focus is on our Rivers project and making this sustainable and supportive.
Signed by the Chair of Trustees
Vikki Mead
23rd March 2025
| Gecko CommunityCIO | Gecko CommunityCIO | Gecko CommunityCIO | 1195860 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual accounts for theperiod | |||||
| Period start date | 10/1/2023 | To | Period end date |
9/30/2024 |
Section A Statement of financial activities
| Guidance Notes Incoming resources (Note 3) Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies S01 Charitable activities S02 Other trading activities S03 Investments S04 Separate material item of income S05 Other S06 Total S07 Resources expended (Note 6) Expenditure on: Raising funds S08 Charitable activities S09 Separate material item of expense S10 Other S11 Total S12 S13 Net gains/(losses) on investments S14 Net income/(expenditure) S15 Extraordinary items S16 Transfers between funds S17 Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed assets for the charity’s own use S18 Other gains/(losses) S19 Net movement in funds S20 Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward S21 Total funds carried forward S22 1 Recommended categories by activity Net income/(expenditure) before investment gains/(losses) Other recognised gains/(losses): |
Total funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Prior year funds |
Total funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Prior year funds |
Total funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Prior year funds |
Total funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Prior year funds |
Total funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Prior year funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | 349,590 | - | 349,590 | 281,814 | |
| 57,001 | - | - | 57,001 | - | |
| - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | 57,574 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 57,001 | 349,590 | - | 406,591 | 339,388 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 57,001 | 318,494 | - | 375,495 | 289,085 | |
| - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 57,001 | 318,494 | - | 375,495 | 289,085 | |
| - 0 | 31,096 | - | 31,096 | 50,303 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - 0 | 31,096 | - | 31,096 | 50,303 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - 0 | 31,096 | - | 31,096 | ||
| 32,285 | 50,303 | - | 82,588 | ||
| 32,285 | 81,399 | - | 113,684 | 82,588 | |
Gecko Community CIO
Charity No: 1195860
Balance Sheet
Year Ending September 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Current Assets | ||
| Debtors | 1,095 | 9706 |
| NEST Refund Due | 16,132 | |
| Bank | 96,932 | 73347 |
| Current Liabilities | ||
| Accrual | 475 | 465 |
| Total Funds | 113,684 | 82,588 |
Funds on 30/09/2024
| Restricted | 81,399 |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted | 32,285 |
| Total funds | 113,684 |
Gecko Community CIO
Charity No: 1195860
Year Ending September 2024
Income and expenditure
| Reserved | Unreserved | Total spent | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | 349,590 | 57,001 | ||
| Expenses | ||||
| EXPENSES | ||||
| WAGES - Contract | 187460 | 57,001 | 244461.00 | |
| WAGES - Self Employed | 9619 | 9619 | ||
| Hiscox/MM Insurance | 5992 | 5992 | ||
| Go Daddy Internet | 340 | 340 | ||
| Louise Poor - PAYE | 1650 | 1650 | ||
| NEST Pension | 33004 | 33004 | ||
| Aaron Department, DBS | 751 | 751 | ||
| Access to Work | 10707 | 10707 | ||
| ASDAN | 522 | 522 | ||
| Item Purchases | 4559 | 4559 | ||
| Parent Support | 300 | 300 | ||
| Supervision | 400.00 | 400 | ||
| Training | 2859.00 | 2859 | ||
| Venue Hire | 1898.00 | 1898 | ||
| Welfare | 98.00 | 98 | ||
| HMRC Payroll | 52163.00 | 52163 | ||
| Professional | 370.00 | 370 | ||
| Reimbursements | 5702.00 | 5702 | ||
| Software | 100.00 | 100 | ||
| Total Spent | 318494 | 57,001 | 375495 |
Reserved Funding Left
31096
Total income 406,591
Independent Exxminer's Report to the Truslees Geeko Community CIO We report on the accoLIDts of the TnLSt for the year ended 30 September 2024, which are sel out on the attached pages. R¢$p¢etiv¢ re8pon$ibiliti¢s of trust¢¢s examiner The Charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity's Tnte¢S consider thai an audit is not required for tl)is period (under section 144 ot. Th¢ Charities Act 2011 (The Charities Act). and that an llid¢pendent examination is needed. It is our responsibility to.. Examine the accounls (under section 145 of Tbe Charities ALt), To tollow thc procedurcs laid doTh in t]ic General Dire¢tioiis given by The Charity conimission (under s¢¢tion 145(5)(B} of The Charilies.4cL and To state whether particular niatters have come fo our attention. B8$is of Independent Examiner's Report Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An eXnIna110Th includes a review of ihe a¥couiiting records kept by the Charily and a comparison of tlie accounts pr¢senled with those records. li also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking e.xplanations from the Trustees conceming any such matters. The proccdures undertaken do not provide ail the evidence that would be required in an audit, ld COngUln11Y no opinion is gil'en lo whLther the accouiily prL*¢nl a truL and lair view and the report is limited to ihose mallers set oul in the stalLinenl below. Indcp¢ndcnt Examiner's Stalcment In connection with oiir examination, no matter has come lo our atlention.. (i) .hich give8 us re&sonable cause to believe tlial in any material respect the teqiiirements: 'I' o keep acLountlDg records in accordance wit]] section 130 of 'fhe Charities Act To prepare accounts whAch accord with the accounting re}rdS ]d comply with the account requirements of Tlie Charities Acl have not been mel {2) to which, in our opinion, attention shoiild be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Pr), Bege CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT RJ, fky F.c.ft 97 Meneage StreeL Helston, Cornwall. TR13 8RE Dated....... 1 s..o.4 ..2o)g