Registered Charity Number.. 1197465
ACTION FOR AUTISM BARNSLEY
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026

ACTION FOR AUTISM BARNSLEY
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
CONTENTS
Page
Legal and Adminlstrative Information
Trustees, Report
Iridependent Examiner's Report
Receipts & Payments Account
statement of Assets and Liabilities
io
Notes to the Financial Statements
11-13
Page 2

ACTION FOR AUTISM BARNSLEY
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
Full Name:
ACTION FOR AUTISM BARNSLEY
Registered Charity No:
1197465
Contact Address:
Cooper Gallery
Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshlre
570 2AH
Trustees:
Rhona Bywater (Chai r)
Ben Harvey-wade {Treasurer)
Joanne Mccausland
Simon Tewson (Secretary)
Bank:
Virgin Money
IA Peel Square
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2PL
Independent Examiner:
Angela Hayes
Community Accountant
22 Brocklehurst Avenue
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 3EE
Page 3

ACTION FOR AUTISM BARNSLEY
TRUSTEES. REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
The Trustees present their report and accounts for the financial year ending 3 1 March 2026.
structure, Governance and Management
Action for Aut15m Barnsley (AfAB) is a Charitable Incorporated Organi5ation (CIO) registered
with the Charity Commission, charity number 1197465, and governed by its Foundation
Model Constitution. The CIO was registered on 12 lanuary 2022 and commenced its
artivities on 01 April 2022. Prior to the incorporation of the CIO, Action for Autism
Barnsley w8s an unincorporated association operating under the name of Actlon for Autism
and Aspergers Barnsley. The CIO acqulred the charitable funds and artivities of the
unincorporated charity on 01 April 2022. The charity changed its name to Action for Autlsm
Barnsley on 09 January 2023.
The members of the CIO are the charity trustees. Membership of the CIO cannot be
transferred to anyone else. If the CIO is wound up, the liability of each member to
contribute to the assets of the charity is limited to a sum not exceeding £ l.
The affairs of the charity are managed by the trustees who may exercise all the powers of
the CIO. Day to day management is delegated to the Project Manager, Katrina Whale.
Appointment of Trustees
Trustees are appointed for a term of three years, by resolution passed at a properly
convened meeting of the trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment, the trustees
have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effettive administration
of the CIO.
Each trustee is given a copy of the Constitutlon of the charity and a copy of the latest
Trustee Annual Report and accounts before appointment.
The trustees who served during the year, and to the date of slgning these accounts, are
listed on page 3 of this report.
Related Parties
There are no related parties to the organisation.
Risk Management
The trustees examine the major risks that the charity faces and put into operation systems
so that necessary steps can be taken to lessen these risks. Risk assessments are carried
out for all attivities. Financial risk is managed through a process of financial controls,
careful budget monitoring and regular review of the level of reserves held.
Charitable Objects
The objects of the charity are:
The promotion of Social inclusion among adults who are socially excluded from society or
parts of society as a result of their Autistic Spectrum Disorder by the provision of support,
dmp-in sessions for art-based therapies, advice and social and educational activities to
prevent 1501ation and encourage social interaction.
Page 4

ACTION FOR AUTZSM BAR145LEY
TRUSTEES. REPORT continuèd
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
Public Benefit
In shaping the objectives for the year, and planning the attivities outlined below, the trustees
have paid due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
Chair's Report of Activities and Achievements during the reporting perlod
Another busy and productive year with a rlse In attendance at sessions that has meant
some juggling to accomrnodate everyone. We continue to see a growth in numbers, With
referrals coming from different sources. Members are increasingly in touch with one another
and meeting up outside of the weekly se55ions, this IS strong indicator of growing social
confidence and friendship and is a huge step for those that were feeling isolated and without
social connertions before becomlng involved in AfAB.
Our aim as ever is to provide opportunities for social interaction for adults livino wlth Autism
Spectrum Conditions. We know how important social connection5 are in improving health
and wellbeing, and our small but impattful charity continues to be a lifeline for our
members. We have heard some moving testimonies from a new member who told us how
finding out about AfAB and coming to the sessions has been life changing.
Activitles to note for this year..
Safeguarding training undertaken by all trustees and the staff team.
Autism awareness trainlng for Barnsley Library Staff led by myself and Jo. (trusteel
Simon (trustee) delivered an Autlsm awareness session to his colleagues at South
Yorkshire Pensions
The Board continues to invite 3 group member to attend the quarterly meetings. This 15
proving to be beneficial for both parties as the members learn about the Charlty and how it is
run and the Trustee5 hear first-hand about the se55ions. One example of this is a dlscussion
at a recent Board meeting about the mix of activities that highlighted the need for more
variety. A project undertaken this year working in partnership with Barnsley Museums
Service has resulted in the members creating an activity sheet for the Experience Barnsley
Museum. Another project that has started is compiling memories that members have of their
time with AfAB, and will be published as a book, similar to the one done during Covid
lockdown. This is a useful resource to share with new members.
Trips Out this year have included bowling at Barnsley Bowl, although this was during school
half term so it was busy and loud (music), with some members unable to manage this
environment. A suggestion was made to avoid school holidays and ask the venue if they
would be able to have an autism friendly booking for the group. A trip to Whitby with nice
weather as a bonus and a festive time was had at the Stratford upon Avon Christmas Market.
Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge visited the Four Seasons exhibition, curated
by the members, and popped into the Fr4day Games and Hobbies session to discuss Issues
with the group. She sits on the ParlièmentBry Commission for Autism and said that she
would like to invite group members to attend a session at an appropriate point.
Thanks as ever to the AfAB team who make all this possible, Katrina, Carol and Rob, and to
my fellow Trustees, Ben, Simon and Jo.
Thanks also to our donors and fundraisers= Stella Exley, Hare Spring Cottage Plants; Tom
Neild of Toneil 8ricks, Jake Rollin and Paul Harris and to Barnsley Museums for ongoing
support with in-kind use of the Sadler Room twlce a week.
Rhona Bywater, Chair of Trustees
Page 5

ACTION FOR AUTISM BARNSLEY
TRUSTEES. REPORT continued
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
Future Plans
We are working towards building greater resilience for Action for Autism Barnsley by
applying to the National Lottery for a Reaching Communities grant. If successful, this would
enable us to establish a 3 or 4 day a week contract for the ProJ"ect Manager, for a three year
period. This will bring about the opportunity to strengthen the organisational infrastructure
whilst growing and diversifying our programme of artivity, meeting the needs and demand
of the steadily growing membership. We also plan to develop stronger partnership work
and connections with other Barnsley based organisations and increase our Board of Trustees
through the introduttion of a member trustee.
Financial Review
serv
The trustees have set a level equivalent to three months operating costs as a desired level
of reserve. This fund {the General Reserve) is a contingency in the event of a sudden
reduction in income, in order to protect the future operat10n of the organisation from the
effects of any unforeseen varlations in its income and expenditure. It also provides cash
flow for grants and contracts that are paid in arrears.
In addition to the General Reserve, the trustees may designate funds where there are
planned commitments that cannot be met by anticipated future income alone. These
designated reserves are broken down into a number of funds that relate to the charlty's
responsibilities to-.
i. its beneficiaries, to ensure the continuation of essentbal services
ii. the charity's responsibilities as an employer, to hold sufficient funds to meet
obligations to staff and to provide proper notice and redundancy payments in the
event of closure. (NB. The charity does not employ staff at the present time, therefore
currently there is no liability for redundancy).
At the current level of activityi the trustees calculate the desired level of reserves to be
£7,385. At the year-end, the balance of the General Reserve was £ 15,727 {2025'. £ 15,602).
The trustees will use any excess reserves to develop projects and activities, to further the
charitable activities of Action for Autism Barnsley.
Fin
l Review of the Year
The financial statements are set out in pages 9 to 13. The charity received total income of
£26,427 in this financial year. Grants make up over 60010 of total income, full details of
grants received during the year are provided on page 12 of this report. Total expenditure
for the year was £34,760, giving a deficit for the year of £8,333. The deficit was a result
of restricted funds being utilised to further the charitable activities.
The total funds of the charity at year-end stand at £26,474 {2025'. 134,807). Total funds
consist of balances remaining on restrirted grants of £10,747 and the unrestricted reserve
of £15,727.
Page 6

ACTXON FOR AUTXSM BARNSLEY
TRUSTEES. REPORT continued
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
Statement of Trustee Responslblllty
The trustee5 are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with
reèsonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to
ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charitie5 Act 2011.
The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for
taking reasonable steps for the preventlon and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees declare that they have approved the report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustee5'.
51
Sl Jd 202
Slgned..
Date..
Ben HaThey-Wade, Treasurer
Page 7

ACTION FOR AUTISM BARNSLEY
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
I report on the accounts of the charity, which are set out on pages 9 to 13.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charlty's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The
charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under settion 144
of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charlties Act) and that an independent examination is
needed.
It is my responsibility to:
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Dirertions given by the Charlty
Commission (under section 145(5)(b} of the Charities Att, and
to State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Dirertions glven by
the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records
kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It
also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and
seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures
undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and
consequently no oplnion is given as to whether the accounts preserit a 'true and fair.
vlew and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which
gives me cause to believe that in, any material respert..
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charfties Act,
or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concern5 and I have come across no other matters in connection with the
examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Date..
L3106/2cfJ. G
Angela Hayes, FMAAT
Community Accountant
22 Brocklehurst Avenue, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 3EE
Licensed
Accountant
Angela H¥ye5 Is licer6ed and regulaled by
AAT under Iicence numbeT 1006755
Page 8

ACTION FOR AUTISM BARNSLEY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
Unrestrirted Restri¢ted
Funds
Funds
Total
2026
Total
2025
Note
Receipts
Donations & Fundraising
Grants Received
649
2,000
16,825
2,649
16,825
5,096
1,857
3,067
29,271
Student Placement Fee
Other Income
5,096
1,857
Tot•1 receipts
7,602
18,825
26.427
32,338
Payments
staff Costs
Room Rent
1,280
23,068
2,200
273
24,348
2,200
273
19,899
2,185
273
Insurance
Project Delivery Cost5
Resources & Materials
1,353
121
2,761
386
4,114
507
650
909
Trips
Marketing, Publicity & Web51te
Admin Expenses & Telephone
Licences & S(Jbscription5
Accountancy Fee
Training
Other Expenditure
608
608
495
264
759
245
139
186
325
69
248
248
450
450
450
310
310
582
36
618
388
Total payments
4,978
29.782
34.760
25,068
Surplus/(Deficit}
Balance brouoht forward
Transfer between funds
2,624
15,602
12,4991
110,9571
19,205
18,3331
34,807
7,270
27,537
2,499
Total funds
15,727
10,747
26,474
34,807
Page 9

ACTION FOR AUTISM BARNSLEY
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LXABILITIES
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
Total
2026
Total
2025
Monetary Assets:
Virgin Money Current Account
Cash in hand
£26,474
£34,807
Total Monetary Assets
£26,474
£34,807
Represented by funds:
Vnostricted Reserve
Restricted Funds
£15,727
£10,747
£15,602
£19,205
Total Monetary Assets
£26,474
£34,807
other Assets:
iPadx4
Liabilities:
Accountsncy fee 2025-261£4801
Freelance Staff Costs March 2026 {£2,5621
Rent Due YMCA1£1801
The trustees declare that they have approved the accounts above.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees:
7fy.kv,JL
Date..
Ben Harvey-wade, Treasurer
Page 10

ACTION FOR AUTISM BARNSLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
l. Accountlng pollcies
Basis of
3ration of the accoL¢nts
The financial statements have been prepared on a Recebpts & Payments basis which
summarises the movement of cash in and out of the organisation. In this context
'cash' includes cash equivalents, such as bank accounts where cash can be readily
available to pay debts as they fall due. This format of accounts is available to non-
company charities with gross annual income of £250,000 or less.
re
ru
ure
The charity maintains an unrestricted fund that represents funds that are expendable
at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the object5 of the charity.
Unrestricted funds may arise from general donations, grants of a general nature,
fees for service provision and payment for service delivery contracts.
Restritted funds may be provided to the charity for particular purposes and may only
be spent for the purposes for which they were given.
Any balance remain1ng
outstanding on a restricted fund at the end of the year is carried forward as a
balance on the fund, unles5 permission has been glven by the funder to rernove the
restriction on the balance outstanding. Restricted funds will arise from grants and
donations given to the charity for specific purposes and fundraising for specific
projetts.
2. Gifts in Kind
Use of the Sadler Room at the Cooper Gallery was provided by Barnsley Museums
for our weekly sessions and meeting rooms at the Town Hall for quarterly trustee
meetings were provided free of charge, by Barnsley Council.
Page 11

ACTION FOR AUTISM BARNSLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
3. Grants Received
Unrestrlcted Restrlcted Total
Fund5
Funds
2026
2025
The National Lottery Community Fund
The National Lottery Sport England
SWYPT.. Creative Minds
16,250
3,950
2,500
3,950
2,500
3,000
6,996
SYCF.. Green social Prescribing
SYCF.. Monday Meet-up
Shaw Lands Trust
5,000
5,000
I,soo
1,125
Tesco (Groundworksl
Macaulay Moat Foundation
Making a Diffeonce Locally INISAI
375
375
5,000
5,000
400
Total
16,825
16,825
29,271
The prior year120251 Making a Difference Locally grant was unrestricted funds.
All other prior year grants were restrirted funds.
4. Independent Examination and Accountancy Servlces
A fee of £450 was paid to Angela Hayes, Community Accountant, for the Independent
Examination of accounts and final accounts preparation. {2025'. £450).
5. Trustee Remuneration
There were no payments, remuneration or expenses made to trustees during this, or the
previous, accounting period.
6. Related Party Transactlons
There were no related party transartions in this. or the previous, accounting period.
Page 12

ACTION FOR AUTISM BARNSLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS contlnued
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
7. Restrirted Funds
Opening
Balanc•
Fund
Re¢¢ipts Poyments Transfer5
closing
Balanco
The National Lottery." Connect
The National Lottery.. Sport England
SYCF.. Green Social Prescribing
SYCF.. Monday Meel-up
Tesco IGroundworksl
Macaulay Moat Foundation
Creative Minds Project.. Connections
13,941
113,5371
11.1281
14.2581
14.4861
11.0051
11,7011
13.6671
404
2,822
3.950
4,259
5.000
375
5.000
4.500
514
375
1,005
3.299
3,333
2.500
Total
19,205
18,825
129.7821
2.499
10,747
Th
Fund.. Connect - grant funding for group running
costs, including venue hire, project management and activities.
The National Lotter
Communit Fund..
En
a grant towards the Being
Active project, to fund a series of weekly adapted and inclusive sports sessions and
walks for members.
I Pr
a grant to fund the walking group, outdoor trips
and excursions.
SYCF.. Monda
Meet-u
a grant used to deliver the Monday Meet-up sessions, for a
sixth month period. During this time the mernbers explored creative, cultural and
heritage based projects as a vehicle to build social interaction and connection.
Tes
rk
a grant to support the delivery of the Monday Meet-up.
Ma
n- a 2-year grant towards projert management costs.
Creative M nds.
A grant of £2,500 from SWYP NHS Foundation Trust
and a donation of £2,000 from Toneil Bricks Ltd for the Creative Minds Connections
Project.
8. Fund Transfers
Fund Transfers of £2,499 includes a transfer of £2,500 from the General Fund to
contribute to the cost of the Creative Minds Connections Project.
Page 13