Charity no. (England and Wales): 1206758 ## Aurum Autism Support Trustees’ Annual Report 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024 1 ## **Reference and Administrative Details** ## Trustees: Dr Natalie Sarah Lambert, Chair Claire Elizabeth Fox, Trustee Susan Elaine Malin, Trustee ## Charity registered number: 1206758 ## Principal address: Como House Como Rod Malvern WR14 2TH ## Independent examiner: H M Craik ACA CTA 2 ## **Report of the Trustees** The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the period to 30th September 2024 ## **Who We Are: Our objectives and our activities** Aurum Autism Support (Aurum) was initially established in September 2021 as an unincorporated charitable organisation. On 29th January 2024 we became a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) . Our objectives are to relieve the needs of autistic girls and women and their families and dependants in the Midlands area for the public benefit by: - providing a safe, supportive and professionally-led space for autistic girls and women to be their authentic selves; - providing specialist individual support for autistic girls and women; - providing opportunities to engage in social, recreational and discussion-based groups; - providing specialist individual and group support for parents and carers of autistic girls and women; - facilitating increased engagement in the broader community; and - advancing education, in particular by sponsoring and promoting research into autistic women and girls and by disseminating any useful results. Aurum currently provides specialist support for autistic women and girls, and their families, in the Worcestershire and Shropshire areas. Aurum is led by autistic women and specialist professionals. We provide social, craft, and discussion groups for autistic women, and social and activity groups for autistic girls. We also offer support groups for parents of autistic women and girls. Aurum helps to build stronger communities, while supporting autistic women and girls to reach their potential. Aurum was founded by autistic women based on the belief that autistic females can improve their lives by supporting each other. Aurum’s services are designed to give autistic women and girls the opportunity to learn from and help each other, forming a community where they feel accepted and supported. This level of acceptance and understanding can be difficult for autistic people to find within other, non-autism-specific, settings. Moreover, this peer support helps autistic women and girls to develop their confidence and build coping skills, improving their life chances and helping them to reach their full potential. Aurum’s specialist services are designed to support autistic women and girls, and their families, to better understand the strengths and challenges of being an autistic female. By providing a range of support options, including: individual and group sessions, in-person and online formats, and different activities (e.g. arts and craft sessions, outdoor activities, group meals), people can choose the option that best suits their needs. This individualised approach helps autistic women and girls to improve their wellbeing, build confidence, develop coping skills, sustain education or employment, and ultimately feel more connected with the wider community. ## Support Provided Over the reporting period we have provided: 3 - Monthly social groups for women (Worcestershire) - Monthly craft groups for women (Worcestershire) - Monthly online discussion groups for women - Fortnightly girl’s groups for girls aged 10-17 (Worcestershire) - Monthly online parent/carer groups - Individual group member and parent/carer support - Monthly social and discussion group for women (Shropshire) We also commenced monthly yoga sessions for girls aged 10-17 and women aged 18+ in September 2024 just before the end of the reporting period. ## **Our work in 2023-24: Outcome Measures** Meeting the needs of the individuals we support is imperative to the core tenets of Aurum, and so feedback is a key factor in how we evaluate and iterate the development of our services. The impact of our services was evaluated in two ways: ## Number of new enquiries Number of new enquiries across the reporting period = 123. ## Number of participants ## **Worcestershire Groups** Most of our Worcestershire groups run from venues in Malvern; however, they are open to Autistic people (diagnosed or undiagnosed) from across Worcestershire. Groups are advertised on our website (www.aurumsupport.com). Individuals that accessed Aurum’s Worcestershire groups within the reporting period include: |Group|Number| |---|---| |Girls|24| |Women’s In-person Social|29| |Women’s In-person Craft|24| |Women’s Online|19| |Parents/Carers|19| ## **Shropshire Group** In January 2024 we started a new, monthly group for autistic women based in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Individuals that accessed Aurum’s Shropshire group within the reporting period include: ||| |---|---| |Group|Number| |Women’s (Shropshire)|9| 4 ## Regular qualitative feedback from group members and their families Qualitative information is most useful for us as a means of helping us to understand what we are doing well and the areas in which we could make changes. Our feedback generally encompasses areas such as social engagement and psychological and emotional wellbeing. Quantitative feedback has less pertinence to our work as the benefits of our services are often unique to attendees; for example, - Some attendees find the groups help alleviate anxiety, - Some benefit from the opportunities for safe social interaction, - Others benefit from learning how to perform tasks that are integral to social interaction, such as ordering a meal at a pub. We would like to share feedback from those who have accessed our services; we feel their experiences best describes the positive impact of our work on their mental health and wellbeing. The golden thread throughout their words is that Aurum has provided a lifeline to autistic people and parents, the importance and impact of which is profound. This feedback encompasses direct quotes from group members and parents in their own words, with their collective experiences emphasising the critical need for the support we provide. ## _Autistic women:_ _“The online group was a lifesaver when I was first diagnosed with autism. It was very hard to find any support. The group allowed me to talk about my diagnosis in a safe environment. The structure of the sessions and the leader are excellent. The impact of the sessions are profound. I understand myself and my diagnosis so much more with the help of aurum. I would be lost without it.”_ _“Aurum has provided the space to connect me with other autistic women which i wouldn't normally have met. This has enabled me to explore what autism means for me, and my daughter, and has equipped me with the language to better understand and explain my own needs (and my daughter's whilst advocating for her with professionals) through listening and resonating to other people's stories and experiences. I cannot express highly enough how much this forum has supported me during an extremely difficult and confusing period of my life when I felt most broken and alone. Aurum has provided me with the relief I had been searching and longing for all of my life. I can now begin to view my life, past and present, in a completely different light and new perspective. I am not sure where I would be without Aurum's support.”_ _“Aurum has provided me with a relaxed and safe environment to have regular social interaction, which has been groundbreaking for me. Being surrounded by other autistic women had been incredible for my mental health, wellbeing and quality of life. The groups have allowed me to make socal connections that remain outside of the group setting, I now have a group of friends that I can rely on. There isn't any support for autistic women in the local area like Aurum. I owe a lot to the group and to Natalie. Thank you.”_ _“I really enjoy going and have made some good friends. Its so nice to be able to spend time with like-minded people and has helped me feel better about myself knowing im not the only one who finds “normal” life difficult! It’s always a really friendly, welcoming, and supportive environment. Thank you for everything you do to make this possible! ”_ ## _Parents:_ _“My daughter really loves the group. She has made friends, enjoys the activities and welcomes the relaxed atmosphere.”_ 5 The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in managing the activities of the charity. ## **Our structure, governance and management** Our governing document is our constitution which is dated 29th January 2024. The charity has three trustees. Aurum’s staff team over the reporting period was comprised of 11 members who undertake the following roles on a part time basis: - Individual Mentor, Girl’s Group Support Worker and Administration Assistant - 3 x Girls’ Group Support Worker - Parent Group Lead - 2x Women’s and Girls’ Group Lead - 2x Administration Assistant - Women’s Online Discussion Group Lead - Girl’s Yoga Group Support Six of our service users now carry out paid or voluntary work for Aurum and have drawn on their experiences to help us shape our services. ## **Volunteers** All trustees are volunteers and claim no remuneration for their role as trustee. Aurum is also fortunate to benefit from the support of volunteers who give their time to raise funds for Aurum and, where appropriate, to support our activities. The trustees wish to acknowledge and thank our supporters. ## **Financial Review** The total income of the charity during the reporting year totalled £33,046, comprised of grants £24,089, fundraising and donations £6,982, and private mentoring £1,740. During the year we spent £15,566 on our charitable activities , £187 on raising funds and £5820 on general administration. The Charities main sources of funding during the period were: - The Barchester Foundation - Malvern Hills Community Foundation - Miller Homes - NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire - Shropshire Grassroots Fund - Sport England - West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner - Worcester Council - Wynn Foundation 6 In lemis of expenses the majority of costs were spent on delrvering front line setvices for groups, 1..1 sessions, and activiti'es and resources1620/0l. with the remaining expenses split across Administration costs, Private mentonng. and general charrty operational Costs. ReseNes Poli Given the inherent uncertainty in fundraising income and the need to ensure continurty of service, the Truslees have agreed that the chartty should aim to retsin a reserve of circa £5000 to cover future overheads and known l￿blIrtIeS. The reserves are considered adequate to enable the chartty lo meet tls ￿MmItmentS and lake appropriate action to manage cash flow as necessary. Future Plans We are aiming to apply for further fLJnding to increase our staff team and to run additional groupslactiwlies, alongsKle consolidating funding for administration, communications and fundraisitlg Pro￿sses. Our medium term slralegy aims are: Building finanual ￿$111ence lo ensure we have the income we need to delNer services. Improving our governan￿ framework lo ensure we can continue to be complianl with legislalive changes. Building slaffing resilience to enats￿ cover of existing services and scope for covering additional sessions where appropriate. Nelworking with organisations as required Whe￿ this will enable Aurum to enhance our services. The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 22 July 2025 and signed on its behaw by S E Malin- Trustee (mAR￿y COMMissiowrnmAut*rn Suppjrt I FOR ENGLAND ANO W14LE5 Receipts and mènts accounts CC16a Forth• p•riod 0111(W23 To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestnct•d Endowm¢ni db Tothi Lasi A1 Rq¢•i 11gJO 4,451 Fufidrt￿n 1.74Q 1,740 235 tgthlfGross lor AR) 1s••t•bl•l. Svb tot41 A3P¥ &nts rovp D*liY•ty ¢*$ 570 2*.211 A(￿¥￿SfOr9￿pS Pnwat• ZJO 1,0 1 1 cfj Phon•￿&￿ byrte llffld 1294 L512 T￿n Sub iotri A4Assrtand invesbn* Sub roral Totsiptyments Mot ￿rIC￿p￿payM¢ntsi ASTrJn$fers lunds Al C*•h fu￿￿￿ y••r•nd Cash Ivnds this 17 17 2Q6 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestncied RÈstrj¢teO uEid& fvthjs EDdowment i M•r•#£ 81 Cajh funds i&0 Tot81 c￿ fithds 14 fur fvnd* nd Dqtsllj CCXX R1 x¢fwtslSSI Ogtalls B4 rglalnsd lort charlty's own uso D•tsils B5 LLryb516tleg Date 22WQQZS r.c.XX R? 22A171202S INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF AURUM AUTISM SUPPORT (Charity Number 12061581 I report to the trustees on my examination of the acGouri15 of the above charity I'the Trust.) for the yp.ar p.ndg.d 30th September 2024. As the Charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the a¢¢ounts in accordance with Ihe requirements of the Charrties Act 20111.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 carying out my cxamination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by Ihe Charity Commission under section 145{51{bl of the Act I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters h8vp. come to my attention in connection wrth the examination which gives me cause lo believe that in, any material respect.. the a¢counting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., I have no concems and have come acr055 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 Iliv acGount5 to be reached. ELE N tyAPrKI CRIt I AGA CTA Chartered Accountant DatellJuly 2025