Annual Review
2020 - 2021
AEM
Autism East Midlands
## **Our year in Covid** 2020-21
**March 2020 marked the start of a challenging year across the globe with the outbreak of the pandemic. For us, it meant working in a different way so that we could continue to provide the support needed by autistic people and their families.**
Over the following pages, you’ll read about our year; what happened and how we adapted.
## **Our** Vision
A world which recognises, understands and values autistic people, and where they and their families receive the services and support they need throughout their lives.
## **Our** Mission
To advocate, provide and develop high-quality services, information, and support, in partnership with others, for all those whose lives are affected by autism. To recognise and respond to the needs of the individual, enabling autistic people to live their lives with dignity, choice and independence. Our well trained and passionate staff offer a wide range of services to help individuals to live their lives the way they want.
## **George Smith:** Chair of Trustees
**As we enter a new decade, we are no less committed to achieving our vision; a world which recognises, understands and values autistic people, and where they and their families receive the support they need.**
The start of 2020 saw us engulfed by the coronavirus pandemic. Despite this, we have been able to expand our provision, as well as effectively navigate through the pandemic and the challenges posed. During this time the Trustees continued to observe and contribute to meetings at more regular intervals so that we could keep abreast of changes, issues and the financial implications of service interruptions.
Day Services, Family Support Hubs and youth clubs, where people met in person, were temporarily curtailed. However, we were able to hold meetings and meet with families and friends online throughout the lockdown restrictions.
During the summer of 2020 some form of normal service was able to resume and our residents from Whitegates were able to move to our new locations in Retford.
I would like to say thank you to all the families who have worked with us over the past year. I would also like to express my thanks to all the employees of Autism East Midlands for their efforts during this period. Without you, the organisation would not have been able to function as it had.
## **Jane Howson:** Chief Executive Officer
**The past financial year 2020/21 has been like no other. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic began at the turn of the year with the first national lockdown coming into force during the last week in March. This was the start of a rollercoaster year, which I think has been the most challenging of my working life. It has been a year of constantly changing rules and very high levels of staff absence, matched with very high levels of need.**
focused on maintaining the support that people on the spectrum and their families have needed. Our Family Support and Children’s Services embraced the online world delivering materials and ingredients to children’s doors so that they could take part in the 70 different activities we offered.
At AEM we responded quickly to the pandemic in a bid to keep everybody safe. We sent home 92 staff with underlying health conditions which, at the time, the public health assessment suggested put them at greater risk. We maintained full pay. We also used our bulk purchase powers to provide food parcels to staff, service users and families when the supermarkets had shortages.
During the brief loosening of restrictions last summer, we managed to move the residents of Whitegates into our £2million developments of Iedale and South Lodge in Retford. We are already seeing the benefits that the more autism friendly environments are offering the individuals who live there.
When several of our services moved online, staff were incredibly flexible and moved to support our critical residential and supported living services. I am extremely grateful to staff for their flexibility and extraordinarily proud of their response in such uncertain and anxious times.
We sadly lost to cancer one of our much-loved residents, Caroline at the end of 2020. She will be forever in the hearts of those who cared for her and her friends with whom she shared her life.
Sutherland House School remained open for children who needed in person teaching and very rapidly developed new skills to teach online, delivering some amazingly creative sessions. We remained physically open for a reduced number of children throughout Easter and halfterm holidays. I would like to thank staff who sacrificed their time off.
The year ended much as it started with lockdown.
We continue delivering services to the absolute best of our abilities. As we have throughout the pandemic, we strive every day to keep everybody safe, while supporting them to live meaningful and fulfilled lives.
Autistic people have really felt the impact of Covid19 with changes to routines, heightened levels of anxiety and often increased isolation. Throughout the last year our staff have really
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **UK Covid 19 Timeline:** What was happening nationally
## **2020 - 2021**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
6
Lockdown 2 metre Re-opening Rule of six Second Third
announced social of theatres begins lockdown lockdown
distancing and bowling
rule alleys
3
WHO Conditional Re-opening Three tier Christmas
declares a plan for of pubs, system celebrations
pandemic lifting restaurants introduced restricted
lockdown and
announced hairdressers
MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY/MARCH
2020 2021
Food parcels School 2.6 Challenge Family Online Open new Outdoor Day centres Bonfire Night 12 days of Vaccination Staff
delivered stays open support hubs quizzes for service in day trips open celebrations Christmas programme encouraged to
during VE Day meet online staff Retford activities themed online vaccinate
Service users Easter Celebrations ‘Bubbles’ Halloween Online baking meetings
supported from holidays Staff back in introduced celebrations sessions held Christmas at launched School
home Thank office by Northants home with the students work
goodness for Students youth clubs AEM family Online in bubbles
Staff wear PPE Teams and work in information
Zoom! small groups 39 Christmas service
Some staff work during new sing-along and launched about
from home term
**----- End of picture text -----**
**information 39 Christmas service sing-along and launched about symbol-along employment books created opportunities**
**Some staff furloughed but supported with 100% pay**
**AEM Timeline:**
How we responded
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## March **2020**
**Our world was about to change. The Covid 19 virus was officially declared a global pandemic and the Prime Minister announced that we were all to ‘stay at home.’**
## **How we responded…**
- Schools across the nation closed to all except for vulnerable students. As a nonmaintained specialist school, Sutherland House School remained open. Some students carried on learning in school. Those who had to isolate or stay at home did not miss out though. They instead benefited from creative remote learning sessions and were given packs so they could learn from home.
- Despite everything going on in the outside world, it was business as usual across our accommodation-based services. Our teams continued to provide their normal day to day support – albeit in full protective wear (PPE).
- As the country faced a lack of PPE, we worked with our local community to produce face masks and anything needed to protect service users and staff.
During lockdown, routines at Sutherland House School were significantly different. These changes could have proved challenging for students. Staff adapted timetables though so that students could continue to enjoy positive school experiences.
- Our Flexible Day Support services changed their model of support. We kept in touch with service users and their families by making regular phone calls. We also introduced online activities to help boost morale.
Our teams worked together to provide food parcels to all those in our community who were not able to shop for essentials during lockdown.
A production line was organised at different centres, including Hamilton Adult Services (pictured), Sutherland House School, Dukeries Day Centre and our Head Office.
School students continued to learn and celebrate all the activities, holidays, and birthdays that were important to them.
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## April **2020**
- Almost a third of all staff were furloughed. Recognising the challenging times and the commitment of staff, the Board of Trustees announced that staff would be furloughed on a full wage.
- Those that could work from home did and a variety of online activities were planned to keep morale high. These included fancy dress days, a virtual ‘bake off’ and a pizza making session.
Our Speech and Language therapists designed a whole set of resources for use in video sessions. It gave us a way of keeping therapy going for students during the times when they were not in school. Language games were also created and students enjoyed completing these remotely from home.
- We fully embraced the use of technology. Thankfully Teams software had been installed back in 2019 and so when lockdown hit, we were already ahead of the game. It meant everyone was able to easily keep in touch and talking face to face online made things so much easier. Regular manager briefings took place and weekly newsletters were introduced to keep everyone was in the loop.
- Sutherland House School remained open during the Easter holiday to help those parents who were key workers.
- Staff were invited to take part in a 2.6 Challenge to help raise money for Autism East Midlands. Our CEO Jane Howson successfully completed her 2.6 Challenge by completing her goal of cycling 260 miles from her front room on her exercise bike!
Our environment began to look a little different across our services, offices, and school.
Talented bakers across the organisation took part in an online ‘bake off’.
Like our CEO, many joined our 2.6 Challenge campaign including Dan Adams (pictured) who took his daily walks during lockdown in Star Trek themed fancy dress.
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## May **2020**
## **Lockdown continued and the country stayed at home.**
## **How we responded…**
- Our flexible day support services continued to be delivered remotely.
- When it was no longer possible to meet in person, the Family Support Hubs moved online. Families were able to meet virtually and share their experiences through the power of Zoom. Online activities included gaming sessions, which were a real hit and more people got involved than would normally access hubs.
- The team at the Sherwood Centre went into overdrive as they redecorated their building so that it was ready and waiting for when people could return.
- We continued to take part in the annual Silly Sock Day. Many people threw their support behind the awareness day and helped boost vital funds for Autism East Midlands.
- Across our accommodation-based services, activities were arranged to ensure service users could manage any changes to their routine. In the absence of home visits, Facetime video calls were arranged.
- Many of our accommodation-based services celebrated the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Our Carlton Road services went all out to celebrate, making flags and decorating their homes and enjoyed a special afternoon tea.
- Extra support was organised for all staff who faced childcare difficulties.
- And staff at our accommodation-based services continued to wear full PPE!
When we began to miss shops, pubs and cafes, our accommodation-based services got creative. Beechwood services, for instance, set up their own pub at home. Others set up their own ‘tuck’ shops and home cinemas.
The 75th anniversary of VE Day was celebrated in style across our accommodationbased services with fancy dress parties, afternoon tea, and sing-alongs.
As lockdown restrictions continued, we kept people connected and organised online calls with family members.
Rachel Hardy, a member of staff, set herself the task of dressing up each day for 26 days for her daily dog walk as part of the 2.6 Challenge to raise money.
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## June **2020**
**This month saw restrictions slowly ease with the reopening of some schools and nonessential shops.**
## **How we responded…**
- Head office reopened again. Staff returned to the office and a rota was put in place so that not everyone was working in the building at the same time.
- Families were still able to access any support they needed from our Support Hubs through online activities and through telephone calls.
- Our support staff continued to tirelessly work through the many restrictions, wearing PPE around the clock.
- A resource pack was produced by our clinical team and sent out to all adult service users to help them during these changing times.
- Sutherland House School worked in ‘bubbles’ to keep staff and students safe. Some children accessed lessons via Zoom. One class even learned from afar how to code their own games.
To replace swimming sessions and community visits, students at Sutherland House School instead enjoyed interactive music and ICT sessions.
To keep routine and consistency in place, school students were given the opportunity to follow familiar morning routines. Providing emotional support for students concerned about the pandemic was important.
Students took part in innovative projects. Class 2 loved their caterpillar project, where they got the chance to watch the different stages of their development. Once the caterpillars had transformed into butterflies the children enjoyed setting them free.
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**Annual Review**
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## July **2020**
Our Northampton Family Support Hub hosted fun activities in spacious grounds outdoors.
## **The UK’s first ‘local lockdown’ was applied in Leicester and parts of Leicestershire. How we responded…**
- New staff joined us and induction courses moved online, which was a very different experience for trainers and learners. Between April 2020 and March 2021, more than 2,000 internal and external training courses were held.
- Restrictions had eased slightly across the country but support staff continued to wear PPE throughout their work.
- To maintain morale, online quizzes were introduced for our staff.
- Recruitment began again to fill job vacancies within our services.
- Loughborough Family Support Hub continued to hold activities in person in their hub as well as providing valuable support via telephone when needed
One thing we were all able to do was enjoy the outdoors. Many of our service users enjoyed gardening – some for the very first time. Those living at Carlton Road (pictured) grew their own vegetables in their allotment.
Online activities continued throughout the summer and morale was boosted with online quizzes for staff – in fancy dress!
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## August **2020**
- In other areas of our services holiday season was in full flow. Many of our service users were able to return to some of the places they had loved visiting before lockdown. These included trips to the coast.
- We carried on with developments despite Covid. Service users moved into our new £2million development at South Lodge and Iedale in Retford.
Moving home was no mean feat for anyone during the pandemic but this move provided an exciting opportunity for our service users. They were able to choose their own furniture and surroundings so that they were comfortable in their individual new flats.
- And staff continued to wear PPE throughout their work.
A meticulous person-centred plan was carried out and the Speech and Language Therapists produced each service user with their own personalised guide to their new flat to give them a good start to their time in their new home.
Some of our services were able to enjoy safe day trips out to the places they had enjoyed before lockdown. Trips out from The Poplars included visits to the zoo and to the seaside.
_‘We would like to thank you and your staff for looking after the residents and keeping them safe from the virus.’_
**A Worksop parent**
Our Sherwood Centre organised a Sports Day event for our service users and a little friendly competition. Activities included egg and spoon racing, archery, some football games and bean bag throwing.
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## September **2020**
**The ‘rule of six’ was introduced in England with social gatherings of groups of more than six banned.**
_‘It is wonderful that service users can confidently return to their day service provision. It was greatly missed for many weeks, and I would like to thank all the staff for their hard work and dedication. Joe has settled back into a ‘slightly different routine’ very well and that is down to the support and patience of the staff.’_
## **Jennifer W, a parent**
## **How we responded…**
- Our Adult Flexible Day Support Services implemented ‘bubbles’ based around the special interests of each of our service users. It meant that groups of up to six could mix. Our service users were involved in how they wanted their unique social distancing ‘bubble’ to look.
- Changes were made to the building at Sutherland House School to ensure the continued safety of students and staff. Covid safe measures were implemented to the
Day Services reopened their buildings once again and, Jamie (pictured) was just one of the service users able to return to our Dukeries Day Centre. Jamie enjoyed arts and crafts, using the computer, and local walks with his group.
- main reception, corridors and classrooms. The main entrance was redecorated, and new furniture added before the arrival of students for the new term.
- Staff kept in regular contact with parents and carers of our students to offer support and guidance.
- Students at the school were able to work in small groups when they returned for the new term.
As our service users began to take days out again, a trip was organised from The Poplars to Sherwood Phoenix Pianos in Mansfield. The group was given special access to the grand piano hall.
Students at Sutherland House School were also able to enjoy outdoor learning, working in the allotment and harvesting fruit and vegetables.
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## October **2020**
Throughout the autumn term, students continued to learn and develop their skills through tools such as interactive floor maps (pictured bottom right).
## **The government announced a new three tier system and new rules came into place.**
- The Flexible Day Support services were now open and they were able to take the opportunity to arrange more activities again in ‘bubbles’ of not more than six people.
- Before lockdown Sherwood Day Centre regularly organised activities such as bowling, trampolining, cinema, pub lunches, and conservation work. The new restrictions meant that alternative activities had to be found. Service users got the chance to try out new hobbies including baking, music, and jigsaw puzzle sessions, which proved surprisingly popular. A projector room was also created at Sherwood Day Centre for movie afternoons.
- Halloween celebrations continued across our accommodation-based services. Service users at Worksop’s Carlton Road marked Halloween by decorating pumpkins and holding their own small Halloween party.
_‘Thank you to all at Carlton Road for your care and affection for our son during this past year. We appreciate everything you do for him and therefore for us as his family.’_
**Worksop parents, said of AEM’s support for their son**
Pumpkin carving and dressing up took place at various services.
_‘Hamilton staff were amazing at helping us through lockdown. The calls reminded me that they cared about us. Hamilton staff = highest respect and empathy for others. Lockdown = conquered._
**Daniel, service user**
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## November **2020**
**The second lockdown hit. Government guidelines were regularly updated and we had to work fast to continually meet the challenges of the quickly changing times.**
_‘A massive thank you to AEM Rotherham Hub. You have made my boy’s life so happy for the past two years! Everyone involved will know what and who I mean.’_
## **Jackie from Rotherham**
## **How we responded…**
- Covid 19 self-isolation policy came into play for all services and staff.
- Our Family Support Hubs and Children’s Service embraced online technologies once again, hosting a wide variety of activities. A mix of activities were held virtually to keep everyone connected and one to one support was provided, where needed. This included the hugely popular baking sessions where packs of ingredients with instructions were
_‘I would like to say a big thank you to all the staff at Carlton Road who looked after our boys. I know that it is challenging in normal times and must be even more of a challenge during these unprecedented times. The care you give is always without question, but during this pandemic you have been so thoughtful making sure our boys have different activities to look forward to because they haven’t been able to do their usual things. At the same time, you have been so sensitive and caring to parents and guardians who for various reasons cannot visit their loved ones. The cards, photos and messages that you send us help us to keep in touch and the phone calls I receive to check that I am ok and to give me updates is really appreciated.’_
**A parent shared their thanks for all our support**
- sent out to anyone wanting to take part in the online session. Individuals and their families then tuned in to the session and were guided through the baking sessions step by step.
- Support staff continued to wear PPE as they had been doing throughout the year.
Activities were held online to ensure we were able to continue our support. Our Northamptonshire Youth Clubs together baked up some brownies with the support of our staff during online baking sessions.
Those living at The Poplars in Whitwell were not able to attend a local bonfire display on Bonfire Night as they would normally and so they organised their own celebration at home. Lanterns and lights were placed around their garden, and they enjoyed food and singing on their patio instead.
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**2020 - 2021**
## December **2020**
**The second lockdown ended. As virus levels increased though, the Prime Minister urged the public to keep their festive celebrations ‘short’ and ‘small.’**
**New rules meant that for the first time ever many of our service users weren’t able to travel to spend Christmas with their families and loved ones. It meant Christmas 2020 was going to be unusual for everyone across the accommodation-based services.**
## **How we responded…**
- Staff and service users alike got involved in our 12 Days of Christmas celebration. Different teams dressed in fancy dress and were filmed, singing a line from a festive favourite. Each film was shared online.
- We wanted to make Christmas as special as we could for our service users. The Speech and Language Therapy team created a resource to enable our service users to tell us about their typical Christmas Day routines and what they’d like to do, using symbols, writing and images.
- This month also marked the 20th Anniversary of our Beechwood Residential Service and our service users and staff celebrated this milestone with a party.
- A Christmas Appeal was launched to encourage supporters to donate and share a message of support across our community. Some of our service users shared the stories of their challenges online.
For the first time ever service users celebrated Christmas Day with their AEM family instead of returning home to see their families. Old traditions were recreated and new ones shaped. At Carlton Road staff and service users created Christmas Eve Boxes for the first time.
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- 39 Christmas sign-along and symbol-along books were created so that staff and service users could watch films and take part in sing and sign-alongs.
_‘Thank you for maintaining the morale of our loved ones and members of the families during the pandemic. The innovative mementoes we have are testimony to the imagination, initiative, and enterprise of the staff who have instigated them.’_
To keep morale going a fancy dress day was held for staff at the office (pictured).
Our virtual Northamptonshire Youth Club got creative, building spaghetti and marshmallow towers and they painted salt dough leaves to make seasonal garlands. .
Students at Sutherland House School got into the Christmas spirit and made their own festive arts and crafts, including baubles and Christmas trees. baubles and Christmas trees.
At Hill Top, staff talked to service users about what their normal Christmas looked like, so that we could recreate some of . their traditions. We filmed some of it so that their family could see them following those traditions.
While the setting was different to normal, all the traditions of Christmas Day were observed across all the services including The Poplars (pictured), Carlton Road, Hill Top and South Lodge and Iedale. Top and South Lodge and Iedale.
Christmas Day at Beechwood was celebrated for the first time with their AEM family.
As many were unable to spend Christmas with their families, our staff organised separate celebrations online for individuals their families.with their families.
People living at Beechwood celebrated the 20th anniversary of the opening of the homes.
Staff and service users joined the 12 Days of Christmas celebration. Individual teams dressed in costumes and sang a line from their festive favourite song, which was then shared online.
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**2020 - 2021**
## January **2021**
## **The third national lockdown began.**
## **How we responded…**
- The roll out of the vaccination programme began with service users and staff benefiting from the first vaccinations.
- Our online Information, Advice and Guidance Service was launched for one-to-one sessions to help autistic people learn more about employment opportunities.
-
- Themed online meetings were also launched this month to encourage more families to access our Family Support Hubs and share their experiences and gain advice.
We celebrated the end of a challenging year and planned for a positive future. New Year parties were held across our services including at Carlton Road (pictured right).
The vaccination programme rolled out across our services.
Our Forest School Family Support Hub organised outdoor activities, where children, under the guidance of adults, were able to learn crafts while enjoying the outdoors.
## February **2021**
It also remained open during the half term holiday to help those parents, who needed their children to attend.
- Our senior team leaders actively encouraged staff to vaccinate as the fantastic vaccination programme continued.
- As part of Internet Safety Week, the IT department at our school shared useful resources to help families adapt to remote learning online. This included a ‘Parenting in a Digital World’ booklet and an Online Learning Poster for parents and guardians.
- Sutherland House School continued to work • in ‘bubbles’ and staff were routinely tested so that teaching in schools could be maintained.
- The school carried on its creative learning programme, including arranging a wide variety of fun activities for Science Week.
Sutherland House School had been delivering the curriculum throughout the year and during Science Week students took part in a variety of creative activities that brought science to life.
_Despite all that was going on in the outside world, we cut our waiting list time for our specialist assessment centre, the Elizabeth Newson Centre, from 12 months to six months._
Throughout the year we celebrated all the special days, birthdays and holidays that we could to keep up morale. This month service users marked Pancake Day in the usual way, enjoying pancakes with all their favourite toppings.
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**2020 - 2021**
## March **2021**
## **Stay at home restrictions were lifted and care home residents were allowed one regular visitor.**
## **For us this meant:**
- As restrictions began to slowly ease, it was possible once more for us to welcome visitors back into our accommodation-based services. Our service users were able to have visits from family and friends again.
- Our Support Hubs continued to provide support online to families. Activities arranged online included Easter ‘make and bake’ sessions and would-be bakers across the nation joined us in their droves.
The past year saw many of us trying out new hobbies and interests. We discovered some hidden talents amongst our service users. Gardening, baking and crafting all became really popular and at our Sherwood Centre many put their skills to good use by creating bird boxes.
As in previous years, World Book Day was celebrated in different services and people dressed as book characters.
## Our Year **In Numbers**
168 people supported in our Flexible Day Support services.
- 43 people supported through registered residential services.
8 people were supported to live independently.
Northamptonshire Service ran 20 face-to-face holiday and youth clubs PLUS 45 virtual sessions! This included online gaming sessions, film club and youth clubs.
32 children and young people accessed our Northamptonshire service.
132 online Family Support Hub sessions held.
261 families supported over the year through both face to face and virtual Hub sessions.
285 children attended online and face to face Family Support Hub sessions.
90 _‘clinical resources and advice_
_packs’_ were made for students, service users and those supporting them throughout the first lockdown.
18 visual resources were made to help tell service users all about vaccines.
10 students supported through Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) at universities across the UK.
13 autistic people supported into paid or voluntary employment.
24 new students joined Sutherland House School.
47 respite stays arranged in just five months.
2,000 phone calls made to service users and their families during lockdown.
22 Covid updates for staff were produced during peak times of the pandemic.
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## **Trustees’ Report** For the year ended 31 March 2021
Reference and administrative details of the company, its Trustees and Advisers for the year ended 31 March 2021.
## **Trustees**
L Davies K R Doble G J Smith T Ousley R J C Woodford R W Bell
J D Morgan P Parr (appointed 2 December 2020) R M Valentine (appointed 2 December 2020)
## **Company registered number:** 02053860
## **Charity registered number:** 517954
**Registered office:** Unit 31 Crags Industrial Estate Morven Street, Creswell, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 4AJ
**Chief executive officer:** Jane Howson
**Independent auditors:** Smith Cooper Audit Limited, 2 Lace Market Square, Nottingham, NG1 1PB
**Bankers:** Lloyds Bank Plc, 4 Romulus Court, Leicester, LE19 1WL
## **Trustees’ Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2021**
The Trustees present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of the group and the company for the 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. The Trustees confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of the company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the company’s governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable to charity’s preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) as amended by Update Bulletin 1 (effective 1 January 2015)
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **a. Policies and objectives**
The charity exists to offer support and serve people with an autistic-spectrum disorder and their families and carers in the East Midlands and respond to changes in government policy and campaigns within the charities strategic objectives.
## **b. Strategies for achieving objectives**
## **Our Vision**
A world which recognises, understands and values people with autism, and where they and their families receive the services and support they need throughout their lives.
## **Our Mission**
To advocate, provide and develop high-quality services, information and support in partnership with others, for all those whose lives are affected by autism.
To recognise and respond to the needs of the individual, enabling people with autism to live their lives with dignity, choice and independence.
## **Evidence Based Support**
## **Strategic Priorities**
The strategic priorities of Autism East Midlands are:
We will continue to engage with the wider ‘autism community’ to ensure that we are engaged with the research agenda.
## **Quality**
To ensure the continued improvement of the quality of our services by focusing on the following areas:
We will ensure that our delivery and interventions are evidence based – wherever evidence exists.
- Continuing the improvement of the environments within which we work and provide services to ensure they meet the sensory needs of our beneficiaries.
We will ensure that we keep ourselves informed of innovative practice and adjust our delivery in line with innovation.
- All of our environments will be designed to minimise restrictions to individuals and maximise their independence.
- We will further develop our digital training and resources and make them available to all staff..
- By becoming the employer of choice in our field, enabling us to recruit and train staff aligned with our values and skilled in working with autistic people.
## **Maximum Impact**
- We will invest in our development of services that
- • Ensuring practice in all our services offers support autistic people to access work. We will do so in purposeful activity enabling individuals we support order to access greater resources, demonstrate models to maximise their independence in all areas of their of effective practice and influence the national agenda lives. around employment. We will do so as an organisation and also in partnership with others.
- We will improve our measurement of and focus on person centred services and the delivery of To increase participation of autistic people in paid meaningful outcomes for everyone accessing our employment. support.
- We will develop employment and employability services that enable autistic people that are new to the organisation to access support and develop opportunities for existing students and service users, including the development of social enterprises, micro social enterprises and self-employment opportunities.
- We will understand our performance by utilising our quality assurance matrix informed by our review and audit processes.
## **Increasing the voice of people with autism**
We will ensure that the ‘voice’ of autistic people (in whatever form that takes) is at the heart of everything we do.
We will continue to grow the number of people accessing our support both in number and in geographic spread. This will include opening new or satellite services.
By enabling people to fully participate in all planning and reviews that pertain to them and/or the service that they access. By supporting autistic people to play a central role in our organisation, as employees, service users, in our performance management and governance.
We will develop services that target autistic people with whom our contact is currently minimal and who are often isolated and find it difficult to find services that meet their needs. In particular we will develop services that offer social opportunities and advice and guidance for adults without a learning disability.
We will systematically engage with service users in whatever way is most effective for them. We will use this ongoing dialogue to ensure that the decisions we make, both large and small, are shaped by autistic people.
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## **Achievements and performance**
## **a. Review of activities and key financial performance indicators**
## Pandemic Response
This year has been a year like no other. Our primary objective throughout the year has been to continue to offer support while keeping services users, staff and families safe from the coronavirus pandemic. This work continues post year end. The impact of the changes due to coronavirus have been very significant on autistic people who have experienced high levels of anxiety and isolation across the UK.
In the initial stages of the pandemic, we sent home 92 staff who were assessed as being at higher risk from infection. This is nearly one quarter of our workforce.
As we were asked to run our day services remotely, we were able to re deploy some staff from these areas to support our accommodation-based services. We also redeployed staff from other areas of the organisation that had suspended services such as Employment Support and Respite. We are extremely grateful to staff for their flexibility and commitment during this period. We took advantage of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in order to pay staff sent home because of their underlying risk. We topped this up to 100% of salary so that no staff member was at financial loss. The opportunity to access the scheme enabled us to replace money lost from other income sources (such as fundraising).
At the time of product shortages in shops we used our bulk buying capabilities to provide food parcels to services, families and staff. Managers became briefly delivery drivers to ensure safe distribution.
Over time as the risks became better understood staff returned and we periodically maintained furlough for a small number of staff who were identified as being clinically extremely vulnerable, in line with Government assessed risk levels.
Our first priority from March 2020 was to safely maintain our accommodation-based services. For people using these services this is their permanent home. The challenges around accessing PPE were very significant and this became a full-time role for one of the Head Office Team. Another challenge was the ever-changing guidance from Government sources. The Leadership Team went to daily meetings to assess all areas of the situation and be as responsive as possible. Staff in service responded brilliantly with vigilance around cleaning and working in full PPE for long shifts.
## Adults Services
Despite the challenges, we successfully moved the residents from Whitegates in Worksop to the £2million bespoke accommodation in Retford in August 2020. We are already seeing the massive impact this is having on the quality of life of the people who live in these homes. The new residential homes of South Lodge and Iedale mean that each individual has their own flat within the home with the benefit of communal spaces when they want a bit more company. Both homes offer great outside space.
We increased our Unplanned Care Provision at Ravenshead to 2 beds. This work enables us to support adults in crisis to stay away from more restrictive environments such as hospitals. The average stay is intended to be 12 weeks but during the pandemic was considerably longer. This is critical work and has been an expressed priority for AEM for some time.
Day support was moved to online where possible and where families were in need, we provided some face to face support in primarily empty buildings. Managers and staff maintained contact with families on a regular basis.
We reopened our Day Services as quickly and safely as we could. To accommodate increased numbers in Hamilton we started a 2-shift pattern. In all services there was strict adherence to bubbles and extremely rigorous cleaning regimes. This was not always easy as it meant a significant change in routines. However, it did mean that when people showed any symptoms at all, only a small number of people needed to remain at home.
Our Employment Service was impacted heavily by the pandemic. Despite this we were successful in tendering to work in partnership and now have ESF funding that sits along other funding streams. The post pandemic focus will be on ensuring that we re-engage job seekers that have been less visible during Covid19.
## Children’s Services
Sutherland House School remained open all year for children who needed to continue with a face to face education, either due to vulnerability or because of being the child of a key worker. Other students were provided with an online education. Staff learned how to use new technology very quickly and there were some very creative and engaging lessons delivered. The school remained open during Easter and half term holidays to enable the children of key workers to remain on site.
Once we reopened fully referrals remained strong in school and during this period, we welcomed a number of new pupils as well as supporting the transitions of those returning students. As in adults’ services, the school implemented bubbles and strict cleaning regimes. The new ways of working were very challenging for some of our students. The ongoing need to isolate, after contact with someone showing symptoms, had a significant impact on attendance for both staff and pupils. Staff offered in depth support to the small number of students who were very anxious about returning.
We continued our search for a building suitable to be a satellite school in the Derby area. This will be a very exciting 2021 project.
Our Family Support Hubs and our children’s activities in Northampton developed a flexible model involving sessions on zoom. In between lockdowns we did lots of activities outdoors. Activities included everything from baking and woodwork to online gaming.
We recruited a new team at the Elizabeth Newson Centre this year. Dr Kate Arron and Dr Mark Hudson have rigorously reviewed both assessment methodology and processes and have ENC working flexibly to meet families’ needs.
## **b. Investment policy and performance**
The Memorandum and Articles of Association give the Trustees unrestricted powers of investment. Trustees have reviewed the investment policy this year. Our primary investments are in the ongoing development of new services so that we can support more people and in existing services in order to improve the quality of our offer.
We will maximise the return on any cash held in accounts by reviewing the best available interest rates.
## **c. Factors relevant to achieve objectives**
Autism East Midlands aims to increase its support for people whose lives are affected by autism, whether this is for carers or people receiving direct support. We continue to engage with local employers and companies by providing training and awareness of autism to their staff.
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**32**
**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **Financial review**
## **a. Going concern**
After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the Accounting Policies.
## **b. Financial risk management objectives and policies**
Autism East Midlands has sought to manage its financial risks through regular monitoring of its income streams and also seeking a wide range of savings.
## **c. Principal risks and uncertainties**
While the CJRS and other financial support, such as infection control grants and coronavirus recovery grant from the National Lottery mean that we have seen a financially buoyant year, 2021 to 2022 is looking much harder. This is because the real losses of income will impact in the coming year as Day Services struggle to return to pre pandemic numbers.
The recruitment and retention of sufficient staff remains a critical factor for AEM as well as other social care providers. The post Brexit national shortage of staff means that there may be upward pressure on wages for us to be able to compete. Social care needs the muchheralded long term funding solution promised by the current Government, now more than ever.
These annual accounts show the pension deficit as a result of participation in the Local Government Pension Scheme. This is an £16.5m deficit as at 31 March 2021 following an estimated actuarial revaluation. The scheme was closed to new participants from April 2013 to limit the future liability. The way the scheme is funded changed in April 2014, and Autism East Midlands is now paying £115k per annum to contribute towards reducing the deficit.
## **d. Deficit**
deficit of £4,045,688 (2020: £118,717) has been achieved in the year. This includes a decrease in restricted funds of £18,739 (2020: £83,127 reduction).
## **e. Principal funding**
The charity derives the majority of its income from the provision of services, together with grants and donations received for particular projects.
Autism East Midlands receives over 90% of its funding from government funded bodies. This includes local authorities, health authorities and the Education Funding Agency.
## **f. Material investments policy**
The Memorandum and Articles of Association give the Trustees unrestricted powers of investment. The charity’s current investment strategy is to deposit funds in short and medium term interest bearing accounts with UK banks.
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **a. Constitution**
The company and the group is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee, its charity number is 517954. It was established under a Memorandum of Association which sets out the objects and powers of the charity and is governed under its Articles of Association. The Board of Trustees (previously the Council of Management) are the Trustees for the purposes of charity law and the directors for the purposes of company law.
The principal object of the company and the group is to provide services to people with an autistic-spectrum disorder and their families and carers in the East Midlands.
## **b. Method of appointment or election of Trustees**
The management of the company and the group is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and coopted under the terms of the Articles of Association.
## **c. Policies adopted for the induction and training of Trustees**
Through the Trustees’ work within the Board Committee meetings and through their involvement with family members, Trustees are already familiar with the practical work of the charity. New Trustees are given a comprehensive induction pack and training sessions to familiarise themselves with the charity and the context in which it operates. This training covers issues such as the responsibilities of the Trustees, the main documents which set out the operational framework of the charity, the current financial position and reserves of the charity and any future plans and objectives. They are also given a range of informative literature detailing the services on offer. All Trustees are encouraged to visit the school and adult care centres on a regular basis and to take part in other organised activities.
## **d. Pay policy for senior staff**
The key management personnel of the charity are identified in Note 27 of the accounts and are responsible for directing, controlling, running and operating the Trust on a day to day basis. All directors give of their time freely and therefore none received remuneration in the year. Details of directors’ expenses are disclosed in Note 10 of the accounts and related party transactions in Note 27.
The pay of senior staff is reviewed annually and normally increased in line with other staff. The directors benchmark against pay levels in other charities of similar size. The remuneration benchmark is the midpoint of the range paid for similar roles adjusted for a weighting of up to 30% for any additional responsibilities. If recruitment has proven difficult in the past a market addition may also be paid in order to attract and retain highcalibre personnel, with the pay maximum no greater than the highest benchmarked salary for a comparable role.
## **e. Organisational structure and decision making**
During the year under review the Trustees delegated the day to day running of the charity to the Executive Management Team.
The Board of Trustees delegates some areas of decision making to the following Committees:
## • Sutherland House School Governing Body
## • Audit and Finance Sub Committee
The Charity wholly owns two trading subsidiaries, Sutherland House (Trading) Limited and NORSACA (Trading) Limited which donate all their profits to the charity. The principal activity of Sutherland House (Trading) Limited is the provision of education services for children with autism or related conditions. NORSACA (Trading) Limited provides a range of residential and non-residential care facilities for people with autism or related conditions.
## **f. Risk management**
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the company and the group is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the company and the group, and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate our exposure to the major risks.
Risks are reviewed annually, and measures put in place to mitigate those of a higher grading.
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **Plans for future periods**
## **a. Future developments**
## Northampton
We have successfully tendered to be the care provider of a new 8 bedded supported living development in Northampton. This provides an opportunity to work in partnership with the Local Authority, CCG and Housing
Association. This will be our first Adults service in Northamptonshire and is due to be completed April 2021.
## Whitegates
The former residential home in Worksop will be redeveloped in the coming year in order to expand our capacity for Respite Services and Unplanned Care.
## Satellite School
We will continue with our efforts to develop a satellite school to meet the demand for places from Derby/ Derbyshire.
## **Information on fundraising practices**
We have a small internal fundraising team that organise community events to raise awareness of autism in general and of the charity. In addition, the team make applications for grants and restricted funding. Although income from fundraising itself is less than 3% of the charity’s revenue we are committed to ensuring we meet the standards of the Code of Fundraising Practice issued by the Fundraising Regulator, and to that end we are registered with the Regulator. In the financial year, we did not receive any complaints about fundraising activities. Our fundraising activities do not include the direct canvassing of any individuals.
## **Members’ liability**
The Members of the company and the group guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up.
## **Employee involvement and employment of the disabled**
Autism East Midlands recognises the GMB Union. Employees have been consulted on issues of concern to them staff meetings and have been kept informed on specific matters directly by management. We issued daily briefings at the height of the pandemic. The company and the group offer exit interviews for all staff leaving the organisation and has adopted a procedure of upward feedback for senior management and the Trustees.
The company and the group has implemented a number of detailed policies in relation to all aspects of personnel matters including:
- Equal Opportunities Policy
- Volunteers’ Policy
- Health & Safety Policy
In accordance with the company and the group’s Equal Opportunities Policy, the company and the group has long established fair employment practices in the recruitment, selection, retention and training of disabled staff. AEM prioritises the employment of autistic people as they are under-represented in the workforce.
Full details of these policies are available from the company and the group’s offices.
## **Trustees’ responsibilities statement**
The Trustees (who are also directors of Autism East Midlands for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable group will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company and the group’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable group and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and the group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## **Disclosure of information to auditors**
Each of the persons who are Trustees at the time when this Trustees’ Report is approved has confirmed that:
- so far as that Trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable group’s auditors are unaware, and
- that Trustee has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a Trustee in order to be aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charitable group’s auditors are aware of that information.
## Auditors
The auditors, PKF Smith Cooper Audit Limited, have indicated their willingness to continue in office. The
Designated Trustees will propose a motion reappointing the auditors at a meeting of the Trustees.
- This report was approved by the Trustees, on and signed on their behalf by:
## **G J Smith, Chair**
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**36**
**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **Independent Auditors’ Report**
## to the Members of Autism East Midlands
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Autism East Midlands (the ‘parent charity’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 March 2021 set out on pages 14 to 39. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the parent charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2021 and of the group’s incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees’ with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## **Other information**
The Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Auditors’ Report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006**
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
- the information given in the Trustees’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.
- the Trustees’ Report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- the parent charitable company has not kept adequate and sufficient accounting records, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- the parent charitable company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- certain disclosures of Trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
- the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the Trustees’ Report and from the requirement to prepare a Group Strategic Report.
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
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**38**
**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditors’ Report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of noncompliance with laws and regulations. Based on our understanding of the charitable company and industry, we identify the key laws and regulations affecting the charitable company. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.
We identified that the principal risk of fraud or noncompliance with laws and regulations related to:
- Management bias in respect of accounting estimates and judgements made;
- Management override of control;
- Posting of unusual journals or transactions
We focussed on those areas that could give rise to a material misstatement in the charitable company’s financial statements. Our procedures included, but were not limited to:
- Enquiry of management and those charged with governance around actual and potential litigation and claims, including instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud;
- Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance where available;
- Reviewing legal expenditure in the year to identify instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud;
- Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
- Performing audit work over the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for bias. In particular; defined benefit pension liabilities.
- It is the primary responsibility of management, with the oversight of those charged with governance, to ensure that the entity’s operations are conducted in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations and for the prevention and detection of fraud.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006, and to the charitable company’s Trustees, as a body, Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditors’ Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Sarah Flear (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of
## **PKF Smith Cooper Audit Limited**
Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors 2 Lace Market Square Nottingham NG1 1PB
PKF Smith Cooper Audit Limited are eligible to act as auditors in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org. uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors’ Report.
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**40**
**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities incorporating Income and Expenditure Account** For the year ended 31 March 2021
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds 2021 Funds 2021 2021 2020
Note £ £ £ £
INCOME FROM:
Donations and legacies 2 341,428 134,644 476,072 267,658
Charitable activities 5 2,114,979 2,114,979 2,385,928
Charitable activities - subsidiary undertakings 3 9,832,935 9,832,935 9,323,767
Investments 4 104 104 478
Other Income 6 186,883 186,883 66,629
TOTAL INCOME 12,476,329 134,644 12,610,973 12,044,460
EXPENDITURE ON:
Charitable activities - subsidiary undertakings 3 8,686,321 8,686,321 8,330,774
Charitable activities 7 3,007,957 147,383 3,155,340 3,155,969
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 11,694,278 147,383 11,841,661 11,486,743
NET INCOME /(EXPENDITURE) BEFORE TRANSFERS 782,051 (12,739) 769,312 557,717
Transfers between Funds 20 6,000 (6,000)
NET INCOME / (EXPENDITURE) BEFORE OTHER RECOGNISED
788,051 (18,739) 769,312 557,717
GAINS AND LOSSES
Actuarial gains on defined benefit pension schemes 25 (4,815,000) (4,815,000) (439,000)
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (4,026,949) (18,739) (4,045,688) 118,717
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:
Total funds brought forward (4,256,737) 128,403 (4,128,334) (4,247,051)
Prior year adjustment (Note 28)
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD (8,283,686) 109,664 (8,174,022) (4,128,334)
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Consolidated Balance Sheet** As at 31 March 2021
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
Note £ £ £ £
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 14 6,676,529 6,887,485
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 17 521,569 1,098,191
Cash at bank and in hand 23 4,482,266 3,032,872
5,003,835 4,131,063
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 18 (1,606,602) (1,527,952)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 3,397,233 2,603,111
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 10,073,762 9,490,596
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 19 (1,779,784) (2,243,930)
NET ASSETS EXCLUDING PENSION SCHEME LIABILITIES 8,293,978 7,246,666
Defined benefit pension scheme liability 25 (16,468,000) (11,375,000)
NET LIABILITIES INCLUDING PENSION SCHEME LIABILITIES (8,174,022) (4,128,334)
CHARITY FUNDS
Restricted funds 20 109,664 128,403
Unrestricted funds:
Unrestricted funds excluding pension liability 8,184,314 7,118,263
Pension reserve (16,468,000) (11,375,000)
Total unrestricted funds (8,283,686) (4,256,737)
TOTAL DEFICIT (8,174,022) (4,128,334)
**----- End of picture text -----**
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on and signed on their behalf, by:
## **G J Smith, Chair**
The notes on pages 45 to 61 form part of these financial statements.
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **Company Balance Sheet** As at 31 March 2021
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
Note £ £ £ £
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 14 6,676,529 6,887,485
Investments 15 6 6
6,676,535 6,887,491
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 17 3,753,725 3,346,570
Cash at bank 23 1,074,725 676,180
4,828,450 4,022,750
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 18 (1,431,271) (1,419,694)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 3,397,179 2,603,056
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 10,073,714 9,490,547
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 19 (1,779,784) (2,243,930)
NET ASSETS EXCLUDING PENSION SCHEME LIABILITIES 8,293,930 7,246,617
Defined benefit pension scheme liability 25 (16,468,000) (11,375,000)
NET LIABILITIES INCLUDING PENSION SCHEME LIABILITIES (8,174,070) (4,128,383)
CHARITY FUNDS
Restricted funds 109,664 128,403
Unrestricted funds:
Unrestricted funds excluding pension liability 8,184,266 7,118,214
Pension reserve (16,468,000) (11,375,000)
Total unrestricted funds (8,283,734) (4,256,786)
TOTAL DEFICIT (8,174,070) (4,128,383)
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows** For the year ended 31 March 2021
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
Note £ £
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities 22 1,720,799 1,663,323
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from the sale of tangible fixed assets 2,886 800
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (274,290) (1,463,500)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES (271,405) (1,462,700)
CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS IN THE YEAR 1,449,394 200,623
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward 3,032,872 2,832,249
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS CARRIED FORWARD 23 4,482,266 3,032,872
**----- End of picture text -----**
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements** For the year ended 31 March 2021
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements**
Autism East Midlands is a private company limited by guarantee and incorporated in England within the United Kingdom. The address of the registered office is given in the company information of these financial statements. The company’s registration number is 2053860.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
The directors note that events surrounding the Covid 19 pandemic have introduced additional risks for many companies. The directors remain confident that the company is well placed to mitigate any additional risks arising and that Covid 19 will not adversely affect the ongoing viability of the company.
Autism East Midlands meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
The financial statements are presented in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company.
The significant accounting policies have been applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below.
## **1.2 Basis of consolidation**
The financial statements consolidate the accounts of Autism East Midlands and all of its subsidiary undertakings (‘subsidiaries’).
The company has taken advantage of the exemption contained within section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present its own Income and Expenditure Account.
For the year ended 31 March 2021 the company generated a surplus of £313,165 (2020: £557,717).
## **1.3 Company status**
The company is a company limited by guarantee. The members of the company are the Trustees named on page 1. In the event of the company being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the company.
## **1.4 Fund accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the company and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
## **1.5 Income**
All income is recognised once the company has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Donated services or facilities are recognised when the company has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use of the company of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the general volunteer time of the Friends is not recognised and refer to the Trustees’ Report for more information about their contribution.
On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the company which is the amount the company would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable.
Other income is recognised in the period in which it is receivable and to the extent the goods have been provided or on completion of the service.
## **1.6 Interest receivable**
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.
## **1.7 Expenditure**
Fundraising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities.
Costs of generating funds are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.
Charitable activities and Governance costs are costs incurred on the company’s educational operations, including support costs and costs relating to the governance of the company apportioned to charitable activities.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is categorised under the following headings:
- Costs of raising funds
• Expenditure on charitable activities; and
• Other expenditure represents those items not falling into the categories above.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which expenditure arose.
Support costs are those that assist the work of the charity but do not directly represent charitable activities and include office costs, governance costs, administrative and payroll costs. They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity and include project management carried out at Headquarters. Where support costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to the costs of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities on a basis consistent with use of the resources.
## **1.8 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
Tangible fixed assets are carried at cost, net of depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:
|
bases:|||
|---|---|---|
|Freehold property|-|2% Straight Line|
|Freehold refurbishment|-|5%-33% Straight Line|
|Vehicles & equipment|-|25%-35% Straight Line|
|Leasehold improvements|-|Over the shorter of the|
|||period of the lease or the|
|||useful economic life|
Costs of repairs and maintenance to property together with the expenditure incurred bringing the buildings up to fire safety regulation are written off in the period to which expenditure is incurred.
The company continually replaces and updates existing equipment. The majority of this expenditure is on small items costing less than £3,000 and no detailed register, other than for IT equipment, of these is kept. All items costing under £3,000 are written off to repairs and maintenance in the period in which the expenditure is incurred.
## **1.9 Investments**
Investments in subsidiaries are valued at cost less provision for impairment.
## **1.10 Operating leases**
Rentals under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the lease term.
## **1.11 Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1993 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
## **1.12 Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **1.13 Cash at Bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **1.14 Creditors and provisions**
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
## **1.15 Government grants**
Grants are included in the Statement of Financial activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the balance sheet. Where income is received in advance of meeting any performance-related conditions there is not unconditional entitlement to the income and its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income until the performance-related conditions are met. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.
## **1.16 Financial instruments**
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
## **1.17 Pensions**
Retirement benefits to some employees of the Trust are provided by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). The company is an admitted body of the LGPS, admitted by Nottinghamshire County Council.
The LGPS is a defined benefit funded scheme and the assets are held separately from those of the Company in separate trustee administered funds. Pension scheme assets are measured at fair value and liabilities are measured on an actuarial basis using the projected unit method and discounted at a rate equivalent to the current rate of return on a high-quality corporate bond of equivalent term and currency to the liabilities. The actuarial valuations are obtained at least triennially and are updated at each balance sheet date. The amounts charged to operating surplus are the current service costs and gains and losses on the settlements and curtailments. They are included as part of staff costs. Past service costs are recognised immediately in the Statement of Financial Activities if the benefits have vested. If the benefits have not vested immediately, the costs are recognised over the period vesting occurs. The expected return on assets and the interest cost are shown as a net finance amount of other finance costs or credits adjacent to interest. Actuarial gains and losses are recognised immediately in other gains and losses.
The pension charge for the defined benefit pension scheme is based on a full actuarial valuation dated 31 March 2021.
## **1.18 Irrecoverable VAT**
The charity is registered for VAT, however due to the mixed nature of the supplies it makes, it has irrecoverable VAT arising due to partial exemption which is included in resources expended.
## **1.19 Provisions**
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation that arises as a consequence of a past event; it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle that obligation and the obligation can be reliably estimated. The provisions are measured as the estimated expenditure that will be required to settle such obligations as at the statement of financial position date. Discounting to present value is employed in the estimation process when the effect of the time value of money is material.
**46**
**45**
**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **2. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**
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Unrestricted Restricted Total funds Total funds
funds 2021 funds 2021 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Donations 341,428 134,644 476,072 267,658
Total 2020 114,952 152,706 267,658
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## **4. INVESTMENT INCOME**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds Total funds
funds 2021 funds 2021 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Bank interest 104 104 478
Total 2020 478 478
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## **5. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
provides residential and day care services for adults with autism or a related condition. The charity owns 100% of the ordinary share capital of the subsidiary companies. A summary of the results predistribution to the charity is shown below. The amount of gift aid from Sutherland House (Trading) Limited was £637,688 (2020 - £438,027). The amount of gift aid from Norsaca (Trading) Limited was £508,926, (2020 - £554,966).
## **3. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES - INCOME FROM SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS**
The wholly owned subsidiaries, Norsaca (Trading) Limited and Sutherland House (Trading) Limited, are incorporated in the UK and pay all of their taxable profits to the charity by gift aid. Sutherland House (Trading) Limited provides education services for children with autism or a related condition. Norsaca (Trading) Limited
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds Total funds
funds 2021 funds 2021 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
INCOME
Sutherland House (Trading) Limited - income 4,153,604 4,153,604 3,488,461
Norsaca (Trading) Limited - income 5,679,331 5,679,331 5,835,306
9,832,935 9,832,935 9,323,767
EXPENSES
Sutherland House (Trading) Limited - expenses 3,515,916 3,515,916 3,050,434
Norsaca (Trading) Limited - expenses 5,170,405 5,170,405 5,280,340
8,686,321 8,686,321 8,330,774
Net income from subsidiary undertakings 1,146,614 1,146,614 992,993
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**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
£ £
CURRENT ASSETS OF THE SUBSIDIARIES WERE:
Sutherland House (Trading) Limited 3,029,599 2,120,176
Norsaca (Trading) Limited 537,104 1,124,817
CURRENT LIABILITIES OF THE SUBSIDIARIES WERE:
Sutherland House (Trading) Limited (3,029,548) (2,120,125)
Norsaca (Trading) Limited (537,101) (1,124,814)
Total 54 54
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds Total funds
funds 2021 funds 2021 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Provision of services 2,114,979 2,114,979 2,385,928
Total 2020 2,385,928 2,385,928
6. OTHER INCOMING RESOURCES
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds Total funds
funds 2021 funds 2021 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Other income 36,883 36,883 66,629
Subtotal 36,883 36,883 66,629
Corona, Virus Job retention scheme 150,000 150,000
186,883 186,883 66,629
Total 2020 66,629 66,629
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## **7. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
## **Summary by fund type**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds Total funds
funds 2021 funds 2021 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Provision of services 2,915,786 147,383 3,063,169 3,046,481
Fundraising 92,171 92,171 109,488
3,007,957 147,383 3,155,340 3,155,969
Total 2020 3,092,390 63,579 3,155,969
Summary by expenditure type
Staff costs Depreciation Other costs Total Total
2021 2021 2021 2021 2020
£ £ £ £ £
Provision of services 8,695,351 485,246 (6,117,428) 3,063,169 3,046,481
Fundraising 86,147 6,024 92,171 109,488
8,781,498 485,246 (6,111,404) 3,155,340 3,155,969
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**48**
**47**
**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **8. CHARITABLE ACTIVITY EXPENDITURE**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Provision of
Fundraising Total 2021 Total 2020
services
£ £ £ £
Pension interest and admin charges 271,000 271,000 260,000
Recruitment and training 41,320 41,320 46,840
Premises and equipment 736,893 736,893 566,216
Direct costs 540,288 6,024 546,312 808,462
Travel and transport 215,289 215,289 317,810
Legal and professional 123,330 123,330 111,313
Other costs 581,809 581,809 430,085
Bank loans and overdraft 71,036 71,036 95,705
Bad debt 45,360 45,360 14,051
Costs recharged to subsidiaries (8,764,543) (8,764,543) (8,328,693)
(Profit)/loss on disposal of fixed assets (2,885) (2,885) (800)
Governance costs 23,577 23,577 22,009
Wages and salaries 7,440,509 76,382 7,516,891 7,236,655
National insurance 583,796 7,331 591,127 565,171
Pension cost 671,046 2,434 673,480 648,483
Depreciation 485,344 485,344 362,662
Total 3,063,169 92,171 3,155,340 3,155,969
**----- End of picture text -----**
Support costs have not been separately allocated and disclosed as the Directors believe they are immaterial to the financial statements.
## **9. ANALYSIS OF GOVERNANCE COSTS**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
£ £
Legal and professional fees 23,577 22,009
10. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
This is stated after charging/(crediting):
2021 2020
£ £
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets:
- owned by the charitable group 485,246 368,662
(Profit)/loss on disposal of assets (2,885) (800)
Operating lease rentals 145,581 150,660
**----- End of picture text -----**
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration (2020 - £NIL). During the year, no Trustees received any benefits in kind (2020 - £NIL). During the year, 1 Trustee received reimbursement of expenses totalling £70 (2020 - £Nil).
## **11. AUDITORS’ REMUNERATION**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
£ £
Fees payable to the company’s auditor and its associates for the audit of the company’s annual accounts 17,500 17,150
Fees payable to the company's auditor and its associates in respect of:
Taxation compliance services 1,025 1,000
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **12. STAFF COSTS Staff costs were as follows:**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
£ £
Wages and salaries 7,516,891 7,236,655
Social security costs 591,127 565,171
Other pension costs (Note 25) 673,480 648,483
8,781,498 8,450,309
The average number of persons employed by the company during the year was as follows:
2021 2020
No. No.
Teaching staff 92 92
Care staff 281 298
Management and administration 38 38
411 428
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **The number of higher paid employees was:**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
No. No.
In the band £60,001 - £70,000 1 2
In the band £70,001 - £80,000 1 1
In the band £80,001 - £90,000 1 0
In the band £100,001 - £200,000 1 1
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **13. OTHER FINANCE INCOME**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
£ £
Interest on pension scheme liabilities (264,000) (252,000)
**----- End of picture text -----**
**49**
**50**
**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **14. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Freehold property Vehicles & Leasehold
Total
and refurbs equipment improvements
Group and Company Cost £ £ £ £
At 1 April 2020 8,671,649 703,755 257,448 9,632,852
Additions 100,680 173,610 274,290
Disposals (30,750) (30,750)
At 31 March 2021 8,772,329 846,615 257,448 9,876,392
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2020 2,034,000 453,919 257,448 2,745,367
Charge for the year 362,886 122,360 485,246
On disposals (30,750) (30,750)
At 31 March 2021 2,396,886 545,529 257,448 3,199,863
Net book value
At 31 March 2021 6,375,443 301,086 6,676,529
At 31 March 2020 6,637,649 249,836 6,887,485
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **15. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Shares in group undertakings
Company £
Cost
At 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021 6
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **16. PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
NORSACA (TRADING) LIMITED
Subsidiary name Norsaca (Trading) Limited
Company registration number 08056114
Basis of control Equity - share capital
Equity shareholding % 100%
Total assets as at 31 March 2021 £ 537,104
Total liabilities as at 31 March 2021 £ (537,101)
Total equity as at 31 March 2021 £3
Turnover for the year ended 31 March 2021 £ 5,679,331
Expenditure for the year ended 31 March 2021 £ 5,170,405
Profit for the year ended 31 March 2021 £ 508,926
16. PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES
SUTHERLAND HOUSE (TRADING) LIMITED
Subsidiary name Sutherland House (Trading) Limited
Company registration number 03381476
Basis of control Equity - share capital
Equity shareholding % 100%
Total assets as at 31 March 2021 £ 3,029,599
Total liabilities as at 31 March 2021 £ (3,029,548)
Total equity as at 31 March 2021 £51
Turnover for the year ended 31 March 2021 £ 4,153,604
Expenditure for the year ended 31 March 2021 £ 3,515,916
Profit for the year ended 31 March 2021 £ 637,688
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**52**
**51**
**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **17. DEBTORS**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Group Company
2021 2020 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Trade debtors 420,020 1,014,607 128,564 153,553
Amounts owed by group undertakings 3,523,612 3,136,681
Other debtors 10,080 10,850 10,080 10,850
Prepayments and accrued income 91,469 72,734 91,469 45,486
521,569 1,098,191 3,753,725 3,346,570
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## **18. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Group Company
2021 2020 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Bank loans and overdrafts 134,561 153,353 134,561 153,353
Trade creditors 279,567 282,073 279,567 282,073
Other taxation and social security 577,128 605,187 577,128 605,187
Other creditors 282,627 217,875 123,076 109,617
Accruals and deferred income 332,719 269,464 316,939 269,464
1,606,602 1,527,952 1,431,271 1,419,694
Group Company
2021 2020 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
DEFERRED INCOME
Deferred income brought forward 1,083 1,083
Amounts released from previous years (1,083) (1,083)
Deferred income carried forward
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **19. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Group Company
2021 2020 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Bank loans 1,779,784 2,243,930 1,779,784 2,243,930
Included within the above are amounts falling due as follows:
Group Company
2021 2020 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Between one and two years
Bank loans
Between two and five years 138,275 162,068 138,275 162,068
Bank loans
Between two and five years 439,354 517,778 439,354 517,778
Bank loans 1,202,155 1,564,084 1,202,155 1,564,084
Creditors include amounts not wholly repayable within 5 years as follows:
Group Company
2021 2020 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Repayable by instalments 1,202,155 1,564,084 1,202,155 1,564,084
**----- End of picture text -----**
Bank loans and mortgages are secured on the charity’s freehold properties. The interest rates on the loans are 2.83% and 3.1% and repayments are repayable monthly.
**53**
**54**
**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **20. STATEMENT OF FUNDS**
## **Statement of funds - current year**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Balance at 1 Transfers Gains/ Balance at 31
Income Expenditure
April 2020 in/out (Losses) March 2021
£ £ £ £ £ £
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
General Fund 7,118,215 2,643,394 (2,729,957) 1,152,614 8,184,266
Reserves - subsidiaries 48 9,832,935 (8,686,321) (1,146,614) 48
Pension reserve (11,375,000) (278,000) (4,815,000) (16,468,000)
(4,256,737) 12,476,329 (11,694,278) 6,000 (4,815,000) (8,283,686)
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Parenting Fund 7,698 7,698
Jones Trust 29,498 (6,000) 23,498
Wilson Foundation 16,000 16,000
Lottery - Autism Family
Support Hubs 40,172 87,999 (73,086) 55,085
Children in Need 26,645 6,993 (29,150) 4,488
Building Better Opportunities 8,390 16,902 (22,397) 2,895
Children in Need 2 2,750 (2,750)
Nottingham Community
Foundation 10,000 (10,000)
Hobson Charity 10,000 (10,000)
128,403 134,644 (147,383) (6,000) 109,664
Total of funds (4,128,334) 12,610,973 (11,841,661) (4,815,000) (8,174,022)
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **20. STATEMENT OF FUNDS (continued)**
## **Statement of funds - prior year**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Balance at 1 Transfers Balance at 31
Income Expenditure Gains/ (Losses)
April 2019 in/out March 2020
£ £ £ £ £ £
Designated Funds 421,374 (421,374)
GENERAL FUNDS
General Fund 5,966,251 2,567,987 (2,836,390) 1,420,367 7,118,215
Reserves- subsidiary 48 9,323,767 (8,330,774) (992,993) 48
Pension reserve (10,680,000) (256,000) (439,000) (11,375,000)
(4,713,701) 11,891,754 (11,423,164) 427,374 (439,000) (4,256,737)
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Parenting Fund 7,878 (180) 7,698
Jones Trust 35,498 (6,000) 29,498
Sherwood Centre 1,900 (1,900)
Wilson Foundation 20,000 (4,000) 16,000
Lottery - Autism Family
Support Hubs 88,286 (48,114) 40,172
Children in Need 27,972 (1,327) 26,645
Building Better Opportunities 16,448 (8,058) 8,390
45,276 152,706 (63,579) (6,000) 128,403
Total of funds (4,247,051) 12,044,460 (11,486,743) (439,000) (4,128,334)
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Summary of funds - current year**
Parenting Fund represents a donation received to fund a program to assist and support the parents of autistic children and adults.
The Lottery - Autism Family Support Hubs - fund represents a three year project facilitating the setting up of family support groups in the East Midlands.
Wilson Foundation – this fund provides trips in the Community to all young people irrespective of support needs.
Building Better Opportunities – this fund allows us to support adults to make progress towards employment, training or volunteering.
Jones Trust - The Jones Trust made a contribution towards the capital cost of creating and equipping a science laboratory in our school. This donation has been fully spent but the income is being released to the Statement of Financial Activities in line with the depreciation charged on the assets acquired.
Children in Need - Funding received from BBC Children in Need substantially contributes towards the running of the ‘Out and About’ programme in Northampton - a community based programme helping autistic children reduce isolation, build confidence and develop social and life skills through recreational and leisure activities.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Balance at 1 Transfers Gains/ Balance at 31
Income Expenditure
April 2020 in/out (Losses) March 2021
£ £ £ £ £ £
General Funds (4,256,737) 12,476,329 (11,694,278) 6,000 (4,815,000) (8,283,686)
(4,256,737) 12,476,329 (11,694,278) 6,000 (4,815,000) (8,283,686)
Restricted funds 128,403 134,644 (147,383) (6,000) 109,664
(4,128,334) 12,610,973 (11,841,661) (4,815,000) (8,174,022)
Summary of funds - prior year
Balance at 1 Transfers Gains/ Balance at 31
Income Expenditure
April 2019 in/out (Losses) March 2020
£ £ £ £ £ £
Designated Funds 421,374 (421,374)
General Funds (4,713,701) 11,891,754 (11,423,164) 427,374 (439,000) (4,256,737)
(4,292,327) 11,891,754 (11,423,164) 6,000 (439,000) (4,256,737)
Restricted funds 45,276 152,706 (63,579) (6,000) 128,403
(4,247,051) 12,044,460 (11,486,743) (439,000) (4,128,334)
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**56**
**55**
**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **21. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS**
**Analysis of net assets between funds - current year**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds
funds 2021 funds 2021 2021
£ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 6,653,031 23,498 6,676,529
Current assets 4,917,669 86,166 5,003,835
Creditors due within one year (1,606,602) (1,606,602)
Creditors due in more than one year (1,779,784) (1,779,784)
Provisions for liabilities and charges (16,468,000) (16,468,000)
(8,283,686) 109,664 (8,174,022)
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds
2020 2020 2020
£ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 6,857,988 29,498 6,887,486
Current assets 4,032,157 98,905 4,131,062
Creditors due within one year (1,527,952) (1,527,952)
Creditors due in more than one year (2,243,930) (2,243,930)
Provisions for liabilities and charges (11,375,000) (11,375,000)
(4,256,737) 128,403 (4,128,335)
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## **22. RECONCILIATION OF NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Group
2021 2020
£ £
Net income for the year (as per Statement of Financial Activities) 769,312 557,717
ADJUSTMENT FOR:
Depreciation charges 485,246 368,663
Profit on the sale of fixed assets (2,885) (800)
Decrease/(increase) in debtors 576,622 (253,438)
(Decrease)/increase in creditors (385,496) 735,181
FRS102 pension adjustments 278,000 256,000
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES 1,720,799 1,663,323
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **23. ANALYSIS OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Group Company
2021 2020 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Cash in hand 4,482,266 3,032,872 1,074,725 676,180
TOTAL 4,482,266 3,032,872 1,074,725 676,180
24. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS
At 31 March 2021 the group and company had capital commitments as follows:
Group Company
2021 2020 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Contracted for but not provided in these financial statements 575,000 54,230 575,000 54,230
**----- End of picture text -----**
**58**
**57**
**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **25. PENSION COMMITMENTS**
Retirement benefits to employees of the group are provided by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). The company is an admitted body of the LGPS, admitted by Nottinghamshire County Council.
balance sheet date. The amounts charged to operating surplus are the current service costs and gains and losses on the settlements and curtailments. They are included as part of staff costs. Past service costs are recognised immediately in the Statement of Financial Activities if the benefits have vested. lf the benefits have not vested immediately, the costs are recognised over the period vesting occurs. The expected return on assets and the interest cost are shown as a net finance amount of other finance costs or credits adjacent to interest. Actuarial gains and losses are recognised immediately in other gains and losses. Principal actuarial assumptions at the Balance Sheet date (expressed as weighted averages) :
The LGPS is a defined benefit funded scheme and the assets are held separately from those of the Society in separate trustee administered funds. Pension scheme assets are measured at fair value and liabilities are measured on an actuarial basis using the projected unit method and discounted at a rate equivalent to the current rate of return on a high quality corporate bond of equivalent term and currency to the liabilities. The actuarial valuations are obtained at least triennially and are updated at each
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2021 2020
Discount rate at 31 March 2.00% 2.35%
Future salary increases 2.85% 1.85%
Future pension increases 2.85% 1.85%
Inflation assumption (RPI) 3.20% 2.65%
Inflation assumption (CPI) 2.85% 1.85%
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At 31 March At 31 March
2021 2020
Sensitivity analysis (applied to gross defined benefit liability) £ £
Discount rate +0.1% 36,044,000 27,789,000
Discount rate -0.1% 37,634,000 29,011,000
Mortality assumption - 1 year increase 38,450,000 29,397,000
Mortality assumption - 1 year decrease 35,279,000 27,424,000
Adjustment to pension increases +0.1% 37,586,000 28,984,000
Adjustment to pension increases -0.1% 36,090,000 27,815,000
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## **The assets in the scheme and the expected rates of return were:**
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Fair value at 31 Fair value at 31
March 2021 March 2019
£ £
Equities 12,972,000 10,882,000
Gilts 721,000 560,000
Other bonds 1,522,000 1,476,000
Property 2,160,000 2,161,000
Cash 1,089,000 416,000
Other 1,898,000 1,523,000
Total market value of assets 20,362,000 17,018,000
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## **25. PENSION COMMITMENTS (continued)**
## **The amounts recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities are as follows:**
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2021 2020
£ £
Current service cost (285,000) (325,000)
Interest on obligation (264,000) (252,000)
Past service cost (23,000)
Admin expenses (7,000) (8,000)
Total (579,000) (585,000)
Actual return on scheme assets (3,705,000) (1,725,000)
Movements in the present value of the defined benefit obligation were as follows:
2021 2020
£ £
Opening defined benefit obligation 28,393,000 29,731,000
Current service cost 285,000 325,000
Interest cost 660,000 707,000
Contributions by scheme participants 48,000 53,000
Actuarial losses/(gains) 8,124,000 (1,830,000)
Past service costs 23,000
Estimated Benefits paid net of transfers (703,000) (593,000)
Closing defined benefit obligation 36,830,000 28,393,000
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## **Changes in the fair value of scheme assets were as follows:**
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2021 2020
£ £
Opening fair value of scheme assets 17,018,000 19,051,000
Interest income 396,000 455,000
Actuarial gains and (losses) 3,309,000 (2,269,000)
Admin expenses (7,000) (8,000)
Contributions by employer 301,000 329,000
Contributions by scheme participants 48,000 53,000
Estimated Benefits paid net of transfers (703,000) (593,000)
20,362,000 17,018,000
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The actual return on scheme assets was £3,705,000 (2020: - £1,725,000).
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
## **25. PENSION COMMITMENTS (continued)**
**The major categories of scheme assets as a percentage of total scheme assets are as follows:**
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2021 2020
£ £
Equities 64.00% 64.00%
Gilts 4.00% 3.00%
Other bonds 7.00% 9.00%
Property 11.00% 13.00%
Cash 5.00% 2.00%
Other 9.00% 9.00%
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**Amounts for the current and previous period are as follows:**
Defined benefit pension schemes
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2021 2020
£ £
Defined benefit obligation (36,830,000) (28,393,000)
Scheme assets 20,362,000 17,018,000
Deficit (16,468,000) (11,375,000)
Experience adjustments on scheme assets 3,309,000 (2,269,000)
26. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS
At 31 March 2021 the total of the group’s future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases was:
2021 2020
GROUP AND COMPANY £ £
AMOUNTS PAYABLE:
Within 1 year 77,644 100,004
Between 1 and 5 years 249,064 124,692
After more than 5 years 49,372
Total 376,080 224,696
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## **27. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS**
There were no related party transactions in the year ended 31 March 2021 (2020 - none).
The key management personnel of Autism East Midlands comprise the Trustees, the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Adult Services, Finance Director and Headteacher. The remuneration of key management personnel during the year totalled £362,696 (2020 - £362,697) for short term employment benefits and £28,396.12 (2020: £25,393) for post-employment benefits.
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**Annual Review**
**2020 - 2021**
This information can be provided in a more accessible format by contacting **enquiries@aem.org.uk**
**For more information... W** aem.org.uk **T** 01909 506 678 **E** enquiries@aem.org.uk Autism East Midlands
**Registered office:** Autism East Midlands, Unit 31 Crags Industrial Estate, Morven Street, Creswell, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 4AJ
**Registered charity no.** 517954 Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England no. 2053860