Docusign Envelope ID: 73984B95-EBD6-4C3A-8C92-B9F459C3DC10
COS FOR AUTISM FAMILIES LIMITED
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)".
Objectives and activities
COS for Autism Families Limited is a support group for families going through assessment for ASD and those with a diagnosis with ASD. We currently offer support to families from Derry/Londonderry, Limavady, Strabane, Letterkenny and Buncrana.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charity should undertake.
Achievements and performance
Significant activities and achievements against objectives
The number of registrations for COS continues to grow, and the charity continues to support these families and children through a varied programme. This past year was very busy and successful as our support staff executed an exciting programme, most of which, we were able to host in our new purpose-built building. At our centre we continue to offer a resource bank of visual aids that include communication and behavioural aids, but now also includes the use of sensory rooms, art room, great hall and kitchen. Work has progressed on the upper floor of the centre where we are implementing a computer suite and activity zone for our older members. This space is looking incredible and promises to be a hit with our teens and young adults.
We kicked the year off in April with a full Easter programme including a cinema trip, extreme jump facilities and a teddy bear workshop. April also saw the introduction of some exciting new activities such as Rugby, Soccer and Gymnastics. In addition to this we were able to offer a new toddler specific programme at the centre for Messy Play.
There were some incredible fundraising events held at the start of this year; A disco held in Limavady Football Club and a Casino night hosted in the Waterfoot Hotel. May continued to go from strength to strength as we launched our new Teens AWETISM programme. This will run until May 2025 and will focus on our kids aged 11+.
For our parents and carers we launched our new Carers Project which will also run until May 2025 and will focus on providing new training opportunities and offering wellbeing sessions.
For our children we continue to offer a weekly swimming programme throughout the year to both provide swimming lessons and also encourage those afraid of the water to splash and relax, in a controlled environment, with qualified instructors. This private sensory swimming session in Foyle Arena has been in high demand so we have somewhat amended our swimming blocks so that our families are allocated a 12-week block and these are rotated to ensure that those on our ever-growing waiting list were all able to get a turn to participate. This was extremely important to us to be inclusive of new families joining our group so that they get the benefit of all our resources. The response has been very positive. Our Autism adjusted cinema showings remain very popular. Short programmes in music therapy, drama and sporting activities are run according to funding availability and all activities can be booked through our app on a first come first served basis which gives fair opportunity to everyone.
This 2023 summer scheme kicked off earlier this year on July 3rd and continued throughout the summer with a wide variety of activities to appeal to a broad range of age and ability. This was our busiest full packed summer scheme to date. This included horse riding, driving lessons, movies, play sessions and go-karting. Most importantly, we were able to offer stay and play sessions in our centre with our sensory rooms. The feedback we received from the summer scheme was incredible for our committee as our families reported that for many, it was the highlight of their summer.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 73984B95-EBD6-4C3A-8C92-B9F459C3DC10
COS FOR AUTISM FAMILIES LIMITED
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
September brought back routine for our families but it also brought about a jam-packed schedule including play therapy, rugby, fitness classes, swim sessions, music therapy, and jo jingles, with the carer events matching the frequency of the young people events. This momentum continued throughout October and November.
November offered excitement for our charity as our long standing and hard working Chairperson David Campbell was featured on the BBC One Show ‘One Big Thank You’. David works tirelessly for COS and it was fitting to see that effort recognised on a national platform.
In December we attended a parent support morning at a local school, hosted a Christmas Craft fair and also once again this year, we were delighted to offer our own Santa's Grotto for our families. Families were able to book time blocks on our booking app. This included siblings and with numbers restricted in each session this gave an amazing relaxed Santa experience for each child.
The new year came and our weekly programmes continued, but we also attended the Autism Support Café to promote our presence and increase our reach in the community.
We also, as a group strive in raising Autism Awareness within our community and beyond with our outreach programme in Limavady (COS Roe Valley). We hope to continue to offer our services and more to the growing Autism community.
Financial review
The net income for the period was £21,898. The Company reserves at the year end were £158,374 (2023 - £136,476) of which £30,242 relates to unrestricted funds (not including unrestricted fixed assets). The trustees aim to have reserves covering at least three months expenditure at any given time.
The full results are set out in the account which form part of this report.
Reserves policy
It is the policy of the Charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the Charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
Plans for future periods
COS are committed to providing an invaluable service to families and children of ASD. The main focus for 2024/25 is to continue using the new centre for our families to avail of a safe, non-judgemental environment, develop our family’s knowledge and understanding to enable a brighter future for all our families. We hope to have a busy computing suite and offer even more programmes for our teens.
We will again be hosting a winter wonderland in December at the COS centre, where families will be able to attend small group sessions to see Santa; have their picture taken and take part in activities. This will appeal to children of all ages, and the social area for older children will be an incredible addition to the services we can offer as a charity.
Over the coming year COS will be providing the following and more: An amazing Summer Programme, Group Projects for the children consisting of play therapy sessions, music therapy, art therapy, play therapy, balance ability bike riding lessons, IT skills course, Yoga and Gym sessions; and of course, will continue our very popular sensory cinema outings and sensory swimming sessions. We will continue the Carers Programme and our AWETISM programme.
We also have more mental health wellness courses, spa days and treatment sessions hosted in the centre, plus other social outings planned for the coming year and additional support for our parents through training.
We would like to thank all those who have donated to COS for Autism Families over the past number of years and for your continued support.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 73984B95-EBD6-4C3A-8C92-B9F459C3DC10
COS FOR AUTISM FAMILIES LIMITED
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
We would also like to thank our grant providers who have enabled us to finish our new centre and develop a planned programme of works for the coming years. In particular we would like to thank The National Lottery, The Community Foundation, The Education Authority, Keadue Community, John Moores Foundation, The Danny Quigley Fund, Percy Bilton Fund, Gosling Fund and Derry City Council.
Structure, governance and management
The Charity is a company limited by guarantee and does not have any share capital. The company is governed and managed by the board of directors.
The board of directors carry out their governance role throughout the year by way of meetings on a monthly basis to review the performance of the company and to make decisions regarding the company's financial and operational matters. The directors govern the activities of the company in line with the objectives set out in the governing documents of the charity, namely the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the charity's constitution.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Louise Brown Amy Campbell Caroline Campbell Eugene McLaughlin Aoibheann Sims
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Amy Campbell Trustee
Caroline Campbell Trustee
18 December 2024
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