Autism Independent UK (SFTAH)

Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 30th September 2007

Constitution
Autism Independent UK is registered with the Charity Commissioners (No. 803003) and constituted by Deed of Trust.

History, objectives and activities
Autism Independent UK was constituted by Deed of Trust. The constitution was adopted on 12 February 1990 and amended on 16 October 1999. The charity was formerly known as The Society For The Autistically Handicapped (SFTAH) which it continues to use as a working name. Other names used by the charity are, Autism On Line (AOL) and Autism For All. The objects of the charity are to encourage greater awareness of autism, to assist in improving  the quality of life of sufferers and their families through the provision of training and recreational facilities and to provide a voice for those with autism in matters of local and national government policy towards them and those involved in their care.
The main activities of the charity throughout the year continued to be the provision of  training and recreational facilities for the sufferers of autism and related conditions and support and training for carers, families and professionals involved in the support of autistically handicapped individuals.

Management and governance arrangements
Where required, new trustees are appointed by the other trustees as a body and are inducted by the Chief
Administrator, K Lovett. The day to day operation of the charity is made by the management committee.
The trustees are all members of the management committee. This committee is the sole body for decision making.
The trustees regularly review the risks the charity faces and, because of its investment policy, the major risk
facing the charity is that a fall in property prices may affect the ability of the charity to achieve the purchase of a group home as quickly as it wants. However, there is no borrowing attaching to any of the freehold properties at present so there would be no impact on its ability to continue to achieve its main objects.
The charity has invested in land and buildings as part of its strategy to establish the group home. This will give it both an income and security for future purchase of the group home.

The charity employs 2 members of staff:

                Chief Administrator                                           K Lovett
                Development Officer                                         C Whalley

 

Achievements, performance and future plans
The Society's major achievements during the year were:

• continuing to expand the charity's collateral base for a group home project;
• providing free on-site internet access;
• providing an improved telephone information service;
• expanding the resource holdings in the information centre - adding literature to the resource library;
• providing additional training events;
• initiating the Carer Card scheme.

Proposed developments for the future

• to publish all charity newsletters, constitution, accounts, meetings via Worldwide Web;
• to continue the social activities scheme and increase venues;
• to make membership and information free via electronic means…. Web etc.;
• to continue to improve the telephone information service;
• to increase training events;
• to expand advocacy via the Web and other electronic means;
• to increase the use of the Carer Card service by making carers more aware of the available resources.

   Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 30th September 2007

Fundraising activities are limited to requests for grants and aid from corporate and other donors. The charity wishes to expand on this during the coming years to enable the group home to be established quickly.

Financial review, investment policy and reserves
As has been stated, a primary aim of the charity is to establish a group home for young autism sufferers. In this respect it has continued to invest in domestic property to give both an income and to increase its capital base.
Reviews of values are carried out regularly to ensure that returns are reasonable. The returns for this year (both rental and estimated capital growth) amount to 5.32% (2006 12.11%). This reflects the current housing market. The trust has chosen not to adopt formal ethical investment policies although attention is paid as to whom properties are rented. The net incoming resources for the year before unrealised gains or losses on investments amounted to £99,909, (2006 - £14,159).
Unrestricted funds at the end of the year amounted to £514,098, (2006 – 414,189), which represents 8 years' general expenditure (excluding workshop costs which are covered by specific income).

Statement of trustees' responsibilities
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and its financial activities for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
• state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operational existence.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.



This report was approved by the committee on …………………………………………………………..
and signed on its behalf by:

D Whalley
Trustee

Independent Examiners' Report to the Trustees of Autism Independent UK
      
      
We report on the accounts for the charity for the year ended 30th September 2007, which are set out
on pages 5 to 12.
      
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiners
      
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that an audit is not required for this year (under S.43 (2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
      
It is our responsibility to:

• examine the accounts (under section 43 of the 1993 Act);
• to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under S.43 (7)(b) of the 1993 Act); and
• to state whether particular matters have come to our attention.

      
Basis of Independent Examiners' Report
      
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners.
An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the
accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures
in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
      
Independent examiners' statement
      
In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
      
(1)  which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements

• to keep accounting records in accordance with S.41 of the 1993 Act; and
• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act

       have not been met; or
      
(2)  to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
      
 McShane Wright
Chartered Certified Accountants
2 College Street
Higham Ferrers
Northants
NN10 8DZ