ANNUAL REPORT 2020 ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2020 OUR MISSION STATEMENT ENABLING PEOPLE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM TO ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL BY ADVOCATING FOR AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING PERSONALISED SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND CARERS Contents Details of Officers Details of Officers 3 PAT R O N Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton Message from Nick Winsor, Chairman 4-5 GCB LLD (Hon) DSc (Hon) BSc FRAeS CCMI Message from Chris Dunne, Chief Executive Officer 6-7 From March 2017 Message from Lionel Gomes, Head of Operational Services 8 Message from Niki Cross, Head of Children’s Support Services 9 CHAIRMAN VICE-CHAIRMAN SECRETARY TREASURER Message from Danielle Wharton, Head of Adult Support Services 10 Nicholas Winsor MBE Dr Helen Miles Jacquelyn Marsh Brendan Dowling Message from Cheryl Ferey, Head of Training & Development 11-12 Appointed Appointed Appointed Appointed 19 July 2011 24 February 2010 9 February 2016 12 December 2012 Message from Cheryl Hanlin, Family Support Coordinator 13 Message from Kerry O’Donovan, Support Services Coordinator and Counselling Service Coordinator 14-15 TRUSTEES Message from Kate Kelly, Fundraising & Marketing Manager 16-17 Message from Karen Gallichan & Catherine Tubb, Boutique Managers 18-19 Cormac Timothy Cora Binchy Tiegan Little Message from Brendan Dowling, Treasurer 20 Appointed 20 July 2010 Appointed 14 February 2017 Appointed 21 November 2018 Independent Reviewer’s Report 21 Caroline Costello Elizabeth Le Guillou Myles Hartley Appointed 6 October 2014 Appointed 14 February 2017 Appointed September 2018 Trustees’ Responsibilities 22 Daragh McDermott Richard Woolsey Statement of Financial Activities 24 Appointed 3 May 2012 Appointed 15 May 2018 Statement of Financial Position 25 AUTISM JERSEY BANKERS INDEPENDENT Century Buildings Lloyds Bank Offshore Ltd REVIEWERS Patriotic Place 9 Broad Street RSM Channel Islands Ltd St Helier St Helier PO Box 179 JE2 3AF JE4 8NG 40 Esplanade St Helier JE4 9RJ 2 3 Message from Nick Winsor Chairman Last year, I set out how Autism Jersey was Several months ago, we signed a contract facing the combined impact of reduced with Andium Homes to develop the Centre revenues and an increase in costs. Through for Autism at Sans Souci, a lovely, but rather some excellent work, Chris Dunne and the dilapidated old building in St Helier. This management team have turned the situation important project is still subject to planning around. The accounts do show a small deficit, permission. However, the initial reaction has as you will see from Brendan Dowling’s been positive, and we are excited by the Treasurer’s Report. However, the last few opportunity to create something special that months were strongly positive, and we have will benefit the whole community, not just carried this momentum into 2020/21. Autism Jersey and the individuals that we support. Part of the cost increase that I refer to, was to improve staff benefits and salaries. I am sure Last but not least, the partnership with the you will agree with me that people are Autism States of Jersey is as strong as ever and is a Jersey’s greatest asset. So, it is important key enabler for our work. It is impossible to that they are properly rewarded for the work fully acknowledge the valuable contribution that they do and encouraged to fulfil their of so many people, but I do hope that this potential through career progression and annual report will give you a flavour. On training. The families that we support also behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like benefit from the continuity, professionalism to thank Chris and our teams of staff across and stability that this brings. Autism Jersey, our donors, supporters, trustees and volunteers for making Autism During the year, Jonathan Channing decided Jersey so successful. to step down as Chair of the Advisory Council. We are sorry to see Jonathan go and Photo: Tom White, Jersey Events I would like to thank him for his contribution to Autism Jersey, both as a board apprentice and the founding member of the Council. The last 12 months have Nevertheless, I am delighted Jackie Marsh has kindly volunteered to lead been a challenging time for to report that Autism Jersey the Advisory Council through the next phase of its development and would be interested Autism Jersey and many of has continued to provide to hear from anyone who would like to the people that we work much needed support to contribute. with. First, we had to deal individuals on the autism The Autism Jersey Boutique has moved to a larger store, in a more prominent location. with a squeeze on our spectrum and their families, The extra space has enabled Catherine, Karen finances, then the impact while making further and their wonderful team of volunteers to grow sales and to provide a drop-in point or of Covid19. progress towards our long- “shop window” for Autism Jersey. This is an term goals. exciting development that we hope to take full advantage of in the years ahead. 4 5 Message from Chris Dunne Chief Executive Officer significant overspend. I am pleased to report and Catherine were very persuasive that Most of these services had to stop due that we have been able to turn this around, this would be a risk worth taking, and it has to the lockdown period, except for the and we are, again, now operating on a more proven to be just that. provision of our Counselling Services. secure financial base. I want to acknowledge However, again, with the use of creative As a charity we provide direct services to and thank Dania Healy, our Finance Manager, and technical means, many families had individuals and families as a paid ‘Provider and Lionel Gomes, our Head of Operational contact throughout the period. I do want to of Services’ through our contracts with the Services, who worked with me on redrafting say thank you to Cheryl Hanlin, our Family Jersey Government which include Adult our contracts for adult supported living, Support Coordinator, for this, and to thank Supported Living Services, Children & Adult with an excellent outcome due to the great Kerry O’Donovan for using great initiative Short Break Services, and Transition Services partnership working we have with our in enabling people to continue to access for people moving from Children’s to Adult colleagues in Health & Community Adult Counselling Support remotely. Services. Services. This was an excellent piece of work. I am pleased to say that all services are now The provision of our Adult Services was We have also completed significant work back up and running, and it is a credit to all maintained throughout the lockdown period, regarding our Human Resources, including our staff that this is the case. due to us providing essential support to updating our staff handbook, staff contracts, people living in their own homes in the One of the main areas of concern we still and being able to introduce staff pay community. have as an outcome of the corona virus increase. I would like to thank Julie Barras, pandemic, is the impact on our income As you have heard already, this has our HR & Administration Manager, for her Our Children’s Services were greatly regarding charitable donations and grants been a strange and challenging year hard work and dedication in completing this. impacted, however, staff worked hard to etc. However, I must say thank you to maintain contact with both children directly, due to the impact of the Corona As a part of our reorganisation last year we Kate Kelly, our Manager of Fundraising & and with families, using a variety of creative Virus pandemic. However, I must introduced a ‘Front Door’ into Autism Jersey. Marketing, who has worked tirelessly to and technical means. acknowledge and applaud the Kerry O’Donovan was appointed into the minimise the impact of this for us, and to remarkable response from all our role to help develop and shape how this I must thank the members of our Operational acknowledge the kindness and generosity staff across the organisation. The would work. Kerry has done a fantastic job in Management Team, Lionel Gomes, Niki of people and Organisations in Jersey who dedication and professionalism shown establishing a ‘single point of contact’ where Cross, Danielle Wharton, Cheryl Ferey, Ben continue to support us. people who need help, advice or support de Veulle Filleul and Sean Burke, for their throughout the whole lockdown and Finally, I want to say thank you Nick receive a timely and professional response. commitment, dedication and hard work that subsequent re-opening period has Winsor, our Chair, and all the members of An important part of developing this role brought us through this difficult time. been outstanding. the Board of Trustees. Thank you for your is how Kerry coordinates an appropriate continued support and trust, and allowing I am pleased to report that the organisational response, ensuring people have access I also want to thank all our staff who were us the freedom to develop and deliver structure changes I introduced last year have to and are aware of the services that are out there supporting individuals, coping with the excellent range of quality services we worked exceptionally well. Autism Jersey available, either through Autism Jersey or the use of PPE, working within the guidelines provide to better support to people with continues to function as a professional through a partner agency, and making sure for social distancing, but ensuring that autism and their families. organisation, delivering excellent services that people have the right support in place. the people we support kept safe and well and support across both its charitable and throughout. You will know that we have relocated our operational services.