A message from our CEO

CEO Roundup: A Look Back at CASPA’s Best Year Yet 

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on what has truly been a record-breaking year. From incredible achievements to heartfelt moments, this year has been nothing short of transformative for our members, families, staff and volunteers. 

The Highs: Celebrating Progress and Connection 

This year saw some major milestones that reaffirm and highlight our team and supporters’  commitment to our mission and vision: 

• A Record-Breaking Year: CASPA achieved an all-time high in income, putting us in a strong financial position to grow open not one, but two new clubs in 2025. Each donation we receive and every fundraising effort brings us closer to achieving our plan to reduce our waiting list and make CASPA’s services available to more autistic individuals.

* Change of status: CASPA – Children on the Autistic Spectrum parents Association 110260 has closed and we opened CASPA CIO 1200786 Transitioning to a CIO provides significant benefits, particularly in terms of limited liability for our Trustees, Additionally, we’re simplifying our name from the full “Children on the Autistic Spectrum Parents Association” to “CASPA,” which is how we’re already known by our members, donors, partners, and funders. As you can imagine a lot of behind the scene work went into this to which I thank each and every one of the staff and trustees involved..   

• Community Growth: CASPA’s membership grew significantly, creating a larger network of support and more diverse community who share our vision of building a world in which autistic individuals can thrive and live their best life.
• Expressing Gratitude: A personal stand-out moment for me was the honour of hosting our volunteers thank-you lunch this year. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our volunteers and to show our heartfelt appreciation for their hard work and commitment to CASPA.
• Staff Development: The introduction of staff away days gave our incredible team an opportunity to reflect on our impact, share open and honest feedback, collaborate, and spark new ideas to support our strategic plan to grow, expand our services, and build autism inclusion and advocacy into every aspect of CASPA.

The Challenges: Learning Along the Way 

While this year was filled with achievements, no journey is without its hurdles: 

• From the logistical impact of moving our adult services to a new location, to our Christmas grotto falling victim to storm Darragh, CASPA has faced and overcome our fair share of challenges.

  However, the resilience and dedication of our staff and volunteers ensured a smooth adjustment and minimal disruption. Thanks, team! 

• As always, the ongoing need to fundraise remains a challenge, and one we face with determination and creativity, knowing that every pound raised directly supports the autistic community.

Looking Ahead 

Thanks to the record-breaking income and incredible generosity of our supporters, we’re preparing for an exciting expansion in 2025.  

Opening two new clubs will help us reach even more autistic individuals and their families. However, the work doesn’t stop here. We are committed to fundraise tirelessly so that each autistic individual who needs us can access CASPA’s support and services without being kept on a waiting list. 

Final Reflection 

As we reflect on this year, the true highlight wasn’t the numbers or realising our goals, but rather ‘connection’. Seeing the autistic joy in our members’ faces, the relief and appreciation from their families, the pride in our staff and volunteers as they celebrate achievements, and witnessing our staff’s commitment to CASPA’s values reminded us why we do what we do. 

Thank you to every member, volunteer, staff member, and supporter who contributed to making 2024 an unforgettable year for CASPA. We look forward to building on this momentum together as we continue to grow and make an even greater impact in 2025 and beyond.