Next Step Transitions CIC run a programme to support young autistic people through the transition process from school to further/higher education, training or employment. The company was set up in December 2021. The company worked directly with 13 school(s) during the financial year 2025 and helped 60 young autistic people transitions from school to Further Education, Higher Education, Training or Employment. We also worked directly with 12 primary schools offering workshops to 225 primary 7 students and individual follow up support to autistic primary 7 students. This company has continued to benefit the community by: - Providing access to support for 60 young autistic people across the Northern and Belfast Trusts has alleviated much of the stress usually found throughout the transitions process of moving from post primary school. Because the correct support was put in place in the new education/employment environment the young people are more likely to stay in their course/employment. - This has also benefited the parents of these young people as they received timely advice and guidance as well as support throughout the process which alleviated the stress associated and allowed them to feel more knowledgeable about the transitions process, which in turn allowed them to help their children gain the correct support in their new education/employment environment. - The schools that are currently a part of the programme have been able to gain advice and guidance for their students which has helped ensure their students access the required support in their next step of education/employment. - Local companies have benefited from the company’s work due to being able to access high quality apprentices who may not have got through the interview process without the support from Next Step Transitions CIC. The local companies who are involved with Next Step Transitions CIC now have a better understanding of the barriers to autistic people in employment and how these can be overcome to achieve successful employees. We also created a Connections Club which allows young autistic individuals to have a social space that they feel comfortable in. The club runs once a week and currently has a capacity of 10 which we hope to increase in future.

The main stakeholders of Next Step Transitions CIC are young autistic people, their parents/guardians, local schools that they attend, local businesses and universities. The Directors of the company have worked in the education and careers service in the local area for many years. They have consulted with the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators in all the schools that they are currently working in with via meetings to gain an insight into the areas that they need support for the young autistic people transitioning from school to the next stage of education, training or employment. They also provide referrals to the programme. The schools have pointed out through their feedback that this support would also be useful for the primary to secondary school transition and therefore the company is looking into the possibility of this in the future. They have consulted with the young autistic people directly via both informal and formal interviews/chats in the schools that they have been working in as well as pre-programme questionnaires and post-programme questionnaires. As parents/guardians are involved throughout the transitions process they are consulted orally regarding the needs of the young person and asked to complete pre-programme information forms, most feedback post process is provided via testimonials. Next Step Transitions CIC has consulted directly with local businesses and university for feedback within the 2025 financial year in an informal manner but will consider formalising this in the future.

Full details are found in the accounts. There were no other transactions or arrangements in connection with the remuneration of directors, or compensation for director’s loss of office, which require to be disclosed.

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration