Public Benefit Statement

Apublic benefit statement is a short explanation of how a charity’s work positively impacts the public. It’s a key part of registering a charity in Ireland (and other jurisdictions), and it must clearly show:

What the organisation does – the main activities it carries out.
Who it helps – the specific group or section of the public it benefits.
How it benefits the public – the tangible, positive outcomes of those activities.

In Ireland, this is a requirement under the Charities Act 2009

The statement must align with at least one of the charitable purposes defined by law (e.g. advancement of education, relief of poverty, community welfare, etc.) and must demonstrate that the benefits are clear, identifiable, and accessible to the public (or a sufficient section of it).

Statement of Benefit

In accordance with Section 3 of the Charities Act 2009, Autism Pathways Academy provides clear, identifiable public benefit through the advancement of community welfare, specifically addressing the needs of autistic adults who experience disadvantage due to disability. Our work directly addresses charitable purpose (f) under the Act: "The advancement of community welfare including the relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health or disability."

79% of autistic adults report experiencing social isolation

79% of autistic adults report experiencing social isolation (National Autism Society, 2023)

68% need independence support

68% of autistic adults continue to live with family members due to lack of appropriate independence support (National Disability Authority, 2022)

Who We Help & How

The Public Need We Address

Alleviating Disadvantage Through Independence Support

Our personalised independence-building programme directly addresses barriers faced by autistic adults by:

Our personalised independence-building programme directly addresses barriers faced by autistic adults.

Promoting Integration & Participation

Our community integration pathways directly address social exclusion by:

Facilitating supported community engagement

Developing social communication strategies

Building confidence in public and community settings

Creating bridges to employment and volunteering.

Creating Economic Opportunity

With a focus on real-world skills for employment and independent living, our programmes help autistic adults achieve meaningful progress toward self-sufficiency.

This creates substantial disadvantage with measurable negative impacts on both individual welfare and broader community resources.

Our Activities Matter To Our Beneficiaries

1. Alleviating Disadvantage Through Independence Support

Our personalised independence-building programme directly addresses barriers faced by autistic adults by:

- Developing practical daily living skills

- Enhancing self-advocacy and communication abilities

- Building financial management capabilities

- Supporting transition to independent living arrangements

This aligns with the advancement of community welfare by reducing dependency and enhancing self-sufficiency among a disadvantaged group.

2. Promoting Integration and Participation

Our community integration pathways directly address social exclusion by:

- Facilitating supported community engagement

- Developing social communication strategies

- Building confidence in public and community settings

- Creating bridges to employment and volunteering

This provides public benefit by enhancing community cohesion and enabling contribution from previously excluded individuals.

3. Creating Economic Opportunity

Our skills development and mentorship programmes directly address economic disadvantage by:

Developing employable skills aligned with market needs

Supporting the transition to employment or self-employment

Building workplace communication strategies

Creating pathways to financial independence

This provides public benefit by enhancing economic participation and reducing long-term dependency on social support systems.

Our services meet the public benefit requirement by being:

1. Accessible to a Sufficiently Wide Section of the Public

- Available to eligible individuals across Ireland

- No financial barriers to participation

- No restrictive membership requirements

- Priority based on objective need criteria

2. Not Unreasonably Restricted

- No fees or charges for participation

- No requirements for expensive equipment

- Available regardless of geographical location

- Accommodations made for varying support needs

3. Not Providing Private Benefit Beyond What Is Incidental

- All services focused on public benefit

- No trustee remuneration or private advantage

- Any private benefit is necessary, reasonable, and incidental to achieving our charitable purpose

- having Strict conflict of interest policies in place

This ensures our charitable activities directly serve those who fall within our charitable purpose under the Charities Act 2009.

Ensuring Beneficiaries Are Appropriate to the Charity's Purpose

Our services are specifically designed for and accessible to individuals who:

Are autistic adults experiencing disadvantage due to disability

Have limited access to appropriate support services

Face barriers to independence, social inclusion & employment

Would benefit from our personalised, adaptive approach