Is anyone here getting any help from NAS ?

The NAS is a fake charity. The fact that nearly 90% of it's income stream comes from the taxpayer means that it might as well be an outpost of the government rather than a charity. If the government is willing to spend money on ASD services then why on earth can't they use their official channels of the NHS, state education, and councils rather than a registered charity?

The salaries that several senior officials receive is absolutely obscene. I do not feel that anybody working full time for a charity should receive above £35k and that's being generous.

It would be great for an NAS employee to join in on this discussion. Thinking about it, maybe there could be a section on the forum that deals directly with just the NAS organisation. It could really be a good place for people to provide useful input and discussion that could genuinly make the charity better. The views of people who are actualy Autistic have got to be pretty important to the NAS so why not make it easy by having a place to do this here on the forum?

Yes, its true Jon, along with another 25 executives theres over 2.1 million per year just going to 26 people - all money given to this organisation to supposedly help people with autism, if may not be illegal but without question it's morally unacceptable - this is a charity not a bank - much of it gets spent on conferences, meetings, awards, lectures etc (all no doubt incurring big expenses for posh hotels and booze) while very few people considering the enormous expediture actually get direct help.

In my opinion as someone with ASD I don't care about conferences and awards and meetings, they should be held in a church hall around a table to save money, not in posh hotels, and I am sure the majority of people with an ASD would prefer the money benefits them directly through direct help, after all the money is donated or given for that very purpose - I wonder how much of the budget went on hotels ? I wonder so many things. But I was sent to NAS by the NHS and was told this is where I could get help - I asked for help and all I got was a load of PDF files, no doubt I will be in their annual report as someone who has been helped just to bulk up the numbers.

Paull said:

The chief executive gets paid 140 grand a year, is it right that someone can live in luxury on that kind of salary from charitable donations ? Not even counting the other 20 people on stupid salaries comes to over 2 million quid ...no doubt plus expenses.

Is this correct? I think it would be helpful for an NAS rep to justify this wage. Maybe the Chief Executive themself could issue a statement?

Hi all,

Sorry to hear that you're not happy with the NAS services and the work of the organisation. If you'd like to speak with someone about this from the NAS, please email me community.manager@nas.org.uk and I'll make sure it is passed on to someone that can help.

Our services are for adults and young people with an ASD, as well as parents, carers and professionals - if there is anything specific you'd like to know, I can help find the information (and I'll try not to send any PDFs).

Hohner: thanks for your interest in volunteer roles on the NAS board - we are currently recruiting trustees to form our board. It is a voluntary position if this is of interest? http://www.autism.org.uk/working-with/work-for-us/job-vacancies/trustees.aspx

Bets wishes,
Mike, NAS 

Also the fact is that as they are clearly and without question taking millions from donations for themselves 'legally' (although morally wrong) to live in luxury, it only beggars the question - What other things are they up to ?

For example - When theres a meeting somewhere are they lavishing it up in 5 star hotels or are they being stringent with funds by staying at a premier inn ?

How much of the millions spent each year is being symphoned off into other accounts that these people have an interest in ?

How much of the expenses are wasted on luxury items without cause for making savings where nescessary by using less affordable alternatives ?

In my point of view by taking such huge sums from charitable donations to give themselves luxury while the people they claim to represent are not getting help stinks of corruption, no doubt there are a myriad of dodgy things going on. As a one time accountant I know the signs and patterns.

NAS, you chosen to represent the wrong type of people, as you may have forgot some people with ASD have a very high moral and ethical sense. I will get to the bottom of this and you will be exposed.

I could never ever take £140,000 salary from a charity - it is completely morally wrong from any perspective, whether you are working 20 hours a day doesn't matter - although strongly suspect the Chief Executive propably does 5 hours a week ?

I wonder how much this completely unnecessary event is going to cost ?

www.autismprofessionalsawards.org.uk/faqs.html

Yet again another example of squandering resources that should go towards helping those that they raise the money for. No doubt there are dozens of conferences and events where they all live it up with booze and hotels on expenses.

NAS should be disbanded and replaced with a more accountable and transparent organisation that serves to help those with Autism, not those that run the organisation. Please sign my petition.

www.activism.com/.../42151

It is called the Gravy train, personally with Autism, money does not make much sense to me(thankfully),, COINS to make me function, give motivation, give reward ? I am not a dog of the state.  

The economy is a prostitute. The NAS Chairperson is a just the most expensive *****. ! then,,  I wonder, does HRH The Countess of Wessex get paid.. I think not. I would do the Chair or any of the other positions for nothing.

But lets be honest,,, nobody cares, money is the way of hungry drone who has never lived as a day.

Good points Paull.

I could give you another thousand stories,, the best one for me, was the re-roofing of a catholic church using lottery money, two points,, gambling money and church with trillions.

Autism starts with an A because we are the ladder.

Someone on JSA, perhaps someone with Aspergers who has lost their appeal for ESA because they didn't have a good advocate, gets £71 a week, or about £3,700 a year or about 10 days of the NAS CEO's salary.

Words completely fail me.

No they don't. I honestly could not live with myself, taking that amount of money for representing some of the most vulnerable people in the country. I could not look at myself in the mirror in the morning or sleep peacefully at night.

That amount of money is morally wrong as compensation.

I'm not blaming the current CEO but the NAS really needs to think about its mission and what it does as the above concerned comment by Paull makes clear. He shouldn't have to ask the question. It should be obvious.