REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 03562525 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1071467

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

FOR

OLDHAM PERSONAL ADVOCACY LIMITED

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

6

Independent Examiner's Report

7

Statement of Financial Activities

8

Balance Sheet

9

to

10

Notes to the Financial Statements

11

to

17

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Our Vision

Voice, choice and equality for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

Our Mission

To work with people with learning disabilities and autistic people to make sure they have a voice in shaping services so that they can have the same life chances as everybody else.

Our Values

Inclusive - people with learning disabilities and autistic people are at the centre of everything we do

Honest - we act with integrity and honesty at all times, we won't say we can do something if we can't

Kind - we treat everybody with dignity, respect and kindness

Challenging - if we think things aren't fair or right, we ask 'difficult questions'

Cooperative - we work with other organisations to help them feel more confident meeting people with learning

disabilities and autistic people

Positive - we believe in a fairer future and that we are making a difference

Strategic Objectives

During the year, we have implemented several initiatives to ensure that we achieve our strategic objectives and move closer to fulfilling our mission. Our strategic plan focuses on three key objectives: increasing membership numbers, introducing new activities, and promoting co-production.

1. Increase the number of members attending our existing services.

2. Introduce a wider range of experiences and offer more exciting activities to enhance engagement and foster skills and independence.

3. Promote greater co-production and representation of the service user group.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

The following sections for achievements and performance and financial review form the strategic report of the charity.

Quality In Action Award

OPAL received the Quality in Action Award from Action Together. This demonstrates our commitment to quality assurance and continuous improvement in the following areas:

- Organisational Governance

" Safeguarding

" Safer Recruitment and Staffing

" Health and Safety

" Equal Opportunities

" Promotion and Partnerships

" Finance

Advocacy

OPAL received funding from the One Oldham Fund, to offer advocacy support through hubs and one-on-one assistance. This advocacy service was available to all vulnerable individuals in Oldham and was promoted across various community groups. The main objective of the hubs was to provide vulnerable people with essential information about their health and well-being and to help them access appropriate support agencies. Advocates provided assistance in areas including health, housing, finances, employment, and overall well-being.

OPAL's Women's Group

OPAL has continued to deliver its women's group, empowering women in Oldham to build resilience, learn new skills and address life challenges. This group provides a safe and supportive space for women who face social isolation, financial hardship and mental health challenges. The group have enjoyed craft sessions led by Lifelong Learning.

We want to continue to offer regular opportunities for women to come together, share experiences, access emotional support, and develop practical skills to improve their well-being. We aim to assist women in navigating complex systems such as housing, welfare, and healthcare while fostering stronger community connections and building resilience.

Vaccination Engagement Project

OPAL received grant funding to implement a vaccination engagement project aimed at addressing health inequalities among people with learning disabilities. This initiative was crucial to ensuring equitable access to healthcare, particularly vaccines, as people with learning disabilities often face significant barriers. The project aimed to reduce health inequalities by:

" Improving access to health services for people with learning disabilities, particularly focusing on vaccination uptake

" Engaging with the learning disability community to raise awareness and support individuals in overcoming barriers to receiving vaccinations

" Facilitating communication between healthcare providers and individuals with learning disabilities to ensure they receive the information and support they need to make informed decisions about vaccinations.

Household Support Fund

OPAL received grant funding to support Oldham Council to deliver its Household Support Fund offer to vulnerable Oldham residents. OPAL used an E-voucher system and supported individuals and households in Oldham who were at risk due to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. E-vouchers helped residents needing emergency food, warm clothing, school uniforms, household furniture and white goods, household essential items and emergency energy and water bills. OPAL provided support to 62 households and 226 individuals with this fund. OPAL received a visit from the Leader of Oldham Council, Arooj Shah to hear the impact the Household Support Fund had made on individuals and families.

National Energy Action (NEA) Community Grant

OPAL received a grant from the NEA to organise a community event focused on energy-saving advice. Social work students assisted in facilitating and delivering this event. Resources related to energy conservation were provided, and participants received carbon monoxide detectors and welcome packs.

Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance

OPAL received grant funding from the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance. We partnered with Oldham Community Radio Station to record a segment discussing cancer. OPAL members shared information about what cancer is; the signs and symptoms to watch for, the importance of attending cancer screenings, the different types of cancer screenings available and how to seek help. We also organised a table event at Gallery Oldham, where we distributed our easy-read booklets titled 'Let's Talk About Cancer'. Additionally, we launched a social media campaign across OPAL platforms, featuring shareable content and easy-to-understand information related to cancer awareness.

Community Health Champions

OPAL is a community health champion, and we received grant funding to engage and support Oldham residents to gain knowledge and skills to confidently make choices and take part in decisions about their own health. With the funding, we supported people with learning disabilities and autistic people, by delivering targeted sessions focusing on:

" Annual Health Checks

" Flu and COVID vaccinations

" Measles

" Cancer Screenings

" Keeping warm through winter (warm homes and energy-saving tips)

One Oldham Fund - Active Travel

OPAL received funding from the One Oldham Fund - Active Travel Grant to deliver six walks during the summer months, providing individuals the opportunity to experience the benefits of walking and accessing local parks and green spaces.

Learning Disability Friends Project

OPAL continues to run The Learning Disability Friends project and deliver free acceptance sessions to groups of professionals, students, and other stakeholders in the Oldham area. The sessions include learning about the barriers faced by people with learning disabilities and autistic individuals, as well as the adjustments that people can make in their roles to help them thrive.

Objectives of the Learning Disability Friends Project:

" To develop an understanding of the way that society disables people with learning disabilities and autism.

" To dispel some of the myths around learning disability and autism.

" To develop an understanding of how we can adjust our practice to support people with learning disabilities and autism to thrive.

Day Services (Your Day Your Way and OPAL Crew)

We have continued to deliver engaging and enjoyable sessions in our day services. Our Your Day Your Way service is shaped by the interests and preferences of our members through co-production. Activities include arts and crafts, improving digital skills using computers and iPads, music, games and personal development. We also offer trips into the local community, providing opportunities for social engagement and new experiences. Members have additionally taken part in social media campaigns as part of our community health champions initiative, further enhancing their confidence and involvement in wider community projects.

Our alternative day service, the OPAL Crew, continues to focus on community engagement, promoting skill development and fostering a sense of belonging within the local area. The service helps members build important life skills by visiting local places and participating in exciting projects, ensuring they gain valuable experiences that support their independence and personal growth. Members have been on many exciting trips to develop their knowledge and understanding.

Knowledge, Transfer, Partnership Programme (KTP)

OPAL is currently halfway through a two-year digital transformation program called KTP. This program has helped us create a comprehensive digitalisation plan for the entire organisation. OPAL has been enhancing its digital IT skills and improving its knowledge of process management. By digitising its operations, we aim to enable staff to work more effectively and spend more time on developing services, fundraising, and writing grant applications. We also interviewed two interns who are supporting the program, with a focus on digital transformation and digital marketing.

Volunteers and Placement Students.

We have volunteers who provide excellent support to OPAL clients. They have built positive relationships and assist OPAL staff in delivering activities both on-site and off-site.

We have also continued to offer placements for social work, psychology, and health and social care students from various universities, including Oldham College. These students are invaluable and truly make a difference.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

The total income for the year was £352,301 (2024:£303,905). The main source of income for the charity is now

generated through Your Day Your Way but essential funds continued to be received to support placements from

- Universities

Direct expenditure in the year was £349,808 (2024:£336,844) including £5,039 (2024:£4,495) of governance costs.

Reserves policy

To achieve the reserves target, the Board has continued scrutinising expenditure and ensuring that all activities are properly funded.

The Board has implemented the priorities identified in the extensive review of the reserves policy and documented in the Strategic Plan for 2019 to 2024. Activities supported this year include the women's group and the Knowledge, Transfer Partnership (KTP)

Reserves are the result of the charity's unrestricted income fund, which are freely available to spend on any of the charity's purposes. The Board have reviewed all unrestricted income streams and assessed these in respect of the future continued funding; the net profile of the income stream and the impact of the loss of each income stream.

The above systematic identification of risk and future income and the assessment of committed expenditure to each stream of income has enabled the board to assess for each income stream the reserves needed to manage risks identified, shortfalls in income and specific liabilities identified, including loss of key staff and redundancy. The above reserves which have been identified total £90,000 and will continue to be recognised in the financial statements as continuity and contingency reserves. Additional reserves will be referred to as general reserves.

Reserves will be reviewed at Board meetings when the quarterly management reports are received. Performance against budget will be monitored. The reserves policy will be reviewed and revised annually to reflect any changes in the operating context of the charity. Activities funded through the general reserves will be monitored to ensure the work remains relevant to members and can demonstrate impact.

FUTURE PLANS

Looking ahead, we remain committed to strengthening and expanding our services to better support our community. A key priority is securing sustainable funding for our women's group, which has been running for over 20 years. At present, we fund this vital service from our reserves, with £5,298 spent in the 2025 accounts. We plan to designate a further £5,995 from general reserves in the next financial year to maintain this provision while we actively seek external grant funding and partnership opportunities to secure its long-term future.

Another priority is the continuation of advocacy support for vulnerable Oldham residents. Advocacy is central to our organisation's mission and identity, and we have always provided this crucial service. We remain dedicated to securing funding that will allow us to maintain and expand our advocacy work, ensuring that those who need support in our community can continue to access it.

We will also explore ways to expand opportunities for people with learning disabilities, providing them with new activities, skills development, and greater community engagement. By broadening our service offering, we aim to improve the lives of those we support, helping them achieve greater independence and inclusion.

Through the KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) programme, we will continue our long-term digital transformation journey. In the 2025 financial year, we invested £23,634 from reserves into this programme, and we plan to designate a further £24,587 in the coming year to complete key phases of service design, data management improvements and staff training. This programme will help us scale the organisation, deliver more services and strengthen operational efficiency. It will also position us to increase grant income, reduce costs and engage more effectively with a wider range of service users.

By focusing on these key areas, sustainable funding, advocacy, service expansion and digital transformation, and by clearly committing resources to priority projects, we aim to strengthen our organisation and create a lasting impact for the people we support.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

(a) Structure

Oldham Personal Advocacy Limited (OPAL) is a charitable company limited by guarantee and was founded in 1983. It is governed by memorandum and articles of association, which were last amended in 1998.

The charitable objects are to promote the relief of people with learning disabilities to obtain their full rights and

privileges as citizens, to provide such people with personal friendship and support and also promote the relief of

unemployment for the public benefit in such ways as may be thought fit.

(b) Board Members

Additional Board skill gaps identified at annual review will be promoted on an ongoing basis with local partners and using social media.

(c) Management

The Board have adopted systems of internal control that are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance

against material misstatement or loss. These include:

- A strategic plan and annual budget approved by the Board

- Regular consideration of the financial performance and variance from budgets and non-financial performance indicators.

(d) Executive staff to whom day to day management is delegated

OPAL employs a Chief Executive, who is accountable to the Trustees and is responsible for the day to day management of the charity.

(e) Risk management

The directors have identified the risks which have the potential to effect reserves and have created a current risk register for the charity. The risk register will be subject to rigorous and focused review during 2025/26. Having identified these risks the Board have implemented systems to recognise, evaluate and mitigate the risks.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

03562525 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1071467

Registered office

The Link Centre

Union Street

Oldham

OL1 1DZ

Trustees

Ms J Bird

Mrs C Blythe

L G Coop (resigned 16.12.2024)

Mrs C M Guereca

Dr J D Lord

Mrs J N Pickering

Mrs V Royle

Miss V Lomas (appointed 27.1.2025)

Company Secretary

Miss M Anderson

Independent Examiner

Jane Cooksey FCCA

Jane Cooksey Limited

15/16 Boarshurst Bus. Park,

Boarshurst Lane, Greenfield

Oldham

Lancashire

OL3 7ER

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 13 October 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Miss M Anderson - Secretary

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Oldham Personal Advocacy Limited ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1.	accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2.	the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3.	the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

4.

the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Jane Cooksey FCCA

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Jane Cooksey Limited

15/16 Boarshurst Bus. Park,

Boarshurst Lane, Greenfield

Oldham

Lancashire

OL3 7ER

13 October 2025

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

funds

funds

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

6,700

-

6,700

3,423

Charitable activities

Charitable Activities

260,379

80,636

341,015

295,924

Investment income

2

4,586

-

4,586

4,558

Total

271,665

80,636

352,301

303,905

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Charitable Activities

235,062

113,893

348,955

336,844

Other

853

-

853

-

Total

235,915

113,893

349,808

336,844

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

35,750

(33,257

)

2,493

(32,939

)

Transfers between funds

11

(27,885

)

27,885

-

-

Net movement in funds

7,865

(5,372

)

2,493

(32,939

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

187,302

5,372

192,674

225,613

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

195,167

-

195,167

192,674

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

funds

funds

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

FIXED ASSETS

Tangible assets

8

2,559

-

2,559

-

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

9

15,115

-

15,115

10,604

Cash at bank and in hand

189,391

-

189,391

197,578

204,506

-

204,506

208,182

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

10

(11,898

)

-

(11,898

)

(15,508

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

192,608

-

192,608

192,674

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

195,167

-

195,167

192,674

NET ASSETS

195,167

-

195,167

192,674

FUNDS

11

Unrestricted funds

195,167

187,302

Restricted funds

-

5,372

TOTAL FUNDS

195,167

192,674

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 13 October 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

J D Lord - Trustee

1.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Computer equipment

-

25% on reducing balance

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes subject to restrictions declared by the donor or through the terms of the appeal.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

2.	INVESTMENT INCOME

2025

2024

£

£

Deposit account interest

4,586

4,558

3.	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

2025

2024

£

£

Depreciation - owned assets

853

-

4.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

5.	STAFF COSTS

2025

2024

£

£

Wages and salaries

237,189

236,690

Social security costs

13,349

13,436

Other pension costs

7,138

8,274

257,676

258,400

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

2025

2024

Administration, Finance and IT

2

2

Client services

10

10

12

12

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

6.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

funds

funds

funds

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

3,423

-

3,423

Charitable activities

Charitable Activities

224,299

71,625

295,924

Investment income

4,558

-

4,558

Total

232,280

71,625

303,905

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Charitable Activities

249,577

87,267

336,844

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(17,297

)

(15,642

)

(32,939

)

Transfers between funds

(14,069

)

14,069

-

Net movement in funds

(31,366

)

(1,573

)

(32,939

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

218,668

6,945

225,613

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

187,302

5,372

192,674

7.	INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION FEES

2025

2024

£

£

Fees payable to the independent examiner for:

Independent examination of the financial statements

875

1,122

Other financial services

2,293

2,022

3,168

3,144

8.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Computer

equipment

£

COST

Additions

3,412

DEPRECIATION

Charge for year

853

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31 March 2025

2,559

At 31 March 2024

-

9.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Trade debtors

9,915

6,175

Other debtors

81

-

Prepayments and accrued income

5,119

4,429

15,115

10,604

10.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Trade creditors

5,567

7,860

Social security and other taxes

4,182

3,979

Other creditors

373

862

Accrued expenses

1,776

2,807

11,898

15,508

11.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

Transfers

movement

between

At

At 1.4.24

in funds

funds

31.3.25

£

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

102,302

(8,912

)

11,777

105,167

Continuity and Contingency Fund

85,000

-

5,000

90,000

Student Placements

-

(2,168

)

2,168

-

Your Day your Way

-

48,204

(48,204

)

-

Womens Group

-

(5,298

)

5,298

-

OPAL Crew

-

3,924

(3,924

)

-

187,302

35,750

(27,885

)

195,167

Restricted funds

Advocacy Funding OMBC

-

(16

)

16

-

OPAL Move

-

(19,025

)

19,025

-

Other grants

5,372

(14,216

)

8,844

-

5,372

(33,257

)

27,885

-

TOTAL FUNDS

192,674

2,493

-

195,167

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

11,287

(20,199

)

(8,912

)

Student Placements

11,200

(13,368

)

(2,168

)

Your Day your Way

224,323

(176,119

)

48,204

Womens Group

-

(5,298

)

(5,298

)

OPAL Crew

24,855

(20,931

)

3,924

271,665

(235,915

)

35,750

Restricted funds

Advocacy Funding OMBC

-

(16

)

(16

)

OPAL Move

-

(19,025

)

(19,025

)

Other grants

80,636

(94,852

)

(14,216

)

80,636

(113,893

)

(33,257

)

TOTAL FUNDS

352,301

(349,808

)

2,493

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

Transfers

movement

between

At

At 1.4.23

in funds

funds

31.3.24

£

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

133,668

(44,967

)

13,601

102,302

Continuity and Contingency Fund

85,000

-

-

85,000

Student Placements

-

(1,315

)

1,315

-

Your Day your Way

-

40,756

(40,756

)

-

Womens Group

-

(9,848

)

9,848

-

OPAL Crew

-

(1,923

)

1,923

-

218,668

(17,297

)

(14,069

)

187,302

Restricted funds

Advocacy Funding OMBC

-

(14,069

)

14,069

-

Learning Disability Engagement

6,945

(6,945

)

-

-

Other grants

-

5,372

-

5,372

6,945

(15,642

)

14,069

5,372

TOTAL FUNDS

225,613

(32,939

)

-

192,674