## Oxford Community Work Agency LTD **----- Start of picture text -----**
ANNUAL REPORT 2024/2025
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## SUMMARY OF CONTENT 1. Summary of Content 2. Our Service 3. Staff Summary 4. About us 7. Client profile for 2024-2025 8. Note from Manager Sarah Darby 10. Performance (Welfare Benefits) 12. Welfare Benefits Case Study 13. Performance (Debt) 14. Debt Case Study 16. Referrals 17. Consultancy 18. Sample Consultancy Queries 19. Training 20. Partnership Working 21. Thank You ## **Our Service** **1 |** P a g e ## **Barton Advice Centre** ## **Appointments** Tuesday - 9am - 4pm Wednesday - 9am - 4pm - - Thursday 9am - 4pm Friday 9am - 4pm ## **Telephone advice (for ALL Oxford City residents)** Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm Residents outside of Oxford City requiring advice should contact the Oxfordshire Specialist Advice Service on 01865 410660 ## **Oxfordshire Welfare Rights (Appointments by referral only) Consultancy Telephone Service (for agencies only)** |Tuesday|-|10am - 1pm|10am - 1pm| |---|---|---|---| |Wednesday|-|10am - 1pm|10am - 1pm| |Thursday|-|10am - 1pm|10am - 1pm| ## **Staff Summary for 2024/2025** Sarah Darby Manager 30 hours **2 |** P a g e Gary Horne Head of Debt Casework 17.5 hours Sophie Keys Training Developer and Head of Benefits Casework 35 hours Rosie Keed Adviser 10 hours per week (15 from Jan 25) Kim Dall Debt Caseworker 21 hours per week Claire Messenger Benefits Caseworker (21 hours per week from May 2024) ## **Trustees from April 2023 to March 2024** Lyn Williams Treasurer Sue Holden MBE Teresa Munby Debbie Neil ## **About us** **Background Information and History of Oxford Community Work Agency (OCWA)** _**Formerly known as the Barton Project**_ **3 |** P a g e **Oxford Community Work Agency (OCWA)** is an independent advice agency operating from the heart of Barton, on the outskirts of Oxford. We have been providing a unique service in Oxfordshire for nearly 40 years. OCWA is an organisation with two distinct parts, working hand in hand: **Barton Advice Centre** is a front-line advice service, providing free and independent advice to the Barton community, and surrounding areas. Barton is a large housing estate on the outskirts of Oxford and one of the most deprived areas in Oxford, and among the 20% most deprived areas nationally. We are the first port of call for people who do not know where to turn for advice on everyday issues such as welfare benefits, debt and housing. **Oxfordshire Welfare Rights** (OWR) is a specialist service, with expertise in social security law. We are a focal point across the county for organisations who need welfare benefit expertise to support their work. We accept referrals from other organisations (e.g. Citizens Advice Oxford, Social Services, Age UK, NHS) and undertake complex casework and tribunal representation for the whole of Oxfordshire. ## **Who we help** We work with the most vulnerable members of society, who might otherwise fall through the safety net. Our beneficiaries suffer from multiple levels of deprivation including low educational achievements, high levels of unemployment and low incomes. Illness, disability and mental-health issues are more prevalent than in the population as a whole. Last year two thirds of our beneficiaries suffered from mental and/or physical health issues. We work with people from a range of ethnic minority groups, and a high proportion of people we help are lone parent families. For most people in Barton, their income has not grown in years, and basic living costs have continued to rise. There is a high level of debt and benefit reliance on the estate. Most are squeezed by cuts to their benefits as a result of austerity and welfare reforms. In this climate, they struggle to get by. People come to us for advice on what benefits they are entitled to. They come to us to find out how all the current changes to the benefit system will affect their income, particularly Universal Credit. They come to us when they face life-changing circumstances; loss of a job, the death of a spouse, or a new health condition. People seek our advice on whether they have grounds to challenge a benefit decision and to navigate the appeal process, particularly in relation to disability benefits. People come to us to represent them at tribunal hearings, which they would not be able to face alone. Increasingly, people are coming to us with multiple and more complex issues. ## **Our service - activities of the charity** **4 |** P a g e Our specialist caseworkers take a multi-pronged approach to improve people’s lives. They: - - maximise income by advising on benefit entitlement and challenging decisions when they are wrong - in the lower and upper tribunal. - help people find solutions to long-standing debt and financial problems. - help people remain in their homes rather than being evicted for rent arrears. - provide a county-wide telephone consultancy for organisations that require specialist input and guidance. - deliver a programme of training to up-skill staff and volunteers from other organisations so that many more people can receive support. - give digital support to people who do not have access to a computer or the skills to use them. - offer resilience sessions for people who need more intensive help in building up their life skills. By helping people to gain extra resources and manage their money, we help lift people out of poverty. Even when these extra resources are relatively small, they can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. It enables additional spending on fuel, food, education, recreation and transport. It enables people to participate more fully in society. We regularly obtain feedback from clients. This helps us to capture outcomes that cannot be expressed in numbers, such as reduced stress, improved wellbeing and improved family relations. In a recent survey one beneficiary said: “Without your help I don’t think I would have had the confidence or courage to challenge the benefit decision. The process took a lot out of me both physically and mentally, but thanks to you, I can now move forward with my life.” ## **Wider public benefit** As well as helping the individuals concerned, our work has benefits for their families and for society in general. For example, an increase in a parent’s income has direct benefits on the lives of their children, and helps to reduce child poverty. Without timely advice, people’s problems often escalate and this can have profound consequences for individuals and their families, as well as a wider cost to society as other services, such as the courts, NHS and Social Services, often take the strain of supporting people whose problems have spiraled out of control. We work closely with local government and our MP and use our frontline experience to influence social policy for a more equal society. We are the only advice agency in Barton, and the only specialists in welfare benefits in the whole of Oxfordshire. Our work enables members of society to access their legal rights so they are not denied access to justice. Without us, many people would have **5 |** P a g e nowhere to go, and Oxfordshire would join the growing landscape of ‘advice deserts’ around the country. - **Mission Statement** - OCWA aims to work with individuals and local communities in Oxfordshire to:  Enable people to obtain their rights - To empower people to meet their needs and fulfil their responsibilities - To use this local experience to influence wider social - ~~oo~~ policy in working for a more equal society **Client profile in 2024/25** ~~61% of clients~~ - **6 |** P a g e were female - ~~-~~ **----- Start of picture text -----**
36% had
dependent
children
75% were
living in social
43% are living
housing
on less than
£15000 per year
48% were
73% suffered
from ethnic
with a
minority
disability
backgrounds
84% were of working age
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## **Note from Manager Sarah Darby** **7 |** P a g e I am very pleased to be able to present the Oxford Community Work Agency annual report for 2024/2025. As always, I would like to start this report by thanking my incredible team for their commitment and hard work over the past year. I am so lucky to work with such an amazing, dedicated group of people. We were absolutely delighted to have been nominated and won an award for London and Southeast Prestige Award for Wellbeing Non-Profit Organisation of the year 2024!! We had a trip down to Woking to collect the award which now sits proudly on a shelf in our office. Increased demand for our service continued into 2024/2025. We found ways of adapting and changing the way we worked to keep up with this demand through regular team meetings and external meetings. We don’t always get it right, but we are committed in continuing to look at how we manage our service and remain providing high-quality advice and support. We had a successful year with students provided through the Pro Bono Community based in London and included both Oxford Brookes and Oxford University students Their assistance was invaluable to our service, and we would like to thank them for the hard work and commitment they brought. We are looking forward to working with new students in the next academic year. We welcomed a new staff member in May 2024. Claire came to us as a benefits caseworker. She had previously worked for both West Oxfordshire and Oxford City Citizens Advice. We look forward to continuing to work with her. We were also extremely fortunate to have Carl come to volunteer for us, and he has settled into our team perfectly. I would like to thank our partners and funders for their support over the past year. We look forward to working with you all moving forward. Lastly, we would not be here if it wasn’t for our committed Trustees giving up their time for free and so I would like to thank them for their support throughout 2024/25. **8 |** P a g e ## **Sarah Darby Chief Executive Officer** ## **PERFORMANCE** **9 |** P a g e In 2024/25 we provided advice and casework to 2144 people. 1744 of these were for one off advice via face to face, digitally and by telephone. We provided new and ongoing casework for complex welfare benefits, debt and housing issues to 400 people. ## **One off advice** Below is the split of enquiry matters taken on our telephone line, email, face to face and digitally, where advice has been given, or clients have been signposted to more appropriate services. ‘Other’ enquiries include charity, employment, education and general information. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Column1
Welfare Benefits Community Care Consumer Debt Family
Housing Immigration Legal Other
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**10 |** P a g e ## **Tribunal representation 2024/2025** Oxfordshire Welfare Rights attended 41 tribunal hearings between April 2024 and March 2025 with a 91% success rate. Total financial gains for Oxfordshire residents following actual representation at hearing were **£375,685.95** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Benefits
14%
2%
19%
55
Disability Benefits UC HB ESA
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The above chart only shows results arising from attendance at appeal tribunal hearings. A further **£1,418,954.30** has been gained through new and repeat claims for benefits and challenges by way of Mandatory Reconsiderations. This means that our total benefit gains for Oxfordshire residents for the period 2024/25 was **£1,794,640.24** ## **Welfare Benefits Case Study** **11 |** P a g e D came to us in September 2024 after receiving an ESA decision in which she was found not to have limited capability for work. D has significant learning difficulties and was being supported by her sisters. D already had an award of PIP. We appealed the decision and before the case went to Tribunal, D received a letter inviting her to apply for Universal Credit. We asked for an extension to allow for the ESA appeal to be heard at the end of January 25 and this was agreed. At the beginning of February D received her Tribunal decision which was successful, and she was put into the support group. We requested a breakdown of the payment and noted that there was no Severe Disability Premium being paid, even though D had been living on her own since May 2017 and no one was receiving Carers Allowance for her. As client was due to move over to UC where SDP is not paid unless it was in payment on a legacy benefit (Transitional Protection), we asked for a further extension for D to claim UC and completed an IS10 in order to be paid the SDP. Universal Credit has now been applied for with the SDP issue running alongside. The case has been escalated to the local MP for resolution. As D was entitled to an SDP from May 2017, she will be entitled to a large back payment when resolved. **12 |** P a g e ## **Debt** OCWA’s debt specialists assisted with a total of 396 clients with 1012 debt matters between April 2024 and March 2025 with a combined outstanding balance of £1,471,136.30. In contrast to the previous year priority debt overtook non-priority debt slightly in 2024/25 with 51% of debts being priority. **----- Start of picture text -----**
0.49
48% 50% 52%
Non Priority Priority
35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
0.085
Rent and mortgage arrears Consumer credit Utility debt
Benefit Overpayments Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
A total of £956,775.95 of debt was written off for clients across the City of Oxford following OCWA’s intervention by March 2025. We further made charity applications on behalf of 211 residents totaling £30,082.48 Total advice and caseworker financial gains from April 2023 to March 2024 Specialist benefits advice and caseworker gains £1,794,640.24 Debt gains £956,775.95 Charity Applications £30,082.48 **Total £2,781,498.67** **13 |** P a g e ## _**Debt Case Study**_ J is a single parent, working and income topped up with Universal Credit. J has a history of mental health problems, and this was made worse following the death of her father. It is at this time her finances spiralled out of control and debt occurred. An issue for J was that she had an Amigo loan, and her mother was guarantor. This means that if J failed to pay, Amigo would demand payment from her mother. Having her mother as guarantor was causing considerable distress for J as she struggled to keep up with payments. We advised J how to challenge her mother’s liability. This was because Amigo failed to follow the correct procedures and her mother’s name was removed from the agreement. The debts were causing severe distress for J and she was having to take time off work because of the anxiety of owing rent, council tax arrears and credit. This resulted in loss of income, and we helped Jenny through the month with food shopping vouchers. Because J had no money to repay the debts and no savings or property, we were able to apply for a Debt Relief Order. This is a form of insolvency which clears all the debts once discharged after twelve months. J is now debt free, managing her budget and in a much more stable situation. **14 |** P a g e ## **Referrals from other service providers** 161 clients were referred or signposted to us by other service providers across the County in 2024/25. The chart below shows the split of referrals geographically across the county of Oxfordshire. The five largest referring and signposting agencies are recorded below. **----- Start of picture text -----**
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Solicitors Housing Associations Other Advice Agencies CAB
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**15 |** P a g e ## **Consultancy Lines** The total number of calls taken from service providers across both Oxfordshire and Pentreath in 2024/25 was 184. The breakdown of providers using our consultancy service were as follows: **----- Start of picture text -----**
Consultancy users
CAB Support Services
Social Services Drs and Medical Other services
**----- End of picture text -----**
## Below is a breakdown of the top five enquiries taken on our consultancy line. **----- Start of picture text -----**
45.00%
40.00%
35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
ESA Dis Bens HB UC Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
**16 |** P a g e ## **Sample Consultancy Queries** ## **Q. 17 yr old disabled student in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) + Limited Capability for Work (LCW) in place - as cancer patient. Client applied for Universal Credit but was refused. Is this correct?** **A.** Client is considered a 'qualifying young person' for benefit purposes as she is 17 and doing non-advanced college course. Therefore, there is no Universal Credit entitlement - despite automatic entitlement to LCW (cancer) and PIP. We check any relevant exceptions ie: whether client is estranged from parents or has dropped out of the course due to ill health - and there are none that apply in this instance. Parents can claim UC (if appropriate) and Child Benefit remains in place. ## **Q. Cl is on ESA and PIP. Lives with her brother. Was advised by a support charity to move onto UC. Is this right? Also wants to know if she should ask for her PIP award to be looked at again.** **A.** Checked circumstances s and advised that she is better off staying on ESA until invited to claim UC. Worked out PIP award is Standard Rate Daily Living and Standard Rate Mobility. Advised client to find her award letter to check dates of award. Need to find out how long it is for before considering a supersession. ## **Q. Client will be made redundant in January and receive £10800. She is a homeowner with a 15yr old child. She wants to start SE business. What might she be entitled to?** **A.** Possibly Universal Credit but would need to follow all rules on providing income/expenditure. Work would need to be ‘genuine and effective’. She may also be eligible for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme once her savings are less than £6k ## **Training** **17 |** P a g e We continued providing digital training for advice and support workers across Oxfordshire and nationally. Courses delivered were: Introduction to Benefits, Work Capability Assessment, Universal Credit, ESA, Personal Independence Payments, Households and Benefits, Introduction to Advice Work and Mixed Aged Couples. ## **Feedback on training** I think the training was useful in highlighting just how rubbish the benefits system is and that no-one, other than a fully trained advisor who is able to always be up to date with the benefits system, should be advising clients on benefits. I will not be giving any advice to my clients but the training has given me an understanding of the benefits process which I will be able to help my clients with Very informative and helpful. Sophie was very approachable and willing to help. Sophie’s Benefit training sessions are very informative, and she is very knowledgeable and supportive. I think it is the nature of the subject that I will still always have questions as everyone’s individual circumstances are different. I personally think this training should be mandatory and we should also be encouraged to refresh it. ## **Partnership Working** **18 |** P a g e ## **Thames Water Trust** We continued our partnership with the Agnes Smith Advice Centre to provide advice and applications for assistance funded by the Thames Water Trust. ## **Oxfordshire Specialist Advice Service/Oxfordshire Advice Partnership** Age UK Oxfordshire, Citizens Advice Oxford, Citizens Advice West Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire Welfare Rights have been working together since 2016 to provide a free, comprehensive, independent advice service. Our contract for the Oxfordshire Specialist Advice Service (OSAS) ended at the end of October 2024 and after a successful tender, the Oxfordshire Advice Partnership which included past partners and now including Rosehill and Donnington Advice Centre, Agnes Smith Advice Centre and two other district Citizens Advice began at the beginning of November. The service helps with queries around benefits, money advice, budgeting and other welfare issues, and will link clients into services that can provide further support. This service is free for people to use. It is jointly funded by Adult Social Care and Children, Education and Families, so it is focused on meeting the needs of people living in Oxfordshire who are struggling with their day-to-day lives due to disability or ill health. **19 |** P a g e During 2024/25 Oxfordshire Welfare Rights assisted Oxfordshire residents with complex benefit issues, including a significantly increased number of upper tribunal cases, securing £647,262.88 of benefits income. ## **IPS Pentreath** We started working on a project with IPS in Pentreath providing a welfare benefits consultancy service and appeal casework and representation. This project is delivered by one of our remote workers who lives in Cornwall. In 2024/2025 we provided consultancy advice on 105 issues and secured financial gains of £12,772.72. We look forward to continuing our relationship moving forward. ## **Turpin Miller Solicitors** Laura from Turpin Miller continued to provide housing advice and support from our offices once a fortnight. This has worked well and has meant that our clients have easier access to specialized housing support and advice. **20 |** P a g e ## **THANK YOU** We would not be able to continue delivering our service if it weren’t for funders and other support services. We would like to say thank you to all the organisations who provided us with funding in 2023/24: Oxford City Council AgeUK Thames Water Bretherton Solicitors The Oxford City Advice Centre Forum The Access to Justice Foundation AdviceUK Oxfordshire County Council IPS Pentreath The Pro Bono Community, London We would also like to thank the following organisations for the support they gave us in 2024/2025 and look forward to continuing to work with you over the coming year. JustGlobal Netteam In-Reach Moneyiq **21 |** P a g e **REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 01785651 (England and Wales)** ## **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED** ## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS** **AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** Mercer Lewin Ltd Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 6-7 Citibase New Barclay House 234 Botley Road Oxford OX2 0HP **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **Contents** Page |1|Report of the Directors| |---|---| |2|Statement of Directors' responsibilities| |3|Independent Examiner's report| |4|Statement of Financial Activities| |5|Balance Sheet| |6-8|Notes to the Financial Statements| |9|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities| Registered Charity No. 1049343 Company No. 01785651 ## Principal address and registered office: Barton Neighbourhood Centre Underhill Circus Oxford OX3 9LS Manager: Sarah Darby ## Independent Examiner Andrew Churchill Stone FCA DChA Mercer Lewin Ltd Chartered Accountants 6-7 Citibase, New Barclay House 234 Botley Road Oxford, OX2 0HP ## Bankers Unity Trust Bank 9 Brindley Place Oozells Square Birmingham B1 2HB The Charity Bank Ltd Fosse House 182 High Street Tonbridge TN9 1BE Page 1. ## **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** The directors submit their report together with the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the FRS102. ## **Principal activities** The principal activity of the company during the year was to provide advice on welfare rights, employment rights and community work. ## **Organisation** The company is a registered charity, No. 1049343 and is a company limited by guarantee. The company is governed by the terms of its memorandum and articles of association. The board of directors meets on a regular basis to fix matters of policy and strategy.The day to day management of the company's activities is delegated to a manager and other full time staff. ## **Activities** A detailed review of the company's activities, including details of those organisations with which it has collaborated in delivery of its services, can be found in the annual report. ## **Directors** The directors who served during the year were as follows:- S Holden N L T Williams T Munby D Scarborough The directors are appointed by the members of the company. ## **Financial review** The main part of the company's activity is concerned with the giving of advice and support, and these services are provided by paid staff. The main sources of funding are grants from local authorities. Following a deficit of £10,570 recorded in 2023-24, the company achieved a surplus of £18,380 in 2024-25. This was due to the receipt of some significant grants, notably one of £64,966 from the Access to Justice Foundation, as well as to continued tightening of controls over expenditure OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (CONTINUED) Reserves policy The company's policy is to hold six months of expenditure in reserve to ensure continuity of service in times of funding uncertainty. Six months, expenditure represents approximately £123,000. Page 2. Fortunately, due to the surpluses achieved in most recent years, the company's reserves still exceed this figure, now standing at £159,542. The directors are determined to maintain compliance wth this reserves policy in future years in spite of continuing pressure on local authorty budgets. The board have reviewed the risks to which the charity is exposed and policies have been put in place to minimise those risks. STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS. RESPONSIBILITIES Company law requires the directors to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period. In preparing those accounts the directors are required to: select suitsble accounting policies and apply them consistently., make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent., prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business. The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose wth reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for tsking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The directors, report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. By order of the Board 21 Oclober 2025 N L T Williams Director Page 3. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 4 to 9 appended to this report. Respective responsibFlities of D1￿ctOrS and Examiner The directors are responsible for the preparation of the accounts., they consider that the audit requirement of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility, without performing an audit, to cary out an examinab'on of the accounts. to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission and to state whether any particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Examiner's statement My report is in respect of an examination carried out under s145 of the Act and in accordance with directions given by the Charity Commissioners under subsects'on 5(b} of that section. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the directors and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records which is primarity limited to analytical prO￿dureS and to the making of such enquiries of the directors as was necessary for the purposes of this reF)Ort. The procedures undertaken do not constitute an audit. Examiner's statement Based on my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect, accounting records have not been kept on accordance with s130 of the Act, or that the accounts presented do not accord with those records or comply with the accounts.ng requirements of the Act. No matter has come to my attention to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. A Churchill Stone FCA DChA Mercer Lewin Limited Chartered Accountants 41 Cornmarket Street Oxford OX13HA 21 October 2025 Page 4. ## **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT** |**Note**
**Income:**
Fundraising/donations
Income from Charitable Activities:
Grants receivable
1a
Training and similar income
Bank/investment interest
**Total incoming resources**
**Expenditure**
Expenditure on Charitable Activies
Governance costs
1b
**Total resources expended**
**Net movement in funds**
**before transfers**
**Transfers between funds**
11
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**for the year**
**Total funds brought forward**
**Total funds carried forward**|**Restricted**
**General**
**Designated**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
16,640
235,885
-
-
13,103
-
-
-
-
-
248,989
-
16,640
219,583
876
16,640
10,149
-
-
229,732
876
16,640
19,256
(876)
-
(876)
876
-
18,380
-
-
141,162
-
-
159,542
-
-
**Unrestricted Funds**|**Total**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
16,640
235,885
13,103
-
265,629
237,099
10,149
247,248
18,380
-
18,380
141,162
159,542|Total
Funds
2024
£
-
230,083
2,490
2,799
235,372
236,019
9,924
245,943
(10,570)
-
(10,570)
151,732
141,162| |---|---|---|---| Page 5. OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025 2025 2024 Note Fixed assets Tangible assets Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 2,631 172,427 1,860 148,029 175,058 149,890 Creditors - amounts falling due within one year 15,516 8,728 141,162 141,162 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities 159,542 159,542 Represented by: Unrestricted funds General Designated 159,542 141,162 Restricted funds 159,542 159,542 141,162 141,162 The directors are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the period by virtue of section 477, and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act. The directors acknowledge their responsilibity for: (i) ensuring that the company keeps proper accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act, and (li) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair Mew of the state of affairs ofthe company as at the end of the financial period and of its profit or loss for the financial period in accordance with the requirements of section 393, and thich otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act relating to financial statements, so far as appSicable to the company. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies A¢t 2006 relating to small companies. These financial statements were approved by the Board on 21 October 2025. N L T Williams Director Page 6. **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **1. Principal accounting policies** The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. Oxford Community Work Agency meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note. ## (a) Grants Grants receivable represent amounts received during the year as adjusted for any elements that were given to fund expenditure in future periods, which are included in the balance sheet as deferred income. ## (b) Allocation of expenditure in Statement of Financial Activities Administrators' salaries and accountancy and audit costs are classified as management and administration costs. All other costs, which principally relate to welfare rights workers' salaries, premises costs and office overheads, are classified as direct charitable expenditure. ## (c) Depreciation Depreciation is provided on a straight line basis at rates estimated to reduce the cost of fixed assets to their residual values over their anticipated useful lives. The following annual rates are used: |Office equipment|25.00%| |---|---| |Computer equipment|33.33%| ## (d) Fixed asset investments Fixed asset investments are stated at market value. ## (e) Pension contributions The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for employees. Contributions to the scheme are charged to the Income and Expenditure account as they fall due. ## **2. Income and expenditure** Income and expenditure is shown in detail in the Detailed Statement of Financial Activities set out on page 9. |**3. Net movement in funds**
The net movement in funds is stated after charging:
Independent Examiner's remuneration|**2025**
**£**
1,530|2024
£
1,620| |---|---|---| ## **4. Directors' emoluments** The directors received no emoluments or reimbursements of expenses from the company during the year. Page 7. ## **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (CONTINUED)** |**5. Employees' emoluments**
Salaries
Employers' National Insurance
Pension contributions
The average number of employees during the year was:
No employee earned more than £60,000 in the year.
**6. Tangible fixed assets**
**Cost**
At 1 April 2024
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
**Net Book Value**
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024|**2025**
**£**
148,087
8,222
11,669
167,978
6
Office
Computer
equipment equipment
£
£
7,177
52,249
-
876
-
-
7,177
53,125
7,177
52,249
-
876
-
-
7,177
53,125
-
-
-
-|2024
£
131,345
6,252
11,077
148,675
6
**Total**
**£**
59,426
876
-
60,302
59,426
876
-
60,302
-
-| |---|---|---| All of the assets shown above are used in direct furtherance of the charity's objects. |**7. Debtors**
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors
**8. Creditors - amounts falling due within one year**
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Taxation and social security
Accruals|**2025**
**£**
1,500
1,131
2,631
**2025**
**£**
3,211
6,500
4,336
1,470
15,516|2024
£
729
1,131
1,860
2024
£
3,877
-
3,441
1,410
8,728| |---|---|---| Page 8. **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (CONTINUED)** ## **9. Status of company** The company is a registered charity and is limited by guarantee without a share capital. The maximum liability of each member for payment of debts of the company is £1. At 31 March 2025 there were 4 members. ## **10. Restricted funds** During the year, the company received restricted funds received and spent during the year were £16,640, made up of grants from Thames Water. ## **11. Designated funds - fixed assets** |Transfers (to)/from general fund
Expenditure in year
Net movement in funds
Balance brought forward
Balance carried forward|£
876
(876)
-
-
-| |---|---| The fixed assets fund was set up to eliminate from general funds those amounts represented by fixed assets. Transfers are made to or from this fund to reflect the annual movement in the value of fixed assets. |**12. Split of assets between funds**
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets|General Designated
fund
funds
£
£
-
-
159,542
-
159,542
-|**Total**
**£**
-
159,542
159,542| |---|---|---| Page 9. ## **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED** ## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** |**INCOME**
Access to Justice Foundation
AdviceUK
Age UK
Bank interest receivable
Household Support Fund
Interest on investments
IPS Pentreath
Oxford City Council grant
Oxford County Council grant
Oxfordshire Community Foundation
Sovereign Vale
Thames Water
Training and similar income
**EXPENDITURE**
Cost of Charitable Activities
Bank charges
Depreciation
Disbursements
HR Support
Insurance
Legal and professional fees
Photocopying, printing, stationery
Postage
Rent and rates
Repairs, renewals, computing and internet
Salaries and wages
Service charges
Subscriptions, books and periodicals
Sundry costs
Telephone
Training and courses
Travel and subsistence
Governance costs
Accountancy and audit
Bookkeeping
**Transfers between funds**
**Surplus/(deficit) for the year**|**General**
**Designated**
**£**
**£**
64,966
-
-
-
19,708
-
971
-
10,000
-
1,958
-
9,181
-
109,100
-
20,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
13,103
-
248,988
-
126
-
-
876
9,000
-
2,563
-
2,255
-
3,154
-
2,938
-
1,214
-
11,148
-
19,751
-
151,338
-
2,988
-
3,979
-
1,926
-
4,707
-
689
-
1,806
-
1,530
-
8,619
-
229,732
876
19,256
(876)
(876)
876
18,380
-
**Unrestricted Funds**|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16,640
-
16,640
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16,640
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16,640
-
-
-|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
64,966
-
19,708
971
10,000
1,958
9,181
109,100
20,000
-
-
16,640
13,103
265,628
126
876
9,000
2,563
2,255
3,154
2,938
1,214
11,148
19,751
167,978
2,988
3,979
1,926
4,707
689
1,806
1,530
8,619
247,248
18,380
-
18,380|Total
2024
£
14,672
25,000
18,000
2,799
-
-
9,181
137,200
-
12,550
1,000
12,480
2,490
235,372
135
2,233
10,454
5,607
3,821
5,226
12,723
2,116
10,125
13,445
148,675
8,080
4,234
2,135
3,848
941
2,221
1,620
8,304
245,943
(10,570)
-
(10,570)| |---|---|---|---|---| **REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 01785651 (England and Wales)** ## **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED** ## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS** **AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** Mercer Lewin Ltd Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 6-7 Citibase New Barclay House 234 Botley Road Oxford OX2 0HP **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **Contents** Page |1|Report of the Directors| |---|---| |2|Statement of Directors' responsibilities| |3|Independent Examiner's report| |4|Statement of Financial Activities| |5|Balance Sheet| |6-8|Notes to the Financial Statements| |9|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities| Registered Charity No. 1049343 Company No. 01785651 ## Principal address and registered office: Barton Neighbourhood Centre Underhill Circus Oxford OX3 9LS Manager: Sarah Darby ## Independent Examiner Andrew Churchill Stone FCA DChA Mercer Lewin Ltd Chartered Accountants 6-7 Citibase, New Barclay House 234 Botley Road Oxford, OX2 0HP ## Bankers Unity Trust Bank 9 Brindley Place Oozells Square Birmingham B1 2HB The Charity Bank Ltd Fosse House 182 High Street Tonbridge TN9 1BE Page 1. ## **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** The directors submit their report together with the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the FRS102. ## **Principal activities** The principal activity of the company during the year was to provide advice on welfare rights, employment rights and community work. ## **Organisation** The company is a registered charity, No. 1049343 and is a company limited by guarantee. The company is governed by the terms of its memorandum and articles of association. The board of directors meets on a regular basis to fix matters of policy and strategy.The day to day management of the company's activities is delegated to a manager and other full time staff. ## **Activities** A detailed review of the company's activities, including details of those organisations with which it has collaborated in delivery of its services, can be found in the annual report. ## **Directors** The directors who served during the year were as follows:- S Holden N L T Williams T Munby D Scarborough The directors are appointed by the members of the company. ## **Financial review** The main part of the company's activity is concerned with the giving of advice and support, and these services are provided by paid staff. The main sources of funding are grants from local authorities. Following a deficit of £10,570 recorded in 2023-24, the company achieved a surplus of £18,380 in 2024-25. This was due to the receipt of some significant grants, notably one of £64,966 from the Access to Justice Foundation, as well as to continued tightening of controls over expenditure OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (CONTINUED) Reserves policy The company's policy is to hold six months of expenditure in reserve to ensure continuity of service in times of funding uncertainty. Six months, expenditure represents approximately £123,000. Page 2. Fortunately, due to the surpluses achieved in most recent years, the company's reserves still exceed this figure, now standing at £159,542. The directors are determined to maintain compliance wth this reserves policy in future years in spite of continuing pressure on local authorty budgets. The board have reviewed the risks to which the charity is exposed and policies have been put in place to minimise those risks. STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS. RESPONSIBILITIES Company law requires the directors to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period. In preparing those accounts the directors are required to: select suitsble accounting policies and apply them consistently., make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent., prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business. The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose wth reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for tsking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The directors, report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. By order of the Board 21 Oclober 2025 N L T Williams Director Page 3. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 4 to 9 appended to this report. Respective responsibFlities of D1￿ctOrS and Examiner The directors are responsible for the preparation of the accounts., they consider that the audit requirement of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility, without performing an audit, to cary out an examinab'on of the accounts. to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission and to state whether any particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Examiner's statement My report is in respect of an examination carried out under s145 of the Act and in accordance with directions given by the Charity Commissioners under subsects'on 5(b} of that section. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the directors and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records which is primarity limited to analytical prO￿dureS and to the making of such enquiries of the directors as was necessary for the purposes of this reF)Ort. The procedures undertaken do not constitute an audit. Examiner's statement Based on my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect, accounting records have not been kept on accordance with s130 of the Act, or that the accounts presented do not accord with those records or comply with the accounts.ng requirements of the Act. No matter has come to my attention to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. A Churchill Stone FCA DChA Mercer Lewin Limited Chartered Accountants 41 Cornmarket Street Oxford OX13HA 21 October 2025 Page 4. ## **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT** |**Note**
**Income:**
Fundraising/donations
Income from Charitable Activities:
Grants receivable
1a
Training and similar income
Bank/investment interest
**Total incoming resources**
**Expenditure**
Expenditure on Charitable Activies
Governance costs
1b
**Total resources expended**
**Net movement in funds**
**before transfers**
**Transfers between funds**
11
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**for the year**
**Total funds brought forward**
**Total funds carried forward**|**Restricted**
**General**
**Designated**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
16,640
235,885
-
-
13,103
-
-
-
-
-
248,989
-
16,640
219,583
876
16,640
10,149
-
-
229,732
876
16,640
19,256
(876)
-
(876)
876
-
18,380
-
-
141,162
-
-
159,542
-
-
**Unrestricted Funds**|**Total**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
16,640
235,885
13,103
-
265,629
237,099
10,149
247,248
18,380
-
18,380
141,162
159,542|Total
Funds
2024
£
-
230,083
2,490
2,799
235,372
236,019
9,924
245,943
(10,570)
-
(10,570)
151,732
141,162| |---|---|---|---| Page 5. OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025 2025 2024 Note Fixed assets Tangible assets Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 2,631 172,427 1,860 148,029 175,058 149,890 Creditors - amounts falling due within one year 15,516 8,728 141,162 141,162 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities 159,542 159,542 Represented by: Unrestricted funds General Designated 159,542 141,162 Restricted funds 159,542 159,542 141,162 141,162 The directors are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the period by virtue of section 477, and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act. The directors acknowledge their responsilibity for: (i) ensuring that the company keeps proper accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act, and (li) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair Mew of the state of affairs ofthe company as at the end of the financial period and of its profit or loss for the financial period in accordance with the requirements of section 393, and thich otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act relating to financial statements, so far as appSicable to the company. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies A¢t 2006 relating to small companies. These financial statements were approved by the Board on 21 October 2025. N L T Williams Director Page 6. **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **1. Principal accounting policies** The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. Oxford Community Work Agency meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note. ## (a) Grants Grants receivable represent amounts received during the year as adjusted for any elements that were given to fund expenditure in future periods, which are included in the balance sheet as deferred income. ## (b) Allocation of expenditure in Statement of Financial Activities Administrators' salaries and accountancy and audit costs are classified as management and administration costs. All other costs, which principally relate to welfare rights workers' salaries, premises costs and office overheads, are classified as direct charitable expenditure. ## (c) Depreciation Depreciation is provided on a straight line basis at rates estimated to reduce the cost of fixed assets to their residual values over their anticipated useful lives. The following annual rates are used: |Office equipment|25.00%| |---|---| |Computer equipment|33.33%| ## (d) Fixed asset investments Fixed asset investments are stated at market value. ## (e) Pension contributions The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for employees. Contributions to the scheme are charged to the Income and Expenditure account as they fall due. ## **2. Income and expenditure** Income and expenditure is shown in detail in the Detailed Statement of Financial Activities set out on page 9. |**3. Net movement in funds**
The net movement in funds is stated after charging:
Independent Examiner's remuneration|**2025**
**£**
1,530|2024
£
1,620| |---|---|---| ## **4. Directors' emoluments** The directors received no emoluments or reimbursements of expenses from the company during the year. Page 7. ## **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (CONTINUED)** |**5. Employees' emoluments**
Salaries
Employers' National Insurance
Pension contributions
The average number of employees during the year was:
No employee earned more than £60,000 in the year.
**6. Tangible fixed assets**
**Cost**
At 1 April 2024
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
**Net Book Value**
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024|**2025**
**£**
148,087
8,222
11,669
167,978
6
Office
Computer
equipment equipment
£
£
7,177
52,249
-
876
-
-
7,177
53,125
7,177
52,249
-
876
-
-
7,177
53,125
-
-
-
-|2024
£
131,345
6,252
11,077
148,675
6
**Total**
**£**
59,426
876
-
60,302
59,426
876
-
60,302
-
-| |---|---|---| All of the assets shown above are used in direct furtherance of the charity's objects. |**7. Debtors**
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors
**8. Creditors - amounts falling due within one year**
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Taxation and social security
Accruals|**2025**
**£**
1,500
1,131
2,631
**2025**
**£**
3,211
6,500
4,336
1,470
15,516|2024
£
729
1,131
1,860
2024
£
3,877
-
3,441
1,410
8,728| |---|---|---| Page 8. **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (CONTINUED)** ## **9. Status of company** The company is a registered charity and is limited by guarantee without a share capital. The maximum liability of each member for payment of debts of the company is £1. At 31 March 2025 there were 4 members. ## **10. Restricted funds** During the year, the company received restricted funds received and spent during the year were £16,640, made up of grants from Thames Water. ## **11. Designated funds - fixed assets** |Transfers (to)/from general fund
Expenditure in year
Net movement in funds
Balance brought forward
Balance carried forward|£
876
(876)
-
-
-| |---|---| The fixed assets fund was set up to eliminate from general funds those amounts represented by fixed assets. Transfers are made to or from this fund to reflect the annual movement in the value of fixed assets. |**12. Split of assets between funds**
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets|General Designated
fund
funds
£
£
-
-
159,542
-
159,542
-|**Total**
**£**
-
159,542
159,542| |---|---|---| Page 9. ## **OXFORD COMMUNITY WORK AGENCY LIMITED** ## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** |**INCOME**
Access to Justice Foundation
AdviceUK
Age UK
Bank interest receivable
Household Support Fund
Interest on investments
IPS Pentreath
Oxford City Council grant
Oxford County Council grant
Oxfordshire Community Foundation
Sovereign Vale
Thames Water
Training and similar income
**EXPENDITURE**
Cost of Charitable Activities
Bank charges
Depreciation
Disbursements
HR Support
Insurance
Legal and professional fees
Photocopying, printing, stationery
Postage
Rent and rates
Repairs, renewals, computing and internet
Salaries and wages
Service charges
Subscriptions, books and periodicals
Sundry costs
Telephone
Training and courses
Travel and subsistence
Governance costs
Accountancy and audit
Bookkeeping
**Transfers between funds**
**Surplus/(deficit) for the year**|**General**
**Designated**
**£**
**£**
64,966
-
-
-
19,708
-
971
-
10,000
-
1,958
-
9,181
-
109,100
-
20,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
13,103
-
248,988
-
126
-
-
876
9,000
-
2,563
-
2,255
-
3,154
-
2,938
-
1,214
-
11,148
-
19,751
-
151,338
-
2,988
-
3,979
-
1,926
-
4,707
-
689
-
1,806
-
1,530
-
8,619
-
229,732
876
19,256
(876)
(876)
876
18,380
-
**Unrestricted Funds**|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16,640
-
16,640
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16,640
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16,640
-
-
-|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
64,966
-
19,708
971
10,000
1,958
9,181
109,100
20,000
-
-
16,640
13,103
265,628
126
876
9,000
2,563
2,255
3,154
2,938
1,214
11,148
19,751
167,978
2,988
3,979
1,926
4,707
689
1,806
1,530
8,619
247,248
18,380
-
18,380|Total
2024
£
14,672
25,000
18,000
2,799
-
-
9,181
137,200
-
12,550
1,000
12,480
2,490
235,372
135
2,233
10,454
5,607
3,821
5,226
12,723
2,116
10,125
13,445
148,675
8,080
4,234
2,135
3,848
941
2,221
1,620
8,304
245,943
(10,570)
-
(10,570)| |---|---|---|---|---|