Annual Report and Financial Statements
For the year ended 31[st ] August 2022
Report of the Trustees
Charity Name
OSCAR UK Information Service for World Mission
Registered Charity Number 1093265
Address City Works Alfred Street Gloucester GL1 4DF
Trustees Mrs Susan O’Dell Mr. Michael J. Frith Mrs. Tracey Ryland
Director Mr. Michael J. Frith
Structure
OSCAR is governed according to a trust deed and managed by a board of trustees. Trustees are appointed by a resolution of the trustees passed by a majority of the trustees.
Objectives and Activities
As stated in the trust deed: `The objects of OSCAR are to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Beliefs appearing in the Schedule hereto in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the Trustees may from time to time think fit by the management of an information website on the world-wide internet to:
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provide a comprehensive resource for United Kingdom missionaries and overseas Christian workers
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research new ways of providing more effective transport and propagation of the Trust's services
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provide a network for mission organisations, associations and services in order to pool resources and
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to develop teaching, training and consultation services for missionaries, mission organisations and their supporters to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Christian mission work throughout the world
and to fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales and are connected with the charitable work of the Trust.’
We review our aims, objectives and activities each year. This report is part of that process that helps us remain focused on our stated purposes. We have referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when conducting this process. In particular, we consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objects of the charity and provide public benefit.
We have had five people providing regular, paid-for services to OSCAR throughout the year – one acting as Director, the others in roles including Administration, SEO and Website Development. Each of these have been self-employed and contracted to provide these services. In addition to these, four volunteers helped with database checking and at exhibitions.
The trust continues to maintain and develop the OSCAR website as its main activity in achieving the trust’s objectives. In addition, in support of the website and to further these objectives, a significant amount of email, online, telephone and face-to-face support (particularly at exhibitions, conferences and training events) is conducted. Access to our website and other information services is provided free and without restriction to all who wish to access them.
OSCAR’s Unique Selling Point
There are few organisations in the UK which offer independent advice and help to anyone with questions about Christian mission. Most are either linked to an individual mission organisation or have other agendas or restrictive criteria when giving out advice. OSCAR remains the only completely independent, comprehensive service offering free advice and help across the board. Our users/beneficiaries may be Christian mission workers in active ministry, those enquiring about opportunities, or those who support mission in one way or another. We help them free of charge, regardless of their associations or particular Christian beliefs.
Review of the Year, Achievements and Performance
After the COVID-19 crisis last year, this year has been relatively back to normal. Exhibitions and some face-to-face activities have taken place and, therefore, income and expenditure in these areas has increased again.
Website
Website visits have settled down to just over 26,000 per month. Page views are around 170,000 per month.
Our incremental development plan continued through the year, with several new developments being rolled out at different times.
We continue to monitor the optimisation of many of OSCAR’s key web pages to improve ranking with Internet search engines. This means that as well as the homepage, many other specific web pages on the OSCAR website appear high up in search returns when an individual uses a relevant search term to that page or section. This year we also undertook a SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) audit and made some adjustments.
Social Media
OSCARactive, our separate online mission-focused community website, continues to have over 740 registered members (and many other visitors who browse the community).
We also maintain a strong presence in various social networks, particularly Facebook (1522 likes/1706 follows), Twitter (2160 followers), Linkedin (209 members) and, most
recently developed, Instagram (255 followers), in order to provide OSCAR’s advice and services beyond our regular user base.
Mission Participation
Our open content management system, where mission organisations, support organisations and churches can have their own account and update their own information, opportunities, events and resources, has seen a further increase in participation. The number of organisations managing their own account grew from 730 to 810 during the year. We advertised 2820 opportunities during the year (up from 2464 last year) averaging 235 each month.
‘I regularly advertise ECM Britain's mission opportunities on OSCAR. OSCAR provides a great service to Christian organisations at a very reasonable price. It also provides a wealth of information and advice to individuals who are serving in Christian professions or considering mission. I regularly refer people to OSCAR for opportunities and information. A big thanks to the team at OSCAR for all that they do. '
Rachel Gurney, HR Assistant, European Christian Mission Britain
Our directories include 689 agencies, 654 service providers, 1057 mission-minded churches, 1211 resources and 46 events.
All UK based mission agencies, support organisations and mission-minded churches on our database (around 2000 in total) were sent an annual email during the year informing them of their entry on our site and highlighting how OSCAR can benefit them in their mission interest and involvement.
OSCAR Email Newsletters
Subscription to our main monthly OSCAR Update email climbed to just over 2000. Our three other mailing lists all increased significantly with the new system, including our email news to organisations who utilise our services (724), to churches who have requested it (712), and to individuals looking for opportunities (1470). These are tailored with advice, information and news relevant to them.
Conference Exhibitions
This year we participated in six major conference exhibitions. At most of these we host a Christian jobs and mission opportunities board, as well as a resources board profiling a range of key resources and services from other organisations of benefit to those interested or involved in mission. It has been well received by those who have visited the stand.
Training &Consultancy services
During the year we carried out a mix of online and face-to-face training courses/sessions. We conducted 17 in total.
Reserves Policy
In normal times, we aim to maintain, as an ongoing reserve, a cash balance of between three and six months expenditure. Further reserves may be carried over from year to year
where a significant grant or donation has been made and the planned spending of the donation is spread over more than one year. We also aim to build up further reserves for any new major website development we might undertake in the future.
This year’s final balance of £46,574 (2021 - £45,370) equates to 78% of the total annual expenditure figure. Our overall income for the year was 2% greater than our expenditure. The charity ended the year in a healthy position financially.
Signed by Date 18/10/2022
Michael Frith, Trustee (on behalf of all trustees)
Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31[st ] August 2022
| Receipts and Payments Accounts | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Receipts | |||||
| Donations | 1) | 789 | 80 | 869 | 1,045 |
| Sponsorship | 3,246 | 3,246 | 4,178 | ||
| Fees | 2) | 33,990 | 33,990 | 23,772 | |
| Grants | 3) | 7,000 | 7,000 | 9,680 | |
| Training services | 3,054 | 3,054 | 4,489 | ||
| Exhibitions | 8,089 | 8,089 | 3,190 | ||
| Office | 4,515 | 4,515 | 4,436 | ||
| Other income | 4) | 46 | 46 | 78 | |
| Total Receipts | 60,729 | 80 | 60,809 | 50,868 | |
| Payments | |||||
| Fundraising and Publicity | 82 | 82 | 0 | ||
| Charitable payments: | |||||
| Office | 6,739 | 6,739 | 6,759 | ||
| General admin | 213 | 213 | 321 | ||
| Website direct costs | 592 | 592 | 498 | ||
| Website development | 4,409 | 4,409 | 1,854 | ||
| Worker development | 0 | 0 | 60 | ||
| Travel | 5) | 248 | 248 | 0 | |
| Equipment purchase | 205 | 205 | 1,861 | ||
| Workers | 40,069 | 40,069 | 22,059 | ||
| Insurances | 6) | 593 | 593 | 576 | |
| Training services | 412 | 412 | 703 | ||
| Exhibitions | 5,027 | 5,027 | 1,961 | ||
| Job sponsorship | 556 | 556 | 1,252 | ||
| Grants given | 7) | 80 | 80 | 1,551 | |
| Other payments | 8) | 380 | 380 | 220 | |
| Total Payments | 59,525 | 80 | 59,605 | 39,675 | |
| Net Receipts (Payments) | 1,204 | 0 | 1,204 | 11,193 | |
| Cash funds last year end | 45,163 | 207 | 45,370 | 34,177 | |
| Cash funds this year end | 9) | 46,367 | 207 | 46,574 | 45,370 |
The above Receipts and Payments Account was approved by the trustees on 18/10/2022 and is signed on their behalf by trustee Michael Frith
Assets & Liabilities
| Cash Funds_(see note 11) 31/08/22 £ 46,574 Debtors Amounts owing to the charity(see note 12) 31/08/22 £ 2,909 Creditors Amounts owed by the charity(see note 13) 31/08/22 £ 1,331 Assets retained for the charity’s own use(see note 14)_ iPhone 7 Plus (NEW/secondhand) Purchased 27/12/21 Dell XPS13 9300 laptop (>1 year old) Purchased 27/10/20 Apple iPad Air 2019 (>3 year old) Purchased 29/04/19 TOTAL VALUE |
31/08/21 £ 45,370 31/08/21 £ 3,204 31/08/21 £ 1,037 £154 (100%) £1394 (75%) £146 (25%) |
|
|---|---|---|
| £1,694 |
Notes to the Accounts
Receipts
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1) Donations include cash donations from individuals and organisations, including Gift Aid where appropriate, as well as income from affiliate schemes. Restricted amounts £80 (2020/21 - £80) all restricted to grant payments for TCK related activities.
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2) Fees include the income from OSCAR’s ‘extra services’: the annual package (profile page & vacancies) and the posting of individual vacancies on the website.
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3) Includes grants from five charitable trusts.
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4) Includes bank interest.
Payments
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5) Amounts paid to the trustees for travel to trustee meetings amounted to £0 (2020/2021 - £0). No remuneration was paid to trustees in the year (2020/2021 - £0) except as detailed in Note 10.
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6) Insurances include charity liability, trustee indemnity insurance, contents and cyber insurance, which all come under one policy.
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7) Grants given relate exclusively this year to payments made from the TCK/Xenos restricted donations
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8) Other payments refers to the fee for the independent examination (£220).
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9) The Restricted total is all from the TCK/Xenos fund.
10) Related Party Disclosures
Mr Michael J Frith, trustee, received fees for his services as the charity director totalling £32,180 (2020/2021 - £20,428) in the year ended 31 August 2022 together with £1137 (2020/2021 - £0) for claimed travel, meals and accommodation expenses or where items were paid for with cash and subsequently reimbursed from the charity. The charity received specific permission from the Charity Commission on 26/11/16 to appoint a member of staff as a trustee, providing authority for these payments for services.
The charity’s insurance provides trustee indemnity cover.
Cash Funds
- 11) Cash Funds constitutes the following:
| HSBC communityacc. | £5734.56 |
|---|---|
| HSBC deposit acc. | £40080.13 |
| PayPal acc. | £759.49 |
| TOTAL | £46574.18 |
Debtors
12) Includes outstanding invoices, any due gift aid refund and office rent advance payment.
Creditors
- 13) Includes office rent portion, expenses due, and Independent Examination fee.
Assets & Liabilities
- 14) Items are grouped together under the year of purchase. Single items over £100 in value are listed separately. The cost of tangible fixed assets is written-off by equal annual instalments over their expected useful lives (4 years).
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF OSCAR UK
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 August 2022
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act.
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2) have not been met; or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mrs Mary Adlard Pippins Accountancy Services The Pippins Gambles Lane Woodmancote Cheltenham GL52 9PU
Date: 24/10/2022