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2021-03-31-accounts

Company number: 5224240 Charity Number: 1105918

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Report and financial statements For the year ended 31[st] March 2021

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Reference and administrative information

for the year ended 31[st] March 2021

Company number 5224240 Charity number 1105918 Registered office and operational address Bridge 5 Mill 22A Beswick Street Ancoats Manchester M4 7HR

Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:

Michael Reed Chair Steven Lindsay Treasurer Rick Seccombe Natalie Wilkins Emilia McElvenney Josephine Dresner Ian Bell Jevon Clayton Company Secretary Fiona Gorton Bankers The Co-operative Bank plc 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP The Charity Bank Limited Fosse House 182 High Street Tonbridge TN9 1BE Nationwide Building Society Kings Park Road Moulton Park Northampton NN3 6NW Auditors Slade & Cooper Limited Beehive Lofts Jersey Street Manchester M4 6JG

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2021

The trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2021. Included within the trustees’ report is the directors’ report as required by company law.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

Objectives and activities

The objects of the Omega Research Foundation are:

Omega works to:

So that:

So that:

So that:

Human rights and international humanitarian law violations are not committed or facilitated by people using military, security, and policing weapons, equipment, and techniques.

In setting our objectives and planning our activities the Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular to its supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing education and on promotion of human rights. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set. All activities are undertaken to further the organisation's charitable objectives for the public benefit.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2021

The charity’s main objectives for the financial year 2020-21 were:

The aims, objectives and activities of the charity are kept under ongoing review by the trustees to ensure they remain focused on the charity’s stated purposes.

This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees report the success of each key activity and the benefits arising from the charity’s work.

Achievements and performance

International controls on the trade in torture equipment

United Nations

Omega worked with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to survey Member States, and on a consultation and webinar for key stakeholders on Torture-Free Trade in April 2020. These informed the UN Secretary General’s report to the UN General Assembly in July 2020, that the majority of respondent States supported legally binding international controls on the trade in torture and death penalty technologies.

At a UN meeting ‘Towards Torture-Free Trade: Opportunities and Challenges’ in December 2020, Omega and Amnesty launched their report Ending the Torture-Trade: The path to global controls on the ‘tools of torture’ (also translated into French and Spanish ) . This examined promotion, trade, and use of torture and death penalty technologies, and highlighted the development of regulation of the trade.

Omega and Amnesty developed a “model” Torture Trade and Death Penalty Trade Instrument (TDPTI) – a blueprint global instrument regulating the trade in these technologies. It includes prohibitions on inherently abusive equipment and devices designed to carry out executions, such as spiked batons and gallows, and controls on the trade in standard-issue policing equipment such as handcuffs, and dual use pharmaceuticals for lethal injections.

Council of Europe

Omega worked with the Secretariat and German and UK representatives to produce a draft non-binding legal instrument. Following reviews and revisions by States, Recommendation CM/Rec(2021)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on measures against the trade in goods used for the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment was adopted by the CoE Committee of Ministers in March 2021.

European Union

Omega worked to influence the Review of the EU Anti-Torture Regulation and its implementation by Member States by the European Commission, presented to the European Parliament and Council in July 2020.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2021

Omega wrote a “shadow report” examining the Regulation and its Annexes, reviewing implementation by Member States, and researching activities of companies in the EU during 2015-2019. A version of this report without company details – Review of EU Anti-Torture Regulation and its implementation: Provisional findings and recommendations – was submitted to the Commission in May 2020, to inform their Review. Omega’s final report was launched in November 2020 while the European Parliament and Council discussed appropriate, effective measures to strengthen the Regulation and its implementation.

Omega participated in consultations during the Review, including the EU Anti-Torture Regulation: Review Workshop/Webinar in May 2020 - a key forum for contributions from Member States, Commission officials, and anti-torture civil society organisations. Omega was in regular communication with Commission staff and the independent evaluator undertaking the Review.

Comparing the European Commission Review Report with Omega’s “shadow report”, Omega’s influence is evident. The Commission recognises the need to extend the scope of goods covered, establish a process to regularly review this scope following market developments, and ensure that the scope and nature of coverage matches existing EU instruments. They note the need to address incomplete reporting by Member States, encourage greater transparency, and prepare guidance for Member States on difficult implementation issues. Finally, they call for the establishment of a group of experts to inform them on strengthening the Regulation and its implementation. This group has been established, and includes an Omega researcher.

Omega has worked closely with Amnesty throughout, co-ordinating policy development and advocacy towards Member States and the Commission, and cooperating on research and media activity.

Investigating and strengthening oversight of the use of force and torture

General

The support that we have been able to offer civil society and human rights monitors has evolved due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Holding webinars, workshops and meetings online has enabled us to interact with more people with diverse experiences than would ever have been able to attend in-person events, as well as reducing the need to travel. Such on-line events have made it easier to share our expertise with others and to host discussions with particular experts who would generally not be able to participate in short meetings that require significant travel. Attendance at panel discussions that would have been limited to people at a particular conference, such as the UN Human Rights Council, have been available to all, worldwide (although some participants have required funds to access web services). Omega has participated in panel discussions and provided online training, including: a UN side event on the use of security-related measures in response to COVID-19, a webinar on less lethal weapons and grave human rights violations in Chile and webinars on monitoring the use of force and documenting torture in places of detention in Colombia.

We have also produced Covid-19 specific resources, such as our map showing excessive use of force by law enforcement in enforcing Covid-19 regulations (which we are continuing to update) and our position paper on the use of chemical irritants during the pandemic. These resources have been used by other NGOs to highlight human rights issues surrounding the use of policing and security equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Brazil

Omega and our local partner Justiça Global continued to work with a range of actors to strengthen use of force standards and increase scrutiny of their implementation.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2021

Training : In December 2020, Omega presented to an online event organised by the Espírito Santo State Human Rights Council, building on Justiça Global’s lobbying in the state for stronger standards on use of force in the juvenile justice system.

In March 2021, Omega provided online training to all eight National Mechanism to Prevent and Combat Torture (MNPCT) experts, on use of force standards and analysis of incidents. This was well-received, with further training requested to improve the technical quality of MNPCT reports.

Technical assistance for monitors : In November 2020, Omega identified weapons photographed during a monitoring visit by Rondônia Local Mechanism to Prevent and Combat Torture. Omega also supported the Mechanism in drafting an urgent appeal concerning the deaths of two prisoners attempting to escape from the Ariquemes Prison Unit in August 2020.

In August 2020, Omega completed a technical analysis of less lethal weapons purchased by federal penitentiary authorities, at the request of the MNPCT and the Federal Public Defenders Office.

Use of force protocols: Research into use of force protocols in Brazilian juvenile justice and adult penitentiary systems was completed and has already informed advocacy. A technical brief was drafted to help provide greater transparency concerning regulation of less lethal weapons in places of detention.

Use of less lethal weapons: The National Human Rights Council adopted a recommendation in October 2020 concerning the regulation of less lethal weapons in the penitentiary system, following collaboration between Omega, Justiça Global, the MNPCT, and the Federal Public Defenders Office - the first recommendation to bind state authorities on this.

Use of restraints: The Manual on Handcuffs and other Instruments of Restraint in Judicial Hearings published by Omega, the National Justice Council and UNODC Brazil in October 2020, has already helped judges in at least three states reduce use of restraints during detention control hearings.

Contributions to other reports, meetings, and media articles

We continued to work with NGOs, journalists and others to identify arms, ammunition and other equipment used in repression around the world. Some examples include:

Omega played an active role on the National Taser Strategic Advisory Group (NTSAG), which provides oversight and advises police in England and Wales on the use of the Taser weapon, and we became Chair of the NTSAG in late 2019. Omega also attended the UK’s Less Lethal Weapons Working Group. These groups give Omega access to key decision makers in UK policing, the College of Policing and the Home Office, where we are able to raise concerns and influence policy and practice. One result was the National Police Chiefs Council agreeing to an independent examination of the disproportional use of taser against persons of colour.

Omega submitted papers and briefings to various international organisations and meetings, and responded to a large number of requests from researchers and journalists.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2021

Strategy

Following an earlier review of the organisation’s Information Technology and data systems, Omega staff have been working on an IT and database upgrade. This upgrade, completed in 2021/22, will increase Omega’s capacity to collect and record data and will make our information more easily accessible both internally and for selected external partners.

Omega undertook a major strategic planning exercise in 2020/21. This led to the construction of a Theory of Change for the organisation, as detailed in the Objectives and Activities section of this report. This organisational Theory of Change will inform Omega’s work, and will be kept under regular review.

Financial review

At the end of the financial year, Omega was in a reasonable financial position, with total Reserves of £314,923. Of this, £14,842 was held in restricted reserves to be spent on ongoing projects, all of which was spent in the first quarter of 2021/22, £45,000 in designated reserves to be released over the following financial year, and £255,081 in general reserves.

Fundraising

The long-term financial viability of Omega depends on continual fundraising, in a climate of shrinking donor funding for human rights work. Omega raises most of its income through grant funding, and in previous years has used professional support from Wootton George Consulting in reviewing some grant applications. Wootton George Consulting are NCVO members and are committed to upholding the standards of the Institute of Fundraising. Omega did not conduct individual giving fundraising in the financial year and has received no complaints relating to fundraising activity. In April 2018, Omega started a three-year grant from the European Commission through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, which was extended during the financial year to finish in September 2021, and one from the Oak Foundation which was renewed for a further three years after the year end. In January 2019 Omega started a three-year grant from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and this has also been renewed for a further three years. Omega has worked hard through the financial year and beyond to try to diversify our funding base and find new sources of funds, including in 2021-22 using crowd funding site GlobalGiving to raise funds from individuals for the first time.

Reserves policy

Omega holds Restricted Reserves , being unspent funding provided for specific projects, and Unrestricted Reserves which can be subdivided into Designated Reserves , being the proportion of multiyear core grant funding relating to future years as stated in the grant agreement, and the General Fund .

The trustees have reviewed Omega’s Reserves Policy and have concluded that an upper and lower limit of reserves held in the General Fund should be set bearing in mind the objective of holding such reserves. That is, reserves in the General Fund are intended to underpin the organisation’s solvency and the continuity of its operations. However, the size of these reserves should not be excessive. Excessive reserves would lead to resources being idle and unused for long periods.

In relation to the upper limit the trustees have taken into consideration the experience of the last ten years. In that period Omega has received three grants from the European Commission via the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, each lasting around three years, with fifteen months between the first two, and ten months between the second and third. These grants have typically provided around 70% of the organisation’s income. In order to underpin the organisation‘s solvency during the periods waiting for the next grant receipt or between grants, the trustees consider holding a maximum reserves in the General Fund of a year of basic operating costs to be reasonable. Basic operating costs in 2020/21 are around £300,000 per annum - £25,000 per month.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2021

In relation to the lower limit should it become apparent that no further major grant is to be expected from the European Commission or from an alternative grant provider, Omega would need to drastically restructure and reduce its size and scope of operations. The trustees estimate that the costs associated with such a restructuring and reduction would amount to five months of basic operating costs which currently would be around £125,000.

Reserves in the General Fund at the end of 2020-21 stood at £255,081 which is between the target limits of £125,000 to £300,000.

Plans for the future

Omega and partners Justiça Global (Brazil), Legal Resources Centre (South Africa) and associates Amnesty International and KontraS (Indonesia) continued work on the European funded project, “Establishing effective controls on the use of and trade in torture technologies, as a tool to fight torture and support remedy and reparation”, which started in April 2018, until its completion at the end of September 2021.

We will continue to offer research support to NGOs, researchers and journalists working in our areas of interest; develop new partnerships with NGOs and funders to strengthen the organisation for the future; and share our knowledge and skills with likeminded organisations.

Structure, governance and management

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 7[th] September 2004 and registered as a charity on 16[th] September 2004.

The company was established under a memorandum of association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its articles of association.

The Omega Research Foundation may by ordinary resolution appoint a person who is willing to act as a trustee and determine the rotation in which any additional trustees are to retire. The Trustees are also directors and members of the company. Trustees are recruited following the Trustee Recruitment Policy, which states that vacancies should be advertised and applications invited.

All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 12 to the accounts.

New trustees go through an induction process and are given the option of training in any aspect of directorship that they feel is necessary.

Trustees meet 4-5 times per year and make decisions on the medium and long term aims and activities of the organisation, including: funding strategies; methods of attaining the organisation’s objectives; organisational policies; and staffing levels. The Board of Trustees also monitors the overall performance and achievements of the organisation. The Omega Research Foundation has a principal staff of seven to whom the day to day management of the organisation is delegated. This includes project management and financial administration.

The trustees regularly review the risks to which the Omega Research Foundation is exposed and ensure that adequate systems are in place to manage those risks.

The trustees reviewed their application of the Charity Governance Code’s principles and recommended practice during the year to ensure Omega’s governance standards remain high. Trustees and staff are alert to the need to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion in all their policies and operations. All trustees have undertaken training in diversity and recently agreed to update the diversity policy. Recruitment of new trustees is planned in 2022 and steps will be taken to make the role open to a diverse range of candidates.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2021

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees at 31[st] March 2021 was 8 (2020: 8). The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

At 31 March 2021 Omega employed six full-time research staff, and a part-time administrative & finance officer. Omega also had two volunteers during the year. Omega operates a flat management structure, with decisions being taken collectively by staff. After two years’ service, all staff are paid at the same rate (pro-rata), which is set periodically by the trustees, taking account of inflation and the charity’s available resources.

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

The trustees (who are also directors of Omega Research Foundation for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Auditors

Slade & Cooper Ltd were re-appointed as the charitable company's auditors during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2021

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees on 30[th] November 2021 and signed on their behalf by

Steven Lindsay

Treasurer

9

Independent auditors’ report

to the members of

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Omega Research Foundation Limited (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2021, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities (including the income and expenditure account), the Balance Sheet and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine

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Independent auditors’ report

to the members of

Omega Research Foundation

whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 8, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the

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Independent auditors’ report

to the members of

Omega Research Foundation

aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/Audit/Audit-and-assurance/Standards-and-guidance/Standards-andguidance-for-auditors/Auditors-responsibilities-for-audit/Description-of-auditors-responsibilities-foraudit.aspx. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Christy Yun Hing Lau FCCA CTA DChA

Senior Statutory Auditor

for and on behalf of

Slade & Cooper Limited Statutory Auditors Beehive Mill, Jersey Street, Manchester, M4 6JG Date 17/12/2021

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2021

Unrestricted
funds
Note
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
86
Charitable activities
4
7,091
Investments
5
479
Other income
6
-
Total income
7,656
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
7
32,167
Charitable activities
8
42,098
Total expenditure
74,265
(66,609)
10
(66,609)
Transfer between funds
(11,591)
Net movement in funds for the year
(78,200)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
378,281
Total funds carried forward
300,081
Net income/(expenditure) before
net gains/(losses) on
investments
Net income/(expenditure) for the
year		 Restricted
funds
£
-
237,205
-
-
237,205
-
313,449
313,449
(76,244)
(76,244)
11,591
(64,653)
79,495
14,842		 Total funds
2021
£
86
244,296
479
-
244,861
32,167
355,547
387,714
(142,853)
(142,853)
-
(142,853)
457,776
314,923		 Total funds
2020
£
-
417,769
818
150
418,737
25,309
399,131
424,440
(5,703)
(5,703)
-
(5,703)
463,479
457,776

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited Company number 5224240

Balance sheet as at 31 March 2021

Note
£
£
Current assets
Debtors
15
53,947
Cash at bank and in hand
16
296,915
Total current assets
350,862
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling
due in less than one year
17
(35,939)
Net current assets
314,923
Total assets less current liabilities
314,923
Net assets
314,923
The funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
18
14,842
Unrestricted income funds:
Designated fund: Long term grants
19
45,000
General funds
19
255,081
Total charity funds
314,923
2021		 £
£
101,159
375,908
477,067
(19,291)
457,776
457,776
457,776
79,495
105,000
273,281
457,776
2020		 £
£
101,159
375,908
477,067
(19,291)
457,776
457,776
457,776
79,495
105,000
273,281
457,776
2020
457,776
457,776
79,495
105,000
273,281
457,776

These accounts are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and constitute the annual accounts required by the Companies Act 2006 and are for circulation to members of the company.

The notes on pages 15 to 28 form part of these accounts.

Approved by the trustees on 30th November 2021 and signed on their behalf by:

Steven Lindsay (Treasurer)

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021

1 Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgments and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

a Basis of preparation

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), second edition - October 2019 (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The charity has applied the exemption available to small charities in the Charities SORP (FRS 102) and does not include a Statement of Cash Flows in these Financial Statements.

Omega Research Foundation Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

b Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern.

No key judgments which the trustees have made which have a significant effect on the accounts.

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

c Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Income received in advance of a provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

d Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), general volunteer time is not recognised; refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

e Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.

f Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. The charity has one designated fund, the long term grants fund, which holds grant income awarded under multi-year grants. This is transferred to the general fund over the life of the grant.

The remaining unrestricted funds are the general funds of the charity.

Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity. Some grants which fall into this category are paid in arrears, after expenditure has already occured, which can leave restricted funds in deficit for short periods of time.

g Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

h Allocation of support costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charity's programmes and activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities. The bases on which support costs have been allocated are set out in note 9.

i Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £5,000 or more are capitalised at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful economic lives. There are currently no fixed assets.

j Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

k Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

17

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

l Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

m Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

n Foreign currencies

Transactions entered into in currencies other than sterling are included in the accounts after conversion at the bank rate in force on the date.

o Pensions

Employees of the charity are entitled to join a defined contribution ‘money purchase’ scheme. The charity’s contribution is restricted to the contributions disclosed in note 11. The costs of the defined contribution scheme are included within staff costs in note 11, and are allocated between funds in proportion to the allocation of staff time.

The money purchase plan is managed by TPT Retirement Solutions (previously The Pensions Trust) and the plan invests the contributions made by the employee and employer in an investment fund to build up over the term of the plan a pension fund which is then converted into a pension upon the employee’s normal retirement year age when eligible for a state pension. The total expense ratio of the plan is 0.69% and this is deducted from the investment fund annually. The charity has no liability beyond making its contributions and paying across the deductions for the employee’s contributions. The contributions outstanding at the year-end were £2,182.

2 Legal status of the charity

The charity is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The registered office address is disclosed on page 1.

18

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

3 Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted
£
Donations
86
Total
86
4
Income from charitable activities
Current reporting period
Unrestricted
£
European Commission grant
Oak Foundation grant
Open Society Foundation
7,091
Total
7,091
Previous reporting period
Unrestricted
£
European Commission grant
Oak Foundation grant
Joffe Charitable Trust
TREAT grant
12,449
Total
12,449
Other income from charitable
activity
Other income from charitable
activity		 Restricted
£
-
-
Restricted
£
176,320
60,000
885
237,205
Restricted
£
320,320
60,000
20,000
5,000
405,320		 Total 2021
£
86
86
Total 2021
£
176,320
60,000
885
7,091
244,296
Total 2020
£
320,320
60,000
20,000
5,000
12,449
417,769		 Total 2020
£
-
-

19

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

5 Investment income

Current reporting period
Unrestricted
Restricted
£
£
Income from bank deposits
479
-
479
-
Previous reporting period
Unrestricted
Restricted
£
£
Income from bank deposits
818
-
818
-
6
Other income
2021
£
Compensation from bank
-
-
All other income is unrestricted.
7
Cost of raising funds
Total 2021
£
Staff costs
25,905
Accommodation
788
Governance costs (see note 9)
263
Support costs (see note 9)
5,211
32,167
All expenditure on cost of raising funds is unrestricted.		 2021
£
479
479
2020
£
818
818
2020
£
150
150
Total 2020
£
19,521
739
771
4,278
25,309

20

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

8 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Staff costs
Accommodation
Publishing (including websites)
Evaluation
Fundraiser's fees
Share of grant relating to partner organisations
Governance costs (see note 9)
Support costs (see note 9)
Restricted expenditure
Unrestricted expenditure
Travel
Training provision
Research		 Total 2021
£
244,722
7,444
18,478
-
1,403
-
5,957
-
23,467
4,852
49,224
355,547
2021
£
313,449
42,098
355,547		 Total 2020
£
232,948
8,814
3,344
10,728
165
4,476
642
350
77,421
9,199
51,044
399,131
2020
£
356,375
42,756
399,131

21

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

9 Analysis of governance and support costs

Current reporting period
Support
Governance
£
£
Staff costs
36,926
2,597
Office costs
17,509
166
Audit fees
-
2,352
54,435
5,115
Allocated as follows:
Cost of raising funds
5,211
263
Charitable activities
49,224
4,852
54,435
5,115
Previous reporting period
Support
Governance
£
£
Catering & venue hire for meetings
-
881
Staff costs
21,390
5,855
Office costs
33,932
738
Audit fees
-
2,496
55,322
9,970
Allocated as follows:
Cost of raising funds
4,278
771
Charitable activities
51,044
9,199
55,322
9,970
Net income/(expenditure) for the year
This is stated after charging/(crediting):
2021
2020
£
£
Auditor's remuneration - audit fees
1,900
1,900
Auditor's remuneration - other
60
180
The charity has one activity and therefore support costs are not apportioned.		 Total 2021
£
39,523
17,675
2,352
59,550
Total 2020
£
881
27,245
34,670
2,496
65,292

10 Net income/(expenditure) for the year

22

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

11 Staff costs

Staff costs during the year were as follows:

ff costs during the year were as follows:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
Allocated as follows:
Cost of raising funds
Charitable activities
Support costs
Governance costs		 2021
£
272,131
24,412
13,607
310,150
25,905
244,722
36,926
2,597
310,150		 2020
£
245,179
22,276
12,259
279,714
19,521
232,948
21,390
5,855
279,714

No employee has employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2020: Nil).

The average number of staff employed during the period was 6 (2020: 6). Omega operates a flat management structure, with decisions being taken collectively by staff. The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees and the staff team. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £314,150 (2020: £282,714).

12 Trustee remuneration and expenses, and related party transactions

Neither the management committee nor any persons connected with them received any remuneration during the year (2020: Nil).

One member of the management committee received travel and subsistence expenses during the year totalling £5. (2020: £263).

Aggregate donations from related parties were Nil (2020: Nil).

There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.

No trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity, including guarantees, during the year (2020: Nil).

23

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

13 Government grants

The government grants recognised in the accounts were as follows:

European Commission 2021
£
176,320
176,320		 2020
£
320,320
320,320

The European Commission grant was the third payment to cover 79% of costs on the project "Establishing effective controls on the use of and trade in torture technologies, as a tool to fight torture and support remedy and reparation" which ran from 1st April 2018 to 30th September 2021. One payment, 10% of the total grant, is outstanding to be paid once all reporting is successfully completed in the next financial year. Some of the grant was unspent at the year end (see note 18).

14 Corporation tax

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within Chapter 3 of Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the charity.

15 Debtors

Grants receivable
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 2021
£
45,000
6,635
2,312
53,947		 2020
£
90,000
5,750
5,409
101,159

Grants receivable consists of 9 months of a 3 year grant from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. These amounts are held in the Long term grants designated fund (see note 18).

16 Cash at bank and in hand

sh at bank and in hand
Short term deposits
Cash at bank and on hand		 2021
£
232,085
64,830
296,915		 2020
£
231,418
144,490
375,908

24

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

17 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Short term compensated absences (holiday pay)
Other creditors and accruals
Taxation and social security costs		 2021
£
21,377
5,338
9,224
35,939		 2020
£
7,650
2,946
8,695
19,291

18 Analysis of movements in restricted funds

Total
Oak Foundation 2
Total
Joffe Charitable
Trust
Trust for Research
and Education on the
Arms Trade
Current reporting
period
Previous reporting
period
Oak Foundation 1
Institute of
International
Education
Oak Foundation 2
European
Commission
Oak Foundation 1
European
Commission
Joffe Charitable
Trust
Trust for Research
and Education on the
Arms Trade		 Balance at
1 April
2020
£
50,995
3,500
-
-
20,000
5,000
79,495
Balance at
1 April
2019
£
11,235
3,500
-
-
-
14,735


 Income
£
176,320
38,540
21,460
885
-
-
237,205
Income
£
320,320
37,050
22,950
20,000
5,000
405,320		 Expenditure
£
(234,176)
(38,540)
(20,410)
-
(15,323)
(5,000)
(313,449)
Expenditure
£
(296,375)
(37,050)
(22,950)
-
-
(356,375)		 Transfers
£
12,476
-
-
(885)
-
-
11,591
Transfers
£
15,815
-
-
-
-
15,815		 Balance at
31 March
2021
£
5,615
3,500
1,050
-
4,677
-
14,842
Balance at
31 March
2020
£
50,995
3,500
-
20,000
5,000
79,495

25

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

18 Analysis of movements in restricted funds (cont.)

Name of Description, nature and purposes of the fund
restricted fund
European Funding for the project "Establishing effective controls on the use of and
Commission trade in torture technologies, as a tool to fight torture and support remedy
and reparation". To be completed in 2021-22.
Oak Foundation 1 Matched funding to cover up to 20.65% of the project "Establishing
effective controls on the use of and trade in torture technologies, as a tool
to fight torture and support remedy and reparation"
Oak Foundation 2 Funding to continue work on the European "Anti Torture" Regulation, and
work on the Alliance for Torture Free Trade
Institute of Funding for two way interpretation during a National Justice Council
International symposium in Brazil and online
Education
Joffe Charitable Funding for development of a new research database. This will be
Trust; Trust for completed in 2021-22.
Research and
Education on the
Arms Trade

Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity. Some grants which fall into this category are paid in arrears, after expenditure has already occured, which can leave restricted funds in deficit for short periods of time.

26

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

19 Analysis of movement in unrestricted funds

Previous reporting
period
General fund
Designated fund:
Long term grants
Current reporting
period
General fund
Designated fund:
Long term grants		 Balance
at 1 April
2020
£
273,281
105,000
378,281
Balance
at 1 April
2019
£
223,744
225,000
448,744
 Income
£
7,656
7,656
Income
£
13,417
13,417		 Expenditure
£
(74,265)
-
(74,265)
Expenditure
£
(68,065)
-
(68,065)		 Transfers
£
48,409
(60,000)
(11,591)
Transfers
£
104,185
(120,000)
(15,815)		 As at 31
March 2021
£
255,081
45,000
300,081
As at 31
March
2020
£
273,281
105,000
378,281

Name of Description, nature and purposes of the fund unrestricted fund

General fund The free reserves after allowing for all designated funds

Long term grants Income from multi-year core grants, currently from the Joseph Rowntree fund Charitable Trust (3 year grant starting in January 2019), to be transferred to the general fund over the life of the grant, following the grant agreement.

27

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

20 Analysis of net assets between funds

Current reporting period
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total
Previous reporting period
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total		 General
fund
£
255,081
255,081
General
fund
£
273,281
273,281		 Long term
grants fund
£
45,000
45,000
Long term
grants fund
£
105,000
105,000		 Restricted
funds
£
14,842
14,842
Restricted
funds
£
79,495
79,495		 Total
£
314,923
314,923
Total
£
457,776
457,776

28