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2023-03-31-accounts

Company number: 5224240 Charity Number: 1105918

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Report and financial statements For the year ended 31[st] March 2023

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Reference and administrative information

for the year ended 31[st] March 2023

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 (resigned 10[th] October 2023) Natalie Wilkins Josephine Dresner Ian Bell Jevon Clayton Annalena Wolcke (appointed 4[th] July 2023) 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 2023

The trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2023. 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 2023

The charity’s main objectives for the financial year 2022-23 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

Investigate and expose

Omega supports efforts to hold accountable those responsible for the unlawful use of force. Prosecutors in the Brazilian State of Bahia informed us that the training we provided to them in 2021 directly contributed to several of their successes this year, including in “Operation Istanbul”, which led to the prosecution and subsequent conviction of an investigative police officer for torture. Globally, criminal convictions for torture are still extremely rare for a multitude of reasons, but achieving accountability is one of the most effective means of preventing further abuses.

This year, Omega again provided technical expertise to human rights organisation Irídia, who provide legal representation to the victims of state violence. The technical memorandum we produced was a key resource both for litigation and advocacy, contributing to the recent decision of the Catalonian Government to amend rules on the use of kinetic impact projectiles and to instruct the police service, Mossos d'Esquadra , to cease use of a particularly dangerous munition. These decisions will make exercising the right to freedom of peaceful assembly safer in Catalonia.

Together with Amnesty International, Omega researched and co-authored a report, My Eye Exploded, documenting the trade, use and misuse of kinetic impact projectiles (such as plastic and rubber bullets), particularly in the context of the policing of public assemblies. Launched in March 2023, and based on research in more than 30 countries over the last five years, the report highlighted the thousands of injuries to protestors and bystanders across the world – including permanent disabilities and scores of deaths – resulting from projectile misuse. It identified inherently injurious or abusive projectiles that should be prohibited. The report proposed strict national, regional, and global regulation over their design, use and trade – notably highlighting the need for creation of a robust Torture-Free Trade Treaty. The report is available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. Omega contributed to Amnesty’s associated internal advocacy circulars, providing guidance for Section lobbyists throughout the world. It became a focus for advocacy by Amnesty International Sections and membership, and Torture-Free Trade Network NGOs.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2023

Provide expert analysis

United Nations

In order to facilitate State discussions and civil society advocacy in the UN, Omega, together with the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School and Amnesty International, drafted Essential Elements of a Torture Free Trade Treaty a technical legal paper setting out the key content and operational features of a prospective international human rights based trade instrument. Launched in September 2022, the paper cites relevant existing standards in a discussion covering the potential treaty’s principles and goals, prohibitions and trade controls and monitoring and operational aspects. It incorporates Annexes listing inherently abusive equipment to be prohibited and law enforcement equipment whose trade needs to be regulated. The paper was translated into Arabic, English, French, and Spanish. Omega subsequently contributed to Amnesty’s associated internal advocacy circulars, providing guidance for Amnesty Section lobbyists throughout the world.

European Union

Omega continued its role as a member of the Informal Expert Group (IEG), advising the Commission on strengthening the EU Anti-Torture Regulation. In Autumn 2023 Omega developed proposals for expanding the list of inherently abusive equipment that should be prohibited under the EU Anti-Torture Regulation, and the list of law enforcement equipment whose trade should be regulated under the Regulation. These were presented to the Informal Expert Group and systematically reviewed by the Group in its meetings (October 2022, January 2023, March 2023); this process is ongoing. The Omega/IEG proposals will inform future Commission’s recommendations for strengthening the Regulation, which then have to be agreed by the Member States and the European Parliament. The process is expected to be completed in 2024.

UK

Omega continued to play an active role on the UK National Taser Strategic Advisory Group (NTSAG), which provides oversight and advises police in England and Wales on the use of the Taser weapon. Omega has been Chair of the NTSAG since late 2019 and as such 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 try to influence policy and practice.

Share our specialist knowledge

Between 1st April 2022 and 31st March 2023, Omega partnered with organisations working in Brazil, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Peru, and Switzerland. In these countries we organised training sessions on issues related to torture and other ill-treatment, which we delivered to over 1,300 people , including public defenders, judges, prison and protest monitors, and other human rights defenders.

Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR): Omega co-organised two trainings with ODIHR and the University of Exeter for the National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) of Kyrgyzstan and Switzerland on monitoring weapons and equipment in places of detention in these countries. These trainings are part of an on-going ODIHR project to support the work of NPMs in the OSCE region, often involving input from Omega and the University of Exeter. Whilst in Kyrgyzstan, Omega also ran a short workshop for Kyrgyz civil society members involved in monitoring protests.

Omega was a member of the OSCE-ODIHR Assembly Monitoring Mission to monitor the policing of May Day 2023 in Paris. We prepared a briefing on the weapons and equipment used by French police for the

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2023

OSCE-ODIHR Monitors, and were part of the team monitoring police use of force and equipment, including explosive grenades, tear gas and water cannon.

French police in Paris on May Day 2022

Mexico: Omega continued to support judicial actors in the litigation of cases of torture and other illtreatment. In June 2022, Omega and a team of multi-disciplinary experts trained two groups of public defenders on international and national standards on the prevention, investigation and punishment of torture, including use of force standards and the updated Istanbul Protocol. We also provided online training on the same topics to two more groups of public defenders from throughout the country, as well as a self-led online course which has been completed by over 1,000 people thus far.

These activities were designed specifically for public defenders and carried out in partnership with the Federal School for Judicial Training ( Escuela Federal de Formación Judicial - EFFJ), the Federal Public Defender’s Office ( Instituto Federal de Defensoría Pública – IFDP), its Technical Secretariat for Combatting Torture, and the General Directorate for Human Rights of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation.

Torture-Free Trade Network and civil society: Together with Amnesty International, the Harvard International Human Rights Law Clinic, the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), Omega co-organised a Torture-Free Trade Treaty Summit held at Amnesty International’s Human Rights Action Centre in London on 18-19 January 2023. Attended by over 50 in-person participants, and more than 60 virtual participants, the Summit was an opportunity for civil society from around the world to make connections, share knowledge, and further the campaign for a Torture-Free Trade Treaty. At the close of the Summit, more than 30 organisations - including Omega - signed the Shoreditch Declaration for a Torture-Free Trade Treaty. The Declaration calls for prohibitions on the manufacture and trade of inherently abusive equipment, as well as effective human rights-based trade controls on standard law enforcement equipment often used to commit acts of torture or other ill-treatment.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2023

Attendees at the Torture Free Trade Summit, January 2023

The Torture-Free Trade Network, formed following the Summit, continues to be active in research, advocacy and lobbying, with Omega playing a central role. With Amnesty, CVT, and the Harvard International Human Rights Clinic, Physicians for Human Rights, the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations, Omega is a member of the Network’s Core Group, which meets weekly to continue advocacy and other work. The Network itself meets every two months. These meetings, which are attended by civil society representatives from around the world, are opportunities to build relationships across civil society, and for organisations to share work updates as well as participate in training. Regional hubs are beginning to develop, with the Africa and Americas Groups especially active.

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) & Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (CPTA): At the request of the CPTA, Omega drafted a Report on the Production, Trade, and Use of Tools of Torture in Africa. The report was launched at an event (‘Awareness-Raising Panel against the production, trade, and use of torture instruments in Africa’) at the 75[th] Ordinary Session of the ACHPR in early May 2023. Omega is currently working with the CPTA to promote its findings amongst African States and civil society.

Country focus: Brazil

Brazil has the third largest prison population in the world and acts of torture and other ill-treatment are commonplace. Omega has worked closely with the Brazilian Mechanism to Prevent and Combat Torture (MNPCT) since 2016, enabling it to increase scrutiny and accountability for misuse of force, and providing a crucial evidence base for all work to combat torture in Brazil.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2023

Together with partner organisation Justiça Global we have identified shortcomings in regulations on the use of force throughout Brazil, in both the prison and juvenile justice systems. Our work underpinned a recommendation issued by the National Human Rights Council instructing authorities to strengthen regulation of the use of less lethal weapons in the penitentiary system.

Brazil is the largest manufacturer of less lethal weapons in the region. We have uncovered questionable transfers to repressive regimes and identified gaps in the domestic regulatory framework.

Omega delivered in-person training in May 2022 and again in March 2023, which increased the ability of torture monitors to document the use/mis-use of torture technologies and to scrutinize use of force protocols. The 91 people (55F, 36M) who participated in training included torture monitors, public defenders, public prosecutors tasked with prison oversight, civil society organisations and state legislators. All of these actors work with or for the benefit of people deprived of their liberty and their families. Participants appreciated the practical nature of training, enabling them to conduct more indepth “interviews with security agents who use less-lethal weapons, allowing a more accurate investigation, questioning information given and better understanding the institutional justifications for the use of weapons.”

Workshop on use of force protocols, Brasilia, May 2023.

Tools and standards developed in the international human rights arena are rarely translated into Portuguese. We sought to address this gap by producing three resources in Brazilian Portuguese over the last year, including a translation of the UN Human Rights Guidance on Less-Lethal Weapons in Law Enforcement, which monitoring bodies have already begun citing in their reports and recommendations. The results we have obtained in Brazil with our longstanding partners are proof of the value of sustained engagement for achieving gradual change.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2023

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 during the year increased Omega’s capacity to collect record and analyse data. We are now in the process of upgrading our website. Part of this upgrade will link the website and database so we can more easily publish, disseminate and share our research data.

We have also upgraded our computer hardware, ensuring that each member of staff has a laptop to facilitate flexible working.

Omega undertook a major strategic planning exercise in 2020/21. This led to the development of a Theory of Change for the organisation, as detailed in the Objectives and Activities section of this report above and available on the Omega website. This organisational Theory of Change informs Omega’s work, and is kept under regular review.

Financial review

At the end of the financial year, Omega was in a reasonable financial position, with total Reserves of £267,317. Of this, £4,323 was held in restricted reserves to be spent on ongoing projects, £247,914 in designated reserves to be released over the following three financial years, and £15,080 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 has received no complaints relating to fundraising activity.

Omega received no funding from the European Commission during the financial year, and had been without such funding for 18 months, causing a financial strain on the organisation. By the end of the financial year, however, a new grant had been agreed as part of a four-year Financial Framework Partnership Agreement between the EU and the international United Against Torture consortium #UATC, in which Omega is a core partner along with the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), Redress, the International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (FIACAT) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT). The initial three year torture prevention grant under this Agreement started in June 2023.

The second year of a grant from the Oak Foundation started in May 2022. We understand that this will be the final grant from the Oak Foundation as they are prioritising other areas of funding. In January 2022 Omega started a further three-year grant from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, and in January 2023 started a two year grant from the Open Society Foundations, securing funding from them for the first time. Omega has worked hard through the financial year and beyond to try to diversify our funding base and find new sources of funds.

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 .

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2023

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 2022/23 are around £300,000 per annum - £25,000 per month.

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 2022-23 stood at £15,080 which is below the target limits of £125,000 to £300,000. However this is mitigated by the Designated fund balance of £247,914 and the start of a new three-year grant from the European Commission which started in June 2023 and which will contribute €912,685 to Omega funds over the period.

Plans for the future

We will continue to offer research and policy support to the UN, human rights bodies, 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 to investigate and expose human rights abuses globally.

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 11 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.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2023

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 and processes 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 took place later in 2023 and steps were taken to make the role open to a diverse range of candidates.

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 2023 was 7 (2022: 7). 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 2023 Omega employed five full-time and one part-time research staff, and a part-time administrative & finance officer. Omega also had nine volunteers during the year; recruited through the University of Manchester, volunteers can submit their time with Omega towards an application for the Stellify Award. 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

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] March 2023

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.

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 12[th] December 2023 and signed on their behalf by

Steven Lindsay

Treasurer

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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 2023, 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 10, 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 20[th] December 2023

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Omega Research Foundation Limited

Statement of Financial Activities

(including Income and Expenditure account)

for the year ended 31 March 2023

Unrestricted
funds
Note
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
1,324
Charitable activities
4
213,459
Investments
5
942
Total income
215,725
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
86,925
Charitable activities
7
195,731
Total expenditure
282,656
(66,931)
9
(66,931)
Net movement in funds for the year
(66,931)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
329,925
Total funds carried forward
262,994
Net income/(expenditure) before
net gains/(losses) on investments
Net income/(expenditure) for the
year		 Restricted
funds
£
-
87,221
-
87,221
-
91,472
91,472
(4,251)
(4,251)
(4,251)
8,574
4,323		 Total funds
2023
£
1,324
300,680
942
302,946
86,925
287,203
374,128
(71,182)
(71,182)
(71,182)
338,499
267,317		 Total funds
2022
£
4,903
440,021
310
445,234
36,725
384,933
421,658
23,576
23,576
23,576
314,923
338,499

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

A full comparative SOFA is available on the last page of the financial statements.

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Omega Research Foundation Limited Company number 5224240

Balance sheet as at 31 March 2023

Note
£
£
Current assets
Debtors
14
128,252
Cash at bank and in hand
164,227
Total current assets
292,479
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling
due in less than one year
16
(25,162)
Net current assets
267,317
Total assets less current liabilities
267,317
Net assets
267,317
The funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
17
4,323
Unrestricted income funds:
Designated fund: Long term grants
18
247,914
General funds
18
15,080
Total charity funds
267,317
2023		 £
£
282,230
107,438
389,668
(51,169)
338,499
338,499
338,499
8,574
192,500
137,425
338,499
2022		 £
£
282,230
107,438
389,668
(51,169)
338,499
338,499
338,499
8,574
192,500
137,425
338,499
2022
338,499
338,499
8,574
192,500
137,425
338,499

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 17 to 32 form part of these accounts.

Approved by the trustees on 12/12/2023 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 2023

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.

17

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (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.

18

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (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 8.

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.

19

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (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 10. The costs of the defined contribution scheme are included within staff costs in note 10, 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 £1,835 (2022: £1,766)

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.

20

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

3 Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted
£
Donations
1,324
Total
1,324
Previous reporting period
Unrestricted
£
Donations
532
Total
532
4
Income from charitable activities
Current reporting period
Unrestricted
£
Oak Foundation grant
-
14,000
Open Society Foundations
121,803
OPCAT Special Fund
-
Network for Social Change
18,837
58,819
Total
213,459
Previous reporting period
Unrestricted
£
European Commission grant
-
Oak Foundation grant
-
239,000
54,492
Total
293,492
Joseph Rowntree Charitable
Trust grant
Jospeh Rowntree Charitable
Trust
Other income from charitable
activity
Other income from charitable
activity		 Restricted
£
-
-
Restricted
£
4,371
4,371
Restricted
£
62,660
-
-
24,561
-
-
87,221
Restricted
£
83,929
62,600
-
-
146,529		 Total 2023
£
1,324
1,324
Total 2022
£
4,903
4,903
Total 2023
£
62,660
14,000
121,803
24,561
18,837
58,819
300,680
Total 2022
£
83,929
62,600
239,000
54,492
440,021

21

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

5 Investment income

Current reporting period
Income from bank deposits
Previous reporting period
Income from bank deposits
6
Cost of raising funds
Staff costs
Accommodation
Governance costs (see note 8)
Support costs (see note 8)		 Unrestricted
£
942
942
Unrestricted
£
310
310		 Restricted
£
-
-
Restricted
£
-
-
Total 2023
£
64,337
2,000
2,461
18,127
86,925		 Total 2023
£
942
942
Total 2022
£
310
310
Total 2022
£
29,032
836
809
6,048
36,725

All expenditure on cost of raising funds is unrestricted.

22

7 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities
Staff costs
Accommodation
Publishing (including websites)
Evaluation
Share of grant relating to partner organisations
Governance costs (see note 8)
Support costs (see note 8)
Restricted expenditure
Unrestricted expenditure
Travel
Training provision
Research		 Total 2023
£
166,380
5,173
5,120
22,283
23,544
11,460
-
-
6,365
46,878
287,203
2023
£
91,472
195,731
287,203		 Total 2022
£
224,258
6,458
20,910
6,710
15,292
7,057
2,207
44,159
6,352
51,530
384,933
2022
£
162,088
222,845
384,933

23

8 Analysis of governance and support costs

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

Current reporting period
Staff costs
Office costs
Audit fees
Allocated as follows:
Cost of raising funds
Charitable activities
Previous reporting period
Staff costs
Office costs
Audit fees
Allocated as follows:
Cost of raising funds
Charitable activities		 Support
£
50,112
14,678
215
65,005
18,127
46,878
65,005
Support
£
40,497
13,553
3,528
57,578
6,048
51,530
57,578		 Governance
£
5,510
1,678
1,638
8,826
2,461
6,365
8,826
Governance
£
3,279
1,110
2,772
7,161
809
6,352
7,161		 Total 2023
£
55,622
16,356
1,853
73,831
Total 2022
£
43,776
14,663
6,300
64,739

The charity has one activity and therefore support costs are not apportioned.

24

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

9 Net income/(expenditure) for the year

This is stated after charging/(crediting):

Auditor's remuneration - audit fees
Auditor's remuneration - other
10
Staff costs
Staff 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		 2023
£
1,485
60
2023
£
251,208
22,570
12,561
286,339
64,337
166,380
50,112
5,510
286,339		 2022
£
5,190
60
2022
£
260,483
23,736
12,847
297,066
29,032
224,258
40,497
3,279
297,066

No employee has employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2022: Nil). The average number of staff employed during the period was 7 (2022: 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 £291,339 (2022: £301,066).

25

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

11 Trustee remuneration and expenses, and related party transactions

Neither the management committee nor any persons connected with them received any remuneration during the year (2022: Nil).

No (2022: no) members of the management committee received travel and subsistence expenses during the year (2022: £nil).

Aggregate donations from related parties, were nil (2022: £220 plus Gift Aid).

There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no conditions were attached to 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 (2022: Nil).

12 Government grants

The government grants recognised in the accounts were as follows:

European Commission 2023
£
-
-		 2022
£
83,929
83,929

26

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

13 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.

14 Debtors

Debtors
Grants receivable
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 2023
£
122,500
2,754
2,998
128,252		 2022
£
276,429
3,130
2,671
282,230

Grants receivable consists of 21 months of a 3 year grant from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. This is held in the Long term grants designated fund (see note 18). The amounts recoverable in more than one year is £52,500 (2022: £122,500)

15 Cash at bank and in hand

Short term deposits
Cash at bank and on hand		 2023
£
132,026
32,201
164,227		 2022
£
93,413
14,025
107,438

27

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

16 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Short term compensated absences (holiday pay)
Other creditors and accruals
Taxation and social security costs		 2023
£
9,624
8,499
7,039
25,162		 2022
£
19,043
25,199
6,927
51,169

17 Analysis of movements in restricted funds

OPCAT Special Fund
Total
Oak Foundation 2
Total
Global Giving
Joffe Charitable
Trust
Previous reporting
period
Oak Foundation 1
European
Commission
Global Giving
Current reporting
period
Oak Foundation 2		 Balance at
1 April
2022
£
5,338
3,236
-
8,574
Balance at
1 April
2021
£
5,615
3,500
1,050
4,677
-
14,842
 Income
£
62,660
-
24,561
87,221
Income
£
83,929
6,930
55,670
-
4,371
150,900		 Expenditure
£
(65,528)
(1,383)
(24,561)
(91,472)
Expenditure
£
(94,464)
(10,430)
(51,382)
(4,677)
(1,135)
(162,088)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
Transfers
£
4,920
-
-
-
-
4,920		 Balance at
31 March
2023
£
2,470
1,853
-
4,323
Balance at
31 March
2022
£
-
-
5,338
-
3,236
8,574

28

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

17 Analysis of movements in restricted funds (cont.)

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

Oak Foundation 2 Funding to continue work on the European "Anti Torture" Regulation, and work on the Alliance for Torture Free Trade, and on torture prevention work in Brazil. Global Giving Funding for fourther development of the database, including providing access to external individuals and organisations. OPCAT Special Fund Funding from the United Nations Special Fund of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture to strengthen the capacity of the Brazilian National Preventive Mechanism.

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". Completed in September 2021. Joffe Charitable Funding for development of a new research database. Trust

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.

29

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

18 Analysis of movement in unrestricted funds

Designated fund:
Long term grants
General fund
Previous reporting
period
General fund
Designated fund:
Long term grants		 Balance
at 1 April
2022
£
137,425
192,500
329,925
Balance
at 1 April
2021
£
255,081
45,000
300,081
 Income
£
90,311
125,414
215,725
Income
£
84,334
210,000
294,334		 Expenditure
£
(282,656)
-
(282,656)
Expenditure
£
(259,570)
-
(259,570)		 Transfers
£
70,000
(70,000)
-
Transfers
£
57,580
(62,500)
(4,920)		 As at 31
March 2023
£
15,080
247,914
262,994
As at 31
March
2022
£
137,425
192,500
329,925

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 fund

Income from multi-year core grants, currently from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (3 year grant starting in January 2022), the Open Society Foundations (2 year grant starting in January 2023) and the Network for Social Change to be transferred to the general fund over the life of the grant, following the grant agreement.

30

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

19 Analysis of net assets between funds

Current reporting period
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total
Previous reporting period
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total		 General
fund
£
15,080
15,080
General
fund
£
137,425
137,425		 Long term
grants fund
£
247,914
247,914
Long term
grants fund
£
192,500
192,500		 Restricted
funds
£
4,323
4,323
Restricted
funds
£
8,574
8,574		 Total
£
267,317
267,317
Total
£
338,499
338,499

31

Omega Research Foundation Limited

Statement of Financial Activities

(including Income and Expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2023

Prior year Statement of Financial Activities

Income from:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Transfer between funds
Net movement in funds for the year
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Net income/(expenditure) for the
year
Net income/(expenditure) before
net gains/(losses) on investments		 Unrestricted
funds
£
532
293,492
310
294,334
36,725
222,845
259,570
34,764
34,764
(4,920)
29,844
300,081
329,925		 Restricted
funds
£
4,371
146,529
-
150,900
-
162,088
162,088
(11,188)
(11,188)
4,920
(6,268)
14,842
8,574		 Total funds
2022
£
4,903
440,021
310
445,234
36,725
384,933
421,658
23,576
23,576
-
23,576
314,923
338,499		 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

32