2024-03-31-accounts

Annual Report 2023/2024 (For the year ended 31st March 2024)

‘Growth and Innovation’

OPAL Services (Rural West Cheshire), P.O.Box 161, Whitchurch, SY13 9BG. OPAL Services (Rural West Cheshire) is a company limited by guarantee; registered charity no. 1143753; registered company no. 7521625. Registered office: 18 Utkinton Road, Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 0HS.

Contents

Page number ~~aa~~ 1 Contents and Statement of Purpose 3 ~~ee~~ 2 Overview of the Year from OPAL Chair of Trustees 4 ~~ee~~ 3 Highlights from OPAL Clubs and Services 5 ~~ee~~ 4 OPAL Volunteers’ Highlights 10 ~~a~~ 5 13 ~~|—— [Organisational|Structure~~ 6 14 ~~a~~ OPAL Staff and Trustees 7 OPAL 3 Year Plan Update 15 ~~a~~ 8 Our Funders 16 ~~a~~ 9 OPAL Fundraising 17 ~~a~~ 10 18 ~~|~~ 11 Partners 19 ~~a~~ Bonationstoopae 12 20 ~~| OPALMoneyMatters~~ 13 Financial Statements and Balance Sheets 23 ~~a~~ 14 Independent Examiner’s Report 24 ~~a~~ 15 25 ~~[__[eempanyinformation SSCS~~

Our Statement of Purpose

Our principal objective is to provide a benefit for older people who are in need of social inclusion because they are housebound or socially isolated and are finding it difficult to take part in social activities in their community without the support of others.

(taken from OPAL Services Memorandum and Articles of Association)

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1. Overview of the Year from Geoff Hope-Terry, Chair of OPAL ee = managing to develop exciting new ideas. ] Our Clubs are still extremely popular, with members enjoying meeting and catching up with their friends and making new memories together, whilst for a Good Neighbour scheme and with borough council funding, this | E ‘ engaging in fun - activities. In 2023 we ran a small pilot, alongside the Clubs, became a fully fledged service for all rural West Cheshire from January 2024. Food tasting sessions are always popular at Branching Out and the opportunity to try new ingredients, and talk about memories, attracts a growing number of members. A Food Memories recipe book is planned for this year, if we can attract enough funding. Our Carer Support service continues to grow and monthly activities for the cared -for were introduced

welcomed. Also, the excellent Carer Support at Home service enables carers to - themselves whilst a carefully chosen volunteer stays with the cared for person.

Digital exclusion remains a major problem for many older people, as does a basic fear of using technology, and of course a fear of being scammed. In response, GoOnLine has expanded its drop-in sessions, has worked with other local community groups, and offers a GoOnLine@home service to make it accessible to more people.

Volunteers are at the heart of OPAL, and it was great to see many of them when we celebrated

years or more, which is fantastic! We commenced a new volunteer project, developed in partnership with Snow Angels, and funded by the UK’s “Levelling Up” fund. Passport to Care provides - volunteering experience for 16 18 year olds to work with older people and carers in the community, in their homes or over the telephone.

We’ve achieved all this whilst keeping our expenditure below our income, and we enter 2024/25 with strong financial reserves. I’d like to pay tribute to the whole team: our wonderful staff, my brilliant trustee colleagues and the amazing volunteers, every one of whom have worked so hard throughout the year. They should feel extremely proud, and my huge thanks goes to all of them.

The above is just a snapshot and in the pages that follow you can read much more about what’s gone on in 2023/24: truly a year of Growth and Innovation. - GeoffÊHope Terry

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3. Highlights from OPAL Clubs and Services in 2023-24 OPAL Clubs

– activities,ran Mad themedHatter’s Tea foodParties and entertainment.during the year Several clubs the food, the activities and dressing up for the occasion proved to be very popular with our members and volunteers!

• attending the clubs enjoy a fun filled time everyone loves coming to meet and catch up with their friends and making memories together.

Malpas Club includes a monthly music session in its programme, and everyone has a good sing along, to which all the residents of Craddock Court are now invited.

As the seasons come around, the volunteers and members at

-one believed that at heart they were all poets!

Amongst the Tarporley Club highlights were a ‘Back to School’ - party reminiscing about the good old days, performances from some very talented singers and musicians, guide dog visits, and plenty of bingo!

Club members also appreciated a couple of trips out for lunch, and a visit to a musical event organised by the Tarporley Rotary Club.

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successful and enjoyable day out. The Kelsall members also crafts and games. A late summer canal boat trip was a enjoyed a range of performers and speakers including Tarporley U3A Ukulele Band and Healthwatch.

year the members enjoyed speakers with talks on travel and

A session reminiscing with the help of local library memory boxes was very popular and visits by several talented musical performers including the Melody Makers choir were a ‘hit’.

and got involved by making colourful nightlights and mandala

School generously donated amazing hampers to the members just before Christmas – a lovely surprise!

In February, the leap year fell on a Thursday (Helsby Club day), and one

• though sadly no wedding bells this time, as

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Good Neighbour Service

January, OPAL were able to expand the service across all the rural areas in Cheshire West. We now also incorporate our Telephone Befriending service under the Good Neighbour banner. During the winter - months, we also ran our short term funded service, OPAL at Home, to help keep people out of hospital and to support those returning home from hospital stays, and their carers.

OPAL at Home and Good Neighbour services helped over 60 people throughout the year. This is a much needed service

• various appointments

Many wonderful bonds have been built between members and volunteers. Some of those referred to the Good Neighbour service have previously had limited companionship and they have valued having someone to regularly visit them, sit with them and have a chat over a cup of tea. Several of those using the Good Neighbour service have become interested in joining the local OPAL clubs and other services.

established with some volunteers and members, who are more mobile, enjoying trips out for lunch or

Branching Out

During the year we ran four Food for Thought groups and a Craft Group. The Food for Thought groups met fortnightly in Frodsham, Helsby, Ashton Hayes and

in Helsby over the autumn and winter. All groups varied as to how many places they had available, but it was consistently between 10 and 15, with the group of crafters being. slightly. lower. innumber.

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speakers talking about their speciality or interest, plus the occasional trip out. One member’s 99[th]

Carer Services

with numbers regularly attending our twice weekly outings – doubling including carers and, very often, the person they care for. The group has enjoyed a varied and busy programme with outings to coffee shops, garden centres, the cinema, pub lunches, museums, garden visits and even a canal boat trip. Seasonal activities have included an Easter

a pancake party. The group -based exercise sessions and

In January 2024, we launched a monthly carer support

the cared group with - fora simultaneous members of our and group. separateParticularactivityfocus for has been on making this group accessible for those caring for a person who is living with dementia. Carers have benefitted from talks to support their caring role, hand massages, relaxation, aromatherapy, and the opportunity to share together and offer support whilst

Meanwhile the cared-for group enjoyed games and

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from carers. To quote one of our carers…

"We really look forward to the carer outings and the Carer Friday sessions... We wouldn’t be able to do many of the things planned for us under our own steam… We meet lovely people, and the volunteers help so much too. We could not manage without OPAL. It is good to have an hour or so to

• chosen volunteers to provide companionship for the cared for person whilst the carer has the chance to take some welldeserved time to themselves.

GoOnLine

GoOnLine operates a dual service as we run GoOnLine sessions and GoOnLine@home, (previously known as OPAL in Touch).

made it more accessible and increased the reach of our GoOnLine@home service.

across rural Cheshire. We have increased the number of sessions in the more densely populated areas to meet the

demand, and ensure we are easily accessible to a wider number of people. We have achieved this by

larger network of people.

sessions for various reasons, but who wish to have access to the necessary technical support to be

now works alongside Beverley Stubbs.

We are pleased to have welcomed more IT support - volunteers, who together with our long standing volunteers, work very hard to deliver this vital service within the community. Their wealth of knowledge and expertise in communication technology and digital

needed service within Cheshire West.

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4. OPAL Volunteers’ Highlights

We are incredibly lucky to be supported by over 200 dedicated, talented volunteers with 35 new volunteers joining us this year across our different services.

From helping at the clubs, support with learning IT, driving, cooking, fundraising, carer support and of course our Trustees, our volunteers have enabled us to really make a difference in reducing social

calling older people across rural West Cheshire in their homes, with new referrals coming in every week.

– all

and Gardens.

Harmonies’ –

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A new volunteer programme, Passport to Care was set up this year in partnership with another local charity, Snow Angels, and funded by Cheshire West and Chester Council as part of the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ scheme. The programme offers volunteering experience with older people and carers in community

• enabled us to recruit volunteers aged 16 18 years for

promote work in the care sector as well as providing valuable skills and experience for those wishing to pursue a career in the wider health and social care sector.

Coordinator on [e-mail] or Tel: [phone]

In the words of our volunteers….

When I started volunteering with OPAL, I was new to the area; I really enjoy helping members at the club, and I’ve made some lovely new friends!

.

Befriending is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences I have had. I would highly recommend anyone to do it.

much I would gain from it too. I spend an hour or so with my ‘neighbour’ every week

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Volunteering for OPAL isn’t just about helping the members, it’s about making friends, especially with the other volunteers.

I love the people I meet volunteering at OPAL, there is always a story to tell and a joke to be shared and I feel that I brighten up someone else's day as much as they

I love to see the members engage and enjoy the activities. A lovely way to contribute to the community.

Volunteering at Club is so rewarding. You 4 ; F fas really feel like you’ve helped to provide an 6 i YT enjoyable social outing for the members and | la A they are always so appreciative. It’s also great to feel part of a team and form friendships with your fellow volunteers. Z WS <7" I started driving the minibus around 2 years ~ ago. I have loved every minute and got to know lots of nice people. To think you can easily help the local community is I cannot say that volunteering with OPAL is truly wonderful. I have made selfless, as I gain so much from it. - new friends, tried new things, built up my self confidence and feel a sense of pride working | find volunteering at Tattenhall OPAL Club together with others to make a real difference very rewarding. I’ve been a volunteer there in my community. for 12 years so that really speaks for itself! It’s lovely to see the smiles on their faces and hear their news every week. a 12

very rewarding. I’ve been a volunteer there for 12 years so that really speaks for itself! It’s lovely to see the smiles on their faces and hear their news every week.

5. Organisational Structure

OPAL Members OPAL Board of Trustees Approval of items at AGM Meets 6x per year plus an Away Day Officers: Chair Vice Chair Company Secretary Treasurer - — Trustee leads - Trustee leads for Information and Support services Services Assurance

Bids for funding

Health and safety Safeguarding

Volunteers

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7. OPAL 3 Year Plan Update 2023/24 to 2025/26

Progress Report at the End of Year 1

• Year strategy are summarised below, together with progress made in

Year 1 and up-to-date comments.

with an award being made in July 2024. This has delayed some elements of the Plan, but it puts OPAL in

|~~|~~|~~Objective~~|~~a~~|| |---|---|---|---| |Year
~~|~~
~~Pf~~|~~Objective~~
~~Pf~~
~~fe~~|Progress
~~a~~
~~fe~~|Comment
~~BreaktimePlusandtheSittingServicearenow~~| |1
~~|~~
~~Pf~~|Re-brand services, inline
with our external message.
~~Objective~~
~~Pf~~
~~fe~~|Mostly
Completed
~~a~~
~~fe~~|branded as Carer Support.
GoOnLine services covers all Digital Inclusion.
Discussions are on-going re: Branching Out/Food
for Thought.
~~BreaktimePlusandtheSittingServicearenow~~| |1
~~Pf~~|Undertake a major
raises our profile.
~~Pf~~
~~fe~~
marketing campaign which|Delayed
~~fe ~~|This has been amended to having a “rolling
~~Breaktime Plusand the Sitting Service are now~~
marketing plan” which can be utilised by individual
services as required. This is still in its early stages.| |1|Recruit a new post of part-
Organisers.
~~—~~|Revised
To Year 2
~~Pf~~|The role was upgraded to a manager and funding
was obtained through the NLRC bid. Recruitment
will now start in Autumn 2024.
~~Pf~~| |1– 2|Extend our range of
funding sources.|On-Going,
with some
success|bids.
New potential funders are constantly identified, but
it is
a highly competitive environment. We will
continue to use our external resource for major| |1– 3|Increase the geographical
services.
reach ofour existing|Started|A review concluded that increasing OPAL’s
footprint in rural West Cheshire is the preferred
option and the NLRC award will support this.| |1– 3|Calculate the excess
‘unrestricted reserves’ for|On-Going|This is undertaken annually but the NLRC award
obviates the need for major expenditure from
reserves.| |2|service to be added into
Identify at least one new
our portfolio.~~— Pf~~|Completed
~~Pf~~|Good Neighbours has obtained 2 years funding
from CW&C. OPAL at Home was a success in winter
23/24.
~~Pf~~| |3|and consider working
together.
~~— Pf~~|Not Due
Yet
~~Pf~~|The Passport to Care project with Snow Angels is an
early example of the benefits of joint working.
~~Pf~~|

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6. OPAL Staff and Trustees

Fiona Barry (from Aug 23), Zoe Blocksidge, Lynda Briody (to Aug 23), Deborah de - Kock, Sarah Davies (Jan Apr 24), Janet Handley, Maria Hudson, Morag Hutson, Alice Leech, Joanne Patel (to Apr 23), Alison Shackleton, Beverley Stubbs.

Trustees: Ian Bailey, Jan Bailey, Kevin Bradburne, Gill Clough, Jane Colville, Juliet - Compston, Lesley Gough, Geoffrey Hope Terry, Brian Mackie, Gill Swash (to Nov 23), Julian Waring (to Apr 23), Rhiannon Wilson.

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8. OPAL Funders

Funder	OPAL Service supported
	Branching Out and Digital Inclusion
NHS Commissioning Group	Branching Out
Marshes Community Benefit Fund	Branching Out and Digital Inclusion
Cheshire and Warrington Carers Trust	Carer Support Services
Cheshire West Integrated Care Partnership ~~Oo~~	Digital Inclusion ~~ActivityDayClubs,TelephoneBefriending,~~
Cheshire West and Chester Local Authority ~~Oo~~	Good Neighbours, Passport to Care (from UK Shared Prosperity Fund/ ‘Levelling Up’), Emergency Discharge Funding ~~ActivityDayClubs,TelephoneBefriending,~~
Skipton Building Society ~~Oo~~	Carer Support Services and Digital Inclusion ~~Activity Day Clubs,Telephone Befriending,~~
Cheshire Community Fund	Carer Support Services
	Carer Support Services
Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fund	Digital Inclusion
W G Edwards	Digital Inclusion
Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr John Leather	General funding across all services

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9. OPAL Fundraising

– all bringing skills experience, ideas and enthusiasm to the group. They have been busy over the past year organising a range of successful events which have raised a total of £5,946.

Highlights were two new events – a Midsummer Soirée which was held at the home of volunteer Felicity Pochin in her

Guests were treated to tea and cake, followed by glasses of fizz as they relaxed and listened to an excellent local trio

The other new event was the OPAL Christmas Fair which was

The Christmas Fair will be held again this year at Tarvin Community Centre on Friday 15[th] November. Many other events are being planned for the coming year, so if you would like to get involved with any of our events, please contact Juliet via [e-mail]

Fundraising summary for the year:

June 2023 Midsummer Soirée Raised £1,236 July 2023 Frodsham Party in the Park Raised £171 Nov 2023 OPAL Christmas Fair & Afternoon Tea Raised £1,420 Dec 2023 HoHo Helsby Gift Stall Raised £325 Apr- Dec 23 Club Fundraising Raised £1,613 Apr 23 - Mar 24 OPAL Onelottery Raised £1,181

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10. Donations to OPAL

We are extremely grateful to those -24 donations groups to and OPAL, organisationsduring 2023 who totalling £22,433. donations make a huge difference in supporting us to deliver our services. THANK YOU!

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11. Partners

We gratefully acknowledge the support of many partners who enabled OPAL to deliver its services in the last year...

Providers of our OPAL venues. The providers of training Those who have led OPAL in so events for staff and volunteers. entertainment at our clubs and groups. ~~Pf —~~ Social prescribers, wellbeing The Malpas Minibus The Library Services for co-ordinators and social publicising services as well as their workers who have signposted with transport. willingness to undertake joint and referred people to work with us around Branching OPAL services. Out and GoOnLine. ~~oo — oe~~ ...and our wider network partners and funders Funders and Commissioners CWVA who support Local Parish Councils for support (highlighted elsewhere) who volunteer recruitment, in disseminating information, have listened, been involved, provide advice, information signposting and funding through advised and supported during about funding opportunities, grants. the last year. co- ordination of training and sector leadership. Community Care Steering Healthwatch for their Age UK Cheshire for their Groups/ Partnerships in advocacy role and provision information giving and support. Frodsham, Helsby & Elton and of information and training the rural villages including opportunities. their associated member groups, for providing opportunities for networking and joined up local working. The Carers Trust for their Snow Angels for their Cheshire Community Action (CCA) information giving, practical presence and the close for their information giving, help, support and advice. working relationship we are practical help, support and building. advice. The End of Life Partnership for The Alzheimer’s Society for their support, advice and their advice and guidance. partnership working in the local training. area. ~~PP~~ _—

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O P A L OlderPeopleActive Lives 12. OPAL Money Matters Year on yearfunds 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 Il Total funds Income from LA Levelling Up Trusts and Donations Foudns gifts legacies Other fundraising Membership fees Yr to March 23 • Yr to March 24 Funding sources 2022-23 Memberlees E20.053 Fundraising £20.582 LAS &NHS £72,062 Donations. wfts. legacies £12,973 Trusts and Found*ions £45.367_ LAS &NHS Trusts an¢J Foundations Donations. Ofts. legacies Fundraising Memberf8es 20

	Year to March-24	Year to March-23	Movement
Total funding	222,926	171,037	51,889
Staff Costs	139,417	109,959	29,458
Volunteer Costs	4,888	3,623	1,265
Services’ Direct Costs	35,186	27,161	8,025
Support Costs	17,207	18,448	(1,241)
Fundraising	342	3,036	(2,694)
Total expenditure	197,040	162,227	34,813
Net surplus (deficit)	25,886	8,810	17,076
Reserve funds	268,067	242,182	25,885

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Key Points

Total income for the year is up by £52,000, due to a number of factors including £23,000 for the new Passport to Care project, which is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and an increase of £25,000 from successful bids to Cheshire West, in respect of the Good Neighbour scheme and OPAL at Home. Fees from members also showed a good increase, although the level remains below the pre-covid figure.

• competition for these funds, which are often heavily over subscribed. There were no major fundraising events in 2023/24 which meant that both income and costs were lower than last year. However, we were fortunate to benefit from strong receipts from our supporters through Donations, Gifts and Legacies.

costs were £8,000 higher, which works out at 15.8% of total income in both years.

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O P A L OlderPeopleActive Lives 13. Financial Statements and Balance Sheet OPAL SERVICES (RURAL WEST CHESHIRE) BALANCE SHEEr AS AT 31 MARCH 2024 2024 2023 Flxed M•ot• T•nglble assets 1) 1.807 3.116 Curr•nt ••••ts 14 73.394 284.249 1.788 278.538 C88h Bt bank nd In h•nd 337.843 280,322 Crndltorn: •mounts f•lllng du• wlthln on• y•ar 16 (71,382) {41,255) Nat currnnt 288.281 239.Ce7 Totsl aM•t• l•M curnnt Il•blllll•• 242.183 N•t •M•ts •x¢lwdlnq p•n•lon Il•blllty 242,183 Th• lund• of th• ¢h•rtty Restricted Income Unre•lrided fund• 86,935 201,133 52.818 189.587 242.183 The company Is enwed lo the exemFon from th• r•quiremont contntrl in 477 01 lh• cOmp•n￿ 2006. fttr th• year ondod 31 March 2024. The dlrectorn ack￿¢¢9¢ thelr fc¢ cCth￿1vj iih the rwLrir•ments d thè C(¥npwiM kl 2r th respe[ to accounl'ng records and the pffjpw•bcAI offinanrial staterr￿lI. Th• m•rnhr8 Tequlred to otrA•D an a￿lit ol rt• f1w￿￿1 Statements y•or kn quesbon 8ccorlance vilh 478. lo th• nall c4Jmponi88 wkne. 411112 pe.Terry Company rewats'cm numljer 07521V25 (Eryknj ￿ V&knsl 23

O P A L OlderPeopleActive Lives 14. Independent Examiner's Report OPAL SERVICES (RURAL WEST CHESHIRE) INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF OPAL SERVICES (RURALWEST CHESHIRE) I rewrt to the Iru8tees on my examinalKm of th8 fin￿1 statsrn8￿ of OPAL SeNc8s (Rural Chashirel Ilhe charity) for thé yèar •nd•d 31 March 2024. R￿pOn81b11ltsm and b•sh ol r•port As the Iruslees of tha charity land al80 118 direcors for the puwes of CoMp￿Y lawl yryJ are respons1￿8 for the preparation ol the finanoal statemwts in accordwK Wth th8 f•(wiremenis of tho Cornp•n$ kt 201 (the 2008 Act) Having s¥llsfed mysdf that the finanoal statements of the ctharity arn nrl requlred to bo audited under Part 18 of the 2006 Act and are eligi￿8 for independent examinabon, I repryt in respect of my examinolion of the charity's finanaal statiwnents camed under section 145 of the Chrties Ad 2011 (the 2011 A&1. In cafrying out my exarnination I have follo¥ed all the aP￿le￿bIe Direcllons given by the Charity Ccfftmlsslon under section 145(51{b) of the 2011 kL Indepondent examlnofa 8latsm•nt I have cornpleled my exaMin8￿"0n. I confirm that no m8ttets have c￿• to my att￿tt10n In Connectk￿ with th• examination giving me ¢au8e to believe Ihol In ￿Y material respect accounting record8 V￿re not keF in respect of the tt￿ty a6 requlr•d by sockn 388 of tM 2006Acl', or the fin•nts81 st8lement8 do not xirtl wlh re¢ryds: or the finanrAal 51alemenls do not comply ith the ac£(xJntsig requiremerrts ol section 3￿ of Ihe 200B Act other than requirement Ihal the accounts gNe a true and falr vi•w ￿￿1 M not a matter considwed as part ol an independenl exwnination., or the finandal stalem8nls have not been Prepared in a(zcdKe ilh the methDJs and prfnopbs ol the Statement of Recommended Pracbce for accounting and r8Wtwig by charities applicable lo charitses prepanng their account$ in a¢￿￿8nce ￿ the FinwK401 Repixb'ng sI￿d1rd ￿1¢bIe In the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102) I have no concerns and have come across rv) other matters ￿ COnnectK￿ With the examinatlon to lthlch ottenlion Should be drawn in this rep)rt In ¢)rder to enafle a proper under51anding of Ihe financial 8tstements lo Ellams FCCA Hall Livesey Brown HLB House 68 High Street T8rpoNey Cheshire CIM (K4T Dated: ... 24

15. Company Information

OPAL Services (Rural West Cheshire) is a company limited by guarantee.

Charity name:

Registered company no: Registered office:

Registered charity no :

OPAL Services (Rural West Cheshire) 7521625 (England and Wales) 18 Utkinton Road, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0HS 8th February 2011 22nd May 2011 31st March 1143753

Board of Trustee Directors 2023-24:

Ian Bailey Jan Bailey Kevin Bradburne P Cllr Gill Clough P Cllr Jane Colville Juliet Compston Lesley Gough - Geoff Hope Terry Brian Mackie Gill Swash Rhiannon Wilson Julian Waring

From March 2021 From March 2021 From June 2021 From February 2011 From February 2011 From March 2022

From June 2021; Secretary from September 2021 From March 2022 ; Chair from August 2022 From March 2020; Treasurer from March 2020 From July 2017 to November 2023 From September 2019 From May 2022 to April 2023

Company Secretary:

Lesley Gough

Independent Examiner:

Rebecca Ellams FCCA, Hall Livesey Brown HLB House, 68 High Street, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0AT

Bankers: The Cooperative Bank Manchester M60 4EP

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OPAL Older People Active Lives 26