2024-03-31-accounts - Olive Community Project

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Olive Community Project

Charity Number: 1155574

(For Charitable Incorporated Organisations)

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Period

1April 2023 to 31 March 2024

January 2025

Charity name: Olive Community Project

Charity number: 1155574

Charity’s operating address: Olive Branch, 2c Castle Street, Edgeley, Stockport. SK3 9AB

Names of the Charity Trustees who Manage the Charity (Add extra rows as required)

Trustee Name Office (if any) Appointed/Retired

1. Mrs Christine Cheatham Chair Appointed April 23

2. Rev Stephen Hough

3. Ms Sarah Booth

4. Rev Ken Livingstone Treasurer

5. Mrs Margaret Jones

6. Miss Rebecca Allen Appointed March 23

Mrs Ann Dawber Retired February 24

Names and Addresses of Advisors (Delete rows that are not relevant)

Name Address and Postcode

Bank The Cooperative Bank, PO Box 250, Skelmersdale, Lancs, WN8

Inspector of Accounts Mrs Jane Hollins 12 Withypool Drive, Stockport, SK2 6DT

Names of Senior Staff with Delegated Responsibilities (Add extra rows as required)

Name Role

Mrs Jaine Curley Project Manager

Description of the Charity’s Trusts

Type of Governing Document: Foundation Model Constitution

How the Charity is Constituted: Charitable Incorporated Organisation

Trustee Selection Methods: Trustees are actively identified from among existing trustee

networks for their particular skills and experience, and

invited to stand for election.

How New Trustees are Inducted Prospective new trustees are invited to attend a board

and Trained: meeting as an observer before deciding whether to stand for

election. They are inducted informally through discussion

with existing trustees and the Project Manager.

Summary of the Objectives of the Charity as set out in it’s Governing Document

The Objectives of the CIO are:

To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Edgeley, Stockport and the surrounding area the provision of facilities for recreation, or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities, by reason of their age, health

condition – both physical and mental, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large, in the interests of social welfare, and with the object of improving the condition of life for said inhabitants.

The relief of those in need, by reason of old age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship, poor housing/living conditions, or other disadvantage in Edgeley, Stockport, through signposting or introducing them to health, social and other services, and assisting and supporting them in accessing such services, both through traditional means and via the Internet.
To promote social inclusion in Edgeley, Stockport for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into the Olive community, and the wider society.

For the purpose of this clause, ‘socially excluded’ means being excluded from society, as a result of one or more of the following factors: unemployment; financial hardship; youth or old age; ill health (physical or mental); substance abuse or dependency including alcohol and drugs; discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, disability, ethnic origin, belief, creed, sexual orientation or gender reassignment; poor educational or skills attainment; relationship and family breakdown; young families; poor housing (that is housing that does not meet the basic habitable standards; homelessness, crime (either as a victim of crime or as an offender rehabilitating into society)

To advance the Christian religion in Edgeley, Stockport for the public benefit by such means as the trustees may determine.

Specifically, during the accounting period, OCP carried out the following activities in line with its charitable purposes:

Provison of a drop-in centre where lonely/isolated members of the community are welcome without cost.
Provison of workshops for arts and crafts activities, to develop social interaction and creative abilities.
Provide some measure of relief for those experiencing financial hardship, for whatever reason, through an emergency foodbank, clothes bank and household equipment store. We liaise with other charities, organisations and churches to acquire essential furnishings for those who are trying to rebuild lives.
A monthly ‘advice desk’ is provided by the local council, attended by local housing associations, public health, digital inclusion organisations and representatives who help with benefits, debt, the cost of living and can help with gas/electricity. Thereby supporting the most vulnerable in society.
In conjunction with Pure Innovations, a 6 week series of sessions are offered, in a rolling programme, on making easy meals on a budget.
MIND run a weekly mental health self-health group.
We offer computers and free wi-fi for those needing online access for benefits, housing or employment support. We also make appointments for those lacking digital skill or have no access to a phone, and we help with form filling and letter writing.
We take donations from a local supermarket and sandwich shop, any surplus food that they have not sold on the previous day. This is then put out for our members of the local community to take without the embarrassment of having to ask. From these donations, packs are made up for the homeless.
During the winter months we offer ‘warm space’, which is where a basic, hot lunch is provided.
We celebrate birthdays with cards and a cake, especially valued by those who have no family to celebrate with. We also provide a Christmas Dinner. We mourn as a family

over those of our visitors who have passed away, supporting where possible by attending funerals.

We offer our surplus food and clothes to other small charities who are supporting the marginalised in our community, women suffering abuse, those inadequately housed, local hostels and those who are struggling with addiction.

Support offered during the accounting period (number of people involved):

Daily drop-in 30+

Part-time paid staff 1

Volunteer team 14

Activities -

Knit and Natter

Monthly craft group

Mental health self-help group

Advice Desk

Food bank/household equipment store in partnership with Chelwood Foodbank Plus

Easy Meals on a Budget

In partnership with the local council, have taken responsibility for the local planters/flowers

Warm lunches for any of our visitors, and sandwich provision for homeless visitors. Also provide tents/sleeping bags

Gazebo Days to raise funds

Fundraising for the Olive branch by personal donations

Macmillan Fundraising

Partnership with ‘Loaves and Fishes’, who provide homeless support and assist asylum seekers

Sewing Group

Values

Olive Community Project is motivated by the inclusive Christian faith of those at its centre. For our inspiration we look to Jesus of Nazareth, in particular the radical Jesus whose intense humanity enabled him to transcend the nationalist, religious, social and gender boundaries of his day and include into his world those who were otherwise excluded.

While some of our volunteers are similarly motivated, we do not exclude people from volunteering for reasons of faith, gender, sexuality, race or age, nor do we restrict our support on any basis.

Statutory Declaration

The trustees declare that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the commission in exercising their powers or duties.

Summary of the Main Achievements of the Charity for the Year

During the accounting period:

The Olive Branch, our shop window on the high street and point of contact with the local community, has help ‘open days’ in the form of Gazebo Days, inviting shoppers to come and see what we offer. In addition to this, we have created a display for the shop window, highlighting all the activities on offer at the Olive Branch including opening times. We also regularly decorate the front window eg at Christmas and Easter, to attract passers by. We also continue to support Macmillan by having Macmillan coffee mornings.
We continue with our links with Sheffield Hallam University and hosted a further two Occupational Therapy students, who were able to observe and offer us their own intervention in the form of healthy sleep. They also participated in the mental health support group. In addition, MIND and public health have also brought nursing students to the Olive Branch, so get an insight into what support is available in the community.
Gazebo days continue, and Mix and Mingle has continued to grow. Mix and Mingle is held at the Olive Branch every last Thursday of the month, and is where local support agencies come together, including housing and the police, to offer advice to our visitors. Public health also attend and offer advice on healthy eating and do blood pressure checks. An organisation called Starting Point also attend and give out free SIM cards, phones and ipads, to alleviate digital exclusion that affects many people on the margins of society. And we have also developed strong links with our local branch of AgeUK and they inform us if they are running any sessions, such as debt management and CV writing, and invites people who attend the Olive Branch.
The ‘Warm Space’ initiative continues over the winter month, providing a warm lunch, this was re-commenced in October. And a packed lunch is provided every day for the homeless. We also continued to support people with phone calls to get energy vouchers, if they were living in inadequate house with poor heating/damp. Our ‘clothes bank’ grew, and we were provided with homeless bags, which have in them a hat, scarf, gloves, blanket, flask and hot water bottle. We also collected tents and sleeping bags.
In conjunction with Loaves and Fishes, we have forged strong links with organisations such as the Lamplighters and the Freemasons, and also local churches and schools, and have done talks to these organisations, making them aware of the work we do within the community. In return, they make financial donations towards the running of the Olive Branch, and also collect coats, Christmas gifts and Easter eggs. These were distributed to asylum seekers children as well as other families in need.
Due to the continuing cost of living crisis, need has increased within the community. We support people by helping them phone calls to the housing, in relation to repairs and inadequate housing, and support them through that process. We also assist with form filling, as a lot of people struggle with this, to enable them to claim all the benefits that they are entitled to. And a lot of time is spent writing to/liaising with the local councillors, MP, DWP and various other organisations.
The partnership between the Olive Branch, Chelwood Community Hub and Loaves and Fishes continues to grow. Numbers to the foodbank continue to grow, and Chelwood supports the Olive Branch’s emergency foodbank by helping to stock it and also provides household equipment. The

office in the Hub continued to be used as a base of counselling, signposting and support service for Loaves and Fishes. In addition, a flat has been developed above the Hub which now houses a refugee couple, who would otherwise have been made homeless.

The Olive Branch has been invited to two monthly meetings, with the local councillors, police and shop keepers, regarding what happens on the high street This includes anti-social behaviour, aggressive begging and shop lifting. We also discuss and plan events such as a Christmas tree light turn on and arts and crafts markets.

9.C is a young man who regularly attends the Olive Branch. H has got some challenging health conditions, including learning/behavioural difficulties, which the Olive Branch has supported him with. He has substance abuse issues which he is trying to address, and mental health issues that do impact him quite severely at times. C stated ‘the Olive Branch has helped me breathe. I came to the Olive Branch because I desperately needed food. My flat was terrible. There was water coming through the roof and dripping all down the walls and along the hallway walls. While I was in Stockport Homes (local

housing association) a lady suggested I should come to the Olive Branch. I found more than food. I was helped with appointments, getting gas and electricity and phone calls. They have helped me get things in order. I had a happy new year and Ive got a full year ahead of me.’

Brief Statement of the Charity’s Policy on Reserves

The trustees have not agreed a reserves policy, believing the current levels of income and expenditure, and the nature of the charity’s activities, do not merit one at present.

Financial Review Details

During this financial year we received £46,097.63 of which £18457.98 is unrestricted. Our balance carried forward to the next financial year is £13,379 unrestricted.

During the accounting period we received £11,785.44 share of the six month period from LCLF, in partnership with Chelwood Foodbank Plus. Foyle Foundation granted us £5165.35, deficit £4525.32, so the balance carried forward is £74.68

Nothing to Declare

______________

Risk Management

The trustees regularly consider the risks associated with running the charity, and risk management, incident forms and safeguarding issues are discussed at every trustees meeting. Trustees have prepared a risk register which covers potential risks at all levels of the charity. In particular, given the increasingly challenging client group with which the charity works, a risk assessment of day-to-day on-site risks has been developed to ensure the safety of staff and customers. The project manager informs trustees of any incidents that occur, and the actions taken. Regular staff meetings takes account of such situations, and in-house annual training is also presented to all volunteers. Chelwood foodbank run annual safeguarding training, which staff from the Olive Branch are invited to.

Management

Mrs Jaine Curley has managed the Olive Branch day to day since March 2023, after being in the role of Interim Manager. She has done so with energy, compassion and great commitment, and has earned great respect from the people of Edgeley. She supports and encourages those on the margins of society with great compassion. She has worked hard on networking with local companies, organisations and the wider Stockport council.

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