Olive Community Projecl Charity Number: 1155574 (For Charitable Incorporated Orgonisailons) Trnstees, Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Period IApril 2024 to 31 March 2025 November 202S Charlty Name: Olive Cornmunity Project Cbarlty number: 1155574 Charity's operatlng address: Olive Branch, 2c Castle Sueet. Edgeley. SiockporL SK3 9AB ames of the Charity Th￿tee5 who Manage the Charity (Add extra mws os required) Trustee Name Office (if ony) AppOinte￿tilred l. Mrs Christine Cheetham 2. Rev Stephen Hough 3. Ms Sarah Booth 4. Rev Ken Livingstone 5. Mrs Margaret Jone5 6. Mis5 Rebecca Allen Chatr Appolnted Treasurèr Marth 24 Retired March 24 Names and Adth?sse5 of Advisors ff*lete rows thot ore not fElevant) Name Address and Postcode Bank The Cyative BanK PO Box 250, Skelrnetsdale, Lancs. WN8 Inspec￿[ of Accounts Mt5 Jane HolliD5 12 Withyp)ol Drive. Stockport, SK2 6DT Names of Senior Staff with Delegated Responsibllities (Add eAtra row5 os required) Name Role Mrs Jalne Curley Mr Behnam Raifiei Project Manager Refugee and Asylum Seeker Manager Description of the Charity's ￿k￿sts 1ype of Governing D0￿ment. Found￿10￿ Model Constitution How the Charlty Is Consdtuted: Clwi(abJe Incory)oraied Organtsarion Trustee Sele￿10￿ Methods: Trjsiees are acrively idenrlfied from among existing trus*e nttwotk5 for their particulat 5kiUs and experience. How New Trusttts Inthicted and Trained: Prospectlve new tnjstees are invited to attend a board tDeeiin8 as an observer before declding whether LO Stand for election. They arp Inducied informally through di5CU5slon with exi5tin8 trustees and the Projea Manager. Summary of the Objectives of the Charity as set out in it's Governing Document The Objectives of the CIO are: l. To prornoie for the benefit of the inhabitants of Edgeley. Stockport and ihe surnundin8 area who are on the margins of sociery, by reason of their age, health condition- both physical and mental, financiaI 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 condiiion of life for said inhabitsnts. 2. The relief of those in nerf by reason of old age, ill-health. disability, financial hardship, poor housingniving condiuons, or other disadvaniages in Edgeley, Si(xkport. through signposting or Inuoducing them 10 health. social and other services. and assisiing and supporting them in accessin8 such services. both through traditiona] means and via the Internei. A subsianiial amount of time is S￿nt in assisting people with forni fillin8, due lo difliculty readin￿Writing, or due 10 digital exclusion. 3. To promote soclaj indusion in Edgeley. Stockp)rt for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs ol those people who are socially exduded and a5sisun8 them to iniegrale inio the Olive cornmunity, and the wider society. For ihe purpose of Ihis clause, 'socially excluded. tneans being excluded from society. as a result of one or more of the following factors: uJ)employrnenl; financial hardship. youth or old age. ill healih (physical or mental): substance abuse or dependency including a]cohol and drugs,. discriminaiion on the grounds of gender. race, disabiliry, ethnic origln. belief, creed, sexual orientation or gender reassignment. pool educational or skills attainment; relationship qind family breakdown; young families. poor houslng (that Is housinB thai does not meet the basic habitable standards. homelessness, crlme (either as a Victim of crime or as an offender rehabilj'tating into society) 4. To advance the Christian religion in Edgeley. Siockport for the public ￿nefIt by such means as the trustees may detemiine. Specificallyfr during the accounting period. OCP carrlled out the following activities in line with its charitable purp05e5: l. ProvSslon of a dTOP-fin centre where lonelyltsoiated members of the comMu￿ry are welcome without cost. 2. Provision ol workshops for arts and crafts activlUe5, to develop socSaJ Interacdon and creative abjlltles. 3. Provlde sorne measure of relief for those experlendng financial hardship. for whatever reason. through an emergenry foodbank, cloihes bank and household equipment store. We liaise with other chariiies, or8anlsailons and churches 10 acqulre essendaj furntshin8s for Ihose who are tryin8 to rebulld live5. 4. A monthly 'advlce desk, Is provided by ihe local council. atiended by local housin8 associatfons, publlc health. dlglial Inclusion or8anisations and represeniauves who help wlth benefits, debi, the Cost of Ilvlng and can help with gaslelectriciry. Thereby supporting the mosi vulnerable In society. 5. We work in conjunction with oiher siatutory bodies and chariues within Stockport, supporting the vulnerable clients ihat use the Olive BranclL We can signpost and are a referral a8eni to these or8anisations, providing wrap around support. 6. MIND njn a weekly mental health self-health group. 7. We offer computers and free wi-fi for those needj'ng online access for benefits, housing or employment supp)rt. We also make appoinunents for those lacldn8 dIgi￿1 sklll or have no access to a phone. and we help with fom) f￿1n8 and leiier writing. 8. We lake donations from a local supennarket and sandwich shop, any surplus food thai they have not sold on the previous day. This is then pul oui for our members of ihe local comtnunily 10 take thout the embarra55meni of havin8 10 ask. From Ihese donations, packs are made up for the homeless. 9. Durin8 the wlnieT rnonths we offer 'wami space,, which is where a basic, hot lunch is provided. 10. We celebrate birthdays wlth cards and a cake. especially valued by those who have no family lo celebraie wiih. We also provide a Chrisimas Dinner. We mourn as a family over those of our visiiors who have passed away. supporling where possible by attending funerals. 10. We offer our surplus food and clothes io other small charltles who are supportlng the marginalised In our community, women suffering abuse. those inadequaiely housed, local hosiels and those who are siNgglinB with addlction. 11. We 5UPPOrt Occupadonal Therapy siudenls, by havlng the Ollve Branch belng used as placemeni. This year the 51udents have introduced some Mindfulness sesslons for our visitors. 12. While we operate our own small emergency foodbank we are now also working in conjuncuon wtih Chelwood FoodbaDk Plus. a large food bank charity. They have a liub based next door 10 the Ollve Branch. where they provlde food, then send them to us to provide more wrap around support. Support offered during the accounting period (number of people involved): Daily drop-in Full-tlme pald staff Pan-tlme pald staff Volunteer team 12 Activliles - Knii and Natter Weekly craft group Menta] hea]th self-help group Advice Desk FO￿ bankthousehold equipment store in partnership with Chelwood Foodbank Plu5 In parulership wlih ihe locaj council, have taken ￿ponSIbl111Y for the local planietslflowers Warm lunches for any of our visiiors. and sandwich provision for homeless v151iors. Also provide tenislsleeping bags Gazebo Days io raise funds Fundraising for the Olive branch by pe￿nal donations Macmillan Fundraising Behnam Ralflei has become pan of the Ollve Branch ieam, who provldes homele5S 5UPPOrt and assists asylum seekers Sewng Group Introduaion of Mindfulness actlvities Values Ollve Community Project is motivated by the inclusfive Christsan faith of those ai centre. For our inspiration we look in panicular at the radical Jesus whose intense humanity enabled him lo transcend the social boundaries of his day. and include inio his world those who were oiherwise excluded. While some of our volunteers are simllarly rnotivaied, we do noi exclude people from volunieering for ￿e￿On5 of faith. gender, sexuality. race or age. nor do we restrict our support on any basis. Statutory Declaration The trustees dedare thai they have complied wlth their duty to have due re8ard io the guidance on publlc benefii published by the comm15sion in exercislng their p)wers or dutles. Summary of the Main Achievements of the Charity for the Year During the accounung period.. l. The Oljve Branch, our shop window on the hlgh streei and polni of coniatt wlth the local community. has held 'open days. in the fom of Gazebo Days. inviung shoppers to come and see what we offer. In addiuon to thi5. we have created a display for the shop window. highlighting all the activities on offer at the Olive Branch includm8 openin8 limes. We also regularly decorate the front window e8 at Christmas and Easter, io attraa passets by. We also contlnue 10 support Macmillan by havlng Macrnillan coffee mornings. 2. We continue wlth our links wlth Sheffield Hallam University and hosted a further two Occupational Therapy 51udents, who were able io observe and offer us their own intervention in Ihe form of mlndfulness. They also partlcipated in ihe menial health suppon 8roup. In addl￿On, MIND, public health aThd the homele55 mental ieam have also broughi nursing siudenis to the Ollve Branch, to get an insighi into what support Is available in the cornmuniry. 3. Gazebo days continue. and MIX and Mingle ha5 continued to grow. MIX aTJd Mingle is held at the Olive Branch every last Thursday of the moT)tK and is where local support agencies come together, including housing and the police, io offer advice to our visiiors. Public health also attend and offer advice on healthy eating and do blood pressure check5. An or8anisation called Siarting Poini also allend and give out free SIM cards. phones and ipads. to alleviale digital exclusion ihai affects many people on the margins of S￿lety. And we have also developed siron8 Ilnks with our local branch of A8eUK and they inform us if they are njnning any sessions, such as debi rnanagemeni and CV ￿llIng, and Invites people who attend the 0￿'ve Branch. 4. The 'Warni Space. iniualive Con￿nueS over the winter month, provtding a wami lunch. Ihls was re-commenced in October. And a packed lunch ts provided every day for the homeless. We a]so continued 10 support people with phone calls 10 the Cosi of Livftng team, get energy, 5uperniarket vouchers, and a150 provide white 8￿d5 for those who are living in inadequate house with poor he31ing/damp. Our 'clothe5 bank, grew, and we were provided with homeless bags, which have in them a hat. scarf. 8iove5. blanket. flask and hoi water EM)Itle. We also collected ienÈs and sleepin8 bags. 5. We continue our links with organlsations such as the Lamplighiers and the Freemasons. and also local chutches and schools, and have done talks to these organisatiorys, 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. Chri5trnas gilts aud Easter eggs. These wete dis￿lbuled to asylum seekers children as well a5 other families in nee(L 6. Due to the continuing cost of living crisi5. need has incre&8ed within the commuDily. We support people by helping them by making phone calls to the housing. in relarion io repair5 and inadequate housing, and 5UPPOrt them through that pffKe5s. We also assist with fotm filling. as a lot of people struggle with this, io enable them to daim all the benefits thai they are enlltled to. And a lot of time ts speni writing toAiaising with the local councillors, MP. DWP and various other organisations. 7. The pamietship between the Olive Branch and Chelwood Community Hub continues. Chelwood Hub operaies as a foodbank. where their clients are then refetred to the Olive Branch for more wrap around support. The office in the Hub continues to be ￿ed as a base for counselling, signposting and support serrice for our refugee and asylum seeker worker. In adth"tion. a flat has been developed above the Hub which now houses a refugee couple. who would otherwise have ￿en made homele￿. 8. The Olive Brancb bas ￿en inwted to two monthly Meetings. with the local councillots. police and Shop keepers. regarding what happens on the high streeL This includes ann-5￿131 behaviour, aggressive begging and shop lifting. We also discuss and plan events such as a Christmas uee light turn on and ans and crafts tnarkets. 9. S is a lady who firsi approached the manager of the Olive Branch. with an interest in setting up a sewing group. S lost her son to alcohol addiction, and subsequenily developed an addiction herself. l)Luing her recovery, she decided thai she wanted to give someihing back, so was advised io speak to the manager by a member of stsff at Cinek House. a drug and alcohol centre. who has strong links with the Ob've Branch. Sewing has been a passions of S's for a long time. and she wanied to set up a dass usit]g recycled dothes. and teach the art of hand sewing. Showing what can be athieved with just a needle and thread. The class is a rnix of maje and females, of various age5 and backgrounds. Any problems they may have they can share, and they help and suppon each oiher to be betier and happy whilsi learning their craft. and enjoying each othets cornpany. S writes ' there's always a wam welcome from the volunteers in charge of leas and coffees. For me. it has improved my life enormously. y'ven me a reason io embrace every day in the company of wonderfi￿ fiiends., Brief Statement of the Charity's Poliry on Reserves The Iruslees have noi agreed a resetves policy. ￿lievIng the current levels of incorne and expendiEure. and the nature of ihe chariry's activiues, do not merli one at presenL Finanaal Review Detsils During this financial year we received £46.097.63 of which £18457.98 15 unresthcted. Our balance carried forward to the next financial year is £13.379 unre5tricied. During the accounting period we received £11.785.44 share of the six month period (rom NCLF, in Partne￿hIp with Chelwood Focmlbank Plus. Foyle Foundauon granied us £5165.35, deficit £4525.32. $0 Ihe balance &iTried forward is £74.68 Nothing to Declare Risk Managernent The trustees regularly consider the rlsks a55(￿lated rutJninB the Ch￿iry. and risk management. incident forn15 and safeguarding issues are discussed at every tr￿slee5 meecing. Trustee5 have prepared a risk regi51er which covers potential risks at all levels of the charity. In panicuiar* given the increasLn8ly challenging client group with which the chariry works, a risk assessment of day-10- day on-siLe risks has been developed io ensure the safery of siaff and cusiomers. The projeci manager inEonns rn]siees of any incidents that occur. and the aclions (aken. Regular s￿ff meetlngs takes account of such 5iiuations, and in-house annual training is also presented io all volunieers. Chelwood foodbank wn annual safeguarding training. which siaff from the Olive Branch are inviied io. Management Mrs Jaine Curley has managed the Olive Brancb, as interim rnanager. day 10 day since March 2023, after being in the role of Interim Manager. She has done so with energy. compassion and greai commitment, and has eamed great respeci from ihe people of Edgeley. She supports and encourages those on the margins of sociery with greai compassion. She has worked hard o networking with local companies. ooanisations and the wider S[￿kPOll council. Since the beginning of the accounung year. Behnarn Raifiei has come under the Olive Branch umbrella, as a paid employee. He provides praaical sUPPOrt to refugees and asylum seekets. helping them io navi8aie the challenges of rebuilding their lives in the UK. His services Include signposiing io essenual resources, complding applicatlon fonns for benefits, housing and visas eic. translating documents, offering general advice on rights and entitlements, alld assisting with housing searches. His goal is to empower individuals with the supw)rt they need. fostering stability and hope for a brighier fuiure. The Trustees dedare that they have approved the Truste&s' Report above. Signed on beha]f of the Charity's Trustees Signaturt(s): Full Narne: Position(s):