2025-02-28-accounts - Shoreham Opportunities for Learning Differences

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

	Period start date	Period start date			Period end date	Period end date
From	1	3	2024	To	28	2	2025

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Shoreham Opportunities For Learning Differences

Other names charity is known by

SOLD

Registered charity number (if any) 1155796 Charity's principal address 62 high street Shoreham by Sea West Sussex Postcode BN43 5DB ~~——~~ Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity Dates acted if not for Name of person (or body) entitled Trustee name Office (if any) whole year to appoint trustee (if any) treasurer 1[James Lowe] chair 2[Liz English] 3[Deride Soloman] 4[Emma Criddle]

Registered charity number (if any) 1155796

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

8 9 10 11 12

19 20

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year ~~————~~

March 2012

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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document[CIO - Foundation ]

(eg. trust deed, constitution) (eg. trust, association, company)How the charity is constituted[CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION ] Trustee selection methods[Appointed by other trustees ]

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

The primary aim of SOLD - is to provide meaningful and quality work

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

experience & opportunities for adults with learning differences in a busy High Street shop. The charity supports the additional needs of the trainees whilst teaching a range of new valuable skills that could potentially be transferred and built upon in further work placements and ultimately help them gain paid employment.

In keeping with our key principles we can now state that fifty percent of our paid staff team are identified as being on the autistic spectrum.

March 2012

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Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

In terms of the service we provide, we continue to offer all the intense & purposeful training in the shop base as outlined in previous years, but as we have been established for eleven years now this has enabled us to create even more community links, important local prescence & increase our positive profile. Also our links with other relevant organisations have developed, matured and we can reap the benefits of these as they progress effectively. We closely follow generic workplace rules with appropriate and relevant skills taught and learnt. Our trainees are encouraged to develop a recognisable work ethic that can then be transferred to other work placements. Such skills can be added to their CVs, and in turn assist them when applying for jobs. They may decide after a placement with us that they do not want to pursue a career in retail but they will leave equipped with other skills e.g. time-keeping, problem solving, team-playing, self-reliance, confidence - all of which can be transferred to any work environment. As well as offering it’s own retail work experience programme, SOLD remains partnered with several other organisations and/or charities and is the host for theirs. We continue to take referrals from WORKAID as we always have - but their work programme has developed over the years to ensure that we are only referred clients whose clear aim is to secure, where possible despite inevitable challenges - some sort of paid employment in the longterm. We are now newly partnered with Brighton Forward - a further education college based in Shoreham-by-Sea. This means we are developing the skills of some slightly younger people who are venturing into quite often their first experience of being in a workplace. Our remit includes individuals on the autistic spectrum,ADHD & dyslexia and not necessarily coupled with a learning disability. We have adapted our work experience programme accordingly to allow such individuals to work at SOLD in a slightly different capacity and quite often play to their strengths enabling them to support the trainees with learning disabilities themselves. The trainees who have been with us since our inception show marked improvement in a range of shop skills but also enjoy increased levels of self-esteem, confidence, independence, selfreliance and responsibility whilst enhancing communication and practising problem solving, numeracy, literacy and money recognition. The majority of our trainees start at the shop with no experience of or familiarity with any type of regulated work or understanding of workplace ethics whatsoever. They all leave furnished with a range of new and significant skills that varies according to the nature of their learning difference.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

March 2012

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You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

March 2012

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Section D	Achievements andperformance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year	The shop continues to be a very vibrant and dynamic place for individuals with learning differences to gain relevant & worthwhile work experience. Supported by experienced staff who recognise their individual additional needs whilst being sensitively encouraged to engage in ever more challenging tasks to broaden their skills base & widen their horizons. Every individual who starts a placement at SOLD is closely supported by a member of the staff team and this is thoughtfully and carefully withdrawn where appropriate, as the individual becomes more proficient, self reliant and confident. Some individuals however, need more intensive support throughout their placement & our staff are becoming more & more experienced in being able to offer that. We are proud to offer a very high staff - trainee ratio. As this is most often one to one it makes the service we offer quite unique. The shop is consistently busy and all trainees are proactive, visible, front of house, customer-facing members of the team, learning transferable skills whilst gaining meaningful work experience. The shop continues to be a centre for inclusivity & a hub of the community in Shoreham, well-liked & well regarded. Our long term trainees in particular have become very familiar faces around town & are held in high esteem in the community. Our window displays continue to be a big focus of attention as they have become more & more dynamic and original year on year. The team has become increasingly creative with their installations using donated and up-cycled items in new & imaginative ways and the trainees have thrived on all the positive comments that the eye- catching displays have received. Current displays are commented on enthusiastically & new displays are awaited eagerly. We endeavour to be very topical and/or seasonal with our themes & often react to local and/or world events as they present themselves. Often a trainee suggests a theme which we will then develop according to its practicality and/or resources available. Because of this way of operating, it has become clear that SOLD has become a vital part of the local community. The general public has been exposed to a very positive experience of learning difference that they perhaps had not had previously. Everyone who shops at SOLD is served or assisted by someone with a learning difference in virtually every instance. Our trainees engage with customers at every opportunity and vice versa. This has helped improve levels of socialisation in many of our trainees and enhanced integration into the community. We receive regular positive feedback both about the individuals we support & the general concept & ethics of SOLD. Often new customers are surprised at the setup at SOLD as it may well be a formula that they have not encountered before, but quickly become favourably assimilated into the concept - they may arrive with one perception but hopefully leave with a different (more positive) one. To further inclusivity, the SOLD team has historically endeavoured to take part in as many community/offsite events as possible and are consistently invited to take part in a whole range of activities. As part of the local annual Christmas tree festival our entry was a tree created around a full size green manekin. We named it Treesah the treenee & it was placed right at entrance to welcome everyone in!

Section D

Achievements andperformance

Summary of the main
achievements of the charity
during the year

The shop continues to be a very vibrant and dynamic place for individuals with learning
differences to gain relevant & worthwhile work experience. Supported by experienced staff
who recognise their individual additional needs whilst being sensitively encouraged to
engage in ever more challenging tasks to broaden their skills base & widen their horizons.
Every individual who starts a placement at SOLD is closely supported by a member of the
staff team and this is thoughtfully and carefully withdrawn where appropriate, as the
individual becomes more proficient, self reliant and confident. Some individuals however,
need more intensive support throughout their placement & our staff are becoming more &
more experienced in being able to offer that. We are proud to offer a very high staff -
trainee ratio. As this is most often one to one it makes the service we offer quite unique.
The shop is consistently busy and all trainees are proactive, visible, front of house,
customer-facing members of the team, learning transferable skills whilst gaining
meaningful work experience. The shop continues to be a centre for inclusivity & a hub of
the community in Shoreham, well-liked & well regarded. Our long term trainees in
particular have become very familiar faces around town & are held in high esteem in the
community. Our window displays continue to be a big focus of attention as they have
become more & more dynamic and original year on year. The team has become
increasingly creative with their installations using donated and up-cycled items in new &
imaginative ways and the trainees have thrived on all the positive comments that the eye-
catching displays have received. Current displays are commented on enthusiastically &
new displays are awaited eagerly. We endeavour to be very topical and/or seasonal with
our themes & often react to local and/or world events as they present themselves. Often a
trainee suggests a theme which we will then develop according to its practicality and/or
resources available.
Because of this way of operating, it has become clear that SOLD has become a vital part
of the local community. The general public has been exposed to a very positive
experience of learning difference that they perhaps had not had previously. Everyone who
shops at SOLD is served or assisted by someone with a learning difference in virtually
every instance. Our trainees engage with customers at every opportunity and vice versa.
This has helped improve levels of socialisation in many of our trainees and enhanced
integration into the community. We receive regular positive feedback both about the
individuals we support & the general concept & ethics of SOLD. Often new customers are
surprised at the setup at SOLD as it may well be a formula that they have not encountered
before, but quickly become favourably assimilated into the concept - they may arrive with
one perception but hopefully leave with a different (more positive) one.
To further inclusivity, the SOLD team has historically endeavoured to take part in as many
community/offsite events as possible and are consistently invited to take part in a whole
range of activities. As part of the local annual Christmas tree festival our entry was a tree
created around a full size green manekin. We named it Treesah the treenee & it was
placed right at entrance to welcome everyone in!

March 2012

TAR

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

Art & creativity continues to be an increasingly important part of the opportunities we offer our trainees. We have now officially created the SOLD Studio with nine very different artists being part of this group. Their unique talents have been nurtured & they produce a range of products - cards, prints, mugs, tote bags & t- shirts. The art display in the shop has grown noticeably & now takes over the whole front part of the shop. All the artists receive 80% of the profits from the sales of their designs. This means we have in effect set up these talented individuals in business. So where they may have struggled to find paid work elsewhere they are now experiencing the pride & kudos of earning their own money. This has boosted each individuals confidence immeasurably. As a team, they take responsibility to keep the display stocked up, tidy & presentable. As individuals, they take turns being front of house & engaging with customers about the studio work & ethos. They also take responsibility for working at events outside of the shop. The Adur Art Trail is a highlight of the studio calendar where the shop window is taken over by the artists for 2 weeks & 3 weekends. This obviously increases its profile & sales! We had another exhibition at Colonnade House in Worthing increased the studio’s profile & the artists got the opportunity to share their work with a wider audience. The late night private view was well attended & enthused about by artist & customers alike. Similarly they once again exhibited at the house of trustee & fellow artist Liz English their mentor & enabler. We are always on the lookout for other events/venues to showcase their work. It is clearly evident that as sales come in morale is boosted & acts as an incentive to become even more creative & encourage others to participate in the project. It’s very motivating experience for the individuals involved & boosts self confidence immeasurably, especially as they interact with customers specifically choosing/buying their designs & the genuine compliments that are paid by people enjoying & admiring their work . It gives them all such an enormous feeling of pride & accomplishment that they may not have experienced before. Some of the artists have now started taking individual commissions from fans of their style.Hopefully the next year will lead us in even more new & exciting art directions with more artists joining the studio team.

There were a few social events throughout the year including our Christmas party which is always a fun & lively event to celebrate all our achievements. Plus the usual birthday celebrations. New trainees had the opportunity to explore experiences outside of their usual routine & perhaps their comfort zones with very positive outcomes. Wherever possible & where safe to do so our trainees are encouraged to travel independently to events to increase their confidence & self-reliance. We try to be mindful & thoughtful about world events encouraging our team to have empathy & a global outlook often starting the day with a chat about topical issues.

Social media is used to it’s full advantage to share photos of our activities and promote any special events and generally raise the shop’s profile. The team are encouraged to complete as many posts independently & we celebrate their uniques styles in doing this. They are all certainly getting more proficient & confident in the different methods and techniques available to promote the shop & our activities. They are also encouraged to improve other communication skills by taking responsibility for contacting customers etc especially by the telephone as many of our individuals come to SOLD reliant on others to make phone calls & arrangements for them. We also sell items on Ebay & Facebook Marketplace & trainees are encouraged to take responsibility for the whole process.

March 2012

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Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves	Next year the reserves left over from paying rent and wages will be
	used to match fund any grants we may receive to support new
	projects we would like to pursue with our trainees with learning
	disabilities.
Details of any funds materially in	SOLD is not in financial debt to any person or organisation
deficit
Further financial review details (Optional information)
Youmay chooseto include additional information, where relevant about:	We continue to look out for new and inventive ways to raise funds
• the charity’s principal sources of	and apply for grants as we become aware of them.
funds (including any fundraising);
• how expenditure has supported the
key objectives of the charity;
• investment policy and objectives
including any ethical investment
policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

March 2012

TAR

We actively and consistently run the SOLD project along very green and ethical lines. Everything we sell is pre-used and virtually everything we use in the general running of the shop is re-used e.g. second- hand carrier bags and old cereal boxes cut up for our labels. We do not ‘edit’ our donations as many other charity shops do - instead we put virtually everything given to us out for sale. We even constantly have a freebox where customers can help themselves to damaged goods or items that have proved unsellable - we have found that whatever it is - if it’s free it will always go! A lot of these items would otherwise have been heading for landfill. Unlike many other charity shops we throw away the absolute bare minimum. In addition, we re-direct some donations to other needy causes such as local homeless charities & our local scrap project. We also recycle some unsellable or unusable clothing items through a company that either re-purposes or redistributes these to areas of need worldwide - the same is the case with books.

By keeping waste down to as close to zero as possible, we are not only doing our bit for the planet but we are also keeping our costs down so funds raised can be re-directed to more valuable concerns within the charity.

As local people really want to support SOLD mainly due to the primary nature of the enterprise - which is to provide work experience opportunities for adults with learning differences, but also because of our policy of attempting to re-sell, re-use or re-cycle virtually all donations; we continue to be overwhelmed by the quality and quantity of donated goods. People generously give items confident in the knowledge that we will use them wisely, effectively, ethically and to their maximum potential. Profits from sales of such has resulted in our being almost totally self-funded. We keep all our expenses as low as possible on every count so all monies generated can be ploughed back into the charity and used to support future projects.

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date

March 2012

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	CC16a 1155796 Shoreham Opportunities For Learning Disabilities Receipts andpayments accounts 01.03.24 28.02.25 To For the period from ~~SB~~
	Section A Receipts and payments
	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year
	to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
	A1 Receipts Activities forgeneratingfunds(trading) 71,689 - - 71,689 87,579 Bank Interest 752 - - 752 531 Insurance Claim - - - - 2,490 Gift Aid Income 44,391 - - 44,391 189 Grant Income - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *Sub total*(Gross income for AR)116,832 - - 116,832 90,789 A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - *Total receipts* 116,832 - - 116,832 90,789 ~~=== ===~~ ~~——~~
	A3 Payments
	Purchases 8,856 - - 8,856 8,139 Wages / salaries and national insurance 56,401 - - 56,401 48,390 Rent & Rates 23,997 - - 23,997 23,687 Light & heat 3,186 - - 3,186 2,469 Repairs and renewals 666 - - 666 3,557 Motor expenses 8 - - 8 Promotion and advertising 23 - - 23 Hire of equipment 1,411 - - 1,411 1,424 Insurance 1,880 - - 1,880 1,287 Telephone,internet, postage,stationery 658 - - 658 1,439 Bank interest and charges 1,988 - - 1,988 1,820 Sundries 1,115 - - 1,115 2,133 AccountancyFees 1,188 - - 1,188 1,188 Legal Fees - - - - - Training& Education - - - - - Sub total 101,377 - - 101,377 95,533 ~~maine~~
	A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - *Total payments* 101,377 - - 101,377 98,533 *Net of receipts/(payments)* 15,455 - - 15,455 4,744 A5 Transfers between funds - - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end - - - - - *Cash funds this year end* 15,455 - - 15,455 4,744 ~~==~~
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)	CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 1 24/12/2025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of	the period	the period
Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds	Details	Unrestricted funds to nearest £	Restricted funds to nearest £	Endowment funds to nearest £
	Bank Current Account	7,042	-	-
	Bank Deposit Account	76,823	-	-
		-	-	-
	*Total cash funds*	83,865	-	-
	(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details		OK	OK
		Unrestricted funds to nearest £	Restricted funds to nearest £	Endowment funds to nearest £
		-	-	-
		-	-	-
		-	-	-
		-	-	-
		-	-	-
		-	-	-
	Details	Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional)	Current value (optional)
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
	Details	Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional)	Current value (optional)
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
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	Details	Fund to which liability relates	Amount due (optional)	When due (optional)
	PAYE / National Insurance due	267.00	-
	Pension	125.00	-
			-
			-
			-

	Signature	Print Name		Date of approval

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

24/12/2025

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name SHOREHAM OPPORTUNITIES LEARNING DISABILITIES members of On accounts for the year 28.02.25 Charity no 1155796 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1-2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 28/02/2020

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Date: 24.12.25 Signed: ~~|~~ Name: MARK TANSER ~~Cs~~ Relevant professional AFA MIPA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: T2 ACCOUNTANCY ANGLO HOUSE, WORCESTER ROAD, STOURPORT ON SEVERN WORCESTRESHIRE DY13 9AW

October 2018

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

October 2018

IER