OPTIONS 4 CHANGE Trustees Annual Report 2023 - 2024
1. Executive Summary
During the 2023–2024 reporting period, Options 4 Change (O4C) strengthened its presence across multiple communities by deepening our commitment to children, young people, and families experiencing disadvantage. This progress was made possible through continued support from the Walcot Foundation, the National Lottery Community Fund’s Reaching Communities programme, and the generosity of donors and volunteers. We focused our efforts on preventing school exclusions, addressing hardship, and improving family outcomes through tailored casework, advocacy, and personal development activities.
Our Family Welfare and Education Sustainment teams were central to this work, collaborating with schools, housing providers, social care professionals, and voluntary organisations. Partnerships with schools such as St. Mark’s, St. John’s Angell Town, St. Luke’s and Christchurch helped widen our referral networks and enabled more families to access timely, appropriate support. Informal engagement through coffee mornings and school gate conversations also created trusted spaces for parents to seek advice and build relationships.
We continued to work in alliance with grassroots and specialist organisations including National Black Boys Can, Excell 3, Number One Performing Arts, Dwaynamics, and Code7, delivering both preventative and responsive support for those affected by poverty, housing instability, violence, and exploitation. O4C also serves as a placement site for social work and youth and community students from universities such as Greenwich, LSBU, and Kent Medway, building future capacity through practice-based learning.
In response to growing socio-economic need, we expanded initiatives like Warm, Well and Fed, offering practical support for budgeting, affordable meal planning, and energy-saving at home. Our Mango Tree Project continued to provide critical intervention for parents navigating complex challenges including school exclusion, youth violence, and systemic barriers. The project fosters peer support and strengthens parenting confidence and community engagement.
To support wider community cohesion, we launched the Lambeth Alliance for Community Action in May 2024 with Pastor Lorraine Jones Burrell. This open forum brings together residents, community leaders and stakeholders to address shared concerns, such as youth safety and relationships with police.
This year also marked a shift in how we operate. We invested in our digital infrastructure with a redesigned website, improving accessibility and enabling online donations. We adopted new administrative systems to enhance remote working and service delivery efficiency, ensuring we remain responsive and connected in an increasingly digital world.
O4C remains driven by the needs of our community, with a focus on safeguarding, equity, and long-term impact. Our progress reflects the strength of our partnerships, and the trust placed in us by the families we support.
Options 4 Change Trustees Report 2023 – 2024 | Page 2 of 6
2. Family Welfare and Education Sustainment Projects
Throughout 2023–2024, O4C continued to deliver targeted support through our Family Welfare and Education Sustainment Projects. These services focus on preventing school exclusions, promoting educational achievement, and reducing hardship for families in need.
Thanks to sustained funding from the Walcot Foundation, we were able to maintain our Education Sustainment Programme (ESP), which provides holistic casework and advocacy to families whose children are at risk of, or have experienced, exclusion. We work alongside legal professionals, independent advocates, and local education and children’s services to ensure families have access to fair representation and appropriate support.
During this period, our Education Sustainment Team significantly strengthened our partnerships with existing schools and proactively engaged new education providers, broadening our reach to support more families in need.
With the upcoming closure of several local schools, we are actively preparing for the impact this will have on children and families, particularly those already experiencing disadvantage. Our team is exploring ways to provide additional support and advocacy to affected families, including help with transitions, appeals, and access to alternative provision.
Alongside our educational work, we have continued deliver Family Welfare support to address food and hygiene poverty within the local community. Our Warm, Well and Fed initiative remained a key part of our delivery during the colder months, providing families with essential support in budgeting and creating low-cost, healthy, and nutritious meals. This initiative also offers guidance on how to keep homes warm economically, supporting families at risk of holiday hunger and fuel poverty.
Additionally, the Mango Tree Project has supported parents facing multiple and complex challenges, including navigating exclusion processes, understanding professional interventions, and addressing pathways into gangs or negative behaviours. This targeted programme plays a vital role in helping parents strengthen family resilience and re-engage with their children’s education and wellbeing.
In May 2024, Options 4 Change formally established the Lambeth Alliance for Community Action in partnership with Pastor Lorraine Jones Burrell, CEO of Dwaynamics/Dwayne Simpson Foundation CIC, creating an open forum for residents, community leaders, and local stakeholders to collaboratively address pressing issues in the borough. Key themes discussed so far include anti-social behaviour, youth safety, and strengthening community-police relations.
In line with our goals to expand reach and improve user experience, we undertook a website redesign, which now includes online donation functionality. This not only improves accessibility and professionalism but also supports our aim to diversify income streams.
As part of our ongoing sustainability strategy, we remain focused on fundraising and income generation, with efforts to secure additional grants and grow individual giving to meet increasing demand for our services.
Options 4 Change Trustees Report 2023 – 2024 | Page 3 of 6
3. Delivery Partners
Options 4 Change prides itself on being a key stakeholder in the Lambeth community, having established strong partnerships with both statutory and voluntary services across the borough. These collaborations enable us to effectively support families and young people, contributing to the overall well-being of the community.
We have maintained and further developed our valuable connections with local community partners, including the following:
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Lambeth Youth Offending Team
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St John’s Angell Town Primary School
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St Mark's Primary School
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St Luke’s Primary School
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Christchurch Primary School
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Number One Performing Arts (NOPA)
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Karibu Education Centre
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Dwaynamics/Dwayne Simpson Foundation CIC
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Code 7
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Your Story
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Big Local North Brixton
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Communities Empowerment Network
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Excell 3
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National Black Boys Can
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Osbornes Law
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McMillan Rose
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Universities, including LSBU, Greenwich, Kent Medway and Middlesex
4. Governance
Options 4 Change continues to uphold robust governance practices, building on the strong foundation established since its inception. As a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 27 June 2005 and registered as a charity on 4 June 2015, we operate in accordance with a clear Memorandum of Association which outlines our charitable objectives and powers. Our governance is guided by our Articles of Association, ensuring transparency, accountability, and compliance across all areas of our operations.
Our Board of Trustees is comprised of the following individuals:
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Rahman Mustapha – Chair
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Aida Huballah – Treasurer
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Donna Sinclair – Company Secretary
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Beverley Baxter – Trustee
The Board of Trustees brings extensive experience in community relations, development, and engagement. Each Trustee has a personal understanding of the challenges the charity seeks to address. They have passionately dedicated their time and expertise over several years and remain committed to providing effective oversight and guiding the charity’s strategic direction.
Options 4 Change Trustees Report 2023 – 2024 | Page 4 of 6
The Board meets quarterly and is regularly consulted on important matters as they arise. The Chief Executive Officer provides comprehensive updates on the charity’s activities and financial standing, enabling Trustees to make informed decisions on key organisational issues, including budgeting, strategic planning, and policy reviews.
Their work continues on a voluntary basis; they are not salaried. The charity’s reserves are kept under regular review to ensure they remain aligned with current financial commitments and organisational needs.
5. Financial Review
During the reporting period ending 30 June 2024, Options 4 Change continued to be primarily funded through grants from charitable foundations. Notably, we received support from the Walcot Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund’s Reaching Communities, which enabled us to deliver vital services to children, young people, and families in need. While grant funding remains our principal source of income, we also introduced the capacity to accept online donations via our website.
Although donations currently represent a small proportion of our overall income, this functionality lays the groundwork for future individual giving and community-based fundraising efforts.
6. Accountant
Options 4 Change’s accounts are independently verified and filed by qualified accountants in accordance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and Companies House. This ensures the charity adheres to best practice in financial management and auditing procedures. The accounts for this reporting period were prepared by:
Thames Accountancy Ltd 438 Streatham High Road, London, SW16 3PX Company Number: 09330671
Options 4 Change Trustees Report 2023 – 2024 | Page 5 of 6
OPTIONS 4 CHANGE 7. Financial Statement The annual accounts were approved by the Board of Trustees on 31 March 2025 and signed on their behalf by.. Aida Huballah- Trustee Rahman Muslapha- Chair 8. Declaration This report was approved by the Trustees on 16 April 2025 and signed on their behalf by.. Rahman Muslapha- Chair Options 4 Change Truste9$ Report 2023- 2024 | Page 6 of 6
Registered Number: 05492205
OPTIONS 4 CHANGE
Abridged Accounts
Period of accounts
Start date: 01 July 2023
End date: 30 June 2024
OPTIONS 4 CHANGE Contents Page For the year ended 30 June 2024 Accountants. report Statement of financial position Notes to the financial statements
OPTIONS 4 CHANGE Accountants' Report For the year ended 30 June 2024
Accountant's report
You consider that the company is exempt from an audit for the year ended 30 June 2024 . You have acknowledged, on the balance sheet, your responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. These responsibilities include preparing accounts that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company at the end of the financial year and of its profit or loss for the financial year.
In accordance with your instructions, we have prepared the accounts which comprise the Profit and Loss Account, the Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Changes in Equity and the related notes from the accounting records of the company and on the basis of information and explanations you have given to us.
We have not carried out an audit or any other review, and consequently we do not express any opinion on these accounts.
Thames Accountancy Ltd
30 June 2024
Thames Accountancy Ltd 438 Streatham High Road
London SW16 3PX
26 March 2025
OPTIONS 4 CHANGE
Statement of Financial Position
As at 30 June 2024
| Fixed assets Tangible fixed assets Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amount falling due within one year Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Net assets Capital and reserves General Reseres Profit and loss account Shareholders' funds Notes 3 |
2024 £ 2,292 2,292 (614) 0 (614) 1,678 1,678 24,440 (22,762) 1,678 |
2023 £ 3,438 |
|---|---|---|
| 3,438 2,191 (19,795) |
||
| (17,604) | ||
| (14,166) (14,166) 0 (14,166) (14,166) |
For the year ended 30 June 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 4 77 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors' responsibilities:
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The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 4 76.
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The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These financial statements have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. In accordance with Section 444 of the Companies Act 2006, the income statement has not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
The members have agreed to the preparation of abridged accounts for this accounting period in accordance with section 444(2A).
The financial statements were approved by the board of directors on 31 March 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
OPTIONS 4 CHANGE
Notes to the Abridged Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2024
General Information
Options 4 Change is a private company, limited by shares, registered in, registration number 05492205, registration address Loughborough Park Centre, Brixton, SW9 8UA.
The presentation currency is £ sterling.
1. Accounting policies
Significant accounting policies
Statement of compliance
These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102 - The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006.
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of land and buildings and certain financial instruments measured at fair value in accordance with the accounting policies.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the company.
Turnover
Turnover comprises of the income generated from collecting donations.
Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land, are stated at cost or valuation less depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost or valuation of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following basis:
Fixtures and Fittings 25% Straight Line
2. Average number of employees
Average number of employees during the year was 6 (2023 : 0).
| 3. Tangible fixed assets Cost or valuation At 01 July 2023 Additions Disposals At 30 June 2024 Depreciation At 01 July 2023 Charge for year On disposals At 30 June 2024 Net book values Closing balance as at 30 June 2024 Opening balance as at 01 July 2023 Fixtures and Fittings £ 4,584 4,584 1,146 1,146 2,292 2,292 3,438 |
Total £ 4,584 |
|---|---|
| 4,584 | |
| 1,146 1,146 |
|
| 2,292 | |
| 2,292 | |
| 3,438 |
| 4. General Reserves General Reserve b/fwd 2024 £ 24,440 24,440 |
2023 £ 0 0 |
|---|---|
This document was delivered using electronic communications and authenticated in accordance with the registrar's rules relating to electronic form, authentication and manner of delivery under section I 072 of the Companies Act 2006.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustsesl members of e>tyJ On accounts for the y&ar ended 30 JUNE lolaltr Charity no lif any) Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Yhe Trust°} for the year ended • 6 ats Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of Ihe Trust. you gre responsible for the preparalion basls of report of the accounts in acwrdance wrth the requirernenls of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Act"}. I report in respect of my examination ofthe 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}Ib) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters havè come Éo my attention lokner than that disclosed below '} in ¢onnection with the exarnination 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 wrf(h the accounting records Independent examinerfs statement I have no concems and have come across no olher matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in arder to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ' Please delete the words in the brack8ts if they do not appty. Signed." Date: a& Name: Relevant professional qualificationlsl or body lif any): Address: L£ 3PX IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Onw Complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examinatlon of charity accounts.. direclions and guidan for examiners). Give here brief details of any itsrns thatth6 examinor %Mshes to disclose. IER October 2018