yopoka PROTECT. EMPOWER. THRIVE Legal and Administrative Details Trustee Report 1 ## |Legal and Administrative Details
Trustee Report|1| |---|---| |Structure governance and management
Our Values and Mission
Opoka and its Charitable objects
Introduction from the Chair
Message from Opoka’s Co-founder and CEO
Our Patron and Ambassadors
Our Activities
Our Safehouses
Outreach and Prevention Services
Client Feedback
Our Programs
Our Volunteers
Our Work Recognised
Our Outcomes|2
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15-16| |Our Funding|17-18| |Other Challenges and Risks|19| |Financial Statements|| |Financial Review|20-21| |Report of the Independent Auditors|22-26| |Statement of Financial Activities|27| |Statement of Financial Position|28| |Statement of Cash Flows|29| |Notes from the Financial Statements|30-34| Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Legal and Administrative Details for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## **Status** The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with Charity Commission for England Wales under its Governing Document. ## **Trustees of the Charity** Sylwia Jatczak - Opoka Chair Anna Osowska – Trustee (resigned 20/6/2023) Janusz Klich - Trustee (resigned 26/7/2023) Joanna Szuryn - (appointed 26/7/2023) Aneta Wrzos-Porada - (appointed 26/7/2023) ## **Registered Charity Number** 1195206 (company number CE026183) ## **Registered and Trading Address** Folly Brook Road Emersons Green Bristol BS16 7FL ## **Independent Auditors** Fawcetts LLP Chartered Accountants and registered auditors Windover House St Ann Street Salisbury SP1 2DR ## **Banks** Barclays Bank, 4th Floor, Bridgewater House, Counterslip, Finzels Reach, Bristol BS1 6BX Metro Bank, 40-46 Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3HB 1 ## Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Title Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 December 2023. ## Structure, Governance and Management ## **Constitution** The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and registered with the Charity Commission. It was established on 19 July 2021 under its governing document. It is a charitable subsidiary of its member, Chrysalis Supported Association Limited. ## When planning their charity's activities, the charity trustees have regarded the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. ## **Trustees** The Trustees are as shown on page 1. Existing trustees undertake a selection process to ensure the broad mix of skills provided by the trustees is maintained and a full induction is provided. All trustees have personal knowledge of domestic abuse. A full trustee development program based on the charity code of conduct is planned for 2024 to identify any development gaps for the organisation or the board of trustees and address these. ## Our Vision and Mission OPOKA CIO has a vision of a world where women and children live free from all forms of violence and abuse and create a safer world for all women and children, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity. OPOKA CIO mission is to support and empower Polish women and their children who are experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence in their intimate relationships by providing client-centered support for women and children, by women. They also aim to prevent violence against women and their children in the Polish community by increasing awareness, education, and understanding. 2 ## Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Title Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Opoka and its Charitable objects Opoka is a specialist Domestic Abuse Service for Polish women and children in the UK, working to stop domestic violence and abuse in the Polish community with a prevalence in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset. Since its inception in May 2012 Opoka has come a long way and has grown and expanded to meet the needs of the Polish community reaching thousands of vulnerable and isolated women and children. Opoka’s aim is for women and their children to have greater freedom from all forms of domestic violence and abuse and for those who do experience domestic violence and abuse to benefit from greater access to care, support, justice, and other recovery services needed to ensure physical & mental health, social wellbeing, and financial security. ## **Opoka’s charitable objects are to:** ## OUTCOMES Promote the relief of women and children or other persons who have been subject to domestic abuse, including physical or sexual violence, emotional, economic, financial, or coercive control, stalking and/or misogynistic or other psychological abuse with an intimate or family relationship throughout the United Kingdom, including by (but not limited to): - a. The provision of specialist supported housing and social housing and associated amenities and services. - b. The advancement of public education, research, and training on the issues of domestic violence and gender-based violence throughout the United Kingdom. **1** **2** **3** **----- Start of picture text -----**
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## **We will achieve this aim by achieving five outcomes:** Improve the immediate safety, health, and wellbeing of women and children and help them to feel safer and more empowered to seek help. Reduce disadvantage and inequality by helping women to improve their financial and economic security by supporting them to develop life and employment skills, and helping them to access work. Raise community awareness and reaching the most vulnerable, isolated, and marginalised families who need our support. Strengthen local capacity to support women and children by training and working with local professionals who work with and support them. Improve the sustainability of funding for our services. 3 ## Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Title Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Introduction from Opoka’s Chair I am delighted as Chair to present this 2023 Annual Report to you which sets out the incredible work Opoka has been doing as an independent organisation. 2023 has brought some challenges, but it was also a year of many achievements and accomplishments. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the trustees, staff, volunteers and those within our parent organisation for making Opoka shine brighter each year. In particular, I would like to thank our CEO, Aneta, who not only co-founded Opoka but also nurtured and nourished it over the years to create a safe place for those who need safety the most vulnerable women and children affected by domestic abuse. Throughout 2023, Aneta worked tirelessly to exceed everyone’s expectations, to set excellent standards of work, to develop her staff and to provide more comprehensive service to those who need it. In 2023 Opoka celebrated its 11 years anniversary. A celebratory gathering which took place in Kettering in February 2023 was attended by many of Opoka supporters, including the Vice Consul of Poland. The event was a great opportunity to reflect of how far Opoka has come over the last 11 years, from an idea in Aneta’s head to an independent organisation known not only in Bristol, but also across the country. preparation and effort to turn these houses into safe homes for their new residents, all of which was carefully managed by Aneta. The idea was to make the houses as cosy and welcoming as possible, so the residents feel instantly like home. I am pleased to say that this idea flourished beautifully into something very special. I had an opportunity to visit the houses before they were occupied and the design, décor and attention to detail simply took my breath away. However, it was only when I visited the houses again later in the year to meet the occupants, when I realised the impact Aneta’s hard work, determination and drive have had on these most vulnerable people in our community. It was an **Sylwia Jatczak Opoka Chair** unforgettable experience to witness a young child come back from school to a quiet and safe space, happy and cheerful, sit down to dinner with the other residents, all of them connected by similar experience but grateful they have been given a chance to rebuild their lives in a safe environment. The warmth, the calmness and the happiness I witnessed that day will forever stay in my memory. Unfortunately, in the shadows of these amazing achievements, there has always been a worry – will Opoka have sufficient financial support to keep going? Will there be enough funds to continue making these positive changes to other peoples’ live? Will we be able to see more children rediscovering a life without abuse in a calm and safe environment? It has been clear that the need for the work we do is growing. For example, Opoka has regularly been contacted by partner agencies from various parts of the country asking for assistance to vulnerable women who 4 ## Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Title Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 live outside of Opoka’s main area of focus. Whilst these referrals rarely come with funding, Opoka’s mission is to support those in need, even though it will inevitably result in depleting Opoka’s financial resources. The lack of funding has meant that Opoka had to limit its offering and reduce its workforce in 2023 – both very difficult and disappointing decisions for all of us involved. Therefore, a key focus for the future will need to be on increasing funding or we will not be able to continue to deliver, let alone expand, our services to meet the huge need that unfortunately exists. Opoka has everything it needs to deliver the best quality service: dedicated, committed and hard-working staff, unlimited amounts of empathy and compassion, understanding of the complexities of domestic abuse and fresh, forward-thinking ideas for further development. All that is lacking is the funding to make all these amazing and ambitious plans come true. I sincerely hope that in year 2024 we will see more funding, and as a result, more achievements and fewer challenges. ## Message from the Opoka Co-founder and CEO Domestic violence and tragic incidents continue to plague our society, and it's clear that something needs to change. To truly address this issue, we must recognise the unique needs of families from minority communities. This includes language and cultural barriers, and a lack of understanding of support systems. Without addressing these barriers, we risk perpetuating a culture of hopelessness that draws individuals to commit horrific acts. By implementing our Outreach & Education Programme we are committed to spreading awareness and providing education on domestic violence and abuse within Polish families living in the UK. Opoka CIO's annual report sheds light on the shocking level of domestic violence against Polish women and children in the UK. The report provides insight into the emotional, physical, economic, and sexual abuse of women and their children at the hands of current and former partners. In just one year, Opoka CIO received over 5,000 reports of abuse, and we know that these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg. Opoka CIO's helpline service responded to over 11,000 calls, our team works tirelessly to listen, support, and empower women to speak out and get the support they deserve. We are committed to reducing the stigma and creating better conditions for victims to come forward. survivors must also navigate family and criminal law systems that are creaking at the seams, leading to lengthy and traumatising delays. The lack of appropriate specialist accommodation provision for survivors of abuse limits safe housing options, while economic abuse and inflation further exacerbate already frightening situations. As a society, we need to come together to address these challenges and provide support to survivors. With global and economic challenges making life harder for many, it's important to remember that one in four women in this country will suffer abuse from a current or former partner. **Aneta Mackell Opoka CEO & Co-founder** 5 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Title Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Our Patron Kasia Madera is a BBC World News journalist and presenter, a household name and an active member of the London Polish community and has been honored for her work in promoting Polish culture with the coveted Maciej Ptazynski International Journalism Award. The Polish Embassy in London has also awarded Kasia Madera as an Honorary Ambassador of Polish Women to the United Kingdom. ## Our Ambassadors known for her roles in films and theatre. Marta works with young people, directs performances, as well as conducts theatre and literary workshops. Marta is the author of the study on the bestseller Kato-Tata which raises an important social issue (Child Abuse). has authored a book about the scourge of domestic violence. 'Take Me Out Of This Hell' television company based in Bristol and is a recognised broadcast editor and voice over artist. Sue is also involved with graphic design work for promotional merchandise and production-related skills photography. Slawomir Adam Fejfer originally is from the northeast of Poland but has been living and working in the UK for over 17 years. For many years he has worked as a volunteer in the Polish Centre Shrewsbury/Shropshire European organisation, promoting the Polish community and helps to organise many cultural and historical events and community meetings. After graduating from Medical College as an emergency paramedic, he now works in private health care and is also a volunteer in the NHS and the local police. Renata Durda - is a head of the Polish National Referral Service for Victims of Family Violence "Blue Line" IPZ, certified supervisor and specialist in family violence prevention. She is editor-in-chief of the magazine "Blue Line" and author of a range of publications in the field of creating interdisciplinary solutions for family violence prevention. She has contributed to a number of committees including the Monitoring Team for Family Violence Prevention at the Minister of Family, the Minister of Family Affairs, social advisor to the ChiIdren's Rights Ombudsman, the Women's Council at the President of the City of Warsaw and the Family Violence Prevention Council at the National Violence Prevention Centre. 6 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Title Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Our Activities ## **OPOKA STRIVES FOR EXCELLENCE!** OPOKA CIO's mission to support Polish women and their children remains unwavering. With a focus on providing a comprehensive and high-quality domestic abuse and sexual violence support service, we continue to make a difference in the lives of those affected. ## **OUR SERVICES:** experiencing sexual and domestic violence. The organisation strives to provide culturally sensitive support and empowerment to those in need. The Trustees regularly review the objectives and activities of OPOKA CIO to ensure that the organisation is achieving its goals. This report highlights the success of each key activity against measurable targets. We are proud to work towards positive outcomes, all while maintaining our strongly held values. We offer the following services: **----- Start of picture text -----**
Awareness
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Signposting
Advice and Counselling
Advocacy
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Polish for
language professionals
and
communities
IDVA DV
Safe Housing Outreach
Volunteer Psycho-therapeutic
placement programs
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support they need in a way that best suits them. We are grateful for the support of our generous donors, which allows us to continue providing these essential services to those who need it most. Our staff attends a broad range of meetings across the breadth of the community and sector to drive referrals, and we are dedicated to advocating for those who need it most. We've given presentations to the police and domestic abuse services to further our mission and support those who need our services. Thank you to everyone who supports us and helps us continue our critical work. 7 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Our Safe Houses Specialist and structured support for Polish Women with Children! milestone! We are thrilled to announce the opening of the first Safe Structured Supported Accommodation in the UK for Polish Women who are single or with children up to 10 years old. We recently held a successful and memorable opening ceremony, and we want to thank everyone who attended. We couldn't have done it without the amazing support of our communities, professional partnerships, Trusts, Funders, and our Parent Organisation Chrysalis Supported Association Ltd. Kasia Madera, and our special guests Deputy Mayor with responsibility for Children's Services, Education and Equalities Asher Craig, Member of Parliament for Bristol West Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Thangam Debbonaire, Dr Simon Selby - Honorary Consul Republic of Poland, Tomasz Balcerowski - Vice Consul of the Republic of Poland in London, Polish Embassy, London, Katy Taylor from Bristol Women's Voice, Judith Jackson from Taunton Women's Aid. work towards our mission of ending domestic abuse. ## **Who is the service for?** ## **The service will be for Polish women who:** - Are survivors of domestic violence. - Have up to two children. - Struggle to access services because of language barriers or knowledge. - Who are unable to access safety and culturally sensitive support in Polish elsewhere. 8 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## **Why are we Best Placed to Help?** to transform their lives. Opoka’s services are delivered by Polish women with life experience of domestic violence. Since 2012, Opoka has come a long way and has grown and expanded to meet the needs of the Polish community reaching thousands of vulnerable and isolated women and children. OAZA - Safe Housing for Polish Women A 1–2 year specialist structured supported accommodation program for vulnerable Polish women with children who are survivors of domestic violence. Opoka CIO has maintained and innovated their key services to ensure a positive impact, and is committed to continue, but there is still much work to be done. Shockingly, one in five women experience abuse by the young age of 22, with over half experiencing it before age 16. Recent events have highlighted the ongoing issues of misogyny and structural gender inequality, which are both causes and consequences of male violence against women. Domestic violence is unfortunately rampant, but public and political awareness of its harmful effects has never been greater. To truly address this issue, we must recognise the unique needs of families from minority communities. The most dangerous place for women statistically is their own home, with violence and abuse most commonly occurring at the hands of a current or former intimate male partner. This presents us with an opportunity to be brave and ambitious in tackling the problem. Let's continue the public conversation on how women, male allies, and others can work together to create a better future for everyone in the UK. Now is the time to be bold and ambitious. ## - Improve the immediate safety, health, and wellbeing of women and children and help them to feel safe and more empowered to seek help. - security by supporting them to develop life and employment skills and helping them to access work. - Raise community awareness and reach the most vulnerable, isolated, and marginalised families who need support. - Strengthen local capacity to support women and children by training and working with local professionals who work with and support them. - Improve the sustainability of funding for services. ## **We are achieving the above by:** - Reducing domestic abuse, sexual and physical violence within Polish community and improving the lives of women and children by helping to prevent and to improve early interventions of domestic abuse, sexual and physical violence. - Reducing discrimination against Polish people in the UK, particularly when trying to access work and social protection and improving awareness of UK rights, support, and social protection systems to empower Polish women and children to improve their equality. - Reducing depression and suicide among Polish families in the UK by improving access to mental health support for Polish families and overcoming mental health stigma and barriers to seeking help. 9 ## Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Title Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Outreach and Prevention Services OPOKA CIO is committed to outreach and prevention activities in the community, aimed at increasing awareness and understanding to prevent violence against women and their children. Since November 2022, the Polish Community Hub has been working tirelessly to align outreach activities and develop a cohesive strategy with clear objectives and KPIs. Our efforts have resulted in 19 workshops and awareness sessions delivered across Bristol, South Gloucestershire North Somerset, and Somerset, covering crucial topics like healthy relationships, identifying red flags, and consent. These workshops also addressed social and cultural influences, power dynamics, and bystander skills. In addition to the workshops, OPOKA CIO delivered 11 talks and information sessions to 289 attendees in a wide range of settings, with reach into the community. They were also represented at multiple stakeholder events such as sector and community events, panels, and workshops. Our Outreach & Education Programme is committed to spreading awareness and education on domestic violence and abuse within Polish families living in the UK. Our team of specialists provides reliable information and resources to help professionals supporting Polish communities impacted by domestic abuse. Through community outreach events, workshops, training, and all our social media channels, we reached over 12K individuals across the United Kingdom last year alone. OPOKA CIO is dedicated to creating a culture that is supportive and safe for women and generating open discussions about abuse in the community. Our programme is making a difference in the combat against domestic violence within Polish families. Our tailored support for Polish women and children experiencing gender-based violence is designed to provide the help they need. We believe that education is key in promoting a culture of consent and healthy relationships. That's why we offer training and educational programs aimed at raising awareness of domestic and sexual abuse. Our programs are tailored to different community settings, including events at the Polish Community Hub. We also provide training for professionals, giving them the tools to support women in our community affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. Our skilled professional team holds sector qualifications, models best practice in its field, and participates in ongoing training. We are proud to meet the Women's Aid Quality Standards and work with other organisations across and beyond the Polish community. Our team is supported by a dedicated and well-run team of staff and volunteers. Our education and outreach team are also committed to raising awareness of the wide variety of domestic violence and abuse affecting Polish families living in the UK. From speaking at schools and in the workplace, to community groups, churches, and events, we're dedicated to making a positive impact. Our IDVA Outreach service helps women plan for their long-term safety and gives them access to advice on welfare, legal, and housing issues. We also offer a specialist therapeutic service for women and their children/young adults. Our flexible counselling service empowers women with a choice of how they would like to access this service, either face-to-face or via telephone or video link, reaching women across the UK. We provide counselling, children’s therapy, safety planning, risk reduction, emotional support, legal options, benefits, and advice to support our community. As the cost-of-living crisis continues, we are fully committed to meeting the inevitable increased need from our community. 10 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Title Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Client Feedback “I am so grateful for having the opportunity to participate in therapy. I knew I needed professional support, but I could never afford it. Thanks to the therapist I can now understand my situation better and cope with difficult emotions and thoughts. I feel that my future is in my hands, and I am the one who decides what my life will look like.” - **Therapy Client** “Through Opoka DV Outreach service I was able to understand that I am not responsible for my ex-partner’s actions, and I shouldn’t blame myself for what happened to me.” **Community Outreach session attendee** “I am not sure what I would have done without Opoka. I was listened to; the staff were patient and understanding. They were always available to answer any questions I had. The person on the other side of the phone offered me support and directions as I still tried to process what has happened to me. Without Opoka I would still be in abusive relationship.” - **Helpline Service User** “Thanks to Opoka I have a roof over my head. I was nearly homeless due to domestic violence, but Opoka acted quickly and made sure that I arrive to the Safe House before I end up on the streets. I can’t express my gratitude and happiness. Opoka’s workers have been supporting me a lot and helped me make all the necessary application to rebuild my life. I also received emotional support, as well as professional therapy that I really needed. Now I am more confident, and I believe that I still have a chance for a better life.” **Client from the Safe House** **----- Start of picture text -----**
93% 89%
said their said their 82% 81%
safety has mental
improved health has said their said their
improved risk of financial
becoming homeless has reduced stability from employment has improved
29%
said their
financial
stability from
accessing
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*2023 - Total number of individual assessments caried out: 254 11 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Title Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Our Programs ## **Children who received counselling and other support:** Our children’s and young people counsellor delivered a 1-2-1 ‘Healing Together’ program to 8 children in primary schools across Bristol. The children have experienced significant trauma through their exposure to domestic abuse in the home, and these weekly sessions are crucial in their recovery process. In addition to the 8 children receiving 1-2-1 program, a further 366 children of the women working with Opoka’s DA Outreach staff benefitted from the safety advice and ongoing support provided to their mothers. ## **The Healing Together Program:** Is the newest project to deliver mental health support for children and young people – ‘Healing Together Program’. This program has been created to provide specialist mental health support for children who have experienced domestic violence and abuse at home as well as stress or anxiety which could be caused by several factors. It was delivered by a trained and accredited Opoka specialist who is also a Children and Young People Counsellor. ## **Parental guidance:** During our psycho-educational programs we included a parental guidance and managed to positively engage 174 mothers to better support their children through this difficult time in their lives. ## **Memberships** ## **Women’s Aid** Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children. As a federation we provide life-saving services across England while building a future where domestic abuse is not tolerated. 12 ## Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Title Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Our Volunteers ## **Volunteers:** All our volunteers are DBS checked, trained, and supervised. Volunteers are supported by the NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) which keeps us up-to-date and committed to volunteering best practice. Opoka’s volunteers are in the heart of our service and the delivery process, they are: **COMMUNITY EMOTIONAL AMBASSADORS PEER-MENTORS CHAMPIONS SUPPORT BUDDIES SUPPORT-GROUP HELPLINE FUNDRAISERS BEFRIENDERS ADVISORS** Our peer mentors are individuals with lived experience who provide longer term support to our clients helping them to gain confidence and become more secure and independent. Our community champions help us to reach our community by raising awareness. They help us to reach the most isolated and vulnerable people who need help. Our ambassadors and patrons help us to raise awareness, influence and fundraise. I am proud to say that Opoka has a dedicated team of which some of them have been with us for over 10 years. In our team we have people who have been volunteering for us, professionally trained by us and even offered employment with us. We also have people who came to us as a victim of domestic violence and abuse, went through our support services as a client, became a volunteer and then an Opoka employee. In the essence Opoka not only creates a safe space for very vulnerable isolated and marginalised women from the Polish community, but also creates an opportunity for them to learn new skills, feel valued and empowered to make a positive change in theirs and their children’s lives. 13 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Our Work Recognised ## **NQS Award!** On the 12th of July 2023 in Birmingham During the Women's Aid National Conference 2023 'Transforming the Future for Survivors Together' the Women's Aid Federation of England presented OPOKA with the National Quality Standard Award! It was such as fantastic event, and we feel so privileged to be part of this amazing sisterhood! In the photos below OPOKA's representatives with Farah Nazeer - the CEO of Women's Aid, Nicole Jacobs the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Sarah Hill the Chair of Women's Aid & CEO of Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS), Lucy Hadley the Head of Policy & Campaigns at Women’s Aid, Daniella Rickells the Quality Assurance Officer at Women’s Aid Federation of England, and Rehaila Sharif the Head of Member Support Services at Women's Aid Federation of England. ## **OPOKA at 10 Downing Street!** first government funding. Since 2020, together with other organisations, Opoka has been taking an active part in the preparation of government campaigns, and this has happened in many joint meetings and workshops where we all develop scenarios that are then made available for government campaigns. This year, all the organisations that have taken an active part in preparing past campaigns were invited by Under-Secretary of State Laura Farris to an event held at the First Minister's office at 10 Downing Street. The event was designed to highlight the importance and recognition of the ENOUGH campaign and was also a great opportunity to make new professional contacts. We don't yet have an official photo but as soon as it is made available to us then we will share it with you here. For more information on how you can help if you see worrying behaviour or need help go to: enough.campaign.gov.uk. We hope that this campaign is the start of a long-term and thoughtful strategy that will bring about positive change in the way violence is viewed so that violent behaviour will not be tolerated and future generations will live in a safe and violence-free world. 14 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Short Term Support Outcomes - 2023 ## **Helpline Contact by Month** 1400 **----- Start of picture text -----**
1200
1000
800
600
400
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0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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DV Outreach/Signposting
Safety Advice
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Information
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Support Provided To
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Facebook Third Party
(1%) (2%)
Caller not
eligible for
Email support
(20%) Online (13%)
(1%)
Survivor/Victim Professional
(64%) (20%)
Phone/Helpline
(79%)
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15 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Long Term Support Outcomes - 2023 **----- Start of picture text -----**
Referral to Service
Waiting List
Rejected (Due to lackof funding)
Accepted
Total
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Service Type Referred by
Healing Together Counselling &
(2%) Therapy
(11%)
Self-Referral
IDVA (22%)
(25%)
Professional
(78%)
Freedom Programme
(62%)
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16 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Title Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Opoka Funders 17 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Fundraising Our fundraising team continued to develop new sources of income, including reaching out to new potential trusts and donors and developing relationships with individual donors to obtain more multi-year pledges. Several of our donors raised money for OPOKA CIO by organising challenges and asking friends and family to contribute on birthdays or anniversaries. covering all aspects of our work. A social media strategy was implemented to increase OPOKA CIO's reach on various platforms and by building relationships with organisations and individuals to raise our profile. During the year, our social media interactions increased on all platforms. We gained observers, some of whom have public profiles, and the number of shares of our posts increased. Newsletters are regularly sent to all stakeholders, keeping them up to date on OPOKA CIO news. Our CEO promotes a culture of continuous professional development among employees, who are encouraged to learn through training and teaching throughout the year. post COVID-19, rising inflation, and the cost-of-living crisis have made it increasingly difficult for small organisations like Opoka to secure resources. Despite our best efforts, we were disappointed with the multi-year grant applications we submitted this year. We had hoped to expand our range of support, but unfortunately, we received a few decisions just before the end of the year that the funds we had hoped for would not be provided to include in our already very small budget. This is a challenging time for many organisations like ours. Small organisations are being swept away and pushed into a corner by larger established organisations that already have the infrastructure and processes in place and win tenders all the time. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to plan ahead not knowing if we will be able to secure funds to provide essential, often lifesaving, services. At the end of 2023, we managed to secure £120K over 3 years for other posts in organisation but was unsuccessful on the other multi-year funding applications. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to our mission of providing support to those who need it most. We will continue to work tirelessly to identify new fundraising opportunities and secure resources to ensure that we can provide essential services to those who need them. **----- Start of picture text -----**
‘A special episode featuring news
presenters in the 'Pointless Celebrities’
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Kasia Madera won and chose to donate to the charity she is a Patron of (Opoka). Dear Kasia, thank you so much for your ongoing support! Donated funds will go towards our first safe house OAZA 1. 18 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Trustee Report for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Our Other Challenges and Risks OPOKA can't compete with salaries of generic/statutory/ private organisations with what local authorities pay for similar roles. With competitive tendering and uncivil and/ or forced partnerships, we can’t compete with commissioned services in terms of salaries for our specialist recruitment creating structural inequalities. Difficulty recruiting bilingual experienced staff for a specialist role and to cover the salary for senior management staff due to being underfunded is a major risk. Staff suffering from the cost-of-living crisis and moving to the commercial sector because of better pay adds to this issue. Frontline services are overwhelmed as they also have to undertake work for women accessing other services i.e., debt advice, access to social security, and applying for crisis loans as they were unable to communicate in English themselves. There has been a reduction in support from volunteers and unfortunately, this force has shrunk by 70% as most of our volunteers needed to find paid jobs to cover their living costs. ## - Increased demand is the top concern contributed by: - the cost of living crisis following on from the pandemic. - additional pressure transferred to Opoka because of government cuts and the reduction of services or closure of several agencies in the last 18 months. - frontline services are overwhelmed as they are undertaking other services for women such as debt advice, access to social security, and applying for crisis loans where women are unable to communicate in English themselves. - significant concern contributed to by: - the cost of living crisis following on from the pandemic. - - competitive tendering and other funding practices undermine our sustainability as there is a cost to applying in effort and resource and many fail. - Increased and more complex workload. - Work being inherently traumatic. - workload and need to cover other roles in order to meet demand and provide required services. - Recruitment challenges due to inability to compete with salaries of generic/statutory/ private organisations with what local authorities pay for similar roles. - - Funding issues to cover the salary for senior management leading to unfunded work hours. - Retention challenges due to the insecurity of jobs and the inability to increase salaries in line with inflation due to short-term contracts, often with no inflationary uplifts in funding. - their living costs. 19 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Financial Review The charity’s total incoming resources for the year amounted to £273,118, of which £168,850 was restricted. Of the remaining unrestricted £104,268, £40,000 related to the Tudor Trust that on renewing the funding offered altered the grant they provided to unrestricted so it has been recognised on receipt although the majority (£30,000) is for 2024 costs and £36,335 consisted of donations from Chrysalis Supported Association as the parent company. restricted funds brought forward from 2022 of £36,469 were spent during 2023 with only £2,097 being carried forward. The unrestricted funds have been increased by £26,465 to £112,173 but this includes £30,000 of Tudor Trust funding earmarked for 2025 costs. Getting long term sustainable funding has been a real challenge during the period and therefore some of the activities carried out by Opoka have had to be reduced or stopped until additional funding can be secured. The sources of Income and expenditure are shown below: **----- Start of picture text -----**
Income Expended
Unrestricted
Donations
Management
& Admin [(7)]
64,268
64,565
Restricted
Grants [(3)] Charitable
Unrestricted Activities [(6)]
168,850 Grants [(3)]
177,243
40,000
Governance [(8)]
(unrestricted)
5,885
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Fundraising (restricted)
33,323
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20 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## **Reserves Policy** lack of funding for support costs as well as some activities. The trustees also reviewed whether it had sufficient funds to meet its legal obligations if it ever had to close. The trustees agreed that as well as designating some specific amounts to cover the risks around a lack of funding security there should also aim to retain 20% of overall resources expended in free reserves for other risks and eventualities. - Unfunded Education and Therapeutic programmes £20,000 - Emergency response fund £10,000 - Unfunded Management and governance costs £25,000 - - The total £70,000 designated above includes £30,000 provided by the Tudor Trust in 2023 as unrestricted. The remaining £43,963 free reserves represents 15.6% of resources expended towards the target of 20% ## **Responsibilities of the Trustees** for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the Charity’s financial activities during the period and of its financial position at the end of the period. - the Trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and - that the Charity will continue in business. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with applicable law and regulations. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Trustees on 29 April 2024 and signed on its behalf by: **----- Start of picture text -----**
.....................................
Aneta Mackell
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21 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Report of the Independent Auditors ## **Opinion:** period ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). - give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's then ended; - have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and - have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ## **Basis for opinion:** We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. ## **Conclusions relating to going concern:** We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where: - statements is not appropriate; or may cast significant doubt about the charity's ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue. 22 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## **Other information:** The other information comprises the information included in the Report of the Trustees, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Auditors thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. ## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception:** We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: - the information given in the Report of the Trustees is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or - - - we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. ## **Responsibilities of the Trustees:** As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. ## are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. 23 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## **Basis for opinion:** We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. ## **Identifying and assessing potential risks related to irregularities:** Irregularities, including fraud, are non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures, in line with our responsibilities, as set out in the auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which are procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, are detailed below. In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations we consider the following: - irregularities; - policies and procedures relating to: - identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance; - detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; - the internal controls established to mitigate risks of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations - the matters discussed among the audit engagement team regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud. As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following area: revenue and resource recognition. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override. We have also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that the charity operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included the UK Charities Act and related legislation. **25** 4 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## matter related to the potential risk of fraud. Our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following: compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements; - understanding the charity's revenue recognition policies and how they are applied, including the relevant financial controls. - enquiring of management concerning actual and potential litigation and claims; • performing analytical procedures to compare revenue recognised against expectations and based on past experiences and management forecasts and investigated material divergencies by obtaining corroborative evidence. - reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance; • in addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; applying parameters designed to identify entries that were not within our expectations. This included analysing and selecting journals for testing which appeared unusual in nature, either due to size, preparer or date of posting. To test their validity, we verified the journals to originating documentation. engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect noncompliance with all laws and regulations. Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Auditors. 25 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## **Use of our report:** This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees as a body, in accordance with section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and its trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. ............................................... Nicholas Jones FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Fawcetts LLP Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors Windover House, St Ann Street Salisbury SP1 2DR Date: 29 April 2024 26 Statement of Financial Activities Opoka 8tst•m•nl of FSn•ncl•l ActlvStS•9 18 month• to 2022 Incoming Tr•ou￿4 Unr•*trict•d 2023 Nol• From gener¥lgd fvnd¥'. Volunlary incomg c*)n81￿￿5 Gronts Transfer of granls from CSA Transfer of assets Irom CS4 64.268 40.000 64.268 208,850 4.339 188,450 37,901 110,796 168.850 273118 R•8ourc•8 •xp•nd•d Fundr8i8ing cosls Cosl of th8rrt4bl• act￿￿￿88 Management and admnistratKJn Govemance costs 33.323 167.S48 2.353 33.323 177,242 64.565 5.885 26,135 152,884 36,298 4.222 9.696 62.212 5.885 Totsl resour￿ expend•J 77.793 203.222 281.015 219.319 Nat M0￿mant In funds 26.475 34.372 7.897 122.167 Totsl funds blf Nel movement in fvnds for the yoar 85.698 26.475 36.469 (34.372) 122.167 17.897) 122.167 Totsl Funds at 31 D￿0Mber 112 173 2.097 114270 122 167 27 Approved by the Trustees on 29 April 2024 and signed on its behalf by: ..................................... Aneta Mackell Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Statement of Cash Flows 29 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 ## Notes of the Financial Statements 30 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 31 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 32 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 33 Opoka Charitable Inc. Organisation Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 34 ## CONTACT **Polish helpline:** 0300 365 1700 **Tel:** 0117 427 0012 **E-mail:** info@opoka.org.uk **Web:** www.opoka.org.uk ## **Opoka CIO** (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Registered Charity Number: 1195206 Company Number: CE026183