Reglstered number: 631694 Charity number: 203245 THE ABBEYFIELD OXFORD SOCIETY LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee) UNAUDITED TRUSTEES. REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 THE ABBEYFIELD OXFORD SOCIETY LIMITED IA company limited by guarantee) CONTENTS Page Referen¢? and administratlve detalls of the Company, Its Trustees and advisers Trustees. report Independent examiner's report ststement ol financial actlvlties Balan¢e $h¢et 10- 11 Notes to the flnanclal ststements 12-22 THE ABBEYFIELD OXFORD SOCIETY LIMITED IA company limited by guarantee) REFERENCE AND ADNINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE COMPANY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 TrustBe$ Chris Furness, Chairman Tim Lambertstctk, Treasurer Robert Oldham [de￿ased 25 January 2025) Andrew Skinner Mrs Elizabeth Parker Mrs Jean Robert Ms Brittany Maguire Company reglslered number 631694 Charity regSstered number 203245 Registered offlce Brian Lewis House, 80 Saint Clemenls Street Oxford, Oxon. OX4 1AW A¢¢ountants KBDR, The Old Tanr¢ery, Hensinglon Road. W(x)dstock. Oxon. OX20 1JL Page 1 THE ABBEYFIELD OXFORD SoCI￿y LIMITED (A company limlted by guarantee) TRUSTEES, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of The Abbeyfield Oxford Society Limited for the year 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024. The Annual report serves the purposes of both 8 Trustees. report and a direclots, report under company law. The Trustees confirm that the Annual report and financial stalemenls of the charitable company comply wilh the current slalulory requiremenls, the requirements of the charitable companls governing document and the provisions of the Slalemenl of Re￿mMended Practi￿ ISORP} applicable lo charities preparing their accounts In accordance wilh the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS1021 leffeclive 1 January 20191. Since the Company qualifies as small under section 382 of the Companies Act 2006. the Strategic report required of medium and large companies under the Companies Acl 2006 (Strategic Report and DirectOl5' Report) Regulations 2013 has been omrtled. Objectives and activities a. Pollcles and objectives In setting objeckn'ves and planning for aclNibes, the Trustees have given due consideration lo geneTal guidan published by the Charity Commission relatirbg to public benefit. including the guidance'Public ￿nefit.. njnning a charity (P82)' Our objective is to provide a safe. comfortable and supportive home for our residents, all over 55 2nd fflosl considetably older We regularly review our pM)licies and they form the basis for what we do, the way we do il arHJ how we achieve our objectives through our staff. b. Strategies for achieving objectlves Our strategy for achieving our objectives 1$ to own and mainlain a convenienlty located property - Brian Lewis House- in which we let rooms lo our residents and centrally provide all meals, daytime staffing and a community which allows for independence whilst also providing the opp)rtunity for sccial discourse and for shared mealts'me5. c. Actlvlties undertaken to achleve obje¢tives Our main activities relate lo the provision of individual rooms for our residents. centrally provided meals and sIKial activities lo support our residenls. This Invo￿eS employing stsff, buying food and other supplies and maintaining the fabric and facilities of the building. This includes maintaining a high standard of cleanliness, safety and Convenien￿ appropriate for our residents. d. Main actlvltles undertaken to further the Company's purpos8s for the public benefit In providing affordable accommodation wtlh meals in a safe and pleasant environment bul with a degree of independence, we tske away the need for oui residents to maintain Iheii own homes, avoid undue pressure on the care sector as well as releasing valuable housing stock to families. Page 2 THE ABBEYFIELD OXFORD SOCIETY LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee) TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUEDI FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 Achievements and performan¢e a. Maln achlevements of the Company a. Executtve Committeè Rèport This report covers the 12 months from 1st October 2023 to 30th September 2024, although some more recent developmenls may be included. Our Soclety The Society's purpose is to provide a pleasant and supportive home lor older persons over the age of 55. We have eleven rwms and our residents are currently mostly in their 80$ and 90s. We aim to ensure Ihat ￿Sidents can enjoy the comfort and security offered by our community in Brian Lews House, with their main meals provideil and their living accommodation maintained and healed, all al a reasonable rent. The key bellefils include safety. securty and an experienced staff who are on hand during the day to provide meals, advice when required and suP￿rt with everyday living. They also ensure that the house continues to run smoothly Our Society is run independently and as a charity by our Tnjstees under the Ab￿yfie1d name. As a non-profit making charity, we follow the principles of the natronal Abbeyfield organisalion and we aim to cover costs and lo have sufficient reseThes to ensure longevty and security of tenure for residents. The key elemenl of our House is that our resKlents are enabled lo live an independent life, being supported as already outlined but in the context of being able lo enjoy the freedoms and choices that they will have previously enjoyed. Whilst some prefer a quiet and restful life, others enjoy music. academic discussions, holidays and visits away, or sometimes foreign travel. AJI of these are indNidual Chol￿s. We do not provide care bul residents can buy in such additional support rf needed. Our services lo ￿sidentS are prowded by a small but dedicated slaff together with our trustees and also our volunteers who interact with resKJents and help in taking small groups to local cultural events, outings to places of interest or to musical events or talks. The res￿enIS also organise activities such as talks. FX)etry readings and musical events. We h8ve regular monthly coffee mornings which bring together residents, trustees and volunteers and local members of the community are regularly invited. Slaff Residents tell us how much they appreciate the woik of the staff and their caring altitude and willingness lo help. We are grateful to our House Manager for her leadership of our excellent staff team. We also thank our Administration Officer for hei efficient and thoughtful approach lo her work and we especially thank the whole staff team who have worked tirelessly and cheerfully. without exception, to make our Society the friendly, supportive and effective living environment tt has been over the last ￿e1ve monlhs. Our stsff are in the front line in dealing with the varying challenges which seem always lo be present. The teamwork shown by staff, supported by trustees and volunteers. is ¢ru¢ial to Ihe running ol 8 smooth and happy House Whilst we are very proud of the effort and hard work ol our slaff, the support and encouragement offered by residents is crucial lo success. Page 3 THE ABBEYFIELD OXFORD SOCIETY LIMITED (A ¢ornpany limited by guaranteo) TRUSTEES. REPORT ICONTINUEDI FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 Achievements and perforniance {continuedl Operations and Management We continue lo work within nalional Abbeyh'ekl policies. adapted as ne￿Ssary for our own circumstances. We have been assessed for the Abbeyfield Quality Standard IAQSI and have achieved the standards required. The point of the Standard is lo ensure that every element of our work is fully compliant with all national and local regulations and that we are working efft￿nttY and in line with best wactice. The accounts show that the Society has strong finan¢es. thanks lo the efforts of our trustees and of the management team. As a nol-for-profit organisation. our residential charges are modest bul to keep those haiges at that level. we musl have minimum room va¢an¢ies and 8lso ensure that we keep our costs in line with effective practices and that we keep those costs under Constant rewew. We nee(J also lo maintain good financial reserves because Brian LeMs House is an older building which will sometimes require repairs and has, in recent years, been substanlialty refurbished exlemally with a new roof and external painting. Internally, we have carried out many woiks to keep our fire precautions updaled, installed new kitchen facilities and we have also completed a tebuild of the lift and further minor bul essenlial works. During the pasl year we refurbished rooms as usual when vacancie5 occuried. R¢$idents Whilst some of the vital new enquiries about accownmodation come from Ab￿y[leId'S national reputation and visibility. most arise through local contacls. local advertising and word-of-mDUth. We continue to keep a register of polenb'al new residents that we can contact in cases of a vacancy arising. The mosl usual reason for a resident lo move on is that they need full-time professional care because we cannot provide this ourselves, though we do encourage residents to purchase any small amounts of care Ihey may need from outside providers. For most of ihe year under review we had an average number of vacant rooms and we are always aware Ihal vacancies rnusl be filled as swn as possible, a situation which applies to all Abbeyfield houses. When new residents are identified, we prefer that they have an inittal short trial slay wh￿h provides the opportunity for them lo make sure as far as possible that they are going to enjoy living al Brian Lews House. This lessens the risk that they will go to the upheaval of moving here on a pemanenl basis onw to find Ihal il is not to their laste. Trustee8 and other volunteers During the year in question. we had a stable group of seven Irustees who together fomi the Executive Committee which meets six limes per year. The purpose of the Committee is to set the policy and direction of Ihe Society and to monitor Ihe achievement of objectives and make any necessary adjustments. Each trustee has a specific area of responsibility as well as their general duty as a Iru5tee_ We continue to benefit from a small pool of olhef volunteers in areas such as social supporl and befriending for residents, and limited IT support for both staff and resKlents. We thank all of them for their goodwill and their time ￿t we are a￿ayS looking for more volunteeis to expand whal we can offer to our residenis. The Challenges of the Last Year After the worry of the covid epKJemic. the challenges seem lo be concentrated on world affairs which are likely lo continue lo Impact costs wrth record and long-lasling rises in energy prices, food and other costs. All of these have affected the House and our resKfents and will continue lo apply record levels of financial stringency to us all bul we are pleased lo be able lo report that due to hard work by our staff and stable policies, we are able lo continue lo plan for a long-term future. Page 4 THE ABBEYFIELD OXFORD SOCIETY LIMITED {A company limited by guaraTrteel TRUSTEES. REPORT ICONTINUEDI FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 Achievements and performance (continued) Planning for Fulure Challenges The Tru51ees have a responsibility to protect our residents by prov￿IDg safe aecommodalion for many years to come. Ill the past we have reviewed the usefulness and suitability of Brian Lewis House and we are SU￿ that this House is our best location and that it will be the home for the Society into the foreseeable lulure. Many and varied challenges will face us and, not least. an increasing appearan￿ of national regulation. BèGause of our status as an independent. non