OPOKA CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION
Opoka offers a safe, confidential, non-judgmental service provided by bilingual professionals for those that have been subject to domestic abuse. Opoka strives to empower its clients to become more independent and our objectives are to help the most isolated and vulnerable to benefit from greater care, support, and justice and with our support will improve their lives and integrate in society.
Objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC:3.1 TO PROMOTE THE RELIEF OF WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN OR OTHER PERSONS (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SUCH WOMEN, CHILDREN AND OTHER PERSONS FROM WITHIN THE POLISH COMMUNITY) 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 WITHIN 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 ANY ASSOCIATED AMENITIES AND SERVICES; AND(B) THE ADVANCEMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND TRAINING ON THE ISSUES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED KINGDOM.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £14,849 for the year, resulting in a decrease in unrestricted reserves to £127,849. The trustees note that the charity is dependent on a loan from a group company and that some activities were reduced or staff made redundant due to funding challenges, although new long-term grants have been secured to address future sustainability.
What the accounts disclose
“Fundraising (Restricted) £27,814 Fundraising (Unrestricted) £5,522”
“The remaining £42,849 (2024:£47,517) free reserves represents 17% (2024: 16%) of resources expended towards the target of 20%.” — page 30
“The company is dependent upon the support of a loan from a group company who has indicated that it will not call on the loan until the company has sufficient reserves.”
“Ms A Mackell, the founder and CEO, was a trustee of the charity until she resigned on 23rd January 2024. While she received no salary as a trustee up until that date she received a gross salary of £4,583, the charity paid employers NI of £841 and employers pension contributions of £110 for her role of CEO and to deliver frontline services. In addition, she received £764 in expenses.” — page 42
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025
- Volunteers: 12
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024
- Volunteers: 13
- Government income: £4,869 — grants £4,869 (1); 1% of the £333,255 total gross income on the same return
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023
- Volunteers: 8
- Government income: £13,599 — grants £13,599 (2); 5% of the £273,118 total gross income on the same return
- Trustee benefits, answered Yes to: any trustee benefit; other trustee benefit
Trustees
- Joanna Szurynchair
- Elzbieta Wassell
- Margo Field
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £242k | £257k |
| 31/12/2024 | £333k | £305k |
| 31/12/2023 | £273k | £281k |
| 31/12/2022 | £341k | £219k |
Common questions
Is OPOKA CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £14,849 for the year, resulting in a decrease in unrestricted reserves to £127,849. The trustees note that the charity is dependent on a loan from a group company and that some activities were reduced or staff made redundant due to funding challenges, although new long-term grants have been secured to address future sustainability. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Fawcetts LLP.
Who funds OPOKA CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION?
Funders whose own accounts filings name OPOKA CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION as a grant recipient include ROSA FUND.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROSA FUND | FY2024 | £24k | Stand With Us Fund |
| ROSA FUND | FY2023 | £24k | Stand With Us Fund |
| ROSA FUND | FY2025 | £9k | Stand With Us Fund |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 19/01/2024 | £20k | Safe house for vulnerable BAME mothers |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 30/09/2021 | £226k | Helping polish families affected by abuse and violence |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE SAMWORTH FOUNDATION | 1 | £360k |
| THE UNDERWOOD TRUST | 1 | £105k |
| ZURICH COMMUNITY TRUST (UK) LIMITED | 1 | £91k |
| THE MRS SMITH AND MOUNT TRUST | 1 | £65k |
| THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £62k |
| MAGNIFY FOUNDATION | 1 | £40k |
| HALCROW FOUNDATION | 1 | £38k |
| SOCIETY OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS CIO | 1 | £25k |
Charities like this
- OPORA
- REDUCING THE RISK OF DOMESTIC ABUSE
- Society Without Abuse
- Hiba Foundation
- THE BACA CHARITY
- COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPOKA CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION | £242k | — | 0 | below | 13.7% | noted |
| OPORA | £79k | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |
| REDUCING THE RISK OF DOMESTIC ABUSE | £590k | Under £60,000 | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Society Without Abuse | £668k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Hiba Foundation | £402k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE BACA CHARITY | £2.2m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |