About OPAL

OPAL is a registered charity and was established in January 2002 with funding from Leeds Social Services and Leeds North West Primary Care Trust. We were originally set up to support older people within the Cookridge area though later extended to cover Adel and Bramhope.

OPAL is currently managed by a management committee of 8. We have 5 part time members of staff (which combines to give a total of 13 working days a week), and over 70 volunteers.

In 2007, OPAL was awarded with Investors in People.

The following were examples of good practice identified by the Investors in People assessor.

• OPAL has a team of volunteers who are passionate and dedicated to supporting older people in the community.

• The small staff team are led by the Project Coordinator with vision, energy and commitment.

• OPAL is an excellent example of an organisation which depends heavily upon part time volunteers and yet is extremely well managed and professional in everything it does.

• OPAL is particularly effective in listening to and acting upon the needs of the members and using the information to further develop the range of services offered.

• The annual evaluation process demonstrates OPAL’s ongoing commitment to improving the quality and range of services offered to members.

Older People’s Action in the Locality (OPAL)

Registered charity number 1094919