## **providing crisis packs for those in need**
## **PORCH BOXES**
## **ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS**
**2023**
Page 1
## **Contents**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
||Page|
|Statement of Welcome by the Chair|3|
|**Trustees’ Annual Report**||
|Reference and administration details|5|
|Structure, governance and management|6|
|Objectives and activities|7|
|Summary of main achievements|8|
|Financial review|9|
|Assessment of achievement|9|
|Information From User Agencies|13|
|Volunteers|13|
|Thanks and Donations|15|
|Referral agencies|18|
|Income and Expenditure Account|20|
|Reconciliation of Funds|21|
|Ring Fenced Funds|22|
|Certification by the Independent Examiner|23|
|Statement of Management Committee Responsibilities|24|
|Declaration on behalf of the Trustees|24|
## _**Cover Photo**_
## _**Our ‘little helper’ sending the Christmas bags safely on their way**_
Page 2
## **Welcome 2024**
Welcome to our twenty fourth Annual Report.
It has been yet another extremely busy year.
We continue to live through challenging times, with the increase in energy prices and the cost of living. I am proud to report that the team at Porch Boxes work with dedication, enthusiasm and compassion. Offering much needed help to so many people in our area.
Again I would like to thank the countless numbers of people who have contributed to the continued success of Porch Boxes in so many ways this year.
Our committed team of volunteers meet on Wednesday mornings at the warehouse and usually pack and deliver on average around 70 bags per week. This number continues to fluctuate on a weekly basis and I see no reason why this will decrease in our current financial climate.
Since the pandemic and increasingly with budget cuts affecting statutory services we have seen a change in the agencies using our service. Some continue to work from home and with some services having to make cuts to their operations. This continues to bring difficulties for their service users.
We continue to be a member of the Bury Community Support Network BCSN. All the various food groups working together sharing information, resources and support.
Many regular donors continue to support us financially which allows us the flexibility to purchase many more much needed items which are not usually donated. We have also been able to be more generous in the number of items in each food bag.
We continue with our provision of high calorie nutrition bags to elderly and vulnerable patients on their discharge from Fairfield Hospital. The contents of the bags have been agreed with nutrition experts at the NHS Foundation trust.
These continue to be tough times and the cost of purchasing pack contents has increased dramatically over the last year and thankfully the kindness and generosity of the people of Bury has also increased.
We are grateful to have the continued support from Bury Council. We could not operate without the use of part of one of their industrial units at Bradley Fold Trading Estate. This is our main distribution and work centre.
Page 3
We began the new project ‘Beds For Bury’ in early 2022 and this has been steadily growing. We have been able to expand this and also to fund the purchase of other non food items for families due to the increased financial support we have been fortunate enough to receive.
This increased funding has left us in the fortunate position to continue to offer support for the purchase of food items to our partner food providers in Bury.
Following the rise in energy prices and the cost of living we have found increasing numbers of families and individuals needing help. Many people are finding it difficult to access services and staff able to help them with underlying problems creating a need for help with food provision.
We are often approached by individuals seeking help and we continue to signpost them to relevant agencies and groups offering access to food provision and advice. If they have difficulty accessing further help we will aim to meet their needs directly.
I am immensely proud to work with such an incredible team of volunteers who have continued to go the extra mile during this past year.
As always it remains a tremendous privilege to act as Chair to Porch Boxes and it is an honour to work with such a committed and dedicated group of volunteers who make a difference to the lives of so many people.
Page 4
## **Trustees’ annual report for the period 1 January to 31 December 2023**
## **Reference and administration details**
**Charity name:** Porch Boxes **Other names by which** The Porch **Charity is known:** Porch Project **Registered charity number:** 1089998 **Charity’s principal address:** 46 Starling Road, Radcliffe M26 4LN **Names of the charity trustees** Julia Rowlands Chair **who manage the charity:** Michael Perrin Treasurer Alan Wood Secretary Iain Hodcroft David Archer Laurel Avery Andy Clark Eileen Smith **Website:** www.porchboxes.org.uk **Bank:** Santander UK plc, Bridle Road, Bootle L30 4GB **Staff:** The charity has no paid staff.
**Structure, governance and management**
## **Description of the charity’s trusts**
## **Type of governing document:**
Constitution amended and adopted 21 May 2002
## **How the charity is constituted:**
Association consisting of
- individuals (over the age of 18 years) who are interested in furthering the work of the Charity and who have paid any annual subscription laid down from time to time by the Executive Committee [presently set at zero], and
- any body corporate or unincorporated association which is interested in furthering the Charity’s work and has paid any annual subscription [presently set at zero] [any such body being called in this constitution a ‘member organisation’]
Individual members include those who by their presence at meetings or in other ways demonstrate their interest in furthering the work of the charity.
## **Trustee selection methods:**
Trustees are elected or re-elected annually at the Annual General Meeting held in Spring each year
## **Additional governance issues:**
- All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits. Agreed expenses incurred are reimbursed.
- In accordance with its Constitution, Porch Boxes co-operates with other agencies locally where they are undertaking work similar to that of Porch Boxes.
- Porch Boxes representatives have attended and are willing to attend meetings and forums as required in order to share information relevant to our users and those with a shared interest in countering food poverty.
- The Trustees have identified major risks to the achievement of the charity’s objectives and have put in place insurance, policies or practices to seek to avoid the objectives of the charity being frustrated. Policies include Diversity, Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Confidentiality and Support, Supervision and Training of Volunteers.
## **Objectives and activities**
## **Summary of the objects of Porch Boxes set out in the Constitution:**
The Charity’s objects are the relief of poverty and distress primarily amongst people living in the Bury and Rochdale Metropolitan Boroughs in particular but not exclusively by the provision of food, toiletries and other essential goods.
## **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects:**
In planning the activities for the year, the Trustees kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit at meetings of the Management Committee.
We continued to promote our service with agencies working with vulnerable people in the areas indicated by our Constitution. We do not turn down occasional requests for assistance from contacts within neighbouring areas.
New agencies are provided with service on request. Our service is available to everyone who falls within our charitable objective, i.e. all vulnerable people in crisis need. Grant applications are made when appropriate.
Operations are massively supported by gifts in kind. The work of the charity is publicised amongst community groups such as Churches and schools whenever possible. Our website has proved to be an invaluable path for many agencies, community groups and others to learn of our work and offer support as financial donors, by offering gifts inkind, and by volunteering. An on-line donation and gift-aiding capability is available.
A great contribution is made by volunteers who serve as Trustees, as packers, as deliverers of packs, as people who collect donations in kind, as publicists in various ways, as fundraisers and as administrators. We thank all these people, without whom there would be no “Porch Boxes”.
We are increasingly being asked to support individuals in crisis need directly, we have experienced a growing number of telephone requests from such people. Where there is a need for a direct access response, we endeavor to signpost individuals to other appropriate agencies. However if this is not possible then Porch Boxes will meet that direct need for help.
## **Additional details of objectives and activities**
## **Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year:**
The following section sets out the Trustees’ assessment of the achievement of the charity this year.
The referral agencies through which we support vulnerable people in crisis need continue to report a very high degree of satisfaction with the service provided. In particular, they continue to report that Porch Boxes makes a huge difference in the lives of their service users.
Porch Boxes supports many agencies, and assists them in meeting their own objectives. Thus assisting them in encouraging healthy lifestyles, returning vulnerable people to sustainable lifestyles, preventing crime, reducing dependence on drugs and alcohol and avoiding destitution.
Porch Boxes provides an outlet for the spontaneous urge of many in the community to provide practical support to people in crisis.
Throughout the year, Porch Boxes has continued to work closely with other groups who are planning and working to support local vulnerable people in crisis need.
Our partners include local churches, schools, individual teams within Bury Council and local foodbanks via BCSN.
The website is proving valuable and the Trustees are grateful for the work that goes into maintaining this.
## **Financial review**
## **Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves:**
Our reserve policy is always to have sufficient funds for known commitments and to allow for the purchase of items for crisis packs and volunteer expenses. The reserve fund of £60,000 has been put in place to protect the Charity should the rent free use of the Bradley Fold Unit be withdrawn at any point in the future. It is intended to cover accommodation costs in the short term and has been estimated as 24 months at an assumed monthly rent of £2,500.
## **Details of any funds materially in deficit:**
## Not applicable
## **Further financial review details:**
The Accounts for 2023 are included in this Report. They have been scrutinised by an Independent Examiner, whose signature is held on the original documents. Further comments on the finances of the charity are included as notes to the Accounts, and a commentary in the Assessment of Achievement section of this Report. Those making financial gifts are listed in the Thanks section of this Report (although individual donors are not named there).
## **Assessment of achievement**
The Trustees have established a number of measures to assess the success of Porch Boxes’ service. Those measures and our assessment against them are set out briefly.
## **Measure 1: Satisfaction with service provided to be assured, as expressed by referral agencies**
- Unsolicited testimony to the importance of the work of the charity continues to be received.
- Communications with us bear testimony to the responsive nature of the service in providing what customers say they want. They also show that agencies are convinced that the contribution made by Porch Boxes to their work makes a real difference in the lives of their vulnerable clients.
## **Measure 2: Weekly deliveries**
- The following numbers are for weekly parcels packed and delivered. This doesn’t include additional items such as nappies and baby items. The numbers on the chart below for 2023 are purely food parcels/bags.
- The data for the additional items are now collated separately
## **Pack Totals for 2023**
|**Date**|**Numbers**||**Date**|**Numbers**||**Date**|**Numbers**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||||
|**4th January**|**93**||**1st February**|**97**||**1st March**|**98**|
|**11th January**|**92**||**8th February**|**104**||**8th March**|**117**|
|**18th January**|**109**||**15th February**|**95**||**15th March**|**63**|
|**25th January**|**111**||**22nd February**|**75**||**22nd March**|**42**|
|||||||**29th March**|**53**|
|**Total**|**405**||**Total**|**371**||**Total**|**373**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Easter Eggs 2023**||||||||
|Agency|Number|
|---|---|
|||
|WOW|30|
|CAP|20 eggs and chocs for 11 hampers|
|Resettlement|95|
|Redvales Early Help|40|
|Phillips High|12|
|Care Leavers|20|
|Parkview|26|
|Ingeus|100|
|Travellers Service|23|
|Topping Fold|48|
|Bury Social Care|133|
|Benjamin Court|85|
|Milltown House|130|
|Attic FB|50|
|Brandlesholme FB|30|
|Trinity FB|40|
|Castlecroft|27|
|Early Help Radcliffe|50|
|Bolton Rd foodclub|20|
|Plus individual families|Unknown|
|||
|||
|**Total**|**979+**|
|||
|**Date**|**Numbers**||**Date**|**Numbers**||**Date**|**Numbers**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||||
|**5th April**|**73**||**3rd May**|**61**||**7th June**|**46**|
|**12th April**|**14**||**10th May**|**34**||**14th June**|**96**|
|**19th April**|**81**||**17th May**|**78**||**21st June**|**34**|
|**26th April**|**90**||**24th May**|**41**||**28th June**|**88**|
||||**31st May**|**62**||||
|||||||||
|**Total**|**258**||**Total**|**276**||**Total**|**264**|
|**Date**|**Numbers**||**Date**|**Numbers**||**Date**|**Numbers**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||||
|**5th July**|**54**||**2nd August**|**57**||**6th September**|**83**|
|**12th July**|**82**||**9th August**|**63**||**13th September**|**52**|
|**19th July**|**54**||**16th August**|**63**||**20th September**|**75**|
|**26th July**|**49**||**23rd August**|**73**||**27th September**|**51**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**30th August**|**72**||||
|||||||||
|**Total**|**239**||**Total**|**328**||**Total**|**261**|
|**Date**|**Numbers**||**Date**|**Numbers**||**Date**|**Numbers**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||||
|**4th October**|**98**||**1st November**|**37**||**6th December**|**75**|
|**11th October**|**47**||**8th November**|**72**||**13th December**|**65**|
|**18th October**|**60**||**15thNovember**|**59**||**20th December**|**86**|
|**25th October**|**61**||**22nd November**|**75**||**27th December**|**20**|
||||**29th November**|**64**||||
|||||||||
|**Total**|**266**||**Total**|**307**||**Total**|**246**
**Plus 480**
**Xmas**
**hampers**|
## **In addition all the hampers with gifts for children contained a new pair of pyjamas for each child in the family.**
**The number of high nutrition bags for elderly patients sent to the discharge ward at Fairfield General hospital was 65 for 2023**
## **Christmas Numbers 2023**
|**Family Hampers**|**Individual**
**Hampers**|**Presents**|
|---|---|---|
|**120**|**360**|**Children & young people 134**
**Adults 19 & 90**|
**Extra choc and treats to various agencies plus stock for hampers at various groups Selection boxes to all children [243] plus resettlement team [75], Spring Lane School [120]**
## **Annual total 3,594 Weekly average 69.15 bags**
## **Additional Items Provided 2023**
|**Item**|**Number**|
|---|---|
|Nappies|187|
|Baby Milk|56|
|||
|---|---|
|Safety Gate|9|
|Sets of Toys [excluding xmas]|19|
|Sets of Clothes|31|
|Bunk beds|11|
|Single Bed Frame|15|
|Mattress|47|
|Duvet/Pillows/Bedding sets|14|
|Pet Food|124|
|Toiletries/Cleaning|377|
## **Measure 3: Budget to be established and met**
- A budget has been established for 2024 as shown in the Accounts section. Expenditure will be undertaken against that budget.
- We are very grateful again this year for the very generous level of financial support we have received by way of donations from both individuals and corporate bodies.
## **Information from agencies:**
We always ask our agency users for the reasons why their client needs a box from us. This allows us to try and understand the reasons and trends behind the food poverty issue in our locality.
Here are the main reasons:
- Increased energy bills and cost of living increases
- moving to independent living with delays in establishing benefits
- destitute asylum seekers with no recourse to public funds
- Benefit delays following change of circumstance appeals
- Inability to budget and manage income.
- Illness and bereavements
- Addiction issues
- fleeing difficult home circumstances
- Benefits sanctions/suspension or disallowance
- ‘sofa surfing’ and ‘rough sleeping’
- Unemployment, loss of hours and changes to contracts
## **Thoughts from our volunteers 2023**
It's sad that the need for Porch Boxes continues but I am proud & pleased to still be part of the great supportive & caring volunteer team. It's also lifting to see the donations still coming in when so many people in our community are in need. A big thank you to everyone who has donated & supports us in any other way.
## **Diane**
Working in a cold, damp warehouse is never a problem when the outcome is genuine relief from food poverty for many local people. It would be hard to find a more dedicated and hard-working team of volunteers with whom it is a pleasure to work.
## **David**
I have been part of the team of volunteers at Porch for quite a few years now and love how we are able to help those who find themselves in the margins.
We have a good laugh on our Wednesday packing/sorting days, the group are a really friendly and caring lot. It’s nice at sometimes we get to hear feedback for the end users, which just puts the cherry on the cake.
## **Steve**
Why do I volunteer at Porch Boxes? It’s usually very cold in the warehouse house building, all year round, my face is cold, my nose runs, my multiple layers of clothing don’t keep me warm, my hands are freezing. Why do I volunteer at porch boxes because when you first arrive it lifts your spirits. You start working together like a well oiled machine we all have our jobs to do and we help each other out - with one aim in mind - to get the job done. Helping those people, families, in immediate need, ensuring they have food. Deliveries of food bags and other items are not always easy, traffic conditions, weather conditions and awkward access. All that is forgotten when you know that you have made someone’s life that little bit easier. That is why I volunteer at porch boxes.
## **Shirley**
Another year on and poverty austerity recession and inflation continue to affect many in our communities - I feel very fortunate to be able to contribute back via Porch Boxes and to do so in the company of such a supportive and committed group of fellow volunteers
## **Andy**
Most of the people at porch box have been volunteering regularly for a number of years and we are a friendly, enthusiastic and efficient team.
We still feel that Porch boxes is having a positive impact with the feedback received from the agencies giving us the incentive to turn up every week. For me, volunteering at Porch Box continues to be an enjoyable experience
## **Laurel**
I find it very satisfying to volunteer with Porch Boxes. In theory it would be good all round if our services were not needed at all....but they are.
I am very happy with my contribution of collecting donations from the different places, as available, then being part of the delivery team delivering to agencies as needed.
The team are all of a like mind and we also enjoy sitting down together for a cuppa half way through the sessions.
## **Don**
It is a privilege to be able to provide help for so many people. The generosity of the people who provide donations for us never ceases to amaze me. The relationships we have developed over the years with the professionals supporting families and the lengths they go to to ease their difficulties is heart warming. I thoroughly enjoy being part of such a dedicated team of volunteers and the bacon butties help me forget the cold !!
## **Frank**
## **Donations 2023**
Our thanks go to all those many people and organisations who have given gifts of help, food, goods or money. These include;
Ainsworth Unitarian Chapel All Saints Church [St. Francis House] Allied Health Professionals @ Fairfield Hospital Asda Bury [weekly collection trolley] Asda Radcliffe [weekly collection trolley] Asda Pilsworth [weekly collection trolley] Asda Foundation
Bolton Road Methodist Church Bury URC Bury Church High School [Easter Collection] Bury College Students Bury Veterans Association Cams Lane Community Primary School Christ Church Ainsworth Christ Church Ramsbottom Christ Church Walmersley Christ Church Walshaw Church Crown Energy
Elton CP School Emmanuel Church Holcombe Emmanuel Church Canon Lewis Hall
Fairfield community Primary School Four Lane Ends Congregation
Greenmount URC Greenhill CP School
Holcombe Brook CP School Holcombe Emmanuel Church Holcombe Brook & Summerseat WI Horsfield & Smith Accountants
Lowercroft CP School Lowespark Golf Club Manchester City Supporters Bury Morrisons Whitefield [weekly collection trolley]
Old Hall Community Primary School Radcliffe URC Radcliffe Parish Church Parrenthorn High School Prestwich & Whitefield W.I. Sambro International Dumers Lane Seedfield Methodist Church & local Community Stables Leisure Club, Walshaw Stand URC St. Andrews CE Curch Ramsbottom St. George’s Church Simister St Hilda’s CE Church Prestwich St. John with St. Mark CE Primary School St. John & St. Mark CE Church Seedfield St. Margaret’s CE Church Prestwich St. Margaret’s CE Primary School Prestwich St. Mary’s Church Radcliffe St. Mary’s Church Prestwich St. Mary’s CE Primary School Prestwich St. Michael’s RC Primary School St. Peter’s CE Primary School St. Stephen’s CE Primary School St. Stephen’s Church St. Thomas C.E. Primary School Bury St. Thomas & St. John Church Radcliffe Summerseat Methodist Church
The Bury Grammar Schools The Tottington Centre Tottington Methodist Church
## Village Greens Community Co-operative Store, Prestwich
Wesley Methodist Church WHN Solicitors Group Whittaker Lane Medical Centre Prestwich Whitefield Methodist Church Woodbank Primary School
## **Individuals**
Gaynor Smith Sharon Clegg Adrian Smith Mark & Sharlene Hodder
## **Financial Donations**
Churches Together Radcliffe Christ Church Walmsley Christ Church Walmsley MU Prestwich and Whitefield WI Phil & Ann Cook Kirklees Valley PCC St. Georges Church Simister Unsworth Centre PMM Solutions The Bury Grammar Schools Cheetham Hill Construction Asda Foundation Fairfield General Hospital Groundwork
## **The Garden Bin collectors**
Diane Gaunt [Greenmount] Gill Handley [Holcombe Brook] Annette Alderson [Tottington Central]
## **Additional Thank you**
Madeleine Archer for maintaining the website and managing social media
## **Note**
**In addition to these lists there are many individuals who just leave donations with us and no names.**
## **Many individuals at local churches regularly send monetary donations.**
**Also some donations are collected from other drop off points various places in the Borough and we do not always have records of who these donors are.**
**Additional financial donations are also recorded in the accounts section.**
## **Referral agencies 2023**
We have provided packs/stock to the following agencies during 2023.
## **Bury Metropolitan Borough**
Access and Crisis Team (Mental Health), Fairfield Hospital Achieve Bury formerly Bury Drug and Alcohol Team Age UK Attic Project Adullam Homes [ABEN]
Beacon VCFA Bolton Road Food Club Brandlesholme Foodbank Bury Baptists Food Bank Bury Stroke Association Bury Out of hours Emergency Social Care Team Bradley Fold Bury MBC, housing Resettlement Team. Bury MBC, Adult Services (Social Care) Bury MBC, Children’s Services Safeguarding Team 3 Knowsley Place Bury MBC, Community Mental Health Team - Humphrey House Bury MBC, Education Department, Parent Support Advisers Bury MBC, School Attendance Teams Bury MBC, Social Services & Rapid Response Textile Hall Bury MBC Travellers Service Bury Care Leavers [The Through Care Team] Now CASS Bury Young Carers Bury College Bury Veterans Association
Calico Floating Support Housing CAP
Castlecroft House & Peel Lodge [Bury young People] Creative Living Centre
Early Break, Radcliffe Early Intervention Team Humphrey House Eastward Community Primary School Ellen Court, Radcliffe, Great Places Housing Group Elton Community Primary School Early Help Teams at Redvales & Radcliffe Childrens Centres Fairfield Community Primary School Fairfield Hospital Ward 18 Discharge lounge [Elderly Patients] Free Project Greater Manchester Probation Service, Bury Gorsefield Community Primary School
Hazelwood High School Health Visitor Teams, Community Nursery Nurses throughout the Borough Heaton Park Methodist Food Club Holy Trinity RC Primary School Home Treatment Team - Irwell Unit, Fairfield Hospital Housing First
Irwell Valley Homes Ingeus Ingeus Restart Manna House Milltown House Nacros2 NASS Families
Park View Community Primary School Pennine care - Nursing Teams, Family Practitioners and Health Visitors Various Prestwich Job centre
Radcliffe Primary Care Centre Health visitors Radcliffe Hall Community Primary School Ramsbottom GP’s Rammy Pantry Ribble Drive Community Primary School Rossendale Food Box Scheme
Safenet Spring Lane School Springs TRA St. Andrew’s Pantry Whitefield St. Stephen’s CE Primary School Staying Well Team
Topping Fold TRA Tottington Primary School Trinity Foodbank Radcliffe Trusthouse
Women Of Worth
Youth Justice Nurse
## **Rochdale Metropolitan Borough**
Greater Manchester Probation Service, Rochdale Rochdale MBC, Children in Care Team Rochdale MBC, Social Services, Young People’s Support Team Women’s Housing Action Group, Rochdale (Refuge, Rose Court and Tenancy Support)
## **Elsewhere**
Afro-Caribbean Mental Health Team Benjamin court Out There (supporting families of prisoners), Hulme
## **PORCH BOXES - ACCOUNTS**
**GENERAL FUND INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 1[st ] JANUARY 2023 TO 31[st ] DECEMBER 2023**
|**[All funds are restricted]**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Item**|**2023**|**2022**|**2024**|
|||**(for comparison)**|**Budget**|
|||**INCOME**||
|**Grants**|**0.00**|**0.00**|**0.00**|
|**Donations**|||**40000.00**|
|Individual Donations|8431.60|10285.70||
|Donations via Enthuse|13722.06|11517.41||
|Gift Aid Tax Reclaim|3012.81|2705.74||
|Kirklees Valley PCC|120.00|120.00||
|Benevity Portal|77.08|199.29||
|Charities Trust|100.00|49.87||
|Christ Church Walmersley|210.00|280.00||
|Prestwich & Whitefield WI|150.00|230.50||
|Churches Together Radcliffe|150.00|150.00||
|Bury Christian Fellowship|0.00|500.04||
|Joseph Holt|0.00|21619.86||
|WHN Solicitors|0.00|1462.50||
|Amicus|0.00|200.00||
|PCC of St Thomas & St John|0.00|500.00||
|Tottington Methodist Church|0.00|100.00||
|Blackford Bridge URC|0.00|100.00||
|The Monday Singers|0.00|700.00||
|Achieve|0.00|38.85||
|Fairfield General Hospital|121.00|0.00||
|St Georges Simister|33.00|0.00||
|Cheetham Hill Construction|250.00|0.00||
|Christ Church Walmersley MU|55.00|0.00||
|Asda Foundation|400.00|0.00||
|Unsworth Centre|65.91|0.00||
|Groundwork|375.00|0.00||
|PMM Solutions|1000.00|0.00||
|Lowespark Golf Club|982.00|0.00||
|Bury Grammar|1350.00|0.00||
|**TOTAL**|**30605.46**|**50759.76**|**40000.00**|
|**Item**|**2023**|**2022**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**(for comparison)**|**Budget**|
|||**EXPENDITURE**||
|Purchase of Items for Packs||||
|incl Xmas & Easter Treats|16866.63|
14326.89|17500.00|
|Other Food Bank and Pantry||||
|Support [see note below]|9231.02|
0.00|10000.00|
|Beds for Bury|8738.18|
5112.65|10000.00|
|Insurance|704.95|
674.95|800.00|
|Postage/Stationery etc|0.00|
96.98|100.00|
|Mileage Allowance|649.80|
171.00|800.00|
|Charity Checkout Subscription|239.99|
239.99|300.00|
|Room Hire|0.00|
280.00|200.00|
|Contingency/Sundries|150.00|
334.00|300.00|
|**TOTAL**|**36580.57**|
**21236.46**|**40000.00**|
|**NET SURPLUS /**|**[5975.11]**|
**29523.30**||
|**[DEFICIT]**||||
## **RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
||**2023**|**2022**|
|---|---|---|
|||**[for comparison]**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Brought Forward|75351.67|45828.37|
|Net Surplus [Deficit]|[5975.11]|29523.30|
|**Carried Forward**|**69376.56**|**75351.67**|
## **NOTES TO ACCOUNTS**
Routine provision of crisis pack contents and the provision of volunteer effort are of a non-monetary value and do not therefore show in the accounts either as income or expenditure.
Support by way of stock purchasing has been given to Bury Baptists, Heaton Park Food Pantry, Bolton Road Pantry, Topping Fold Community Centre, Trust House, Attic Project, Manna House and First Point throughout 2023.
**RESERVE FUND INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 1[st ] JANUARY 2023 TO 31[st ] DECEMBER 2023**
**BROUGHT FORWARD 1[st] JANUARY 2023 60000.00**
No
Income No
## Expenditure
**CLOSING BALANCE 31[st] DECEMBER 2023 60000.00**
## **NOTE TO ACCOUNTS**
The reserve fund of £60000 has been put in place to protect the Charity should the rent free use of the Bradley Fold unit be withdrawn at any point in the future. It is intended to cover accommodation costs in the short term and has been estimated as 24 months at an assumed monthly rent of £2500.
.
## **Original Signed by Michael Perrin 31[st]**
**January 2024**
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Porch Boxes**
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31[st] December 2023.
## **Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner**
The charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
* examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act
* to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
* to state whether particular matters have come to my attention
## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent Examiner’s Statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 0f the 2011 Act
* to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## **Name Claire Sedgwick**
## **Relevant professional qualification or body: FCA**
## **Original signed by Claire Sedgwick**
## **18[th] February 2024**
## **STATEMENT OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES**
Charity Law requires the trustees of the Management Committee to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs for that Charity, and of the results of the Charity for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonably prudent
- Prepare the financial statements on the ‘going concern’ basis unless it is inappropriate to presume this 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 enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993.
- The safeguarding of the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and detection of other irregularities.
## **Declaration**
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
**Michael Perrin Treasurer**
March 2024