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2025-12-31-accounts

providing crisis packs for those in need

PORCH BOXES

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

2025

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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 14
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

Some of our volunteers ready for action!

Welcome 2026

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Welcome to our twenty sixth Annual Report.

It has been another busy year.

We live in challenging times, with the increases in energy prices, the rise in the cost of living plus extra strain on the benefit system causing so many people to turn to charities like ourselves for help with the basics.

I am proud to report that the team at Porch Boxes continue to 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 work of Porch Boxes in so many ways this year.

Our committed team of volunteers meet on Wednesday mornings at the warehouse and last year packed and delivered on average around 62 bags per week. This number continues to fluctuate on a weekly basis.

Increasingly with the pressures of 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 remain 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.

Our project ‘Beds 4 Bury’ which we started in early 2022 has been steadily growing. We have been able to expand this as ‘bed poverty’ is a real issue here in Bury. We have also been able 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.

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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.

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Trustees’ annual report for the period 1 January to 31 December 2025

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

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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

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:

Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of Porch Boxes set out in the Constitution:

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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 in-kind, 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:

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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 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

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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 2025 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

Measure 2: Weekly deliveries

2025

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Date Numbers Date Numbers Date Numbers
1stJanuary Closed 5thFebruary 61 5th March 69
8th January 67 12thFebruary 34 12th March 58
15thJanuary 117 19thFebruary 61 19thMarch 47
22ndJanuary 56 26thFebruary 68 26thMarch 59
29thJanuary 67
Total 307 Total 224 Total 233

Easter Eggs 2025

Agency Number
WOW 21
CAP Chocs for hampers
Resettlement 165
Travellers Service 8
Lily B Chocs for hampers
Bury Social Care 95
Spring Lane 110
Plus individual families 49+Unknown
Total 454
Date Numbers Date Numbers Date Numbers
2ndApril 47 7thMay 57 4th June 72
9th April 53 14thMay 32 11th June 23
16thApril 37 21stMay 57 18thJune 67
23rdApril 53 28thMay 32 25thJune 89
30thApril 75
Total 265 Total 178 Total 251
Date Numbers Date Numbers Date Numbers
2ndJuly 73 6thAugust 78 3rdSeptember 93
9th July 72 13thAugust 49 10thSeptember 51
16thJuly 50 20thAugust 93 17thSeptember 71
23rdJuly 49 27thAugust 49 24thSeptember 52
30thJuly 66

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Total 310 310 Total Total 269 269 Total Total 267 267
Date Numbers Date Numbers Date Numbers
1st October 80 5thNovember 57 3rdDecember 47
8th October 58 12thNovember 79 10thDecember 89
15thOctober 51 19thNovember 62 17thDecember 123
22ndOctober 31 26thNovember 70 24thDecember closed
29thOctober 48
Total 268 Total 268 Total 259

Annual total 3,099 Weekly average 62 bags

Christmas Numbers 2025

Family Hampers Individual
Hampers
Presents Children Single people Gift
Bags
120 324 102 Children gifts 216

Extra choc and treats to various agencies plus stock for hampers for various groups Individual Selection boxes to children [ 139 ] plus resettlement team [165] All gift bags contained selection boxes [540]

Additional Items Provided 2025 From 1[st] January 2025 up until December 17[th] 2025

Item Numbers
1stJan to Dec 17th
Nappies 113
Baby Milk 25
Safety Gate 40

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Sets of Toys
[excluding xmas]
18
Sets of Clothes
[excluding xmas]
24
Single Bed Frame 47
Mattress 87
Duvets 70
Bedding sets 75
Pet Food 121
Bunkbed 16
Toiletries/Cleaning 314
Hospital Bags 60

Measure 3: Budget to be established and met

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.

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Here are the main reasons:

User Comments

I just wanted to express my sincere thanks to yourself, all at porch boxes and the amazing community you all work with who provide donations and support.

I have accessed porch boxes over the recent years more times that i can count on my fingers! The support and donations that we as social workers are able to access, to further support our families experiencing a multitude of difficulties or in times of crisis is invaluable and always received with such gratitude from our families.

Thank you for all that all of you continue to do - It takes a village to raise a family and you are all definitely a part of that village!

Natasha Social Care Team

Comments From Our Volunteers 2025

I have been at Porch for yonks and work with a great team. We have a laugh and get to give something back to those in the margins. Julia and Frank are inspirational and very organised. They have the system now so efficient. Even our local friendly robin who comes into the warehouse is gobsmacked.

Steve

I’ve been a volunteer for a while now and there have been changes some obvious and some subtle, in the way we work at Bradley fold in the warehouse. The obvious ones for me are that I still enjoy helping like the first day I started there. I enjoy the interaction with people who drop off donations and those who come to collect donations. I enjoy working with all our volunteers and value their friendship and good humour, which is continuous even when the warehouse is damp, freezing, and it’s warmer outside!

The subtle changes are the different people and different kinds of organisations who now need our donations. The amount and type of donations that we receive has also changed. There seems to be less coming in than when I first started to volunteer. I believe that we

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have adapted to the changes and the needs in our local community extremely well. We are aware of what the current needs are and always try our best to meet them. Shirley

What stands out for me working at Porch Box is the sense of community and teamwork. Everyone involved shares the same goal of helping others and that creates a welcoming and supportive environment for both volunteers and those accessing services . It’s something I’m really glad to be part of Andrea

It’s still a pleasure to volunteer at Porch Boxes although it’s sad that the need for the food bank continues. Our team is as dedicated, enthusiastic & supportive as ever &, apart from having to get up early on Wednesday mornings, the experience remains enjoyable. It’s also good to know from the agencies that use Porch Boxes that the items we provide are very much appreciated & make such a difference to the people they support. Diane

I enjoy the work I do on a Wednesday morning. I am happy to take on whatever task is 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 people of Bury are incredibly generous. We have developed strong relationships over the years with the professionals supporting families and the lengths these workers go to to help families in need is commendable. I thoroughly enjoy being part of such a dedicated team of volunteers and mid-morning coffee break helps me forget the cold !! Frank

Another year with a brilliant team of committed volunteers

David

Laurel

I volunteer at Porch Boxes as I feel I am contribung to a much needed and worthwhile cause. Much

of the work is physical and helps me keep acve while helping others. The connuing posive

feedback from the agencies we serve shows that we sll make a di!erence to the people w Laurel

I volunteer at Porch Boxes as I feel I am contribung to a much needed and worthwhile cause. Much

of the work is physical and helps me keep acve while helping others. The connuing posive

feedback from the agencies we serve shows that we sll make a di!erence to the people w

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Most of the people at porch box have been volunteering regularly for a number of years and we are a friendly, enthusiasc and ecient team. We sll feel that Porch boxes is having a posive impact with the feedback received from the agencies giving us the incenve to turn up every week. For me, it’s a privilege to work with a great team of volunteers helping

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those in the local area who are less fortunate than ourselves and volunteering at Porch Box connues to be an enjoyable Most of the people at porch box have been volunteering regularly for a number of years and we are a friendly, enthusiasc and ecient team. We sll feel that Porch boxes is having a posive impact

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with the feedback received from the agencies giving us the incenve to turn up every week. For me, it’s a privilege to work with a great team of volunteers helping those in the local area who are less fortunate than ourselves and volunteering at Porch Box connues to be an enjoyable

Most of the people at Porch Boxes have been volunteering regularly for a number of years. 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. This gives us the incentive to turn up every week! For me it is a privilege to work with a great team of volunteers, helping those in the local area who are in need. Volunteering at Porch Boxes continues to be an enjoyable experience.

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Laurel

I’ve been volunteering at Porch for some years now. We are always busy. It’s a good team to be a part of but it’s sad we exist. We’ve evolved from just dealing with food poverty to dealing with bed poverty in our Beds 4 Bury initiative the stories we hear are very sad and shocking.

Andy

Donations throughout 2024

Our thanks go to all those many people and organisations who have given gifts of help, food, goods or money. These include;

Ainsworth Parish Church Ainsworth Social Club 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 College Students Bury Veterans Association

Cams Lane Community Primary School Canon Lewis Hall Chantlers Pre School Christ Church Ainsworth Church & School Christ Church Ramsbottom Christ Church Walmersley Christ Church Walshaw Church & School Crown Oil

Elton CP School Elton High School

Fairfield Community Primary School

GMP via Bernie Kearns Greenmount URC Greenhill CP School Higher Lane Community Primary School Holcombe Brook CP School Holcombe Emmanuel Church & School

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Holcombe Brook & Summerseat WI

Lowercroft CP School

Mersey Drive Community Primary School Morrisons Whitefield [weekly collection trolley]

Old Hall Community Primary School

Parrenthorn High School Prestwich & Whitefield W.I. Radcliffe Community Primary School Radcliffe Parish Church

Seedfield Methodist Church & local Community Stables Leisure Club, Walshaw St. Andrew’s CE Church Radcliffe St. Francis House /All Saints St. George’s Church Simister St. John & St. Mark CE Church Seedfield St. Margaret’s CE Church Prestwich St. Margaret’s CE Primary School Prestwich St. Mary’s CE Primary School Prestwich St. Mary’s Parish Church Radcliffe St. Stephen’s C.E. Church & School St. Thomas C.E. Primary School Bury St. Thomas & St. John Church Radcliffe Summerseat Methodist Church & School

The Bury Grammar Schools The Tottington Centre Tottington Methodist Church Tower Health Care

Village Greens Community Co-operative Store, Prestwich

Wesley Methodist Church & School WHN Solicitors Group Whittaker Lane Medical Centre Prestwich Whitefield Methodist Church Wilds Accountants Woodbank Primary School

Individuals

Adrian Smith Dayna Smith Peter C

Financial Donations

Beechfield

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Bury Christian Fellowship Kirklees Valley PCC PM & M Solutions Charities Trust Elton High School Bury URC TUUT Charitable Trust St. Thomas & St. John Charities Aid Foundation D & L Charity Tower Family Health Care BVCF Walshaw Community Choir

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.

Packs and stock provided in 2025 to referral agencies

Bury Metropolitan Borough

Access and Crisis Team (Mental Health), Fairfield Hospital Achieve Bury Age UK Adullam Homes [ABEN] 2 separate Teams

Blue Cross Radcliffe [Pet food] Bolton Road Food Club Brandlesholme Foodbank Bury Baptists Food Bank Bury Out of hours Emergency Social Care Team Bradley Fold Bury MBC, housing Resettlement Team. Bury MBC housing drop in sessions Bury MBC, Adult Services (Social Care) Bury MBC, Children’s Services Safeguarding Teams @ 3 Knowsley Place

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Bury MBC, Community Mental Health Team - Humphrey House Bury MBC, Education Department, Parent Support Advisers Bury MBC Portage Service Bury MBC, Social Services & Rapid Response Textile Hall Bury MBC Travellers Service Bury Leaving Care Teams and Next chapter Bury College Bury Veterans Association

Calico Floating Support Housing CAP Creative Living Centre Prestwich

Early Break, Radcliffe Early Intervention Team Humphrey House/3 KP Ellen Court, Radcliffe, Great Places Housing Group Elton Community Primary School Early Help Teams at Redvales, Radcliffe and Whitefield Childrens Centres

Fairfield Community Primary School Fairfield Hospital Ward 18 Discharge lounge [Elderly Patients] Free Project

Greater Manchester Probation Service, Bury

Hazelwood High School Health Visitor Teams, Community Nursery Nurses throughout the Borough Heaton Park Community Primary School 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

Nacros2 NASS Families

Pennine care - Nursing Teams, Family Practitioners and Health Visitors

Radcliffe Primary Care Centre Health visitors Ramy Pantry Reddisher Support Services Radcliffe Ribble Drive Community Primary School Rough Sleepers Team

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Safenet Smilecare Bury Spring Lane School St. Stephen’s CE Primary School Staying Well Team

Topping Fold TRA Tottington Primary School Trinity Foodbank Radcliffe Trusthouse

Unsworth CP School Women Of Worth Youth Justice Nurse

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough

Rochdale MBC, Children in Care Team Rochdale MBC, Social Services, Young People’s Support Team Watering the soul [Formerly Rose Court]

Elsewhere

Out There (supporting families of prisoners), Hulme Afro Caribbean Mental Health Team

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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 2025.

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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:

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:

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

26[th] February 2026

STATEMENT OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

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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:

The Trustees are responsible for:

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Michael Perrin Treasurer March 2026

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