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2025-10-31-accounts

Registered number: 07051996 Charity number: 1143528

NORWICH FOODBANK

(A company limited by guarantee)

UNAUDITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

NORWICH FOODBANK

(A company limited by guarantee)

CONTENTS

Page
Reference and administrative details of the Company, its Trustees and advisers 1 - 2
Trustees' report 2 - 12
Independent examiner's report 13 - 14
Statement of financial activities 15
Balance sheet 16
Statement of cash flows 17
Notes to the financial statements 18 - 30

NORWICH FOODBANK

(A company limited by guarantee)

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE COMPANY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

Trustees G W Beckingham
K Davies
R Graham
F Haworth
K Hounsome
J Thorne
D J Osborne
R J Paraschivu
Company registered
number
07051996
Charity registered
number
1143528
Registered office
Henderson Business Centre
Ivy Road
Norwich
Norfolk
NR5 8BF
Accountants
Larking Gowen LLP
Chartered Accountants
1st Floor, Prospect House
Rouen Road
Norwich
NR1 1RE

Page 1

FOREWORD BY THE CHAIR OF TRUSTEES:

As always, I want to begin this Foreword by thanking all those who have contributed so generously to our work, whether that be through donations of food or money or through their time. We are so grateful for everyone’s contributions, without which we would not be able to provide the service we do for all those in Norwich and the surrounding area who need us. Our primary activity is of course to provide food for those in need and in this respect the call on the foodbank is not reducing. Realistically, this demand is unlikely to reduce in the near future as people continue to find it difficult to afford the basics of life. Support from the community is therefore as important as ever.

Increasingly, the foodbank is doing more than simply providing food. This Annual Report will go into detail but just to say here that we are doing more and more to help people avoid the situations that can lead to them seeking our support in the first place. We now have workers from British Red Cross, Citizens Advice, Shelter and Your Own Place based in our Distribution Centres ready to offer advice on resolving the financial and other problems that our clients may be facing. We want as well to continue to engage with those who seek our help in order to understand their needs more fully and to give those in need opportunities for their voice to be heard by those who need to hear it. And we recognise too, the need as an organisation to speak out against the injustices we see in our society together with the continuing need to build relationships with, and to lobby local politicians and councils and to work with other groups and churches in order to influence changes in policy.

I also want to pay tribute to the continuing hard work and dedication of our staff: Hannah our Project Manager, Keith our Warehouse Manager, Rachel our Administrator, Katherine as our Project Officer and Jon as our Volunteer and Campaigns Coordinator. They are an amazing team as are our band of volunteers in whatever role they have within the foodbank, whether based in the Distribution Centres, the warehouse or the office or in helping with such as collections and deliveries. We are so grateful for the time you give so freely to the foodbank.

And lastly to thank all my fellow trustees for their work and support. They all contribute in a range of ways to ensuring the effective management of the foodbank and in maintaining the Christian ethos that is its foundation. Keir Hounsome, on behalf of all Norwich Foodbank Trustees Chair of Trustees.

2

STATEMENT:

The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of Norwich Foodbank for the year 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025. The Annual Report serves the purposes of both a Trustees' report and a directors' report under company law. The Trustees confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the Foodbank’s governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019). Since the Foodbank qualifies as small under section 382 of the Companies Act 2006, the Strategic report required of medium and large companies under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors' Report) Regulations 2013 has been omitted.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES:

a. Policies and objectives

In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit, including the guidance 'Public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.

The objects of the Foodbank are to relieve persons in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the world who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.

b. Strategies for achieving objectives

Norwich Foodbank operate a system of collecting non-perishable food by public donation at supermarkets, from churches and other sources. The produce is distributed as emergency parcels sufficient for an individual or family to cover a period of 3 days.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES:

The principal risks facing the Foodbank and the steps to mitigate them are:

3

RELATIONSHIP WITH TRUSSELL:

We continue to operate as a media centre for Trussell, being a trusted Foodbank for local and national press or other media enquiries. We are among the thirty biggest Trussell Foodbanks nationally—out of the network of approximately 420—which relates to the number of people we are feeding annually and the amount of food donated and redistributed.

The Project Manager attended the Trussell national conference which included a ’premier showing’ of a Pathfinder film that Norwich Foodbank featured in. The Project Manager, Project Officer and Volunteers and Campaigns Coordinator attended several online and face to face Norfolk cluster meetings and Organising and Local Mobilisation specific meetings during 2024 and 2025 and contributed to and attended Pathfinder review sessions.

During this reporting period, Trussell’s Pathfinder programme formally ended in 2025 but Norwich are committed to continuing in it’s learning and embedding of various projects that were started under this umbrella. Trussell went through a rebranding process (see CHANGES AND CHALLENGES) and this coincided with a refreshed 5- year strategy that started in 2025, named ‘Together for Change’, seeking to end hunger today, together and forever.

The Project Manager and Volunteers and Campaigns Coordinator, along with Norfolk Community Advice Network (NCAN) Campaign Coordinator attended a national Lobby Day in London with 500 other people, Trussell foodbanks and more than 230 organisations (apart from foodbanks) were involved on the day. Together, 230 MPs from 12 different parties were lobbied about the Guarantee Essentials campaign and other local issues.

Norwich Foodbank maintains an excellent relationship with neighbouring Foodbanks in Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as with Trussell head office and local Trussell staff including the East of England Area Manager. The Project Manager co-hosted a meeting with Trussell’s Area Manager with the Nourishing Norfolk Network to discuss foodbank and social supermarket relationships across the county.

In the period of 1[st] April 2024 – 31[st] March 2025, Trussell Foodbanks in Norfolk distributed 39,315 parcels. Within that figure, Norwich Foodbank gave 12,473 parcels: 31% of the county’s total.

AREA SERVED:

Norwich Foodbank supports local people in crisis in the Greater Norwich area, covering approximately 479 square miles. We operated out of the warehouse, office and 11 distribution centres. We continued to utilise strong links with churches and volunteers in the Loddon and Poringland areas that hold emergency food parcels, delivering to local households referred to us.

Clients are issued a voucher by a care agency or care professional for 3 days of food. The warehouse is staffed with volunteers Monday – Friday to maintain the workload and professionals can attend on behalf of their clients to collect food. A few of our busiest care partners hold food parcels on their premises to distribute to clients, still using the voucher system.

In the final quarter of our financial year 2024/25, our two British Red Cross workers supported 79 people, with 86% no longer needing foodbank assistance due to addressing the underlying causes of their crisis.

The Foodbank office is staffed Monday - Friday 9am – 4pm and the Project Manager has an on-call mobile which is available 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday, excluding Bank Holidays.

4

FOOD COLLECTION:

The majority of food received is from public donations through collection points across Greater Norwich. Over 109 tonnes (with an estimated value of £302,670) came into the warehouse during the financial year 2024/25, a decrease of 14% on 2023/24. Donations came from over 250 different donors including individuals and groups.

Trussell values one kilogram of donations at £2.77 and we use this calculation in determining the value of our stock and donated food. It was increased from £2.37 in October 2024 following the monitoring and review of the cost of items used to make up a food parcel.

We are extremely grateful to Trussell, Tesco and Asda for the financial top-up we receive. This is based on donations made and equate to around £2,000 per quarter.

We collected ahead of the Norwich vs Sheffield match at Carrow Road in March 2025, generating over £350 in financial gifts and 73kg in physical donations. We held five in-person collections across, Tesco Sprowston, Waitrose Eaton and Asda Hall Road with customers and staff donating a combined total of over 2.5 tonnes and over £2,500 in financial gifts.

We have continued to receive deliveries, via Bankuet, an online charity that buys in bulk so each £1 spent buys more than £1 of produce. We have encouraged new donor support and have a large number of donors directly through Bankuet, and, with one-off gifts during the year too, we received and spent over £12,000 on food and toiletries in this period which brought in the equivalent of 5.8 tonnes.

We are pleased to continue to receive a monthly donation of food worth £300 from charity Your One Wish, who ask in advance what we would like and then purchase and deliver it straight to us, for which we are very grateful.

We utilise an Amazon wish list and Give Today platform and receive regular donations through both, which allow us to specify the items needed and are delivered directly to our warehouse.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION:

In our financial year 2024/25, over 113 tonnes of food went out of our warehouse. 84% of this was in the form of 3-day food parcels, toiletries and extra food items. The remainder went to other Norfolk Foodbanks, projects including FISH clubs and to other partners in the local area including councils and temporary accommodation settings.

During this reporting period, we have operated out of 11 distribution centres, strategically placed within our geographical patch:

Three centres (*) provide a free hot meal to all those accessing the Foodbank at the point of delivery and all centres offer light refreshments. Chantry also offer toast and porridge pots to those accessing their session on a Wednesday and Saturday morning. We are incredibly grateful to all the venue hosts for their support, enabling us to deliver a face-to-face service within our community.

5

PEOPLE SERVED:

In this financial year, Norwich Foodbank gave out food parcels to enable 11,145 people (including 3,607 children) to be fed for 3 days each. The overall total is a 15% decrease compared to our last financial year; the number of children equates to a 18% decrease in the same period.

Emergency Foodbank vouchers were fulfilled by 5,465 households this year, with 1,845 coming for the first time during this period. On average, 62% of recipients needed to visit us once only with the average number of visits being 1.7.

54% of people helped were in a household with at least one person aged 25-64 years old; 2.8% were over the age of 65 years; 56% were single adult households.

The primary reasons for client referrals this year were:

REFERRAL PARTNERS:

We have over 200 partner agencies who can issue vouchers to clients they are working with and 5,098 vouchers were issued within this financial year. Norfolk Citizens Advice, Change Grow Live, Shelter, Probation and British Red Cross issued the most vouchers in this period. 135 vouchers were issued by staff / volunteers in the Foodbank; these vouchers account for a small proportion of self-referrals, but mainly agencies who aren’t signed up to the Trussell’s online e-referral system.

Funding to continue partnerships with British Red Cross, Citizens Advice, Shelter has been secured up to March 2027. We shared in our previous Annual Report that Your Own Place have been commissioned to help lead on our Lived Experience work alongside our employed Volunteers and Campaigns Coordinator. During the calendar year of 2025, a panel of approximately 12 members with experience of using Norwich Foodbank and associated services was convened and met 5 times. We are pleased to continue to receive support from one further Shelter staff member who volunteers their time at 1 distribution centre. Between the paid partnerships, we now have advice and support representation across all 11 centres at least once a fortnight. A bi-monthly partnership meeting has continued and a new online ‘Multi-disciplinary Team meeting’ (MDT) has also been convened to discuss specific clients and issues. Both meetings help to build relationships between each service and more effectively co-work on cases ensuring the right advice and support is in place at the right time. All partners continue to make and accept referrals through NCAN (Norfolk Community Advice Network) and operate a ‘no wrong door’ approach—they work with and for the Foodbank and the mutual client, regardless of their specific employer, when present in distribution centres,

We have voluntary arrangements in place with 3 further partners: Norfolk County Council Early Family Help Hubs, Norfolk Community Law Service (NCLS) and Change Grow Live (CGL). This combined support is invaluable, ensuring everyone who attends Foodbank can speak to a trained partner about issues they are facing and the agency can either work with them or signpost to another partner—often also in attendance or via NCAN so the client doesn’t need to re-tell their story. We are also in discussion with other agencies around addiction and mental health, to ensure a broader wealth of expertise and support is available on-site at our distribution centres.

We have continued as an advocate of Christian charity Acts 435, to enable us to post requests for support for specific items for clients (anonymously) which donors can choose to donate towards. In this period, we were successful with all 28 requests totalling £4,770 including a laptop for school, a fold-up bicycle, kitchen and bathroom essentials for someone with a new property having previously been homeless.

6

SUPPORTERS and DONORS:

We have appreciated having new supporters alongside existing donors who continue to give during this year, including private individuals, churches, companies and other charities for which we are very grateful.

We were pleased to be one of 3 foodbanks in the East to hosting RG Carters for a trolley dash in Tesco during this period, as well as being chosen as ‘charity of the year’ for the Norwich office of HM Treasury. In August, we were chosen as a partner charity for a local Yoga Festival and had a stall for donations and sharing our work, and we had the same opportunity at NORJAM (an international Scout movement) which filled 7 cars with donations and several new groups pledged support and visits.

One of our advice Partners is a competitive power-lifter in his own time and took part in the World Championships, asking for sponsorship for us. He not only won a gold medal, but raised almost £900.

We have noticed a decrease in the amount of donations received throughout the year, especially when compared with the amount of food parcels going out, which has not reduced by the same amount. We have received further donations from a supplier of instant mash and have been pleased to continue this relationship into the current financial year. We have also received a monthly financial gift to purchase foodstuffs from a charity Your One Wish and this has continued throughout this financial year.

During the course of this year, we received food donations from over 250 different donors including churches, benefices and religious groups, businesses, schools, supermarket collection points and private individuals. We are pleased that financial giving has remained reasonably stable, with monthly donors giving through PayPal, Local Giving, direct debit and cheque. Our quarterly Prayer and News letters go out to almost 200 people and we have good links with many local churches who support us with donations, gifts and prayer.

In May 2022, we joined ‘Bank The Food’ which is a free app we update with our most needed food and toiletries items and users who download it can immediately see what’s top of the list. They can also choose to receive alerts when entering a supermarket that reminds them to donate to us. We now have over 1,000 ‘followers’ who are updated with our needs each week.

We are incredibly grateful to all who give, in whatever capacity.

‘We were privileged to meet a couple tonight, one of them had received a bonus and chose to spend it on various items for Foodbank. Thought I would let you know after all good news is worth sharing.’ Foodbank volunteer

‘It's been incredibly meaningful to have you as one of our very first partners, and home to one of our friendliest communities. Thank you for making us so welcome! BookBank, at Bowthorpe

‘There was no way I would have spoken to you, or anyone, about this if it wasn’t for the volunteers.’ Foodbank recipient

7

PROJECTS:

FISH – Food (and Fun) In School Holidays was launched in May 2014 providing a free hot meal and free fun activities to low-income families. Since 2020, the provision has looked different in each location and reduced from 9 areas to 2 which are supported consistently by Norwich Foodbank; many schools and communities have taken on provision of food and activities themselves, which we have welcomed.

Christmas – Since 2013, we have been a conduit between people wishing to give and people going without at Christmas. After a successful pilot in 2020, we used a digital Giving Tree where requests are listed on a website and donors could choose which gifts they would buy and then drop off at the warehouse; this worked very well in subsequent years too. However we learnt of other local schemes including run by schools, churches and charities with bigger capacity and direct reach to their own clients and so Christmas 2024 was our last year providing presents and we have directed support to other schemes when donors have approached us.

Energy Bank —This started in 2017 and supports clients with an emergency gas/electricity payment, alongside a foodbank parcel. Funding was originally received from Norfolk Community Foundation for the winter months (November—March) but due to ongoing emergency demand, private donations funded ongoing energy payments throughout 2022 and the start of 2023. In May 2023, we joined Fuel Bank Foundation (FBF) who can provide assistance with gas and electricity vouchers, free of charge to ourselves. During this reporting period, we received 153 requests for support, with 22 not being accepted due to being out of the Norwich Foodbank area, the client was not in ‘fuel crisis’ or contact couldn't be made. Over £6,100 was funded by Fuel Bank Foundation directly to clients, with amounts given varying from £30 to £89 as the amount given ‘flexed’ throughout the year. Norwich Foodbank funded an additional £1,300 for clients who were unable to use FBF.

BookBank — Charity BookBank began having a presence at Bowthorpe distribution centre in November 2024 and this weekly attendance has been very well received, allowing clients and café visitors the opportunity to browse and take new books home. There are ongoing discussions about opening up in other centres.

‘A former client donated several meals, drawing on his own experience of hardship—especially as a single person—as a practical way of thanking the team for their support and dedication.’ Foodbank volunteer at a supermarket collection

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

We welcomed several groups into the warehouse during the course of this financial year. They included ’regulars’ GoodGym, Sprowston Junior pupil ambassadors and various teams from Aviva, as well as our charity of the year partners HM Treasury and several new Scouts, Cubs, Brownies and Guides groups.

Our Project Manager gave presentations to several groups throughout this financial year including at the Eaton Mother’s Union group, local Rotary clubs,. Church groups including a Lent Lunch, a Deanery Synod meeting and a book launch event which the author had chosen us as their charity. Our Volunteers and Campaigns Coordinator hosted several school groups at the warehouse, and our Project Officer launched and hosted a ‘Faith Breakfast’ to bring together different faith groups who have supported us, to share common challenges and hopes and to ensure we can work together where these visions are aligned.

We joined the newly formed Norfolk Anti-Poverty Alliance and our Project Manager co-chaired the ’face to face services’ workstream, as well as taking an active part in the other identified areas with the Volunteers and Campaigns Coordinator.

Visits from 3 different MPs were coordinated and hosted at the warehouse and distribution centres.

We continue to enjoy positive relationships with local supermarkets who have boosted low-stocked items and championed us for in-store fundraising schemes.

8

CHANGES AND CHALLENGES:

In the period immediately prior to this report, Trussell went through a rebranding process—dropping ‘Trust’ and changing their logo—following concerns about online accessibility and how much the charity has changed and grown over its 30+ years of operation. As part of the Trussell community of Foodbanks, we made the branding changes too and, during 2026, will be intentionally sharing, celebrating and promoting the additional services, partnerships and work we do that is ‘beyond’ the food parcel. We saw a reduction in the numbers of people accessing our service every month during 2025, comparing with 2024 and we want to keep this going.

In the past 5 years, we have significantly grown our external partnership working, as detailed in ‘Referral Partners’, and in the next financial year will be seeking to bring on new partners in a voluntary capacity to further support our mutual clients with mental health and addiction in particular as we have seen an increase in people presenting with challenges in these areas.

Thanks to incredible generosity of financial gifts over the past few years especially, we are in a healthy position to continue our current services. However we must be mindful of the continued economic climate with increasing prices and how quickly funds can diminish particularly when buying in more stock than in previous years.

Within our staff and volunteer teams, we have the opportunity both locally and nationally to communicate our shared vision with Trussell for an end to the need for Foodbanks. Our involvement with the Norfolk Anti-Poverty Alliance and the development of the Lived Experience Experts panel will continue during the next reporting period. There is an opportunity to join Trussell’s new programme ‘Community Power’ from June 2026 which will replace the Organising and Local Mobilisation programme we joined in 2023, taking an active role in helping communities and individuals to be the leaders of tomorrow and campaign for meaningful change.

WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA:

We continue to receive positive feedback and engagement on our social media content and, to date, have over 3,900 followers on Facebook, over 2,500 on X and over 2,000 on Instagram. We have created a TikTok account and have over 90 followers, plus a Blue Sky account with 81 followers. We continue to keep updated news and information on our Trussell template website at: norwich.foodbank.org.uk and utilise local press contacts including Greatest Hits Radio, EDP and Evening News, Network Norfolk and That’s TV. Our website’s ‘Contact Us’ function is working well with the equivalent of two messages per day coming through to the office, alongside phone calls and social media direct messages.

At the Network Norfolk Communications Awards in the period immediately after this report, we received ‘highly commended’ for our website as it is easy to navigate and regularly updated. We also won over all for ‘Best Digital Content’ for our milk donation film, made in 2024 with Tile Media, showing how an item goes from a supermarket shelf to a person’s breakfast table.

VOLUNTEERS:

During our financial year 2024/25 we were supported by approximately 180 volunteers. This number has remained steady and we are pleased to have good retention in all areas of the charity and new applications to join the volunteer team every month.

In June, around 80 volunteers attended the Volunteers Celebration meal, catered by local charity About With Friends and the Project Manager gave a report which included a round up of the past 10 years of operations and the vision for the years ahead.

A weekly update email to all volunteers – active or not involved actively – from the Project Manager began in April 2020 and this has continued on a fortnightly basis in order to help volunteers have a better understanding of all that we are doing, including client feedback and news. Many ex-volunteers and non-volunteer supporters have continued to receive this update at their request and the mailing list is over 260 people.

‘This is such an inspirational update. Loads on campaigning / networking / values / prayer! You can feel the ‘cup of tea approach’ pouring out!’ Foodbank volunteer on the fortnightly e-news

9

LOOKING FORWARD:

Last year we shared our hope to do more ‘participation’ work with Your Own Place so we are pleased to share in this report that this has started and is going from strength to strength. We want to ensure we continue to speak to, listen to and champion those we serve at the Foodbank to inform our services and ideas for campaigns that would make the biggest impact on ending the need for Foodbanks. Change is possible, but only if we act together.

We will continue to work with Norfolk Anti-Poverty Alliance and be actively involved in the workstreams that have been identified including the importance of face to face services, the importance of shared learning across services and the upcoming changes to ‘crisis response’ through Norfolk County Council, as the Crisis Resilience Fund replaces the Household Support Fund in 2026.

We will continue to provide emergency food and other essentials (including toiletries, pet food and Energy Bank payments) to those in need in Greater Norwich and seek other options and partnerships to enable people to move out of their crisis as quickly, smoothly and easily as possible, as well as ensuring their story is heard and learnt from with the idea that we could save someone else from going through a similar situation and needing the Foodbank.

In ‘Changes and Challenges’, we mentioned expanding our Partnerships and this bring with it financial challenges—whether for us to fund directly , seek sole or joint funding or encourage another Partner or entity to take on the commitment. This is a decision that needs to be made during the course our next financial year.

‘What was most helpful was support with thinking about how I will solve problems myself - in a really individualised way and without telling me what to do.’ Lived Experience Expert Panel member

INDUCTION AND TRAINING OF TRUSTEES:

Following positive interview and prior to appointment, prospective Trustees are invited to attend a meeting of the Trustees to see the board operate. Then, and following formal appointment, there is an induction programme that involves meetings with the Project Manager and Chair of Trustees to explain how the Foodbank works, our governance and other processes. Trustees are also encouraged to visit the warehouse and a distribution centre. Ongoing training is mainly provided through Trussell online sessions designed for Trustees.

SETTING PAY AND REMUNERATION:

Along with other Foodbank staff, the Project Manager’s salary is reviewed annually in May (as well as in November in times of high inflation). Increases at least reflect changes in the CPI and regard is also had to the advertised salaries for similar roles in Trussell Foodbanks and in other charities in the eastern region.

10

FINANCIAL REVIEW:

a. Going Concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Foodbank has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.

b. Reserves Policy

The Trustees have adopted a reserves policy to determine a minimum level of reserves that will ensure the Foodbank can adapt to future changes in patterns of income, and also react to unexpected significant expenditure demands. The Trustees have set a free reserves target to hold reserves of no less than 12 months of operational expenditure. Operational expenditure is defined as total unrestricted expenditure less the cost of donated food given out. The target at the year end was £240,000.

As at 31 October 2025, free reserves, excluding those designated by Trustees amounted to £219,744 which is below the target level. Designated funds, which are excluded from the reserves calculation, totalled £301,380 at the year end. The designated funds were established by the trustees in 2024 to fund the Financial Inclusion Project through to 31 October 2027, following the conclusion of the funding from Trussell. During the year, £62,620 of operational expenditure was funded from these designated reserves rather than unrestricted free reserves. Taking into account that £62,620 of unrestricted expenditure was from designated funds, and that free reserves amounted to 11 months operational expenditure, the trustees are content with the year end reserves level.

11

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT:

a. Constitution

Norwich Foodbank is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up by a Memorandum of Association.

b. Methods of appointment or election of Trustees

The management of the Foodbank is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Trust deed. Trustees are appointed by a resolution of the Trustees. They are chosen with regard to their skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the Foodbank.

c. Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees (who are also the directors of the Foodbank for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law, the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Foodbank and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

· select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

· observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);

· make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

· state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

· prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Foodbank will continue in business.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Foodbank’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Foodbank and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Foodbank and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

17 March 2026 Approved by the Board of Trustees on

and signed on their behalf:

Keir Hounsome (Chair of Trustees)

12

NORWICH FOODBANK

(A company limited by guarantee)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Norwich Foodbank ('the Company')

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 October 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Trustees of the Company (and its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the Company's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the Company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Page 13

NORWICH FOODBANK

(A company limited by guarantee)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

This report is made solely to the Company's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Company's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.

Signed: Dated: 10 June 2026

Giles Kerkham FCA DChA

Larking Gowen LLP Chartered Accountants 1st Floor, Prospect House Rouen Road Norwich NR1 1RE

Page 14

NORWICH FOODBANK

(A company limited by guarantee)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

Note
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
Investments
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
Total expenditure
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
495,894
21,877
517,771
555,804
555,804
(38,033)
559,157
(38,033)
521,124		 Restricted
funds
2025
£
59,548
-
59,548
88,504
88,504
(28,956)
37,170
(28,956)
8,214		 Total
funds
2025
£
555,442
21,877
577,319
644,308
644,308
(66,989)
596,327
(66,989)
529,338		 Total
funds
2024
£
747,774
23,864
771,638
669,648
669,648
101,990
494,337
101,990
596,327

The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

The notes on pages 18 to 30 form part of these financial statements.

Page 15

NORWICH FOODBANK (A company limited by guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 07051996

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 OCTOBER 2025

Note
Current assets
Stocks
10
Debtors
11
Current asset investments
12
Cash at bank and in hand
Current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
13
Net current assets
Total net assets
Charity funds
Restricted funds
14
Unrestricted funds
14
Total funds		 31,897
74,640
350,000
106,189
562,726
(33,388)		 2025
£
529,338
529,338
8,214
521,124
529,338		 43,206
64,496
450,000
90,144
647,846
(51,519)		 2024
£
596,327
596,327
37,170
559,157
596,327

The Company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of Companies Act 2006.

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

................................................

K Hounsome (Chair of Trustees) Date: 17 March 2026

The notes on pages 18 to 30 form part of these financial statements.

Page 16

NORWICH FOODBANK

(A company limited by guarantee)

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of current asset investments
Proceeds from sale of current asset investments
Interest received
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Interest paid
Net cash used in financing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year		 2025
£
(103,434)
(350,000)
450,000
21,877
121,877
(2,398)
(2,398)
16,045
90,144
106,189		 2024
£
46,538
(250,000)
-
23,864
(226,136)
(2,825)
(2,825)
(182,423)
272,567
90,144

The notes on pages 18 to 30 form part of these financial statements

Page 17

(A company limited by guarantee)

NORWICH FOODBANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

1. General information

Norwich Food Bank is a registered charity limited by shares domiciled in England and Wales, charity registration number 1143528 and company registration number 07051996. The registered office is Henderson Business Centre, Ivy Road, Norwich, NR5 8BF.

2. Accounting policies

2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Norwich Foodbank meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.

2.2 Going concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.

2.3 Income

All income is recognised once the Company has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

The recognition of income from legacies is dependent on establishing entitlement, the probability of receipt and the ability to estimate with sufficient accuracy the amount receivable. Evidence of entitlement to a legacy exists when the Company has sufficient evidence that a gift has been left to them (through knowledge of the existence of a valid will and the death of the benefactor) and the executor is satisfied that the property in question will not be required to satisfy claims in the estate. Receipt of a legacy must be recognised when it is probable that it will be received and the fair value of the amount receivable, which will generally be the expected cash amount to be distributed to the Company, can be reliably measured.

Grants are included in the Statement of financial activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the Balance sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.

Gifts in kind donated for distribution are included at valuation and recognised as income on receipt of the goods.

Page 18

(A company limited by guarantee)

NORWICH FOODBANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.4 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.

Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Company's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

2.5 Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Company; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the institution with whom the funds are deposited.

2.6 Current asset investments

Current asset investments comprise bank deposits with maturities greater than three months and less than one year. These deposits are classified as basic financial instruments and are initially recognised at the amount deposited. Income from the investments is recognised on a receivable basis.

2.7 Stocks

Stocks are valued using the price per kilogram recommended by Trussell. The price per kilogram used during the year was £2.77.

2.8 Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

2.9 Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Page 19

(A company limited by guarantee)

NORWICH FOODBANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.10 Liabilities and provisions

Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.

Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Company anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.

Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of financial activities as a finance cost.

2.11 Pensions

The Company operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the Company to the fund in respect of the year.

2.12 Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Company and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.

Page 20

NORWICH FOODBANK

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

3. Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
General donations
220,152
Donated goods for distribution
275,742
Grants
-
495,894
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
General donations
258,976
Donated goods for distribution
309,588
Grants
21,023
589,587		 Restricted
funds
2025
£
-
-
59,548
59,548
Restricted
funds
2024
£
-
-
158,187
158,187		 Total
funds
2025
£
220,152
275,742
59,548
555,442
Total
funds
2024
£
258,976
309,588
179,210
747,774

4. Investment income

Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
Investment income - bank interest
21,877
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Investment income - bank interest
23,864		 Total
funds
2025
£
21,877
Total
funds
2024
£
23,864

Page 21

NORWICH FOODBANK

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

5. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Summary by fund type

Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
Total costs
555,804
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Total costs
489,274		 Restricted
funds
2025
£
88,504
Restricted
funds
2024
£
180,374		 Total
2025
£
644,308
Total
2024
£
669,648

6. Analysis of expenditure by activities

Support
Support		 Activities
undertaken
directly
2025
£
486,083
Activities
undertaken
directly
2024
£
518,474		 Support
costs
2025
£
158,225
Support
costs
2024
£
151,174		 Total
funds
2025
£
644,308
Total
funds
2024
£
669,648

Page 22

(A company limited by guarantee)

NORWICH FOODBANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

6. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)

Analysis of direct costs

Food given out
Transport and travel
Energy Bank
FISH holiday project
Citizens Advice project
Volunteer/staff expenses
Warehouse supplies
Distribution centres
Shelter project
Your Own Place project
British Red Cross project
Pathfinder expenses		 Total
funds
2025
£
313,979
3,480
1,100
2,046
47,982
2,930
4,745
17,410
26,315
35,459
30,330
307
486,083		 Total
funds
2024
£
332,666
2,845
2,582
2,929
36,813
770
6,630
7,476
39,738
46,020
40,005
-
518,474

Page 23

(A company limited by guarantee)

NORWICH FOODBANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

6. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)

Analysis of support costs

Staff costs
Training/development
Office rent and admin charges
Office running expenses
Insurance
Subscriptions
Advertising and publicity
Acts 435
Sundry expenses
Professional fees
Examiners fees
Computer costs
Bank charges		 Total
funds
2025
£
117,440
980
19,220
2,780
1,392
878
521
5,233
154
859
5,939
431
2,398
158,225		 Total
funds
2024
£
111,032
1,854
19,017
2,958
2,345
1,299
1,007
3,287
306
814
4,430
-
2,825
151,174

7. Independent examiner's remuneration

The independent examiner's remuneration amounts to an independent examiner fee of £4,080 ( 2024 - £3,900 ).

8. Staff costs

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes		 2025
£
110,581
3,665
3,194
117,440		 2024
£
106,489
1,412
3,131
111,032

Page 24

NORWICH FOODBANK (A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

8. Staff costs (continued)

The average number of persons employed by the Company during the year was as follows:

2025 2024
No. No.
Staff 5 5

No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.

The charity considers that the key management personnel comprise the trustees and senior management team. The total employee benefits of key management personnel of the charity were £36,875 (2024 £32,901).

9. Trustees' remuneration and expenses

During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2024 - £NIL) .

During the year ended 31 October 2025, no Trustee expenses have been incurred (2024 - £NIL) .

10. Stocks

Food for distribution
Debtors
Due within one year
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Gift aid		 2025
£
31,897
2025
£
10,000
25,890
38,750
74,640		 2024
£
43,206
2024
£
9,500
11,834
43,162
64,496

11. Debtors

Page 25

NORWICH FOODBANK

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

12. Current asset investments

Cash held on deposit
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Accruals and deferred income
Deferred income at 1 November 2024
Resources deferred during the year
Amounts released from previous periods		 2025
£
350,000
2025
£
33,388
2025
£
46,205
21,000
(46,205)
21,000		 2024
£
450,000
2024
£
51,519
2024
£
25,205
46,205
(25,205)
46,205

13. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Page 26

(A company limited by guarantee)

NORWICH FOODBANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

14. Statement of funds

Statement of funds
Statement of funds - current year
Balance at 1
November
2024
£
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
Financial Inclusion Project
364,000
General funds
General Funds
195,157
Total Unrestricted funds
559,157
Restricted funds
Financial Inclusion Project
26,755
Trussel Pathfinder
-
FISH Holiday Project
9,504
Acts 435
911
37,170
Total of funds
596,327		 Income
£
Expenditure
£
-
(62,620)
517,771
(493,184)
517,771
(555,804)
50,711
(77,466)
3,759
(3,759)
-
(2,046)
5,078
(5,233)
59,548
(88,504)
577,319
(644,308)		 Balance at
31 October
2025
£
301,380
219,744
521,124
-
-
7,458
756
8,214
529,338

Financial Inclusion Project - Grant funding from Trussell to employ advisors from Citizen's Advice, Shelter and British Red Cross to support foodbank clients and those at risk of needing the foodbank with income maximisation, debt management and related matters.

Trussell Pathfinder - Grant funding from Trussell as a contribution towards the salary of the administration role, connected to the Financial Inclusion Project.

FISH Holiday Project - FISH is 'Food (and Fun) In School Holidays'; Norwich foodbank partners with local churches, schools and community groups to provide free food and activities to low income families in the school holidays.

Acts 435 - A collaborative partnership with Acts 435 connecting donors with individuals in need. This enhances the charity's ability to provide comprehensive support to those facing hardship

Designated funds - Following the end of external funding for the Financial Inclusion Project, the trustees aim to fund the project through to 2027 using the charity's own reserves.

Page 27

(A company limited by guarantee)

NORWICH FOODBANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

14. Statement of funds (continued)

Statement of funds - prior year

Unrestricted funds
Financial Inclusion Project
General funds
General Funds
Total Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Financial Inclusion Project
Trussel Pathfinder
Energy Bank
FISH Holiday Project
Norfolk Household Support
Fund
Acts 435
Total of funds		 Balance at
1 November
2023
£
-
435,152
435,152
45,577
-
-
12,433
1,175
-
59,185
494,337		 Income
£
-
613,451
613,451
146,379
6,375
750
-
485
4,198
158,187
771,638		 Expenditure
£
-
(489,274)
(489,274)
(165,201)
(6,375)
(2,582)
(2,929)
-
(3,287)
(180,374)
(669,648)		 Transfers
in/out
£
364,000
(364,172)
(172)
-
-
1,832
-
(1,660)
-
172
-		 Balance at
31 October
2024
£
364,000
195,157
559,157
26,755
-
-
9,504
-
911
37,170
596,327

Page 28

(A company limited by guarantee)

NORWICH FOODBANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

15.
Analysis of net assets between funds
Analysis of net assets between funds - current year
Unrestricted
funds
2025
Restricted
funds
2025
£
£
Current assets
554,512
8,214
Creditors due within one year
(33,388)
-
Total
521,124
8,214
Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year
Unrestricted
funds
2024
Restricted
funds
2024
£
£
Current assets
610,676
37,170
Creditors due within one year
(51,519)
-
Total
559,157
37,170
16.
Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities
2025
£
Net income/expenditure for the year (as per Statement of Financial
Activities)
(66,989)
Adjustments for:
Bank charges
2,398
Interest received
(21,877)
Decrease/(increase) in stocks
11,309
Increase in debtors
(10,144)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
(18,131)
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
(103,434)		 Total
funds
2025
£
562,726
(33,388)
529,338
Total
funds
2024
£
647,846
(51,519)
596,327
2024
£
101,990
2,825
(23,864)
(20,286)
(58,032)
43,905
46,538

Page 29

NORWICH FOODBANK

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025

17. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

Cash in hand
Total cash and cash equivalents		 2025
£
106,189
106,189		 2024
£
90,144
90,144

18. Analysis of changes in net debt

Cash at bank and in hand At 1
November
2024
£
90,144
90,144		 Cash flows
£
16,045
16,045		 At 31
October
2025
£
106,189
106,189

19. Pension commitments

The Charity operates a defined contribution scheme in respect of certain employees of the Charity.

Employer contributions are charged in the accounts as incurred and totalled £8,627 (2024: £7,804). There were outstanding contributions at the balance sheet date of 31 October 2025 of £751 (2024: £673).

20. Related party transactions

The Company has not entered into any related party transaction during the year, nor are there any outstanding balances owing between related parties and the Company at 31 October 2025.

Page 30

Norwich Foodbank is a local Christian charity and is part of the Trussell’s UK-wide foodbank network that helps local churches and communities to open Foodbanks, providing emergency food to thousands of people every year.

PATRONS

Rt Revd. Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich Delia Smith CBE Susan Hill DBE

CONTACT US: Norwich Foodbank Henderson Business Centre 51 Ivy Road Norwich, Norfolk, NR5 8BF

Tel: 0300 365 1123 Email: admin@norwich.foodbank.org.uk Website: https://norwich.foodbank.org.uk/

Like us on Facebook: Norwich Foodbank UK Follow us on X: @norwichfoodbank Follow us on Instagram: @norwichfoodbank Follow us on TikTok: @norwichfoodbank Follow us on Blue Sky @norwichfoodbank.bsky.social Follow us on LinkedIn: @norwichfoodbank

Registered charity number: 1143528