(The Well I WOLVERHAMPTON FOODBANK Ltd eratln as THE WELL TRUSTEES, REPORT AND STATUTORY ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR E DED 31$t March 2025
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Index Page I Charity Informatlon Page 2-15 Report of the Trustees Page 16 Independent Examlners report PaEe 17 Statement of Flnanclal Artlvltles Page 18 Balance Sheet Pages 19 - 26 Notes to Account5
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatlng asThe Well Directors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 Report of the Directorstrrustees and Independently examined financial statements for the period ended 31st March 2025. Reference and Admlnistratlve Informatlon Charlty Name: Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd Operatlng as THE WELL Charlty reglstratlon number: 1149434 Company Number 07962969 Operatlonal Address: Units 13 Wulfrun TradSng Estate, Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, WVIO 6HH Trustees: Mr James Ashfleld {Chalr) Mrs Catherine Prlce Mrs Yvonne Ramsey Secretary/Treasurer: Mrs Caroline Prlce Project Leaders: Mr Gary Price Mrs Carollne Price Independent Examlner G P Brookes FCA Bsc Chartered Accountant 130 Wombourne Park Wombourne WV9 5HB Bank: HSBC PO Box 33 9 Queen Square Wolverhampton ItVVI ITE
Our alms and objectlves The Charlty's princlpal objectlves as set out in Its Constitution are: l. To relleve persons in the Clty of Wolverhampton and surrounding areas who are In conditlons of need, hardship, or dlstress ("Beneficlarles") in such ways as the Trustees from time to time conslder approprlate and are consistent with showing Chrlstian compassion. 2. In furtherance of the first object, to provide free of charge, directly or indirectly, emergency food parcels to beneflciarles referred by partner charities or health or soclal services or simllar publlc bodies. 3. In furtherance of the first object, to provide such other support to beneficlarles, Including but not limlted to clothing or household items, counselllng, or advice, as the Trustees from tlme to tlme consider appropriate and conslstent with showlng Chrlstlan compasslon. 4. In furtherance of the first object, to promote the needs of beneficiarles and to soliclt funds and donation5 or supplies of appropriate items for food parcels. 5. In furtherance of the flrst object, to assist and advlse any other charity or body Intendlng to seek charitable status wlth substantlally slmllar objects. Structure, Governance and Management ('ensurlng the work meets our alms,) The Charltable Company was established on 23, February 2012 under a Memorandum of Assoclatlon which detailed the objects and powers of the charltable company and Is governed under its Artlcles of AssocSatlon. In common with such entltles, It is established as a Company Ilmited by guarantee wlth liablllty of members Ilmited to a sum not exceedln8 £10. The Dlrectors, who are also Trustee5 of the charity for the purposes of charity law, meet at least slx tlmes a year to revlew operatlonal/ financial performance and strategy In conjunctlon wlth the Project Leaders. The day-to-day implementatlon of the strategic plan, together wlth the development of strate8YI Is led by the Projett Leaders, ably supported by the team of employees & volunteers. Monthly accounts are overseen by the Treasurer wlth the support of the Finance Team. The Board recognlse5 the Importance of strong Internal accountlng systems, both by delegatlon of dutles, and by including additlonal checks. We have an onllne accountln8 system, whlch supports monthly reportlng. If any slgnlficant matters of policy or key decision-makin8 arise, including financlal declslons, these wlll be referred to the Dlrertors/Trustees for approval.
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Directors Report forthe year ended 31 March 2025 Overview This year has been the most challenging for The Well since it started in 2006. One of our greatest inspirations, George Mueller, described such times as a 'trial of faith. The financial challenges reported last year have continued, despite the Board and staff doing everything possible to reduce costs. In consequence, it has been a year of difficult decision making across all areas, all of which have been made after much prayer and pondering, as well as taking wise counsel. This has impacted our premises, staffing, giving to others, opening hours and the numbers we have been able to support. Further details of all the above are recorded In this report. Alongside all of the challenges, we have continued to experience God's goodness and faithfulness to the project that He started. There have been many blessings in the midst of the trial for which we are extremely grateful. Actlvlties I.PROVIDING EMERGENCY FOOD TOILETRIES BABY PRODUCTS As the driver handed over 3 more bags of goods the recipient was blown away by the generosity and said, with tears in hls eyes this Is amazing. can you please pass on my thanks to all involved. The focus of our work has continued to be providing emergency food & toiletry parcels to those living in Wolverhampton and across the South Staffordshire borders. Our system of delivering the parcels across the WV postcodes 4 days a week ha5 worked well again this year, in no small part due to our dedicated and efficient team of delivery drivers. The reduction in food & toiletry donations has been continued from last year. Our initial response to this was to give le55 in each parcel in order to continue supporting as many as possible. Midway through the year we took the decision to reduce the daily referral limit in order to provide the full 3 days of food/toiletries {when in stock) to those referred.
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Directors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 The total number of individuals we support each month has still varied, both in household numbers and referrals received each day. The lowest/highest number of deliveries during this year has ranged from 2140 per day. The feedback we have received is a reminder of the impact of a few bags of essential supplies: Mr X rang me just after he had received his parcel. It was quite an emotional callfor both me ond my client. He rong me to say thank you, thank you, thank you so much. He was telling me about the contents of hisfood parcel. He said I can't believe I've got a toothbrush- mine had only got afew bristles left on it. Something os slmple as u toothbrush had made such an Impact upon this client. He said he felt like someone actually cared. This year's referral statistics have been affected by the closure of the premises for a total of 8 weel(s, due to having to vacate 2 of 3 warehouse units we lease, plus staff annual leave. The chart below show5 the ongoing need over the last 5 years: The Well- Referrals FulfilLed By Year 15000 10000 5000 2020-21 2021-22 4703 2022-23 5374 2023-24 4170 2024-25 2821 ri No.Referrals 4903 D No,Adulls 7264 7279 8106 6311 4310 DNO. Children 4363 4482 5297 4107 2572 D Total Fed 11627 11761 13403 10418 6882 Ll No,ReleTf8ls O No.Adults D No. Children DTot81 Fed The percentage of adults to children {age O-15 yrs) supported was 62.6°h to 37.3% respectively, giving a 2Yo rise in support to adults from the previous year. (This 15 the overall count of those supported & includes repeated support during the year). An approximate total of 43.8 tonnes of food/toiletries have been distributed in parcels during this year.
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Dlrectors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 2006 - 2025 As of 31st March 2025, these were the total figures of those who have received direct support from us slnce the project began in 2006.. Those who need supportfrom Aoodbonks can sometlmes be lobelled In negatlve ways. This saddens us as we heor the reollty of how people ocross communltles are struggling ond how hard theyAlnd It to recelvefrom ufoodbank. 2 recent comments to our drlvers who make the dellverles hlghllght thls. One reclplent sald 'lfeel gullty. I'm not worthy., Another Inslsted the drlver brlng the parcel bock to our warehouse as 'there Is someone who needs It more than me., 2, WORKING WITH PARTNER AGENCIES Our prlmary way of ensurlng our support Is targeted to those In greatest need Is via our referral process. We have a long establlshed, wlde range of statutory and voluntary support agencles who refer to us. New referral agencies connect with us year on year. In consequence, self-referrals are kept to a mlnlmum. The dlrect requests we do respond to are done so wlth compassion, Guidance is given that future referrals will need to be vla a partner agency. Thls ensures we malntaln the Integrlty of our system of support and, we hope, provides the parcel recipient wlth the posslbillty of further help wlth the underlying reasons for their financlal difficultles. We contlnue to take most of the referrals on our phone line as this enables us to control the number of referrals we can respond to. We have continued to take a Ilmited number of referrals by email from designated partners. A slgnlficant change during thls year has been the DWP'S declsion that Job Centre Plus offlces should no longer make referrals to foodbanks nationally. This resulted in a 5hort-term
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Directors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 reduction in our overall referral rate. It was a great concern to us, as the Job Centre would have been the first polnt of contact for a referral to come to us. Over tirne, our referral level Increased agaln. We hope this means that those who would have been referred by a Job Centre, found an alternative route. Our support worker's engugement with The Well ha5 greatly benellted her resldents by providing essentialfood support. This partnershlp helps residents allevloteflnanclal pressures related to the rlslng cost of Ilvlng• ensurlng they have access to nutritlousfood. By connecting residents with these resources, it h17s enhanced thelr sense of securlty ond well-being, enabling them to focus on other ospects of thelr Ilves wlthout the odded stress ofAood Insecurlty., (Mldlonds Llvlng CIC) 3.RECORDING INFORMATION We use Mlcrosoft Office to record referral, donor and team related Informatlon. Thls helps us to monltor referrals as well as thank th05e who generously support us. We have Identlfled the need for a database to enable more effectlve tracklng and analysls of referrals In future when funds allow. We are reglstered under the Data Protection Act, and all team members glve wrltten agreement to adhere to our Confidentiality & Prlvacy policies. 4.COMMUNICATION SOCIAL MEDIA As part of our expenditure savln8s, we have slgnificantly reduced the input of a graphlc deslgner except for the absolute essentials {Harvest/Christmas appeals). We have been able to publish an Infographlc on The Well's You Tube account (@thewe1110611. This was designed by a student (also an occasional volunteer wlth us) as part of her degree course. Her work has provlded us Wlth a valuable resource for the publlc to easlly access and use when promoting our project. Our website is our main point of contact with the publlc (www.thewellwolverham I, plus our Facebook/instagram pages (@thewellwolves). ton.co,uk Supporters can slgn up to our regular newsletter vla our website.
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatin8 as The Well Dlrectors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 We continue to utllise 'Bank The Food, online app. where we upload our current needs, SO that potentlal donors can shop for us In a targeted way. Much of our support comes from those15ving or worklng locally. Local media have provided valuable Input to thls. The Express and Star highllghted our needs in the lead up to Christmas, and Wolverhampton Community Radio interviewed the Project Leader. 6.DONATIONS OF SUPPLIES & FINANCE The total recorded weight of food/tolletries donatlons recelved is 53.4¥ tonnes. This is a reductlon of 14.7 tonnes on the previous year, and 24.7 tonnes over the last 2 years.I*Thls flgure Is always an approxlmate- In the busyness some weighin8 in can get m15sed and the welght of packaging cannot always be deducted for practical reasons). Our buslest donatlon months are October and December. Thls yearfs Harvest Festival brought In over 7.7 tonnes of provlslons, with 65 churches & schools taklng part. We contlnue to trust God In praylng for all the provisions we need. Food oiletr Donation Points: Permanent donation points have ¢ontinued In a number of local supermarkets, churches and buslnesses. All these donation points are well supported by the public to whom we are Immensely grateful. Durlng thSs year we have taken part In 2 communSty food drive events at the invitatlon of Asda & Mldcountles Coop. These prove very effectlve in promotlng our work and needs. They glve us the opportunlty to connect directly wlth shoppers who support us through the store's regular donatlon polnt. onsored Events Fundraisers; Whllst we do not actlvely organise sponsored events, we are so grateful to those who glve thelr conslderable tlme & effort to set up & complete these; as well as all those who support so generously wlth sponsorship. We have an actlve Just Glving page, with both regular and fundralser supporters. Events t3klng place durlng thls year have included: - An ultra marathon dlstance run th 'Cannock Chaser, Well Walkers 9 annual marathon
Wolverharnpton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Dlrectors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 Business Partners Other Charities Su We have contlnued to receive support, both financially and in donatlons of goods from a number of buslnesses across the city, a5 well as some of our referral agencies. We deeply appreclate and value thls support and are Insplred by the creatlve ways funds/donatlons are raised, ort A new connectlon has been Blue Cross UK in partnership wlth Pets At Home city store. They have glven us the opportunlty to have a stand to ralse aware and collect pet food donatlons. They also donated 20kg of pet food and we now have a permanent donation polnt In store. Another example Is a £250 glft voucher to spend at the new B&M Store, Bushburyi which the Project Manager also offlclally openedl he Well Wolverhumpton really stood outfor us, so we wanted to give them some VIP treatment 05 U thank youfor oll the hard work they have done. We hope thot our donatlon cun help them to contlnue the greot work they do." {8&M Store Manager) Church Su The support of our local Chrlstlan communSty has been part of the foundatlon of our work from the beglnning and contlnues to be so. The church across the city and wlder area provides volunteers, flnance, donation points, and the underplnnlng of prayer and encouragement. All of thls strengthens our work, and we are deeply grateful. ort Schools Partnershl One of the highllghts durlng the year Is being able to talk about our work to puplls of all ages, elther at assemblles, or on planned visits to the warehouse. Thls Chrlstmas, we were especlally grateful to the 6th formers from Codsall Communlty Hl8h School, who worked so hard sorting and stlckerlng all the Christmas donatlons.
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Dlrectors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 Grant Fundin We have not received any grant fundlng during this financ131 year. In dlvlduals Our work is underplnned by the faithful support of countless indlvSduals, whether it is dropping off donatlons to our warehouse, or givlng flnancially. We always offer the opportunity to Gift Ald donations to maximise the donation made. 7.BULK PURCHASES DONATIONS We have continued to recelve goods from HIS Church (food/tolletrie5 & household supplles pallets) and In Klnd Dlrect (tolletries) charlties, who just charge an adminlstrat5ve fee, savlng us £IOOs. Some of the pallets received thls year have been vla The Wolves Foundatlon, who work In conjunctlon wlth HIS Church to support a number of food projects in the area. Warburtons Bakery Depot have contlnued to supply fresh bread products weekly sufflclent for all our parcels. 8.SUPPORT TO OTHER ORGANISATIONS a. The Haven For the 121h year, The Well has supported the cStVs women's refuge project by provldlng 20 start-up tolletry packs each month. "Thonk you so muchAor your generous donatlon OA tolletry bags and the speclal croft bagsfvr the chlldren at The Haven...... Your lovely toiletry bogs wlll ¢ontlnue to provlde the essentlals that a woman and her ¢hlldren need when they arrlve to stay wlth us. Th15 means one less thingfor them to worry about at an already very difficult tlme. The tolletry bags are beautlfully put together ond provlde those we support wlth somethlng to call thelr own, as they embark on a brave Journey to a safer ond happier Ilfe," thankfor you for your contlnued support."
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Directors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 b. Tlthin Sowin Out As an expression of our Chrlstian faith, we have always almed to share IO% of the flnancial donatlons, and the tanglble supplies we recelve with other local projects. Our criteria for who we support is elther.. -the Project provides support to others wlth similar aims, objectlves, and values to The Well -the Project has been a source of support to us Durlng thls year, we have used the tlthe to purchase amblent food pallets. 16 pallets have been dlstrlbuted to 10 local projects. Due to the rlsing flnancial issues, we decided It was prudent to pause both aspects of tlthlng from November 2024 untll all debts have been cleared. "We ore most slncerely gratefulfor the wonderfulAood thot you sent to us. Thls has come at a greot tlmefor us as stocks ore at thelr lowest In the lead-up to Hurvest tlme ond wlll help us Immensely In our work to 5UPPOrt the most vulnerable people In our Clty." Good Shepherd Mlnlstry 9. TEAM a) Volunteers Our volunteers contlnue to be the heartbeat of the project. The Well would not be able to operate effectlvely wlthout them. They fulfil vital roles, comprlsing drlvers (dellvering parcels/collectlng donations), warehouse team (checklng, sortlng & stlckerlng donations / packing parcels) & admlnistratlve team (deallng wSth telephone referrals, database Inputtin& flnancial processlng, & correspondence.) DurSng this year we have welcomed new team members In all areas of the work, and sald farewell to others who have felt thelr Season wlth us had come to an end. We have appreclated the Input of short-term volunteers. This could be buslnesses who offer community volunteerlng days to staff, or school/youth groups who come w5th staff on a tour of the warehouse and have the opportunity to sort and sticker food donatlons. "Thankyou so much for allowing me to Come and volunteer, everyone has been so welcomingl Belng able to g¢ve back to my community is very Important to me ond 15 very humbling. I hope to come back agaln soon- io
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Directors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 b) Employees We have reduced from 4 to 3 employees during this year. They have been vital in the key roles of project leader, deputising cover, administrator, and main driver. Due to our current financial challenges, we have had to make difficult decisions, including redundancy and moving to zero hours contracts where appropriate. c) Sabbatical Over the Summer, the Project Leaders took a much needed 2-rnonth unpaid sabbatical, Both they and the Board recognised that after 18 years of leading The Well, time was needed to rest, reflect and recharge for the future. The Sabbatical was some months in the planning. The Well continued seamlessly in their absence, which is a reflection of the strong and dedicated team of employees and volunteer5. Premises Due to the high cost of leasing 3 units, we have reduced from 3 units to I during thls year. In January 2025 we relinquished the lease for Unit 16, and then in March, on the instructlon of the landlord, we reduced the space further by relinquishing Unit 15. The process of vacating has been a challenging one, as both units were set up a5 functioning stora8e areas. Part way through the move we had a water leak which flooded one of the units, damaging some stock irreparably. To facilitate the moves, we reluctantly closed for 7 weel<s in total. Our landlord has been incredibly patient and understanding through out this time. They have offered us land at no additional cost for storage, which we have utilised with a very Iow-c05t shipping container. These difficult decisions mean that our rent/service charge/utilities commitments have reduced considerably going into the next financial year. We expect this will bring a significant reduction in our outstanding financial commitments by the end of the next financial year. Assets We are commltted to the disposal of surplu5 assets no longer needed and to the acquisition of assets necessary to support the aims and objectives of the Charity. As a result of reducing our warehouse space significantly, we have sold fixtures and fittings totalling £1379.00. li
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Directors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 How our activities deliver public benefit The Trustees & Project Leaders have referred to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and planning our activities. Our service is completely free and is available to anyone without prejudice. The Trustees & Project Leaders have ensured that the activities undertaken will contribute to the aims and objectives of the charity. The Trustees & Project Leaders are therefore confident that The Well meets the public benefit requirements. Risk Assessment The Board recognises that some risk Is positive and beneficial in assisting the Project to stretch and grow. The Board have identified the following important potential risks and how they are mitigated. These are not set out in any particular order of priority: FinancSal- Insufficient income to meet ex enditure We regularly connect with our supporters through a variety of communication methods to highlight The Well's financial needs and the ways of donating to us easily. The Board is committed to looking at a diversity of possible income streams so that we are not solely dependent upon donations. Financial- loss or misuse of funds. The Board and Treasurer work together to ensure that all donations are used for the purpose for which they were intended by the donors. Regular reviews are made of expenditure to ensure appropriateness and best value. Direct access to the Project's deposit accounts is strictly limited. Corn liance breach of le islative or re ulato re uirements. The Board work to ensure the Project complies with all aspects of running a warehouse-based community project. Durin8 this reporting period, in recognition of our legal responsibilities, we have taken the step to secure the services of 3 company providing employment law, HR & health & safety services. Employer's Liability Insurance is in place should any incident occur. 12
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatinE as The Well Directors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 Safet securl and wellbein of staff and volunteers. The Project has an application and inductlon process for all staff whlch Includes Health & Safety rlsks & policles. A Safeguarding Policy is also In place. Keyworkers are tralned In Flrst Ald at Work & Fire Safety. All our staff and key volunteers work to ensure a positive and Inclusive communSty/famlly envlronment. Re utation - Incldents that may have a negative effect on how the Project is perceived. The Board reco8nlses that any Issues related to the risks detalled above could dama8e the reputation of the Project, and ultlmately impact on our work In supportlng some of the most vulnerable In the communlty. The Board ensures that the charltable actlvlties reflect the charltable aims of the Project. The Board of Trustees are Informed of any changes to the overall levels of rlsk, particularly when Introduclng a new actlvlty. Reserves Pollcv As a Chrlstian Project, the exerclslng of falth in provlsion15 an inherent part of our bellef. The necesslty to uphold thls bellef has an Impact on our reserves policy. As the prlmary expresslon of the Chrlstlan Falth is Inseparably bound up In giving sacrlficlally, we do not belleve In retalnlng excesslve funds as a safeguard to unrealised adverse financlal clrcumstances. However, given the current economlc cllmate the trustees reco8nlse that It would be advisable to bulld up some reserves to protect agalnst future economlc and flnanclal challenges. Unfortunately, we have not been able to so during thls perlod. The Trustees contlnue to act prudently in the financlal management of the tharlty. Investment Policy The Trustees have considered the most approprlate pollcy for Investlng funds and consider that holdin8 funds in a bank deposit account gives some return on capital whi15t ensurlng funds are available should they be required. Fundralslng Actlvities The charlty has recoEnlsed the value of initiat5ng fundralslng activltles whlch have proved successful during this reporting period. We are extremely grateful to all those who have responded so generously. 13
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Dlrectors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 We have a very active online giving platform with the addition of text givlng for specific events. Where members of the publlc undertake fundraising attivlties/events to support the work of The Well, we are very happy to provide information and resources to support them. We are deeply grateful for thelr support in this way, with examples detailed earlier In the report. Revlew of the Transactlons and Flnanclal Posltlon of the Charltv In 2024-25, the charity made the predlcted and anticipated loss of £ {17,140) followlng the previous year's deflclt of £1,729. Income decreased from £223,939 in 2023/24 to £158,020 thls year> Expendlture also decreased from £225,668 In 2023124 to £175,160. Followlng a serious incldent report to the Charlty Commlsslon In December 2023 Ithls was fully dlsclosed In the annual report for 2022-2023) the Trustees have continued to closely monltor The Well's ftnanclal sltuatlon. Thls report has detalled the actlons taken th15 year to help work through the underlylng Issues that The Well faces, In summary.. Reduce warehouse/offlce accommodatlon thereby reducin8 both rent/servlce charge a nd utillty bills. Reduce stafflng and staff costs. Prlorltlslng payments to employees, HMRC and the landlord Informlng our current and hlstorlc supporters of our financial sltuation Takin8 independent financlal advlce The Trustees contlnue to closely monltor The Well's flnances as well as Identifying rlsks and seek5nE to mitlgate these. The wider soclal and economic context remalns extremely challenging, and the Trustees and management contlnue to take actlons to ensure the contlnued successful operatlon of The Well. 14
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatlng as The Well Dlrectors Report for the year ended 31 March 2025 Statement of Directors Responslblllties The Dlrectors are required under Company Law to prepare financlal statements for each flnancial year whlch gives a true and fair vlew of the state of affairs of the company and of its results for that perlod. In preparing those financial statements the directors are requlred to: a) Select sultable accounting policies and apply them conslstently. b) Make Judgments and estimate5 that are reasonable and prudent. c) Prepare the financlal statements on a golng concern ba51s unless It Is Inapproprlate to assume that the company will contlnue In buslness. The Dlrectors are responslble for the keeping of proper accounting records which dlsclose wlth reasonable accuracy at any tlme the financlal posltlon of the charlty. They are also re5ponslble for safeguardlng the assets of the company and hence for taklng reasonable steps for the preventlon and detectlon of fraud and other irre8ularitles. Approved by the Dlrectors on 25 ovember 2025 and sl8ned on theSr behalf by: J. Ashfield (Chalrl Is
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatlng a5 The Well forthe year ended 31 March 2025 Independent Exomlners Report to the frustees of Wolwerhampton Foodbonk operatlng us the Well I report to the charity trustees on my examlnatlon ofthe accounts ofthe companyfor the year ended 31 March 2025 which arÈ set out on the followin8 pages. Re5pon51bllltles and busls oAreport As the charlty trustees of the company (who are treated as dlrectors for the purpose5 of the company law) you are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts In accordance wlth the requlrements of the Companles Act 20061 'The 2006 Act, ) Havlng satlsfled myself that the accounts of the company are not requlred under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are ellglble for Independent examlnatlon, l port In respect of my examlnatlon of your company's accounts as carrled out under sectlon 145 of the Charltles Act 2011. In carrylng out my examinatlon I have followed the Dlrectlons glven by the Charlty Commlsslon under sectlon 145151 Ib) of the 2011 Act Independent Examlner's Statement I have completed my examlnatlon. I conftrm that no matters have come to my attentlon In connertlon wlth the examlnatlon glvlng me cause to belleve that In any materlal respect . iii accountlng records were not kept In respect of the company as requlred by sertlon 386 of the 2006 Act, or the accounts do not accord wlth those records,. or the accounts do not comply wlth the accountlng requlrements of sectlon 396 of the 2006 Art other than any requlrement that the accounts glve a 'true and falrvlew ' whlch Is not a matter consldered as part of an Independent examlnatlon ;or Golng Contern The Trustees have been aware of an overall decllne In Income for a number of months but are actlvely 8ddresslng It. {21 13) As wlth many slmllar or8anlsatlon5, the Well's Income Is predomlnantly dependent on charltable and other donatlons and short-term, small.scale 8rants. Thls 5ncome Is unpredlctable and Influenced by c05t of Ilvlng and Inflatlon factors. Durlng thls reportlng perlod, untll recently the Income streams have not matched commltted expendlture levels . Consequently wlth cost savlngs In all ¢ategorles of expendlture now under way, both the Short and long term actlvltles are belng re-assessed. Thls may Involve tempcrlng current charltable actlvltles for a tlme untll a breakeven Is achleved and then movlng on towards fulfilllng the Well's obS18atlons to Its credltors On thls basls it Is antlcipated and envlsaged that the sltuation wlll Improve and 8lve confldence to affirm a golng concern status for the Well . In15ne wlth Current regulatlon requlrements thls has been reported to the Charlty Commlsslon However I have no other Concerns and have come across or other matters In connectlon with the examlnatlon to whlch attention should be drawn In thls report In orderto enable a proper understandlng ofthe accounts to be reathed. Slgned Date Gary Peter Brookes Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales 130 Wombourne Park Womboume South Staffs WV5 OLY 16
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatlng as The Well Staternent of Flnanclal Actlvitles for the year etsded 31 March 2025 2025 2024 Unrestrlcted Restrlcted Total Total Notes Income Voluntary Income Investment Income Other Income 153,097 86 1,379 154,562 3,458 156,555 86 1,379 158,020 223,925 14 Total Income 3,458 223,939 Expenses Charltable actlvltles 165,247 9,913 175,160 225,668 Total Expenses 165,247 9,913 175,160 225,668 Net Income (10,685) (6.455) (17,1401 11,7291 Reconclllatlon of Funds Total funds brought forward (5,8681 9,152 3,284 5,013 Total funds carrled forward 16,553 2,697 {13,856 3,284 There were no reco8nlsed galns or105ses for 2025 and 2024 other than those included In the Flnanclal Actlvltles Thls SOFA Includes an Income and expendlture account In accordance wlth Companles Act requlrernents, ** Full comparatlves for 2024 are Shown sn note 11 17
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatlng as The Well Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2025 Company number 7962969 2025 2024 Notes Flxed assets Tanglble assets 2,305 5,274 Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and In hand 2,455 7,502 4,485 14,414 Total current assets 9,957 18,899 Credltors: amounts falllng due wlthln one year {26,118) <20,889) Net current assets {16,161) {1,990) Net assets {13,856) 3,284 Funds of the Charlty Restrlcted Funds Unrestrlcted funds 10 2,697 (16,553) 9,152 15,868) Total funds (13,856) 3,284 The dlrectors have taken advantage of the Companles Act 2006 In not havlng these accounts audited under Sectlon 477 (11. No members have requlred the company to obtaln an audlt of Its accounts for the year In questlon in accordance with sectlon 476. The Dlrectors acknowledge thelr responslbllltles for ensuring that he company keeps accountlng records which comply wlth s386 and s387 of the Companies Act 2006 and for preparing accounts whlch glve a true and falr vlew of the state of affalrs of the company as at 31 March 2025 and of Its deficit for the year then ended In accordance wlth the requirements of 5396 and whlch comply wlth the requirement5 of the Act relatlng to the accounts so far as appllcable to the company. The accounts have been prepared in accordance wlth the provislons in Part 15 of the Companles Act 2006 appllcable to companles subjert to the small companles reglme. Trustee tsHFig Trustee Name ......... .. Date of board approval 25 Novem er 2025 18
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatlng as The Well Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 l. Accountlng Pollcles Basls of preparatlon The charlty15 a Charltable Company and constltutes a public beneflt entity as deflned by FRSIO2. The financlal statements have been prepared In accordance wlth Accountlng and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charitles preparln8 thelr accounts In accordance with the Financlal Reportlng Standard applScable in the UK and Republlc of Ireland (FRS102) second edition published October 2019, the Charltles Act 2011 the and UK Generally Accepted Practlce. The financial statements have been prepared on a goln8 concern basis under the historlcal cost convention modified to include certaln Items at falr value. No change5 have been made to the financSal statements for prevlous year5 unless otheTwlse stated wlthln the note5 as a prlor year adjustment. Funds Unrestrlcted funds Unrestricted funds are avallable for use at the dlscretion of the trustees In furtherance of the general objectlves of the charlty and whlch have not been deslgnated for other purposes. Deslgnated funds comprise of unrestrlcted funds that have been set aslde by the trustees for particular purposes. The alm and use of each deslgnated fund Is set out In the notes to the financlal statements. Restricted funds are those funds whlch are to be used In accordance with speclfic restrlctlons Imposed by donors whlch have been ralsed by the charity for partlcular purposes. The cost of ralslng and administerlng such funds are charged agalnst the speclflc fund. The alm and use of each restrlcted fund Is Set out In the notes to the flnanclal statements. Donatlons recelved for a speclflc object or Invlted by the charity for a speclflc object. The funds may only be expended on the speclflc object for which they were given. Any balance remalnlng unspent at the end of each year must be carrled forward as a balance on that fund. The charity does not usually Invest separately for each fund. Deslgnated funds Restrlcted funds Income Recognltlon Donatlons are recognlsed when received. All other income Is recognlsed when It is recelvable, All incomlng resources are accounted for gr055. the charlty becomes entltled to the resources," the trustees are virtually certaln they wlll receive the resource5; and the monetary value can be measured with sufficlent reliabllity. 19
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Credltors and provlslons Credltors and provlsions are recognlsed where the charlty has a present obligatlon resultlng from a past event that will probably result In the transfer of funds to a thlrd party and the amount due to settle the obllgation can be measured or estlmated reliably. Credltors and provislons are normally reco8nlsed at thelr settlement amount after allowln8 for any trade dlscounts due. Golng Concern The Trustees conslder that the charlty remalns vlable for the year ahead however thls depends on svmpathetlc Indlvlduals and Christlan groups contlnulng to donate glfts to fund The Well's worklng capltal requlrements. Governance costs Includes costs of the preparation and examlnatlon of statutory accounts, the costs of Trustee meetlngs and cost of any legal advlce to Trustees on governance or constltutional matters. Support Costs Support costs Include Central functlons and have been allocated to actlvlty cost categorles on a basls cons15tent wlth the use of resources. Glfts In Klnd Operatlng as a Foodbank the charlty recelve5 and dlstrlbutes food elther donated or purchased at mlnlmal osts. In the year the amount of food recelved was 68 tonnes and dlstrlbuted accordlngly Volunteer help The value of any voluntary help recelved is not Included In the accounts butls described In the Trustees, annual report Flxed assets Flxed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreclatlon. Depreclation on flxed assets Is provided at rate calculated to wrlte off the cost of each asset over Its experted useful Ilfe as follows: Motor Vehlcles Warehouse Equlpment 25% stralght Ilne 20% straight line 20
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatlng asThe Well Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 2. Income Unrestrlcted Restrlcted 2025 2024 Analysls Voluntary Income Donatlons and Glfts Donations fron indlvlduals over £1,000 Gift Ald Tax recovered Set Me Free trust SiRma Propertles NeiRhbourlv Communitv Fund Coventrv BuildlnR Socletv Midland Co-oD JaRuar Landrover Tettenhall Rotary Grantham Yorke Trust Total 102,283 29,800 14,019 2,995 2.937 105,220 29,800 14,540 2,995 133,351 58,660 18,993 4,250 4,000 1,305 1,275 1,091 1,000 521 2,000 2,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 156,555 153,097 3,458 223,925 21
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatlng as The Well Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 3, Expenses Unrestricted Restrlcted 2025 2025 Charltable actlvltles Dlrect Costs TOTAL 2025 TOTAL 2024 Salary costs Food etc. for dlstrlbution Premlses costs Transport costs Small equipment and repalrs 64,168 1,121 59,108 7,764 1,663 6,445 2,689 70,613 3,810 59,108 8,543 1,663 99,830 5,514 64,943 8,324 606 779 Support costs PrlntlnE & statlonery Glfts and tlthes Computer costs Communlcatlon costs Insurance Subscrlptlons and Ilcences Depreclatlon General expenses HR/H&S Support Trainlng Statutory Accounts preparatlon and Independent Examlnatlon Mlscellaneous Governance Costs 133,824 9,913 143,737 179,217 2,102 7,600 4,122 4,230 2,655 1,176 2,969 1,045 3,227 2,102 7,600 4,122 4,230 2,655 1,176 2,969 1,045 3,227 2,690 19,158 5,389 3,706 2,465 1,419 4,333 1,029 2,190 2,059 2,000 2,250 2,250 47 47 13 Total 165.247 9,913 175,160 225,668 22
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operating as The Well Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 4. Related partles and Trustee Expenses No trustee recelved payments or reimbursements In the year. 5. Net Incomlng resources for the year 2025 2024 Thls Is stated after char8lng: Independent examlner's fees Underprovision previous year Depreclation 2,250 1,750 250 4,333 2,969 6. Salarles and employment Gross wages, salarles and beneflts In kSnd Employer's Penslon costs Employers Natlonal Insurance 69,011 1,065 537 70,613 96,012 1,575 2,243 99,830 Total staff costs Number Number Average number of employees in the year Operatlonal staff The number of employee5 earnlng over £60,000 per annum was nll (2024- nll ) 23
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatlng as The Well Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 7. fanglble fixed assets Motor Vehicle Warehouse Equlpment Cost C05t brought forward Additlons DIsp05als Balance carrled forward 2025 16.421 8,489 24,910 16.421 8,489 24,910 Accumulated depreclatlon Bas55 25%SL Accumulated Depreciatlon brought fotward Depreclatlon charge for year On Dlsposals Balance carrled forward 11,809 2,307 7,827 662 19,636 2,969 14,116 8,489 22,605 Net book value Brought forward Carrled forward 4,612 2,305 662 5,274 2,305 8. Debtors and prepayments Analysls of debtors Amounts falllng due wlthln one year 2025 2024 Other debtors Glft Ald Tax due 1,500 955 2,455 1,500 2,985 4,485 Total 9. Credltors and accruals Analysb of crédltors Amounts fallln8 due wlthln one year 2025 2024 Accruals sundry Credltors 2,000 24,118 26,118 Total 1,750 19,139 20,889 24
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatlng as The Well Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Openlng Balance 110412024 Closlng balance 3110312025 Income Expendlture 10. Fund Movements Restrlcted Funds Revenue Pallet Speclfic Food And Tolletry Purchases Jaguar Landrover-motorvate Salary Glft The Haven 240 450 690 242 2,523 1,869 452 896 452 6,320 1,898 125 6,445 820 1,078 33 Fuel 360 327 9,152 3,458 9,913 2,697 Total Restrlcted 9,152 3.458 9,913 2,697 Unrestrlcted General Funds {5,868) 154,562 165,247 (16,553) Total Funds 3,284 158,020 175,160 {13,856) 25
Wolverhampton Foodbank Ltd operatln8 as The Well Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 Mah 2025 11. Prevlous year detalled Comparatlves for 2024 2024 Unrestrlcted funds Restrlrted Total ndS funds Noth8 Income Donatlons and Glfts Investment Income Other Income 210,707 14 13,218 223,925 14 Total Income 210,721 13,218 223,939 Expendlture Charltable actlvltles 218,316 7.352 225,668 Total expendlture 218,316 7,352 225,668 Net Income (7,595) 5,866 (1,729) Reconclllatlon of Funds Total funds brought forward 1,727 3,286 5,013 Total funds carrled fonvard 9,152 3,284 26