## **ELY FOODBANK (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation** ) ## REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021 Address: 10 Chapel Street, Ely CB6 1AD Charity Number: 1150746 Bankers: Lloyds Bank Independent Examiner: Dr Michael Williamson The Trustees present their annual report and financial statement of the trust for the period 1 January - 31 December 2021 ## **Status** The Charity was incorporated on 8 February 2013 and registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the charity number 1150746 ## **Trustees** There shall be not less than 5 and no more than 8 trustees. The Trustees are appointed by the existing Trustees with regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the Trust. Karl Relton (Chairman) Gordon Foster (Treasurer) (term ended 14/09/22) Sara Ochieng (Treasurer) (appointed 27/05/22) Peter Whale (Secretary) (resigned 30/01/22) Mark Bonney Jenny Gage (resigned 15/01/22) Jenny Webb Caroline Barnes Stephanie Baxter (appointed 06/09/21) Tabitha Griffin (appointed 20 July 22) 1 ## **Objectives** Objectives: The prevention or relief of poverty within a 15 mile radius of the City of Ely by providing grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or to charities or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty. ## **Activities** Food is donated by members of the public, stored, and sorted into emergency food boxes. Frontline Care Professionals issue foodbank vouchers to people in crisis. These vouchers are exchanged for sufficient food for 3 days at the foodbank distribution centres where, in normal times, volunteers also take time to listen, and point clients towards further sources of support. The second year of the Covid_19 pandemic meant that for much of the year things were anything but normal, consequently some aspects of the ‘signposting’ work had to be put on hold in order to protect the health of both clients and volunteers. Although face-to-face support had to be curtailed, we continued to direct clients to a dedicated Citizens Advice Bureau advisor, enabling them to receive immediate and specific help with a wide range of benefit, housing, legal and other matters. The detailed in-depth assistance that was provided was made possible by an extremely generous grant from Asda that has enabled us to fund - in conjunction with other foodbanks in the area - the part time employment of a C.A.B advisor. This initiative has proved to be both successful and cost effective, with many positive outcomes for clients. During 2021 72.9 tonnes (84.8 tonnes in 2020) of food was donated or purchased and 72.9 tonnes (83.0 tonnes in 2020) was distributed as food boxes. This was the equivalent of approximately 80,000 meals (91,000 in 2020) for people, adults, and children, in crisis in the area stretching from Soham, through Ely, and out to March. Food was given out at distribution centres operated by the charity in Ely, Soham, Cottenham, March, Haddenham, Chatteris and Waterbeach. The Charity relies upon the general public making donations of food at collection points at a number of supermarkets and other shops and centres. Churches and schools normally donate produce from their Harvest festival celebrations, but again less so this year due to the pandemic. Although Covid_19 had some negative effects on our operations there was a massive positive effect in that financial donations continued to be well above pre-pandemic levels. The generosity of new and existing supporters continues to enable the charity to help more people in more ways. The record level of reserves carried forward will enable the charity to help people in ways that have not previously been possible, and the trustees continue to actively plan and implement additional ways of helping people at the point of crisis. One such new initiative during the year was the part funding of a C.A.P (Christians Against Poverty) Debt Centre Manager in the Fenland area. As the Charity currently has very healthy financial reserves it has not sought funds from local charities for several years. The Charity could not operate without the loyal support of a team of dedicated volunteers; and the financial support of over 140 individual donors, local churches, schools, charities, and other organisations. As the Charity currently has very healthy financial reserves it has not sought funds from local charities for several years. 2 There were 5 Trustee meetings held during the year, all conducted via the medium of Zoom. The formation of a Management sub-team towards the end of 2020 proved beneficial, enabling Trustee meetings to focus more on strategic, rather than operational, issues. ## **Serious Incidents** The Trustees confirm that there are no serious incidents to report regarding operations in 2021 ## **Risk Analysis** The Trustees confirm that major risks to which the Trust is exposed are reviewed regularly. ## **Reserves Policy** The charity aims to hold free reserves sufficient to cover 6 months of normal expenditure, which is currently estimated to equate to £45,000. This reserves level allows sufficient cash to cover normal monthly expenditure, the main components of which are employment costs and rent & occupancy costs. In the light of changing circumstances this figure will be kept under review by the Trustees. The trustees note that our reserves continue to rise well above the operating reserves that they would normally keep. The trustees have already committed to spend £75,000 in the coming 3 years by operating an energy grant scheme for Foodbank recipients, increasing client help with one-off grants, making annual grants to Fenland CAP, and sponsoring a peer mentoring programme in secondary schools across our area of benefit. The trustees have also made provision for the purchase of food should public donations not keep up with demand. Beyond that the trustees are also considering strategic projects that may include taking on specific project workers, e.g. to campaign to shift public perception such that Foodbanks do not become 'the norm' for social provision in our society. ## **Cash Assets** Cash assets at year end totalled £198,685, of which £14,916 was in restricted funds. Total cash assets at the end of the previous year were £166,570, of which £18,516 was in a restricted fund. The Rev Karl Relton (Chairman of Trustees) Sara Ochieng (Treasurer) 3 ## **Independent Examiner’s Report** ||**Independent Examiner’s Report**|**Independent Examiner’s Report**|**Independent Examiner’s Report**| |---|---|---|---| |**eport to the trustees/**
**members of**
**On accounts for the year**
**ended**
**Set out on page**|Ely Foodbank||| ||||| ||31 December 2021|**Charity**
**no (if any)**|1150746| ||||| ||5||| **Report to the trustees/ members of** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended **31 / 12 / 2021** . ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## **Independent examiner's statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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. 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. **Signed:** R M Williamson **Date:** 30/10/2022 **Name:** R M Williamson **Address:** MiJan Ltd, The Willows, Long Drove Waterbeach, Cambridge CB25 9LW 4 ## **Receipts and Payments for the year to 31 December 2021** |Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
TOTAL 2021
**Receipts**
£
£
£
Charities
7,720
4,000
11,720
Churches
982
982
Schools
2,927
2,927
Local organisations
2,153
600
2,753
Companies
11,997
3,900
15,897
Internet & Facebook
56,061
56,061
Single donations
23,006
4,827
27,833
Standing orders
16,814
16,814
Gift Aid
5,439
5,439
Cash & misc.
414
414
Pop-up shop
ASDA CAB project
26,887
26,887
Building Society interest
474
474
Totals
127,986
40,214
168,200
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
TOTAL
2021
**Payments**
£
£
£
Trussell Trust
Rent & occupancy costs
14,147
14,147
Insurance
1,271
1,271
Fitments for food store
Equipment
220
220
Admin
5,528
5,528
Stationery
489
489
Training
40
40
Internet giving subscription
Travel expenses
2,946
2,946
Van hire
8,900
8,900
Employment
44,793
44,793
Food purchases
337.33
4,899
5,236
Client help
72
3,205
3,277
Fuel Poverty - client help
614
614
ASDA CAB project
30,486
30,486
Special projects
13,527
4,609
18,136
Totals
92,270
43,813
136,084
Net receipts / payments
35,716
-3,600
32,116
Balances b/fwd
148,054
18,516
166,570
Balances c/fwd
183,770
14,916
198,686
**Statement of assets and liabilites at 31 December 2021**
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
TOTAL 2021
£
£
£
ACTS 435 money in bank account
-125
-125
Unspent balances on payment cards
416
416
Cash in hand
184
184
Bank account
23,824
14,916
38,740
Building Society deposit
159,470
159,470
183,769
14,916
198,685|TOTAL 2020
£
18,240
5,401
172
7,550
21,979
61,032
35,459
13,269
2,418
241
182
29,548
474| |---|---| ||195,966| ||TOTAL
2020
£
10,969
1,748
3,792
507
287
96
1,806
3,283
27,136
8,761
502
1,078
11,033| ||70,998| ||124,968
41,602| ||166,570| ||TOTAL 2020
£
-150
717
673
31,856
133,474| ||166,570| 5