Windermere and District Food Bank
Annual Report and Accounts
for the Year Ended 6* April 2025
Reference and Administration Details
The Trustees present their report and the independently examined Financial Statements of
the Charity for the period ended 6th April 2025.
Windermere & District Food Bank is a Registered Charity, No. 1151582, and is constituted as
a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO").
Trustees who served during the year were:
Rev'd Martyn Coe
Chair
Tony Farren
Treasurer
Ali Jarvis
Secretary
Jean Acker
Brian Bradbury
Andy Brinkman
Peter Harrison
Rev'd Jo Rand
Administration Contact Address
Operating Address
Telephone
Website
Independent Examiner
(resigned 14 April 2024)
(resigned 31 August 2024)
7, Brow Crescent, Windermere, LA23 ZEY
St Mary's Church, Ambleside Road
Windermere LA23 1BA
07789 728811
windermeredistrict.foodbank.org.uk
Martin Slader Ltd, 20 Craig Walk,
Windermere LA23 2HB
Bankers
The Cumberland Building Society
18 Main Road, Windermere LA23 1DY
CAF Bank Ltd
25 King's Hill Avenue, King's Hill
West Malling ME19 4JQ
Objectives and Activities for Public Benefit
The principal objective of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation is the prevention or
relief of poverty in the general South Lakeland area in particular but not exclusively, by
providing emergency food supplies in particular but not exclusively to individuals in need
and/or charities or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty.
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the general guidance on public benefit
issued by the Charity Commission when reviewing and planning the charity's aims and
objectives.
Windermere and District Foodbank
Page 1
Registered Charity No 1151582
Year Ended 6" April 2025

Windermere and District Food Bank
Achievement, Performance and Financial Review
Summary
The need for the food bank service in the area is still considerable even though the
perception is that Windermere is a relatively affluent area. The very high proportion of
lower paid and seasonal work, the ageing population and high housing costs all contribute
to the combination of factors such as very low disposable income, high stress leading to
mental health issues, poor or no affordable housing. All of these can unfortunately lead to
people needing emergency food provision, which we continue to provide.
Throughout 2024-25 the main focus has been to try and offer help to clients in the form of
signposting them towards long term solutions to their issues. Our main new offering has
been the provision of a Citizens Advice counsellor at the food bank for one period per week.
This has proved to be very successful, resulting in 77 clients being helped, with over
€140,000 worth of debt being managed, £130,000 debt written off and £75,000 other
positive financial gains via accessing correct and additional benefits. Of those 77 people
helped in the year, 59 no longer need our services. This has reduced our client numbers,
reduced dependency habits and left our team with a great feeling of being able to offer
more than the immediate short term food need. The service has been provided by South
Lakes Citizens Advice and funded by a grant from Trussell, covering the £9,000 annual cost
for 2 years until March 2026. After this we have been warned we may have to find other
funding for part or even all of the cost, for which we have contingency plans to take us to
2028.
Throughout the year we served 110 households, fulfilling 1020 vouchers, both figures being
slightly below last year (114 and 1113 respectively). In total we issued 1214 adult parcels
and 523 for children in the year, some 12% below last year, illustrating the results of our
efforts to reduce long term dependency on our service.
Behind these very encouraging results has been a year of considerable change and challenge
to our operation.
In late summer of 2024 our funds to support our normal operation reduced to a dangerously
low level, well below our accepted minimum reserve. This situation was due to lower food
donations, leading to higher food purchases at higher prices, while we also saw a reduction
in financial donations. A vigorous and wide ranging campaign and appeal was launched
assisted by great publicity from The Westmorland Gazette, TV and radio channels and Tim
Farron our MP. We are pleased to report that thankfully this was very successful and we
now find ourselves in a strong financial position as a result. Thanks must go in particular to
an almost immediate emergency grant from Trussell of £9,000 followed by many donations,
the major grant elements of which were due to lan Winters' considerable efforts. The
details are outlined later, and in the Accounts. All of this was supported by a campaign
aimed at greater local awareness. This also has boosted food donations, which increased
compared with last year back to pre-covid levels. Please bear in mind that this figure masks
the fact that prior to September donations were low but the community responded to our
appeals to produce a great annual result.
Page 2
Windermere and District Foodbank
Registered Charity No 1151582
Year Ended 6™ April 2025

Windermere and District Food Bank
The other major event was the premises move. As the licence for our premises in the
Methodist Church undercroft (with its terribly difficult access) came to an end, we looked
around for a good alternative and were kindly offered a similar but more flexible space
within St Mary's Church on Ambleside Road, Windermere. Thanks to flexibility of our
landlords the lease on our old space was extended to the end of February and we moved to
our new home on March 1" 2025. This required a major planning exercise, some refitting of
shelving etc and a great deal of help from volunteers old and new - to whom we owe our
thanks. The new location has many advantages, particularly access for goods, a parking
place for the van and a layout which is easier to manage. The space has been offered to us
at a similar cost to the old premises on a correctly drawn up long term licence. The team at
St Marys have been very welcoming and supportive of our efforts.
Other notable changes in the year are that we decided we could manage better by reverting
to the pre-covid regime of opening 2 days per week, not 3, so we now open on Wednesday
and Friday, with clients' parcels being delivered on either of the 2 days as convenient -
Citizens Advice service is available on Fridays. We also were able to offer heating vouchers
to needy clients who met a certain number of strict criteria - this was well received but
unfortunately was only applicable to a limited number of people, it certainly helped 9
households during the winter months. The Mission Café supported our work by donating
vouchers for us to distribute to our clients, allowing them to partake in a free light meal
during the Christmas and Easter periods. We also opened a new bank account with CAF
Bank, with internet access which has proved very useful in bringing our banking provision
into the present day.
Finally, we should highlight the usefulness of the van, fully funded by 2 local businesses. Not
only does it provide the means of offering a fully insured delivery service but it has also
given us the means to collect food and equipment donations from events including Kendal
Calling festival, an international scouting rally, and various sponsored runs and walks during
this year. Of course it was invaluable during the move also.
Looking forward we made a start on improving our social media and website. We began to
reach out more to other charities in the area and referral agencies. It has become very
obvious to us in this year that the area served is very lacking in practical support for many
issues brought to us which don't relate directly to food provision. We seem to be in a way
"the only show in town" offering any sort of practical help to the very needy. Going forward
the area would benefit from any type of provision for issues like mental health and
homelessness - we will continue to explore ways of highlighting this need, and look at all
possibilities to bring help into the area.
On the people front during the year we said goodbye to Peter Harrison and Rev'd Jo Rand as
Trustees due to them having other commitments. lan Winters, who led the operation on the
ground throughout the year asked to step back, later to become a voluntary Trustee. He will
now focus on grant funding and strategies: his eventual replacement as Operations
Manager, Amanda Lucas, was welcomed to the organisation during the last weeks of this
report's period. We would like to thank the team of volunteers, trustees and supporters for
responding to this year of change and feel that the organisation is in a far better place to
move forward from here.
Page 3
Windermere and District Foodbank
Registered Charity No 1151582
Year Ended 6* April 2025

Windermere and District Food Bank
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to all our donors, some of whom have been giving every month since our
foundation in 2013,to the organisations listed under "Restricted Grants" in the accounts, and
to the following organisations who gave €500 or more in 2024-25:
Frieda Scott Charitable Trust
British Gas
Booths - customer rewards passed on
Lakes Christian Centre
Trussell - unrestricted
Westmorland & Furness Council
Windermere Taverners
Savant Ltd
South Cumbria Construction Ltd
St Martin's Church
€8,400
£2,000
€1,766
€1,524
€1,350
£ 500
€ 500
€ 500
€ 500
€ 300
Food and other donated items amounted to some 10.9 tonnes in the year, up from 7.4
tonnes in 2023-24.
Thanks also go to our team leaders, lan and Amanda, and the team of volunteers who keep
everything running smoothly and give such generous support to the people who need our
help.
Just after the year-end Rev'd Martyn Coe resigned as a Trustee, and consequently as Chair,
now the Foodbank is no longer based at a church for which he is responsible. We thank him
for his service to the Foodbank since 2020. Brian Bradbury has taken over as Chair of
Trustees. Also since the year-end Philip Higgins of St Mary's Church has joined us as a
Trustee, as has our former Operations Manager, lan Winters.
We also acknowledge the professional support of the Trussell Trust team who advise us from
time to time and provide the software on which our food inputs and outputs are recorded.
Fundraising etc.
Our major fundraising effort from September to December 2024 is covered above.
Reserves Policy
Windermere and District Food Bank relies entirely on donations and grants from individuals
and organisations. The Trustees believe they should keep unrestricted funds in hand to
cover at least 4 months' running expenses, including food purchases, less the expected level
of committed regular giving over that period. This should allow time for further fundraising.
Unrestricted reserves at 6" April 2025 were substantially above this level. The £25,000
received from Trussell, originally funded by Lakeland Ltd, is Unrestricted but has been "ring-
fenced" by the Trustees, mostly to ensure we can continue to fund our work with South
Lakes Citizens Advice in the medium term, with a smaller portion for special projects.
Windermere and District Foodbank
Page 4
Registered Charity No 1151582
Year Ended 6* April 2025

Windermere and District Food Bank
Treasurer's Report
In the year to 6" April 2025 the Foodbank recorded a financial surplus of £50,033 compared
with a deficit of £7,664 last year. Receipts increased by £69,384 while payments were up by
£8,687. The reasons behind the great financial improvement are explained above.
Payments to Trustees
No trustees were paid for any work or services provided. The only payments made to
trustees were reimbursement of expenses incurred and purchases made on behalf of the
charity, which did not until recently have a card or internet payment facility of its own. In
the year, Trustees were reimbursed a total of £12,070 (previous year £22,351). The great
majority of this was for purchase and delivery of groceries direct to the food bank.
Annual Report authorised by the Trustees 19* November 2025
Chairman:
Brian Bradbury
Brian Postluy.
Treasurer. Tate
Tony Farren
Independent Examiner's Report on the Accounts to 6** April 2025
Report to the trustees of Windermere & District Food Bank, charity number 1151582, on the
accounts for the year ended 6" April 2025, set out on Page 7.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year
ended 6" April 2025.
As the charity trustees of the Trust, 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 the applicable
Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
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:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the
examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding
of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Martin Slader Ltd
Make Shill lod Date: 76 Jarray 2026
20 Craig Walk, Windermere LA23 2HB
Windermere and District Foodbank
Page 5
Registered Charity No 1151582
Year Ended 6" April 2025

Windermere and District Food Bank
Annual Accounts for the year ended 6* April 2025
The independently examined accounts are shown on Page 7.
The calculation of the weight and therefore estimated value of food is for Charity
Commission purposes, to provide a measurement of equivalent financial turnover.
No payments or benefits were provided to any trustees except for the reimbursement of
legitimate expenditure incurred on behalf of the charity as follows:
Tony Farren £10,760 (previous year £20,673)
Jean Acker £440 (previous year £1,625)
Brian Bradbury £870 (previous year £414)
Tay
Tony Farren,
Treasurer 10"" November 2025
Page 6
Windermere and District Foodbank
Registered Charity No 1151582
Year Ended 6" April 2025

Windermere and District Food Bank
Page 7
Annual Accounts for the Year Ended 6th April 2025
Unrestricted
| Restricted
2024/25
€
2024/25
22,637
25,000
21,613
Total
2024/25
€
Receipts
Donations & Grants:
From Individuals
Trussell, funded by Lakeland Ltd
From Organisations - other
Restricted Grants:
Trussell re Citizens Advice
Trussell Emergency Support Grant
Westmorland & Fumess Council Household Support
Westmorland & Fumess Council for Windermere Food Farm
The Roselands Trust for Relocation
Gift Aid Tax Refunds
Interest Received
Total Receipts
Payments
Payroll
Purchases for distribution to clients
South Lakes Citizens Advice
Travel & delivery expenses
Windermere Churches: licence fees
Relocation costs
Equipment purchased
Telephone, broadband, post, stationery
Insurance
Van (covered by donation)
General
Publicity
Other operating costs
Payments on behalf of Windermere Food Farm
Total Payments
69,250
1,570
16
70,836
€
8,035
7,074
52
213
1,517
444
1,677
477
95
750
Surplus /(Deficit) on Year
Opening Balance
Closing balance
Represented by
Cash
Bank
Food opening balance kg
684 At £2.77 per kg (was £2.37)
Donated in the year kg
10863
Purchased in the year kg
7556
Adjustments in the year kg
Distributed in the year kg
-902
4.9%
Over/(short) at year-end
-16402
-356
-1.9%
Closing balance kg
1443 At £2.77 per kg
For Charity Commission purposes
- establishes turnover below £250,000
Total Income
Total Expenditure
£2.77 is the value of a standard kilogram valued at Tesco prices
as advised by Trussell (previously £2.37)
Windermere and District Foodbank
Registered Charity No 1151582
20,334
50,502
12,854
63,356
9,000
9,113
8,250
1,700
2,199
30,262
5,282
7,765
9,000
199
3,655
137
1,693
27,731
2,531
0
2,531
69,250
9,000
9,113
8,250
1,700
2,199
1,570
16
101,098
€
13,317
14,839
9,052
412
1,517
3,655
444
1,677
477
232
750
1,693
48,065
53,033
12,854
65,887
139
65,748
€1,895
£30,091
E20,930
E2,499
£45,434
£986
£3,997
£131,188
£93,499
Year Ended 6" April 2025
Total
2023/24
€
29,976
:
1,738
31,714
€
5,509
27,639
366
1,200
220
482
1,690
421
1,232
619
39,378
-7,664
20,518
12,854
99
12,755
£1,021
£17,441
£29,715
-£533
£46,694
£529
£1,479