West Berks Foodbank
Charity Registration Number 1151996
West Berks Foodbank
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
Annual Report and Financial Statements to the Year Ended 31[st] March 2021
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West Berks Foodbank
Charity Registration Number 1151996
Charity name West Berks Foodbank Charity registration number 1151996 Principal office Unit 80 First Street, Greenham Business Park, Berkshire RG19 6HW Registered office Liberty House, Greenham Business Park, Newbury, Berkshire RG19 6HW Trustees Jason Paul Collis (Chair) Karen Ann Frost Sue Stevenson Ronnie Herd Project Manager Fran Chamings Independent Examiner David R Weller DMA, ONC/HNC
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West Berks Foodbank
Charity Registration Number 1151996
1) Structure, Governance and Management
a) General
Structure, Governance and Management
West Berks Foodbank became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Associated Model Constitution) on the 13[th] May 2013 with Charity Registration Number 1151996. (During its foundation period, it operated under a Trust Deed as a Charitable Trust under the name of Newbury and Thatcham Foodbank.)
West Berks Foodbank is an independent social franchise partner of the Trussell Trust Foodbank Network – the largest foodbank network in the United Kingdom – and it adheres to the policies and procedures laid down in the Trussell Trust Operations Manual which have been developed and proven in over 420 actively operating Trussell Trust model foodbanks in the UK network.
The trustees manage the affairs of the CIO and for that purpose exercises all of the powers of the CIO. Each trustee is charged to exercise their powers and perform their functions as a trustee in the way they decide in good faith would be most likely to further the purposes of the CIO. They are also expected to exercise, in the performance of those functions, such care and skill as is reasonable in the circumstances having regard to any special knowledge or experience that they have or hold themselves as having. A charity trustee must be over the age of 16 years; have not retired from, or been removed from, office; have expressly acknowledged acceptance of the office of charity trustee; be a practising Trinitarian Christian.
In seeking new trustees, the Foodbank looks for people who strongly endorse, and seek to further, the charitable objectives of the charity; have the vision, enthusiasm, drive and contacts to make things happen; bring complementary skills that ensure there is the broad range of relevant skills needed to successfully direct and manage the charity.
The trustees are responsible for vision, strategic direction, fund raising, the financial health, regulatory conformance and general well-being of the Foodbank.
b) Charitable Objects
“ To relieve persons in West Berkshire and local surrounding areas who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress, by providing free food, and in such other ways as the trustees from time to time think fit, and also in other parts of the United Kingdom and in such ways as the trustees from time to time think fit, thereby demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ for all.”
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West Berks Foodbank
Charity Registration Number 1151996
2) Activities of the Charity
a) Satisfying Short Term Crisis Food Needs
The Charity directly serves those people in short term crisis food need. It established a wide network of referrers, who, knowing the circumstances of the referred beneficiary can vouch for their crisis food needs. Due to West Berkshire Council budget cuts in April 2016 it has had to set up and fund a separate referrer known as Crisis FoodLine and this now refers over 73.5% of all clients.
It has also established a wide range of generous food donors – the general public via food supermarkets, churches, schools, businesses, organisations and other sources. It sorts, stores and manages the supply of food to its foodbank centres. Here it provides, on presentation of each referral food voucher or e-voucher number, a minimum of three days of nutritionally-balanced emergency food for the family group affected. It also seeks to restore the dignity of, and revive the hope of, and signpost, those affected to other charitable organisations that can help them overcome their longer-term difficulties.
b) Assisting with Longer Term Food Needs
The Charity supports other local organisations that deal with vulnerable people who have longer term food needs. The main charities it supports are: -
Loose Ends , a charity that supports homeless and vulnerable people and people with addictions in the Newbury area
The Soup Kitchen provides soup and a snack meal for homeless people in Newbury (currently one evening per week)
Two Saints provide a range of services and support networks to help people who are homeless in Newbury and West Berkshire, turn their lives around. They provide safe secure accommodation while they help people embark on a new life away from homelessness. It also helps people who already live in their own home to maintain their independence.
West Berkshire Homeless which helps homeless people get out of homelessness, get them into accommodation, into employment and reintegrate them back into society.
c) Supporting Other Ad Hoc Food Shortage Needs
The Charity also supports other ad-hoc calls for food from other organisations supporting those in crisis need. It has supported other foodbanks when they have had critical stock shortages due to building damage, stock theft, etc. and some other small charities.
3) Operational report prepared by Project Manager
The operating year between April 2020 and March 2021 has obviously been the most challenging year that West Berks Foodbank have ever faced, completely changing our operating model to a home delivery service and all signposting and support done remotely or on the doorstep. The Crisis Food line meant unlike many ‘referral only’ foodbanks, we were able to support those in need during the first few months of the pandemic when access to professional referrers was virtually impossible.
Delivering to homes throughout West Berkshire has allowed us to reach clients in the more rural areas and those who before couldn’t access the foodbank due to mental or physical health conditions.
We have had to be flexible in how we have dealt with the ever-changing demands of the virus and government guidelines. Protecting our volunteers when delivering to households
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Charity Registration Number 1151996
West Berks Foodbank
with Coronavirus, working in bubbles in the warehouse. Safeguarding concerns assessed during outside meetings on the doorstep. Signposting advice and welfare checks over the phone.
Our determination to continue to support people in need throughout West Berkshire is evident with 5884 Adults and 4149 children receiving 7-day food parcels. Our largest annual number ever of 10,033. In addition, we have supported over 3000 people with our ongoing work with Sovereign Housing, Home-Start West Berkshire, Newbury Soup Kitchen and Loose Ends to name a few.
Quick Statistics
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157 tonnes of food donated by the community of West Berkshire
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136 tonnes of food provided to the vulnerable.
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Over 50 % of the vouchers issued are for households that include a child under 16 years old.
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We have recruited and trained an additional 127 volunteers to support the ongoing work of the foodbank.
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153% rise in the number of professional agencies making referrals to the foodbank on previous fiscal year.
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87% of our volunteers making direct contact with clients are now DBS checked.
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620% rise in those impacted by Domestic Abuse from previous fiscal year (15 to 93)
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Families struggling to feed children in the school holidays increased from 26 to 717 this past year.
Pandemic Positives
As we look back and consider what has been achieved by the charity sector during the pandemic, we realise that we stand stronger together.
We have had to be creative and agile to allow us to continually adapt to the changing face of the virus and needs of our clients.
We have strengthened our relationships with our community and charity partners, and this is something we are exceptionally grateful for.
The Community Furniture Project (NCRC) shared surplus food with us and supported our operation when times were tough, offering their experience and expertise to the foodbank operational team. We were offered additional driving volunteers from Home-Start West Berkshire, Newbury Soup Kitchen and Loose Ends. West Berkshire Council allocated two teams to deliver for us for 12 weeks, allowing us to deliver hundreds of boxes each day. Newbury Soup Kitchen, the West Berks Volunteer Bureau and Karen Bennett dual diagnosis worker for West Berks Council have checked in on us regarding the mental health of the lead volunteers and offering an opportunity to share concerns and ideas within our peer group.
The pandemic has also led to an unprecedented outpouring of support from our local community, and businesses.
We have been so blessed with financial donations, donations of food and essential items as well as those prepared to give up their time.
The Foodbank on your Doorstep Initiative was an amazing example of what community could do when it was needed. An army of volunteers picked up from their local streets after delivering leaflets saying they were collecting on behalf of the foodbank. This allowed all those who were home shopping to still support their local foodbank by leaving donations on their doorstep.
Some months this initiative provided more donations than the permanent collect points in the supermarkets.
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West Berks Foodbank
Charity Registration Number 1151996
Thank you
We are so very grateful to all our donors and supporters who have kept the foodbank well stocked when our community needed it most. To all our Churches To all our Schools Greenham Trust Tesco Extra Pinchington Lane Sainsbury Newbury Waitrose Newbury Tesco Hungerford Berkshire Community Foundation Rachel McShane Community Champion St James Place Ros Barker Hungerford Town Council Thatcham Town Council Newbury Town Council Volunteer Centre West Berkshire Lesley Wallace and Dream Doors All of our incredible volunteers
a) Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity trustees
…………………………. ………………………….. Name…………………… Name……………………
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Reportto the trusteesl membets of On accounts for the yèar ended 3 f Charity no (if any) lifiqq6 Set out on pages Respectlve The chartty's trustees are responsli Ae for the preparation of the accounts in Jponslbilities of ac9)[dan with the reqU1ments of the Charlties Act 2011 {Ihe Acr). trustses and examiner The chaiivs trustees cortsiderthat an aurfrt is not required for thi$ year under seclyon 144 of the Ad and that an independent examination 15 needed. It is my reswnsiknlty to: exaffine the acrtS under Sed1( 145 of the Chities Act. to follow the apF4icable Directions given by the Charity Commission (under sethon 145(5){b) ofthe Act. and to state whether paujIar matters have me to my attent¥)n Basis of Independent My examTn8tion vra8 carried oui in W1rdan wilh general Directions given examIne$ statgment by the Charity Commission. An exaFrirEation includes a rewew ofthe accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also tndudes nsIderatIOn of any unusual items or disdosures in the aco)unts. and sethng eXanationS from the trustees rrning any suth matters. The procedures urwjertaken do not prowde all the evtdence that would be required in an audit. and t>)nsequenUy no opinion is given as to whdher the a¢xounts pTrsent a Irue and fairf view and the report is limiied to those matters set out in the Independent In o)nnedion with my exaninalion. no material matters have come to my examiner's ststement 'attention (other than that dis(kned bebw I whith gives me cause to befve that in, any mrA4 respecL attounting records were not kept in cdan with sectDn 130 01 the Chaiibes A(# or the actnts do 0rd V4ith the XntIng records I have no corthms and have come ax)ss no thr matters in connection with the examination to which attention should te drawn in 0ert0 enable Proper undending ofthe aco)unts to be reached. Signed: IER May 2018
Relevant professlonal qualificationls) or body Ilf any): Address: c.i9 Only complete rf the examiner needs to highfight matters of Djncem (see CC32, Independent examinatN>n of charity a(£ounts: (Srections and guidan for exam1rSl. IER May 2018
Give here brlef deiali s of any Items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER May 2018
CHARITY COMMISSIO FOR ENGiAND AND W 1151956 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe period 01ffj4r20 31A)¥d1 Section A Receipts and payments Unrvstricted funds funds fund$ Total ndS Lastyear Al R•¢•l Donons threclty to US a ITtussel Gianl ÈsetsTopUp sth•m¢ ift4d Tax RedM 14Q3 20,OfS 1.186 4170 20.015 1.1 1VJ ha 31.540 21281
J4307 SUIJ tofal(Gffjss Incon trAR 2 A5setand investsnents•le$, Sub total 205 A3Pa rnFloyrnenttsts ood PuithasÈs quitwn¢nlPurchases ardbDard boxes-$ie i FoodSne- ofkn* 31.523 18.314 IBJ14 14.5DS 4127 40 1186 1J94 7.$30 101 8,127 11,4T2 ZOT 4T$ &132 2.IB8 1,394 nnting& srth) Otherc3tsgorie5 Sub tola Assetand invesbnent r¢hase5. Iseelable b tola Tolalpa 101J20 11 A6 Cash funds 8t yearend Cfjsh funds ye•r 37
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period nds fitnds fund5 B1 Cath fvnds T0c4$h funds . , 140.946 funds funds funds to nwrut£ 83 Investment a5s•ts charttvs own use ii-tai15 BS Uabllttles