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2023-03-31-accounts

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 2023

AGM Review Page 1 31-10-2023 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 Philip Bevan Ronald Alexander James Herd Sarah Antoinette Wylie Foodbank Manager

Fran Chamings

Independent Examiner

David R Weller DMA, ONC/HNC

AGM Review Page 2 31-10-2023 West Berks Foodbank Charity Registration Number 1151996 1. Structure, Governance and

Management

a. General

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 1300 actively operating Trussell Trust model foodbanks in the UK network.

The trustees manage the affairs of the CIO and for that purpose exercise 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; and 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 compliance, and general well-being of the Foodbank.

b. Charitable Objects

AGM Review Page 3 31-10-2023

West Berks Foodbank Charity Registration Number 1151996

● to provide services to people who have need of them by reason of their age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage by signposting them to additional support services

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 has established a wide network of referrers, who, knowing the circumstances of the referred beneficiary can vouch for their crisis food needs. 51% of clients are referred to us by a professional agency or charity. 49% of referrals come via our Crisis Foodline.

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 distribution centres. Here it provides, on presentation of each referral food voucher or e-voucher number, a minimum of seven 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 who 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: -

to the goal of independence.

● Loose Ends , a charity offering homeless and vulnerable people five home cooked meals each week.

● Bramlings House, sheltered accommodation for young people aged 16-24 years. ● Homestart West Berkshire, supporting families with young children.

c) Supporting Other Ad Hoc Food & Essential Items Shortage Needs

The Charity also supports other ad-hoc calls for food from other organisations supporting those in crisis need. Berkshire Women’s Aid and local women’s refuge. Newbury Soup Kitchen, Fairclose Day Centre, Young People and Children First, Community Furniture Project

3. Operational report prepared by Foodbank Manager

Another challenging year for us as a foodbank and our clients using the services. AGM

Review Page 4 31-10-2023

West Berks Foodbank Charity Registration Number 1151996

Many more of our clients are unable to make ends meet more regularly, with some having negative monthly budgets. Due to the exceptionally high fuel costs this year, it really has been the year of heat or eat.

From April 2022 - March 2023 there was a 7.7% increase in the number of individuals receiving food compared to the previous year with a total of 9237 people given seven days’ worth of food. This number is split between 5193 adults and 4044 children throughout West Berkshire. This is a smaller increase than we expected, but we believe the various initiatives run by local and central government may have been responsible for this. (Cost of Living payments, and household support fund.)

Solid working practices and a strong training programme led to another accurate stocktake, with minimal impact to the foodbanks operations as we only closed for one day. Many businesses have Corporate Social Responsibility policies that encourage corporate volunteering days. So, we partnered with a recruitment company from Reading, Page Personnel. They sent in a team of 10 who did all the heavy lifting reducing the stress on our volunteers. We had two managers and only two volunteers overseeing the stocktake.

The part-time warehouse manager 12 month contract came to an end at the end of the financial year and the part-time contract wasn’t renewed. A new position for a full-time Deputy Foodbank Manager was created after the year end

Our Hungry Holiday initiative was suspended to all schools in West Berkshire due to having little surplus stock. All schools were informed and so we were pleased that the £15 free school meals vouchers were extended to all pupil premium children. West Berkshire Council also ran their HAF Programme (Holiday, Activities and Food) guaranteeing approx. 800 places for disadvantaged children.

Amazon Theale donated £30k to allow us to purchase up to 500 electric heated throws to support vulnerable people in the community. Working with Age UK, Social Prescribers, and referrers, we have prioritised our older, disabled and sedentary clients. Our sincere gratitude for this amazing donation to keep people warm over winter.

a. Quick Statistics

b. Looking Forward

We continue to adapt and evolve to the ever-changing needs of our clients.

AGM Review Page 5 31-10-2023

West Berks Foodbank Charity Registration Number 1151996

Building on our relationships with other charities we have an established framework of support for the most vulnerable in our community.

Newbury Distribution Centre

Unfortunately, The Salvation Army was unable to continue to host our foodbank distribution centre in Newbury, so we had to look for an alternative home. We are very gratefully for seven years of support from the Salvation Army in Newbury.

We have been made extremely welcome by our new hosts in Newbury, The Kennet Christian Centre, Enborne Road, Newbury. Caroline and Phil Whitehead, the Pastors and Liz Butler, the centre manager, have moved heaven and earth to accommodate us. Volunteers from KCC run a community café alongside the foodbank creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.

Volunteers

Our volunteer retention has been very good again this year with approx. 150 active volunteers. We recognise that our volunteers are facing more challenging situations as the external environment brings even greater challenges to many in West Berkshire. We now need to recognise the importance of good mental health support for our client facing volunteers. Therefore, both the

foodbank manager and warehouse manager (appointed May 2023) have qualified as Mental First Aiders and attended a Suicide Awareness courses. Twelve frontline volunteers attended a the Mental Health First Aid course.

At the Foodbank we also think its our duty to include the community as much as possible, so we welcome young people from local schools for work experience. In doing this, we ensure that we treat all our young people equally, irrespective of their academic level, physical and mental abilities or past school exclusions.

The partnership between trustees and allocated distribution centres has improved connections during the year. .

c. Thanks

Without all our donors and supporters West Berkshire would not have a foodbank, so we are very grateful to all of the following people and organisations.

We take this opportunity to recognise all our incredible volunteers who go above and beyond every day.

To all our Churches To all our Schools Greenham Trust Tesco Extra Pinchington Lane Sainsbury Newbury Waitrose Newbury

AGM Review Page 6 31-10-2023 West Berks Foodbank Charity Registration Number 1151996

Waitrose Thatcham

Tesco London Road Tesco Hungerford St Oswalds Church – hosts of Burghfield and Mortimer Foodbank Hungerford Methodist Church - hosts of Hungerford Foodbank Thatcham Baptist Church – hosts of Thatcham Foodbank Kennet Christian Centre – hosts of Newbury Foodbank

4) Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity trustees

…………………………. …………………………..

Name…………………… Name……………………

AGM Review Page 7 31-10-2023

----- Start of picture text -----
Charity Name No (if any)
West Berks Foodbank 1151996
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
Period start date Period end date
For the period
To
from 01/04/2022 31/03/2023
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest to the nearest £
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Donations Directly to Us 174,063 - - 174,063 95,147
Asda/Trussell Grant - - - 20,015
Tesco Top Up Scheme 7,846 - 7,846 6,818
Gift Aid Tax Reclaim - - - - -
- -
Trussel Trust - 51,750 51,750
- - -
Waitrose/Trussell - 3,848
Amazon/Sainsbury 30,000 - - 30,000 6,767
Newbury BS 9,000 - - 9,000 -
Sub total (Gross income for AR) 220,909 51,750 - 272,659 132,595
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
-
- - -
----- End of picture text -----

-
- - - -
Sub total
-		 - - - -
Total receipts 220,909 51,750 - 272,659 132,595
A3 Payments
Employment Costs
47,257 - - 47,257 39,828
Food Purchases
14,789 - - 14,789 17,415
Equipment Purchases
422 - - 422 1,476
Cardboard Boxes-Single Use
6,262 - - 6,262 6,841
Crisis Foodline
8,335 - - 8,335 5,793
Transportation
6,735 - - 6,735 7,630
Warehouse& Office Service Charges
11,014 - - 11,014 5,861
Printing&Stationery
2,789 - - 2,789 3,329
Other
32,206 - - 32,206 8,859
Sub total
129,809 - - 129,809 97,032
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total
- - - - -
Total payments 129,809 - - 129,809 97,032
Net of receipts/(payments) 91,100 51,750 - 142,850 35,563
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end - - - - -
Cash funds this year end 91,100 51,750 - 142,850 35,563
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period assets and liabilities at the end of the period assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories
B1 Cash funds
B2 Other monetary assets		 Details
Lloyds Bank
Petty Cash
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Details		 Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
267,478
171
-
267,649
Agreement Error
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-		 Restricted
funds
to nearest £
51,750
-
-
51,750
OK
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
- - -
- - -
- - -

----- Start of picture text -----
- - -
- - -
- - -
Fund to which Current value
Cost (optional)
Details asset belongs (optional)
B3 Investment assets - -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Fund to which Current value
Cost (optional)
Details asset belongs (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the - -
charity’s own use - -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
----- End of picture text -----

B5 Liabilities

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

Details
Signature		 Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Print Name		 When due
(optional)
Date of
approval

WF.4T fiF.RK.% FnnDBANK C.'IIARI'I'Y NIIMIITr:R I1.SIY96 VNDKPENDTr.NT F.XAMlN￿.M'.S RF.P(>R'fT() Tllb. TRU4TF.ES FOR THE YEAR ENDVNG31sr MAH<.'FI 2 ZJ IDtrodu¢ti I h4ti'¢ ¥r¢al pleasure in rt'porling on the Accounts of the We51 Berks Foodbavk for the y¢ar etmiing 31° Marvh 202.-, B#si5 of lthdc ¢Ddent Tr'x#mintr'5 Re My e.ia]ninaliuii Larricd ou¢ 3Ctord#rtte with the ti¢ll¢ral Direciion5 given by the Charity Commissioners tLnd iniluded a rcvicw ol. the aceounlingj recoTd5 kepl, and a comparison of the accounts presenied wih those Lords. This ¢xamination 15 in aL¢QTdanLe with my r¢5ponsibilitLeS as sci out in Section A of the Charity 'Commissioners otTicial Independcnt Examiner'5 Rq)ort under Sections 145 and 14515)0)l ofthe Charities A 2011. Dde dent F.xaminer's St*t¢m¢tht l ¢oTrfim that the financial statetnents aTe in accordance with the itlcome. expendill]re. assets and iTLvestmetLts infO￿allOn supplies to me by the Trtasurer. I am Satisfied that th¢ Treasurer and Tn]stees has pui itt place safe. efficienl arrangements and rtlainthin robust controls on payneTJts &$ an inte¥rdied part of the overall fjnancial r￿7 systern. CoJJ¢JusioD This is my tenth examinatlOD as the ap￿)Inted Inde￿ndent Examiner for th¢ West Berks Foodbank BAd I woul smce again like to place on Te¢ord my sincere thanks to the Tre&surer, Dave Carter. for all his hard work i preparing the accowits and foT providing me with the infom)aiion and Tecords required to undert8ke th examination. Th¢ accounts are very clear and concise and once agai￿ it h&$ Fttn a real pleasure to carry ou the independent exgminalion. Date: 2￿ June 2023 David R Weller DMA. ONCIHNC Indep¢ndeni Examiner