Barrow
foodbahk
Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Financial Statements
for the year ending
31" March 2024
Company Registration Number . 8382130
Charity Registration Number . 1152753

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Finanaal Ststements
Year Ended 31" March 2024
Chairman'5 Statement
Page 3
Report of the Trustees
Page 4 to 18
Independent Examiners Report
Page 19
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure)
Page 20
Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet)
Page 21
Notes to the Accounts
Page 22
Trustees, Certificate
Page 23
Page 2

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Trustee< Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 March 2024
CHAIRMAN'S sfATEMENT
My first thought when I was reminded to write this was a smug 'l've already done it. l just must have
forgotten to P05t it.. So, I looked in the appropriate file and the￿ was the report I'd written,
unfortunately it was dated 2023 and I'd emailed it a year ago. Still the first job you do when writing
an annual report is to look at last yearfs report.
Overall. iys been a tough year. The amount of food we have in stock has steadily declined. More
people want feedin& and the amount of food donations are not keeping up with IL We're buying
more and more food. On the other hand, thanks to the generosity of the people of the area we have
the money to buy more food. They gave us the money for a rainy day. and now iys raining and we're
spending it.
But our team has grown. Claire Coulthurst our Project Manager. moved on to new employment. She
still makes an appearance as a volunteer and now has a job which works better with her family
responsibilities. Matt Burden took her pla￿ as Project Manager and his role as Deputy was taken by
Ros Harri50n who has joined our team.
More recently Ros has tsken on a new responsibilTty with us, dealing with financial inclusion. After a
concentrated period of study. she is now qualified to advise our clients on any number of financial
issues which concern them. Having the ability to advise people 'in house, means that people are
happier to seek the help because to some extent they already know us.
Over the last few years, we have been worktng with the Trussell Trust to try and combat the roots of
poverty. In a perfect world we wouldn't need foodbanks. At the moment foodbanks exist because
decent and caring people support them, birt they are the sticking plaster our society needs. So with
the Trussell Trust we felt that we could use our resources not merely to feed people, but to help them
lift themselves Out of poverty. Nobody wants a life of dependency. having to rely on going to a
foodbank to feed their family. So, we have been exploring ways where we not merely give people the
food they need today, but the 5UPPQrt that means they are less likely to need us in the futu￿.
It could well be that the foodbank is going to evolve into a hub where. rf our clients need it, we can
provide them with food. But where we and the organisations we WO￿ closely with. can give them the
support the advice. they need to take control of their own destinies and build the life that they want
for themselves and their families.
But at this point I do have something very important to do. Things are gettin8 tough for everybody,
so I feel ivs really important to take this opportunity to reach out and thank those people who have
given this year. People who are tightening their belts and still finding that bit of Space in their budget
to help others.
Jim Webster
Page 3

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Trustee< Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 Marth 2024
The trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law. present their report and the
financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2024.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTivrriES
The Charitvs objectives are:_
To provide relief to individuals and families in crisis in Southwest Cumbria and surrounding
areas, through the provision of emergency food supplies either directly or through approved
partner agencies
To provide physical, mental, and spiritual support. either dirertly or by referral to approved
partner agencies, to enable the Servi￿ users to avoid future crises
To involve the community in collecting food. which is then banked and used to give to local
people in food crises
Barrow Foodbank values dNersity promotes equality and diallenges discrimination.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Objectives. Strategies and Activitses for the Year
Overvlew
This has been another challenging year for Barrow Foodbank. The continuing cost of INing crisis,
international wars and climate catastrophe, to name but a few frdctors. have impacted on the number
of people needing to use our service. and the capacity of our supporters to donate to us. Despite
these headwinds, the local community has provided us With donations of food, money and volunteer
hours. We thank them forthat.
There have been significant changes in personnel. In November Claire Coulthurst left to work in a job
that better suit her family commttments. We were sad to see her leave, but she continued to be a
staunch supporter of our mission retuming as a volunteer. The stsff team now consists of three paid
employees supported by dedicated volunteers and a board of trustees that has also seen some
changes. Many thanks to all of them for theii work ovef the last year.
With reduced stock levels it has been sometimes difficult to find meaningful tasks for volunteers to
undertake this year. To mitigate against this. we have spent quite some time looking at. and acttontng,
changes in both the warehouse and drop-in a￿a$ of the foodbank. These changes have been well
received by both volunteer5 and people who use the foodbank.
We are always keen to move forward and expand our provision, both in terms of what we can offer
to people who use our services. and those that support us. As well as food parce15 we provide
voucher5 for fresh food, toiletries. cleaning products and pet food. This provision will, we hope, soon
be expanded to include access to a 'Pots and Pans Librarf free passes to Barrow or Dalton Leisure
Centre, Money Matters Advice and meal making lessons. Watch this space.
We have worked with the Project Search initiative offering work experience to young adults with
learning difficulties/disabiltties. We hope to be able to offer at least a part of an internship for this
project in September of 2024. and intend to increase that provision in the future.
Page 4

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Trustee< Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 Marth 2024
Objectives. Strategies and Activities for the Year {contlnued)
We started to re-establish our links with schools. colleges. youth groups and other organisations that
dropped off during the Covid era. We recognise that as well as our primary mission of supplying food
to those in crisis. we place great importance on providing 'opportunities for young people, to
contribute to their community through volunteerin& work experien￿ and service. We remain
committed to enabling this.
We received a grant of £2,(KX) from Barrow Community Fund and £9,0(XJ from Project John. These
were used to provide 71X) hampers of food at Christmas to local residents in need.
We also re￿IVed a grant of £31.029.53 from the Trussell Trust towards the cost of running the
Financial Inclusion project. We are already noticing a positive impart from this service a5 we continue
to work towards reducing the need for people to use the foodbank.
Finally. again. tnany thanks to all our supporters however that support may manifest. We are all
Barrow Foodbank. Thank you.
A Year in Brief
April 2023 - Two volunteers left the foodbank due to retirement and new job hours. We thanked
them for all their hard work and wished them well for the future. We sent out volunteer feedback
forms as part of our annual survey. The responses were very positive which was very pleasing.
Another volunteer left us to move closer to her family in Bristol and havin8 enjoyed her time at the
Foodbank so much that she sought out a Trussell Trust Foodbank in her new location in order to
continue her service to the community-
May 2023 - Joan Cockin's family donated monies received from her funeral donations to Barrow
Foodbank. Joan was a longtime volunteer and she is much missed by many. Two agency training days
were held with the intention of reinforcing Barrow Foodbanvs mission and ethos. These were well
received by those that attended them.
June 2023 - Infomiation folders were completed to support the clients for signposting and placed in
the drop-in for them to browse whilst having a drink and waiting to have their vouchers fulfilled.
July 2023- The Tesco food drive collected 510.9kg of food which provided 1,548 meals.
August 2023 - Claire Coulthurst completed a fire walk which raised £260 for Hindpool Tiger and
Barrow Foodbank. This also helped to keep the work of the foodbank in the public eye.
September 2023 - We received donations from local churche5, schools and the general public for
HaNest Festival and a totsl of 1,753.7kg of food was re￿ived.
Ortober 2023- Fumess Funky Craft fdir raised money to donate to buy food by having a craft fair at
Ramp5ide Village Hall. Victoria Infant and Nursery School donated enough food for 419 meals. Two
members of the team were ￿cogniSed at Cumbri3 Women of the Year - Welma Robinson. the
Foodbank treasurer and Claire Coulthurst the Project Manager at the foodbank.
Page S

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Trustee< Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 Marth 2024
Objectives. Strategies and Activitses for the Year (continued)
Following the announcement of Claire's decision to resign as project manager, advertisements for the
position of Foodbank Manager were placed on social media and the Indeed website.
November 2023- Information was provided to clients of the fTh)dbank relating to 'wami hubs,, free
meals and free food projects in a drive to make help them to support themselves. A huge donation of
food was made by William and Tori Heavyside. They collected, money, went shopping and deltvered
it to the Foodbank. They donated 291.3kg of food. The Keswick to Barrow Committee donated
£10,000 at their awards ￿remOnY. 416kg of food was collected at the Tesco manned collection on
the last weekend of November.
December 2023 - Abbey House Hotel had a Christmas Jumper day food drive and donated the
proceeds to the Foodbank. Donations for the Park Run were gratefulty re￿Ived. Pennington Girl
Guide5 came to visit us at the foodbank. After a quick tour and explanation
of how we work they spent some time making Christmas hampers for us. More hampers were made
by our regular volunteers. and seasonal volunteers from Dowdales School. Furness Building Society
and Gleeds.
January 2024 - Fornier Project Manager. Ann Mills retired from volunteering at the Foodbank. We
thanked her for her long service and commitrnent to the project. BBC Northwest came to film at the
Foodbank and interviewed Jayne Moorbyi our Social Media Coordinator and Matthew Burden the
Project Manager.
February 2024- Ros Harrison stsrted working at the Foodbank as the Deputy Projett Manager. Ros
was known to us from her work at Spring Mount Church and the Walney Community Trust, both
longtime collaborators with Barrow Foodbank.
March 2024 - As part of the Trussell Trust Pathfinder project we advertised a job role regarding
Financial Inclusion. We were happy to appoint Ros Harrison to this role. She would continue with his
role as Deputy Foodbank Manager. The title of her role was changed to Money Matters Advisor with
the Financial Inclusion project.
People Fed
As a foodbank, we work with our 150 ￿ferrdI agencies to ensure that the referrals made are both
appropriate and proportionate.
People Fed:
Voucher5
Redeemed
No Adults
No Children
Total
I. April 2022- 31" March 2023
1st April 2023-31St March 2024
3803
2625
3803
3862
2439
2189
6242
6051
Page 6

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Truste& Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 Marth 2024
Objective4 Stratsgies and Activitles for the Year (e¢)ntsnued)
Highest crisis reasons for using the Foodbank in 2023124
Vouchers
Redeemed
1767
1089
426
Crisis Type
Benefits/not earning
Rising c05t of Essentials
Ongoing
impact
physical/mental health
Benefit delay
Delaying or waiting other
income
Insecurely Housed
Low Income
No Adults
2507
1587
661
No Children
1257
937
Total
3764
2534
949
of
198
122
297
139
139
436
325
107
42
135
66
30
165
Itmj
I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Abbey Road Baptist Church who continue to support
an accommodate us within their building.
Lasi bui not at all least, a sincere thank you to the local community for their continuous donarlons and
all the SupeTmarkets that facilitste these donation5 for the ft)odbank - Tesco {Extra, Metro, Millom
and Express), Morrison's, Asda, Booths. Roose Co-op and One Stop. And a special thanks to Aldi and
Greggs who regularly donate surplus food items for the Foodbank to distribute.
Barrow Foodbank in Ulverston
I took over as Coordinator for the Barrow Foodbank in Ulverston in November 2022. after a period
when the regular volunteers had been nobty managing largely themselves. I thlnk that this branch
continuesto work smoothly and efficiently-thanksto all itsvolunteer, who reliablygive up their time
to SUPPOrt it.
Sadly, Carol Galloway a long-standing stalwart had to step back, needing to care for her husband in
his ill health. however, she remains on hand for back-up to cover for volunteer absences.
We welcomed new volunteer, Christine Stuart-woodburn who has settled well into our routine and is
now a valued member of the Thursday crew.
At present, the centre opens two days a week and this appears effertive. Footfall is higher than it
used to be, and it is now rare that no clients come in (Thursday being busierthan Mondays when more
stock and donation management occurs). We also function as a drop-in venue on a small scale. Afew
vulnerable ex/occasional clients call in for a cup of tea. social contact, and general support
interestingly they also offer peer support and Ioc31 inforn)ation to current clients on occasion.
We routinely signpost clients t the Ufverston Food Wast Project. which has around a hundred local
households on its books for weekly food par￿15* providing an invaluable resource forfeeding the local
area, as well as decreasing food waste.
Page 7

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Trustee￿ Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 Marth 2024
Objectives. Strategies and Activities for the Year (contlnued)
We also very much appreciate the kindness and practical Christianity of the Bethany Church in hosting
our foodbank branch.
Over the year, the service has continued smoothly. In May 2023 Ulverston Town Council donated
£I(X).￿, in June the Ulverston masonic lodge gifted £240.tX) and in July, all volunteers attended Sign
posting training. In July, after a sUggeSt￿n by volunteers, we applied to the Glaxo Charitsble Trust for
funds for a new stock cupboard. The funds arrived in February 2024 and has been most successful in
showcasing 'extrag. We invite c5ients to look through it and make their own selection of a few items
that would be helpful to them. recognising that they know best what they need. It is stocked with
household goods, some crockery and cutlery, towels. bedding, children's pyjama5 and tnany other
random items which turn up a5 donation, or we purchase in response to need (such as thermals). It
has proved popular and helpful. In December. 25 Christmas hampers were given out. It is noticeable
that as the year has gone on, donations of food have decreased (or the items donated have decreased
in value) and it has been more frequentty necessary to purchase stock, especialty toiletries, washing
up liquid and soap powder.
The most commonly quoted difficulty is With the increase in the cost of livin& unexpected bill,
domestic abuse, changes in health and difficufties wtth benefits including sanctions all add to this.
Although Ulverston appears a prosperous area there are manyvulnerable people struggling quietly to
keep their heads above water.
Finally. over the 2023/24 Barrow Foodbank in Ufverson fulfilled 185 vouchers (52% for single adults
who appearto be the most vulnerable group in this area). A total of 249 adults and 137 children were
fed. A total of 2,667kg of food donations were received with peaks at Harvest Festival and at
Christmas. The volunteers generously contributed with 753 volunteer hours.
Barrow Foodbank in Millom
We continue to receive regular food and money donations. Some local individuals liaise with the
volunteers and donate moneylfood regularly. which is wonderful. we also still receive food donations
via the Tesco donation 'bin'. We have again re￿iVed Tesco vouchers totalling £4￿ from a member
of the public. We have families in Millom. who want to remain anonymous. who donate regularly,
with a cheque which we pass on to the treasurer, highlighting it is for Millom Foodbank. Re￿ntlY we
have very kindly received donations of £l.(KX) from Fumess Building Society and £105 from Tottlebank
Church. We are so grateful for the local supporL
School Holiday Meals
Sandside School 15 Still the only School routinely using this scheme. Using local contscts, we had hoped
that St Jame5 School would come back on board with this, but nothing seems to have happened.
Soclal Media
We update our Face-book page and still occasionalty ￿ceIve enquiries via Messenger on our Millom
Foodbank Facebook page. It Seems to be a useful way for some people to contact us/find out more.
Page 8

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Truste￿ Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 Marth 2024
Objectives, Strategies and Activitse5 for the Year (conts"nued)
Drop In
The drop-in hasn't been as effective as we thought it might be but we are currently looking a
updating our posters and giving a lot moro information on voucher holders and contact5
which will display on the church notice board - we are hoping that this will see an influx of
visitors to our drop-in sessions.
Millom Baptist Church have moved their coffee mornings from a Tuesday morning to a
Monday morning. This change has just happened recently. so no information on how it has
affected the foodbank yet, though it has allowed us to operate consistently across the two
days. We are still undecided about the best way forward in Millom.
We are continuingto operate a flexible mix of either delivery or pick up-depending on what
suits the client. This means that there is no longer a situation where clients Sit and chat over
a cuppa, which is why the drop in isn't really happening anymore. We still offer a cuppa and
biscuits. whenever we can.
Signposting
We are updating our information folder detailing what is available for people in Millom, this
has changed considerably since COVID lockdown.
Volunteers
We now have a very capable volunteer, Richard, who will cover for Clare in her absence. We
also have a regular third volunteer on a Tuesday and a rota forthe third volunteer for Fridays.
We have had to shuffle the rota for drivers around to cover for one of our regular drivers,
who is having to take a long break, due to personal circumstances. We do not have any
volunteers on a 'waiting list. at the moment.
Client Numbers
Our client numbers seem completely unpredictable. Quiet for periods. then suddenly busy.
We are also still seeing clients who are completely new to us, some with large families. There
is obviously ¥(ill a need for the foodbank in Millom. We are unsure about the effect that
Millom Network centre has on our client numbers: we try to liaise with the manager, but the
situation seems constantly changin& 50 tt is Still a work in progre55.
There is no food pantry in the town, so when dients have 'reached their limiv within Trussell
Trust procedures, we struggle with where to suggest they go for help. The only option we
know of is the Community Shop operated by Millom Network centre, which operates a
membership scheme, allowing accessto cheap food. The Network Centre often has free food,
such as bread, available for whoever turns up.
Page 9

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Trusteeg Annual Report (Incorporating the Dlrectorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 Marth 2024
Objectives. Strategies and Activitses for the Year (mnts"nued)
E Vouchers
We have been informed that referral agencies are no longer ableto use papervouchers, when
they run out. We are very concerned about this exclusion of 'non-IT-sawrf agencies. We are
concerned that this might lead to the reduction of agencies willinE to refer. Having said that
one of the agencies we were concerned about losing has managed to issue an e-voucher.
That particular agency was able to continue issuing paper vouchers to clients when the
database wasn't working. We are in the process of trying to explain the system to one of our
very 'non-IT-saw4y agencies.
Networking
Two workers from The Phoenix Centre visited us at the beginning of the year and explained
what they offered. They had not been aware that a foodbank operated in Millom. They were
also not aware that a credit union operated in the town. We also didn't know that they gave
out foodbank vouchers. so it was an information swap.
We had a visit from a group of local junior school children from St James School, wtth their
teachers, to talk about poverty. One of the teachers/helpers was the ex-manager of Millom
Children's Centre, she enquired about how the school could issue foodbank vouchers. We
were thrilled to finally get back into local schools. as we know the need for food support is
there, but nothing came of that contact.
By happenstance in updating our information folder for clients we are also networking. An
example was a recent unannounced visit by the local CADAS {Cumbria Alcohol, Drug and
Advice) worker, who we had been chatting to about what was currently available in Millom.
Another unexpected contact was the local library who gave us packs advertising the library
which included bi5CUits and a sachet of hot chocolate for our clients. One of our volunteers
had recently visited the local library. seeing what services were being advertised to update
our information folder.
Pet Food Donations
The collection box for pet food has never arrived, instead a notice appeared above the Millom
Tesco's food collection box. so now people put pet food in with the human food and it is
stored in Barrow. The plan. which we agreed to, was for a separate pet food collettion bin,
that we. in Millom could empty and use locally for clients. I can only presume that the pet
charity contacted Tesco directly. We currently struggle getting any information from our local
Tesco as there is no dedicated liaison person. We routinely offer dog poo bags to clients along
with dog food.
Emergenry Food Boxes
These are regularly used in Millom. Millom Children's Centre, Baptist Church and St Michael's
in Bootle all have boxes.
Page 10

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Trustee< Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 Marth 2024
Objertives. Strategies and Activitse5 for the Year (contlnued)
Referral Agencies
No new agencies have joined us in the last 12 months. We are still waiting for the head
teacher from Captain Shaws, in Bootle to join with St Michael's Church. There seems to be
an administrative hiccup, which we are trying to resolve.
Fresh Meat Scheme
The butcherfs voucher scheme is running successfully. the clients find the vouchers very
useful.
Tesco Christmas Collertion
Snow almost stopped play, but our hardy volunteers managed to turn up de5Plte it all. We
collected a massive £486.41 in cash. The food collection was delayed being pick up due to
the heavy snowfall in the area. Most volunteers were snowbound, but we managed.
Thank You
On the last foodbank day before Christmas. a buffet was laid on to say thank you to all the
volunteers for all their hard work throughout the year.
Millom Baptist Church
Once again, this year, the church has had alterations done to their building but have always
made sure that they accommodated Millom Foodbank during the disruption, making sure
that the local community had access to this much needed amenity in the town.
Statistics so far:_
2023
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Sessions
Vouchers
Adults
Children
ioi
174
102
120
225
113
100
140
233
152
104
270
453
217
99
300
486
104
187
315
215
156
261
181
170
Volunteers
Barrow Foodbank is mainly staffed by volunteers, drawn from all sectors of the community
and are a highly valued resource. A supported volunteer programme has been developed to
ensure that no members of the community are excluded.
Across our 3 sites we have 84 active volunteers. who work in a variety of roles. We also have
a number of church repre5entative5 who faithfully collect food in their churches and bring it
to the foodbank. We have several volunteerswho give extra time when collecting food at the
supermarkets, as well as those who volunteer specifically for the collections. We have several
Page 11

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Trusteg Annual Report (Incorpor*lng the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 Marth 2024
Objectives. Strategies and Activibes for the Year {continued)
core roles which take a larger amount of time. As things change, volunteers leave for a
number of reasons, however we continue to
recruit new volunteer5 who have brought freshness to the foodbank. In totsl all our volunteers have
donated 5,524 hours of their time to the foodbank during the reporting period.
Our sincere thanks go to all the volunteers for their dedication and hard work. Without their help
the foodbank would cease to exisL
Fund Raislng Standards Information
We work with the fundraising regulatorwho setand maintain the stsndardsforcharitable fundraising.
The fundraising regulator aims to ensure that fundraisin8 ss respectful. open, honest and accountable
to the public.
The role of the regulator is to:
Set and promote the stsndards for fvndraising practice in consultation with the public,
fundraising stakeholders and legislators
Investigate cases where fundraising practices have led to significant public concern
Adjudicate complaints from the public about fundraising practice, where these cannot be
resolved by the charities themselves
Operate a fundraising preferen￿ service to enable individuals to manage their contact with
charities
Where poor fundraising practi￿ is judged to have taken pla￿. ￿cOmMend best practice
guidance and take proportionate remedial action
In order to ensure we a￿ fundraising appropriately we do all we can to ensure that fundraisers,
volunteers and fundraising contractors working with us to raise funds:
comply with the Codes and with this Promise
comply with the law including those that apply to dats protection. heahh and safety and the
environlnent
are clear about who we are, what we do and how your gift is used
give a clear explanation of how you can make a gift and amend a regular commitment
respert the rights, dignities. and privacy of our supporters and beneficiaries
will not put undue pressure on you to make a gift and if you do not want to give or wish to
cease giving, we will respect your decision
If you tell us that you don't want us to contact you in a particular wayp we will not do so
do not use any images or words that cause unjusttfiable diSt￿sS or offence - take care not to
cause unreasonable nuisance or disruption
If you are unhappy With anything we have done while fundraisin& you can contact us to make a
complaint. We have a complaint procedure, a copy of which is available on request. If we cannot
resolve your complainL we aC￿pt the authority of the Fundraising Standards Board to make a final
adjudication.
Page 12

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Truste￿ Annual Report (Incorpornting the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 Marth 2024
Financial Review
The trustees are satisfied that the Charity has adequate reseNes to continue its work for the next
twelve months.
Reserves Pollcy
The Charity follows the guidance issued by the Charity Commission and seeks to maintain adequate
reserves to meet the charl￿5 commitments. Due to the nature and operations of Barrow
Foodbank, the trustees aspire to hold an extra amount of £325,(KK) comprising of the following:
a) Contingency funds- in a sltuation where food is lost due to e.g floods - £SOk
b) Relocation costs- a minimum of £ICK)k
c) The Board considered it prudent to set aside £85k fortwo yearfs funding for the Flnancial
Inclusion programme.
d) Replenishment of food when stock run low- £30k
e) 6 months operating costs- £60k
Investment Policy
The recommended level of resources which the charity carries in tts current account Is maintained at
not more than is required for a normal month's activity. A proportion of the remaining monies are
held in an interest-bearing account giving as high a rate of return as possible whist retaining flexibility
to be able to draw down monies as and when ￿quIred. The funds designated for future investment
are placed in a range of investments. to achieve maximum interest (within an acceptsble balance of
risk), so the organisation's strategic development plans a￿ achieved.
Donations Policy
The poliry of the charity is not to give 8rants/donations to other charities or organisations.
Plans for Firture Periods
As the end of the year approached it remains apparent that millions of households across the UK are
struggling to make their incomes stretch to cover the rising cost of living. With high heating bills, food
and fuel price rises, many families must make difficult choices on how to manage their disposable
income. The foodbank anticipates an increase of numbers who will require help and support to feed
their families. Trustees were determined to make sure that Barrow Foodbank could continue to
support those in need and has agreed to set aside reserves to maintain the current food stock held,
but also to provide fresh meat and vegetables to those in need. Future plans can only be summarised
as Barrow Foodbank will respond as fully as practically possible to our communitVs needs Wlthin the
financial constraints we may face.
Pa8e 13

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Trustee￿ Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 March Z024
Structu￿, Governance and Management
The Barrow Foodbank Ltd is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity governed under
Articles of Association.
Appointment of trustees
Trustees are elected at the annual general meetin& are appointed to the Board following nomination
by memberorganisations. The Barrow Foodbank has just two members namety. The Barrow Deanery
Synod of the Church of England and Churches Together in Barrow who notninates three and four
trustees respectively.
Recrultment. induction and traini￿ of trustees
The Trustee Board regularly conducts a skills audit of Board members and activety seeks out new
Trustees as appropriate to ensure the Board hasthe most usefvl Skill mix possible and is representative
of the local community.
All trustees are experted to be committed to the aims and PTinciples of Ba￿oW Foodbank and be
willing to take an active role in the governance of Barrow Foodbank. Induction for all new Trustees
covers the strurture, aims and principle of Barrow FoodbanL legal obligations under charity and
company law. the objectives and activities of Barrow Foodbank and current business and development
plans.
Organisational Structure and Networks
Barrow Foodbank is govemed by the Board of Trustees. The Board is ￿sponSible for setting the
strategic direction of the organisation and has ultimate responsibility for the condurt of Barrow
Foodbank, for ensuring that the charity satisfies its legal and contractual obligation5. Board meetings
are held bi-monthly with additional meetings as necessary. The trustees meet annually to carry out a
full review to determine the future strategic direction of the organisation. Non-Trustee members may
be co-opted to attend meetings for a specific expertise they bring for time limited periods.
Operational management of Barrow Foodbank is delegated to the Foodbank Manager. who works
closely with the Assistant Foodbank Manager and volunteers to ensure delivery of all services.
Serdice5 are delivered by a committed team of paid workers and volunteer5. It is calculated that the
contribution made by the volunteers equates to £57560.08 per annum {based on national living wage
costs onty).
Risk Policy
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that
systems are in place. $0 timely artion is taken to mitigate exposure to those risks.
The major risk5 to the organisation are two-fold and a￿ reflected in the Reserve PoliLry.
Page 14

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Trusteeg Annual Report {Incorporntlng the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 Marrh 2024
Strurture. Governance and Management {conts"nued)
A major event for exampte flooding
A need to relocate
a) The Barrow Foodbank is currently located in the basement of the Abbey Road Baptist Church
which has multiple users. If flooding was to occur. it would not be a Simple case of replacing all
Stock. The Barrow Foodbank holds on average 20 tonnes of food worth approximately £47.4K.
A specialist firm would need to be brought in to clear the site. then a full in depth clean V￿uld
be required, repairlrep1a￿rnent of equipment and storage facilities and of course. a full
restock. Plus of course a temporary venue would be needed. The Board has conservatively
estimated the cost at a minimum £50K.
b) The Barrow Foodbank currently enjoys accommodation which is of sufficient size and serviced
to just meet the Barrow Foodbanvs needs. at less than commercial rates. If relocation became
necessary (either planned or due to emergency). the Foodbank would have great difficulty
locating Suitable premises locally which would be at commercial rates.
In addition. significanl costs would be incurred for example, relocation costs such as ￿MOVal5,
supply and connection of Ser41￿5. IT and Telecommunications costs etc.
Internal risks are minimised by the implementstion of prO￿dureS for authorisation of all transactions
and projects and to ensure consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the charitable
company. These procedures are periodically reviewed by the trustees and staff to ensure they still
meet the needs of the charity.
Page 15

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Truste￿ Annual Report (Incorporating the Directo￿$ Report)
Year Ended 31 March 2024
Reference and Administrative Delalls
Registered charity name
Barrow Foodbank
Charity ￿gIstratIon number
1152753
Company Registrdtion number
8382130
Prlnclpal office and registered
office
clo Abbey Road Baptist Church
Comer Abbey Road and Park Drive
Barrow-iTk-Furne5S
LA13 9BD
Trustees
Jim Webster {Chair)
Jack-Knill Jones
Peter Gardner
Paul Burden (Resigned 6th November 2023)
Karen Edmondson
Martin Cooper
Welma Robinson
Treasurer/Company Secretsry
Ke
Ma
ement
rsonnel
Matthew Burden
Ros Harrison
Judy Findlay
Welma Robinson
Carol Wanvick
Liz Goyder
Jean Liney
Clare Kingston
Jayne Moorby
Paul Burden
Project Manager
Deputy Project Mana8er
Admin and Warehouse Assistant
Treasurer
Volunteer Coordinator
Ulverston Coordinator
Millom Coordinator
Millom Coordinator
Newsletter Editor and Fa￿book Coordinator
Fundraising Coordinator
Auditors
Knox Accountin8 Limited
6 Bath Street
Barrow in Furness
LA14 ILZ
Bankers
Natwest Bank
Dalton Road
Barrow In Fumess
LA14 IWY
Page 16

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Tn￿tee< Annual Report (Intorporatin8 the Dlrectorf5 Report)
Year Ended 31 March 2024
Trustees, ResP(￿sIbIlitieS Statement
The trustees. who are also directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for preparing
the trustee￿ report and the financial statements in accordan￿ with applicable law and United
Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Prdctice).
Company law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a
true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the incoming resources and
application of resources, including the income and expenditure. for that period.
In preparin8 these financial statements. the trustees are required to-
select suitable accounting policie5 and then apply them consistentty
observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP
make jLKlgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent
prepare the financial statements on the going concem basis unless it is inappropriate to
presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are Sufficient to show and
explain the chariws transactions and disclose with reasonable accurary at any time the financial
position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements compky with the
Companies Act 2(X)6. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence
for taking reasonable step5 for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irresularities.
In 50 far as the trustees are aware.
there is no relevant audit infonnation of which the charitable companvs auditors are
unaware- and
the trustees have taken all Steps that they ought to have tsken to make themselves aware of
any relevant audit inforniation and to establish that the auditors are aware of that
information.
Auditor
Each of the persons who is a trustee at the date of approval of this report confirms that:
so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charibKs auditor
is unaware: and
they have tsken all steps that they oughtto have taken as a trustee to make themselve5 aware
of any relevant audit infomlation and to establish that the chariWs auditor 15 aware of that
inforniation
The auditors are deetned to have been re-appointed in accordan￿ with section 487 of the Companies
Act 2006.
Page 17

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Trusteeg Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 March 2024
Small Company Provlslons
This report has been prepared in accordance with the pn)visions applicable to companies entitled to
the small companies. exemption.
The trustee￿ annual report (incorporating the directod report) was approved on 25 September 2024
and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
Jim Webste
an
Page 18

Barrow Foodbank Ltd
Tntsteeg Annual Report (Ineorporating the Dlrertorfs Report)
Year Ended 31 March 2024
Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of Barrow Food Bank Limited
On The Accounts for The Y￿r Ended 31st March 2024
Set Out on Pages 2 to 4
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charl￿S trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The chariws tru5tee5
consider that an audit is not required under section 144 of the Charities Act 2021 (the Charities Act)
and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibilttyto:
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charitie5 Act,
follow the procedure5 laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission
(under Section 145(5)b of the Charities Art), and
to State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basls of independent examiner5 report
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity
Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting record5 kept by the charity and a
comparison of the accounts presented with those record5. It also includes consideration of any
unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seekin8 explanations from the trustees concerning
any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required
in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair
Vie￿ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examinerfs Statement
In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention:
(i)
which gNes me reasonable cau* to believe that in any material respect the requirements
(a)
(b)
to keep accounting records in accordan￿ with section 130 of the Charities Act;
to prepare accounts which accord wtth the accounting records and comply with the
Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008} and the
Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reportin6 by Charitie5 (SORP
2019).
(2)
to which. in my opinion. attention should be drawn in orderto enable a proper understanding
of the accounts to be reached.
Knox Accountants limited
6 Bath Street
Barrow in Furness
Cumbria
LA14 ILZ
31" July 2024
Page 19

the Year
31 March 2024
2024
Donations
Grants receiv￿1
Dividend income
Interest
9,494
42,652
150,501
159,995
42,652
4,639
3,712
183,495
20,600
3,105
989
4,639
3,712
Total Income
52,147
158.851
210,998
208,189
Dir* tharitatAe EXt￿lture.
Purchases
Catering
Packaging
Furniture and applian
Salarles
Pension costs
Consultancy fees
Vehicle njnniru extH
Travelling costs
Printing sLitIc￿￿ atKI wblicty
Computer consumabl
Postage
Telecommunication costs
Insuran
Premises costs
Uniforms
10,008
160
2,027
638
44,565
IB79
36,477
160
2,106
1,471
44,565
1,379
22,991
87
277
4,188
39,638
1,372
15,000
1,536
149
2,747
2,136
57
3,137
1,561
11,890
449
150
396
430
571
582
833
1,830
260
2.062
115
162
2,212
1.830
260
2,215
115
162
3.032
1.546
10,708
153
820
10,108
141
141
Training Costs
subscripts.ons
Bank charges
Acc￿ntanc¥ f￿5
Professifflal f
Donations
Sundy expen
Totsl Direct Expendi￿re
1,465
550
631
1,465
550
631
437
80,296
437
109.249
145
109,489
28,953
Dep￿iati￿ of fixed assets
1,718
1.718
2,148
Totsl Expenditure
28,953
82,015
110.967
107,341
Net Surplus for the year
Funds at the start of the Year
23,194
76,837
474,770
100,031
512,082
100,848
415 530
Funds at the end of the Yéydr
60,S06 551,607 611112
516.378
20

Limi
fixed Assets
Depreriating Assets
6,874
8,592
Current ￿￿et Investment
2CK),IXN)
200,000
47.315
257,073
454
504,842
. Unrestrict￿1
335,579
608
606.595
Cash account
Current liabilities
1,352
Grants in advance
Net Current Assets
503,490
£ 611112
É 511082
Capital Acrount
551,607
474,T/O
37,312
£ 61lll2
£ $11082
These finarKial Statem￿ were apwoval by the trust￿$ ￿ the 8th sept￿nL￿ 2024 are
signed on their tr*half by:
The Chairman
Fjweb
The Treasurer
Dated a5 , ? . XI2L*
21

Notes to the
Note l Accounting Poliaes
The motor van is dqxell￿ at the rate of 20% annum on the reducirmj balan￿.
Note 2 Grants and Subsidies
Cumbria County Courn?I
Cumbrta Community F(MJndat
Trusell Trust
Projerl )Jhn
GSaxo &nrth Kline
10,6(K)
623
Note 3 Tangible fixed a55ets
Totsl
At l April 2022
Additions
DisrM)sals
At 31 Marth 2023
18.167
18,167
Depreciation:
At l April 2022
Depreciation on disposal
Charge for the year
At 31 Marth 2023
9,575
9,575
Net book value:
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022
Note 4 . Donated food siock
ests'mated value of £18.492.68
t*Jring ￿ year vdunteers suptMJtyJ the ftxxlbank wilh +158.2 hwrs of their time auoss the three sites.
At a Tate of £11.44 hLwr (Nat￿￿1 Li¥iTrJ Wage). this eq￿ to an in kn.nd conthbutson to the
Fc¥yJbank of £S1,(KJl.81.
Note 6 . Resrns Wicy
The Charily follo￿ the guidan￿ isgHI by the c(KTrMis￿n atMJ seeks to ￿￿1n￿1n a￿uate [￿NeS to
meet the chariws (nMmitMen￿ Due to the nabjre and ￿ati(￿S of &Arr[￿ Fotsjbanl the trustees aspire to
hold a ￿gnff￿2nt of £350K (r)mprising the fdkré¥ing:
continge￿ funds . tn a 5liuatN￿ vthere f(K¥J is ￿ due to e.g. Ilcojlcontsmination - £60k
Rek￿tion costs - a minimum of £l(Klk
The Board it pnxknt to Set askle £85k for year fiJThJing fDr the ￿nanCIal Inclusion
prcMJramme.
Rep￿niShMent of f￿j when stcKk njn knw . £40k
Six month5 operating o)sts- £65k
b)
d)

mi
Fina
IMarth2
24
We c￿tsEy that ts Ixth. VO￿ a￿1 inftxm&￿ pr(xIuc￿ to (Ajr irujew￿ examinw, from
which the atirfhed financtal ststements have wepard, (C￿taIn a ￿11 and correct record of our
business trdnsactK)ns to best of our
sign￿ on trthalf of the l￿rd of trustees by:
F J Webster
The (Jkiimian
W Rokn'nson
The Treasurer
Dated
23