Uckfield Foodbank REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31¥f MARCH 2025 Trustees P Roe, Chair RKBurt P Garland A D Johnson K J Williams Charlty registered Number 1153505 Pri ncipal Office 15 Horsted Square Bellbrook Industrial Estate Uckfield East Sussex TN22 1QG Contact5 Telephone 01825 745489 Email: admin@uckfield.foodbank.or .uk Website: www.uckfield.foodbank.or Facebook: facebook.comluckfieldfoodbank
TRUSTEES, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year to 3151 March 2024. Objectives and Activlties a. Policies and Objectives The prevention or relief of poverty in Uckfield and surrounding areas, with the support of the Churches in Uckfield, in particular but not exclusively by: al providing emergency food boxes containing three day's supply of balanced and nutritional foodstuffs to individuals in need andlor for distribution by charit7es or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty; b} the provision of f resh f ruit and vegetables with each food parcel. cl the provision of or signposting to relevant information and other advisory services In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit, including the guidance 'Public benefit: running a charity {PB21'. Achievements and Performance a. Review of Activitles during the year to carry out those purposes (for the public benefit) We have a team of 66 volunteers, excluding our Trustees, who are all very supportive of our charity and respond positively to the challenges of the day. During the 2024-2025 year we saw very similar numbers of clients needing support when compared to 2023-2024. The figures cannot be accurately interpreted as straight year on year as 2023-2024 had two Easter periods in one year and 2024-2025 had none. If the number receiving Easter vouchers in the latter part of March 2024 were moved to April 2025 the annual numbers would be very similar. Our financial giving continued to be very generous and we are very thankful to those individuals and organisations who make regular or one-off donations. We received a total of 25221 Kg of food donated during the year. This was a decrease for the second year. This decrease had led to us having to bulk purchase more of our stock to keep up with demand for our services. The Trustees are extremely grateful for all donated food, which is invaluable to its beneficiaries. Donated focrtj is not valued in the accounts as it would not have commercial market value. Harvest giving totalled 1245kgs f rom local schools and churches. This was a slightly increase on the previous year and really helped to supplement our stock. This financial year we fulfilled 1562 vouchers, feeding a total of 4229 people, 1754 of whom were children. (please see Easter comment above for explanation of drop in numbers}. The main reasons people used the foodbank were due to problems with low income, delays in receiving benefit payment5 or changes to their benefits and several different ill health concerns, including mental health issues. The cost of living has continued to have a huge irnpact. with many more people unable to meet the costs of everyday necessities.
Financial Revfew a. Reserves Policy At the end of the reporting period, the net funds held totalled £36,023. This consisted of bank and cash {136,7221 plus debtors1£1,064) less creditors1£1,7631. In 2023 we designated a donation by Uckfield NFU Mutual to assign and track fuel voucher spend, the balance remaining is £1,944 and a nominal £1(MXM) is held in a contingency reserve. There are no restricted funds held at the balance sheet date. With the reserves policy revised and with strong cash holdings and generous ongoing voluntary donations, there is little concern about the charity s ability as a going concern. Structure, Governance and Management a. Constitutlon Uckfield Foodbank commenced operation in September 2013 and was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation ICIO) in August 2013. It is registered with the Charity Commission as Charity number 1153505. b. Methods of appointment of election of Trustee5 The management of the Charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the CIO governing document. Plans for Future Perlods With the continuing receipt of food donations and the 5UPPOrt of volunteers we aim to continue operating the foodbank for as long as there are people in the town and surrounding areas that need our assistance. We seek to build strong relationships with our agencies in order that we can sign- post clients to get the best support. We anticipate that the 2025-2026 year we may possibly see a slight drop in the number of clients needing support but much depends on how things develop over the Autumn and Winter seasons. Our distribution centre has been operating all year and many clients appreciate the opportunity to share their concerns over a cup of tea or coffee. We also offer delivery to housebound clients and to those living in outlying villages. Declaration We declare that we rent warehouse and office space from Ashdown AV, of which one of the Directors is a Trustee of Uckfield Foodbank. We also declare that we rent the distribution centre from Uckfield Baptist Church, of vthich two of their members are Trustees of Uckfield Foodbank. On behalf of the board of Trustees JKJ Mr Peter Roe Chairman Dated:
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examlnerfs Report Report to the truste Ucknld Fo(MIk On accounts for the year ended 31 Marth 2025 Charity no 1153505 Set out on pages 1 to 4 (inclLKling this reFxxt) (One to Four) I report to the trustees my &xamination of the a(xounts of the above charity <e Trusf) frx the year erKled 31 March 2025. Responslbllltles and basls of report As the charitys trustees. y(XA are resFKJnsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Chatities Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respe(* of my examinalion of the Trusfs a(xounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Direclions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5Xb) of the Acl. Independent I have c(xnpleted my axamination. I nfiffli that no material matters have examl nefsstatement come to my attention in 0)nntIOn with the examirRtion which gives me cause to believe that in. any material resped: the accountiThJ records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Ad: or the accounts dNJ r#)t accord with the accounting rrds. or the accounts dNY N)t ¢))mply with the applicable requirements concemiThJ the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Rep(xts) Regulations 2(X)8 other than any requirement that the a(xounts give a Yrue and fai view whith k8 not a matter ¢a)nsidered as part of an independent examination. I have m concerns and have ccKne acxoss no other matters in connection with the examination lo which atten111 should b8 drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understandirKJ of the ac(x)unts to be reached. Signed: Darren Warren 11111r2ff25 Name: Darren Warren - Paxton IndepeTrJent Examiners Relevant professlonal quall ftatlon(s) or body (If any): Address: 61a High Street South Rushden Northants, NN10 ORA Page l of4
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. Page 2 of 4
Paxton Charity Commission SOFA Report as at 3110312025 Charitv no. 1153505 Uckfield Foodbank UThrestricted fund5 Restricted IbctsmL fund5 Endowment fulld5 Total fuThds Prior year funds ncome and vndowment5 from- Donations and Icgacics Charitable aciivites Other trading activilie5 Investments Scparate tnaicrial itetn of incornc Othcr 42,(KKI 42,rA)o 49,119 14.553 14.553 14,553 56,561 30,003 79,130 Total 42,008 xpendliure on: Raising funlis Charitable aLiivities Separate material item of expense Othei 44,698 16,384 61,082 72,171 467 467 536 Total 45,166 1fy384 01,549 72,708 et incomellexpenditure) efore iDve5tment gaills/Oosses) Nel gain(losses) on investments et iDcotnel{expenditure) xtraordinary items ransfer5 behTr'eeM fund5 -3,IS7 4,988 6.422 -3.157 -1.831 4.988 6.422 1.831 1.831 et l01-ement in Funds 4.988 -4.988 6,422 econciliation of Funds otal fund5 brougTht forward 41,011 41,011 otal funds carried forn'ard 31022 36,022 Page 3 of 4
Paxton Charity Commission SOFA Details Report Charitv no. 1153505 Uekfield Foodbank March 2025 U[¢Stricted Rcstrictcd End0ent Year Total Last Ycar Sol DOrttonS and l¢gaci¢s Donations rcccivcd Panncr Incomc Gifi aid Claimed Gift aid lax received 35,759 3,999 35,759 3,999 I,ofvs 1.178 41,079 6,060 1,367 613 1,178 42,(MM) 42,000 49,119 S06 Oiher (inc.) Grants rcc¢iv¢d 14,553 14,553 30,003 14,553 14,553 30,003 S09 Charitable activities Salaries and wages Stsff iraining costs Conference costs Peirol expSeS Client Food Costs Client Fuel Vouchers Misccllaneous E.xpenscs Voluntecr Evcnts Heat & Light Office Reni Distiibution Centre Rent Insuranc¢s Printinphot0pYJng Postage Stationery Telephon&lfaxlemail Subscriptions Publicity costs IT costs Equipment purchases Maieiials cosis Audit & accountancy costs 19,169 48 19,169 48 17,381 34 226 47,586 1,929 196 447 440 250 1,931 550 227 94 179 20 60 145 17,484 1,140 29 213 16,384 33,867 1,140 29 213 250 3,054 624 250 3,054 624 34 199 10 255 45 639 223 739 34 199 255 45 639 223 739 500 75 282 120 44,699 16,384 61,082 72,172 Sl l Other lexp.) Fees for services Trnssell Trust 107 360 107 360 176 360 467 467 536 S17 Tran5fer5 between funds Transfers betw'een funds 1.831 1.831 1.831 1.831 Page 4 of 4