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← Burgess Hill Community Food Bank

2025-12-31-accounts

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT 2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES I have audited the 2025 accounts for Burgess Hill Community Food Bank {a charitable organisation) and in my opinion the financial records and statements are a true and fair reflection of the financial position of Burgess Hill Community Food Bank for the period January I to December 31 , 2025. st Jonathan Bird FMAAT February 2, 2026

ANALYSIS OF BURGESS HILL COMMUNITY FOOD BANK ACTIVITIES

2025

Summary

1

ANALYSIS OF BURGESS HILL COMMUNITY FOOD BANK ACTIVITIES

2025

1 The nature of BHCFB activities

Burgess Hill Community Food Bank (BHCFB) distributes basic food items to needy households in Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint and surrounding villages.

BHCFB is run entirely by volunteers with no paid employees. Most of the food distributed is purchased, supplemented by donations made in kind through drop crates in stores.

The Food Bank’s main outlet is in Burgess Hill town centre. This opens for two hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. A second outlet in Hassocks opens for two hours every Friday. Clients are encouraged to collect from these outlets. In 2025, collections from the Burgess Hill and Hassocks outlets accounted for, respectively, 81% and 16% of BHCFB’s total 2025 throughput.

Deliveries are made by volunteers to clients unable to collect. In addition to deliveries made from the Burgess Hill outlet, two volunteers make deliveries to clients in Hurstpierpoint.[1] In 2025 total BHCFB deliveries accounted for some 9% of its total throughput.

Distributions are normally made to clients against BHCFB vouchers issued by local organisations, such as Burgess Hill Town Council, Hassocks Parish Council, Brighton Housing Trust and Citizens Advice. The amount of food distributed is based on a standard ‘crate’ sufficient to feed two adults/teenagers for three days. The amount for which a client qualifies is based on the size of their household, with pre-teens counting as half an adult/teenager. Since it is difficult for Food Bank volunteers to split standard crates, when a client’s household size results in the client qualifying for an amount of crates that is not a whole number, the number of crates provided is rounded up.

Each standard crate contains only non-perishable foodstuffs and toiletries. At the Burgess Hill outlet clients can opt to receive small additional amounts of frozen foodstuffs.

The data in this report are mostly drawn from the Food Bank’s records of each distribution made to clients. The key data variables employed are the date of each distribution, the point of distribution (Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint), whether distributions were collected or delivered, the name of the client, and the size and composition of the client’s household and therefore the number of crates received. Cost data are drawn from the Food Bank’s accounts.

As in previous years, in the run up to Christmas, BHCFB supported the Burgess Hill Christmas Hamper Project. It did this by:

In 2025, the monetary assistance to the Hamper Project provided by the Food Bank amounted to some £700.

1 These deliveries are treated as arising from a separate, third ‘outlet’ in the data presented in this report. In 2025 Hurstpierpoint deliveries accounted for 2.5% of total BHCFB distributions.

2

In addition to contributing directly to low-income families’ enjoyment of Christmas, the Food Bank’s support for the provision of Christmas hampers helped to achieve its central objective of reducing local food insecurity, witnessed by a fall in client numbers in the week after the hampers were distributed.

2 The usage of BHCFB in 2025

During 2025, BHCFB supplied a total of 473 clients with 3,246 crates of food and toiletries. This involved a total of 2,265 distributions, of which 91% were collected from an outlet and 9% delivered to the client’s home. Basic information on BHCFB’s 2025 operations, analysed by outlet, is shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 BHCFB DISTRIBUTIONS IN 2025 ANALYSED BY OUTLET, BENEFICIARY, NUMBER OF CRATES AND DISTRIBUTION METHOD

Outlet/
Distribution
method
Number of
Distributions		 Number of beneficiaries*
Number
of Crates
Adults &
Teens
Pre-teens
Total
Burgess Hill
1,802
Collected
1,658
Delivered
144		 3,212
1,342
4,551
2,615
2,927
1,225
4,149
2,395
285
117
402
220
Hassocks
406
Collected
404
Delivered
2		 715
131
847
529
712
130
843
527
3
1
4
2
Hurstpierpoint
57
Collected
0
Delivered
57		 123
71
194
102
0
0
0
0
123
71
194
102
Total
2,265
Collected
2,062
Delivered
203		 4,050
1,544
5,592
3,246
3,639
1,355
4,992
2,922
411
189
600
324

3

3 Changes in the usage of BHCFB in 2025

The chart below shows the number of BHCFB’s distributions in each week during 2025. The horizontal lines show the mean weekly level of distributions in 2023, 2024 and 2025

In 2025, distributions and the number of crates distributed were down some 10% compared with 2024, and by 23% compared with those in the Food Banks’s 2023 record year. The total 2025 fall in throughput for the entire Food Bank was driven mainly by reductions in Burgess Hill and Hurstpierpoint, with little change in the throughput of Hassocks (see Annex Table 1). The largest percentage decline was in deliveries in Burgess Hill.

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2025
BHCFB WEEKLY NUMBER OF DISTRIBUTIONS
2025 mean of 43.6 2024 mean of 48.6 2023 mean of 56.7
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
02/01/2516/01/2530/01/2513/02/2527/02/2513/03/2527/03/2510/04/2524/04/2508/05/2522/05/2505/06/2519/06/2503/07/2517/07/2531/07/2514/08/2528/08/2511/09/2525/09/2509/10/2523/10/2506/11/2520/11/2504/12/2518/12/25
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Source: Table 1, BHCFB’s 2023 and 2024 annual reports and records of weekly distributions in 2025.

4 Sources of vouchers in 2025

All but a small proportion of distributions in 2025 were issued against vouchers, with just 3.2% provided at the discretion of the Food Bank on an emergency basis to needy clients unable to obtain a voucher.

The issuing of vouchers was dominated by local authority councils. Some 73% of all distributions were covered by vouchers issued by Burgess Hill Town Council’s Help Point. Hassocks Parish Council accounted for a further 16.9%. (Table 2). As was the case in 2024, the three most important other sources of vouchers were Brighton Housing Trust, Citizens Advice and Linwood Community Mental Health Centre.

4

TABLE 2 2025 SOURCES OF VOUCHERS

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5 Changes in 2025 in the Mean Size of Distributions

There was little change between 2024 and 2025 in the mean number of crates received by the Food Bank’s clients. There was a small increase for clients in Burgess Hill, with decreases of 4% in Hassocks and 9% in Hurstpierpoint (Table 3).

TABLE 3 DERIVATION OF GROWTH IN THE MEAN NUMBER OF CRATES PER DISTRIBUTION

Distributions Crates Mean number of
crates per
distribution		 Mean number of
crates per
distribution
2024
2025		 2024
2025
 202
4
2025		 Ratio
2025 to
2024
Burgess Hill
Hassocks
Hurstpierpoi
nt		 2058
1802
2952
2615
1.43
1.45
1.01
407
406
550
529
1.35
1.30
0.96
61
57
120
102
1.97
1.79
0.91
Total 2526
2265
3622
3246
1.43
1.43
1.00

5

6 Client household size

The percentage of distributions that went to client households of different sizes in 2025 is shown in Table 4 for Burgess Hill, Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint, with changes in these percentages between 2024 and 2025 analysed in Annex Table 2.

During 2025, 44 % of all BHCFB distributions went to client households comprising a single adult. This was up by 2.8 percentage points compared with 2024. This was principally the result of increases in Burgess Hill and Hurstpierpoint. There was little change in Hassocks. The most notable change in household size between 2024 and 2025 was a reduction in the importance of families with three and four members coupled with an increase in the importance of families with five members.

TABLE 4 BHCFB 2025 CLIENT HOUSEHOLD SIZE

Size of
household
(persons*)		 Percentage of distributons
Burgess Hill
Hassocks
Hurstpierpoint
Total
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11		 44.0
45.8
21.1
43.7
17.0
26.6
8.8
18.5
9.7
9.4
40.4
10.4
15.2
11.8
8.8
14.4
7.8
5.7
3.5
7.3
2.3
0.2
5.3
2.0
1.4
0.0
5.3
1.3
1.2
0.2
3.5
1.1
1.2
0.2
3.5
1.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total 100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

7 Repeat use of the Food Bank

Table 5 and the accompanying chart contain an analysis of data on the repeat use of BHCFB in 2025. These data are analysed separately in Annex Tables 3A, 3B and 3C for each of the Food Bank’s outlets.

Of the total of 473 households who used the Food Bank during the calendar year, 176 (37%) used it only once. A further 80 clients, accounting for an additional 16.9% of all clients used it just twice. Approximately 72% of all clients used it five times or less.

These low-using clients accounted for under a third of the Food Bank’s total distributions. Almost a quarter of all distributions went to the 15% of clients who used the Food Bank between 6 and 10 times and almost a third to the 10 % of clients who used it from 11-20 times. The 3% of clients who used the Food Bank more than 20 times accounted for over 15% of all distributions.

6

TABLE 5 DATA ON REPEAT USAGE OF THE FOOD BANK IN 2025

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----- Start of picture text -----
ANAYSIS OF REPEAT USAGE OF THE FOOD
BANK
40.0
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
1 2 3 4 5 6-10 11-20 21-30 31-40
Nunber of distributions received by individuals in 2025
% of clients % of all distributions
Percent
----- End of picture text -----

7

Changes in repeat use of the Food Bank between 2024 and 2025 are analysed in Annex Table 4.

During 2025 the Food Bank adopted a policy of linking high-use clients with local support agencies with the aim of reducing clients’ repeat use of the Food Bank. Reflecting this, compared with 2024, the number of high-use clients in 2025 fell by 23%, while the number of very high users dropped from 6 clients to 2. However, the percentage of medium-use clients who used the Food Bank between five and twenty times increased substantially in 2025. Efforts will be made in 2026 to reverse this increase through measures to encourage client use of other support services.

8 BHCFB expenditure on food and toiletries

A part of the food distributed by BHCFB is donated in kind by individuals and by local firms and organisations. BHCFB also receives money donations that enable it to buy additional food and toiletries.

During 2025, the Food Bank distributed food and toiletries with an estimated total value of some £70,000. Approximately 60% of this was purchased by the Food Bank and 40% provided in kind by donors.

The chart below shows the Food Bank’s annual expenditure on food and toiletries. Reflecting price inflation and growth in its throughput, this expenditure increased in each year from 2019 to 2023, rising from just £1,832 in 2019 to £49,008 in 2023. It has subsequently fallen somewhat, with 2024 and 2025 expenditure respectively 15% and 13% lower than the 2023 peak.

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----- Start of picture text -----
Annual 2025 Expenditure on Food and Toiletries
Purchased for Distribution to Clients
£60,000
£50,000
£40,000 Toiletries
Food
£30,000
£20,000
£10,000
£0
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
----- End of picture text -----

Source: Annex Table 5.

8

ANNEX TABLE 1

BHCFB PERFORMANCE IN 2025 COMPARED WITH 2024

(% change)

Outlet
Distributons		 Benefciaries
Crates
Adults &Teens
Pre-teens
Total
Burgess Hill
-12
Collected
-11
Delivered
-26		 -15
19
-8
-11
-12
21
-5
-9
-38
4
-29
-31
Hassocks
0
Collected
-1
Delivered
-*		 1
-31
-6
-4
1
-31
-6
-4
-
-
-
-
Hurstpierpoint
-7
Collected
-
Delivered**
-7		 -16
-27
-21
-15
-
-
-
-
-16
-27
-21
-15
Total
-10
Collected
-9
Delivered
-21		 -13
9
-8
-10
-10
13
-5
-8
-32
-10
-26
-26

ANNEX TABLE 2

BHCFB CUMULATIVE PERCENTAGE OF DISTRIBTIONS AS CLIENT HOUSEHOLD SIZE INCREASES, 2024 AND 2025

Number of
household
members		 Cumulatve percentage of distributons Cumulatve percentage of distributons Cumulatve percentage of distributons Cumulatve percentage of distributons Cumulatve percentage of distributons Cumulatve percentage of distributons Cumulatve percentage of distributons Cumulatve percentage of distributons
Burgess Hill Hassocks Hurstpierpoint Total
2024
2025		 2024
2025		 2024
2025		 2024
2025
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11		 40.9
58.6
74.6
91.6
96.5
99.0
99.6
99.9
100.0		 44.0
61.0
70.7
85.9
93.7
96.0
97.4
98.7
99.9
99.9
100.0		 46.2
67.6
76.7
90.7
97.8
98.3
98.3
99.0
100.0		 45.8
72.4
81.8
93.6
99.3
99.5
99.5
99.8
100.0		 6.6
14.8
59.0
75.4
80.3
80.3
86.9
98.4
98.4
100.0		 21.1
29.8
70.2
78.9
82.5
87.7
93.0
96.5
100.0		 40.9
58.9
74.6
91.1
96.3
98.4
99.0
99.7
100.0		 43.7
62.3
72.7
87.1
94.4
96.4
97.7
98.8
99.9
100.0
100.0

9

ANNEX TABLE 3A ANALYSIS OF 2025 DISTRIBUTIONS PER CLIENT

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10

ANNEX TABLE 3B ANALYSIS OF 2025 DISTRIBUTIONS PER CLIENT

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11

ANNEX TABLE 3C ANALYSIS OF 2025 DISTRIBUTIONS PER CLIENT

==> picture [627 x 173] intentionally omitted <==

12

ANNEX TABLE 4

CHANGE IN REPEAT USAGE OF THE FOOD BANK BETWEEN 2024 AND 2025

Distributions
per client		 Percent Percent Percentage change
between 2024 and 2025
in the number of:
Clients Distributions
2024
2025		 2024
2025		 Clients
Distributions
1
2
3
4
5
6-10
11-20
21-30
31-40		 4
1
.
0
3
7
.
0
1
4
.
2
1
6
.
9
9
.
0
6
.
1
6
.
3
5
.
3
4
.
3
6
.
3
1
1
.
9
1
5
.
0
8
.
8
1
0
.
4
3
.
4
2
.
5
1
.
1
0
.
4
2		 8
.
7
7
.
7
6
.
0
7
.
1
5
.
7
3
.
8
5
.
4
4
.
4
4
.
6
6
.
6
1
9
.
1
2
4
.
2
2
5
.
6
3
0
.
7
1
6
.
3
1
2
.
5
8
.
6
2
.
9		 ~~-~~
9
.
9
~~-~~
1
1
.
3
1
9
.
3
1
7
.
4
~~-~~
3
1
.
5
~~-~~
3
2
.
6
~~-~~
1
6
.
7
~~-~~
1
8
.
0
4
7
.
8
4
5
.
5
2
5
.
7
2
6
.
5
1
8
.
1
2
0
.
0
~~-~~
2
4
.
5
~~-~~
2
3
.
1
~~-~~
6
2
.
2
~~-~~
6
6
.
6

ANNEX TABLE 5

COST OF ITEMS PURCHASED BY BHCFB FOR DISTRIBUTION TO CLIENTS

(£)

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Food 1,832 3,549 6,931 23,214 44,838 38,313 39,161
Toiletries 0 0 1,099 2,569 4,172 3,283 3,253
Total 1,832 3,549 8,030 25,783 49,010 41,596 42,414

Source: BHCFB audited accounts.

13