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← Basingstoke Foodbank

2023-09-30-accounts

Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

Basingstoke Foodbank

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENT YEAR ENDED 30[th] SEPTEMBER 2023

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

Contents

1. ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS 3
2. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT 4
3. OBJECTIVES, AIMS & ACTIVITIES 6
4. ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE 9
5. FINANCIAL REVIEW 15
6. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS - OUR AIMS & OBJECTIVES 17
7. THANK YOU 18

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

1. ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Trustees

Trustees are initially appointed for a three year term and may be reappointed for a maximum of two subsequent terms of three years each.

First appointed Re appointed Paul Gross 12/08/2021 Jeanne Hiscock 15/12/2016 14/12/2022 Andrew Macqueen 14/08/2018 13/08/2021 Laura Mouzouris-Lodge 21/09/2023 Pat Murphy (Treasurer) 21/02/2019 20/02/2022 Phil Thomas (Chair) 24/04/2016 22/04/2022 Peter Vallance 03/09/2013 16/11/2023 Adrian Webb 20/10/2016 19/10/2022

Registered Charity number

1154319

Head Office & Warehouse Storage

Units 63 & 64 Tempus Business Centre Kingsclere Road Basingstoke RG21 6XG

Bankers

NatWest Bank plc Old Market Square 3 London Street Basingstoke RG21 7NS

Metrobank One Southampton Row London WC1B 5HA

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

2. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

2.1 Governing document

The Basingstoke Foodbank is a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation), whose only voting members are its Trustees. The Trustees adopted a constitution on 30[th] July 2013 in accordance with the ‘Foundation Model’ published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the Basingstoke Foodbank was registered by the Charity Commission on 23[rd] October 2013.

2.2 Trustees

The Foodbank is managed by a board of Trustees, selected because they strongly endorse the charitable objectives of the organisation and support its Christian ethos. When selecting Trustees, the charity aims to ensure there is a range of relevant skills and that Trustees reflect the range of Church denominations that support the charity.

The Trustees manage the affairs of the Foodbank and, for that purpose, exercise all the powers of the CIO.

The Trustees are responsible for vision, strategic direction, financial health, regulatory conformance, and general well-being of the Foodbank.

The Trustees aim to meet every two months to review performance and monitor the achievement of objectives. The Treasurer presents financial monitoring statements to the Trustees at the end of each month comprising a report of the Foodbank’s receipts and payments for the month and year to date, together with an updated cash flow forecast for the immediate ensuing periods. The Development Manager (formerly Operations and Development Manager) attends Trustees meetings.

2.3 Related Organisations

Basingstoke Foodbank is an independent social franchise partner of the Trussell Trust network, the largest network in the United Kingdom with more than 1300 franchised foodbanks. The Basingstoke Foodbank adheres to the policies and procedures developed by the Trussell Trust as set out in the Trust’s Operations Manual and associated documents. The Trustees intend to renew the franchise arrangement with Trussell Trust when it falls due in March 2024.

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Basingstoke Foodbank

2.4 Management Structure

This year the Foodbank has divided the Development & Operations Manager’s position into two posts and employed a full-time Operations Manager in June 2023. The Development Manager (0.8 fte) focuses on strategic activities and line manages the other two paid employees. The Operations Manager (full-time) is responsible for the day-to-day activities ensuring the smooth running of the warehouse, and our 7 Foodbank Centres. Our Community Connector (0.8fte) works to ensure that our clients are supported to connect with appropriate agencies and activities. Other parttime volunteers make up our ‘Operations Team’ and take responsibility for specific activities.

2.5 Guiding principles

The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charities Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives, and in planning future activities.

The Trustees have adopted the Policies listed and are responsible for their annual review.

Policies:

Risk Assessments have also been established and are reviewed regularly:

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

Training & Communications: Staff and volunteer inductions, together with regular information and guidance on working practices are usually communicated on a group or 1:1 basis by the Development Manager, Operations Manager, or volunteer Assistant Operations Manager.

We also deliver bespoke training events at our Tempus head office for the various volunteer teams: Centre Managers (a bi-monthly catch up), Centre Volunteers,, Packing team, Store team, Drivers and Deliveries team and our Voucher Administration team. This year we have focused particularly on data protection, confidentiality, our aims and values, signposting information and good working practices.

3. OBJECTIVES, AIMS & ACTIVITIES

3.1 Charitable Objective

Basingstoke Foodbank is a Christian charity founded in October 2012 and supported by 50+ churches in the Basingstoke & Deane area. Our Christian faith, values and ethos underpin all areas of our operation.

Basingstoke Foodbank’s charitable objective is to relieve the poverty of the people in the Basingstoke & Deane region who are in conditions of need, financial hardship, or distress in such ways as the Trustees shall from time to time think fit.

3.2 Aims

The Basingstoke Foodbank aims to provide compassionate, non-judgemental, practical support for people in crisis, to tackle the root causes that lock people into poverty, and to build people’s resilience so that they are less likely to need a foodbank in the future.

We alleviate the needs of people through the provision of food and other essentials, and by working in partnership with local independent frontline support agencies who refer their clients experiencing hardship to the Foodbank.

By signposting or referring clients to care agencies, advice services and other support agencies, we aim to help to seek resolutions for clients’ immediate and longer-term crises which are causing their need to use the Foodbank.

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

Anyone experiencing food insecurity can be referred to the Foodbank, regardless of their age, disability, background, race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion or belief.

3.3 Our beliefs & values:

We believe in turning faith into practical action, living out God's love for the poor:

'For I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.'

Matthew 25:35

Restoring Dignity: Showing empathy and respect to those experiencing crisis

Reviving Hope: Through practical support, and promoting the message that God loves and cares for everyone and can bring hope to those lacking in hope

Building Community: Enabling the wider community of Basingstoke & Deane to partner with us in supporting those in crisis through donations of food, money and time.

Our strapline: ‘Helping local people in crisis’

3.4 How the Foodbank works

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

We are grateful to these churches who have so readily agreed to offer their facilities to be used by the Foodbank.

3.5 Main Objectives for October 2022 to September 2023

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

3.6 Strategies for achieving the objectives:

4.ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE

4.1 Summary of the year’s activities

We currently have seven churches represented on the Board of Trustees and in September 2023 gained a seventh Trustee whose ‘day job’ is to manage various projects for Andover MIND. One of our trustees continues to attend the meetings as

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

an ‘associate trustee’ this year due to their need to stand down having offered the Foodbank nine years as a Trustee.

We continued the Foodbank funded agreement with the Citizens Advice service in Basingstoke and Tadley, for them to provide the services of in-situ advisors at the centres at all the times we are open to receive clients.

We continued our partnership agreement with Christians Against Poverty (CAP) locally to fund a part-time Debt Coach to increase availability of debt support for our clients.

Volunteer numbers continue to be stable at about 120. We continue to have small packing, store teams, delivery teams and various operational and administrative teams operating out of the Tempus Head Office.

In April 2022, it was agreed by the Trustees that the role of Operations & Development Manager should be divided into two paid positions due to the widening focus of support provided by the foodbank in line with its aims and objectives throughout its ten years, and subsequently its increased numbers of volunteers plus the additional paid part-time Community Connector working for the Foodbank. Paula Vallance was tasked to divide the roles, produce a job description, candidate profile and interview process for recruitment purposes. Recruitment commenced in September 2022 and a job description was formulated and advertised for an Operations Manager There were a number of applicants and a new Operations Manager started 9th January 2023. Due to an unforeseen family health crisis, the Operations Manager handed in their notice and left at the end of March 2023. The recruitment process started again in April and a new Operations Manager started on the 12th June 2023.

Referral partnering agencies issuing crisis vouchers have increased to approx. 150 teams, this includes schools and colleges supporting students and families within their institutions.

Churches supporting the Foodbank regularly continued to number c.58, and schools, children’s clubs, community groups and businesses maintained their enthusiasm to continue to support the Foodbank through ‘Harvest’ and ‘Christmas Hamper’ events.

At Christmas 2022, we were able again to run our Christmas Hamper appeal in an empty shop gifted by Festival Place shopping centre. These were packed and delivered by volunteers and various churches to struggling households referred by our partnering agencies. 1060 Hampers were delivered.

In line with our aim to provide support for people to move forward through the root causes of their crisis towards a better financial position, we have commenced the training of our Community Connector and 2 other members of the team to be able to develop a short free Coaching Programme in support of our clients. This programme has been developed by Romsey Freedom Matters Church. A twelve week one hour

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

coaching programme has created the opportunity for Foodbank and CAP debt clients in Romsey to identify the challenges in their lives and break these down into manageable goals and activities through the 12 weeks. Many have successfully achieved their first goals, and have learned valuable life skill tools in how to approach multiple demands on their ‘must do’ lists.

In September 2023 in line with our aim to provide holistic support to help clients in hardship through their short and medium term crisis, we partnered with Andover MIND to launch a pilot ‘Wellbeing Drop-in’ at 4 of our 7 centres. Mental Health in the form of depression, anxiety and stress has been identified as a recurring issue shared by our clients. Initially this is a fortnightly event in the 4 centres and we will be monitoring feedback and use of the drop-in from both the agency and clients.

4.2 Recipients of food

In the year under review, we fed 7,800 ( prior year 6,373 ) people through 3,489 (prior year 2,854 ) voucher requests from partner referral agencies. This was through our Trussell Trust referral system. We also fed approximately 2,500 people through our annual Christmas Hamper project. Although the demand for vouchers in 2022-23 is significantly less than in pandemic times, the numbers of vouchers being redeemed are still running well ahead of redemptions processed before lockdown.

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

(Apr 23 – Sept 23 only, following change in reporting criteria)

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

Analysis of the people impacted by food poverty, requiring the services of the foodbank to avoid going hungry, shows:

2022-23 2021-22
Adults 4664 3792
Children 3136 2581
Total 7800 6373

The largest group(s) that we help is singles and singles with children. Their proportion increased by 6% which was offset by reductions in other demographic groups:

2022-23 2021-22
Single 48.3% 47.6%
Single Parent 23.6% 24.8%
Family 14.3% 14.5%
couple 13.7% 9.0%

4.3 Food donated & distributed

Overall, 91.5 tonnes were donated this past year (prior year: 90.3 tonnes) and 97.1 tonnes (81.8 tonnes) were distributed through the year.

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

The food we have received has continued to come from:

Seasonal donations from primary and junior schools during harvest time have again increased this year. A growing number of local social organisations, children’s groups and companies held one-off food collections during the year, particularly helping with our Christmas hampers appeal.

4.4 Volunteers, currently 120

We have continued to increase our number of centres, home deliveries, supermarket collections, store, packing and seasonal ‘ad-hoc’ volunteers throughout the year. We are incredibly grateful to both our many long-term and newly recruited volunteers who have worked tirelessly throughout the difficult and demanding past 12 months of the ‘Cost of Living Crisis’, many of whom would have felt the impact of this crisis themselves. Their cheerfulness and capability to take in their stride every challenge we face in the Foodbank reflects our Christian values of compassion, love and service.

4.5 Citizens Advice and Christians Against Poverty in-situ drop-in service

We continue to fund our Citizens Advice Drop-ins offering an in-situ presence of a specialist advisor. At a time when clients who are feeling overwhelmed by their crisis and thus not always able to manage their multiple personal challenges, this in situ service is appreciated as they are able to get on the spot guidance and advice about benefit entitlement, housing, debt, etc. The drop-ins have reported quarterly many thousands of pounds released for clients through help with benefit delays, funding they were not aware they were entitled to, vouchers for fuel and digital accessibility and debts written off due to the work of debt advisers.

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

The cost of the arrangement has funding support from a Financial Inclusion Grant awarded to us by the Trussell Trust. The unspent allowance for the last quarter of 2022, shows in our financial statement as unspent restricted funds.

We had hoped that CAP UK would be able to provide a regular presence in the centres however their team reduced in size in the summer of 2021, so we have verbally promoted the service when people phone Head Office and visit the Foodbank Centres. Our CAP Debt Coach was also funded through the Trussell Trust’s Financial Inclusion Grant and has also presented quarterly reports listing large sums of debt that has been written off or managed for clients with the help of the coach.

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

5. FINANCIAL REVIEW

5.1 Resources

The Foodbank has seen a general increase in funding during recent years which has enabled us to build our reserves to a healthy level. We will continue to explore opportunities to use our reserves over the coming years to help clients find long term solutions in order to remove their need for help from a Foodbank.

5.2 Funding

Total receipts in the year were £212,750 (prior year £176,719).

Many individuals, Church groups, Companies, Social Groups and Grant Funders again made very generous unsolicited donations to help fund the working of the Foodbank.

Income sources:

2022-23 2021-22
Grants 27,501 48,448
On-line giving 38,434 24,991
Direct receipts:
Individuals 73,521 64,512
Businesses 30,693 13,522
Churches 9,220 8,242
Clubs & Organisations 7,007 1,325
Schools & Colleges 1,349 1,673
Donations for Hampers 250 450
Supermarket top up payments 5,543 6,457
Gift aid reclaimed 12,898 7,099
Deposit savings interest 6.334 -
Total £212,750 £176,719

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

The Grant income of £27,501 comprised the following generous sources:

Trussell Trust - Financial Inclusion Grant
for in-situ specialist advisors
Trussell Trust - Emergency Winter Grant
CMW Trust
Southern Co Op Share of members’
profits
Southern Co Op Share of members’
profits
Michael Hodson Foundation
Lidl Community Fund for food purchases
TOTAL		 Restricted
15,709
5000
500
£21,209		 Unrestricted
3,142
1,000
700
950
500
£6,292

As our funds have gradually built up through the years, we no longer proactively fundraise.

5.3 Expenditure

Our total outgoings, net of asset and investment purchases, this year were £149,089 , an increase of £29,208 when compared with our comparable spend in the previous year.

Variations (£000s) from the previous year, were: Employment costs +22.7 Rent +0.2 Office & Centres Administration +1.8 Food purchases +4.7 Reimbursing mileage costs for deliveries & collections 10th Anniversary celebration - 0.6 Warehouse operations +0.3 Training - 0.4 Insurance +0.2

Employment costs increased as, from January 2023, we recruited a full-time person to take responsibility for the day to day operational duties to allow our Development and Operations Manager to focus more on the longer term development of the services offered by the Foodbank. The Foodbank now functions with a full time employee and two part-time (4 days per week) paid staff.

We continue to buy fresh food to supplement the needs of our clients.

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

5.4 Reserves

The policy of the Trustees is to hold an amount in reserve to meet the equivalent of six months’ general running costs. We also hold in reserve further amounts to meet our contractual obligations, anticipated capital expenditure and provisions to meet the cost of providing additional services to clients in the coming year.

We continue to enjoy reserves in excess of our identified needs so we have deposited surplus funds on deposit to earn interest. We ensure that individual deposits do not exceed £85,000 so that they are all covered by the FCSC guarantee

The trustees remain committed to looking to invest additional services free to clients such as CAP debt counselling, Money Lifeline debt service and assets to support the Foodbank’s initiatives.

6. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS - OUR AIMS & OBJECTIVES

October 2023 onwards:

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Charity Registration Number 1154319

Basingstoke Foodbank

7. THANK YOU

The Trustees continue to be overwhelmed at the level of support shown to Basingstoke Foodbank, and are extremely grateful to everyone in our local Basingstoke & Deane community who have provided faithful support and encouragement to the Foodbank.

The local community has continued once again to generously give their time, food donations and financial support to provide help to those in our locality who are in crisis and facing the prospect of going hungry.

We gladly acknowledge the continuing support we have received from Vivid Housing Association for the use of the warehouse and office units.

On behalf of the Trustees of Basingstoke Foodbank:

P. Thomas – Chair

Date:

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Basingstoke Foodbank Basingstoke Foodbank Last year
to the nearest £
114,715
7,099
6,457
159,974
-
48,448
176,719
-
176,719
42,045
32,038
5,113
15,284
5,820
3,667
519
1,766
2,051
5,316
1,469
504
977
2,964
313
35
119,881
-
300
2,443
191
274,424
397,239
- 220,520
-
274,177
53,657
Endowment funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
OK
Endowment funds
to nearest £
-
Current value (optional)
Current value (optional)
3,000
CC16a
Receipts and paymen ts accounts
For the period from Period start date
01/10/2022		 To 30/09/2023
Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Unrestricted funds
to the nearest £		 Restricted funds
to the nearest £
160,474		 Endowment funds
to the nearest £		 Total funds
to the nearest £

Donations		 160,224 250 160,474 114,715
Gift Aid from HMRC 12,898 12,898 7,099
Donations from Tesco & ASDA 5,543 5,543 6,457
Fundraisingactivities - - -
Charitable Grants 6,292
6,334		 21,209 27,501 48,448
Interest received from Savings Deposits
Sub total(Gross income for AR)		 6,334
191,291 21,459 - 212,750 176,719
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
**Total receipts ** - - - -
191,291 21,459 - 212,750 176,719
A3 Payments

Employment Costs		 60,134 4,583 64,717 42,045
Rent of Warehouse & OfficeCentre 32,273 32,273 32,038
Light & Heat & Water SupplyCosts 4,009 1,000 5,009 5,113
Citizens Advice Services 3,819 11,465 15,284 15,284
Christians Against PovertyServices 1,660 4,160 5,820 5,820
Admin Costs 5,510 5,510 3,667
Insurance 762 762 519
Cost of Christmas Hampers 1,491 250 1,741 1,766

Warehouse OperatingCosts		 2,377 2,377 2,051
Food Purchases 7,985 2,000 9,985 5,316
Reimbursed Delivery& Collection costs 1,869 1,869 1,469
Training 156 156 504
10th AnniversaryTea Pary 315 315 977
Van Running Costs 2,847 2,847 2,964

Bank Charges		 389 389 313

InfornmationCommisioner's OfficeFee		 35 35 35
Sub total
Asset and Investment Purchases		 125,631 23,458 - 149,089 119,881
0
Used Van - - -
PCs & Printers For New Centres 1,473 1,473 300
Warehouse Equipment - - 2,443

Savings Deposits'Admin Fees		 790 790 191

Savings Deposits		 90,546 90,546 274,424
0
Total payments
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end		 218,440 23,458 - 241,898 397,239
- 27,149 - 1,999 - - 29,148 - 220,520
-
47,277 6,380 53,657 274,177
20,128 4,381
-		 24,509 53,657
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories
B2 Other monetary assets
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use
NOTES TO THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACC
These accounts are prepared on a Receipts and P
The CIO has two funds: an Unrestricted General F
The latter comprises grants received from the foll
HCC Councillor Discretionary Grant
Christmas Lunches for the lonely
Trussell Trust
TOTAL Restricted Incom
B5 Liabilities
B1 Cash funds		 Details Unrestricted funds
to nearest £		 Restricted funds
to nearest £
Bank Accounts 20,088 4,381 -
Petty Cash 40 -
-
Total cash funds 20,128
 4,381 -
(agree balances with receipts and pay
Details		 ments account(s)) OK
Unrestricted funds
to nearest £		 OK
Restricted funds
to nearest £
Fixed Term(s) Interest Yi elding Deposits 364,970 - -
Details Fund to which asset
belongs		 Cost (optional)
Details Fund to which asset
belongs		 Cost (optional)
Van 13,423 3,000
Details Fund to which liability
relates
OUNTS FOR THE YEAR EN
ayments basis, with all inc
und and a Restricted Fund
owing, not yet fully expend
£200
£254
£3,927
£4,381		 DED 30th SEPTEMBER 2023
ome and expenditure shown
.
ed:
Lap-top for Centre
Christmas Lunches
Support for CAB & CAP Adv		 on a cash basis.
isor presence

On 1st January 2023, the Foodbank entered into a 5 year full repairing lease, to rent its current premises from Vivid Housing Association, until 31st December 2027. The financial obligations under the lease agreement comprise:

Rent Service Charge Total
Due within 12 months
£37,200		 £1,926 £39,126
Due greater than 12 months
£149,130		 £10,875 £160,005
£186,330 £12,801 £199,131
All Fixed Term savings deposits are covered by FSCS Guarantee Scheme
All Fixed Term savings deposits mature within 12 months of period end date
The CIO has no outstanding guarantees to third parties nor any debts secured on the assets of the CIO
No remuneration was paid to any Trustee.
Signature Print Name Date of approval
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the
trustees
Phil Thomas - Chair Pat Murphy-Treasurer 30th April 2024

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of BASINGSTOKE FOODBANK

On accounts for the year 30 SEPTEMBER 2023 ended

Charity no 1154319 (if any)

Set out on pages

(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ( “the Trust”) for the year ended DD / MM / YYYY .

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”) .

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Date: 30 April 2024 Name: ~~Colleen Eldridge~~ Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):

Address: Drewitts Ash, Hannington, Tadley RG26 5UA

October 2018

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IER