4, Beechwood Road Caterham Surrey CR3 6NA 07523 983122 www.caterham.foodbank.org.uk info@caterham.foodbank.org.uk ## **CATERHAM FOODBANK TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2021** ## **OUR AIMS AND PURPOSES:** Caterham Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks and together we provide emergency food and associated support to people trapped in poverty. The past twelve months saw a continued rise in the numbers of people using the foodbank, with the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic continuing to have a considerable impact on the number of people using our services. As noted in previous years, the primary reasons for people coming to the foodbank have been low income and benefit changes/delays. In the course of the year, we fulfilled 1135 vouchers, each voucher providing a minimum of three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food to those in difficulty. Our data for 2021 show that thanks to the hard work and commitment of our staff and volunteers, we were able to provide food for 3388 people (1706 adults and 1682 children).. Where we have been able to speak to our users face to face as far as allowed by government restrictions, we have referred users to various agencies who offer help in their current situation by providing additional support, with an ultimate aim of ensuring they will not need to use foodbanks in the future. Users have been signposted to Job Clubs, Citizens Advice Bureau, Budget Planning, Debt and other Counselling Services etc. ## **OUR OBJECTS AND ACTIVITIES:** At last year’s AGM, we reported that we had secured the use of a larger warehouse in central Caterham on a 5-year lease. Following extensive renovation and adaptation works, this has proved a boon in ensuring the efficient receipt, processing and distribution of food under the expert leadership of our Warehouse Coordinator Euan Lee. The paid hours of our Project Manager (Operations), Gill Bailey, were increased to reflect the increased workload due to the pandemic. In light of the ever-increasing demand for the foodbank’s services, the trustees felt that additional management capacity was required and following an exhaustive recruitment procedure we were fortunate enough to secure the services of Janice Thomson as Project Manager (Communications). The trustees now feel that we have an efficient management team in place which will serve the foodbank well in meeting the demands of the future. As in the previous year, fundraising activities have been largely curtailed due to the pandemic restrictions, although with the potential relaxing of restrictions we are hoping that some fundraising activities can be resumed in 2022. Despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic, we have again benefitted from the extraordinary generosity of our local community. It has been gratifying to see the selfless support of so many people in Caterham and district, who have again responded to the needs of the poorer members of our society with such heartwarming and selfless willingness to donate food and money, often anonymously. The thanks of the Trustees go to each and every one of these vital donors. We are also grateful for the continuing support of the Trussell Trust and, more locally, Oxted URC, the local Rotary clubs and particularly the COGS Lions Club for their donation to fund the supply of Christmas hampers to 372 recipients. Along with the many individuals, companies and organisations who have been so generous in lending their considerable and welcome financial support during the year, they were once again a mainstay of our funding income. ## **PLANS FOR 2022** As mentioned in our previous report, the new distribution centre at Oakhall Church is now operational and offers an outlet on the Hill in addition to the Valley centre at the Baptist Church, with both sessions running well. In recognition of the difficulty of access to a local distribution centre for those resident outside Caterham, a further “order and collect” centre has been established at King’s Church in Oxted. We are now also offering fresh produce at some sessions in addition to the tinned and dried foods already provided. This is proving popular with users and is a cost-effective addition to our offering. The growing problem of fuel poverty has been in the forefront of our thinking for the coming year. With the rapid increase in energy prices, ever more people are confronted with the harrowing decision of eating or heating and we feel this is part of the wider role of the foodbank. To that end, we have embarked on a trial project in conjunction with the Fuel Bank Foundation, which provides energy top-up vouchers to people at immediate risk of disconnection from gas and electricity supply. We have committed a sum of £5000 to this trial venture and will be monitoring the progress of and demand for this supplementary service over the course of the year. In light of the planned reductions in Coronavirus-related restrictions in prospect and the renewed ability to conduct face to face meetings with our users, we are exploring the possibility of securing a financial inclusion grant from the Trussell Trust, which would enable us to have a Citizens Advice worker available to provide advice on vital matters such as debt and benefits. Helping people to cope with the burden of debt and the complex benefits system is a key component in our long-term aim of removing the need for foodbanks in line with the Trussell Trust Together for Change strategic plan. Finally, with the addition of our new Operations Manager (Communications), we are looking to expand our social media presence as a means of publicising the work of the foodbank with a view to increasing donor awareness and user accessibility. ## **FINANCES** The attached financial report shows that we had a total income of £ £52 670, which has helped us to carry forward a surplus for the year of £21 516. Under Trussell Trust rules, we are required to hold sufficient funds to cover 6 months of running costs, which our current financial status readily covers. Our finances are therefore in sufficiently robust health to enable us to fund our plans for the coming year. ## **VOLUNTEERS** Our thanks go as ever to our wonderful and hugely valued volunteers, without whom none of our initiatives would be possible. We are grateful not only for their ongoing commitment, but also for the way in which they have responded so willingly to all the additional demands imposed by the pandemic. The past couple of years have produced unexpected and specific problems in their duties and their response in coping with the added difficulties has been magnificent. We are also grateful for the willingness of the Baptist Church, Oakhall Church and King’s Church Oxted to allow the free use of their premises, which has benefitted the foodbank so greatly in terms of the resultant financial savings. And finally, we are as ever thankful for the generosity of our local community in Caterham and district so freely given by those who have contributed to our stocks of food, which has enabled us to oversee a throughput of almost 30,000 kg of stock over the past year. This is an inspiring reflection of the openhearted spirit of our local community in responding to the needs of the less fortunate among us. ## **DECLARATIONS** ## **Trustees** : John Lord (Chair) John Edward Baldwin Stephen Martin Bidwell Simon Quincey David Patrick Stritch The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above Signed on behalf of the charity’s Trustees: Signed: ------------------------------Name: John Lord Position: Chair of Trustees Date: ------------------------------- ## **CATERHAM FOOD BANK** (Registered Charity Number 1155330) ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEM** |**RECEIPTS:**
Donations:
Corporate
Individuals
Via CAF
Just Giving
Give as you live
Gift Aid
Tandridge DC COVID Grant
**PAYMENTS:**
**OPERATING COSTS**
Staf costs
New Warehouse: Refurbishment and set up
Christmas Hampers
Food purchasses
Equipment purchases
Insurance
Other operating costs
**SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR**
**CASH AT BANK:**
Balance at 31 December 2021
less: Balance at 1 January 2021|**2021**
**£**
**£**
**18,794**
**14,657**
**100**
**17,088**
**500**
**51,140**
**1,281**
**-**
**52,421**
**20,014**
**380**
**4,567**
**738**
**2,227**
**271**
**1,291**
**29,488**
**22,933**
**90,532**
**67,599**
**22,933**|**2021**
**£**
**£**
**18,794**
**14,657**
**100**
**17,088**
**500**
**51,140**
**1,281**
**-**
**52,421**
**20,014**
**380**
**4,567**
**738**
**2,227**
**271**
**1,291**
**29,488**
**22,933**
**90,532**
**67,599**
**22,933**| |---|---|---| |||**52,421**
**29,488**| |||**22,933**| |||**90,532**
**67,599**| |||**22,933**| ## **MBER 2021** 2020 £ £ 28,171 20,845 5,732 12,559 67,307 4,716 10,000 82,023 11,904 16,995 3,143 **-** 635 208 753 33,638 48,385 67,599 19,214 48,385 In epen ent Examiner S Report to the Trustees Number 1155330) the Caterham Food Bank (Registered Charity I report on my examination of the accounts of Caterharn Food Bank for the year ended 31 December 2021. Responslbllltle5 and basls of report As the ChariV5 Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the ACY). I report in respect of my exarnination of the Charitys accounts (which are attached) carried out under section 145 of the Actand in carryingout my examination I havefollowed the applicable Directions given bythe Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act Independenl Examlner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Dawd R Ling FCA Chartered Accountsnt 36a Chaldon Common Road Chaldon Surrey CR3 5DB 14January 2022