2024-12-31-accounts - Caterham Foodbank

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4, Beechwood Road Caterham Surrey CR3 6NA & District 07523 983122

www.caterham.foodbank.org.uk info@caterham.foodbank.org.uk

CATERHAM & DISTRICT FOODBANK TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2024

OUR AIMS AND PURPOSES:

We adopted our new working name of Caterham & District Foodbank in early 2025, while our legal registration and other formal details including contact information remain unchanged as Caterham Foodbank. For the purpose of this whole reporting period (2024) we were still known as Caterham Foodbank.

We remain part of the Trussell network of foodbanks, focussed on providing emergency food and associated support to people trapped in food poverty. The twelve months of this reporting period saw sustained demand in the numbers of people using the foodbank, with cost of living increases (including food and energy price inflation) amongst the factors continuing to have a considerable impact. As in previous years, the primary reasons for people coming to the foodbank were a mixture of low income, benefit changes/delays and unexpected life events including long-term health and personal issues. In the course of this reporting year, we fulfilled 2148 food vouchers, each voucher providing a minimum of three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food to those in difficulty. Our data for 2024 shows that thanks to the hard work and commitment of our staff and volunteers, we were able to provide food for 5355 people (3290 adults and 2065 children) – a slight increase on the previous year.

During this period we maintained our in-person contact with clients, and 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 connected with Citizens Advice, employment support, energy support, budget planning, debt and welfare and other services as appropriate.

OUR OBJECTS AND ACTIVITIES:

The electric Foodbank van purchased in 2022 continued to prove its worth for collections of donations from local supermarkets and for delivering goods to the distribution centres – as well as a mobile advertisement for our services! Given the ongoing amounts of both donations into our warehouse, and deliveries from it to our food centres - this has proved a very worthwhile investment.

We have also been able to continue to fund the presence of an experienced Citizens’ Advice colleague at our two busiest food centres, through a restricted grant received from Trussell Trust for this purpose - as part of the national Financial Inclusion scheme. This has been instrumental in signposting users to the various agencies and benefits available to people on low income and those reliant on state benefits, as

well as those dealing with the ongoing problems of debt. The presence of this advisor continues to be greatly welcomed by our users, with the service in constant demand at all sessions.

In the course of the year under review, our warehouse records showed total stock inward of 39,585 kg (a 5% reduction on the previous year), and stock outward of 40,979 kg (a 3% increase on the previous year). That negative variance in terms of stock received and given out is operationally manageable at this level but is a point of note which we are addressing going forward. The total number of vouchers received was 2148, which represents a total of 5355 people provided with food parcels lasting three days each, a small increase on the previous year.

During this period, our three person part-time staff team of Project Manager, Operations Manager and Warehouse Manager have remained unchanged. We also gratefully acknowledge the huge contribution of our voluntary Honorary Treasurer in supporting the staff team and Trustees in their duties.

Despite the difficult economic conditions faced nationally, 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, Oxted and many other towns and communities across northern Tandridge 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 funds. The thanks of the Trustees go to each and every one of these vital donors, including those who give regularly to sustain our underlying plans and operations.

We are also grateful for the continuing support of the local Rotary clubs and particularly the generosity of the COGS Lions Club for their donation to help fund again in 2024 the supply of Christmas hampers to nearly 300 local individuals and families, who otherwise would go without at that festive time.

Finally the Trustees wish to acknowledge and appreciate the UK government’s support, through tranches of the Household Support Fund administered via Surrey County Council. This grant funding, received both before and after the 2024 General Election, has contributed to us supporting the crisis food needs of hundreds of local households through this reporting year.

PLANS FOR 2025

We were able to continue to run 3 distribution centres on different days each week at Caterham Baptist Church, Oakhall Church (both in Caterham) and the King’s Church Centre in Oxted. We continue to offer fresh produce at the Caterham venues, and increasingly in Oxted, in addition to the tinned and dried foods already provided. This is popular with users and is a cost-effective addition to our offering.

We are continuing our funded relationship with Citizens Advice in light of the demand for their service, with the support of the Financial Inclusion grant received from Trussell. Helping people to cope with the burden of debt and the complexities of the benefits system remains a key component in our long-term aim of removing the need for foodbanks in line with Trussell’s strategic plans.

The continuing problem of fuel poverty has remained in our thinking for this reporting year. With the sustained increase in energy prices, many people are confronted with harrowing choices between eating or heating and we feel that helping them is part of the wider role of the Foodbank. Our project in conjunction with the Fuel Bank charity, which provides energy top-up vouchers to people at immediate risk of disconnection from gas and electricity supply, successfully continued throughout 2024. The Trustees recognise the generous support from Fuel Bank at national level in supplementing our own funds available for this service to clients.

FINANCES

The attached financial report shows that we had a total income of £67,620 although our expenditure was £70,322 which resulted in a small deficit of £2,702 for the year ending 2024. Under Trussell rules we are required to hold sufficient funds to cover 6 months of running costs, which our current financial reserves

allow. 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 services would be possible – whether in the public eye or behind the scenes. We are grateful not only for their ongoing commitment, but also for the way in which they respond so willingly to the continuing pressure of high numbers seeking our services and support. The past couple of years have produced unexpected and specific challenges in their duties – and significant growth in our operations - and their response in coping with the added work load has been magnificent.

We are also grateful for the willingness of Caterham Baptist Church, Oakhall Church and King’s Church Oxted for allowing the use of their premises gratis, which has benefitted the Foodbank so greatly in terms of the resultant financial savings, and access into the communities we serve. We were glad to be able to work with King’s Church and additional local volunteers to expand our operations in Oxted in this reporting year, given increased client numbers there.

And finally, we are as ever thankful for the generosity of our local communities in Caterham, Oxted and across other towns and areas of northern Tandridge District - so freely given by those who have contributed to our stocks of food, which has enabled us to oversee a throughput of around 40 tonnes of stock over this year. This is an inspiring reflection of the open-hearted spirit of our local communities in responding to the needs of the less fortunate among us.

DECLARATIONS

Trustees in office in 2024 :

Gemma Zarembski (Chair from May 2024)

John Edward Baldwin

Stephen Martin Bidwell

Diana Gwynn (appointed May 2024)

John Lord (resigned as Chair in January 2024)

Simon Quincey (resigned May 2024)

Ronald Francis White (Acting Chair from January to May 2024)

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s Trustees:

Name: Gemma Zarembski Position: Chair of Trustees Date: ...07.2025

Independent Examlner's Report to the Trustees of the Caterham Food Bank (Registered Charity Number 1155330) I report on my examination of the accounts of Caterham Food Bank forthe year ended 31ST December 2024. Responsibilltles and basls of report As the Charity's Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Att 2011 ('the ACV). I report in respett of my examination of the Charity's accounts (which are attached) carried out under section 145 of the 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 Att. Independent Examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connettion with the examination 8ivin8 me cause to believe that In any material respett: accountin8 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. David R Ling FCA Chartered Accountant 36a Chaldon Common Road Chaldon Surrey CR3 5DB th 4 March 2025

CATERHAM FOOD BANK (Registered Charity Number 1155330) STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024 2024 2023 FIXED ASSETS Van, at Cost less,. Deprecation to date (See Note) 17,328 7,855 17,328 4,697 9,473 12,631 NEf CURRENT ASSETS CASH AT BANK CAF Current Account 31,564 50,119 46.322 81,116 CAF Deposlt Account Redwood Bank Llmlted Deposlt Account 45,000 128.IM15 126,116 DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS Bankuet 9,055 1,441 9,000 Accrued bank interest 1,116 Other 5,558 15, 15,674 less: CREDITOR 217 153,257 154.421 CHARITY FUNDS: GENERAL FUND: Balance at l January 2024 Deflclt (2023 Surplus) for the year 148,581 2,702 135,588 12.993 145,879 148,581 DESIGNATED FUND: 7378 5,840 153.257 154,421 Note: Depreciatlon Is provlded at 25% per annum on the wrltten down value of the Van

CATERHAM FOOD BANK (Registered Charity Number 11553301 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 310ECEMBER 2024 2024 2023 GENERAL FUND: INCOME: Donations and Grants 64,945 80,649 Bank Interest 1,285 GiftAid 774 2,556 67,620 84,490 EXPENDITURE: OPERATING COSTS Staff costs 35,620 37,944 590 Warehouse: Refurbishment and set up Rent 4,987 7,788 Chrlstmas Hampers Food purchases Fuel Bank 10,716 10.640 6.134 1,288 1,630 1,673 3,158 449 Equlpment purchases Van operatlng costs Van depreclatlon Insurances 2,443 2,986 4,210 442 Other operatlng costs 1,148 3,973 70,322 71,497 DEFICIT (2023 SURPLUS) FOR THE YEAR 2,702 12,993 DESIGNATED FUND: (Flnancial Inclusion) Balance at l January 2024 Grants receivable from the Trussell Trust less: Expenditure during the year 5,380 17,826 14,388 13,928 16288 Balance at 31 December 2024 7,378 5,840