Hertford & District Foodbank Annual Report and Accounts Year Ended 31st March 2025 Charity Number 1157028
Hertford & District Foodbank Trustees Report Year Ended 31st March 2025 Trustees Trustees serving throughout the period and since the year end are: Trustees Reverend David Ronco (Chair) Mrs Janet Linda Bird Mrs Cheryl Noreen Jackson Mrs Frances Jean Spence Mr David Alan Timson Mrs Heather Dawn Hookway Ms Frances Connolly (resigned 27 June 2024) Professor Jeremy Forrester (appointed 27 June 2024) Structure. Governance and Management Hertford & District Foodbank Is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation CCIO4 and became a registered charity (number 1157028) on 13th May 2014. The powers of appointment or removal of Trustees rest with the CIO. New Trustees are appointed for 3 years (renewable) and are primarily selected from the members of local churches. On being appointed, new Trustees spend time with the existing Trustees to ensure they understand the responsibilities and the legal and financial framework in which the Foodbank operates. Hertford & District Foodbank is a member of the Trussell Trust Foodbank Network which works in partnership with local churches and organisations to bring foodbanks to communities across the UK.
Objectlves and Activities The Foodbank's objettive is to distribute food and consumables to people from Hertford, Ware and the surrounding district in short term financial need. Food is donated Most of the food given out by the foodbank is donated. Often this is from schools, churches, businesses, individuals, or through supermarket collections. Supermarket collections help foodbanks engage the public. Fresh food has also been distributed, which is purchased weekly. Food Is sorted and stored Volunteers weigh and sort the donated food according to type and 'best before date,. They also check it Is undamaged and suitable for use before packing it into boxes for storage. Frontllne professlonals Identlfy people in need Professionals from statutory and voluntary organisations such as dortors, health visitors, social workers, Citizens Advice Bureau staff, welfare officers, the police and probation officers, identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. Clients recelve emergency food Clients, requirements are covered by vouchers which are issued by agencies electronically. These allow for three days, supply of emergency food to be distributed. The list of foods in each parcel has been designed by dieticians to provide recipients with nutritionally balanced food. Cllents are slgnposted to further support Foodbank volunteers signpost clients to agencies who can offer additional help and begin to resolve any underlying problems.
Achievements and Performance The Foodbank operates almost entirely with volunteers, who number around 49 presently. The Trustees acknowledge the huge contribution to the work of the Charity made by all the volunteers. During the period we received donated food totalllng 33,951kgs. This is lower than the last couple of years and the number of food parcels issued to clients also declined to 3,114 including 1, 145 to children (2024 - 4,468 and 1,931 respectively). This probably reflects an increased supply of free food from other organisations locally. Notwithstanding, we still had to purchase as much basic stock as last year as well as fresh food. During the year we received a grant of £8,050 from Ware Charities towards the rent of our Ware premises and the prevlous yearfs grant from the Adams Trust to buy food for clients in Ware was used up. During the year we distrlbuted £4,025 (2024 £3,235) in emergency energy grants and £1,060 in fresh food vouchers (2024 £2,750) as a supplement to the food normally given out. Financial Review The Foodbank had a deficlt of £4,785 in the period. Total funds at 31 March 2025 were £122,320 of which £15,818 is represented by food stocks and £106,502 in cash funds. £45,900 of our cash funds is held as designated to cover the net costs of the remaining period of our 5 year lease to premises at Ware Priory. Income was driven by another exceptional year of donations totalling £156,904 (2023124 £151,280) - £62,674 in money and food to the value of £94,230. Food to the value of £97,940 (2023124 £96,185) was distributed. Cash expenditure was £63,749 (2024 £37,575) comprising primarily Ware premises costs of £18,300, food purchased of £18,422, contributions totalling £4,000 (including improvements) to the United Reformed Church which houses the Hertford depot, warehouse materials of £1,634, van insurance and repairs of £1,402 and general Insuran premiums of £468. In addition to
paying our part time worker, the trustees awarded honorariums totaling £627 to a small number of volunteers who continue to shoulder substantial workloads to ensure continuation of the foodbank's activities. Public Benefit In planning its activities, the Trustees have given regard to the Charity Commission's Public Benefit guidance. Chair of trustees 28 April 2025
HERTFORD & DISTRICT FOODBANK INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HERTFORD & DISTRICT FOODBANK FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 I report on the accounts of the charty for the year ended 31 March 2025 %thich are set out on the following 6 pages Respective responslbllitias of In and •xaminer The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under seclion 144 of the chare$ Act 2011 (the Charthes Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to= examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Art follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the ChaTilies Ac( and Basls of indendant oxaminorfs statomont examination $ carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Chanty Commtssion. An examination indudes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or dIlosUre8 in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees conceming any such matter5. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audst, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a Irue and fair vie and the report is limited to those matss set out in the statement below. In connection Mrtth my examination, no matter has come to my attention: which gives me reasonable cause to believe thaL in any material respec( the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordaThx with seci¥)n 130 of the Charities Acf. and to prepare accounts vknlch accord ¥Mlh the accounting records and u)mply wilh the accounb'ng requirements of the Charities Act have rK)t been meL or 2 to which. in my op'nion, attent#)n should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Philip Coleman 24 Aprll 2025
Hertford & District Foodbank statement of Financial Activities Period Ended 31st March 2025 Un- strltted Restritted funds funds Total funds 2025 Total funds 2024 Notes Incomln9 resources Incomlng resources from generated funds . Voluntary Income 144,078 8,571 152,649 151,280 Incoming resources from charitable activities 3,055 3.055 Total Incomlng resources 147 133 8 571 155 704 151 280 Charitable actlvities staff costs 133,300 11,408 15,781 149,081 11rt08 133,760 8,399 15 781 160 489 142 159 Net incoming resources 2,425 (7,210) (4.785) 9,121 Funds at the start of the year Funds at the end of the 119,895 7,210 127.105 117,984 122 320 122 320 127 105
Hertford & District Foodbank Balance Sheet At 31st March 2025 2025 2025 2024 2024 Notes Current assets stock Cash at bank and In hand 15,818 16,708 Total net assets Represented by: Funds and reserves Restricted fvnds Unrestricted funds 1,200 7,210 119 895 Approved on 28 April 2025 Chair of trustees . Treasurer
Principal Accounting Pollcles Basls of accountong The financial statements have been prepad on a Receipts and Payments basis including stock donated and issued. Incomlng resources All income is credited to the statement of financial activities on a received basis. Donations are credited to the statement of flnanclal activities in the year in which they are received as reIpt is the earliest point at which entitlement is considered certain. Restricted grants and awards are included once the amount is reasonably certain to be received. The income is matched to the period of expenditure for grants extending beyond the financial year. Resources expended and the basls of apportloning costs Expenditure is charged to the statement of financial activities on an actual basis. Governance costs are negligible, and no separate cost has been identified. Fund accountlng The Restricted Funds are monies raised for, and their use restricted to, a specific purpose, or donations subject to donor-imposed conditlon. The General Fund presents unrestricted and designated monies used to fund working capital and which the oryanisation may use in furtherance of the charity's objectives.
I Voluntary income Unrestricted Restricted funds fijnds Total 2025 Total 2024 Donations in money Donations in kind - food Fundraising 49,848 94.230 8,050 57,898 94,230 521 56,241 95,039 521 144,078 8,571 15lfA9 151,280 2 Incomlng resources from charitable actlvlties Unrestricted Restricted funds funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Revaluation of stocks at year end Interest 2,820 235 820 235 3.055 3,055 3 Cost of charltable activities Unrestricted Restrlrted funds funds Totsl 2025 Total 2024 Premises Rent deposit Storage fees Donation to Trussell Trust Warehouse materials Administration and general Stock purchases Food issued Other stock donated Energy grants Other grants Insuran Van operating costs Electric charging point Honorariums Fresh food vouchers 8.100 (1,200) 14,200 2&300 (1.200) 1,900 1,000 360 2,373 2,536 18,610 86,346 3,235 1,222 2,403 17,253 86,022 11,918 4.025 412 1,634 403 18,422 86,022 11,918 4.025 1,169 407 1,374 1,402 1.402 627 1,060 627 1,060 3,030 2,750 133,300 15,781 149,081 133,760
4 Stsff costs 2025 2024 Staff costs during the year were as follows: Wages and salaries including pension Social securlty costs Total staff costs 11,114 294 11,408 8,351 48 8.399 It has not been possible to quantify the monetary value of the services of approximately 50 volunteers who give their time freely, providing a wide range of support to the charity. There was one employee during the period. 5 Stock 2025 2024 Food 15,818 16,708 15,818 16,708 6 Cash at bank and In hand 2025 2024 Bank accounts 105.252 110,348 Rent deposit 1.200 Petty cash 50 50 106,502 110,397
7 Movements in funds At 1 Aprfl Incomlng Outgolng At 31 March 2025 Restrlcted funds Adams Trust (Food for Ware) 1.169 (1,169) wa foodbank project Total restrtcted funds 7,210 8,571 (15,781) Unrestricted funds General Fund 119,895 147.133 (144,708) 122,320