Broxbourne Foodbank Charity No 1157199
Chair of Trustees Report for 1[st] July 2023 to 30[th] June 2024
Trustees
Jeremy Pearce (Chair), Rev Ben Quant, Noel Vallely, Martin Lynas, Michelle Nicholson ( Secretary), Ron Pickford.
Foodbank coordinator and treasurer, Elaine Batten
All the Trustees are willing to continue for the following year.
There are no paid employees.
Neither the Trustees, the secretary, the coordinator receive renumeration.
The registered office for the Charity is 18 Fairways, New River Trading Estate, Cheshunt. EN9 0NJ
The operation runs from a warehouse at 18 Fairways, New River Trading Estate, Cheshunt, EN8 0NJ.
Purposes of the charity
To relieve persons in Broxbourne and areas nearby that are in financial hardship in such ways as the Trustees from time to time think fit but not exclusively by. A) providing emergency food essential toiletries and household goods to individuals and families in need,
and or for distribution by charities or other organisations working to relieve or
prevent poverty.
B). such other means including but limited to the provision of support or signposting to relevant information and other advisory organisations
Review of activities throughout the year.
The foodbank has two distribution centres.
Wormley Free Church Slipe Lane EN10 6AA open between 4-5pm each weekday. The St Josephs Church 214 High Road Waltham Cross EN8 between 1.30 and 2.30pm on Wednesdays only. Agencies only can collect food from the warehouse. Home deliveries are only made in exceptional circumstances.
On 14[th] June 2024 Broxbourne Foodbank was awarded The Kings Award for Voluntary Services. This is the equivalent of an MBE for Charities. We are very proud of the award and a big thank you goes to all our volunteers.
Food donations.
The foodbank is reliant upon the public generosity for the food donated to us for distribution.
There are baskets in a variety of stores, commercial premises and churches where the public can give donations.
There are a large number of organisations and individuals to provide financial assistance which is used for purchase of food.
The foodbank collects surplus food from Warburtons, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons Sainsburys and Tesco.
1[st] July 2023 to 30[th] June 2024 – 68453 kg of food was donated.
Food Distribution.
Referrals are made to the foodbank by agencies who deal with those in need, There are about 60 different agencies that contact us.
The requests for food are dealt with at the warehouse and individual parcels are made up according to the individual needs of those in need.
This is done by several volunteers daily. The parcels are sent for distribution to the two distribution centres where they are collected by clients or support agency staff.
1[st] July 2023 to 30[th] June 2024 Broxbourne Foodbank received 3978 referrals. 5162 adults and 4178 children were fed and 70621 kg of food was given out.
Volunteers.
Broxbourne Foodbank is entirely run by volunteers who work very hard to support those in food poverty by collecting food from supermarkets, organisations, sorting food, making up food parcels, delivery the parcels to our distribution centres. We have over 70 volunteers.
We could not operate without them and thank them for all their hard work.
Additional support.
The Borough Council continues to provide the warehouse at a peppercorn rent for which we are extremely grateful.
Echo packaging provide the bags used for the parcels.
The two churches provide their premises freely.
The premises where containers are provided for shoppers to donate food are provided freely.
Responsibility of the Trustees for public benefit
Trustees in making decisions about activities have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which guidance is relevant
Communications to the public are by means of the website.
The foodbank has a Facebook and Instagram pages.
Safeguarding.
The trustees and Foodbank Coordinator are fully aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. There is a safeguarding Policy in place which is reviewed annually. There is a named safeguarding person of each distribution centre and the
warehouse with The Foodbank Coordinator having the role over all safeguarding position. All the named safeguarding persons have up to date safeguarding training. Signs are displayed at each venue which give information to volunteers and clients of what to do if they have a concern
Financial Reserves Policy.
The level of reserves is to be monitored by the Board of Trustees throughout the year to ensure it meets the changing needs and circumstances of the Charity. The Board of Trustees must be able to justify the holding of income as reserves. The charity’s reserves policy is as follows – income received is to be spent within a reasonable period from its receipt. Reserves held are to meet the cost of relocation of services including new premises; together with the cost of replacement of equipment including two electric vans.
The wish of the Trustees is for the foodbank not to be required and to be closed. This appears not to be possible at present and the charity is sustainable through its food and financial supporters for some time yet.
The foodbank thanks all those who support it through donations, volunteering or kind words.
Jeremy Pearce
Chair of Trustees. October 2024
Broxbourne Foodbank Accounts
Treasurers account
Year ending 30th June 2024 Charity No 115199
| 2022-2023 | Income | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 9516.80 | Tesco 20% topup | 5882.76 |
| 208.00 | Broxbourne Lottery | 207.50 |
| 19750.00 | Grants | 20000.00 |
| 56872.75 | Donations via bank | 32299.67 |
| misc | 20380.43 | |
| 78770.36 | ||
| Opening Balance Treasurers account Income 23-24 Expenditure 23-24 Transfer to CAF Bank Closing Balance in TA |
37311.00 78770.36 |
|
| 116081.36 38618.97 |
||
| 77462.39 | ||
| 20000.00 | ||
| 57642.39 |
Broxbourne Foodbank Account
Treasurers Account
Year ending 30th June 2024 Charity No 115199
| 2022-2023 | Expenditure | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 3162.77 | Electricity | 5878.12 |
| 224.38 | Water | 360.47 |
| 205.18 | Gas | 231.35 |
| 0.00 | Trussell Trust Membership | 0.00 |
| 1416.09 | Insurance | 1443.62 |
| 860.64 | Van service,mot,repairs | 2185.79 |
| 3474.18 | warehouse,admin,equipment,maintance | 2891.71 |
| 958.50 | Food shopping | 922.82 |
| 11865.02 | morrisons direct | 22715.96 |
| 630.97 | Sundries | 1462.63 |
| 160.00 | Direct Grant spending | 526.50 |
| 22957.73 | 38618.97 |
6, Bonneygrove Goffs Oak
EN7 5LS
6[th] May 2025
Re Broxbourne Foodbank Accounts.
I have checked the accounts for the above charity for the period of 1[st] July 2023 to 30[th] June 2024.
I can confirm that I have found no discrepancies or irregularities in their transactions.
Shirley Mitcham
Shirley Mitcham