# **IMPACT REPORT 2023** LIving Well Bromley Registered Charity Number: 1157385 # **CONTENTS** - 1 About us 3 A message from our Chair 5 What we do 6 2023 in numbers 8 2023 overview 9 What our guests say - 10 Our values 11 Partners & supporters 12 Legal & administrative information - 13 Structure, Governance & Management 15 How you can help 16 Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2023 ## **ABOUT US** At Living Well Bromley, we provide food and support that changes lives. We are a caring community where people feel respected, valued, accepted and loved. Our mission is to ensure that people have the food, guidance and the support of an uplifting community to live life to the fullest. We work with our partners to support people with different needs, including poverty, social isolation, homelessness and mental health issues. Our services are free to use and include a foodbank, a clothes bank, a weekly community hot meal, a free café, a community choir, counselling, mental health support and advice on benefits, debt and housing. Living Well Bromley serves the entire community, working with a number of diverse partners to ensure we reach as many people in need as possible, with all aspects of their lives taken into account (physical, emotional and spiritual). This approach to helping the whole person is at the heart of our vision and values. 1 CHRISTIAN WELCOME TO*THE- ART CAFE .587c,8 I•L - LIVING WELL 'GE ## **A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR OF TRUSTEES** 2023 was a difficult year for our community and Living Well more than rose to the challenge! The Cost-of-Living Crisis continued to bite, and to have an ever-greater impact on all of us. But our amazing community stepped up, yet again, and provided ever greater levels of support. This Impact Report outlines the numbers, but it's the love and life, which flows between the pure numbers, that make Living Well such a special place. I mentioned last year that during 2022 we sometimes spent as much as £1,000 a week buying food. In 2023 that increased dramatically, we have spent an average of £1,500 every week across the year. These figures alone give some sense of the growth in demand. A huge highlight in 2023 was the opening of our new charity shop on Penge High Street. A tremendous team of volunteers, existing staff, and new staff, worked tirelessly to find and fit-out a shop unit, as well as develop all the necessary processes and procedures. The shop has quickly become a key part of LW and a key income stream. This has been vital at a time when grant funding has become more and more difficult to access. Our wider community of supporters and donors also stepped-up magnificently. Donations, both food and money, increased yet again - from churches, schools, local businesses, City businesses, community groups, families and individuals. Pro bono professional support was particularly important this year, saving us many tens of thousands of pounds in fees. Volunteers, staff, and Trustees have also spent more time and given LW more energy to cope with the pressures. It remains a remarkable collective effort. 3 Our Advocacy services are one of the most important elements of our work. Early in 2023 we started an application process to the Financial Conduct Authority to gain authorisation to be able to undertake regulated debt advice. This proved to be more challenging than we anticipated, and we paused the process. Where we can, we continue to give advice on unregulated debt. We decided to undertake a review of the Advocacy service. This proved to be extremely beneficial, rethinking and challenging ourselves as well as learning lessons from similar organisations. We are still working on the recommendations which emerged from the review. The service has continued to grow, and to deliver amazing results for our guests. The prevalence and impacts of debt within our community also continues to grow, and we continue to consider how we can respond. I am thrilled to be involved with a community where love and life flow, and real care and compassion are practically worked out for real people. Thank you all for your support in 2023, we move forward positively into 2024 in good shape, with lots of opportunities in front of us. Andrew Cornish, Chair of Trustees Our Christian ethos is a solid foundation for Living Well, yet it is also wonderful to welcome as Trustees, volunteers, staff, guests, and supporters – our whole community – people of many different faiths or none. Living Well continues to work in a positive partnership with Holy Trinity with St John’s church. During 2023 there were plenty of challenges within that partnership, but we emerge into 2024 with positive signs of a new and exciting time ahead. 4 ## **WHAT WE DO** 3 times a week, open to everyone in the local area Warm, safe space with free hot meals, drinks & company Advice on debt, benefits, housing and homelessness ## **AND SO MUCH MORE...!** **COUNSELLING** **CHOIR** **CLOTHES BANK** **GARDEN** **WORDS & NUMBERS** **PRAYER** **SEWING** **ART** 5 ## **2023 IN NUMBERS** **11,956** **11,919** **Hot meals served 25% higher than 2022 Foodbank visits - adults 23% higher than 2022** **Foodbank users - adults 1098 33% higher than 2022 6334 Foodbank visits - dependents41% higher than 2022 620 Foodbank users - dependents47% higher than 2022** **20** **Clothes bank sessions** **Home deliveries 1104** 6 ## **2023 IN NUMBERS** |**2182**|**Advice sessions**| |---|---| |**685**|**Counselling hours**| |**39**|**Art cafe sessions**| |**207**|**Free cafe hours**| |**15,000**|**Volunteer hours**| |**£61,015**|**Spent on food for foodbank**
**190% increase from 2022**| |**£10,628**|**Spent on food for hot meals**| 7 ## **2023 OVERVIEW** The cost of living crisis continued throughout 2023, with energy bills and food prices remaining incredibly high. Many people simply couldn’t afford to cope with this and as a result we saw a dramatic **increase in demand** for our services. **46%** more adults and **47%** more dependents used our foodbank than in 2022. We managed to keep all of our services running and meet this growing demand throughout the year. Alongside the increase in demand we also saw a **decrease in donations** of food from supermarkets and individuals. This meant that we had to spend significantly more on **purchasing food** directly from suppliers and spent **190%** more than in 2022 buying food for the foodbank. - Due to a decrease in available suitable funding, we wanted to diversify our income streams and in June 2023 we opened our first **charity shop** . Our shop on Penge High Street has made a fantastic start with a plentiful supply of donations and lots of willing volunteers. We have received wonderful feedback from the local community on this new venture. - Our **Advocacy** team continued to work with guests on a one-to-one basis on debt, housing, homelessness and other issues. There was a significant increase in the number of cases they dealt with in 2023. The biggest - challenge was the lack of housing available for rent, especially for the homeless but they continued to work hard to understand people’s situations and improve their futures. We held a number of **events** during the year including our annual plant sale in May, which raised £2,000. We held our popular volunteer thank you event in December and also held our first ever supporter thank you day. We are grateful that we have managed to retain a large group of dedicated volunteers who kept our services running throughout the year. 8 ## **WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY** “You and Rebecca keep me sa ne **, just talking to you helps”** “You helped with all my paperwork because of my dyslexia. I felt **isolated** and LW really helped” I like the **community spirit** . It stops me being isolated and knowing other people are going through the same thing “I would n't be here without Living Well. **You guys saved my life.”** “My children are always made as welcome as me. It is a **safe place** for them” “Shirley provided **support and counselling** through the worst time. I was shutting down and not leaving my home even to take my son to school or look at people. [I can now] take my son to school...thanks to having someone like Shirley because I don't have anyone else I can talk to openly and honestly in a safe place.” **“Living Well gives you hope.** Gives you faith in the human race. Someone cares what you are going through” **“I have a future to look forward to now”** 9 ## **OUR VALUES** ## **HUMANITY ABOVE ALL** We believe deeply in treating people with empathy, respect and compassion. Our work reflects our Christian beliefs. All are welcome through our doors – whether they need a helping hand or simply an ear to listen. For us, humanity is everything. ## **GIVING PEOPLE A HAND UP** We don’t only give people the food they need to survive, we also strive to provide them with the support and resources needed to help them build a better life. ## **HELPING THE WHOLE PERSON** We believe in tackling the whole problem, not just some of its symptoms. That’s why we offer mental health and wellbeing support, as well as spiritual guidance. Through this our guests can begin to focus on the future, rather than just making it through today. ## **WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER** We’re an uplifting and welcoming community – one that brings together guests, staff, volunteers, donors and ultimately our community to help make life better for those who need our support. We are somewhere that people come to meet others – to talk, to laugh, to cry, to pray, to be together. 10 ## **PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS** In 2023, despite the rising cost of living, we were overwhelmed by the support from our community. We would like to thank the many local **schools** who supported us during Harvest and Christmas. Some also partnered with us throughout the year to collect food, volunteer at the foodbank and learn about us and the community through our assemblies. We would like to thank the local **churches** who supported us throughout the year with substantial financial and food donations. Generous **individuals** gave up their time to raise money for us in a variety of exciting ways, from running a marathon, to designing Christmas cards, carol singing, concerts and holding a sponsored silence. We are grateful for the support from everyone. We also received grants and support from the following during 2023: Veolia Julia & Rausing Trust NEU Blakemore Foundation Clifford Chance CMS SS&C Lockton Horner Family Trust Sheldon Russell & Bromley Many **local businesses** supported us including Ewings Solicitors who kindly supported our Wills Week again this year. The Hygiene Bank helped with regular donations of much needed toiletries. We also saw a rise in the number of **regular donors** and one off financial donations, for which we are very grateful. Ellie Reeves, our local MP continued to support us through 2023. We want to thank everyone for their support throughout the year. 11 ## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** ## **TRUSTEES** - Andrew Cornish (Chair) - Will Skinner - Anthony Adams - Noel Hanrahan - Jo Gale - Brandon Lundini - Roger Wells - Uma Datta - Rev Jessica Smith - Rob Short - Alan Mason - Ryan Thomson Treasurer: Will Skinner Registered Office: 66 Lennard Road, Penge, London, SE20 7LX Registered Charity Number: 1157385 Independent Examiner: Tony Catherall Email: hello@livingwell.life Telephone: 07864591607 12 ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT** Living Well began in 2011, in response to growing numbers of people calling at the vicarage of Holy Trinity Beckenham church in Penge asking for help. Since then, thousands of people from across Bromley and South East London have come to Living Well. We became a registered charity in June 2014 and depend entirely on the work of volunteers and the generosity of our donors to keep going. We currently have over 300 committed volunteers who keep Living Well Bromley running smoothly and safely. Each of our main areas of work is overseen by a team leader who is responsible for the activity and the volunteers who help out. Our team leaders are: Simon Godfrey (Advocacy) Fiona Barnes (Art café) Sue Thomson (BLEND Choir) Mary Morinan (Clothes Bank) Tamara Cooper (Community Café) Henrike Hawkins (Community Lunch) Shirley Anthony (Counselling) Mary Elliot (Foodbank and Collections) Rebecca Day (Operations) Rev Jessica Smith (Pastoral care) 13 Our Trustees are the people responsible under the governing document of Living Well Bromley for controlling management and administration. Trustees are appointed by the Board of Trustees in a process of open competition following public advertisement. The Trustees met five times during the year. ## **Risk Management** Risks are identified and assessed and controls established throughout the year. The key controls used include: - Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for all team leaders and those working on a one-to-one basis with vulnerable adults - Induction and training for new and existing volunteers - Training and compliance with GDPR regulations - Food hygiene training and guidance for cooks and café volunteers - Safeguarding and equal opportunities policies - Clear authorisation and approval levels. ## **Financial Review for 1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023** See Appendix 1 14 ## **HOW YOU CAN HELP** Living Well Bromley relies on the ongoing support and involvement of lots of different people and the generosity of friends and supporters to keep going. It costs almost £2 per person to provide a hot lunch every Friday, while our foodbank gives out over 1300 bags of food per month. We welcome gifts of time, skills, food, clothes and money. Every gift helps us to build our community, providing care, comfort and support to those most in need. Here are some ways you can help: ## **VOLUNTEER** ## **DONATE** Our volunteers provide regular help and support to keep Living Well Bromley running smoothly and safely. In return we offer training and support. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer – from helping with our foodbank, to providing a listening ear, helping with fundraising and events or getting stuck in behind the scenes. We are always pleased to hear from people of all ages (over 18) and backgrounds who are interested in volunteering. Email us at **hello@livingwell.life** or call **07864591607** There are many different ways you can support Living Well Bromley – by donating money (either via monthly standing order or as a one-off donation), or by donating food for the foodbank, or clothes to the shop or clothes bank. Please remember to Gift Aid your donation if you are a UK tax payer. To donate please go to **www.livingwell.life** ## **KEEP IN TOUCH** Please go to **www.livingwell.life** or find us on social media 15 ## **APPENDIX 1** ## **ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** 16 E31i>04 18 t1071 £770 E141 t4012 t16812 t247J E47(XJ 1208 APPROVED BY ThE TRU SIGNED.. Chair of the Trustees. Andrew Cornish 17 UVING WELL BROMLEf Notes lo siatwrwrt of Flnano¥ Acttvlt tl(X £1( IpkntS• £1404 E1921 £1(171 £YJ13 tl( tic LX74 £277974 18 Z Admknl•lvallon1£3914> Ths Ind￿leS the salary fcff Ihe AdvocaGy Team Leadw Advcw Wvisor are partly funded by T￿t for Lon(kn. National Lottwy C￿￿nN￿ty FwKt, ￿￿1 Aviva malthd f￿dIThj Art P728 Thls exwditure vrds l•gdy met fr￿n the National Lottery C¢rnuity F￿d extertskA) tr￿￿ 21122 baJan¢• to July 2022 Bromley InnovatKMI Furmj for Cala. klictrth carrfed forward frcxm 2tY21r22 Thanks to skJrfficanl pro bw on rebMding fv aktatod tXKh36t fty tNs arna was skJnlfic4ntty 7. co￿￿11￿￿ (£22374 Thls Incl￿￿•& tho salary of cwr Cr thN year under section 144 01 the Charities kt 20111the Charities Act) and that an Independent examinatknn ts needed. It is my responsibility to .examlne the accou1￿ u￿leT sectlon 145 of the Charltes Act To tolk￿ the Procedu￿$ lawj down in the genefal Directk￿$ glven by the Charlty Commlsslonlunder sectknn 145(5)(b) of the charit￿ ACT) ar To state whether parti￿lar matters have come to my attention. My examinatKMI was carried (Krt in xcrydonce with Beneral directlons glven rccords kept try the chartty and a compartson of the accounts wesented wlth those recofds. It also Inckmkn cA>nsthratkn of any unuwal Iterns or dtsCk>SU￿ In the matter5. The pr(Kedures undertaken do Th)t provlde al the evklence that woukl be requlred in an audit ￿nd C￿se9Uerttty no Opinic￿ is 8Nen as to whether the accounts present a -tn￿ arKI falrf vkw and the rewrt 15 limited to these matters set in the ststement bel( In connection with my examinat￿. no matter has come to my Attentlon {l)Whkh glves reas(M)able cause to bebeve that in .in materlal . re5peo the requlreff•nts To keep accountlng records In accordance with sectth 130 of the Charft*s Act To prepare acc(xJnts which accord with the aCC£Wnti￿ records and compty wfth 8CCOUntinK requlrements of the charl￿ Acr have not been met ;or (?.) to which .in my opinion. attontion shauld bo drawn In ordw to enable a proper understanding of the ac£ounts to be reached Slgned T J Catherall 77 Merlln Gfoye 6fti 3115 35- Aprll 2023 20 www.livingwell.life @LWBromley @Livingwellbromley @LivingWellBromleyfoodbank Living Well Bromley