## Annual Report ## 2021 - 2022 ## _“Helping you feed our hungry neighbours”_ ## **OUR OBJECTIVES VALUES AND AIMS OF THE CHARITY.** ## **Our Objectives are:** To relieve persons in central Bedfordshire and the surrounding area that are in poverty or financial hardship in such ways as the Trustees from time to time think fit, in particular, but not exclusively by: 1. Providing food packages to support individuals and families who are experiencing food deprivation. 2. Providing other items to meet immediate and essential needs, as resources allow. 3. Developing other forms of support to meet immediate need and alleviate financial hardship. To achieve these objects The Need Project has the following: ## **Our Values are:** We are a Christian organisation motivated by Jesus’ teaching on poverty and injustice. We operate according to Christian principles of compassion, honesty, integrity, openness, kindness and care of all people, regardless of backgrounds or beliefs (or none). We are passionate about inclusion and being non-judgemental is central to what we do. We believe that everyone has the right to have food on their plate, dignity, skills, a chance to work and hope for the future. ## **Our Aims are:** The Trustees employ a number of strategies to assist The Need Project to alleviate poverty or financial hardship and meet its Objectives by: - Providing free food parcels, and when resources allow furniture and clothing, for adults and families experiencing financial crisis. 1 of 8 - By providing food and other essentials to families and individuals referred to the charity by recognised social work agencies, local authorities, community bodies, churches, charities or other organisations whose purpose includes the prevention or relief of poverty (‘referral agencies’). - Developing effective relationships with local councils (County, unitary, parish and town), referral agencies, faith groups and community groups. - Ensuring wide community participation in the charity’s projects through giving and raising awareness. - Developing a culture of lifelong learning throughout the organisation to allow the trustees, core staff and volunteers to do their allotted jobs effectively. - Building strong links with the local media, and regularly updating the charity’s website to stimulate public awareness of the charity’s work and the issues facing people in poverty and distress. - Setting up social enterprises which add value to the charity’s existing projects by generating surpluses. - Identifying, evaluating and incorporating best practice in project templates to ensure that projects become self-sustaining and are easy to replicate. - Working closely with churches to help the Christian faith community to take a more active, practical and effective role in social action. - Providing educational support to enable those referred to become more self-sufficient where it is appropriate, and resources allow ## **“OUR” KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS** We have summarised below the outputs, outcomes, impacts and benefits of the work of the Need Project, but as Christian Charity it is our conviction that the Lord has done His work of meeting peoples’ needs through our labours 2 of 8 ## **WHAT WE HAVE DONE** We have established partnerships with the following organisations: These are the stats for the year: ## _**April 2021 – March 2022**_ ## _**End of Financial Year**_ Yet again every month this past year has exceeded the previous two years in terms of food parcels delivered. 3 of 8 ## _**Adults & Children Served**_ ## _**Served by Each Distribution Hub**_ ## _**Analysis of the reasons for referrals**_ 4 of 8 ## _**Furniture, Furnishings and White Goods**_ The trustees took the decision in this reporting period to no longer provide these items, the reasons for this are: 1. The increasing demand on our resources and capacity to supply food, which is now our core mission. 2. Other providers of these items are operating within Central Bedfordshire, and we sign post clients to these organisations, ## **WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED** Record number of food parcels delivered – an increase of 25% on the previous year. Dealing with the effects of COVID-19 lockdown with the way we operated, the lack of food and the increase in the number of parcels delivered. Two new trustees appointed Bob Cain appointed as chair of Trustees following Steve Gaunt’s retirement A new hub in Cranfield established **WHAT DIFFERENCE WE HAVE MADE** **A sample from those we are called to serve** 5 of 8 ## **THE PROJECT LEADER’S REPORT** Well, it’s that time again. Time to firstly look back on what we have achieved in the past year, but also to focus on the present and future of the Need Project. Last year saw a few changes to the project. We now employ Jean, our new administrator/fundraiser on a part time basis, which has made a great difference to the daily functioning of our ministry. Also we have Caroline, our driver who picks up from supermarkets etc. on a daily basis who is employed for two hours per day which also lightens the pressure on us all. Dawn and I really appreciate all the volunteers in all of the five hubs who sort, pick up and deliver to our clients throughout Central Beds and beyond. We are so grateful for all our supporters, be it financial, prayerfully and encouragers without which it would not be possible to function. Our workload has increased enormously and month on month grows as more families and single people fall into food poverty. We continue to do the best we can and are so grateful to God that he favours us in so many ways. Our referral agencies increase in number all the time, which produces more clients to feed, food to source and finance to find. But on the flip side we get the chance to make a difference in people's lives as we carry out this work and make good solid relationships with so many along the way. Our monthly reports are available on our new website which we are told by agencies is so much easier to access which in turn speeds up our response and efficiency. We have achieved so much more than we could have imagined last year but now we move forward under God's guidance and provision to where he is leading. As I finish I would in all honesty and gratitude like to thank everyone who has been part of the journey, from the Christmas volunteers, to the regular deliverers and the people who support us in so many ways. I won’t name names as I may miss someone out but you know who you are. I have to mention Dawn as my assistant who brings so much to the table and has to put up with my ways which very rarely may be challenging. The future of the project is in the safe hands of the God we serve. Thank you all and please pray for the project as we seek Gods will for the future, and how we serve our neighbours. Praise God always, ## **Gordon Hamilton** 6 of 8 **TREASURER'S REPORT** ## **THE NEED PROJECT ANNUAL ACCOUNTS UP TO 31/03/2022** **INCOME £** Donations from Churches 19,405.53 Grants from Trusts 82,111.12 Donations from individuals 40,100.50 Misc. Donations 7,793.06 Web donations 7,530.65 HMRC Gift Aid recovery 10,457.81 **TOTAL INCOME 167,398.67** ## **EXPENDITURE £** Payroll 51,405.75 Van 35,337.84 Fuel 5,964.25 Food 35,020.45 Insurance 2,214.68 Stotfold Centre 15,300.00 Miscellaneous items 15,334.17 ## **TOTAL EXPENDITURE** **160,577.14** ## **BALANCE AT END OF YEAR** **169,744.53** ## **Results of the Independent Examiner** In accordance with the provisions of Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011, I have examined the receipts and payments accounts and statement of assets and liabilities of The Need Project Central Bedfordshire set out relating to the year ending 31st March 2021. This examination did not extend to a comprehensive audit of such accounts. 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 7 of 8 Mr David P Rolfe ## **FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS** Our main goals for the project are: - Appoint a new Administrator / Fundraiser - Modify the Constitution to allow employees to serve as Trustees - Enhance the Financial Management processes of the project - Review and revise all our policies to ensure they are fit for purpose - Update the Website and develop and develop an automated referral process to streamline referrals to clients in need. - Develop costed plans for a new operational centre for the project On behalf of the Trustees of The Need Project Central Bedfordshire. Bob Cain, Chair of Trustees 8 of 8