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2024-12-31-accounts

Charity Registration No. 1158825

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees

Mr Dan Brain Mr Chris Goodhead Mr Dave Keating Mr Dom Hooley Mr Tony Gallagher

Charity number 1158825 Principal address Unit G6 Wells Place Eastleigh Hampshire SO50 5PP

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

CONTENTS

Page
Trustees' report 1 - 3
Statement of trustees' responsibilities 4
Independent examiner's report 5
Statement of financial activities 6
Balance sheet 7
Notes to the accounts 8 - 12

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

TRUSTEES' REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)”.

Objectives and activities

The charity's objects are the relief of poverty and financial hardship for public benefit in Eastleigh and surrounding areas in particular but not exclusively by providing food to individuals and families in need. In furtherance of these objects, the charity operates a food bank in Eastleigh town centre.

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

Achievements and performance

Eastleigh Basics Bank was open to the public throughout the year, providing 7,898 (2023: 7,771) people with a week's supply of food. Since opening in 2011 approximately 50,400 people have been fed.

The charity is a community based organisation, working with for example:

During the year we have been generously supported by so many people and businesses. We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support of our landlords at Wells Place, Bradbeers.

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

Review of the year

2024 continued to see a sustained demand. We still had not re-implemented our old voucher limits or reintroduced our tea/coffee offering whilst clients wait for their food packages to be made. This is due to the workload of doing so on our managers who continue to be stretched. Space is another challenge as the front of our shop remains primarily used to store the ready-made packs awaiting collection. Our operations remain resilient and efficient – although at the cost of being able to spend time chatting to clients and providing the level of love and compassion we feel is appropriate for a Christian organisation. This was however the second year we have run a significant deficit financially in order to meet the demand which looking forward will be unsustainable and required action.

We now enjoy the faithful service of six shop managers, having recruited two new managers and seven teams operating on a rotation. This has helped keep up with the demand in the shop and spread the work load over four days rather than three days a week. We also have supermarket collection teams doing seven supermarket collections a week collecting the food donated by customers. Our warehouse facility is working well and our warehouse team does a great job in managing our stocks, however it is much emptier these days than we have been used to. Our van is serving the warehouse and collections team really well moving stock between the warehouse and shop, as well as doing harvest festival and events collections. We had one trustee step down, but who remains serving us very practically as our volunteer coordinator, and one step up from our management committee to be a trustee during 2024. We also had one management committee member step down citing we ran things so well he didn’t feel his role was necessary and he had other things which would benefit from his time. We received that as it was intended, a great compliment to the team, although we where sad to lose his input. We continue to be 100% volunteer run with over 60 volunteers contributing to the effort, which we see as an indicator of our success and the support locally.

The support we received over the last year has remained strong yet unable to keep up with the demand. As predicted we have had to spend considerable sums to buy food to ensure stocks don’t run out and our urgently needed food/essentials list has been very long for some time. We have sufficient reserves to meet this demand in the medium term but looking ahead we recognise that we will need to make changes over the coming year to ensure the Eastleigh Basics Bank continues to be viable and survive. We are therefore looking at a new campaign to run in 2025, exploring new client management systems so we can reintroduce the voucher limits and will continue to closely monitor the situation over the coming months.

Financial review

It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and nine months expenditure. The Trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in donations or a significant rise in demand, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised.

Reserve levels at the year end of £97,004 were at the bottom of this range. Measures have been put in place to ensure the charity can reduce the deficits sustained in recent years, thereby stabilising the reserves held in line with policy. To date we have operated without the need for paying staff. We acknowledge the great commitment of our volunteers, the monetary value of their time being in excess of £66,000 for 2024.

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to those major risks.

2

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Structure, governance and management

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (“CIO”) registered with the Charity Commission on 9 October 2014.

Eastleigh Basics Bank was setup by the churches of Eastleigh to support those who are experiencing financial difficulty and need short term support through the provision of food. It is operated and managed entirely by volunteers.

The trustees who served during the year were:

Mr Dan Brain Mr Chris Goodhead Mr Dave Keating Mr Dom Hooley Mrs Hazel Bateman (resigned 23 September 2024) Mr Tony Gallagher (appointed 23 September 2024)

Management takes the form of a committee of trustees and other volunteers, with day to day responsibility delegated to the shop managers. New trustees are identified and appointed by the existing committee.

None of the trustees have any beneficial interest in the charity.

The trustees' report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

D M Brain

Mr Dan Brain

Trustee Dated: 27 October 2025

3

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that year.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

4

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Eastleigh Basics Bank (“the Charity”) for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 6 to 12.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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.

Timothy M Rogerson

Timothy M Rogerson FCA

Dated: 27 October 2025

18 Saxon Way, Romsey, SO51 5PT

5

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Notes
Income from:
Donations and legacies
2
Interest receivable
3
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
4
Net expenditure for the year
Fund balances at 1 January 2024
Fund balances at 31 December 2024
2024
£
249,972
1,098
251,070
294,381
(43,311)
140,315
97,004
2023
£
219,577
942
220,519
262,233
(41,714)
182,029
140,315

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

6

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

2024 2023
Notes £ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 8 5,125 6,834
Current assets
Stocks 9 15,065 11,875
Debtors 10 549 664
Cash at bank and in hand 76,825 121,827
92,439 134,366
Creditors: amounts falling due within 11
one year (560) (885)
Net current assets 91,879 133,481
Total assets less current liabilities 97,004 140,315
Income funds
Unrestricted funds 97,004 140,315
97,004 140,315

The accounts were approved by the Trustees on 27 October 2025

Mr Chris Goodhead Trustee

Charity Registration No. 1158825

7

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1 Accounting policies

Company information

Eastleigh Basics Bank is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered on 9 October 2014.

1.1 Accounting convention

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the charity's constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" effective January 2019. The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

1.2 Going concern

At the time of approving the accounts, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.

1.3 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

1.4 Income

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

8

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1 Accounting policies (Continued)

1.5 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred.

1.6 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Motor vehicles

4 years straight line

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.

1.7 Stocks

Donated stocks distributed during the year and held at the year end are stated at fair value i.e. an approximation to their shop cost, discounted where appropriate.

2 Donations and legacies

Monetary donations and gifts
Donated stocks
2024
£
56,666
193,306
249,972
2023
£
55,972
163,605
219,577

9

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

3 Income from investments

Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2024 2023
£ £
Interest receivable 1,098 942
4 Charitable activities
2024 2023
£ £
Stocks distributed 267,505 239,968
Insurance 1,555 714
Rent and rates 14,388 14,449
Utilities 2,571 3,338
Shop and storage costs 4,804 2,907
Memberships 213 208
Printing and advertising 24 374
Legal and professional costs 503 275
Motor vehicle costs 1,104 -
Bank fees 5 -
Depreciation 1,709 -
294,381 262,233

Included above are amounts payable to the Independent Examiner of £475.

5 Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year or prior year, and were not reimbursed for any expenses incurred on behalf of the charity. The charity pays a trustee indemnity premium as part of its general insurance cover.

6 Employees

There were no employees during the year or prior year. Eastleigh Basics Bank is run entirely by volunteers.

10

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

7 Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

8 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 January 2024
At 31 December 2024
Depreciation and impairment
Depreciation charged in the year
At 31 December 2024
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2024
At 31 December 2023
9
Stocks
Food and toiletries etc, for distribution
10
Debtors
Amounts falling due within one year:
Prepayments and accrued income
Motor
2024
£
15,065
2024
£
549
vehicles
£
6,834
6,834
1,709
1,709
5,125
6,834
2023
£
11,875
2023
£
664

11

EASTLEIGH BASICS BANK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

11 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024 2023
£ £
Other creditors 560 885

12 Operating lease commitments

As at 31 December 2024 the charity had total operating lease commitments of £31,983 (2023: £37,783) in respect of a lease expiring within five years.

12