## **Trustees Annual Report**
## **- APRIL 2020 MARCH 20201**
Our year began as the last one ended - in Lockdown! On the 6[th] of April 2020, with the Warehouse emptied of food, toiletries, and cleaning items, we closed our doors due to the nationwide Lockdown not knowing when, or if, we would be back. Although we were classed as an essential service, due to most time-givers being over 70 years and ordered to stay at home, we could not continue.
**What happened next!** Surrey Heath Prepared did! Working in partnership with Surrey Heath Borough Council and High Cross Church, all our food stocks and other stock went to the SHP headquarters at High Cross, along with some of our younger timegivers. Between them, they kept the Besom food referrals going out to those most in need, alongside government parcels and self-referrals. We are so grateful and owe them a huge debt.
After the first Lockdown ended the team at SHP helped moved us back to the Warehouse along with a generous amount of stock, advice, and practical support on Covid-safe working practices from Mike Thomason and Greg Scott, plus some of the experienced SHP volunteers joined the Besom Team. This, combined with a SHBC grant, meant we were able to reopen our doors in July 2021. Thanks to the measures put in place we were able to work through the subsequent lockdowns.
**Core Team and Trustees:** The Core team and Trustees met less often than usual over the 12 months but were able to keep in touch through email and phone for any urgent matters. Each meeting began with a Bible Reading and a time of prayer. Discussions included Lockdown, Covid-1, finance, and an overhaul of safeguarding policy.
**Funding** : We are so thankful that once again all our financial needs have been met. Funds were received as usual from our Supporter Churches, although they were unable to give as generously as previous years, however, more donations were received from individuals, and a huge grant from SHBC to keep
food stocks up. We are thankful to all who give in this way and value their support. It very reassuring to yet again have healthy credit balance to face next year’s challenges See the Year End Accounts for more details.
**Other Giving:** The generosity of people and organisations continue to be overwhelming at times, without them we could not fund this work.
**Christmas 2020:** We were able to pack and send out an incredible 149 hampers, up 50% on 2019 to local families and individuals. In addition, generous Christmas food packs were prepared in the last week before Christmas for those new referrals received at that time. We were so grateful to the Revd Richard Lane and Camberley Baptist Church, who gave us exclusive use of the hall and other spaces for most of December, thus allowing us to pack in a Covidsafe way.
**Talks, Visits and Events:** Unfortunately, we were unable to hold our usual Open days, give talks or attend any events.
**Time-givers:** Our wonderful, dedicated Timegivers, whether drivers, packers, shelf-fillers, admin, shoppers, and the huge number of other jobs, are as ever, invaluable. The Supporter Church Reps also play a vital role in keeping their church updated and the collection point box emptied, as well as generally promoting the work of Besom. All our Time-givers, who bring with them a wealth of experience and skills, have risen to the considerable challenges of the past year. Thank you!
**Collection Points:** Most of our Church Collection Points closed for several months and we were grateful for the permanent front-of-store collection box at Waitrose Bagshot, the Sainsbury’s Store on Heatherside, and the Co-op in Lightwater.
**Referrals:** The number of referrals for July 20 to March 21 were:
Total referrals 792
Of which Adults 1278 and Children 854 which does not include 149 Christmas Hampers and CASH 24 hours emergency bags.
Food remains the biggest request from referrers by far, although there was a substantial decrease in the number of the household packs this year so could concentrate on providing Food parcels.
Most of the referrals continue to be for people living in the Town, St. Michaels, Old Dean and Watchetts Wards with good numbers in Bagshot and Frimley; Frimley Green and Lightwater have increased and there is a sprinkling in the remaining 5 wards.
We continue to point both referrers and recipients towards Frontline Debt Advice and CASH, when appropriate, with whom we have a close working relationship.
**Referrers:** Citizen’s Advice Surrey Heath (CASH) and Frontline Debt Advice, are still the biggest referrer, also the local housing associations- Accent and Riverside. Barnardo’s, Surrey Heath Housing Needs and Family Support, the NHS Mental Health team, are all regular referrers-
## **And Finally:**
The needs will continue to grow with the end of the Furlough Scheme, the reduction in Universal Credit, the upcoming rise in NI and the ever-rising cost of living. All will have a devastating impact on those least able to manage. However, we look to the future with confidence. We will continue to work in partnership with local churches and agencies to meet some of the need and to alleviate poverty where we are able, acting as a vital bridge between those who have and those in need.
For I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink ,I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25:35-36(NIV)
Registered charity no: 1160548 (England and Wales)
|Subtotal|22,232|2,782|25,014|{6,E33|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|A4Asset andinvestment|||||
|purchases.(seetable)|||||
|Subtotal|||||
|Total payments|22,232|2,782|25,014|16,833|
|Netofreceipts/(payments)|39,104|2,782|36,322|9,016|
|A5Transfersbetweenfunds|||||
|A6 Cashfundslast year end|30,776|2,782|33,558||
|Cashfundsthis yearend|69,880||69,880|9,0{6|
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
**Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees/** BESOM in Camberley **members of**
|**On accounts for the year**
**ended**
**Set out on pages**|31stMarch 2021|**Charity no**
**(if any)**|1160548|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
||3 & 4
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)|||
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended **31/03/2021** .
**Responsibilities and** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the **basis of report** accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’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** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
**Date:** 14/06/2021
**Signed: Name:** Karen Mary Kendall **Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 9 Upper Gordon Road Camberley SURREY GU15 2HJ
**Oct 2018**
**IER**
1
## **Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
**Oct 2018**
**IER**
2