2025-03-31-accounts - Manna Meals

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MANNA MEALS

REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1165147

MANNA MEALS

REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

CONTENTS PAGE Reference and administrative information Trustees' report 4-5 Independent Examiner’s report Statement of financial activities Balance sheet Notes to the financial statements 9-11

MANNA MEALS

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees

Anna Cope Chair Victoria De Coster Abigail Gowland

Charity registration number

1165147

Registered office address

77a Coxtie Green Road Pilgrims Hatch Brentwood CM14 5PS

Independent Examiner

Alan C Radford FCA DChA Needham Cottage Needham Green Hatfield Broad Oak Bishops Stortford CM22 7JT

Bankers

Barclays Bank PLC 75 High Street Brentwood CM14 4RP

MANNA MEALS

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the Charity comply with the accounting policies set out in Note 1 to the financial statements, the requirements of the Charity's governing document and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities - (Charities SORP FRS102).

Structure, governance and management

The charity adopted its constitution on 11 January 2016 and was registered as a foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation by the Charity Commission for England & Wales on 13 January 2016.

The current Trustees, who have all served throughout the year and since, are: Anna Cope (Chair) Victoria De Coster Abigail Gowland

The constitution requires the charity to have a minimum of three Trustees. The initial Trustees were appointed on registration and can serve without restriction as to term. Subsequently appointed Trustees will be appointed for three-year terms.

Objectives and Activities

The objects of the Charity are to promote the benefit of the public by-:

The advancement of the Christian faith, through sharing and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• The relief of poverty and the promotion of social inclusion by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society, through the provision of food, practical advice and other forms of Christian care.

The charity’s activities are carried out in Brentwood, Essex and the surrounding area and are aimed at fulfilling our objectives through loving our community and the provision of food.

Achievements and Performance

We continue to partner with the Hope Mums project in Brentwood, providing them with regular grocery and recipe bags.

We continue to cook, freeze, and maintain stock at our various freezer hubs in the community on a regular basis (Brentwood Baptist Church, St Peter’s Church, Hutton, Dodd Road Church, Brentwood, St George’s Church, Brentwood, Brentwood Baptist Church and Trinity Church, Brentwood).

We continue to provide grocery bags to the Lighthouse Project for them to distribute along with the frozen meals as and when they meet those who need extra food.

We continue to run a regular Sunday lunch at Bishops Hall Community Centre in partnership with Pilgrims Hatch Baptist Church. This is either a free 2 course hot meal or a free buffet style hot and cold breakfast selection. These events are free for anyone in the community to attend.

We continue to run our free ‘Tea-Time Together’ events every other Wednesday afternoon/evening from the Bishops Hall Community Centre. This event offers free tea-time snacks, sandwiches and soup along with a 2 course hot meal (plus vegetarian option) for anyone in the community to receive. We also offer free grocery bags at this event for those in need of additional food.

All Manna Meals events are free to anyone in the local community.

We have recently opened a Community Pantry at the Bishops Hall Community Centre. This pantry is a non-profit mini shop run by volunteers. The model works in such a way that the value of a basket of items will usually be up to 30% lower than local supermarkets. The pantry also offers regularly

MANNA MEALS

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

changing recipe bags at a reduced price for both 2 and 4 portions. These bags include all the ingredients and instructions to complete the recipe. The pantry is stocked with fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products such as fresh milk and cheese, fresh bread, eggs and other general grocery items (currently stocking circa 180 products) and is open to the public twice a week. There is also a space at each session for people to pop in and have a free tea or coffee and a biscuit, regardless of whether they are purchasing from the pantry or not.

Manna Meals continues to engage with different churches and organisations around the Brentwood area to see how we can partner and support our community.

Financial review

Our income increased this year to £34,916 from £8,842 in the previous year, largely thanks to a grant from Essex County Council to enable us to set up a Community Pantry. Our expenditure totalled £41,789 (2023-24 - £32,774), generating an overall deficit of £6,873.

Generous donations received in previous years have enabled us to finance this deficit and continue our activities without any curtailment. We are grateful to all our donors for their support, both this year and in earlier years.

The Trustees seek to manage the charity with a minimum of cost and external financial commitment. Our unrestricted reserves totalled £22,398 at 31 March 2025 (2024 - £35,847).

Reserves policy

In line with Charity Commission guidelines, the Trustees have developed a reserves policy to cover their financial responsibilities should the charity suffer an unexpected fall in income.

The Trustees have agreed that they should maintain a figure of £5,000 in unrestricted funds to enable the payment of insurance, rent, mobile phone charges, professional fees, replenishment of freezers and other expenses. At 31 March 2025, the unrestricted reserves of £22,398 comfortably exceeded that sum.

The Trustees review this policy annually at the Annual General Meeting.

Public benefit statement

The Trustees confirm that, in reviewing their aims and objectives and in planning future activities, they have complied with their duty in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission.

The public benefit of the Charity's activities is outlined in relation to its objects set out under 'Objectives and Activities’ above and detailed in terms of its execution in the report of ‘Achievements and Performance’.

2025 and signed on their behalf by:

Anna Cope

MANNA MEALS

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF MANNA MEALS

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Manna Meals (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and related notes.

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND EXAMINER

The charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commissioners 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 give me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1- accounting records were not kept as required by section 130 of the Act.
2- the accounts do not accord with those accounting records.
3- the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Repots) 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 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.

Alan C Radford FCA DChA

Needham Cottage Needham Green Hatfield Broad Oak Bishops Stortford CM22 7JT

18 September 2025

MANNA MEALS

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Note INCOME Donations Fundraising Other TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE Expenditure on charitable activities: Activities Grants Support costs 3 Governance 4 TOTAL EXPENDITURE SURPLUS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE TRANSFER OF FUNDS NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS FUNDS AT 1 APRIL 2024 FUNDS AT 31 MARCH 2025	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2025 £ £ £ 19,497 15,000 34,497 - - - 419 - 419 19,916 15,000 34,916 28,650 8,424 37,074 - - - 4,265 - 4,265 450 - 450 33,365 8,424 41,789 (13,449) 6,576 (6,873) - - -	2024 £ 8,842 - -
		8,842
		28,859 - 3,590 325
		32,774
		(23,932) -
	(13,449) 6,576 (6,873) 35,847 - 35,847 22,398 6,576 28,974	(23,932) 59,779
		35,847

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

The annexed notes form part of these financial statements

MANNA MEALS

BALANCE SHEET 31 MARCH 2025

2025 £ 5,489 - 23,935 23,935 (450) 23,485 28,974 22,398 6,576 28,974	2024 £ 2,118 - 34,054 34,054 (325) 33,729 35,847 35,847 - 35,847	2024 £ 2,118 - 34,054 34,054 (325) 33,729 35,847 35,847 - 35,847
23,935 (450)	34,054 (325)

		35,847
		35,847 -
		35,847

The financial statements were approved, and authorised for issue, by the Trustees on 18 September 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

...........................................

Anna Cope

The annexed notes form part of these financial statements

MANNA MEALS

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

ACCOUNTING POLICIES
a) Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) – ‘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)’ and the Charities Act 2011.

b) Going concern

The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties over the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

c) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objects of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. Restricted funds are those held with donor-imposed conditions attached.

d) Fixed Assets

Equipment with an individual cost of over £1,000 is capitalised as a fixed asset. Depreciation is charged at 25% per annum to write off the cost over four years.

e) Donations

Donations represent the amount receivable for the year, including gift aid recovery.

f) Expenditure

Expenditure is included in the Statement of Financial Activities on the accruals basis.

2. TRUSTEE REMUNERATION AND REIMBURSED EXPENSES

During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration, and no expenses were reimbursed to them (2023-24 - none).

SUPPORT COSTS

PPORT COSTS
Office rent Printing, stationery, and postage IT costs Insurance Training Promotional materials Subscriptions Cleaning Travel Phone Donations and gifts OVERNANCE COSTS Independent Examiner’s fee	2025 £ 744 - 985 413 78 314 75 200 1,100 300 56 4,265 450	2024 £ 690 71 665 352 - 265 35 - 1,382 240 220
		3,590
		535

GOVERNANCE COSTS

MANNA MEALS

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

FIXED ASSETS

XED ASSETS
EQUIPMENT Cost at 1 April 2024 Additions Depreciation at 1 April 2024 Depreciation charge for the year Net book amount at 31 March 2025 REDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Accruals and deferred income	2025 £ 4,236 4,850 2,118 1,479 5,489 2025 £ 450 450	2024 £ 4,236 - 1,059 1,059
		2,118
		2024 £ 325
		325

CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

7 RESTRICTED FUNDS

During the year, Essex County Council provided funding of £15,000 as a Community Supermarket Programme Grant. This is part of a funded partnership programme to develop sustainable access to affordable food. Manna Meals delivers this through a transactional, retail experience, offering food and household items at a reduced cost to shoppers.

The balance of the funds at 31 March 2025 after expenditure of £8,424 was £6,576.

The fund balance comprises:

Fixed Asset Cash at bank	2025 £ 1,317 5,259 6,576	2024 £ 0 0
		0

MANNA MEALS

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR 2023-24 SPLIT BY FUND DESIGNATION

INCOME Donations TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE Expenditure on charitable activities: Activities Grants Support costs Governance TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET DEFICIT IN FUNDS FUNDS AT 1 APRIL 2023 FUNDS AT 31 MARCH 2024	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total £ £ £ 8,842 - 8,842
	8,842 - 8,842
	28,859 - 28.859 - - - 3,590 - 3,590 325 - 325
	32,774 - 32,774
	(23,932) - (23,932) 59,779 - 59,779
	35,847 - 35,847