Arnold Foodbank Trustees Annual Report for 2021/22
2021/22 continued the challenge set down for us by the Lockdown year of 2020. It was a year of transition as we tried to establish new routines and processes to meet the needs of our clients.
Our main aims have remained the same. To provide three days’ worth of food for households that have been referred to us. Along with the rest of Trussell Trust Foodbanks, we have also been considering how we can move forward on our aim of helping our clients to access other forms of support to help them maximise their income and be more in control of their own finances. Having the dignity of making your own food choices, with your own money, will always be the best option.
It was with this in mind that, when Trussell Trust approached us to consider accessing their Financial Inclusion Grant Scheme, we were very keen to move forward with this option. This grant, and the support offered alongside it, created a Service Level Agreement with our local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). We would be able to host an advisor at each of our sessions. The grant funding would cover the cost of the advisor and any expenditure associated with their presence, including extra room hire with the Church (our landlord). The aim would be to encourage clients, especially our most long-standing users, to be given the opportunity to have a check on their benefits, look out for grants and to encourage them to look at their budgets. Funding would also go towards a separate Debt Advisor to support those caught in that trap.
All with the aim of reducing and/or eliminating the need for Foodbank use.
For those who have become used to Foodbank as a social connection, we would encourage them to use other social outlets such as community meal programmes, like the Wednesday breakfast group that church runs along with other similar programmes that other local community groups organise.
Our accumulation of stock during 2020 continued to sustain us throughout 2021, with generous donations still coming in through Harvest, Christmas and weekly supermarket donations. Our financial status remains comfortable. We are constantly looking at how best to use donations for clients’ benefit and making our position secure. It is with the latter in mind that we agreed to have firmer rental agreement with our landlord, the Church.
We have also set a budget to provide “hardship funds”. This would be at the discretion of the manager but could include everything from bus fares, to aid transport home with a food parcel, to support with contributions towards household appliances.
In the Autumn we gathered with Trussell’s area manager to look at strategic matters. Trustees and volunteers were invited to make contributions on how we move forward effectively. Some of the actions outlined already we outcomes of this meeting ~~.~~ We also agreed that we needed to find new talent on our trustee board. We particularly required a new Treasurer as our current, long-serving one was standing down. In addition, we needed more support from people with business experience. More sharing of the responsibilities of Trusteeship was essential as was more training for volunteers to gain confidence in their
role, ensuring they had full understanding of the work of Foodbank, their role in that work and being part, as they wanted, of moving forward in creating an organisation that looked for ways to reduce the need for its existence.
Despite this, our need remains constant. Although our overall number of vouchers fulfilled (2309 feeding 4676 people) was lower than 2020/21 (2725 vouchers) and 2019/20 (2717), it was above the pre-Covid 2018/19 year (2159).
We remain engaged with local organisations who refer to us, especially DWP, social services, schools, housing associations, local authorities and charity groups.
Our challenges for the coming year are to establish the Financial Inclusion Project with CAB, build up our Trusteeship and provide more training opportunities for volunteers.
Helen Lloyd
(Chair of Trustees)
CASHBOOK BALANCE Receipts and Payments. YIE 3110312022 RECEIPTS INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS SUPERMARKETS DONATIONS- CHURCHES JUST GIVING CAF CHARITY DONATIONS- ORGANISATIONS I SCHOOLS COUNCILLORS & GBC,NOTTS.CC FUNDRAISERS DONATION VIA legac GIFT AID TRUSSELL TRUST DONATION- COMPANY/ BUSINESS TOGETHER FOR CHANGE INTEREST 27.$43 107 4.455 12,518 2.050 5,429 2,7SO 360 4.310 42.349 189 TOTAL RECEIPTS 112,166 PAYMENTS HARDSHIP FUND SALARY CAPITAL ITEMS ADVERTISEMENT I PROMOTION STATIONERY I STAMPS I PRINTER INK MISC. COSTS PHONE DAYBROOK BAPTIST- DONATIONS TRUSSELL TRUST FEES INSURANCE HOSPITALITY FOODSTOCK CHURCH IMPROVEMENTS CORONAVIRUS GIFTVOUCHERS- FOOD MEAT VOUCHERS 8ANK CHARGES I JUST GMNG CASH TIN 113 15.109 1.095 588 405 334 214 304 458 723 350 371 1.190 150 447 150 TOTAL PA YMENTS 23.$01 CASH CARRIED FORWARD 0110412021 NET MOVEMENT 115.632 88,665 CASH FUNDS AT 3110312022 204,297
Receipts and Payments Accounts Notes Unrestrkted Restricted funds funds Total funds HSBC BANK CURRENT ACCOUNT HSBC BANK DEPOSIT ACCOUNT MANSFIELD BUILDING SOCIETY FLOAT TOTAL FUNDS - AS AT 3110312022 36.597 30.003 85,184 150 151,934 52,513 89.110 30.(M13 85.184 150 204,447 S2,513 RESTRICTED FUNDS COVID 9.595 TRAINING CO - OP PROJECTS FINANCIAL INCLUSION VOLUNTEERS - CELEBRATON 4,662 37,495 300 52,513 EXPENDITURE Gift Aid Tokens - Paid by GBC Salaries { Manaqer and Assistanl ) Daybrook Baptist Church - Rent Daybrook Baptist Church - Utility Printer Laptop - for Helen Lloyd use Cupboards x 2 Trollies x 12 DehmKlifier Settee Electrical Points Roller Banner Claimenls Meal SCREENS BANK CHARGES FOOD COST INSURANCE Non itemised costs - Under £50 1,190 15,109 1,000 500 81 350 240 225 140 210 99 280 420 447 724 303 1.984
Arnold Foodbank Charitable Trust Re istered Chari 1170229 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination that give me reasonable cause to believe that: Accounting records have not been kept as required by section 130 of the Charities Act or The accounts do not accord with these records or The accounts do not Comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and content of accounts as set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirements that the accounts give a "true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination I would, however, like to document the following comments: Until partially through the year, it appears that the Centre Manager was preparing and calculating her own salary. lthilst I can see no errors in her calculations, it is not considered "good practice. and l am please to see that this is no longer the case. Whilst looking at the salaries I can see no evKlence that the Charity has looked at claiming an Employers Allowan available from HMRC - currently this year small businesses and charities are able to claim up to £5,000 against their Employers National Insurance. If this hasn't already been considered I applied for, I would suggest that this may be beneficial to you. Lesley Fairclough Bsc 215t June 2022