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2025-03-31-accounts

Arnold Foodbank (Registered in England & Wales, charity number 1170229) Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

Page Contents
2 - 4 Trustees’ annual report
5 Independent examiner’s report
6 Receipts & payments account
7 Statement of assets & liabilities
8 - 9 Notes to the accounts

Arnold Foodbank Trustees’ annual report for the year ended 31 March 2025

Full name Arnold Foodbank

Organisation type Charitable incorporated organisation

Registered charity number 1170229

Principal address

Daybrook Baptist Church 14 Mansfield Road Daybrook Nottingham NG5 6AA

Trustees

Helen Lloyd Colin Bullett Anne Lee Alan Maxwell Sarah Benedek Clare Collins Daniel Moore Roberta Borges-Stewart until, 02/06/2024

Independent examiner

John O’Brien, employee of Community Accounting Plus, Units 1 & 2 North West, 41 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GL

Governance and management

The charity is operated under the rules of its constitution adopted 2016.

Trustees are recruited by completion of an application form. Informal interview and assessment of skills and talents as would be beneficial to the project.

Objectives and activities

The objects of Arnold Foodbank are to provide relief of financial hardship amongst the people of Arnold and surrounding area, or in other parts of the United Kingdom, in such ways as the Trustees from time to time think fit, in particular, but not exclusively by a) providing emergency food, essential toiletries and other household items to individuals and families in need and/or for distribution by charities or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty. and b) Such other means, including (but not limited to) the provision of support or signposting to relevant information and other advisory services.

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Arnold Foodbank

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit

By supporting the most vulnerable in our community, and encouraging that support through donations from local people and businesses, we promote community cohesion. Neighbour helping neighbour. There is no exclusion to possible recipients - access is about need rather than particular circumstances. Data from our service can also help highlight issues at local and national level.

Public benefit statement

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit'.

Summary of the main achievements during the period

During this past year we have continued to serve the community of Arnold and surrounding areas. We have provided food and provisions for 1329 individual households - the majority (60%) only requiring one visit. On average people come to us between 2-3 times in a year.

We have also continued to refer and signpost users to our in-house Financial Inclusion project, manned by Citizens Advice Nottingham staff. They support people to access benefits and grants, advise of appeals. manage their debts and general budgeting. All to help maximise the household income and decrease their need of using Foodbank. At the start of 2024 DWP stopped referring people to us. They were our largest referrer (10%). We believe many of those who were frequently being referred through DWP are, either, managing their finances better - less reliant on Foodbank, or are receiving referrals through advice and support agencies, which are better managed.

We also lost our local Welfare Rights Agency, another major referrer from Nottingham City. Their clients will now come through Citizens Advice, which accounts for the 66% increase in referrals through all CA outlets - national and local.

We also support people through referrals to Fuel bank, free SIM cards and practical support with items such as air-fryers, microwaves and kitchen equipment for people going in to properties after homelessness.

Through our relationship with Gedling Borough Council, we also part fund social activities such as cinema trips. This can be a huge treat for families during school holidays.

We also work in collaboration with the local social housing provider. They provide support for all users who need help looking for work.

Our relationship with the local council remains very positive. Helping them in distributing Household Support Fund to those families most in need.

We occasionally help to fund items for people in need of support with household items such as cookers, fridges, children’s beds. We do not give out cash but will order and organise deliveries to the person's home. Our policy is to make use of local charities first. If they are unable to help we will look to a national charity (Acts 435). If they are unable to help, or the need is more urgent than they can cater for, then we will step in.

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Arnold Foodbank

The charity’s policy on reserves

Unrestricted reserves are needed to fund increases in costs arising from greater demand from clients, particularly the costs of providing food, unexpected items of expenditure and service developments. The minimum level of unrestricted reserves has been reviewed within the year in the light of increased expenditure and activity and was reset at £52,000, based on roughly six months’ worth of running costs and winding up costs. The policy is reviewed every three years.

Financial risks

The continued impact of the high cost of living and a decrease in donations.

Financial Review

Compared with 2023/24, operational expenditure has decreased by about £9,000, mainly due to a reduction in spending on food stock and also on accommodation where there was a significant one-off payment in 2023/24 to "catch up". Overall expenditure has increased due to the purchase of further investments. These investments reflect the minimum level of reserves required under our policy.

Overall, income has kept up, particularly regular donations from individuals, although receipts through "just giving" dropped by about £3,000. The foodbank received considerably more from Councils and the Housing support fund that they administer. It is not clear to what extent this source of income can be relied upon in future years.

General reserves in addition to investments have reduced by £8,000 but remain very healthy. The general financial position of the Foodbank remains very strong. The one area where efforts are being made to raise further funds is to ensure the continuation of the Financial inclusion project; Trussell trust have hitherto fully funded this project, but their funding for 2025/26 is to be reduced by half and nothing thereafter. In recognition of the importance with which this project is regarded, the Board have agreed to earmark £66,000 of general funds to support it and provide a degree of match funding for potential funding bids.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:

Signed _____ Date ____ 09/07/2025 Clare Collins, Trustee

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Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Arnold Foodbank for the year ended 31 March 2025

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Arnold Foodbank (the Charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Trustees of the Charity 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 matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. Accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. 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.

Signed ____ Date _______ 11/07/2025 John O’Brien MSc, FAIA, FCIE Employee of Community Accounting Plus

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Arnold Foodbank Receipts & payments account for the year ended 31 March 2025

2025

2024 2025
Total UnrestrictedRestricted Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds
£ Note £ £ £
Receipts
119884 Grants & donations 2 78220 41140 119360
- Gift Aid 5835 - 5835
2453 Bank interest 2715 - 2715
122337 Total receipts 86770 41140 127910
Payments
1036 Hardship fund 61 - 61
25465 Salaries 27590 - 27590
32743 CAB Contracts - 43190 43190
2901 Equipment, repairs & renewals 1416 865 2281
2898 Office costs - - -
- Insurance 822 - 822
585 Hospitality 554 - 554
34708 Foodstock 25552 1604 27156
119 Clothing & uniforms - - -
547 Bank charges 464 - 464
356 Training & events - 55 55
23796 Accommodation & travel 7601 5130 12731
- Administration costs 253 - 253
- Profesional fees 1166 - 1166
- CCLA investments 30000 - 30000
125154 Total payments 95479 50844 146323
(2817) Net receipts/(payments) (8709) (9704) (18413)
209507 Cash funds at start of this period 192248 14442 206690
206690 Cash funds at end of this period 183539 4738 188277

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Arnold Foodbank Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 March 2025

2024 2025
£ Cash assets £
205972 Bank accounts 187753
718 Cash in hand 524
206690 188277
Other monetary assets
- Prepayments 5816
22626 CCLA Units 52017
22626 52017
Assets retained for the charity’s own use
Foodstock value estimated at £17687
Liabilities
(4203) Creditors 4 (3663)
(4203) (3663)

These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the charity by:

11/07/2025 Signed _____ Dated _____ Colin Bullett, Trustee

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Arnold Foodbank Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Receipts & payments accounts

Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Usually, cash received and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand.

2. Grants & donations

Individual donations
Just giving
Supermarket donations
Church Donations
CAF
Organisation / Business donations
Council / Councillor donations
Fundraisers
Financial Inclusion
Unrestricted

£
31943
8887
1114
2219
1180
8922
16145
1640
6170
78220
Restricted
£
-
-
-
-
41140
-
-
-
41140
Total
£
31943
8887
1114
2219
1180
50062
16145
1640
6170
119360

3. Funds analysis

Restricted funds
Training
Co-op
Co-op (2)
Financial Inclusion Project
Unrestricted funds
General
Opening
balance
£
87
3607
2369
8379
14442
192248
192248
Receipts (Payments)
£
£
-
(72)
-
(3607)
(2369)
41140
(44796)
41140
(50844)
86770
(95479)
86770
(95479)
Closing
balance
£
15
-
-
4723
4738
183539
183539

Training Fund: This is to provide bespoke training for volunteers

Co-op restricted fund: This is for provision of advice, support during school holidays, which also includes food and assisting access to out of school activities in the summer.

Co-op No 2 restricted fund: This is for the provision of food vouchers, toiletries and household wares for our clients where they are in particular need. Financial inclusion restricted fund: This is specifically for provision of a service of financial and other advice to clients, provided in partnership with the local Citizens' Advice bureau.

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Arnold Foodbank

4. Creditors

Rents
Independent examination
HMRC
Staff expenses
CA plus payroll fees
Staff expenses
£
(1950)
(636)
(965)
(18)
(94)
(3663)

5. Trustees’ remuneration

The food bank manager Helen Lloyd is also the chair of the board of trustees, until September 2024

Her remuneration:

To 31[st] December 2024: £21,320 based on 25 hours per week £31,980 for full time (37.5 hours)

From 1[st] January 2024: £22,512 based on 25 hours per week at £33,768 for full time (37.5) hours.

Assistant Manager is Anne Lee who is also on the board.

Her remuneration: To 31[st] December 2024: £5,117 based on 7.5 hours per week £25,584 for full time (37.5 hours)

From 1[st] January 2024: £5,403 based on 7.5 hours per week at £27,016 for full time (37.5) hours.

6. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions other than the remuneration (see note 5).

7. Glossary of terms

Creditors: These are amounts owed by the Charity, but not paid during the accounting period.

Restricted funds: These are funds given to the Charity, subject to specific restrictions set by the donor, but still within the general objects of the charity.

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