2026-04-05-accounts

Annual Report and Accounts 2026

1. Purpose

The purpose of this document is to reflect on the past year’s activity of the Foodbank and to include information on the financial position of the Foodbank i.e. the financial statements to 5[th] April 2026.

2. Mission Statement

Our mission as a Foodbank per our constitution (governing document) is: The prevention or relief of poverty or financial hardship of people living in West Oxfordshire District in particular (but without limitation) by providing food and other items to individuals and families in need which they would not otherwise afford through lack of means, and providing information, advice, education, and support in such other ways as the trustees shall from time to time see fit.

3. What we do

Witney and West Oxfordshire Foodbank provides emergency parcels of non-perishable food items and occasionally toiletries and other items to people who are experiencing an unexpected crisis situation. Clients are referred by various professionals working in the community – including, but not limited to Citizens Advice, Housing Companies, GPs and other health and social care workers, primary and secondary education professionals, churches and other charities – who assess each client’s situation to verify crisis and need.

4. Executive Summary and Chair’s Reflections

Since taking on the Foodbank Chair role at last year’s AGM in May 2025 it has been an incredibly busy year or so.

I have worked closely with our fabulous team of Trustees, Staff and Volunteers and focused on the following key objectives in my role as Chair:

Raising National awareness – I was keen to take part in lobbying Parliament along with colleagues and Foodbanks up and down the Country to put the spotlight on the fact that the current levels of Universal Credit do not cover the essentials for individuals and families. I have developed close professional relationships with local politicians at Town, District, County and National levels and will continue to lobby both nationally and locally to get the message across and try to ensure that when influencing policy, they fully understand what we are seeing at the Foodbank, day in and day out.

e: [e-mail] t: 07949 442342 Registered Charity Number: 1170366 | Registered in England and Wales

Annual Report and Accounts 2026

Achieving consistent good governance across all that we do – As an organisation that has grown significantly over the years, I have taken a fresh look at the processes and controls in place including: staff contracts; banking; financial management; financial reporting; policies and procedures; volunteer onboarding, support, recognition and training; with a view to ensuring they are in line with current requirements. We have made significant progress and our governance checklist highlighted strong improvements across key and essential areas – thank you to volunteers, staff and trustees for your support in helping to facilitate these changes.

Fundraising – Demand for our service is not abating and it has become clear to me that support from our donors, whether it’s a financial contribution or food, is as important as ever. We established a fundraising team and food drive team. Our fundraising team focus on getting support from local businesses and individual supporters as well as applying for much needed financial grants and match funding. Successes in the year include the Big Give campaign bringing in over £21,000 and a number of other smaller grants achieved. We also have a food drive team who planned a series of successful events for 2025/26. This has continued through 2026 and by using support from local businesses we have been able to double the number of food drives resulting in valuable donations of food and money.

Communications – I am keen to ensure that we create strong networks and through these, awareness of what we do across our community. I have dedicated some of my time to actively engage with local schools, colleges and businesses to ensure that anyone needing our support knows how to access it and to ensure the people of Witney and West Oxfordshire understand what we do as a Foodbank and have the opportunity to raise questions with us. I am supported in this by our communications team. They have developed an approach that results in regular volunteer and stakeholder newsletters supplemented by updates on social media. This ensures that news, updates and messages are shared with our fantastic team of volunteers, individuals and companies who support us.

Focusing on our team and saying Thank You! - We have a fantastic team of Trustees, Staff and Volunteers at the Foodbank without whom we could not help and support our clients. Therefore, I continue to look for any opportunities or offers available them so that we can say thank you in some small way but importantly without any cost to or diversion of funds from the Foodbank.

Relocating to larger premises – At the heart of everything we do are our clients. we continue to look for larger premises where we can welcome our clients in and provide a warm, safe space for them to talk to us so that we can work out how best to help. I have a number of property agents across the area looking for the right location for us.

As we continue through 2026 and into 2027, my focus will remain on the objectives above whilst also listening to our Trustees, Staff, Volunteers, Clients and Supporters to ensure we are focused on the right priorities and doing all that we can to reduce food poverty and the need for our services.

e: [e-mail] t: 07949 442342 Registered Charity Number: 1170366 | Registered in England and Wales

Annual Report and Accounts 2026

5. Activity

5.1. Parcel Allocation

During the year through to 5[th] April 2026 we responded to 1,942 referrals, (2,138 2024/25). We supported 4,861 people, (2024/25 5,192). The individuals and families supported included 3,106 adults, (approx. 3,000 2024/25) and 1,755 children aged 16 and under, (approx. 2,000 2024/25). This shows a slight reduction of 6% on the previous year and we are hopeful that this reflects the positive work underway through our financial inclusion referral scheme to Citizen’s Advice.

5.2. Food usage

During the year to 5[th] April 2026, we used 61,016kg (60,372 kg 2024/25) of food in the supply of food parcels to our clients.

5.3. Donations

During the year to 5[th] April 2026 we had a total of 57,771 kg (58,550 kg 2024/25) of stock in, of which 38,916 kg (37,820 kg 2023/24) was made up of food donations. We had to buy 18,855kg (20,730 kg 2024/25) of food during the year. Therefore, donations provided 67.4% (64.6% 2024/25) of the food brought into the Foodbank during the year. This slight increase reflects the increased number of Food Drives taking place to bring in donations along and our more consistent approach to checking with every client at the point of collection whether there are any items they won’t use.

6. Trustees

6.1. Current Trustees

As at July 2026 our Trustees are as follows:

• Maria Grindley – Chair (Trustee from June 2024 and Chair from May 2025)

• Mark Haydon – Trustee from October 2023

• Samuel Edney – Trustee from December 2023

• Andrew Badnell – Trustee from June 2025

• Oliver Walsh – Trustee from November 2025

The Trustees of Witney and West Oxfordshire Foodbank acknowledge they have read and understood the guidance on being a charity Trustee as provided by the Charity Commission. Trustees are appointed either annually at the AGM or by a vote of Trustees during the year. Each year a third of the Trustees retire from office and those who want to continue are voted back in. Trustees retire from office on a rotation basis.

The Chair spends time with any incoming Trustees to ensure that they understand the nature of the role and Foodbank and have opportunity to ask questions before committing to the role.

e: [e-mail] t: 07949 442342 Registered Charity Number: 1170366 | Registered in England and Wales

Annual Report and Accounts 2026

7. Volunteers, staff and professional support

7.1. Current Volunteers

We have just over 70 volunteers who complete a range of tasks for us. Most volunteers either work for a 2-hour shift once a week sorting donations and preparing food parcels, or drive for us once a week, collecting donations from collection points and delivering food parcels for clients who cannot travel to the Foodbank. As set out in the Chair’s update above, some of our volunteers also help with additional tasks. Our Trustees are also all volunteers. We estimate that volunteers provide well over 3,000 hours per year to keep the Foodbank running.

7.2. Staff

Our Foodbank is open to the public from 10am to 1pm every weekday. In order to cover the office and manage the detailed work around referrals to us, we employ one permanent member of staff who works part time hours to cover our opening times and some additional time to get organised ready for the next day when the Foodbank is closed. Our Foodbank manager is on maternity leave currently so we have employed a Foodbank coordinator to cover the office in their absence.

7.3. Other professional support

We are incredibly lucky and grateful for the support we receive from other professional organisations as and when needed. In particular we have support from:

• Windrush Business Services for pro-bono support with our payroll, monthly accounts and annual financial statements;

• Woodstock Accountancy for pro-bono support with their auditing skills and completion of our annual independent examination in line with Charity Commission requirements;

• Halcyon HR services for help with staff contracts and queries at significantly reduced fees;

• M&M Waste Solutions who provide a zero emission van and two drivers weekly to collect and deliver our bulk order shopping each week.

8. Policies

8.1 Grant making

We do not have any plans to make grants to other organisations, this is not part of our purpose or mission.

e: [e-mail] t: 07949 442342 Registered Charity Number: 1170366 | Registered in England and Wales

Annual Report and Accounts 2026

8.2 Social investment

We do not have a specific social investment policy as we do not have the financial means or agreed purpose to provide capital or other support to other organisations. As a charity we do benefit from organisations helping us through their social investment commitments through the supply of resource, donations of food or financial contributions. The organisations involved have their own policies and we do not need our own policy to cover this activity.

9. Financial Statements

The following are key points included in the financial statements:

9.1 Main sources of funds

Our income comes from financial donations from individuals and local businesses, as well as grants. We also receive donations of food which reduce our costs and the amount of food we must purchase.

9.2 Key changes in income and expenditure - Trussell Trust Payments for Financial Inclusion

For the two years 2025/26 and 2024/25 Trussell Trust paid a grant to Witney and West Oxfordshire Foodbank for the Financial Inclusion project costs. The grant covered the costs for four Foodbanks – Witney and West Oxfordshire; Abingdon; Banbury and Bicester. The amount was £92,989 for 2025/26 and (£93,965 for 2024/25). This amount was paid into the Foodbank’s account, and it was then used to pay Citizen’s Advice. This has inflated the income for Witney and West Oxfordshire Foodbank for two reasons:

• Only a quarter of the grant and costs related to Witney and West Oxfordshire Foodbank, £23,247 for 2025/26 (£23,491 for 2024/25), the rest related to the other three Foodbanks and, as such, taking the full amount through our financial statements has inflated the income and expenditure of our Foodbank by £69,742 in 2025/26, (£70,474 in 2024/25);

• In the year ending 5[th] April 2024 there were two amounts of grant funding received. One at the start of the year (for 2024 costs) and one at the end of the year (for 2025 costs). Therefore, in 2025, there are no lots of income in the financial statements and only one related item of expenditure. In 2026, there is one full year of grant income for financial inclusion in the year’s figures and there is a full year payment made to Citizen’s Advice.

e: [e-mail] t: 07949 442342 Registered Charity Number: 1170366 | Registered in England and Wales

Annual Report and Accounts 2026

9.3 Balances and reserves

Running costs

Our annual running costs including costs are around £90,000 per year. The cost of the Financial Inclusion project is in addition to this and will also need to be funded by the Foodbank in future.

Reserves Policy

It is our responsibility to ensure that we can keep the Foodbank running for our clients for the medium term. Charity reserves usually sit between 3-9 months of running costs, however this can be longer if there is volatility, for example on income. Our income is reliant primarily on donations from individuals and businesses and therefore it is at risk of being unpredictable, especially as inflation and the current economical position is challenging. Therefore, as a Board we have determined that holding 12 months of running costs as a reserve is sensible. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Financial Inclusion project and should we decide to continue this we will need to also hold a year’s worth of funding each year to cover these costs.

Larger Premises - Reserves

Our aim to move to larger premises to better support our clients requires the ability to sign a contract should the correct property come up. Cottsway Housing currently provide our site free of charge so we have started to build a reserve for property costs in the future. These are likely to be at circa £35,000 per year so, as we will need to sign a lease for a number of years, we need a reserve to cover the first few years of the lease when we are ready.

9.4 Stock

Stock is not considered to be a financial asset at the Foodbank as it consists of 1,000’s of items of low value. Our stock levels are managed through the weighing in and out of all items received by the Foodbank and all parcels given to our clients.

10. Overall Governance

10.1. Charity relationship with the Trussell Trust

The Foodbank is a registered Charity and as such is an independent and separate legal entity. The Trussell Trust is also a Charity and it provides information and support to Foodbanks across the UK. As a Foodbank we choose to be members of the Trussell Trust family, however this does not impact our independence as an organisation, we remain an autonomous charity.

e: [e-mail] t: 07949 442342 Registered Charity Number: 1170366 | Registered in England and Wales

Annual Report and Accounts 2026

11. Declaration

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustee’s report above.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees:

Maria Grindley Maria Grindley (Jul 27, 2026 14:51:52 GMT+1)

Maria Grindley – Chair

DATE: 27/07/2026

e: [e-mail] t: 07949 442342 Registered Charity Number: 1170366 | Registered in England and Wales

Annual Report and Accounts 2026 Wiiney & West Oxfordshlre Foodbank TtyeihtrwrthTrvaSt CHARITY COMMISSION frok ENrAA￿ ANO WALt R8C8lpts an<1 payments accounts CC16a Fty thè p•rtod Sectlon A Receipts and paymenis Unres¢rl¢i•d R••lrfct•d EndtsTh•rt lur L•¥¢ fftr A1 Rtt• DC4ATONS GHAFff 71125 •ITIT srt tot•l¢GfOSS AR) 19QJ97 X717 AI A••t • li•e tsbl•l. tot 112,081 19OJ97 717 A3P• FRAP4EH15È FEE EQuI￿NT STA1￿)lE￿y F05TfjE WPLÈ5 14 cg5T5 FOJC rop Tr5 IRANING AMD14EET 47,05 61402 41.9q9 DchArop4s 174J17 A4 A&••i kn¥0stff￿l cha••. I￿• tsbl•l tot 11.9 f74,JZ7 iifyj 10.07 11.970 104841 AS Trkn•kn b•iw•on fundi Al Cagh ￿nd8 I￿ •NI sh funrfs Ihts ￿•n 221.600 237,990 24J.M6 JJ1394 21&44t 20.62 227.•M e.. Info@￿vitneY foodbank org uk t 07949 442342 RegigLered Charty Number.. 11703661 Registered in England and Wales

Annual Report and Accounts 2026

	Maria Grindley (Jul 27, 2026 14:51:52 GMT+1) Maria Grindley 27/07/2026

e: [e-mail] t: 07949 442342 Registered Charity Number: 1170366 | Registered in England and Wales

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A

Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Witney and West Oxfordshire Food Bank members of On accounts for the year 5 April 2026 Charity no 1170366 ended (if any) Set out on pages Statement of Income and Expenditure and Balance Sheet

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year end 5 April 2026.

• Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the 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 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 (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or

• the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Date: 27/07/2026 Name: Charles J Rush, BA MSc FCA Relevant professional FCA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Woodstock Accountancy 3A Market Place, Woodstock, Oxon OX20 1SY

October 2018

1

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight 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 .

October 2018

2

IER