Middlewich & District Foodbank
Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity Number 1170679
Report and Accounts for the year ended 5[th] April 2024
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Middlewich& District Foodbank Report of the Trustees for the Year ended 5[th] April 2024
Trustees : Rev Simon Drew (Chair)
John Duley
Anne O’Keefe
Sally Howard resigned 1/3/2024 Denis Culloty resigned 1/3/2024 Amy Townsend Duncan Soutar from 15/1/2024
Stephen Molesworth from 19/2/2024
Hayley Saich from 19/2/2024
Registered Office and operational address : Unit 7 Holly House Estate,
Middlewich Road Middlewich Cheshire CW10 9LT
Independent Examiner : Michael Collier
59, Ravenscroft Holmes Chapel CW4 7HJ
Key Management Personnel : The Trustees consider themselves and the manager to be the key management personnel.
Food bank Manager : Nicky Colclough
Treasurer : Mike Worden
Warehouse Manager : Bryan Semple
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Middlewich& District Foodbank Report of the Trustees for the Year ended 5[th] April 2024
Objectives and Activities
Middlewich & District Foodbank (MDF) exists to provide emergency assistance to individuals and families in Middlewich and the surrounding area via a sustainable foodbank and other connected activities.
This is done by providing a food parcel which contains a seven-day supply of food to those in need who have been identified by our referral agencies. The foodbank also provides toiletries, household cleaning products and nappies. At times we have also been able to supply fresh fruit, vegetables and bread.
Food parcels have been distributed twice a week from locations in central Middlewich and if needed they are delivered to those unable to access our services any other way.
The charity can only support its clients because of the volunteers who give freely of their time and energy in a number of different ways;
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Collecting food from supermarkets
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Sorting and storing the food in the warehouse
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Liaising with referrers and ensuring that communication with the whole community including churches, schools and doctors’ surgeries is undertaken
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Making up parcels and transferring them to distribution hubs
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Providing food and much more to our clients and delivering to those who need it.
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Essential fundraising
MDF is a member food bank of Trussell which provides governance support and advice as required.
The Trustees have reviewed their governance documents in line with Charity Commission guidelines on public benefit and those of Trussell. The Trustees consider that during the year ended 5[th] April 2024 the key objective of
providing emergency assistance to people of Middlewich and the surrounding districts has been met and has been of benefit to the public. The Trustees,
when forming the strategy for the year, are mindful of how the plans will help to meet MDF’s objectives.
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Achievements and Performance
As can be seen from the table below during the year we have seen the number of referral agencies increase to 48. By far the main reason for clients being referred is low income with other factors including benefit delays and changes, ill health and debt.
In line with other food banks in Cheshire we saw the number of people using the services of MDF fall during the year. There still, however, remains a serious need for food from our clients.
| Annual Statistics | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of people fed | 2542 | 1726 |
| Number of children fed | 1170 | 728 |
| Number of adults fed | 1372 | 998 |
| Number of referral agencies | 46 | 48 |
| Total stock received • % purchased • % from supermarkets • % schools, churches, businesses, charities and individuals • % transferred to other TT foodbanks |
28,052kg 3.3% 69.6% 23.4% 3.7% |
25,343kg 3.85% 63.15% 29.15% 3.85% |
| Total food purchased | 940kg | 974kg |
| Total stock distributed to local people | 29,725kg | 24,002kg |
We do not monetise our stock and it is not included in the accounts however stock held at 5 April 2024 was 3,955 kg with a value of £ 10,955. We use the Trussell estimate of the value of 1kg of stock.
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During the year the Foodbank secured a grant from Trussell which enabled a move to a new warehouse facility with a five year lease. We are extremely grateful to Cheshire Police for housing us for a number of years, however we now have a significantly larger and more useable space accessible to all, without steps, and giving us room to operate and cope with the short-term increases in food storage capacity needed at different times of the year.
Financial Review
The formal accounts are attached to this report together with explanatory notes. The Independent Examiner’s report is attached to the accounts. We are grateful to Michael Collier for undertaking the review for us again this year.
During the year the charity’s finances increased by £16,730. This was due largely to a grant from Trussell for the first year’s rent and set up costs for the new warehouse of £12,000 being received which will be spent in the coming year.
MDF has continued to receive very generous support from the John Halford Charity towards the employment costs of the Foodbank manager, the only paid employee. The remaining funding comes from generous donations from individuals, local businesses, community groups and fundraising activities.
MDF holds £45,000 as reserves to ensure that it can both meet its contractual obligations in relation to both employment and the warehouse lease and to ensure that it can cope with any short-term changes in its funding patterns. The level of reserves is reviewed annually by the Trustees or more frequently if there is a significant event with a financial commitment such as leasing a new warehouse.
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Structure, Governance and Management
The Foodbank is constituted as a charitable incorporated organization governed by its constitution whose only voting members are the Trustees. New Trustees are appointed at a meeting of the Trustee board and are selected to ensure that the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity is available.
The Trustees delegate operational control of the foodbank to the manager and a committee of volunteers.
The Trustees ensure that the necessary policies and procedures required are in place and MDF forms part of the wider Trussell network of food banks.
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Middlewich & District Foodbank Registered charity number 1170679
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Receipts and Payments Account For the year ended 5th April 2024
| Previous year ended 5th April 2023 £ 23679 20812 2 44493 |
Income Notes Grants (Employment & Lease) 1 Donations 2 Bank Interest |
Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Total £ £ £ 32000 0 32000 0 19778 19778 0 709 709 |
|---|---|---|
| 32000 20487 52487 |
| Expenditure 265 Bank charges 0 212 Equipment 0 18070 Employment 3 17740 2154 Food shortages/fresh food 1970 493 Insurance 0 940 Rent 6 2822 1863 Summer/Christmas Projects 5 1000 982 Sundries 0 1200 Supermarket Vouchers 8 700 526 Training 0 0 Utilities 1868 Vehicle costs 4 0 28574 24232 32195 Balance of Funds at 6/4/2023 12694 15919 Net Movement in Funds 7768 48114 Balance of Funds at 5/4/2024 20462 The notes on the following pages form part of these accounts Represented at close of play 5/4 /24 Postal CCD account – Note 7 Savings account – Note 7 8170 Operations Account 39886 Business Account 58 Petty Cash 48114 Total Middlewich & District Food Bank Charitable Incorporated |
0 0 17740 1970 0 2822 1000 0 700 0 0 |
395 395 255 255 1787 19527 86 2056 376 376 0 2822 343 1343 3362 3362 1600 2300 404 404 1231 1231 1685 1685 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 24232 | 11525 35756 |
||
| 12694 7768 |
35420 48114 8962 16730 |
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| 20462 | 44382 64845 |
||
| £ 30668 16898 5527 11639 112 64845 Organisation |
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Registered charity number
1170679
Balance Sheet
5[th] April 2024
| 5thApril 2023 £ 48,056 58 48,114 16,330 9,090 -5,000 20,420 15,000 5,865 3,160 3,670 12,694 48114 5853 180 |
Notes Monetary Assets Bank Balances Petty Cash Represented by: Accumulated Fund Balance brought forward Deficit / Surplus in Year Transfer to Reserve Reserve Fund 7 Restricted Funds 1 Rent Grant CF Employment grant CF Othe remaining grants Total Funds Non-Monetary Assets and Liabilities Car 4 Supermarket Vouchers 8 |
£ 64733 112 |
|---|---|---|
| 64845 | ||
| 20420 8962 -30000 |
||
| -618 | ||
| 45000 15043 5420 0 |
||
| 20463 | ||
| 64845 | ||
| 4227 | ||
| 310 |
The notes on the following pages form part of the accounts. The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report and the Accounts and Notes.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Simon Drew (Chair) Anne O’Keefe (Treasurer)
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Middlewich & District Foodbank Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered charity number 1170679
Notes to the Accounts for the Year ended 5[th] April 2024
- 1 Grants / Restricted funds
During the year the Trustees have received grants as follows:
£20,000 from JHC towards the Employment costs of the Foodbank manager and £12000 from the Trussell Trust towards the rent of our new warehouse premises.
- 2 Donations
Although down from the level we received last year by just over 10% we continue to receive a good level of donations. Through Just Giving, regular standing orders and general one off donations. This year we ran a couple of fund raising initiatives, (Raffle & Wreath making) which are included in donations and together raised over £1100.
Without the continued generosity of our supporters the Foodbank would not be able to support its clients and we are extremely grateful.
- 3 Employment
The Foodbank has one paid member of staff, Nicky Harris the manager. The Foodbank uses TCS accountants to run the payroll.
- 4 Car
We continue to use the Dacia estate for stock collection and parcel deliveries. Depreciation of the vehicle value is calculated at 20% on a straight-line basis.
- 5 Summer/ Christmas Parcels
During the summer school holidays the Foodbank provided meat vouchers from a local butcher to help families in need. This was partly funded by a grant received in the previous year. Christmas parcels were once again provided.
- 6 Rent
Following a year of uncertainty, we have secured a new warehouse on a 5 year lease, with 3 year break clause. Annual rent is £12,000 and the first two years are being paid from grant funding. Legal fees for the advice on the lease are included in sundries.
7 Reserve Funds
The Trustees agreed that the Reserve Fund should be increased to £45,000. The fund is there to ensure that the Foodbank can honour all its financial commitments if it could not continue to operate. The increase results from the rental commitments under the warehouse lease.
Reserve funds are held across, a charity Postal account and a savings account, both of which generate interest. The level is reviewed annually or if there are major changes in the Foodbank operations.
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Supermarket Vouchers
Vouchers totalling £1700 were purchased from grant monies. These were used to give clients the opportunity to obtain fresh food to supplement the standard parcels. At the end of the fiscal year the Foodbank held £310 of vouchers.
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MIDDIEWIQI AND DISTRICT FOOOBANK Registered Charity Number- lJ70679 Charitable inct>rporated Organisation Report ol the Independ1 Examlnev on the Acwntsfortho y•ar•ndod 5th April 2023 I report to thetrustee50n rny ex¥mlnation of the atcovntsol Middlewch and District Foodbankfor the yeawended 5th April 2024. Responsibility As the charitytrustee50f Middle%wch and Distntt Foodbank yrU a responsib5e forthe and 8asis of preparation of the account5 in accordance with the requirements of the CharitiesAct 20111'the veport t'l. I report in respect of myexarnination of the Middlewich and District Forbank accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Art and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the ap&¢able directionsgiven by the Charity Cornm10 under5ettion 14515llbl of theAct. Independert xamiTrer's I have completed Thy examination. l Confirm that no material rnatters have corne to rny attention in connection with the examination 8iwnB mecause to bÈlie¥e thai in any rnaterial respect.. atemeni Al Actountin8 records were not kept in respect of middle5ch and Distnci foodbank as required by Section 130of the Art.. or Bl the acwuntsdo not accord tothose record5. I have Concerrbsand have corne acros5 no other matte¥sln connection with the exarnination to which attention should drawn in this report in order to enable proper understanding of thÈ account5 reach $18Ded Dato Name: Mtchael Collier Relevant Prole5si¢)nal QualMk¥th)n or body:_ AJk C¢fi Li.1 AddTe55.' 59 Raven5croft, Holmes Chapel, CW4 7HJ Page | 10