Love Gloucester Annual Report for 2023-24
Since the addition of new trustees in February 2023, Love Gloucester has been able to be more active and start engaging with the local community.
A new initiative was set up in December, 2023 called Barney’s Pantry. The premise of this project is to co-ordinate the collection and distribution of free or low cost food to people living in Gloucester. Two of the trustees have much experience in this kind of community project having organised a similar operation in Podsmead, Gloucester.
Barney’s Pantry has been set up in collaboration with St Barnabas Church, Tuffley, Gloucester. The PCC of St Barnabas church approved the use of the Jordan Lounge room, part of St Barnabas Halls, for storage and distribution of food. The is was permitted, at n cost, initially on a temporary basis for six months, with ongoing reviews, monitoring the use of the Pantry by local people.
The Pantry opened on Friday afternoons from 2pm-6pm and quickly grew in numbers of visitors to an average of around 25 per week. Some of these people collected food bags on behalf of other vulnerable people so the number of people benefitting from food distribution is approximately double the number of visitors.
The plan going forward is to offer fresh fruit, vegetable and bread outside the venue that anyone is welcome to take at no cost. We are also planning on collaborating with the church community to run a pay as you can café in the adjacent room. This will provide a warm space and a place to talk with others in a friendly, community minded environment.
Accounts 01/04/2023 - 31/03/2024
| Date | Income | Expenditure | Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/04/2023 | £2,862.54 | |||
| 24/04/2023 | Amazon | £5.00 | £2,867.54 | |
| 19/05/2023 | Amazon | £13.41 | £2,880.95 | |
| 04/09/2023 | Wix | £158.40 | £2,722.55 | |
| 30/11/2023 | Storage Cupboard | £252.60 | £2,469.95 | |
| 11/12/2023 | Beeman Carpentry Installation of new cupboard |
£100 | £2,369.95 | |
| 22/12/2023 | Cheltenham Round Table donation |
£1,000 | £3,369.95 | |
| 28/12/2023 | Printer cartridge | £37.00 | £3,332.95 | |
| 16/1/2024 | Beeman Carpentry setup | £100 | £3,232.95 | |
| 23/1/2024 | Beeman Carpentry setup | £329.89 | £2,903.06 | |
| 25/1/2024 | Donations from pantry | £125.56 | £3,028.62 | |
| 20/1/2024 | Top up food | £10 | £3,018.62 | |
| 11/3/2025 | GCC grant | £250 | £3,268.62 | |
| Closing balance at 31/3/2025 | 3,268.62 | |||
| Total | £1,393.97 | £987.89 |