Wisbech Foodbank Together with Trussell Annual Report 2026 Registered Charity 1172525 ## **The Wisbech Food Bank** ## **Registered Charity No.1172525** ## **Annual report of the activity of The Wisbech Food Bank** ## **covering the period from 1[st] April 2025 to 31[st] March 2026** ## **Legal and Administrative Information** The Trustees present their report and accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2026. The financial statements comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published in October 2019. The accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis. ## **Administrative details** Registered charity name- The Wisbech Food Bank Charity registration number 1172525 The Wisbech Food Bank was set up in 2013 as a part of Churches Together in Wisbech. In 2017, the trustees sought and achieved CIO status. ## **Trustees** The Trustees of The Wisbech Food Bank who served during the period from 1[st] April 2025 to 31[st] March 2026 were :- Bryan Baker Resigned 28.7.25 Chantelle Fiddy Simon King Monika Mazeikaite Catherine Noonan Jeremy Pallant David Tew Resigned 24.11.25 Julie White Resigned 13.10.25 **Wisbech Food Bank Annual Report 2026** ## **Independent Examiner** Mr T Brown Fellow of The lnstitute of Chartered Accounts in lreland (FCA) Paget Hall Hockland Road Tydd St Giles PE13 5LF ## **Address** The correspondence address for the charity is 358 High Road, Newton in the Isle, Wisbech, PE13 5HS Email address – info@wisbech.foodbank.org.uk Website – https://wisbech.foodbank.org.uk Telephone – 07933 572054 ## **The Objects of the Wisbech Food Bank as set out in the Constitution are:** _The relief of hardship for people in Wisbech and the 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 household items to individuals and families in need and / or for distribution by charities or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty;_ - _b) such other means, including (but not limited to) the provision of support or signposting to relevant information and other advisory services._ **Wisbech Food Bank Annual Report 2026** ## **Review of Activities and Achievements during the year** - The Distribution Centre at Wisbech Baptist Church operated for two hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. During the year, a total of **21,547 kg** of food was distributed to **3,220 clients** , comprising **2,183 adults** and **1,037 children** . Of those supported, **375 people** accessed the Foodbank for the first time. In addition to food parcels, clients received fresh fruit and vegetables and meat vouchers redeemable at local butchers. - The Financial Inclusion Project continued throughout the year, with Citizens Advice advisers attending every Foodbank session and undertaking additional casework outside these hours. Advice and support were provided to **191 clients** across **2,310 issues** . - Thanks to grants from Trussell and the Quakers, the charity was able to: - Employ two Citizens Advice advisers to help clients maximise their income, reduce their outgoings and improve their financial resilience. During the year, this service secured **£161,173** in financial gains for clients, and **49 households** no longer required Foodbank support. - Continue the employment of the Assistant Project Manager, who oversaw volunteer coordination and warehouse operations. - Deliver a highly successful Volunteers' Day and host a networking lunch for referral agencies. - The number of referral agencies continued to grow, and the referral agency contact database was updated to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). - Collections were once again organised in local supermarkets, resulting in donations totalling **20,870 kg** of food during the year. A total of **21,547 kg** of food was distributed to those in need. - During the Harvest Festival period, Trustees delivered talks on food poverty to local schools and community organisations, helping to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people experiencing hardship. - The Trustees secured continued grant funding of **£6,000 per annum** from the Elizabeth Wright Charity towards staffing costs. - In response to increased demand for Foodbank services and the associated rise in heating and lighting costs, the Trustees successfully renegotiated the charity's arrangements with Wisbech Baptist Church. - The Trustees held **nine quorate, minuted meetings** during the year to oversee the charity's operations, including the collection and distribution of food, purchasing stock to meet demand, and coordinating volunteers responsible for storing, packing and distributing food parcels. **Wisbech Food Bank Annual Report 2026** - The charity continued to record data on the Trussell management information system, enabling effective monitoring of food supply and demand while providing valuable insight into the needs of clients. - In carrying out their responsibilities, the Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. - The Trustees reviewed the charity's policies relating to Health and Safety, Data Protection, Safeguarding, and the associated risk assessments to ensure they remained current and effective. - Wisbech Food Bank’s 2024/25 social value analysis shows that for every £1 invested, the organisation generated approximately £3.84 in social value. This reflects the combined impact of emergency food provision, advice and signposting, volunteer support, and partnership working, helping to reduce financial stress, improve wellbeing, prevent crisis escalation, and strengthen resilience for individuals and families across the local community. It demonstrates that Wisbech Food Bank is delivering strong value for money and creating meaningful change for local residents, volunteers and the community. ## **Client Testimonials** I've managed to pay bills but suddenly found myself without much food. Family of 5. I found myself having to pay a visit to Wisbech Food Bank. My ego was broken. My overall subjective sense of personal worth and value gone. I find myself sat in a church awaiting a handout. The staff was absolutely fantastic and I spoke with someone there explaining my troubles away and they sat, listened and advised. Then they came out with around 5 bags of shopping. Even offered to carry it to my car. I just want to say from the bottom of my heart to those who work or help out thank you. Thank you for all you did. I can't thank you enough. So I've made a promise. Once I'm back on my feet which will be soon. I'll be back there but instead of taking. I will be giving back. Not just food but my time also if needed. I will never ever forget the support I had. Food banks may be described as organisations that support people but they are actually so much more than that. They are literally keeping families alive. The people that work there are not just doing their job but actually putting their heart and soul into it. The love and support I felt from them is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I think I can assuredly say that without the food bank I don't think I would be here today. **Wisbech Food Bank Annual Report 2026** ## **Client Feedback** Anonymous feedback surveys provide vital performance data to help the Trustees to ensure that the charity continues to meet the needs of its clients. The latest results of the survey are as follows:- ## **Is this your first time using a Trussell foodbank?** Yes - 25% No - 75% ## **If no, how often have you needed to use a foodbank in the last 6 months?** Once or twice - 55% Monthly - 27% More than monthly - 18% ## **I felt welcome and treated with kindness today.** Strongly agree - 96% Agree - 4% Neither - 0% Disagree - 0% ## **I felt respected and not judged while using the foodbank.** Strongly agree - 89% Agree - 11% Neither - 0% Disagree - 0% ## **The foodbank was easy for me to access.** Very easy - 85% Fairly easy - 15% Difficult - 0% ## **The food I received met my needs.** Yes - 86% Mostly - 14% Not really - 0% ## **Were you able to make choices about the food you received today?** Yes - 85% Some choice - 15% No - 0% ## **Without the foodbank today, I would have:** Skipped meals - 36% Bought cheaper, less healthy food - 9% Gone without food - 27% Borrowed money or food - 22% I’m not sure - 6% ## **Were you offered information or support beyond food today?** Yes - 83% No - 17% Not sure - 0% For months I’ve had to battle many obstacles thrown my way, but this one had me in pieces about to give up numerous times. You’ve given me a new lease of life, stability and faith that there are kind people out there. **Wisbech Food Bank Annual Report 2026** ## **Future Plans** The Trustees will:- - consider options to expand the service and to maximise the impact for beneficiaries. - explore grants to enable the Citizens Advice project to continue. - explore the potential for new partnerships with the County Council and other statutory agencies. - develop additional signposting materials. - organise training and support for volunteers and Trustees; and - continue to update the volunteer and client records to ensure compliance with GDPR. ## **Structure, governance and management** Wisbech Food Bank is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The charity is constituted and governed by Trustees. ## **Recruitment and appointment of Trustees** New Trustees are appointed from a recruitment and selection process to enhance the skills and experience of the board as a whole. Once appointed, Trustees are provided with an induction pack containing all the information required to assist them in performing their role as Trustees covering all aspects of the organisation. ## **Trustee induction and training** Through our partnership with Trussell and a network of other training organisations, our Trustees have access to an extensive range of training opportunities relevant to their work. ## **Risk analysis** The Trustees constantly review the major risks to the charity and identify strategies to minimise the impact of these risks. Key risks identified include loss of premises, lack of funding for the Financial Inclusion work, shortage of volunteers, reputational harm and loss of public support, and increased demand due to benefit changes. Strategies include compiling and maintaining a list of alternative premises options, current grant applications to support the Financial Inclusion work, the appointment of a dedicated Volunteer Manager to recruit, train, induct and support our volunteers, extensive partnership working with local councils, voluntary and statutory organisations, and the creation of a reserve account for unexpected increases in client numbers. **Wisbech Food Bank Annual Report 2026** ## **Financial Position** The Trustees believe that the charity remains in a strong financial position. During the year, the charity received income of **£66,812** and incurred expenditure of **£78,883** , resulting in a deficit of **£12,071** for the year. Total funds held at the year end amounted to **£74,445** . The charity's principal sources of income continue to be donations from supporters, including regular standing orders, one-off donations, and online giving through Stewardship. Additional income is received from grants awarded by local charitable organisations, together with donations from Tesco plc and Asda Stores Ltd, which are based on the quantity of food collected through the Trussell food collection scheme. The charity's principal areas of expenditure include the purchase of food, meat vouchers, staff salaries, rent, insurance, and administrative costs. The charity continues to benefit significantly from the generous provision of free storage facilities at the Remo Eco Superstore, together with the use of facilities at Wisbech Baptist Church at minimal cost. These in-kind contributions substantially reduce operating costs and enhance the charity's ability to deliver its services effectively. The Trustees consider that the charity's reserves remain at an appropriate level. They are sufficient to enable the charity to secure alternative warehousing and distribution facilities, and to continue operations while alternative sources of funding are identified, should the need arise. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Income
Donations Grants Trussell Bank Interest
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**Wisbech Food Bank Annual Report 2026** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Expenditure
Salaries & Wages Fees Admin Expenses
Equipment Insurance Premises Cost
Food Purchases Carrier Bags Other Costs
Financial Inclusion /CAB
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**The Trustees' annual report was approved on 20[th] July 2026 and signed on behalf of the board of Trustees by:** **Chantelle Fiddy - Chair** **Monika Mazeikaite – Trustee** **Wisbech Food Bank Annual Report 2026** CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES The Wtsbech Food Bank Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod To 01104r2025 3111)3r2026 Section A Receipts and payments Unrnsiridèd Endowment funds funds tothe nearnst È •6swB5t£ toth8 Restricted Total tunds Last yèar to tho wr*st£ tothe nea￿t £ A1 Recelpts Donatlo Gift Grants TrussellTrust Bank Interest Other Income 18,792 1.667 1250 3,345 18.792 t.667 40,918 3.345 21,869 1,014 55.836 3,213 2,293 119 1463 150 150 tota ss Income AR) 25.144 66.812 87.807 set an (See tsblo). n¥e$tment Sales. Tolal rpceipts 66.812 A3 Payments Salaries & Wages Fees TrussellTrust Admin Expensès Equipme%)t Pvrrha5es Insurante Athertlslng Prernise5 Costs Food Purchases Carrièr 8a85 OtherC05t5 11317 1,2BS 19,317 1,285 18,959 625 625 67S 341 341 157 fO,376 10.376 19.422 895 1.214 44.836 304 1.142 1.142 43,686 Fundrai￿nE Sub total 29.197 581 A4 As8et and Investment urchases see table Sub total Total payments 29.197 88.581 Net of reCeIp￿(paYMents) AS Transfer¥ be￿een funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 12,01 12.071 74445 CCXX R1 alxounts {SSI 1917126 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period un￿StriCted funds to nBar45t£ Restricled funds to ne8Ye8t£ Endowment funds to r*arest£ Categori•s DÈtails B1 Cash funds Natwest 8 3,071 Retr￿35*D 49.955 6,297 Reth4A* 95 day D f4.7T4 Total cash funds 68.148 6297 s}) Er￿owMertt funds funds lo rwr£5t£ funds Oetsils tn nBarest£ to r*arest£ Fund to whlch Current val onal Details C05t lopti¢)thall Fund towhich Cufrent value loptionall Detsils C￿lI0￿0￿all Fund to whlch Amountthj WhAn duB othal Detsils BS Llablllt188 Svjned by one or￿0 tNs*es on ¢hall ol all the tru8tee6 Date of roval SwJn8iure Pr¥rt Name cluknJd(L dl CCXX R2 accounts Issi 1917r28 ## ## ## **The Trustees would like to record their thanks to the following:-** Our team of hardworking volunteers Trussell Margaret Gibbs and Derek Carter Wisbech Baptist Church Nikki & Marcus from Remo Eco Superstore Earth Breeze JS Holmes Ltd Terry Brown Dave Gibbs Julie Bush Aija Zemdega Simona Cismasu Guna Loginov Citizens Advice Rural Cambs The Royal Blue Meat Company The Trustees of the Elizabeth Wright Charity The Paragon Charitable Foundation Cubico Sustainable Investments Ann Docwra Fund Cambridgeshire Area Quaker Meeting Mark Broadhead from the Horsefair Shopping Centre Our network of donors, collectors and referral agencies Asda, Heron Foods, Morrisons, Tesco, and Wisbech Library **Wisbech Food Bank Annual Report 2026**