All Saints Church, Tresawls Road, Truro. TR1 3LD
e: trurofoodbank@gmail.com t: 07721 711669 www.truro.foodbank.org.uk
## **Chairman’s report 2020**
The challenges presented by Coronavirus have made my first year as chair more daunting than it might have been, but also confirming: we have a fantastic team of staff, volunteers and trustees.
## **Operational Impact of Coronavirus**
Some volunteers (and one staff member) have had to take a break on medical advice. We look forward to welcoming them back as soon as the situation permits.
Those that have been able to continue have found the working environment very different: social distancing has required us to use a much bigger space for sorting and distribution. We are so grateful for All Saints Highertown Church’s patience and generosity in providing us with use of their hall in addition to our “usual” space.
Our staff have been superb at rising to the ever-changing challenges and putting into place systems and policies (and making sure they are followed) to keep us as safe as possible.
Sadly, that has meant that our opportunities to meet face to face and care for our customers have been limited. Our usual activities in signposting customers to other services have been limited.
## Demand
Demand has increased significantly, which can only be a consequence of the financial impact of lockdown. I set out the figures below. In short, we gave out almost twice the amount of food in 2020 to 2018, and about one third more than in 2019. We have not yet seen the impact of the end of the furlough scheme.
We have made arrangements with a local shop so that in addition to food we can fund electricity key meters for those customers who cannot afford it.
We were pleased to be able to distribute 100 hampers at Christmas in addition to our usual provision.
In the summer we met demand for 83 requests from local schools to help meet holiday hunger.
A number of local Food Larders have been established through central government finance. We believe that the food provided to local customers in need by those Larders insulates us from the full force of the level of need locally.
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## Staff
Our distribution manager Andy has been absent due to Covid restrictions, and Janet has re-joined us on a temporary basis to help out.
Bob continues to organise the stores and has put into place a plan for when (and if) we can move to bespoke premises at All Saints Church.
Bob has made no secret of his intention to retire in the foreseeable future and we will then need to recruit for a replacement.
Simon continues to help us grow in terms of organisation and compliance, as well as building connections with other local services.
## Income and expenditure
The generosity of our funders locally is enormous: whilst demand is up, our income has increased to meet it. We are carrying a capital reserve, aware that we may need to fund premises on a temporary basis whilst All Saints Church is developed. We plan to use that capital to equip a kitchen where we can teach customers how to cook the food we provide.
Our treasurer Peter will finish at the end of this year, and we are in the process of finding a suitable willing volunteer to continue his hard work.
We successfully applied for grants from Cornwall Community Fund, WRAP to help meet the costs of shelving, trollies and storage, and a grant from Trussell Trust to help meet the additional expenses associated with the increase in demand resulting from Covid.
## Premises
We remain extremely grateful to All Saints Church Highertown and to the Methodist Church. Both enable us to use their premises to store and distribute food. When All Saints is developed, we will need to arrange a separate store, and are looking at various options, including a former shop unit in Truro.
At present we rent two storage containers. We hope to be able to dispense with the need for those once we have alternative accommodation to keep all food under one roof.
Jo Stone
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All Saints Church, Tresawls Road, Truro. TR1 3LD
e: trurofoodbank@gmail.com t: 07721 711669
www.truro.foodbank.org.uk
## **Treasurer's report 2020**
|**Opening balance at 1.1.20**|**14752**|
|---|---|
|
Plus Income||
|Individual donors|98614|
|Gift Aid|4802|
|Churches/schools/businesses|17343|
|Grants|27229|
|Fundraising|1464|
|Interest|50|
|Tesco|2815|
|Furlough|3046|
|Mobile cashback|84|
|**Total income**|**155447**|
|
Less Expenditure||
|Building|37500|
|Rent|4839|
|Staff|31449|
|Office expenses|3941|
|Van expenses|2153|
|Fruit/veg vouchers|885|
|Trussell Trust|360|
|Food purchases|1230|
|Equipment|6199|
|Client fuel|70|
|**Total expenditure**|**88626**|
|**Closing balance at 31/12/20**|**81573**|
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2020 was an exceptional year and comparisons with previous years would give huge variances. The response to the pandemic required additional expenditure on staff with one staff member on furlough for health reasons and a limited expenditure on food for the first time in our history. Grants became available from a variety of sources and some specifically underpinned increased expenditure on COVID cleaning and the purchase of new handling equipment.
However the increased need was more than met by an unprecedented response in donations from the public, local businesses and churches. The response from individual donors came in through our own Donate button on the website and a number of third party charitable donation sites. The Donate button alone raised £69613 of the £98614 from Individual donors. Many signed up as regular donors and the future finances of the Foodbank are now on a much stronger footing.
The year also saw us prepare for the building work at All Saints Highertown with a move out to a temporary storage facility pending return to the new Lifehouse building which will offer us a much improved facility.
To understand the position at the end of the year we need to adjust the closing balance of £81573 by the following:-
- £2225 - the balance of the WRAP bid
- £1500 - the balance of the Perranporth legacy
- £1790 - the balance of the Sembrador grant for fruit/veg vouchers
- £2000 - suggested for the van sinking fund (but could be higher?)
- £876 - the balance of the second TT grant for COVID
These total £8391 leaving £73182 as our underlying reserves. Given the uncertainty of the situation and the increased costs for next year for storage, I do not believe this can be seen as unacceptable but it clearly leaves room to spend on new initiatives that may arise from the strategic planning.
Peter White
5 January 2020
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## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT**
## **TO THE TRURO FOOD BANK**
I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 Dec 2020.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and independent examiner**
The Charities Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis of independent examiners report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charities Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
## **Independent examiners statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- 1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe there is any material shortfall in the accounting records.
- 2) to which in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached **.**
Neil Bridle Lowath Chy An Dowr, Penpol, Devoran, TR3 6NW
31/01/2021