Registered Office: St Barnabas Church & Community Centre, Hurstville Road, Chorlton, Manchester M21 8DH Email: info@chorltondidsbury.foodbank.org.uk Website: chorltondidsbury.foodbank.org.uk Tel: 07938 191038 **Chorlton Didsbury Foodbank** is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity No: 1177999 Registered in Eng. & Wales Annual report 2023 / 2024 ## **Chair’s Introduction** The period 2023-2024 has again been busy, with a steady number of people accessing the Foodbank and new project starting. We continued to operate from the Hall at Christ Church West Didsbury, and St Barnabas Church Chorlton, with face-to-face sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays respectively. We also have operated a deliveries session from Christ Church. **Supplies** : Most stock is received into and processed at Christ Church, with further storage at Barlow Moor Community Centre. For periods during the year we found a need to purchase stock more frequently. Overall, whilst we purchased a greater proportion of the stock we needed the actual weight purchased was less than the previous year. We still need to explore other sources for food purchases, from such places as wholesalers, but due to the generosity of donations from individuals and organisations we have managed to meet demand. **New work:** Prior to 1[st] April 2023 our Project Manager had been working with the other 5 Trussell Trust Foodbanks in the City of Manchester Area and the Trussell Trust to enable a Financial Inclusion Project to begin in this new financial year. This project became reality in 2023 – 2024 with Citizens Advice advisers embedded in our face-to-face sessions. _More on this later in the Report._ **Governance** : Our board of Trustees meetings take place every 2 months. Prior to each, an operations team meets, with at least two Trustees, Project Manager and volunteers present. This is to keep good links between the operations planning and the Trustees’ more strategic roles. Our Trustee numbers remained static this year with Ann Meadowcroft, Owen Lloyd and Brid Seery being happy to stand for a further 3-year term to September 2026, and the board agreed to this. The board continues to have 8 out of a possible 9 Trustee positions filled, continuing our capacity to appoint one more. We recognise in the current climate that we have done remarkably well in having such numbers of Trustees. **10-year anniversary:** The first session of Chorlton & Didsbury Foodbank was at the end of March 2014, so we also had the 10[th] Anniversary of Chorlton & Didsbury Foodbank to mark in March 2024. Trustees agreed that this anniversary should be marked, but agreed a celebration was not appropriate. So on 20[th] March 2024 volunteers and trustees were invited to a lunch event to thank our volunteers and acknowledge all their work over the years. We recognised the founding volunteer Project Manager, also 4 volunteers who were still actively involved at the Foodbank. **Recognition** : We could not continue to serve our communities without our greatest assets – people: - those who donate – known and unknown to us; - those who give generously of their time and energy - our volunteers; - our employees - project manager and project worker who continue to work well together and who appreciate, encourage and motivate our volunteers; during the year our Project Worker completed her first full year of employment with us, and our Project Manager completed her fourth year. - and not forgetting our Trustees. Without all of these, we would not be able to serve as many people in need as we do. So - a Big _**Thank You**_ to all. Phil Gay Chair of Trustees Annual report 2023 / 2024 ## **Public Benefit:** It is a requirement that a Charity reports on how it has met its obligations The Chorlton & Didsbury Foodbank was set up with the aims of _the prevention or relief of poverty in Chorlton and Didsbury and the surrounding areas by:_ _1. the provision of emergency food supplies_ _2. providing support, signposting and assistance_ _3. promoting healthy eating by offering other activities such as meal planning and budgeting courses,_ _to individuals and/or charities, or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty._ This report is to describe how the Foodbank has been meeting those aims during the year, and how trustees, staff and volunteers work to ensure these objects remain central to all our activities. ## **What the Foodbank has done:** Over the year the Foodbank has - - **received 1,348 referrals** – - from **over 100 referral partners** including from local groups, Citizens Advice, medical practices, housing associations, churches and schools, - **provided food parcels** (just slightly fewer than in 2022-23) representing over **2,300 adults** and over **1,300 children;** each food parcel is comprised of **3 days’ food** for the household, based on Trusell Trust guidelines, and - **operated 3 times each week** throughout the year. The Foodbank operates on a referral system, so agencies and other referrers assess the client’s need, and then notify the Foodbank. We come across the view that many clients visit for a food parcel every week, but this is not the situation. Over half (54%) of clients visited just once; others needed to visit 2, 3 or a few times. During this period of an acknowledged cost of living crisis, almost half of our clients visited for the first time during the year. When the person arrives at the Foodbank they are met by a volunteer who welcomes them, and offers somewhere to sit and have a drink. They have an opportunity to chat and relax while they wait as the food parcels are prepared. During the period of Covid19 lockdowns when the Foodbank could not have clients in the premises, we began to deliver food parcels to some people. The Foodbank has continued to deliver food parcels one day per week for some people who are housebound, or unable to carry the parcels. ## **Donations of food and essential items:** During the year 23 tonnes of stock was donated to the Foodbank, and we bought a further 2 tonnes (proportionately more than we have had to buy in previous years). We receive donations from a variety of sources – including individuals, schools, churches, corporate bodies. The annual 3-day collection at Tesco Didsbury Parrs Wood boosted stock levels for the winter. Throughout the year we also had collection points in several local supermarkets. In addition, at the end of the financial year we received support from both Morrisons and Sainsburys supermarkets in the form of vouchers; these will be spent during 2024-2025. During the last 2 years we have all been conscious of the ongoing cost of living crisis impacting local people, donors - the Foodbank and its community. This has contributed to starting new areas of work: Annual report 2023 / 2024 ## **Financial Inclusion / Citizens Advice Project:** After our Project Manager working on this initiative for many months, our Financial Inclusion Project began in 2023-2024, the premise being that food poverty is not an isolated issue and many people could gain from independent advice. To address this, funding was received from the Trussell Trust for a joint project between Manchester Trussell Trust Foodbanks and Manchester Citizens Advice for their advisers to attend Foodbank sessions to speak confidentially with Foodbank clients. For our Foodbank, advisers were embedded in the face-to-face sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays. The advisers’ work has enabled 166 Foodbank clients who wished to take up this opportunity to address the causes of their need for an emergency food parcel, e.g. by checking if income can be increased or debts dealt with. Over £100,000 of financial gains was identified during the year. After identifying the benefits from this project, further work was initiated around how this service could be accessed by Foodbank clients who were unable to go into one of those sessions. ## **Winter Warmers:** As everyone became more and more aware of the cost of living crisis during 2022/23 another project was started by the Foodbank – “Winter Warmers”. Funding was gained from the Trussell Trust for the purchase of extra items that would help people keep warm over the winter, such as fleece blankets and hoodies, food flasks and hot water bottles. This carried over into 2023/24, when a further 71 items were bought and distributed. In addition, about 100 fuel vouchers were distributed. **Volunteers** – without them the Chorlton & Didsbury Foodbank would not exist. Tasks include - - setting up the sessions; - speaking with clients, ensuring they are comfortable by offering a drink and a chat; - offering the opportunity to talk with a Citizens Advice adviser; - delivering food parcels to clients who are unable to get into the sessions; - collecting donations from collection points; - sorting, checking, dating and organising stock; - putting together the appropriate food parcels; - being involved with the Food Collection days within the supermarket. To keep service open, 33 people volunteered at the Foodbank during the year. In addition, 8 people gave their time as Trustees of the organisation, carrying out the responsibilities of running a charitable incorporated organisation. The Foodbank has been supported throughout the year again by Christ Church West Didsbury and St Barnabas Church Chorlton, through use of the Church Halls for our sessions. ## **Trustees during the year April 2023 to March 2024** : |P Gay|Chair|P Lee| |---|---|---| |J Williams|Treasurer|O Lloyd| |B Seery|Minutes Secretary|A Meadowcrof| |K Grand||J Midgley| |Project Manager: K Ursell||Project Worker: J Rolfe| **The Chorlton & Didsbury Foodbank is a member of the Trussell Trust.** Annual report 2023 / 2024 ## Key foodbank data for Financial Year 2023/24 ## Clients - **1,348** vouchers fulfilled +7.4% on previous year ➢ 1,042 collections, 360 deliveries - **3,630** people fed – **2,315** adults, **1,315** children - **48%** of clients visited for the first time - Clients were referred by **103** referrers ## Donations - **25,289** kilos of stock donated -15% on previous year - **9%** of stock had to be purchased – unfortunately more than ever before Other help offered… - We now have Citizens Advice advisors in all sessions - ➢ **166** people accessed advice - ➢ Over **£100k** financial gains identified - Approximately **100** fuel vouchers were issued - **71** Winter items were given out eg fleece blankets Registered Charity Number 1177999 Chorlton and Didsbury Foodbank Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Unaudited Financial Statements 31" March 2024 Diane Riley The Broughton Trust Humphrey Booth Building Heath Avenue Salford. M7 INY Chorlton and Didsbury Foodbank {ao) Year end 31 March 2024 Independent examinerfs report to the trustees of Chorfton and Did5bury Foodbank ICIOI. I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Choilton and Didsbury foodbank ICIOI (the Charity) for the year ended 31, March 2024. Responslblllties and basis of report A5 the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111.the Act'l. 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 1451Sllb) of the Act. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no rnaterial matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any mateiial respect: accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. 3. the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concernin8 the form and content of accounts set out in tho Charities IAccount5 and Rcportsl Regulations 2CIJ8 other than any requiremenl that ihe account5 give a 'true and fair, view which is not 3 matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matiers in connection with the examlnation tc wh ich ttention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of accounts to be reached. Signed". Name: Diane Riley Address: The Broughton Trust Humphrey Booth Centre Salford, M7 INY Date: 30.07.2024 Yeorend Artual 202312024 Income 2022/23 artuol Re8ular donaticw- dirert Donatlons vla GoldenGivin8 Other donations Trussell Tru5tl Te5CQ Grants Mcr City Council Trussell Tru5yWinter Cost of living SOA grant TT & CittrLens Advice Proieci Donations towards posts BMCA winter support Other 6,847 25,611 6,933 3,566 19.204 2.821 5,781 iio 50.568 39.558 Out4olnp Room hi Equipment Promises costs (maintena￿e etc) Salary & on-costs Recruitment Statlonery, Inks etc Software IT Supportjknurity T￿￿phoneS & Wl-fi Fees lind exam of aCcI￿nts) Insurance Travel Expenses Ad¥ertlsln8 materials ArtNities- food ActNlties - additlonal Fundraisin8 Costs Sundrle5 10th Annlvewry and vo￿nteerS Wèe Training to Petty Cash 6A65 2.191 215 32,113 6,865 1,417 157 25.139 95 217 236 iio 470 117 1,037 645 298 83 95 128 2,324 4,275 709 443 L098 160 86] Tots 50,120 43,863 Year end 31.3.2024 Income 39,558 50.120 Outgoings £ 8ank balance 1st April 2023 É Bank balance 3tst March 2024 £ 85,397 74534 CHARITY COMMISSION i FOR ENGLAND AND IVALES Independent examiner's report on the ' accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Chorllon and Didsbury Foodbank CIO On accounts for the year ended March 2024 1177999 lif any) Set out on pages 1 &2 I report to the Irustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charily I'the Charrty I for the year end8d 3110312024 Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the p￿paratIon of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 I'the Act I I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5}Ib) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm thal no material matters have examiner's Statement come to my attention in connection with the examination iolher than that disclosed below "I which gives me tsuse to believe that in, any material respecl.. the accounting records were nol kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act, or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts Set cut in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'lrue and fair, view which Is not a matter considered as part of an Independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no olher rnatters in ¢onnection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a woper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if thoy do iiol apply. Signed: Date: 4S7 2024 Name: Diane Riley Relevant professional qualilicationls) or body {if any): Address: The Broughton Trust. Humphrey Booth Cenlre, Salford, M7 1NY IER Oct 2018 Section B Disclosure Only corllplete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern {see CC32, Independent examination of charily accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to dlsclose. IER Oct 2018