2025-03-31-accounts - Chorlton & Didsbury Foodbank

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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 2024 / 2025

Chair’s Introduction

The period 2024-2025 has continued where the previous year left off, busy, with a steady number of people accessing the Foodbank. A proportion of these have been accessing our financial inclusion project. This year is the middle of three years of this project of having a Citizens Advice Advisor embedded within our open sessions and with telephone assistance for those receiving food parcels by our delivery options.

We have 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 this year we found a need to purchase stock more frequently. We have benefited during this year by substantial donations of Gift Tokens for various suppliers that have help reduce our reliance on our cash funds for purchasing. We still need to explore other sources for food purchases, from such places as wholesalers, but due to the continued generosity of donations from individuals and organisations we have managed to meet keep purchases to about 11% of what we supply to our clients.

Financial Inclusion Project: This second of three years of our financial inclusion project has firmly demonstrated how beneficial this has been for our clients. We have begun exploring how we might continue this. Our project Manager has been key to exploring with the other 5 Trussell Trust Foodbanks in the City of Manchester Area and the Trussell Trust how to enable the continuation of this service.

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, keeping good links between the operations planning and the Trustees’ more strategic roles.

Our Trustee numbers remained static this year at 8, with Kate Grand, Joanna Midgeley and Philip Gay being happy to stand for a further 3-year term to September 2027, and the board agreed to this. This leaves the board with capacity to appoint one more, fulfilling our constituted maximum of 9. We continue to recognise that we have done remarkably well in having such numbers of Trustees.

This year has also seen the beginning of a process of being assessed by Trussell Trust for our compliance with their quality and standards. This has been on going into the current year.

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 (5 years’ service with us) and project worker (2 years’ service with us) who continue to work well together and who appreciate, encourage and motivate our volunteers.
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 2024 / 2025

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 addressing those aims during the year, and how trustees, staff and volunteers work to ensure these objects remain the core of all our activities.

What the Foodbank has done:

Over the year the Foodbank has -

fulfilled 1,324 vouchers
from 99 referral partners including from local groups, Citizens Advice, medical practices, housing associations, churches and schools
this provided food for 3,630 people – 2,294 adults and 1,336 children; each food parcel is comprised of 3 days’ food for the household, based on Trusell Trust guidelines. For 61% of people this was their first contact with the foodbank and
we operated 3 times each week throughout the year.

The Foodbank works on a referral system. This means agencies and other referrers assess a person’s needs, offer to issue them a voucher for food, and if the offer is taken up then notify the Foodbank. At the Foodbank session, volunteers welcome each person when they arrive and invite them and to sit down, and offer a drink. They have an opportunity to chat and relax while they wait as the food parcels are prepared. They also will be offered the opportunity to talk in private with a Citizens Advice adviser.

It has long been known that food insecurity is interlinked with other financial issues, and so cannot be resolved on its own. In 2023 we gained 3 years’ funding from Trussell, for a joint Financial Inclusion project with other Manchester foodbanks, and with Manchester Citizens Advice. Throughout the year we have again had a CA adviser in the Foodbank sessions each week to speak confidentially with clients who wish to take up the opportunity to see what further help may be available.

We have provided advice to over 160 people, identifying in excess of £150,000 in financial gains. We have given out over 60 fuel vouchers worth approximately £3,000, and more than 400 free Sim cards worth approximately £8,000.

We are proud to have a free delivery service once a week which we believe to be unique within Manchester, focusing on people with mobility issues and larger families.

The people we see are experiencing financial hardship, involving food insecurity, little disposable income. In addition, some also suffer physical and mental health issues. We also offer information on other local organisations such as Food Clubs or Pantries which, after the immediate urgent need, people can join and buy food for a small charge. People have told us that without our help they would have “gone hungry” or “worried to death” or “borrowed money”.

Annual report 2024 / 2025

Donations of food and essential items:

During the year almost 23 tonnes of food and other stock, such as toiletries, was donated to the Foodbank, and we bought a further 2.5 tonnes. We received donations from a range of people, such as a regular street collection, from schools, churches, businesses. We have collection points in several local shops. We have again had 2 one-day collections plus a November three-day collection Tesco Didsbury Parrs Wood, and a one-day collection at Morrisons, Chorlton. Shoppers gave very generously at all these days, and help keep our supplies going through the year.

At the end of the financial year 2023-2024 we received notification of support from both Morrisons and Sainsburys supermarkets in the form of vouchers; these were spent during 2024-2025.

Additional help and support

Volunteers – without them the Chorlton & Didsbury Foodbank could not function. Tasks include -

setting up the sessions;
speaking with clients, ensuring they are comfortable by offering a drink and a chat;
putting together the appropriate food parcels;
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;
being involved with the Food Collection days within the supermarket, speaking with shoppers and donors.

Our volunteers attended the Foodbank throughout the year, ensuring the sessions could run. In addition, 8 people gave their time as Trustees, carrying 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 free use of the Church Halls for our sessions.

Our Project Manager has continued to liaise and work with other local organisations and Foodbanks, and with Trussell Trust, to share knowledge and experience gained, and address the causes and effects of lack of income and poverty in South Manchester.

Trustees during the year April 2024 to March 2025 :

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

Annual report 2024 / 2025

Key foodbank data for Financial Year 2024/25

Clients

1,324 vouchers fulfilled, -2% on 2023/24
➢ 1,014 collections, 310 deliveries
3,630 people fed – 2,294 adults, 1,336 children
61% of clients visited for the first time
Clients were referred by 99 referrers

Donations

22,937 kilos of stock donated
11% of stock had to be purchased – unfortunately more than ever before

Other help offered…

We now have Citizens Advice advisors in all sessions
➢ More than 160 people accessed advice
➢ Over £150,000 financial gains identified
Approximately 60 fuel vouchers were issued
Over 400 free SIM cards were distributed

The Chorlton & Didsbury Foodbank is a member of the Trussell Trust

Annual report 2024 / 2025

Chorlton and Didsbury Foodbank

Financial Information 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025

Income 2024-2025:
Donations	£ 25,220
Grants Tesco/Trussell	£ 2,959
Small Grants	£ 1,150
Grant Trussell Financial Inclusion	£ 4,316
Vouchers,supermarkets	£ 3,440
Total	£ 37,086

Outgoings 2024-2025:
Room hire costs(storage)	£ 7,080
Equipment	£ 836
Salaries	£ 36,074
Office costs	£ 315
Phone,IT,IT equipment	£ 2,846
Fees,insurance	£ 828
Food/stock	£ 3,386
Volunteer support,training	£ 554
Total	£ 51,920

----- Start of picture text -----
Income
Donations
Grants Over 22,000 kg of food/stock
9% Tesco/Trussell were donated during the year.
12% At £2.50 per kg, this
Small Grants
represents £55,000.
3%
estimated valuation based on
Grant Trussell
8% Trussell Trust’s figures
Fin Inclusion
68%
Vouchers,
supermarkets
Outgoings Room hire costs
Equipment
1%
2%
6% 14% Salaries
1%
5%
2% Office costs
Phone, IT, IT
equipment
Fees, insurance
69%
Food/stock
Volunteer support,
training
----- End of picture text -----

Joan Williams Treasurer September 2025

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examlner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Chorllon and Didsbury Foodbank CS0 On accounts for the year ended March 2025 Charity no Ilf any) 1177999 Set out on pages 1&2 I report to the IrLJStees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {"the Charity") for the year ended 3110312024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trust8es, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Acl 2011 {'the Act"). I report in r8spect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carri8d out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by Ihe Charity Commission under section 14515)(bl of the Act. Independent I havé completed my examination. I confirm Ihal no material matters have examlner's statement come lo My attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') whiGh gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounling records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accaunls did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts sel out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a maller considered as part of an independent examination. I have no Concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in thi5 report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the br8Gkets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: 13.11.2025 Name: Diane Riley Relevant professional qualificationlsl or body (If any): Address: The Broughton Trust, Humphrey Booth Centre. Salford, M7 1 NY IER Oct 2018

Section B Disclosure Only complete If the examiner needs to highlight rllalerial mallers of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018

Chorlton and Didsbury Foodbank (CIO) Year end 31. March 2025 Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Chorlton and Didsbury Foodbank ICIOI. I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Chorlton and Didsbury foodbank ICIOI Ithe Charity) for the year ended 315I March 2025. Responslbllltles and basis of report As the charity trvstee5 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 glven by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examinatlon. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: accountin8 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 concerning the form and content of accounts Set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view wh ich is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have corne across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of account5 to be reached. 5i8ned: Name: Dlane Rlley Address: The Broughton Trust Humphrey Booth Centre Salford, M7 INY Date: 13.11.2025

Registered Charity Number 1177999 Chorlton and Didsbury Foodbank Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Unaudited Financial Statements 31" March 2025 Diane Riley The Broughton Trust Humphrey Booth Building Heath Avenue Salford, M7 INY

Annual Accounts 2024- 2025 Year end 31.3.2025 Income Actual Acttial 202312024 £6,406.00 £19,204.00 £3,846.00 £2.821.00 £1,000.00 202412025 £6,035.00 £16,050.00 £3,135.00 £2,959.00 £850.00 Regular donations- direct Donatlons via GoldenGivlng other donations Trus5ell Trust/Tesco Grants Mcr, City Council Trussell Trust Wlnter Cost of Llvlng TT & Cltlzen5 Advlce Project BMCA winter support other £4,316.00 £300.00 £3,440 £37,086.00 £5,781.00 £500.00 £39,558.00 Outgolngs Room hlre Equipment Premlses Costs IMaintenan¢e etcl Salary & on-costs Recrultment Statlonaryi ink5 etc Software IT Support/Security Telephone & Wl-fl Fees Ilncl exam of accounts) Insurance Travel Expenses Advertis5n8 materlals Actlvltles- food Activitie5 additional Sundries Volunteers week et Tralnlng IT Equipment £6.865.00 £836.00 £6,865.00 £2,191.00 £215.00 £32,113.00 £215.00 £36,074.00 £305.00 £156.00 £272.00 £850.00 £217.00 £236.00 £iio.00 £867.00 £305.00 £523.00 £9.00 £305.00 £368.00 £95,00 £128.00 £4,000.00 £709.00 £3,386.00 £10.00 £443.00 £509.00 £36.00 £1,568 £51,919.00 £1,098 £50,120.00 Year end 31.3.2025 Income £37086.00 Outgoing5 £51,919 Bank Balance 1st April 2024 £74,533.80 Bank Balance 31st March 2025 £59.560.93