Feeding Families **Annual Report** _2020-2021_ https://feedingfamilies.org.uk / info@feedingfamilies.org.uk # **O R G A N I S A T I O N D E T A I L S** Charity Name: Feeding Families Address: 46 Blaydon Bank Blaydon Gateshead Tyne and Wear NE21 4AU Telephone Number: 0191 908 7163 Email: info@feedingfamilies.org.uk Website: https://feedingfamilies.org.uk Legal status: CIO CEO: Juliet Sanders Trustees Sarah Ticherou (Chair) June Fletcher Tracy Kirk Gemma Wilson Andrew Elves Antony Byrne Jon Regan Gavin Salmon _2020-21 Annual Report_ _2_ ## **T R U S T E E R E P O R T** 'Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive ‘ Dalai Lama What a year it has been. Along with the whole world, Feeding Families has been challenged in ways we could never have imagined. COVID has had a huge impact on so many levels and as a charity our resources have been stretched inexorably as demand for help in very frightening times increased. However, the hurdles we faced were far outweighed by the amazing spirit and generosity of the communities who support us. We have seen local businesses and volunteers step up despite facing their own challenges and as a result thousands of people in dire need across the North East have received help when they needed it most. It hasn’t been easy and our Christmas project had to be tweaked to fit around restrictions in order to ensure everyone remained safe. We are thankful to so many people who helped make Christmas a little bit easier for families struggling in the region.We are blessed to have a strong and dedicated core team of staff and volunteers who have helped drive forward our new projects, such as wonder box and the welcome home box, meaning we are now able to reach vulnerable people all year round Love and compassion are at the very heart of Feeding Families and the trustees and I are very grateful for the commitment of everyone involved. By working collectively we have adapted and grown despite these challenging times and we are able to continue to develop innovative ways to reach people who would ordinarily fall through the assistance gaps. Together we are making a difference in the world, every day. ## **Sarah Ticherou Chair & Trustee** _2020-21 Annual Report_ _3_ _2020-21 Annual Report_ 4 ## **Mission Our Statement Vision** Our mission is to 1) Provide relief to any person experiencing poverty primarily in north east England. We will do this, in particular but not exclusively, through the provision of food, education and other resources which they could not otherwise afford. 2) Promote wellbeing and mental health for those who give and receive aid. We aspire to be a numerically growing and geographically expanding community of people who offer practical help and support to families in financial difficulties at Christmas and beyond. We aim to motivate individuals and local and national businesses to connect with us and to inspire acts of kindness and generosity which bring joy and hope and provide a practical response to a very real and desperate situation that is happening right here in our towns and cities. _2020=21 Annual Report_ 5 ## **Statistics** ## **8014** **CHRISTMAS HAMPERS DELIVERED** in an area covering Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Cleveland. ## **167%** **INCREASE IN 2020** up from 3003 in 2019. Of these 34% were matched hampers and 66% were produced from the packing centre. ## **3000** **VOLUNTEERS** Approximately 3000 vounteers were involved in producing and delivering hampers including 425 volunteers helping in the packing centre. _2020=21 Annual Report_ _6_ ## **Covid Statistics** ## 70,000 ## **COVID MEALS DELIVERED** approximately, to over 5,300 people across the north east from AprilNovember 2020. ## £55,000 approximately of food distributed in Covid boxes during the pandemic. This was donated by individuals, businesses and paid for by grant funding. _2020-21 Annual Report_ _7_ ## **Statistics** ## **£322k +** ## **CHRISTMAS FOOD DONATIONS** based on an average of £60 per matched hamper and £30 per packing centre box. ## **20,000 + PEOPLE REACHED** "Having been furloughed then losing my job due to my ill health, as well as being a lone parent and carer to my disabled adult daughter, money has been incredibly tight. I genuinely didn’t know how to make Christmas special this year - I had enough for a small Christmas lunch for my daughters and a sandwich for me, but now we have a complete dinner, and so much more. Even sprouts Only my youngest likes sprouts and normally I can’t afford to buy things that only one person will eat, so I think she’s most excited about sprouts! We as a family have already decided to put £1 away a week each so that hopefully we can pay this kindness forward and donate a hamper next year." ## **2020 Recipient** _2020-21 Annual Report_ _08_ "I became involved with Feeding Families as a volunteer in 2019 having spotted a Facebook post, we were matched with a family who had fallen on hard times. I come from a family of 4 children, growing up in a mostly single parent household which relied solely on benefits for most of my childhood. I guess somewhere unconsciously this is the reason Feeding Families struck such a resonant chord with me, I understand how it feels to grow up in a home where food was limited and where choices between 20p in the electric meter or a loaf of bread were commonplace." ## **Impact on Donors** _Feeding Families not only benefits families in need but also gives donors the opportunity to make a difference through giving and volunteering._ ## **FEEDING FAMILIES' DONOR** _2020-21 Annual Report_ _09_ ## **Impact on Families** _Sometimes we all need a little extra support. A food box delivered at the right time is not only feeding the body but supporting mental health. The message that someone cares and is reaching out is a powerful one that can't be underestimated._ **"** I am absolutely blown away by the kindness and generosity. Thank you to Feeding Families for giving me this opportunity. In the last two years I have suffered kidney failure, losing my career, emergency surgery, dialysis, shielding and escaping an abusive marriage, so when this lovely family of angels appeared on my doorstep I was so emotional. When things improve for me and my children, hopefully by this time next year, I will return the favour to another family in need. ## **2020 RECIPIENT** _2020-21 Annual Report_ _10_ ## **Impact on Partnerships** _We recognise that we have the maximum impact when we work together. We therefore use the model of partnering with those who work directly with those most in need. By_ _supporting other organisations who don't have a food offering of their own we are able to get help quickly where it is most needed. In 2020 we supported over 130 local charities, organisations and schools._ Many of those we support are going through a particularly tough time this Christmas, some may have lost loved ones or be at risk of taking their own life due to immense pressures at this time of year. 2020 has been a very challenging year for our charity and for those we support. Your kindness has had a hugely positive impact on people in our community this Christmas, bringing some light into the darkness and helping them to have a more positive festive period in the face of serious challenges. We truly appreciate your kindness and the hard work of your entire team. You have helped us to make lives better and save lives over the festive period. ## **If U Care Share Foundation** _2020-21 Annual Report_ 11 ## **Welcome Home Box** _Supplying food boxes for vulnerable patients on discharge from the NHS._ During the pandemic, we identified a gap in support for vulnerable people being discharged from Emergency Departments following an unplanned attendance. On discharge, some people would have to stay at home to self isolate or were unable to access food with no-one immediately available to shop for them. This included elderly being discharged out-of-hours, those with poor mental and physical health or impairments, diabetics, homeless and people temporarily without money for various reasons. Such people often lived in areas of high deprivation, often reliant upon benefits and experiencing social and domestic problems. In response, Feeding Families designed a small box of nonperishable food and drink (Welcome Home boxes) that are simple to prepare and can support a patient for up to 24 hours post discharge. Contents include porridge, milk, crackers, meat paste, tea, coffee, rice or pasta instant meal etc. Also custard and fruit jelly or rice pudding for those requiring a soft diet. A small amount of toiletries are also included. The boxes are now being used in 7 Discharge Lounges and 8 Emergency Departments with no cost to the NHS **.** _2020 Annual Report_ _12_ ## **Wonder Box** Wonder Box is a project offering a multitude of benefits to participants: The "Wonder Box" is a method of cooking with residual heat which can reduce fuel costs for families as well as encouraging healthy eating. The project began a pilot in conjunction with the Auckland Project in Bishop Auckland but had to be postponed due to Covid. We hope to recommence when restrictions allow. The course of 6 sessions provides: - Learning basic cooking skills - Receiving cooking equipment, removing barriers to cooking Support to make a "Wonder Box", designed to reduce fuel consumption Learning sewing skills Receiving food for class cooking and to take home Support and friendship _2020-21 Annual Report_ _13_ ## **Emergency Food Box** When Covid struck in March 2020, Feeding Families responded by setting up a packing centre in St Peter's Church Hall in Byers Green, near Spennymoor, County Durham. We quickly assembled a team of volunteers and appealed for food donations, while seeking funding to operate. This lead to the production of Emergency Boxes, designed to help those in need of basic foods. Initially a large team of volunteers also carried out shopping and donations direct to families, but as furlough eased and the climate changed, we shifted our model to collaborate with other local charities and organisations working at grassroots level to get help where it was most needed. This activity has now become a central feature of what we do and March 2021 saw us open a second centre in Tyneside which now has a permanent home in Blaydon. _2020-21 Annual Report_ _14_ ## **Volunteers** _Feeding Families relies on an army of volunteers! Whether it's making and delivering a hamper, helping in one of the packing centres, driving deliveries out across the region, helping with administration behind the scenes or joining the fundraising team - each person brings their unique skills and makes a massive difference to thousands of people._ **"My desire to ‘do my bit’ and try to make a difference is primarily born out of frustration that there are so many vulnerable people in our society who are overlooked. I also believe that if we all do what we can to help, then the world would be a far better place. I recognise that I can’t change the world but I can do my part to make it better."** ## **FEEDING FAMILIES' VOLUNTEER** _2020-21 Annual Report_ 15 ## **Business Support** _We receive amazing support from many local businesses. Whether it's donations of money, volunteering time, Gifts of food or use of skills - all these make a massive difference to what we are able to achieve. Thank you!_ _2020-21 Annual Report_ _15_ 16 ## **Business Support** _‘_ I expect everybody reading this will join me in thinking how appalling it is in this day and age and in such a well-developed and so-called civilised country, that so many families are living in poverty. In 2019 -20 4.3 million children in our county were living in poverty in the UK. That’s 31% of children or 9 in a classroom of 30. Not nice figures. Unfortunately, due to Covid and increasing unemployment the figures above must be set to increase. Businesses in the North East need a fit and healthy workforce both now and in the future. Does it not fall on us all to help guarantee this by actively supporting Charities such as Feeding Families who are doing such an amazing job throughout the year? Donations at any time are welcome, however Feeding Families need regular income throughout the year in order to plan their activities and be effective 52 weeks a year. Its for this reason that Cello in 2020 decided to support Feeding Families with a regular monthly contribution. ## **Brian Palmer** ## **CEO, Cello Electronics (UK) Ltd** _2020-21 Annual Report_ _17_ ## **Fundraising and Donations** Covid severely impacted our ability to run fundraising events, however our wonderful supporters were not deterred and it was great to hear of online or virtual events that took place. We also benefited from online concerts, an extreme run of over 100 miles, a Santa visit and Santa letters, children doing the Great North Run on their stairs during lockdown. There was no end to the inspiration! We also ran our annual Christmas raffle which raised £2600 this year - our best ever! In total we raised: ## **£97,190** _2020-21 Annual Report_ _18_ ## **Grants** _An important part of our income now is grants from funding bodies. These pay for our central costs (salary, administration, insurance, etc.) which allow the charity to function. In 2020-21 we were supported by:_ Barbour Foundation Believe Housing Card Factory Cllr Liz Brown County Durham AAPs County Durham Community Foundation Durham County Council Hedley Denton Foundation Karbon Homes Lottery - Covid Newby Trust Sage Phyllis and Frank Scotto Trust Tesco Bags of Help WRAP In total we received **£115,186** _2020=21 Annual Report_ 19 ## **Award** In February 2020, just before lockdown, Juliet Sanders, our CEO, was nominated as Unsung Hero at the Glass Slipper Awards in Newcastle and went on to win the title. The award, which was sponsored by Ant and Dec, was a lovely moment of recognition for all the charity has achieved so far. ## **Patron** We are delighted that Carol Malia from BBC's Look North, has agreed to be a patron of the charity. Carol said: “Need is on the rise and the basic necessity of just feeding your family isn’t easy for everyone, even in our relatively wealthy country. Feeding Families is working its socks off to fill as many gaps as possible. If anyone can help by picking up a box and filling it with some much needed items for a struggling family, it will really help them, not to just fill hungry stomachs for a time, but to let them know that support is there.” _2020-21 Annual Report_ ## **Summary** 2020-21 was our biggest and best year yet! We keep thinking we may have reached our capacity and then we find we have doubled again! The need for the help we give continues to rise but we continue to fill the gaps in other provision, reaching those who can't access food banks or just fall down the cracks of society. Our collaboration with other charities, schools and organisations gives us a unique position as we bring together strands of support to offer the best solutions together. If you have been part of our family in any way - as a recipient, a donor, a partner, a volunteer or a team member - thank you so much! Let's come together and make 202122 even better! **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1179694** **Report of the Trustees and** **Unaudited Financial Statements for the Period From 01 January 2020 to 31 March 2021** **for** **Feeding Families** Certax Accounting (Durham) LLP Units 8&9 Parsons Court Welbury Way Newton Aycliffe County Durham DL5 6ZE 1 **Feeding Families** ## **Contents of the Financial Statements for the Period from 01 January 2020 to 31 March 2021** ||Page| |---|---| |Report of the Trustees|3-5| |Independent Examiner's Report|6| |Statement of Financial Activities|7| |Balance Sheet|8| |Notes to the Financial Statements|9| |Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|10| 2 ## **Feeding Families** ## **Report of the Trustees For the period from 01 January 2020 to 31 March 2021** The trustees present their report with the financial statements for the period 01 January 2020 to 31 March 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP FRS 102) ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINSTRATION DETAILS** **Charity Name:** Feeding Families **Registered Charity Number:** 1179694 **Principal address:** 46 Blaydon Bank Blaydon Gateshead Tyne and Wear NE21 4AU **Trustees:** Sarah Ticherou (Chair) Tony Byrne Andrew Elves June Fletcher (Resigned March 2021) Tracey Kirk Jon Regan Gavin Salmon Gemma Wilson ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing document** Feeding Families is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by a constitution, which is registered with the Charity Commission. A copy of the constitution is available on request. ## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees** New trustees are invited to apply when a vacancy arises, and this is advertised to our supporters as well as on volunteer websites. Following application, a series of meetings takes place to ascertain if the applicant and charity are suited to work together and then a vote is taken by the trustees to confirm the appointment. 3 ## **Risk management** Risks are highlighted and managed within the context of trustee meetings. The charity has taken appropriate insurance cover for the main risks it faces. ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS** ## **Objective and aims** Our mission is to: - 1) provide relief to any person experiencing poverty primarily in north east England. We will do this, in particular but not exclusively, through the provision of food, education and other resources which they could not otherwise afford. - 2) Promote wellbeing and mental health for those who give and receive aid. We aspire to be a numerically growing and geographically expanding community of people who offer practical help and support to families in financial difficulties at Christmas and beyond. We aim to motivate individuals and local and national businesses to connect with us and to inspire acts of kindness and generosity which bring joy and hope and provide a practical response to a very real and desperate situation that is happening right here in our towns and cities. ## **Significant activities** During 2020-21 we set up a year-round packing centre, based in Byers Green near Spennymoor, to meet the challenge of Covid 19. We were able to use this as a base to distribute food throughout the region with the help of volunteers. We expanded to the point that we opened a second centre in Tyneside in March 2021 in a temporary centre in Lobley Hill, Gateshead. This has now just relocated to Blaydon into a building which will become our long-term headquarters. Our packing centre distributed in excess of 70,000 meals across the north east in 2020 and supplied over 8000 food hampers. Due to covid constraints, the Christmas packing was consolidated centrally in a venue in Durham City. During this period, we appointed three part time staff (Senior Operations Manager, Operations Manager and Project Officer) to assist with the delivery of our projects and the expansion of our work. ## **Charitable activities** In 2020-21 we saw a massive growth in demand for our food. In order to reach as many people as possible we introduced a partnership model whereby, we collaborate with local charities, organisations and schools to get help where it is needed. We supported 130 different groups, most of whom had no food offering of their own or whose food offering was overwhelmed, and they could not meet demand. This allowed us to deliver in bulk for our partners to distribute where they were working with households in need. This enabled us to minimise administration and maximise impact. 4 We experienced an increase in the giving of hampers from 3003 in 2019 to 8014 in 2020. These large hampers had an average approximate value of £60 where one household donated to another and £30 for those produced at our packing centre. This equates to approximately £322k of food distributed. In order to do this, we engaged 2700 volunteers as donors and 425 as workers in our packing and distribution centres at Christmas. In addition, the emergency food boxes we distributed amounted to approximately £55k. some of this was obtained by donations and some by using donations and fundraising monies. In 2020 we also began the following projects: Wonder Box – a group course teaching cooking and sewing skills to produce and use a “Wonder Box” which cooks with minimal fuel. This course was in its pilot phase when it had to be paused due to Covid and we have not yet been able to resume. Welcome Home boxes – these no/low cook food boxes are for vulnerable patients being discharged from hospital, providing food until other support can be put in place. We now support the NHS in 7 discharge lounges and 8 emergency departments across the north east. ## **Fundraising activities** Our fundraising activities were impacted by the pandemic as we were unable to organise any meetings. However, a few of our supporters organised virtual or socially distanced events such as a sponsored extreme run over 100 miles, online music concerts, a Christmas raffle, virtual craft fair and the Great North Run done by children on their stairs. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Reserve’s policy** The trustees aim to maintain reserves in restricted funds at a level which equates to approximately three months of expenditure. The trustees consider that this level will provide funds to respond to carry out the work of the charity and the support and governance required for it to operate ## **Providing funding sources** Within this financial period, we received grants of £115,186 Approved by the board of trustees on , and signed on its behalf by: 03 Aug 2021 ………………………………………………………… Sarah Ticherou - Trustee 5 ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Feeding Families** I report to the trustees on the accounts for the period from 01 January 2020 to 31 March 2021. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act'). I have examined your charity's accounts as required under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe: 1. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or 2. the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or 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 which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** I have no concerns and have come 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 the accounts to be reached. Certax Accounting (Durham) LLP Units 8&9 Parsons Court Welbury Way Aycliffe Industrial Park Newton Aycliffe County Durham DL5 6ZE Date: ……………………………………. 6 ## **Feeding Families** ## **Statement of Financial Activities for the period 01 January 2020 to 31 March 2021** ||**31.03.21**|**31.12.19**| |---|---|---| ||**£**|**£**| |**INCOMING RESOURCES**||| |**Incoming resources from generating funds**||| |Voluntary Income|212,376|48,988| |Bank Interest Received|1|| |Total incoming resources|212,377|48,988| |**RESOURCES EXPENDED**||| |**Charitable Activities**||| |Donations|64,833|12,247| |Wages Expenses|54,401|19,637| |Fees and direct support costs|4,016|1,973| |Room Hire|7,076|-| |Other resources expenses|5,636|901| |**Total resources expenses**|**135,962**|**34,758**| |**NET INCOMING RESOURCES**|**76,415**|**14,230**| |**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|**96,944**|**20,529**| 7 ## **Feeding Families** ## **Balance Sheet** ## **as at 31 March 2021** ||**2021**|**2019**| |---|---|---| ||**£**|**£**| |Fixed Assets|330|179| |Current assets|99,286|25,738| |Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year|(1,832)|(5,028)| |**NET CURRENT ASSETS**|**97,454**|**20,710**| |**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**|**97,784**|**20,889**| |Accruals and deferred income|(840)|(360)| |**NET ASSETS**|**96,944**|**20,529**| |FUNDS: Unrestricted funds|7,470|20,529| |Restricted funds|89,474|-| ||**96,944**|**20,529**| The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on and were signed on its behalf by: 03 Aug 2021 …………………………………………….. Sarah Ticherou - Trustee **Feeding Families** 8 **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021** ## **ACCOUNTING POLICIES** ## **Accounting convention** The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008), the Charities Act 2011, and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities. ## **Incoming resources** All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. ## **Resources expended** Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year-end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure. ## **Taxation** The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities. ## **Fund accounting** Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purpose. **Feeding Families** 9 ## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the period 01 January 2020 to 31 March 2021** ||**2021**|**2019**| |---|---|---| ||**£**|**£**| |**INCOMING RESOURCES**||| |**Voluntary Income**||| |Donations and fundraising activities|97,190|16,190| |Grants|115,186|32,798| |Bank Interest Received|1|-| |**Total Income**|**212,377**|**48,988**| |**RESOURCES EXPENDED**||| |**Charitable Activities**||| |Food hampers|60,285|7,447| |Other costs and charges|4,548|4,800| |**Support Costs**||| |Wages|53,482|19,220| |Employers Pension|918|417| |Travel Expenses|1,369|-| |Room Hire|7,076|-| |Insurance|459|551| |Office and administration|990|339| |Website|672|935| |Sundries|744|436| |Accountancy Fees|1,872|465| |Professional Fees|2,144|-| |Computer/software|1,220|148| |Bank Charges|35|-| |Depreciation|148|-| |**Total**|**135,962**|**34,758**| |**Net movement in funds**|**76,415**|**14,230**| |Balances brought forward at 01 January|20,529|6,299| |**Total funds carried forward at 31 December**|**96,944**|**20,529**| 10