Accountancy Solutions
## FEEDING FAMILIES
Financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2024
## Charity number: 1179694
Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered England and Wales
> **[Call: 07926 450 250 ] Email: info@hslaccountancysolutions.co.uk www.hslaccountancysolutions.co.uk**
**FEEDING FAMILIES Contents of the financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2024**
______________________________________________________________________________________________
||Page|
|---|---|
|Administrative Details|1|
|Trustees Report|2 - 4|
|Independent Examiners Report|5|
|Statement of Financial Activities|6|
|Balance sheet|7|
|Statement of Cash Flows|8|
|Notes to the accounts|9 - 13|
**FEEDING FAMILIES Administrative details for the year ended 31st March 2024**
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
## **Registered Charity number**
||||
|---|---|---|
|**Registered Charity number**|1179694||
|**Trustees and Management Committee**|Emma Jarvis|- From 26/05/2021|
||David Jackson|- From 01/05/2021|
||Alex Arthur Wilby|- From 27/07/2021|
||Brian John Palmer|- From 06/04/2021|
||Jon Daniel Regan|- From 29/01/2020|
||Anthony Patrick Byrne|- From 22/07/2019|
|**Administrative address**|Unit 2||
||Franklin Park,Patterson Street||
||BLAYDON-ON-TYNE||
||Tyne And Wear||
||NE21 5TL||
|**Bankers**|Lloyds bank Plc||
||LEWISHAM||
||PO BOX 1000||
||BX11LT||
|**Independent Examiner**|Heera Singh FMAAT||
||HSL Accountancy Solutions Ltd||
||Enterprise House||
||61a Carr House||
||Doncaster||
||DN1 2BY||
Page 1
**FEEDING FAMILIES The Trustees present their annual report for the year ended 31st March 2024**
______________________________________________________________________________________________
## **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.
## **Organisational Structure and Management**
The organisation operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered on 28 Aug 2018 with the Charity Commission. The organisation is governed by the Trustees, who determine strategic direction and policy. The day-to-day operation is also carried out by the CEO and staff.
## **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.
## **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**
Our mission is to:
- 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.
- Promote wellbeing and mental health for those who give and receive aid.
## **Significant activities**
Following on from unprecedented growth in 2022-23, we saw a further 101% increase in demand for our support during 2023-24.
In May 2023 we completed the transfer from our building on Blaydon Bank into an industrial unit on Blaydon Haughs. The building was an empty space of circa 10,000 sq ft which we completely transformed, adding 3 offices, a toilet block, kitchen and an open volunteer area. This move enabled us to create additional distribution capacity, and following consultation with partners and recipients we added new support packages alongside of existing ones. As a result, the output of our boxes significantly increased.
After a long search, in November 2023, we secured our own premises in Sedgefield; an industrial unit which we solely occupy. We initially used it as a distribution hub at Christmas, later transitioning it into a packing centre to service the South Durham and Teesside areas.
The support we have offered this year has included the following services:
- Essential Food Boxes - containing ambient food for 1-2 people for approximately 3 days. For larger families, the number of boxes allocated by our partners is adjusted accordingly. 33,50 Essential Food Boxes were distributed in the 12-month period.
- Low Cook Food Boxes (previously known as Welcome Home Boxes) - contain food items which can be prepared using a kettle and microwave. These are targeted at individuals where cooking a meal might be challenging, a box will feed 1 person for 2-3 days. We distributed 3,314 boxes in total.
- Culturally Appropriate, Halal Food Boxes - offer items which are more befitting to a traditional halal diet, including store cupboard ingredients which can be offered alongside our other food boxes. The charity supported 265 families during Eid, with 950 halal boxes at Christmas and 4,439 across the rest of the year.
- Dietary requirements - we provide gluten free, vegetarian & vegan food boxes which are adapted versions of our Essential Food Boxes.
- Rough Sleeper Pack - a bag containing high protein, high calorie snacks that require little or no preparation. This is being piloted with our partners who support the homeless.
- Toiletry Packs – are offered on a case-by-case basis to support our food provision, they can be tailored to male, female, individual or family sized provisions. We provided 1,162 toiletry packs.
Page 3
**Independent examiners report to the Trustees of FEEDING FAMILIES for the year ended 31st March 2024**
## **Significant activities (continued)**
- Cleaning Packs are designed to provide essential items for recipients moving to a new property or to address other vulnerabilities in limiting access to products. This is a small project offered on a case-by-case basis. 184 packs were distributed.
- Starter pack – moving into a new property is a financially challenging time, so during this period of transition a Starter Pack can be provided, this includes an Essential Food Box, cleaning pack and toiletry bag.
- Nil Income - we have a small fresh food, home delivery offering to cover a period of nil or nearly nil income. This is prioritised to recipients during an unprecedented time of financial hardship with no access to other funds such as sanctions, transition to UC and asylum to refugee status.
- Christmas – we ran two projects this year, the first focused on providing a Christmas dinner through a donor family who purchase and deliver items from a prescribed list. Secondly, we packed boxes of staple foods and Christmas treats to be distributed by our partners. A total of 12,636 households received our support during December through these channels.
- In total, across all Feeding Families services, we distributed circa 1,040,000 items of food and toiletries.
Feeding Families have engaged with 382 partners to deliver these projects, an increase of 182 additional partners versus the previous year. Some partners only require our support at Christmas, while others come to us regularly or on an adhoc basis. This collaborative way of working reduces administration - we don’t record end users, but the professional organisations are working with those individuals and are best placed to assess need. This approach also reduces the risk of data breaches, and the same information is not recorded twice and held by different organisations.
Our model is built on our specialism in being able to offer food support in large quantities, this in turn allows professionals to focus on their specialism, without the need to continually seek a food supply to address need. The relationships we are building across the region provide a lifeline for many. In addition to the quantitative measures we collect, we receive anecdotal evidence and stories of how individual boxes have made an impact to recipients.
The cost-of-living crisis continued to impact the food & monetary donations we received from the public; to address this we have continued to diversify our income streams, aiming to move away from grant funding in the longer term.
## **Fundraising Activities**
We continued to have a small number of corporate and individual regular donors.
In June 2023 we held our first Inspirational Ladies Networking Luncheon at Wynyard Hall. This provided an opportunity for 200 women to gather to inspire each other. The program included engaging talks by Alice Rowen-Hall (Rowen Homes/Pink Boutique), Victoria Lynch (Additional Length) and our CEO, Juliet Sanders. The total raised was just in excess of £8,000.
In September 2023 we held our second Gala Dinner at the Grand Hotel, Gosforth Park which attracted over 200 attendees and raised more than £18,000. This was followed at Christmas by a Santa breakfast and festive afternoon tea which raised £2,500.
For the first time we purchased places at the Great North Run and had a team of 15 runners representing Feeding Families, who raised circa £5,000.
## **Reserves policy**
The Trustees aim to maintain reserves in designated 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.
## **Activities undertaken for the public benefit**
In shaping the objectives for the year, the Trustees paid due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. The Charity’s objects have set out to how the Charity fulfil its principal charitable objective. For more information, please refer to our full annual report.
Page 4
**Independent examiners report to the Trustees of FEEDING FAMILIES for the year ended 31st March 2024**
## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities**
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity at the year end and of its incoming resources and resources expended during that year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; where applicable
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been
- followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees declare that they have approved the above report. Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Page 5
**Independent examiners report to the Trustees of FEEDING FAMILIES for the year ended 31st March 2024**
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2024 which are set out on pages 6 to 8.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of Independent Examiner's report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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 the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- 1
- which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
- 2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mr Heera Singh FMAAT HSL Accountancy Solutions Ltd Enterprise House 61a Carr House Doncaster DN1 2BY
Date: 22[nd] November 2024
Page 5
## **FEEDING FAMILIES**
## **Statement of Financial Activities (Incorporating the Income and Expenditure Account) for the year ended 31st March 2024**
|**Notes**
**Income**
Grants and donations
2
Investment income
**Total income**
**Expenditure**
Cost of raising funds
3
Charitable activities
**Total expenditure**
Net income (expenditure)
Balance brought forward 1st April 2023
Transfer between funds
**Balance carried forward 31st March 2024**|**Unrestricted Designated Restricted**
**2024**
**2023**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Total**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
498,709
0
259,168 757,877 792,114
2,979
0
0
2,979
0|
|---|---|
||**501,689**
**0**
**259,168 760,856 792,114**|
||511,878
0
425,735 937,613 452,685|
||**511,878**
**0**
**425,735 937,613 452,685**|
||-10,189
0
-166,568
-
176,757339,430
211,603
48,800
225,140 485,543 146,113
48,800
-48,800
0
0
0|
||**250,214**
**0**
**58,572 308,786 485,543**|
The above statement includes all gains and loses recognised during the year. All activities are regarded as continuing.
The accounting policies and notes on pages 9 to 13 form part of these financial statements
Page 6
**FEEDING FAMILIES Balance sheet for the year ended 31st March 2024**
|**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
**Current assets**
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
**Current Liabilities**
Creditors - amounts due within one year
**Net current assets (Liabilities)**
**Net assets (Liabilities)**
**Funds of the Charity**
Unrestricted Funds
Designated Funds
Restricted Funds
**Total Funds**|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
36,065
2,087
288,741
290,828
-18,107
272,721
**308,786**
250,214
0
58,572
**308,786**|**2023**
**Total**
**£**
15,709
217
475,188|
|---|---|---|
|||475,405
-5,571|
|||469,834|
|||**485,543**|
|||211,603
48,800
225,140|
|||**485,543**|
The financial statements on pages 5 and 6 were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
The accounting policies and notes on pages 9 to 13 form part of these financial statements
Page 7
**FEEDING FAMILIES Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31st March 2024**
|**Cash flows from operating activities:**
Net income/(expenditure) per SoFA
(Increase)/decrease in assets
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
**Cash flows from investing activities:**
Investment income
**Net increase/(decrease) in cash:**
Total cash as at 01 April 2023
**Total cash as at 31 March 2024**|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
-176,757
-20,356
-1,870
12,536|
|---|---|
||-186,446
0|
||**-186,446**
475,188|
||**288,741**|
Page 8
**FEEDING FAMILIES Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2024**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **1.1 Basis of preparation**
- These accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historic cost convention, with items recognised at cost or transaction value, unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s), in accordance with:
- - The Charities Act 2011
- Accounting & Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP FRS102) (effective January 2015)
- 1.1.2. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102
- 1.1.3. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
## **1.2. Incoming resources**
These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities. Incoming resources are recognised when:
- the company becomes entitled to the resources
- the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and
- the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability
Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fund-raising or contract income) the incoming resources and related expenditure are reported gross in the Statement of Financial Activities.
Grants and donations are only included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the company has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Contractual income is only included in the Statement of Financial Activities once the related goods or performance related services have been delivered.
Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable.
Donated goods and services are included in the Statement of Financial Activities and measured at the fair value.
## 1.3. **Expenditure**
Expenditure is charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered.
Expenditure is classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to that 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.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred in the delivery of the charity’s activities and services for its beneficiaries, including both direct and support costs. The expenditure has been analysed but usage.
Professional fees include those costs associated with meeting constitutional and statutory requirements, including Accountancy fees.
## **1.4.**
## **Fund accounting**
Restricted funds are funds received from donors which are subject to restrictions on the purposes for which they may be used of which have been raised for a specific project.
Unrestricted funds are those where there are no externally imposed restrictions. These include funds freely available to the charity for expenditure or appropriation to reserves for internally designated purposes.
## **1.5. Assets**
Tangible assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £500. They are valued at cost, or, if gifted, at the value to the company on receipt. The rates applicable are; Office equipment33% on cost, Fixtures and fittings-25% on cost, Motor vehicle -10% reducing
## **1.6. Debtors**
Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.
Page 9
**FEEDING FAMILIES Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2024**
## **1.7. Cash**
Cash comprises bank deposits repayable on demand and any short-term highly liquid investments with a maturity date of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **1.8. Creditors**
Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount, usually the invoice amount. Accrued charges are normally valued at their settlement amount.
## **1.9. Taxes**
The company is not VAT registered. As a Charity the organisation is exempt from taxation on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or s256 of the Taxation of chargeable gains Act section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or s256 of the Taxation of chargeable gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
## **2. Income from:**
|**ncome from:**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2024**|**2023**|
||**Funds**|**Funds**|**Total**|**Total**|
|**Grants and donations**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Donations|498,709|0|498,709|337,507|
|BP p.l.c.|0|0|0|200,000|
|County Durham Community Foundation|||||
|- Darlington Building Society|0|0|0|8,000|
|- Poverty Hurts Programme|0|10,000|10,000|11,960|
|Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland|0|0|0|10,000|
|- Newcastle Building Society Community|0|0|0|3,000|
|- P&G Fund|0|4,989|4,989|4,500|
|- Squires Foundation|0|0|0|5,000|
|- The 1989 Willian Trust|0|0|0|10,000|
|- William Leech Charity|0|7,990|7,990|0|
|Durham County Council|0|0|0|60,000|
|The Joicey Trust|0|3000|3,000|0|
|Kavli Trust|0|83,000|83,000|0|
|The Vardy Foundation|0|5,000|5,000|0|
|Access to Work|0|8,341|8,341|0|
|The Borough Council of Gateshead|0|20,500|20,500|18,750|
|The Greggs Foundation|0|0|0|10,770|
|The Hobson Charity Limited|0|5,000|5,000|0|
|The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust|0|0|0|40,558|
|Karbon Homes|0|2,500|2,500|13,125|
|Lottery Awards for all|0|0|0|10,000|
|Neighbourly Limited|0|500|500|1,500|
|The Forrester Family Trust|0|25,000|25,000|0|
|Sage Foundation|0|0|0|10,000|
|The PCC of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Gateshead St George|0|11,800|11,800|10,500|
|The National Lottery Community Fund|0|71,548|71,548|0|
|Postcode Neighbourhood Trust|0|0|0|22,944|
|Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Health and Wellbeing Alliance|0|0|0|4,000|
|**Total income 2024**|**498,709**|**259,168**|**757,877**|**792,114**|
||||||
|**Total income 2023**|**337,507**|**454,607**|**792,114**||
Page 10
**FEEDING FAMILIES Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2024**
## **3. Expenditure on**
## **4.**
|**Charitable Activities**
Food hampers
Other project costs
**Charitable activities**
Bank and other charges
Computer/Software
Depreciation
Employers pension
Insurance
Legal and professional fees
Office administration
Other professional fees
Rent and premise costs
Sundries
Travel expenses
Wages
Website and publicity
**Total expenditure 2024**
**Total expenditure 2023**
**Fixed assets**
**Cost**
At 1st April 2023
Additions
At 31st March 2024
**Depreciation**
At 1st April 2023
Charge this period
At 31st March 2024
Net book value at 31st March 2024
Net book value at 31st March 2023
**Debtors and creditors**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
331,579
137,856
16,919
136
2,184
0
7,608
34,440
4,394
0
3,197
646
3,194
384
850
1,251
3,156
632
5,545
11,145
31,817
83,952
0
0
8,747
3,352
79,770
147,505
12,919
4,436|**2024**
**2023**
**Total**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
469,435
182,643
17,055
25,788
2,184
3,590
42,048
11,747
4,394
2,088
3,844
2,596
3,578
310
2,101
850
3,787
4,782
16,689
5,675
115,769
41,515
0
56
12,099
9,255
227,275
155,321
17,355
6,471|
|---|---|---|
||**511,878**
**425,735**|**937,613**
**452,685**|
|||**452,685**
**Motor**
**Total**
**Vehicle**
**£**
**£**
18,714
20,220
24,750
24,750|
||**209,161**
**243,524**||
||**Furniture**
**Office**
**& fittings**
**Equipment**
**£**
**£**
590
916||
||590
916|43,464
44,970|
||295
660
147
256|3,555
4,510
3,991
4,394|
||442
916|7,546
8,905|
||||
||147
0|35,918
36,065|
||||
||295
256|15,159
15,709|
|||**2024**
**2023**
**Total**
**Total**
**£**
**£**|
||||
|**Debtors**|||
|Trade debtors||2,087
217|
||||
|**Creditors due within one year**|||
|Trade creditors||-18,107
-5,571|
|||Page 11|
**5**
**FEEDING FAMILIES Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2024**
## **6. Staff costs**
|**taff costs**||
|---|---|
|Wages and salaries
Pension|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
227,275
155,321
3,844
2,596|
||**231,119**
**157,917**|
No person received emoluments of more than £60,000.in the year. The average number of staff during the year was 7. (2023:7)
## **7. Movement of funds**
|**Movement of funds**||
|---|---|
||**Opening**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Closing**|
||**Balance**
**Resources**
**Expended**
**Transfers**
**Balance**|
|**Unrestricted funds**|**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|General funds|211,603
501,689
-511,878
48,800
250,214|
|||
|**Designated funds**||
|Reserves|48,800
0
0
-48,800
0|
|||
|**Restricted funds**||
|Access to Work|0
8,341
-8,341
0
0|
|BP Grant|190,100
-131,528
0
58,572|
|CDCF - Poverty Hurts|5,596
17,990
-23,586
0
0|
|Community Foundation Tyne and Wear|0
4,989
-4,989
0
0|
|Hobson|0
5,000
-5,000
0
0|
|Joicey Trust|0
3,000
-3,000
0
0|
|Forrester Family Trust|0
25,000
-25,000
0
0|
|Gateshead Council|2,054
20,500
-22,554
0
0|
|Kavli|0
83,000
-83,000
0
0|
|Julia and Hans Rausing Trust|27,390
0
-27,390
0
0|
|Karbon Homes|0
2,500
-2,500
0
0|
|Neighbourly|0
500
-500
0
0|
|The National Lottery|0
71,548
-71,548
0
0|
|Vardy|0
5,000
-5,000
0
0|
|St Georges CC|0
11,800
-11,800
0
0|
|||
|**Total funds**|**485,543**
**760,856**
**-937,613**
**0**
**308,786**|
Page 12
**FEEDING FAMILIES Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2024**
## **8 In kind contributions**
- During the period of these accounts, the Trustees have identified 5,213.50 hours of in kind contribution volunteers. The amounts have not been included in the Statement of Financial Activities as the Trustees feel this would mislead the readers of the accounts. For more information, please refer to the Charity Annual Report.
## **9 Trustees remuneration, benefits and expenses**
Trustees received no remuneration during the period of these accounts. Only expenses properly incurred in respect of charity business were reimbursed.
## **10 Previous year’s comparison**
Where available, previous period's figures have been included for comparison purposes only.
Page 13
## organisation details
FEEDING FAMILIES CIO CHARITY NUMBER: 1179694 COMPANY NUMBER : CE014977
UNIT 2 | FRANKLIN INDUSTRIAL ESTATE | BLAYDON TYNE AND WEAR | NE21 5TL
0191 908 7163
info@feedingfamilies.org.uk feedingfamilies.org.uk
/facebook.com/ukfeedingfamilies /instagram.com/ukfeedingfamilies /twitter.com/feedingfamilie1
## With thanks to our TRUSTEes
Emma Jarvis (Chair) Brian Palmer (Treasurer) Antony Byrne Jon Regan Alex Wilby David Jackson
ANNUAL REPORT 2023/2024
2023-24 Annual Report
## Mission Statement
1) Provide relief to any person experiencing poverty primarily in the North East of 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.
When will this end?
Once again, we have seen the output of Feeding Families mushroom and more than double in size. It seems that every year we are faced with another uphill struggle to meet the very basic needs of people who simply need to be fed. As the cost of living has continued to bite, we have seen demand climb, whilst finding donations more difficult to come by.
Our centres pump out more and more boxes to help the most vulnerable and we are seeing more people needing to access help for the first time. From the humble beginnings on my dining room table, it’s incredible to think how far things have come. Who could have imagined this scale of growth?
Body
However, the North East has a proud history of communities coming together to support each other and that is what we rely on. 2023-24 has seen contributions by individuals and businesses, through donations and volunteering, make a massive difference to those around them. There was a moment in my own life where I hoped someone would be out there to help me in my time of need, and no one came. I am so glad that we now all get the opportunity to be that helping hand to many thousands. Thank you to everyone who is part of that.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
of that.
**----- End of picture text -----**
Juliet sanders founder & CEO
feedingfamilies.org.uk
## essential food boxes
We work with partners such as schools, charities and community groups, our support allows them to concentrate on their valuable work - they know they can rely on having food available quickly for the people they know and support.
In 2023-2024 we supported 210 project partners through the year and 199 partners at Christmas. This year we delivered 33,250 essential food boxes across 12 local authorities.
Over 988,990 items have been distributed from our packing centres in the last 12 months.
## **IMPACT**
“One particular family had to buy new uniforms for three children ready for them to start their new school year. They were already struggling financially and this became an added burden. The father became extremely stressed and anxious about the added cost. We were able to help the family by sending some food parcels over to the family home each week during the school holidays. This eased some of the pressure and the family were able to buy some of the needed uniforms each week.”
mindstars
## low cook boxes
Previously known as Welcome Home boxes, these were introduced in 2020, to provide support to vulnerable patients who were being discharged from hospitals after receiving medical care. The program received widespread acclaim in hospitals across the northeast region for its combination of low cook meals and essential toiletries. In 2023/24 the project expanded beyond hospitals as the need became apparent for a low cook/no cook box. These are distributed via our partners to those who are living in hostels/hotels, or dont have the funds to cook.
## **IMPACT**
“The Welcome Home Box was a lifeline for me after my hospital discharge. Having access to food that required minimal cooking made my transition home so much smoother. I'm incredibly grateful for this thoughtful support during a challenging time.”
~~mindstars~~ welcome home box recipient
feedingfamilies.org.uk
2023-24 Annual Report
## toiletry & cleaning packs
If you are experiencing food poverty then there’s a high chance you will also be experiencing hygiene poverty. Our toiletry bags are filled with essential items like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and other personal care products.
The bags themselves are typically made by volunteers who donate their time and skills. Over the past year, the demand for these bags has risen dramatically, in large part due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Cleaning packs are designed to provide essential items when moving to a new property or if there are other vulnerabilities limiting access to products. This is a small project and is offered on a case by case basis.
## **IMPACT**
“The food boxes and additional assistance you have offered to Walkergate have made a tremendous impact on the children and their families. It has not only addressed the immediate need for essential supplies but has also acted as an incentive for parents who were hesitant to send their children to school due to a lack of cleaning products and food resources. As a result, we have seen an increase in attendance and engagement among these students.”
NEAT academy trust
## volunteers
The success of Feeding Families depends on the dedication of its volunteers.
Whether they are creating and delivering hampers, assisting in the packing centers, delivering supplies throughout the area, managing administrative tasks, or contributing to fundraising efforts, each individual brings their own valuable skills to the cause. Thanks to their unwavering support, we are able to make a significant impact on the lives of thousands of individuals and families in need. Volunteero, the volunteer management system, has allowed for maximum efficiency, and has been well received by volunteers.
## **IMPACT**
‘I really enjoy working alongside kind, caring people helping the local community. Everyone at Feeding Families has the same aim; to work together to support those who are strugglin g with food poverty.“
Suzy, Volunteer
feedingfamilies.org.uk
2023-24 Annual Report
## christmas Projects
Each festive season, Feeding Families undertakes two large projects. We were founded in 2017 with a project that paired a family in need of food, with another willing to provide the gift of food. We call this our 'Matched' Project.
Alongside this project we work with partners to provide a Christmas food box, that contains emergency food and some Christmas treats. All the food is ambient and packed over a two week period by an army of volunteers!
The food that goes in these boxes is purchased by the charity and donated by the public via large scale food drives.
## **IMPACT**
“Thank you for everything you do for families who are struggling. Today I got a hamper from clare , she is a lovely lady and very easy to get on with. Thank you so much for taking the worry of food away. your making this year better, thank you.”
Christmas Recipient
## christmas food boxes
**----- Start of picture text -----**
10,071
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
3.2
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
32,500
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Average household size
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Packed and
distributed from Blaydon
'
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
People fed
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
231,500
Items of food
distributed
**----- End of picture text -----**
199
**----- Start of picture text -----**
564
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Charities, schools and organisations
solely on the Christmas
project.
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Volunteers working
**----- End of picture text -----**
## Matched CHristmas Dinners
**----- Start of picture text -----**
4,481
Children helped
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
£48
Average Cost of a Matched
Christmas Dinner
up from £42 from Previous Year
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
8,156
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
People helped
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2565
Matched Christmas dinners
delivered
**----- End of picture text -----**
2023-24 Annual Report
## impact
33,250
Essential food Boxes distributed
382
Total partners worked with
8 Employed staff
12,636
Households supported over Christmas
2623
Volunteers
1,040,292
Approximate number of items distributed in 2023-2024 101% Increase in demand
**----- Start of picture text -----**
10
**----- End of picture text -----**
NHS sites supported
46,455
Total boxes distributed
1162
Toiletry packs distributed
## 40,656
Individuals supported over Christmas
3134
Low Cook Food boxes delivered
**----- Start of picture text -----**
12
**----- End of picture text -----**
Working over local authorities
2023-24 Annual Report
## impact oN families
## donors
## **IMPACT**
We often get asked do you only feed families? What about individuals? Well the answer is that we feed everyone!
Our own families contain single people and couples without children as well as bigger family units. All are welcome - because we aren’t a food bank and people don’t access us directly, we don’t get to meet everyone that we help but we do get feedback through our partners and through surveys we send out ourselves.
What we hear overwhelmingly is how thankful and grateful people are to have had somewhere to turn for help.
In the cost of living crisis, many more people have had to seek help who have not done so before and because we can offer quite discrete help and, sometimes, delivery, the relief it provides can’t be underestimated. We say that every box has a story. Behind each one is a real person who just needs a little hope and love during difficult days.
## **IMPACT**
‘I have been working with a gentleman. He had a terrible time with his son at school. battling to get his education sorted.
He never gave up but it had a massive effect on him He had been so distracted that he had little to be able to provide.
I offered a Feeding Families box, and he was extremely grateful for the help and support.
Next time he came he seemed a great deal happier. Just that little bit of help can take away some stresses and help focus on other things."
Sean Robson, Foundation Tutor, Karbon Homes
“It may only be a small amount but i know i am making a difference when i donate to Feeding Families”
## Matched Christmas Dinner donor
Although our main focus is rightly directed to the recipients of our food, the impact on donors is significant too. The generosity of those who give - whether it’s a regular sum of money, items of food or time in volunteering, also has an impact on donor personally. We have heard donors say how they feel joy and satisfaction through helping others and our volunteer groups become a social time as well as getting work done. This boosts physical fitness and mental health by spending a few hours together and getting out of the house. Those who give throughout the year are vital to our work, while others join us at Christmas to deliver our massive Christmas projects. Whatever contribution people make does good for others and for themselves.
## feedingfamilies.org.uk
2023-24 Annual Report
## partners
Supporting many local charities, schools and organisations is such a joy for us; by working collaboratively, doing what we do best, we are able to help others give an even better service to their clients. Where food is a primary need before other help can be given, this can be delivered immediately rather than someone having to go to another location at a different time to get help.
We hear stories from our partners about the difficult circumstances people find themselves in and how a simple box of food can provide relief from hunger and stress.
It’s also beneficial for our partners to have access to this, it means their time is spent give their service and expertise rather than spending it seeking out food from other places. We also relieve some of the weight on food banks. Everybody wins!
## business support
## **IMPACT**
“Atkins Réalis is delighted to be supporting Feeding Families across our North east offices in 2024.
Having seen first hand the amazing work that the charity does, through events and volunteering opportunities last year, we are keen to do even more!
We will be doing various fundraising and volunteering as well as acting as ambassadors, to raise awareness with our clients and supply chain who we hope will get involved too.
The impact the charity has across the North East is truly staggering and we are pleased to be able to play a small part.”
Sam Moralee, Atkins Réalis,
## **IMPACT**
“We supported a couple with a malnourished child, the child needed a special diet but the housing providers refused to accommodate the child’s additional needs. using Feeding Families’ generous donations of food items enabled the parents to provide for their child ensuring he is not hungry.”
Peace of Mind
Feeding Families really values support from the business community. We have a range of involvement from funding, fundraising, sponsorship, event attendance and volunteering. We love to welcome companies into our centres to tell them what we do and hopefully inspire them to get involved with us more.
Volunteering days are good for team building and help us achieve our packing targets. Having food collections at places of work or fundraising events is brilliant for making sure we have food to give out.
feedingfamilies.org.uk
2023-24 Annual Report
## TWO PACKING CENTRES
## BLAYDON HQ - Northern Packing Centre
When we moved to our premises on Blaydon Bank in 2021 the space seemed enormous, but by Christmas 2022 we were already bursting at the seams! We had seen demand for food rise by over 100% and we were continuing to grow.
Having received some funding to help us expand, we found an industrial unit on Blaydon Haughs Industrial Estate. More than double in size and with easy access it is perfect for what we need. There followed a 17 week building project where we constructed offices, a kitchen, toilets and a volunteer area while we moved across from the old building.
Once again, we have seen huge growth again this year but the building has allowed us to keep pace with demand.
A second large luton van and a forklift are now tools we could not live without to get food in and out of the building on an industrial scale.
## SEDGEFIELD - Southern Packing Centre
In November 2024 we finally got the keys to our new base in Sedgefield. The charity began in Bishop Auckland and we had operated from Byers Green nearby initially. When that building was sold we operated from a temporary base in the Fishburn Community Centre but we needed our own building in order to expand into South Durham and Teesside.
Our new industrial unit location has harnessed the enthusiasm of local people, who have been very supportive in terms of donations and volunteering and we are excited about the future possibilities. There are already plans to set up a sewing group to make the toiletry bags that we distribute and hopefully there will be much more to follow.
feedingfamilies.org.uk
2023-24 Annual Report
**----- Start of picture text -----**
raised over
£18,000
Headline Sponsor Entertainment Sponsor
**----- End of picture text -----**
## EVENTS
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Christmas Events
raised over
£2,500
**----- End of picture text -----**
feedingfamilies.org.uk
2023-24 Annual Report
## Inspirational Womens networking lunch
On June 17th, we hosted our Inspirational Womens Networking Luncheon at Wynyard Hall. Our objective is to ensure accessibility to all, irrespective of financial constraints.
With interviews by Victoria Lynch, Additional Lengths, Alice Rowen Hall, Rowen Homes and Pink Boutique and Juliet Sanders, CEO of Feeding Families, followed by Q&A’s, the event raised over £8,000. This years event will be on 14th June 2024
## Our first GNR Events raised over £5,000
raised over £8,000
feedingfamilies.org.uk
2023-24 Annual Report
## trustee SUMMARY - emmA jARVIS, cHAIR
Thank you for taking the time to read the Feeding Families Annual Report, 2023/24. Reflecting on the last 12 months, I am proud and humbled by the dedication of our CEO, staff, and volunteer team. They tirelessly identify new avenues to serve, forge partnerships, and work smarter and faster to help more people. I also want to express my gratitude to the selfless contribution of our Trustees - thank you for your trust, support, and advice. Special thanks goes out to our supporters - every person, business, partner, corporate or funding body who donated food, funds, expertise, or time. Your contributions provided us with a strong platform for growth.
The past year presented us with challenges as the cost of living crisis deepened, resulting in a rapid increase in need & costs. This compelled us to review our position and strategy coming into 2023; we had to decide whether to remain in stasis and risk plateauing, or invest in areas that would enable us to expand and meet a growing demand head-on. A well-timed funding injection at the start of the year allowed us to make bold decisions to plan for growth. We prioritised investing in our people through training and additional staffing to strengthen our community links, tighten administration, and enhance operations. Additionally, we expanded our facilities, moving to larger packing centres in Blaydon and Sedgefield and acquiring two vehicles to scale up our outputs.
Our central model of providing poverty relief delivery via trusted North East partners continues to be effective, and we successfully increased outputs across all key performance metrics. We delivered substantially more boxes across our core, year-round Emergency Food, Welcome Home, and Toiletries box projects. At Christmas alone, we assisted over 10,000 more people than the previous year. Community engagement remained central to our goals, and we expanded our meaningful partnerships and local authority connections whilst also increasing our community reach, visibility, and fundraising efforts through successful communications, marketing, and events.
We see a growing demand for low/no-cook food provisions, and essential toiletries are becoming luxuries for those experiencing poverty. We anticipate this need will continue to increase, and we plan to build upon these provisions in 2024. Additionally, we are taking steps to broaden our reach by providing tailored, personcentered relief solutions that are culturally appropriate and reflect the diverse community we serve. In the year ahead, we also aim to expand our mission to promote well-being with initiatives focusing on core issues linked to poverty.
Our primary challenge, remains ensuring that the level of funding and donations we receive meets increased demand. We hope the community will continue to support us in this endeavour, and I encourage our readers to continue supporting Feeding Families in whatever capacity they can, through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness; your support is more important than ever.
The impact numbers outlined in this report are a mere summary of all our stakeholders' efforts, but it's impossible to quantify the effort, energy, and passion it takes to achieve them. My sincere thanks to you all once again, you are the charity's lifeblood, and with your commitment and support Feeding Families will continue to make a real difference in the community we serve.
## feedingfamilies.org.uk
2023-24 Annual Report
## grants
Grants from funding bodies are a crucial source of our income, as they cover our core expenses such as salaries, administration, insurance, utilities, and other essential costs. We are extremely grateful for this support.
Barbour Foundation
Newcastle Building Society Newcastle Council P&G
Co-op Community Fund
Community Foundation Tyne and Wear County Durham Community Foundation Durham County Council Forrester Family Trust Garfield Weston Gateshead Council Hadrian Trust Hobson Charitable Trust Joicey Trust Karbon Homes Kavli
Penchant Foundation Police Crime Commissioner of Northumbria Sage Sainsburys Frank and Phyllis Scotto Trust St James Wealth Management Tesco Vardy Foundation Warburtons
LGA Foundation
Love Christmas/Alive Church NCLF: Cost of Living Fund
feedingfamilies.org.uk
2023-24 Annual Report
## corporate donations
We are grateful to so many businesses who have given their financial support over the past year.
Special thanks must go to following organisations and their unfaltering ongoing support:
Durham Box Home Bargains
Those businesses who give to us each month, thank you for your ongoing commitment: Cello Electronics
Castle Keep Collins Seafood Ayrshire Breaks
We must also say thank you to the individuals and businesses who have supported us with pro-bono work, gifts in kind and corporate volunteering, including:
Atkins Realis SOS Group The Accounts Department NE Kore Health and Safety JAM Marketing - PR
feedingfamilies.org.uk
2023-24 Annual Report
## corporate donations
We are grateful to so many businesses who have given their financial support over the past year.
Special thanks must go to following organisations and their unfaltering ongoing support:
Durham Box Home Bargains
Those businesses who give to us each month, thank you for your ongoing commitment: Cello Electronics
Castle Keep Collins Seafood Ayrshire Breaks
We must also say thank you to the individuals and businesses who have supported us with pro-bono work, gifts in kind and corporate volunteering, including:
Atkins Realis SOS Group The Accounts Department NE Kore Health and Safety JAM Marketing - PR
feedingfamilies.org.uk
2023-24 Annual Report
feedingfamilies.org.uk