Pelicon PorceLs Annual Report April 2020- March 2021
Annual Report April 2020 – March 2021
Pelican Parcels’ vision is a community in which families and carers have the essentials for their children.
Pelican Parcels is a registered charity (no. 1179866) which takes new and pre-loved items for babies and children up to age 10 – equipment, clothes, furniture, books and toys – and distributes them to disadvantaged and vulnerable families in Brighton and Hove free of charge.
Various factors contribute to a family’s need for help and Pelican Parcels is there to support in that time of need.
Child poverty is a growing problem affecting more than 4 million children in the UK and the proportion of the population living in poverty continues to grow. This situation has been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic across the last year. The impact of poverty on children’s health and educational outcomes is well documented. Lifetime earnings for children raised in poverty are significantly lower, as are their prospects for employment. Children brought up in poverty are more likely to raise their own children in poverty.
End Child Poverty estimated in 2018 that between 24 and 32.7% of children in Brighton and Hove were living in poverty after housing costs. Certain boroughs in Brighton & Hove are in the top ten per cent most income deprived areas in England. The portion of children receiving free school meals (FSM) varies considerably across the city but reaches over 62% in areas.
The ‘pandemic’ year at Pelican Parcels
As the pandemic and first lockdown began it added complications for Pelican Parcels’ operations and many adjustments needed to be made as to how we operated and how we supported our families. During the initial lockdown, we managed to run a reduced service helping purely emergency referrals, then by July were able to reopen in a limited capacity to have limited volunteers rejoin the office to begin to expand the service again.
During the lockdown we changed our operation model to try and support families in new ways.
We received some key funding from National Lottery and also from the Sussex Community Foundation Crisis Fund, which enabled us to develop operations. We were able to work more closely with local foodbanks and home schooling children to support families and children who were really struggling in the pandemic.
“Just a quick note to say thank you for the donation – all our families got the right sized nappies this week! We were also able to respond to an urgent request from a mother and 4 month old who hadn’t eaten for a couple of days…” Voices in Exiles foodbank
In addition to working with foodbanks, we reached out to primary schools across Brighton & Hove, to look at what additional support we could help provide to those families home schooling children. Several schools told us that books, writing and drawing materials as well as any arts and craft activities would be useful, as given the sudden nature of children being told to stay home, many families had nothing at home and couldn’t afford these items.
Pelican Parcels put together Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 packs for children and distributed nearly 200 of these. Each pack included 2-3 age appropriate reading books, a selection of pens, crayons, pencils, paper and an arts/craft activity.
“I just wanted to email and say how appreciated the pens, pencils, books and art activities were by our families. It made me very emotional to see the children’s faces light up when they opened the bags as they were so excited and grateful. I just wanted to email and say a huge thanks to you and your team as they made the world of difference.” Deputy Headteacher, Saltdean
As the charity has gained a strong reputation locally and the pandemic has added to the need locally we have seen our service demand more than double in the last 12 months and that trend seems set to continue. We have continued to work hard to connect with local charities, health and social care workers, midwives and hospital staff in order to be able to support local families needing the basics and are working with over 25 local partner organisations.
“Thank you everyone at Pelican Parcels. -You offer an amazing service. As a midwife I am the person that sees the hope, the reassurance, the belief that people do really care. It means so much more than the material items you provide.” Midwife
We always pride ourselves on giving the best quality to our families, checking everything and cleaning items to ensure they are the kind of items we would happily put our own children in or give them to play with.
It has been a busy time helping over 3000 children and pregnant mums; 1000 directly through our service, 1000 children have been given a week’s worth of nappies via foodbanks and 1028 children were given a Christmas parcel containing 2-3 new gifts.
We get positive feedback from families and referrers and if ever something isn’t quite right we work hard to fix that immediately to ensure that everyone we’re working with feels that our service is a help.
“Your support is life changing, not just because of the practical things received but because of the message it carries. They know someone cares, there is hope and kindness. For some that message means everything.” Moulsecoomb Children’s Centre Social Worker
“I would like to say thank you for the parcel – my son is very pleased with it all.” Dad, supported
“Thank you sooo sooo much for my pelican parcel today xxx love you all lots.” Allie, mum, supported
“Hi, I got the things you sent to me. They are awesome. I can’t thank you enough for your help so far. You are amazing.” Mum, supported
“Thank you so much you are life savers.” Mum given a cot for baby
And it’s the team of enormously dedicated, good hearted and efficient volunteers who make all this possible, especially when we had to cut back the volunteer numbers to ensure safe working in the office. A charity like ours doesn’t work without their generosity and giving so much of their time for free.
“Being part of the team at Pelican Parcels is so rewarding and fulfilling. Every one of us share the same values and work together to achieve our goals of making somebody’s life just a little bit better. I feel so proud to be part of an incredible team.” Lyn, a volunteer
Financial overview
We were successful in applying for Sussex Community Foundation’s Emergency Covid Funding to help our foodbank support project, plus we received a grant from the National Lottery. Brighton and Hove City Council continued to support us, along with a range of other local trusts and foundations, companies and individual donors. We are so grateful to all our supporters.
In order to remain resilient and grow, we will continue to focus energy on a range of fundraising strands including public funding, grants, private donations, corporate giving and community events.
----- Start of picture text -----
Receipts and payments Account
01 April 2020 to 31 March 2021
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds – Last year –
– to the nearest £ – to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
Receipts
Trusts and 12,960 10,200 23,160 5,000
Foundations
Individual Donations 13,152 0 13,152 10,857
Gift Aid 501 0 501 2,313
Total receipts 26,613 10,200 36,813 18,170
Payments
Rent 12,000 12,000 12,000
Utilities, insurance and 312.4 1,558.84 1,871.24 753
office costs
Moving costs 540 540 0
Storage 441.16 441.16 0
Fundraiding 1,401.88 1,401.88 612
Packaging 921.6 921.6 446
Direct support to families 0 0
Nappies, hygiene and wipes 4,783.45 4,783.45 406
Clothing and bedding 1,064.14 1,064.14 35
Formula and nutrition 431.56 431.56 193
Mattresses 228.48 1,084.99 1,313.47 575
Total payments 15,928.5 8,840 24,768.5 15,020
Net of receipts/(payments) 10,684.5 1,360 12,044.5 3,150
Transfers between funds 0 0 0 0
Cash funds – last year end 9,353.63 0 9,353.63 6,204
Cash funds – this year end 20,038.13 1,360 21,398.13 9,354
----- End of picture text -----
| Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 March 2021 | Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 March 2021 | Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 March 2021 | Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 March 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | Details | Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
| Cash funds | Bank balance | 19,537.07 | 1,360 |
| Addgift aid due | 501 | 0 | |
| Total cash funds | 20,038.07 | 1,360 | |
| Details | Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
|
| Other monetary assets |
Rental deposit | 3,000 | 0 |
| Gift Aid duepreviousyears | 4,814 | 0 | |
| Investment assets | Details – Not applicable | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost: 0 |
| Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details – Not applicable | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost: 0 |
| Liabilities | Details – Not applicable | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due: 0 |
Organisation
Our office based at Unit 9, Industrial House, Conway Street, Hove, BN3 3LW, is the heart of our operations. This is where donations are dropped off, sorted, processed and made into lovely parcels for the families we’re supporting.
The Trustees
Pelican Parcels is overseen by 5 Trustees each with a specialism; Shelley Bennett (Chair and Day-to-Day Management) James Bennett (Secretary and Governance/Risk) Carla Pannett (Fundraising) Victoria Shead (Marketing) Sinead Thornley (Treasurer and audit)
----- Start of picture text -----
Christmas
presents
1085 Toy
bundles Blankets
152 and sleeping
Activity bags
Toiletry mats
357
sets 41
490
Baby
Bouncer/ towels
Book bags rocker 162
Bedding
79 chairs
bundle
30
Clothing 104
packs
267
Moses
baskets, cots,
toddler beds
Shoe sets 79
107
Breast-
feeding
pillows
25
Highchairs
32
Stair
Breast Sterilisers
gates
pumps 32
19
15
Changing
mats Food-
33 bank Bottle sets
formula 30
Changing 24
bags
34 Baby
carriers
Prams/
34
Buggies Formula
53 104
Food-
Nappy bank packs
bundles of wipes
414 360
Packs of Food-
Wipes bank
476 nappies
44,195
----- End of picture text -----
Financial overview
We were successful in applying for Sussex Community Foundation’s Emergency Covid Funding to help our foodbank support project, plus we received a grant from the National Lottery. Brighton and Hove City Council continued to support us, along with a range of other local trusts and foundations, companies and individual donors. We are so grateful to all our supporters.
In order to remain resilient and grow, we will continue to focus energy on a range of fundraising strands including public funding, grants, private donations, corporate giving and community events.
----- Start of picture text -----
Receipts and payments Account
01 April 2020 to 31 March 2021
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds – Last year –
– to the nearest £ – to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
Receipts
Trusts and 12,960 10,200 23,160 5,000
Foundations
Individual Donations 13,152 0 13,152 10,857
Gift Aid 501 0 501 2,313
Total receipts 26,613 10,200 36,813 18,170
Payments
Rent 12,000 12,000 12,000
Utilities, insurance and 312.4 1,558.84 1,871.24 753
office costs
Moving costs 540 540 0
Storage 441.16 441.16 0
Fundraiding 1,401.88 1,401.88 612
Packaging 921.6 921.6 446
Direct support to families 0 0
Nappies, hygiene and wipes 4,783.45 4,783.45 406
Clothing and bedding 1,064.14 1,064.14 35
Formula and nutrition 431.56 431.56 193
Mattresses 228.48 1,084.99 1,313.47 575
Total payments 15,928.5 8,840 24,768.5 15,020
Net of receipts/(payments) 10,684.5 1,360 12,044.5 3,150
Transfers between funds 0 0 0 0
Cash funds – last year end 9,353.63 0 9,353.63 6,204
Cash funds – this year end 20,038.13 1,360 21,398.13 9,354
----- End of picture text -----
| Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 March 2021 | Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 March 2021 | Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 March 2021 | Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 March 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | Details | Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
| Cash funds | Bank balance | 19,537.07 | 1,360 |
| Addgift aid due | 501 | 0 | |
| Total cash funds | 20,038.07 | 1,360 | |
| Details | Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
|
| Other monetary assets |
Rental deposit | 3,000 | 0 |
| Gift Aid duepreviousyears | 4,814 | 0 | |
| Investment assets | Details – Not applicable | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost: 0 |
| Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details – Not applicable | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost: 0 |
| Liabilities | Details – Not applicable | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due: 0 |
Organisation
Our office based at Unit 9, Industrial House, Conway Street, Hove, BN3 3LW, is the heart of our operations. This is where donations are dropped off, sorted, processed and made into lovely parcels for the families we’re supporting.
The Trustees
Pelican Parcels is overseen by 5 Trustees each with a specialism; Shelley Bennett (Chair and Day-to-Day Management) James Bennett (Secretary and Governance/Risk) Carla Pannett (Fundraising) Victoria Shead (Marketing) Sinead Thornley (Treasurer and audit)
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Pelican Parcels I report of the accounts of Pelican Parcels for Ihe year ended 31 March 2021. 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. To follow the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. To state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Name: Ceri Thayer, 21 November 2021 Relevant professional qualification or body: ACMA CGMA Address:Four Acres, Poynings Road, Fulking. BN59NB