## North Cotswold Foodbank
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
For period � January ���� to �� December ����
## **Reference and Administrati�e Details**
|Charity name:|North Cotswold Foodbank|
|---|---|
|Registered charity number:|������� (CIO)|
|Principal address:|Unit �, Glebe Farm Buildings, Guiting Power, Cheltenham, GL�� �TZ|
|Charity trustees:|Alexia Monroe (Chair) Resigned October ����|
||Garry Dick (Chair) Appointed Chair October ����|
||Louise Goll (Safeguarding Lead) Appointed May ����|
||Jenny Jones (Health and Safety Lead) Appointed May ����|
||Gill Donovan Appointed February ����|
||Jonathan Brown|
||Mike Sibthorpe Appointed February ����|
||Lucye Deacon|
||Wayne Morgan Resigned ����|
|Independent examiner:|Daimien McConnell FCCA|
||For and on behalf of William Hinton Limited|
||Ross House|
||The Square|
||Stow-on-the-Wold|
||Gloucestershire|
||GL�� �AF|
|Employees:|Kevin Carden (Manager)|
||Lorna Shawcross (Assistant Manager)|
||Karen Dean (Referral Agency Liaison)|
||Dean Snuggs (Warehouse Manager)|
## **Structure� Go�ernance and Management**
## **Constitution**
The North Cotswold Foodbank (‘NCFB’) became a CIO in ���� and its governing document is its constitution. It was originally registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales in November ���� as an Unincorporated Charity.
## **Organisational Structure and Decision Making**
Overall responsibility for North Cotswold Foodbank sits with the trustees, who meet quarterly to receive reports and review the strategy and objectives of North Cotswold Foodbank and ensure all relevant governance requirements and standards are upheld.
The board of trustees also holds, in addition to its quarterly meetings, regular virtual meetings to ensure it is responsive to the needs of the operations team. Decisions are taken by majority voting, the chairperson having a casting vote. Three trustees are required for a meeting to be quorate. All scheduled meetings during ���� were quorate.
New trustees are appointed by existing trustees acting in accordance with Charity Commission guidelines and Sections � and �� of the charity’s constitution dated �� November ����. North Cotswold Foodbank follows a clear agreed recruitment process that is fair, inclusive and
**�**
non-discriminatory. Recruitment criteria are focused on the requirements of skill and experience to strengthen the board, and to maintain a balance sympathetic to the Christian ethos on which the charity was established. After an initial interview, new trustees are voted into role by the existing board initially for a �-year tenure.
The charity maintains a range of policies to comply with governance, including safeguarding, health and safety, and finance. North Cotswold Foodbank has a rolling program of review and sign off, to ensure our policies are in line with both governmental and the Charity Commission’s requirements.
North Cotswold Foodbank serves a largely rural area of over ��� square miles. Its seven public-facing outlets operate in Bishops Cleeve, Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Campden, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold and Winchcombe. These outlets are supplied by a central warehouse in Guiting Power
There are four part-time paid members of staff, employed as the Foodbank Manager, Assistant Manager, Referral Agencies and Warehouse Manager. Those staff are assisted by our team of approximately ��� trained and dedicated volunteers.
Day-to-day operational decisions are delegated to a Steering Group that meets four times a year. This group is led by the Foodbank Manager and attended by available employees and leading personnel from each of the foodbank’s seven outlets.
## **Objecti�es � Acti�ities**
North Cotswold Foodbank’s charitable objectives are the prevention and relief of poverty in the Cotswold District and Tewkesbury Borough through the provision of grants, items, and services to individuals and other organisations working to prevent or relief poverty; and the prevention and relief of poverty elsewhere in the UK by working with other Foodbank charities to distribute surplus food stock. The activities of the foodbank are reviewed regularly by the trustees to ensure they are compliant with and furthering these purposes.
The vision of North Cotswold Foodbank is – “Working in partnership with our local communities to relieve personal hardship by providing access to the basic essentials and support”.
The foodbank receives support for its services from Trussell under the terms of a franchise agreement. Under the terms of this agreement the foodbank has agreed to orient its strategic goals towards ending the need for its service, to involve people with lived experience of foodbank use in all aspects of the foodbank’s activities and to uphold Trussell’s organisational values of compassion, justice, dignity and community.
## **Main Acti�ities**
The principal activity of the charity is the provision of emergency food to those in need, who are referred to the NCFB by local organisations (termed ‘referral agencies’) and care professionals. During ���� the charity employed a part-time referral agency liaison member of staff who has made a significant positive impact on our relationship with local referral agencies and their understanding of the referral process.
NCFB also provides non-food support in the form of cleaning products, toiletries, sanitary products, pet food and SIM cards. Also, we have been able to offer our clients extra items such as vouchers for fresh meat and vegetables and bread and eggs when available.
**�**
Furthermore, North Cotswold Foodbank has partnered with the Fuel Bank Foundation (registered charity no. �������) to support those clients facing issues arising from increased fuel costs.
## **Signposting and Citi�ens Ad�ice Support**
Importantly, for the public benefit, in addition to our principal activities North Cotswold Foodbank works in partnership with Citizens Advice Stroud & Cotswold Districts (registered
charity no. �������) and North West Gloucestershire Citizens Advice (registered charity no. �������), to address the causes of hardship by providing signposting, advice and active support to clients, facing housing, benefits, debt management and other challenges.
Our funding of that service has been supported throughout ���� by medium-term grants which we have been successful in obtaining from the Trussell Trust (now known as Trussell) with an approximate per annum value of £��,���. Those grants have enabled dedicated CA advisors to be present on a weekly basis at all our outlets and specialist debt advisors to provide office-based support. The total cost of providing those services in ���� was £��,���, as the service agreement with Stroud and Cotswold CA commenced in May ����.
## **Public Benefit**
Throughout the year, the trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on the public benefit when exercising any powers or duties in circumstances where the guidance is relevant.
## **Achie�ements and Performance**
During ���� North Cotswold Foodbank provided �,��� nutritionally balanced emergency food parcels to members of our communities facing hardship, broadly in line with ���� (�,��� parcels). Those parcels helped �,��� adults and �,��� children, a total of �,��� individuals.
To supplement those food parcels, vouchers for fresh meat, together with fresh fruit and vegetables were provided with a total value of approximately £��,���.
NCFB received (via donations and purchases) and distributed approximately ��,���kg of food with an approximate value of £���,��� (based on £�.��/kg). In addition to regular food donations, eight collection days were held across two local Tesco stores and Harvest Festival Collections took place at numerous local schools and churches. The vast majority of the food distributed came from public donations, supplemented with provisions purchased having a cost of approximately £��,���.
To help families with the particularly high costs at Christmas NCFB supplied ��� Christmas Hampers, containing all the necessary components to create a festive dinner, such as tinned soup, salmon and ham, mince pies, cake, Christmas pudding with custard and even the napkins and Christmas crackers. Families were also provided with Argos gift cards to ensure the children we support received a gift at Christmas.
��� clients were supported by our Citizens Advice Partners in ����, helping some of those individuals to successfully move on from requiring foodbank support.
## **Strategic Plan**
In May ���� the Trustees held a Strategy ‘away day’ with an external facilitator, to help us develop a Strategic Plan for NCFB over the next two to three years. The key elements of that Strategic Plan were:
- Strengthening our Governance
**�**
- Securing our Resources
- Delivering Basic Essentials
- Building Partnerships
- Improving Communications
- Fundraising
As a result of discussions on that day, the Trustees introduced virtual monthly interim meetings, to ensure actions were progressed effectively between scheduled quarterly trustee meetings and to make decisions needed to support the foodbank’s operations team.
The Strategic Plan, together with the appointment of new trustees with specific areas of expertise, also resulted in the updating and strengthening of several policies, including Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Finance, Reserves and Investment. We also clarified and documented the policy approval process and updated the Policy Register.
In addition, the Trustees held online Strategic Plan presentation sessions for our volunteers to communicate the Board’s objectives and the reasons behind them.
## **Receipt of Grants**
During ���� NCFB applied for and was successful in obtaining grants to support the charity’s activities including from the Trussell Trust/Trussell, Gloucestershire County Council, Cotswold District Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council and the Co-op.
## **Financial Re�ie�**
A budget for ���� was drawn up in late ���� by a team consisting of the Treasurer, two Trustees and the Foodbank Manager, which was then approved by the full Board of Trustees.
The Charity’s Financial Reserves Policy updated on �� July ���� required reserves equal to the annual operating costs to be held.
In October ���� a new combined Finance, Investment and Reserves Policy was drafted and while a review of the required level of reserves was carried out (to report by March ����), that combined policy required an absolute minimum level of reserves of £���,��� would be maintained. Furthermore, the newly drafted policy requires that whilst maintaining sufficient working capital within our Lloyds Bank current account, any additional reserves should be invested across a number of institutions, approved by the UK Prudential Regulation Authority, with a maximum of £��,��� being invested which each institution, to ensure funds are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
���� saw an increase in the Total Capital and Assets held by NCFB of £��,��� to £���,���, which was principally due to some exceptional donations. The result is that the foodbank’s finances remain in a healthy state and we, the Trustees, remain confident in being able to fulfill the charity’s commitments to those who rely on its support, both now and for the foreseeable future.
Signed
Garry Dick Chair of Trustees
**�**
## **North Cotswold Food Bank**
**Registered Charity No 1181310**
## **ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2024**
**North Cotswold Food Bank Unit 2 Glebe Farm Buildings Guiting Power GL54 5TZ**
## **North Cotswold Food Bank**
**Registered Charity No 1181310**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees**
## **Accounts for the Year Ended 31st December 2024**
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner.**
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirements of section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) do not apply. It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 43(7)(b) of the Act, 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 Commissioners. 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 an explanation 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 I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
## **Independent examiner's statement.**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements have not been met.
To keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act. And to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act.
## **Signed:**
**Date:**
## **Daimien McConnell FCCA For and on behalf of William Hinton Limited**
Ross House The Square Stow on the Wold Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL54 1AF
## **North Cotswold Food Bank**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st December 2024**
## **Income and Expenditure Account**
|**Notes**
**Turnover**
Donation
Gift Aid
Interest Income
Exceptional Donations
**Total Income**
**Cost of Sales**
Direct Expenses
Provision - Veg
Provisions - Other
Provisions - Meat
Total Cost of Sales
**Gross Profit**
**Administrative Costs**
Salaries
Employers National Insurance
North & West CAB
Stroud CAB
Depreciation Expenses
General Expenses
Insurance
IT Software and Consubables
Light, Power, Heating
Motor Vehicle Expenses
Pensions Costs
Printing & Stationery
Rates
Telephone & Internet
Travel - National
Total Administration Costs
**Operating Profit**
**Profit on Ordinary Activities Before Taxation**
**Profit After Taxation**|**2024**
**£**
127,877
11,693
138
107,184
246,891
5,857
15,694
13,006
17,598
52,154
194,737
79,394
745
33,975
43,952
0
2,853
1,540
648
804
2,269
612
2,275
0
905
4,715
174,686
20,051
20,051
20,051|**2023**
**£**
121,152
14,530
1,974
44,965|
|---|---|---|
|||182,621|
|||5,706
21,962
11,100
19,245|
|||58,013|
|||124,608|
|||65,632
0
43,225
34,244
515
3,169
1,390
1,990
1,456
2,618
476
787
324
428
6,045|
|||162,297|
|||(37,688)|
||||
|||(37,688)|
||||
|||(37,688)|
## **North Cotswold Food Bank**
## **Balance Sheet as at 30th June 2024**
|**Notes**
**Fixed Assets**
Less Accumulated Depreciation on Office Equipment
Office Equipment
Total Tangible Assets
**Current Assets**
Debtors (Prepayments)
Cash at Bank and in Hand
**2**
Total Current Assets
Net Current Assets (Liabilities)
Total Assets Less Current Liabilities
**Net Assets**
**Capital and Reserves**
Current Year Earnings
Retained Earnings
**Total Capital and Reserves**
**Signed - Treasurer**
**Date :**|**2024**
**£**
(515)
515
-
530
308,416
308,946
308,946
308,946
**308,946**
20,051
288,895
**308,946**|**2023**
**£**
(515)
515|
|---|---|---|
|||-
750
288,145|
|||288,895
288,895
288,895|
|||**288,895**|
|||(10,312)
299,207|
|||**288,895**|
||||
**For and on behalf of the Trustees of the Charity**
## **North Cotswold Food Bank**
## **Notes to the Accounts for the Year ended 31st December 2024**
## **1. Accounting Policies**
These accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Statement of Recommended Practice (Accounting and Reporting by Charities) 2005 and the Charities Act 1993 Part VI.
There have been no changes to the accounting policies (valuation rules and methods of accounting) since last year.
No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
|**2. Cash at Bank and in Hand**
Hampshire Trust
North Cotswold Foodbank
NORTH COTSWOLD FOODBANK#001
Redwood
**3. Trustees' Remuneration**
No benefits or remuneration were paid or are payable out of the funds of the
charity directly or indirectly to any Trustee.
**4. Related Party Transactions**
No benefits or remuneration were paid or are payable out of the funds of the
charity directly or indirectly to any related party of any Trustee.|**2024**
10,445
107,700
190,271
-
308,416
-
-|**2023**
**£**
10,393
127,131
140,621
10,000|
|---|---|---|
|||288,145|
||||
|||-|
||||
|||-|