**PANTRY FOR BLACON CIO (Known as Blacon Beacon) Registered charity number 1183763** ## **Annual Report** **for the year ending 31[st] December 2023.** Pantry for Blacon is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registration number 1183763 ## **Governance and management** There trustees of the charity in 2023 were as follows: - Rev Christina Upton (Chair) - Ms Sheila Little - Mr Edwin Green - Mr John Reid (Treasurer) - Ms Kerry Cook Since April 2023 our Store Manager works full-time for us, thanks to a 3-year grant from Steve Morgan Foundation. We continue to employ several part-time staff: Store Assistant, Computer Mentor, and Healthy Eating Coordinator. Additionally, during the year we have employed further part-time staff: an Administrator (since February) and (since October) a Wellbeing Mentor. This has been made possible by grants from Cheshire Community Foundation, Westminster Foundation, Chester Bluecoat Charity, The National Lottery, Household Support Fund, Asda Foundation, Steve Morgan Foundation, Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance, UKSPF, Good Things Foundation, Cheshire West and Chester council, Avenue Services and Three Counties Communities Rail. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Our
**----- End of picture text -----**
work would also not be possible without the great support of over 20 regular enthusiastic volunteers, who are involved with many different roles, including maintaining stock in the store, serving members when they attend, packing fruit and veg into bags ready for collection, sharing cooking skills in our classes, preparing and serving the food for families attending for holiday meals. ## **Objectives** The charity exists to relieve food poverty in Blacon, Chester, and also to promote health, through the provision of good quality food at an affordable price, and encouraging healthy diet through education on food preparation. ## **Activities in 2023** In 2023 we have continued to support 50 families a week having benefit of affordable food through membership and attending the store we run. We have been delighted to be able to offer more healthier options, moving towards greater provision of fresh and un-processed meats. Uptake of our slow cooker bag (a monthly recipe bag with nourishing ingredients freely given to households with a slow cooker) has risen to over 160 each month. We have continued running Family Cooking and Chat, Chop and Chew cooking classes and also feeding families during the school holidays. Our Computer Mentor has had a steady flow of people benefitting from his support, teaching, advice and our free internet access. Our Life Skills Mentor has made nutritious and healthier food taste amazing and has led one to one sessions for Blacon residents who need to cut down on cholesterol, sugar and who have food intolerances. Working together as a team, we have also been able to work with the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance to bring Blacon residents together, for a hearty and nonultra processed meal, whilst also encouraging them to remember to go for screening appointments and to go to the doctors if they notice any changes such as lumps or bumps or changes in skin texture. Here are some key quotes from our Blacon Beacon friends who are supported by what we do “Takes a huge financial weight off, feel part of a community”, “Having people who can talk to me and helping through a hard time”, “It is great to meet and chat with others and make new friends”, “lowers my household bills”, “you helped me to love food again” In addition to this, we continue to be a distribution point for West Cheshire Foodbank, running three sessions for this each week, alongside sessions from Citizen’s Advice and a Place of Welcome café run by Holy Trinity Church. ## **FINANCE REPORT** A busy year was shown in our overall income of £122,000 which is a 25% increase on the previous year. At the year end, unrestricted reserves stood at £33,054 which is within the level of our reserves policy, of 3-6 months’ running costs. Pantry for Blacon Ch•rfty Nwnb•r. I1￿713 Balance Sheet 31 st. December 2023 Current Assets.. 31 st. December 2023 Current Account Savings Account Monzo Account Petty Cash 1792 90018 Total Current Assets £91,810.00 Ofwhich Restricted Funds £58723 & Unrestricted £33054 Signed: H. Dobw.AuditOr.