South Gwynedd Foodbank ## **ANNUAL REPORT** ## **Chairperson's Report 2021** The year began with the country having just entered the Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown. No one could have foreseen the effect that this virus was going to have on the work of the foodbank. At a time when the public were panicking over the shortage of loo rolls, the foodbank began to see a doubling of demand which gave us concern over availability of stocks. However, these concerns did not last too long as we began to receive donations of items that would have gone out of date from shops and cafes that had to close due to the COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, with the closure of schools, food that would have been wasted from school kitchens was redistributed to foodbanks by Gwynedd Council. Our main supermarket, Tesco, began to directly send weekly donations, replacing the reduction of public donations. As time passed and the public regained confidence to go shopping, we saw our donations begin to return to normal levels. Whilst some volunteers needed to shield or self-isolate, the foodbank continued to operate under the new restrictions of social distancing and cleaning regimes. No longer could clients come in for a chat and a cup of tea, signposting became more difficult, Emergency Food Box Locations closed or reduced their hours making it necessary to implement new procedures for the issuing of boxes to clients, procedures that had to change each time COVID restrictions changed. It became necessary to set up an ‘Updating’ system to keep all our Agencies informed as changes occurred. We are grateful to Gwynedd Council staff who have supported us during these difficult months. The Trussell Trust encouraged foodbanks in the Network to make use of the E-Referral system enabling vouchers to be issued to clients remotely. This system has proved to be of great benefit during the pandemic, particularly as Agencies had not been able to see their clients face to face. Zoom meetings began to take place, enabling foodbanks to share their experiences and to keep up to date with Government rules and funding opportunities. As time progressed, the number of clients began to fall back to normal levels with the final year’s figures ending up slightly less than the previous year. The Coronavirus has brought about an increase in awareness of the need for foodbanks resulting in an even greater level of donations particularly in the run up to Christmas. These increases forced us to relocate the foodbank into a different part of our building necessitating a substantial amount of building works, some carried out by volunteers, some by contractors. Our gratitude must go to those volunteers who worked so hard to complete the relocation and sorting the food into its new location. Throughout the pandemic numerous opportunities became available to seek grants to ensure the resilience of the foodbank. We were successful in obtaining grants for: purchase of additional food, assisting clients with gas & electricity, increased running costs, building work and purchase of equipment. In addition, the greater awareness of foodbanks raised the number of individuals making financial donations either ‘one off’ or regularly. This has truly helped to put the foodbank into a financially sound position. Our thanks must go to all the organisations who have provided us with grants and to individuals for their support. We continue to see clients with the whole range of needs putting them in crisis, unable to afford to buy enough food for themselves and their family. The effects of the pandemic have yet to be fully seen as more people become unemployed, lose income from time on furlough or selfemployment or become affected by domestic abuse. Many families have struggled with the extra costs of children not being at school; heating the home, providing extra lunches etc. coupled with reduced income. Low income is causing many people to struggle, to be unable to budget and to get into debt. Funding has been obtained to enable South Gwynedd Foodbank and Arfon Foodbank to join with CAB Gwynedd to introduce an advisory service to help people with debts, housing, benefits or other general advice. As part of our continued involvement in the community and following discussions with Gwynedd Council we have linked with the local Co-op store in Barmouth by taking fresh and other foods that were going out of date and making these available through a Foodshare scheme. Commercial fridges and freezers were grant funded and anyone in the community can freely receive the items available thereby reducing food waste. As the year draws to a close, the country is beginning to see a reduction in COVID restrictions and things beginning to return to a new normal. There is a long way to go but the foodbank will continue to serve the people of South Gwynedd to the best of its ability. Trustees, Staff & Volunteers ## Our Trustees: Rev Dawn Robinson - Chair Mrs Helen Hooper Mrs Denise Bott Mrs Claire Owen ## Our Staff: Mr Dave Hooper – Manager. ## Our Volunteers: We have a regular weekly rota of volunteers working in the foodbank Centre in Barmouth, receiving the donations, checking use by dates, sorting, placing into store, packing three-day food parcels for clients who come to the Centre and packing the Emergency Food Boxes ready for distribution. Volunteers collect donations from the various collection points in supermarkets, other shops and churches and deliver them to the Centre, they deliver Emergency Food Boxes to the various locations and man supermarket collections – in all, over 60 people are involved. We are most grateful to those who allow us to place the Emergency Food Boxes at their premises and take the time to serve our clients often interrupting their business activities. ## Agencies We now have over 70 Agencies registered with us who can hold and issue vouchers to clients although but not all are currently active. It is the Agencies who are in regular contact with their clients, know individual's circumstances and determine when help is needed. The more active Agencies include: Adra Age Cymru Barnardo's Cais CAB Cyfle Support Services GISDA Gorwel Domestic Abuse Service Grwp Cynefin Health Visitors Hafal Community Mental Health Teams Hafan Cymru Shelter Cymru PCSO's Social Services – numerous departments Housing Officers Job Centres Church Ministers Job Centres The Probation Service North Wales Housing Association Facts and Figures (to end March 2020): All time 2020-2021 People fed 6207 (4683 Adults + 1524 Children) 1062 Food donated 96533 Kg 24200 Kg Food distributed 86290 Kg 18185 Kg Food stock in hand 10243 kg ## **SOUTH GWYNEDD FOODBANK** ## **Summary of Accounts for Year Ended 5** th **April** ## **Balance at Beginning of Year** |Bank

Petty Cash
**Income**
Individual Donations
Company/Organisation Donation
Grants
**Total Income**
**Expenditure**
Food Purchase
Client Electricity or Gas
Client Transport
Stationary/Printing
Telephone
Postage
Catering & Cleaning
Travel & Van Costs
Accommodation Costs, Electricit
Building Repair & Renovation
EWSL
Wages
Insurance
Covid-19 Expenditure
Equipment
Data Protection
Independent Examiner
TV Licence
Other
**Total Expenditure**|Total
36,100.50
1,249.82
**37,350.32**|

|Unrestricted
30,998.84
1,249.82
**32,248.66**| |---|---|---|---| ||
28,230.61
12,614.42
31,120.58
**71,965.61**
1,297.89
1,223.67
36.00
600.74
110.16
29.00
115.34
2,312.02
1,453.05
12,452.81
-
10,883.30
242.97
1,186.41
5,574.72
35.00
40.00
157.50
1,215.85
**38,966.43**|












-










|
28,230.61
12,614.42
1,000.00
**41,845.03**
297.89
-
36.00
600.74
110.16
29.00
115.34
1,275.25
3,546.95
12,452.81
-
70.00
242.97
749.45
307.19
35.00
40.00
157.50
1,215.85
**14,188.20**| ## **Balance at End of Year** |Bank

Petty Cash
Total|69,804.65
544.85
**70,349.50**|59,360.64
544.85
**59,905.49**| |---|---|---| ## **l 2021** ## Restricted 5,101.66 - **5,101.66** 30,120.58 **30,120.58** 1,000.00 1,223.67 - - - - - 1,036.77 5,000.00 - - 10,813.30 - 436.96 5,267.53 - - - - **24,778.23** 10,444.01 10 444.01 Preswylfa 3 Osmond Terrace Minffordd Penrhyndeduraeth Gwynedd LL48 6HW Mrs Claire Owen Chair of Trustees South Gwynedd Foodbank Revelation Park Road Barmouth Gwynedd LL42 1 PH 17[th] May 2021 Dear Claire, ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the South Gwynedd Foodbank** . I report on the accounts of the Foodbank for the financial year ended 5[th] April 2021. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner.** The Foodbank’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Foodbank’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 procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act) and . to 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 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. (R.M.Williams) Dated the …………day of ………………….. 20………..