South Gwynedd Foodbank
ANNUAL REPORT
Chairperson's Report 2023
Our Report for the year to April 2022 showed a small reduction on the number of people who received three days’ worth of food from the foodbank over the previous year which had been largely affected by the COVID outbreak. Noone could have forecast the knock-on effects the fuel and cost-of-living increases would bring and the burden this would put onto so many more people. Across the UK, almost 3 million food parcels were distributed by the Trussell Trust Network of Foodbanks, over 185,000 in Wales, more than ever before, a 41% increase over the 2021/2022 figures. Wales has the highest rate of poverty over the 4 UK nations, at 24%.
In South Gwynedd, we too have seen the highest increase ever. With last year having shown a reduction down to 895 people, this year we were up to 1709, a staggering increase of 91%. We have seen an increase in the number of working families needing our help, more elderly, more people having to make return visits to the foodbank, with earnings or benefits simply not being sufficient to last through the month.
The higher cost-of-living has had a further effect upon the amount of food in stock. At the end of 2021/2022 we were holding around 8.6 tonnes of food but with the huge increase in demand for our services, by the end of 2022/2023 our stock had reduced to 4.6 tonnes, this was despite having received 21383kg of food during the year.
However, our financial position has remained strong. During the year there has been a greater level of involvement with Gwynedd Council, largely as a result of the foodbank being linked to the recently formed Barmouth Community Hub. This has enabled us to obtain a number of small grants from the Council, plus the Trussell Trust and others, to help with the cost-of-living crisis. As pressure built up on our stock levels, we have been able to use the additional income to buy those items of food and toiletries that regularly run out.
Since the foodbank was opened in March 2013, we have seen a considerable growth in our activities but have largely operated with an amazing group of volunteers who serve each week and on other special occasions, in a number of different roles. In July 2018, the then Management Team agreed to make the Foodbank Manager post a paid position, with the Manager receiving a minimum wage for 20 hours per week. This position has continued through to the current year with the Manager still being paid for 20 hours per week on a little above the Real Living Wage. In July 2022 it was agreed to appoint an Assistant Manager on a paid basis for 10 hours per week at £10.00 per hour. Sadly, the post holder was unable to continue in this role due to personal reasons and resigned in March 2023. Our Trustees are re-examining the staff and volunteer needs of the foodbank with a view to ensuring its sustainability over the coming years.
Through the Trussell Trust, South Gwynedd Foodbank and Arfon Foodbank have renewed their joint project of Financial Inclusion. Funding for two CAB Advisers and a Signposting Co-ordinator has been provided for a three-year programme that will continue and enhance the help that can be given to clients with debts, housing, benefits or other general advice issues. We continue to work with many Agencies across Gwynedd and beyond, and have seen a number of new Agencies now working with us, in particular we now have links with more departments in Gwynedd Council including the Energy Support Team.
We continue to locate Emergency Food Boxes around South Gwynedd which help clients to pick up their food without having to travel long distances. We are grateful to the staff at all of these locations and welcome the staff at Dolgellau Library to the team.
Finally, we wish to thank all our volunteers for their continued support and hard work, those who regularly place donations in our collection points around South Gwynedd, those who are giving finance through regular monthly donations to our Bank, and those who have given us generous one-off donations. Without your support we could not help those in need in South Gwynedd.
Trustees, Staff & Volunteers
Our Trustees:
Mrs Claire Owen - Chair
Rev Dawn Robinson
Mrs Helen Hooper Mrs Denise Bott
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 |
| Grwp Cynefin | Health Visitors | Hafal | Community Mental Health Teams |
| Adferiad | Shelter Cymru | PCSO's | Social Services – numerous |
| departments | |||
| Housing Officers | Job Centres | Church Ministers | Job Centres |
| The Probation Service | North Wales Housing Association | Substance Misuse Service |
Facts and Figures (to end March 2023):
| People fed Food donated Food distributed Food stock in hand |
All time 7080 (5302 Adults + 1778 Children) 135613 Kg 131885Kg 3727 kg |
2020-2021 1062 24200 Kg 18185 Kg |
2021-2022 895 14916 16560 |
2022-2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1709 21383 25358 |
Summary SOUTH GWYNEDD FOODBANK Summa of Accounts for Year Ended 5" A ril 2023 Balance at Be innin of Year Total Unrestrided Restricted Bank Petty Cash 83,071.04 827.10 81,489.71 827.10 1,581.33 -00 83 898.14 82 316.81 1 581.33 Income Individual Donations Companylorganisation Donations Grants 28,501.63 21,978.41 20,500.00 28,501.63 21,978.41 5,267.67 15,232.33 Total Income 70 980.04 55 747.71 15 232.33 Expenditure Food Purchase Client Electricity or Gas Client Transport StationarylPrinting Telephone Postage Catering & Cleaning Travel & Van Costs Accommodation Costs, Electricity & Water Building Repair & Renovation EWSL Wages Insurance Community Support Hub Equipment Data Protection Independent Examiner Gifts to Volunteers Other Bank Charges 2,983.26 1,095.00 -124.36 3,107.62 60.00 1,035.00 -00 -00 793.28 793.28 -00 141.56 141.56 -00 75.14 75.14 -00 637.83 637.83 -00 5,053.83 2,466.93 2,586.90 6,739.80 4.934.32 1,805.48 10,808.00 10,808.00 -00 -00 -00 16,604.58 -00 726.71 -00 -00 4,457.33 1,557.17 -00 35.00 -00 40.00 -00 514.04 -00 116.53 -00 -00 -00 16,604.58 726.71 4,457.33 1,557.17 35.00 40.00 514.04 116.53 114.44 Total Expenditure 52,493.50 39,386.73 12,992.33 Balance at End of Year Bank Petty Cash 101,975.72 408.96 98,154.39 3,821.33 408.96 -00 Total 102 384.68 98 677.79 3 821.33 Page 1
Preswylfa 3 Osmond Terrace Minffordd Penrhyndeduraeth Gwynedd LL48 6HW Claire Owen Chair of Trustees South Gwynedd Foodbank 36 Heol Fadog Porthmadog Gwynedd LL49 9BU 5 July 2023 Dear Claire Owen Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of the South Gwynedd Foodbank. I report on the accounts of the Foodbank for the financial year ended 5th April 2023. Respertlve responslblllties 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{21 of the Charities Act 2011 {the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under settion 145 of the 2011 Art, . to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission {under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act) and - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basi5 of Independent examinerfs report My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accountin8 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 Examinerfs Statement In connection with my examination no matter has come to my attention 11 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 account5 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. My Fee is £50 IR.M.Williamsl Dated the ..day of ...... ....