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2022-03-31-accounts

NORTH GUILDFORD FOOD BANK

Registered Charity No.1188640

St Clare’s Church Cabell Road Guildford GU2 8JW

Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the year to 31[st] March 2022

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NORTH GUILDFORD FOOD BANK

TRUSTEES

Mrs Joanna Woodhouse Mr Leslie Smith Rev Stephen Pownall Mrs Susan Williams Mrs Zoe Watts

Chair & Secretary Treasurer

BANKERS

Lloyds Bank plc Guildford Branch PO Box 1000 BX1 1LT

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Graham Norton FCA 2 Patterdale Coldharbour Road West Byfleet Surrey KT14 6JN

www.northguildfordfoodbank.co.uk

Registered Charity No.1188640

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NORTH GUILDFORD FOOD BANK

Annual Report and Accounts

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Accounts, for the year ended 31[st] March 2022. The Charity was registered on 19 March 2020. Prior to this date the North Guildford Food Bank existed but it was not a registered charity. The Funds transferred into this charity were £12,422 on 1 April 2020.

This report and the independently examined accounts will be lodged with the Charity Commission. Copies will be made available to all donors, where names and addresses are known.

Objects of the Charity

The objects of the Charity are:

The relief of financial hardship amongst people in Guildford and the surrounding area in such ways as the trustees from time to time think fit, in particular, but not exclusively by: a) providing emergency food, essential toiletries, and household items to individuals and families in need and/or for distribution by charities or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty

b) such other means, including (but not limited to) the provision of support or signposting to relevant information and other advisory services and to provide such services with a Christian ethos, supported by churches in Guildford.

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year.

In preparing accounts giving a true and fair view the Trustees should follow best practice and:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity, and which enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with applicable law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and any other irregularity.

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Trustee Structure and Selection of Trustees

The charity has five Trustees, three with portfolio: chair, secretary and treasurer. When recruiting trustees a balance is sought between:

All new trustees would be interviewed by the chair of trustees.

The Trustees’ main concern is that any Trustee plays a part in managing the Charity and helping to raise funds, whilst acting in a spirit of cooperation and mutual help.

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NORTH GUILDFORD FOOD BANK

Trustees’ Report

History

The North Guildford Food Bank was started in November 2012 based at St Clare’s Church on the Park Barn estate, North Guildford. Food collections were made at the local Tesco and individuals and churches and other organisations in the area made food collections and provided financial help. Funds were held in the St Francis & St Clare Parish accounts. A second outlet was opened at New Hope Church on the Bellfields estate in January 2014 and a third at Bushy Hill Community Centre, Merrow in May 2014. A Lloyds Charity current account was opened in April 2017 and funds transferred from the parish account. In 2017 collections for the food bank moved from the local Tesco to the Burpham branch of Sainsbury’s. The Food Bank was registered with the Charity Commission on 19 March 2020 and with HMRC soon after. Gift Aid has been claimed from the date of Charity Commission registration.

Client Numbers

The number of clients helped has typically increased year on year. However with the effects of Covid-19 the number of households referred to us due to being unable to afford food more than doubled in 2020/21, and has reduced by 16% this year.

Client Numbers
The number of clients helped has typically increased year on year. However with the effects
of Covid-19 the number of households referred to us due to being unable to afford food
more than doubled in 2020/21, and has reduced by 16% this year.		 Client Numbers
The number of clients helped has typically increased year on year. However with the effects
of Covid-19 the number of households referred to us due to being unable to afford food
more than doubled in 2020/21, and has reduced by 16% this year.		 Client Numbers
The number of clients helped has typically increased year on year. However with the effects
of Covid-19 the number of households referred to us due to being unable to afford food
more than doubled in 2020/21, and has reduced by 16% this year.		 Client Numbers
The number of clients helped has typically increased year on year. However with the effects
of Covid-19 the number of households referred to us due to being unable to afford food
more than doubled in 2020/21, and has reduced by 16% this year.
North Guildford Foodbank 2020/21 Overall Statistics Summary
(1 Apr 2020 to 31 Mar 2021)
2021/22 2020/21 2019/20
Total number ofparcels 1619 1925 940
Comparison withpreviousyear 84% 105% 51%
Total number ofpeople fed 4693 5330 2715
Comparison withpreviousyear 88% 96% 47%
Adults 2485 2933 1423
Children 2208 2397 1292
Spend on gas and electricity top ups
(* Top ups were only made for the period
Dec 20 to Mar 21)		 £37,577 £7,630* £6,221

The referrals came from a variety of other local agencies such as the local authority, schools, churches, Citizens’ Advice, medical professionals and support workers.

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Food Deliveries to Clients

Prior to March 2020 we did not offer delivery of food parcels on a routine basis, although very occasionally an ad hoc arrangement had been made. Once the period of lockdown began it became difficult for many of our clients to collect their parcels due to shielding, isolating, lack of available public transport or fear of going out. We recruited additional volunteers to offer a delivery service to clients’ home addresses. From July 2020 we were also able to make use of a delivery driver and van provided by the local authority one morning per week. Since the lockdowns have ended, we have endeavoured to reduce the number of deliveries made, partly due to a reduction in availability of drivers, and partly to encourage clients to take responsibility for their own arrangements, and to enable them to access the other support we offer.

Café

Prior to Covid all of our client sessions operated on a café model, ie clients would be offered refreshments and a chance to chat to a volunteer whilst their food parcels were prepared. During the lockdowns this was prohibited but after a trial in November 2021, the cafe was reopened at our Park Barn sessions from February 2022. This allows us to offer a service to local residents, whether or not they are food bank clients, to assist with isolation, and to discuss with clients what other support might be valuable, and to signpost to suitable agencies. Feedback from clients who use the cafe are that this is a valuable service and enables them to feel as though someone cares about them, reducing isolation.

Venues and Sessions

The food bank has previously run sessions in 3 venues, close to where many of our clients reside. During lockdown, we amalgamated the Bellfields service into our Park Barn service and have since vacated the Bellfields premises. We routinely run 3 client sessions in Park Barn and one in Merrow per week, and one donation and stock-sorting session in Park Barn. We continue to use the church hall at St Clare’s Church, Park Barn to store the majority of our stock, which is our preferred option, but we do not have long term security of tenure there and this is subject to the church’s leadership.

Change in Trustees

In June 2021 our former Chair of Trustees, Heather Roche, sadly died. She volunteered at the food bank from the early years, taking on shared leadership and then being Coordinator from February 2018 and Chair of Trustees from March 2020. Heather had devoted a significant amount of her time and energy to ensuring the smooth running of the food bank and had overseen substantial changes as our referral process moved online, numbers of clients grew and Covid restrictions affected all of our operations. She is greatly missed.

There were some consequential changes in the management of the food bank - Joanna Woodhouse (existing trustee) took over the role of Chair and Zoe Watts (stock manager) became a trustee.

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Staff

All trustees, team leaders and helpers at the food bank have continued on a voluntary basis, but the administrative work involved has become substantial and the trustees started the recruitment process for a part-time paid administrator, as the work had grown beyond that which was manageable on a voluntary basis.

Provision of Food and Household Supplies

Up until March 2020 the Food Bank relied mainly on the food contributions made by shoppers, initially at the local Tesco and from mid-2017 at the Burpham branch of Sainsbury’s. A smaller Sainsbury’s branch and Waitrose now also run collection points. This was supplemented by gifts from various local churches, schools and organisations, particularly at Harvest Festival and Christmas. Since March 2020 the Food Bank has continued to receive donations, but also started to purchase food from Sainsbury’s, particularly fresh and refrigerated items which cannot be safely donated.

Gas & Electricity Top Ups for Clients

In February 2016, with funds being available, the Food Bank was able to offer small credit top ups on gas and electricity meter cards for clients who had gone into their ‘fuel emergency allowance’. From March 2020 the topping up of gas and electricity meter cards stopped due to Covid-19 and did not resume until mid-December 2020.

In January 2021 the Food Bank entered into a trial scheme with Surrey Community Action (SCA) whereby they organised the topping up of gas and electricity cards for clients on prepayment meters using a third party. This required us to recruit additional volunteers to make telephone calls and arrange the vouchers, but no longer required clients to bring their prepayment key or card to us in person, and was therefore more practical for clients receiving deliveries. In February 2021, following the successful trial, we were able to open this to all clients on prepayment meters. This has continued and has been extremely popular with clients, especially as utility prices have increased substantially. We now have a team of 3 volunteers managing this system in conjunction with SCA, but there are significant administrative charges payable to the voucher issuer, and the workload is considerable. We have not been able to offer this service to clients who pay for utilities via direct debit rather than a prepayment meter.

Electricity Contributions to Churches/Community Centre .

During the period the food bank has paid a monthly amount to St Clare’s Church for hire of the church hall, electricity and cleaning. It also makes an annual contribution to the Bushey Hill Community Centre for electricity.

Trustee Meetings

The Trustees held regular meetings during the period. Items included in a typical agenda were:

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Thanks

The Trustees wish to thank St Francis & St Clare’s PCC for the use of the St Clare’s church premises for the Food Bank and our special thanks go to all the faithful and hard-working volunteers who give their time and support to the work.

Total Charity Value

The total value of the Charity as at 31 March 2022 is £109,118 comprising net payment in the period of £1,321 and funds brought forward from the previous year of £110,439.

Income and Expenditure Details

The Total Income for the period was £107,882 nearly all of which was donations and the attributable reclaimed gift aid. Costs were £109,203.

This report was approved by the Trustees on 9[th] August 2022 and signed on their behalf by:

J Woodhouse Chair of Trustees

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NORTH GUILDFORD FOOD BANK

Receipts and Payments Account

For the year to 31[st] March 2022

----- Start of picture text -----
Trust Trust
Total Total
Funds Funds
2022 2021
Receipts and Payments Note £ £
Receipts
Donations
General donations 7 94,124 135,925
Restricted donations 7 - 8,555
Bankuet income 10 - 19,110
Interest income 8 9
Gift Aid 13,750 8,022
Total Receipts £107,882 £171,621
Payments
Energy grants 6 37,577 7,630
Running costs 8 11,358 9,955
Food purchases 9 59,617 55,668
Transaction fees 651 351
Total Payments £109,203 £73,604
Net Receipts/(Payments) £(1,321) £98,017
Transfer from the North - £12,422
Guildford Food Bank
Total Funds Brought Forward £110,439
Total Funds Carried Forward 5 £109,118 £110,439
----- End of picture text -----

All of the charity’s activities derive from continuing operations during the period.

The notes on pages 11 and 12 form part of these accounts.

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NORTH GUILDFORD FOOD BANK

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

As at 31[st] March 2022

----- Start of picture text -----
2022 2021
Note £ £
Current Assets 12
Lloyds Bank – Current Account - Instant Access 9,197 13,510
Lloyds Bank – Savings Account - Instant Access 96,016 88,008
Bankuet Fund - Instant Access 8,646
Energy Grants Fund 6 1,868 -
Tesco vouchers 9 1,380 -
Cash 657 275
Total Current Assets £109,118 £110, 439
Current Liabilities 11 - -
Total Assets Retained For The Charities Own Use 12 £109,118 £110,439
Represented By Statement of Receipts and Payments 12 £109,118 £110,439
----- End of picture text -----

The notes on pages 11 and 12 form part of these accounts.

Approved by the Trustees on 9[th] August 2022, and signed on their behalf by:

……………………………………………………………. J Woodhouse Trustee

…………………………………………………………… L Smith Trustee

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NORTH GUILDFORD FOOD BANK

Notes to the Accounts

  1. Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities . The Charity was formally established and registered with The Charity Commission as Charity Number 1188640 on 19[th] March 2020. The Trustees are required to prepare an annual report and accounts which are lodged with the Charity Commission. The financial year-end is 31[st] March; these accounts cover the year to 31[st] March 2022.

  2. Scope and Basis of Annual Accounts. These accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice.

3. Accounting Policies. These are:

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  1. Bankuet. In April 2020 the Food Bank entered into a scheme with a new business, Bankuet Ltd, who would receive donations on behalf of the Food Bank, purchase food at competitive rates and then supply the food as requested to the Food Bank. This arrangement was concluded in April 2021

  2. Current Liabilities. There are no current liabilities.

  3. Current Assets . Deposit accounts are interest bearing at market rates. The current account is non-interest bearing and is maintained with the minimum amount estimated as necessary for near term expenditure. The Bankuet fund was closed in April 2021.

  4. Going Concern. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.

  5. Related Party Transactions . No fees or remuneration were paid to any Trustee during the period. Trustees occasionally pay for some sundry items for which they do not make a claim for expenses. Trustees may also buy the food from the supermarkets and then reclaim the costs incurred. There were no transactions with any persons or entities connected in any way to the Charity or its Trustees.

  6. Assessment of Risks. The Charity has no employees or premises.

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NORTH GUILDFORD FOOD BANK

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of North Guildford Food Bank

I report on the accounts of The North Guildford Food Bank, for the twelve months ended 31[st] March 2022, Charity No: 1188640, set out on pages 9 to 12.

Respective Responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent 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 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act)) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement

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 the 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:

Graham Norton FCA 2 Patterdale Coldharbour Road West Byfleet Surrey KT14 6N Signed 9[th] August 2022

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