Loose Ends Newbury Annual Report 2024 – 2025
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 13th October 2025
Thank You
Loose Ends Newbury could not operate without the generosity and support of many individuals, organisa�ons and businesses.
The organisa�ons we worked closely with in 2024/25 and thank for their co-opera�on include: Newbury Cricket Club Newbury Town Council Volunteer Centre West Berkshire West Berkshire Homeless Homestart Family Support Workers The Family Hub
Those helping with our food supplies include:
Sewa Day SOFEA West Berkshire Foodbank Nandos Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose
In 2024/25 we received major financial dona�ons from: Bart Ingredients Cavendish Nuclear Ltd Chieveley Spring Charity Walk Crosfields, St Joseph’s and St Bartholomew schools David Wilson Homes Jones Robinson Newbury Phoenix Rotary Club Newbury Symphony Orchestra Oscar Best West Berkshire Lo�ery Community Fund
To all the local churches, clubs, businesses and individuals who donated financially or in a prac�cal way to us - we can’t men�on everyone but we are very grateful to you all.
CHAIR REPORT
We were delighted this year to receive the Kings Award for Voluntary Service, the charitable equivalent of the MBE. It was a special day for us on 25th February when at the Berkshire Lieutenancy Presenta�on Ceremony at Shaw House the commemora�ve crystal and cer�ficate signed by the King was presented to our chair Diana Lacey, along with fellow trustee and volunteer Gill Downs and breakfast chef Barney Beardsley. A ballot of volunteers saw Paul Walter and Gemma Fuller chosen to a�end a celebratory Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May where they told us they had a ‘whale of a �me.’ The award is a testament to all the work undertaken by our volunteers who should be jus�fiably proud of the service Loose Ends Newbury provides.
hot nutri�ous meals, food parcels and wider support to homeless, vulnerable, lonely or financially struggling adults in our community. We have also con�nued to assist local families though our Northcro� Kitchen a�er school on a Monday.
Our Loose Ends sessions typically see between 20 -30 people sit down to enjoy a hot meal with lunch on a Sunday being the most popular, and in the past year alone have served more than 5,500 meals and provided over 2,500 parcels of toiletries and food essen�als. As in recent years we have opened a weekly ‘warm hub’ before our Tuesday lunch�me session providing clients with somewhere warm to sit and relax with a hot drink. We have over 50 individuals who volunteer their �me to ensure the sessions run smoothly and provide all the back-office support required to enable this to happen.
As well as providing food and essen�als we work with local agencies including West Berkshire Homeless and West Berkshire Housing departments who a�end our sessions and use them as a means to interact with clients, and to be�er understand their circumstances.
We were sad to see the departure of two Trustees this year. Ian Nichol took on the role of Trustee/ Treasurer some five years ago and has provided invaluable advice both as Treasurer and also more generally including the establishment of the Northcro� Kitchen.
Caroline Billington has been a Trustee for just over two years providing trustee support to the Food Group. Although stepping down as a trustee she will con�nue as a session volunteer.
We were delighted that Guy West joined as a Trustee/Treasure to replace Ian, and also Alice Fogg to replace Pat Burke who stood down last year. We are always pleased to hear from anyone who might be interested in joining us as a trustee.
We are grateful to the Newbury Cricket Club to the use of the clubhouse and the construc�ve rela�onship between our two organisa�ons.
We are also immensely grateful for the con�nuing support of key benefactors. Bart Ingredients is a leading provider of premium herbs and spices who believe in the powers of good food to bring people together. We have a common interest in food and a commitment to making a posi�ve difference to our local community.
We were therefore very pleased earlier this year to announce a new sponsorship with Bart Ingredients. Through this collabora�on we receive financial support and have been pleased to welcome employees who volunteer on a regular basis at our Wednesday morning breakfast session.
A big thank you to all local companies, local groups, and local churches who organised events raising money and items for Loose Ends Newbury, and those who undertook individual challenges with sponsorship going to Loose Ends Newbury.
Finally, many thanks to all our wonderful volunteers who give their �me, talents, and energy to ensure that Loose Ends Newbury con�nues to provide a much needed service.
Diana Lacey Chair
VOLUNTEERS
Recruitment
Loose Ends would not be able to operate without our wonderful volunteers. All volunteers are unpaid, and we are grateful for all the hard work and dedica�on shown by everyone who helps run our organisa�on.
volunteering and resulted in 16 new recruits joining us. To allow for everyone to be properly inducted we suspended new recruitment for a couple of months at the start of 2025.
However, as inevitably we regularly lose some volunteers, we are recrui�ng again and keen to hear from new poten�al volunteers.
In April 2025, as part of our sponsorship agreement with Bart Ingredients, we welcomed four new volunteers from Barts who were keen to contribute to their local community. This provides a great extra pool of volunteers and one Barts volunteers helps at most Wednesday breakfast sessions.
with other volunteers required to do offsite cooking, menu planning, stock taking, organising food supplies and collec�ons as well as providing admin and support behind the scenes. The rota for volunteers is run by Noni Knight who does a fantas�c job making sure all slots are filled every week. Each session is led by a supervisor, and we are especially grateful to them for taking on that extra responsibility.
meet lots of different people from all walks of life. Our volunteers offer a broad range of skills and experiences which all contribute to the effec�ve running of our charity.
Training
required, on an ongoing basis - this is a key part of maintaining Loose Ends excellent hygiene ra�ng. Many of our volunteers have also successfully completed the Food Allergy and Intolerance training.
Six Loose Ends supervisors took a Drug Awareness course in June 2024. Since September 2024, 14 Loose Ends volunteers (including 9 supervisors) completed Posi�ve Behavioural Support and De-escala�on Training. This was a most interes�ng and valuable course, with insights into recognising and dealing with poten�ally difficult situa�ons before they get out of hand. Our instructor also learnt what a compassionate, understanding group Loose Ends volunteers are when he produced some photos of characters designed to get a nega�ve reac�on from the audience. Our lovely volunteers showed exactly the opposite reac�on!
OPERATIONS
A cooked lunch and pudding are served on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and a full English breakfast on Wednesday and Friday. Tea, coffee, juice and fresh fruit are always available. Food parcels, toiletries, prac�cal clothing and camping equipment are also made available to clients on a 'no ques�ons asked' basis.
We have a very wonderful se�ng and facility to provide our services.
are as varied, appe�sing and nutri�ous as our talented cooks can make them.
We are fortunate to have well established and stable supply chains. These include a subscrip�on to South Oxfordshire Food and Educa�on Alliance (SOFEA) who supply us with a variety of ambient, chilled and frozen food. West Berkshire Foodbank (WBFB) also supply us with ambient items for use in sessions. Fareshare Go arrange regular collec�ons, by Sewa Day, as a Community Food Redistribu�on Organisa�on, of donated surplus products from local supermarkets including fresh fruit, vegetables and baked goods. In the la�er part of the year we have begun to establish a rela�onship with local Olio Food Heroes who donate surplus products from supermarkets on an adhoc basis.
lunch dishes. We would also like to thank Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose for their generous dona�ons.
As well as providing volunteers, Bart Spices also supplied us with a great volume and variety of herbs and spices which the cooks have been able to put to good use when crea�ng appe�sing meals.
stored by our amazing Monday food team.
We are also lucky enough to receive dona�ons of food and toiletries from local businesses, the general public, schools and churches throughout the year and especially at Harvest Fes�val, Christmas and Easter. The Christmas Gi� Voucher scheme from The Community Furniture Project is a nice extra for our clients at Christmas and is very much appreciated.
Loose Ends Newbury are grateful to all organisa�ons and individuals who support us to provide a good quality and consistent service to those who need us.
Northcroft Kitchen serves local families a freshly cooked and nutritious meal for both adults and children. We have now been running continuously since February 2023 on a Monday afternoon from 3.30 to 4.45, with homemade cakes and puddings too. There is always a children's meal, and macaroni cheese is particularly popular!
Any parent or carer who needs a hot meal is welcome with their children in our safe and child friendly space. We have toys, books and colouring materials for the children and during the good weather it's great to see the children letting off steam out on the playing field. The parents/carers have got to know each other, they sit and chat, which is lovely to see.
Whilst numbers fluctuate, we usually have eight or more families including some 15 children attending, and we have served over 1100 meals over the past 12 months. Most children are primary age or pre-school. Our clients include lone parents, some in work, some not, and we also have low-income families that include at least one working parent.
During the summer holidays we offered games and activities in conjunction with Everyone Active from Northcroft Leisure Centre. Although we have fewer families attending in the school holidays, it was well received by those who joined in. At Christmas we had a party, and the children were able to have their faces painted. All the families received a small Christmas present including a Tesco voucher.
We would like to say a big thank you to all our volunteers. The sessions have developed into a social place for the families to interact and have some fun as well as enjoy a meal.
REPORT ON ACCOUNTS FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2024/2025
Accounts for this period is a�ached as Appendix 1 to this report, with prior-year figures also shown. The Accounts have been prepared on a cash basis. As the annual income is over £25,000, the Charity Commission requires our accounts to be independently reviewed, and no concerns were raised by the accountants.
The Accounts show that LEN had an income of £33,505.99 and an expenditure of £32,101.64 during the year. This resulted in an opera�ng surplus of £1,404.35. LEN commenced the year with funds of £86,805.36 and ended the year holding £88,209.71.
During the year, LEN reviewed the management of its funds to ensure a reasonable return. Following this review, it was agreed to:
con�nue holding £5,000 in a savings account with Newbury Building Society,
consolidate the two savings accounts held with Metro Bank (£30,000 Fixed Term Savings Account, which ended 4 March 2025, and the Instant Savings Account), and
The balance is held in a Metro Current Account, ensuring accessibility of funds for opera�onal requirements. No restricted funds were held by LEN in this financial year.
Commentary
donors. We are deeply grateful to the organisa�ons, businesses, and grant-making bodies that supported us during the year. We also benefit from regular financial dona�ons from individuals, as well as from organisa�ons fundraising on our behalf. In addi�on, par�cipants in the West Berkshire Lo�ery who nominate LEN as their chosen charity provide us with a steady source of income. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all those individuals and groups.
It should also be noted that the income shown in the Accounts from the Local Giving fundraising pla�orm represents dona�ons made through that pla�orm, which also claims Gi� Aid on our behalf when applicable.
food supplies from a wide range of sources. These are recognised elsewhere in this report.
to demonstrate excellent value for money, with all of our services delivered by unpaid volunteers rather than employed staff.
Recommenda�on: Members are asked to note this Annual Report and approve the submission of the Accounts to the Charity Commission.
Guy West, Treasurer
Appendix I Ywr 2Q2M4 Op•nlrw e•lwK• £s.w) £41.68s.rK) £10.12D 36 t42.042.9S 9.W 31 £0. £0. £7l.72326 Metro Bwk S•¥ir IAatro FIA4d Teftn Savtys £$6)6 £2.382.21 £312.78 £W3ffjT £991.SS £288.75 É1.231.33 t1.$7S.th) 16.010.74 £15.08529 £1.C#X).IX) £3.172. £5.115.61 £914 SO e4.2ee 85 £0 £2.1MA3 £gA9320 £1.ce2 $0 E9.11946 £0 ¢10.318 £1.01S.02 £>J). £4.e44.eiJ £1225.85 £6.020.13 £1.3ty). ¢8.74982 £1.171.40 £57640 £1.191.24 £3.552.82 £48.th) £120 £235. £1240.64 £4.477.6J EOOJ tJ2.111. £0 eii.•64. U•309.71 ¢W.10S.JO R•pfM•nt•d by.. 8uikJmg 7 Ory nLth••Ewunl Metro Bnnk Cwrwlkc Metro eank Inslanl S•¥iry Molro Fixed Term SJ¥ry¥ arryJslw• TnMI 8• Trrt•l £5.448 33 £7.751 37 £10.01 £o.Tr) £7s.C(•).J £88.209.71 ES.CQO.C(I £41.685. £10.120.36 £30.CQ).LYJ £o.(rfJ £86.805.36 ••ts Total LN]uKI cash To¢al Cash av&•t4e £13.XrfJ.71 £88.2C8.71
LOOSE ENDS VOLUNTEERS OCTOBER 2025
We could not operate without our volunteers so thank you to everyone who works so hard both on sessions and behind the scenes.
Trustees
Diana Lacey, Chair
Alice Fogg, Gill Downs, Paul Jenkinson, Guy West Treasurer
Opera�ons Support
Nicola Buckland, Cathy Jenkins, Kathy Le Brun, Alison Mar�n, Paul Spour
Food Group
Sue Burbridge, Pat Burke, Gemma Fuller, Robert Harris, Gillian Leech, Sheridan Levey, Noni Knight, Paul Walter
Supervisors
Emma Aird, Pat Burke, Andy Donovan, Gill Downs, Alice Fogg, Jane Hopkins, Alison Mar�n, Olivia Scull, Paul Spour, Helen Webb, Lesley Wyman
Session Volunteers
Maureen Avery, Helen Balster, Barney Bardsley, Caroline Billington, Kaye Broom, Nicola Buckland, Sue Burbridge, Claire Cookson, Graeme Coulam, Helen Cundy, Sally FletcherBo�, Judith Fowler, Gemma Fuller, Susan Gearing, Carol Guthrie, Tessa Hall, Robert Harris,
Alice Hay, Rachel Henley, Sharni Hulait, Cathy Jenkins, Nicola Johnson, Julie Kaesser, Noni Knight, Diana Lacey, Sophia Lee, Suzanne Lees, Ben Major, Alison Mar�n, Jon Nelsey, Eleanor Rance, Nicky Sanderson, Janice Sco�, Issy Stevens, Paul Walter, Ying Walter, Barbara West, Guy West, Jane Wilkinson
Bart Ingredients employees
Our grateful thanks to Apple Print & Crea�ve for prin�ng this report and for their ongoing support.
AP&C
| Loose Ends Newbury Annual Accounts | Loose Ends Newbury Annual Accounts | Year | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 2023-24 | ||
| Opening Balance | |||
| Newbury Building | Society 7 Day notice account | £5,000.00 | £42,042.95 |
| Metro Bank Current Account | £41,685.00 | £29,680.31 | |
| Metro Bank Instant Savings | £10,120.36 | £0.00 | |
| Metro Fixed Term | Savings | £30,000.00 | £0.00 |
| Total Opening Balance | £86,805.36 | £71,723.26 | |
| Income | |||
| Bank/ BS interest | £2,362.21 | £991.55 | |
| Gift Aid | £312.78 | £288.75 | |
| Fundraising | £963.67 | £1,231.33 | |
| Good Exchange | £0.00 | £0.00 | |
| Churches | £1,575.00 | £1,200.00 | |
| Business | £6,010.74 | £15,865.29 | |
| Grants | £0.00 | £1,000.00 | |
| Local Giving | £2,176.43 | £3,172.30 | |
| Groups and Organisations | £9,893.20 | £5,115.61 | |
| West Berks Lottery | £1,092.50 | £914.50 | |
| Individuals | £9,119.46 | £4,266.85 | |
| Crowdfunder | £0.00 | £0.00 | |
| Total Income | £33,505.99 | £34,046.18 | |
| Expenditure | |||
| Shopping and General Expenses | £10,318.89 | £6,749.82 | |
| IT and Admin Expenses | £1,085.02 | £1,171.40 | |
| Rent | £300.00 | £300.00 | |
| Utilities | £4,644.60 | £576.40 | |
| Insurance | £1,225.85 | £1,191.24 | |
| Cleaning & Hygiene | £6,020.13 | £3,552.62 | |
| Training | £1,300.00 | £48.00 | |
| DBS checks | £60.00 | £120.00 | |
| Maintenance | £1,240.64 | £235.99 | |
| Furniture, Fittings & new equipment | £4,477.63 | £3,630.58 | |
| Other Operating costs | £1,428.88 | £1,388.03 | |
| New Premises | £0.00 | £0.00 | |
| Total Expenditure | £32,101.64 | £18,964.08 | |
| Closing Balance | at end May each year | £88,209.71 | £86,805.36 |
| Represented by: | |||
| Newbury Building | Society 7 Day notice account | £5,448.33 | £5,000.00 |
| Metro Bank Current Account | £7,751.37 | £41,685.00 | |
| Metro Bank Instant Savings | £10.01 | £10,120.36 | |
| Metro Fixed Term | Savings | £0.00 | £30,000.00 |
| Hampshire Trust Bank | £75,000.00 | £0.00 | |
| Total | £88,209.71 | £86,805.36 | |
| Assets | |||
| Total Liquid cash | £13,209.71 | ||
| Total Cash available | £88,209.71 | ||
| Fixed assets | Loose items: Tables & Chairs and office equipment including filing cabinets | £0.00 | |
| Fixed items: White goods, ovens, hand dryers, and defibrillator | |||
| Liabilities | Utilities | £1,500.00 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees
Charity Name Loose Ends Newbury
On accounts for the year 31[st] May 2025 Charity no 1189240 ended (if any) Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 05 / 2025 .
Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent ~~[The charity~~ ’ ~~s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to~~ examiner's statement ~~undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]].~~ ~~Delete [ ]~~ ~~if not applicable.~~
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination ~~(other than that disclosed below *) w~~ hich gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Will Tenbroeke Date: 10/12/2025
Name: William Tenbroeke
Relevant professional FCA - ICAEW qualification(s) or body
1
Oct 2018
IER
(if any):
Address: 8 Clappentail Park Lyme Regis, DT7 3NB UK
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
None noted.
2
Oct 2018
IER