The Shoebox Fairies
Trustees Financial Report for the period Nov 16[th] 2023- Nov 16[th] 2024
Charity Number: 1192361
Address :
Ashland House, Dobson Park Way, Ince-in-Makerfield, Wigan
Trustees:
Emma Thornton (Chair) Sally Owen-Gahan Helen Doward Kelly Parkinson
Bank:
The Co-operative Bank PLC
P.O Box 101
1 Balloon Street,
Manchester,
M60 4EP
The Shoebox Fairies is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission on 16[th] November 2020. The organisation is governed by its constitution last amended on 16[th] November 2020. board of trustees run the organisation with a group of volunteers. There are no employed members of staff.
All trustees give their time voluntarily with no renumeration or other benefits. Our governing document dictates that the number of trustees required is three.
Aims and Objectives
The Shoebox Fairies are an independent UK charity based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. Although our Christmas Shoebox Appeal is by far our biggest campaign, our smaller projects which run throughout the year are equally important in helping support those in vulnerable groups.
The following activities will be undertaken to achieve our aims:
The Shoebox Fairies works with the local community and receives donations of new items which are sorted into care packages (“shoeboxes”) of essential items for and/those living in difficult financial and/or social circumstances. Boxes are supplemented with items which are bought with income raised through fundraising and grants. These packages are distributed free of charge to those in need via frontline agency workers including midwives, health visitors, social workers and other charity workers.
We also run an annual Christmas shoebox appeal which enables us to work with the local community including youth groups and primary school aged children to collect boxes for our campaign whilst providing education on “community” and “charitable giving”.
Ensuring our work delivers our aims:
We review our aims and objectives regularly at our monthly meeting and also at our annual general meeting. We seek feedback from our third parties on how we can improve our care packages and the service that we provide.
Public Benefit:
Trustees regularly seek feedback from third parties including frontline agency workers and partner charities to understand whether our activities are to the public benefit. We do not believe that any harm or detriment arises from us working towards achieving our aims and we have not been informed of any instances where harm has arisen.
The Shoebox Fairies support those who would otherwise lack basic essentials of toiletries, clothing, sanitary products and/or baby care items for themselves and in the case of Mother & Baby box appeal, their babies. Items are provided by The Shoebox Fairies free of charge. Boxes can be requested from frontline agency workers (such as public health midwives, social workers etc) and by charities supporting these vulnerable groups e.g.domestic violence support charities. Boxes are distributed on good faith that professional judgement has been exercised by these third parties and no formal assessment process is undertaken to assess for
eligilbity. The Shoebox Fairies do not discriminate based on gender, sexual orientation, age, nationality, political or religious belief or disability.
Who benefits?
Individuals suffering from social and/or financial hardships benefit from our activities. Individuals are identified by frontline agency workers who are able to complete a referral and request our shoeboxes of essential items for their service users. We do not accept self-referrals for boxes or referral from family members.
Operations:
During this time period The Shoebox Fairies distributed a total of 68 Mother and Baby Boxes, 116 New Beginnings boxes, 10 “Birthday in a Box” Boxes (Pilot) and also 847 boxes (inclusive of all categories) were collected during our Christmas Shoebox Appeal which were distributed by to appropriate third parties. We piloted our new Birthday in a Box scheme which provides items for a birthday party at home and small gifts for children experiencing difficult circumstances.
We have also focussed on building relationships with other local groups and have undertaken a number of corporate volunteer days with businesses and local groups with the local area.
Staffing:
There are no employees working for The Shoebox Fairies CIO
Finances
During this period The Shoebox Fairies received multiple grants:
-
Community Organisation Cost of Living Fund (£10036)
-
First Central Service Community Connect (£750)
The Shoebox Fairies did not hold any fundraising events during this time.
The Shoebox Fairies also received a number of one-off donations from individuals who wished to contribute to our work and businesses/organisations including Winder Taylor Smith Solicitors (£2103.49) and Sing Space Theatre Choir (£228).
We also received donations of items from Mother and Baby groups and knitting groups in the local area.
| Income | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 4068.00 | - | 4068.99 |
| Grants | 750 | 10036 | 10786 |
| Fundraising | - | - | - |
Total 14854.99
| Expenses | |
|---|---|
| FundraisingExpenses | 100 |
| Insurance | 96 |
| Box Items | 9316.73 |
| Rent | 4716 |
| Room/Storage related items | 502.61 |
| Packaging (inc. Stickers) | 354.50 |
| Website charges | 273.48 |
| Total | 15359.32 |
Balance carried over from previous financial year £3118.56 (Nov 2022-Nov 2023)
Balance for financial year Nov 2023-Nov 2024 £2614.15
*Fundraising expenses is £100 room deposit for charity event for the following year
Governance
During this time period we recruited a new Trustee (Kelly Parkinson).
Future Plans
To raise awareness of The Shoebox Fairies throughout the Greater Manchester area and form more relationships with frontline agency workers, charities and other third parties such as schools and youth groups.
We hope to continue our corporate volunteer days and recruit more volunteers including exploring the possibility of remote volunteers and continue our microvolunteering opportunities.
Renumerations:
All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no renumeration .
The trustees declare they have approved the report on ____
Signed: E.Thornton
Name: Emma Thornton
Trustee: Chair of Trustees
11/9/2025