Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/01/2024 To 31/12/2024
Charity name: Leominster Food Bank
Charity registration number: 1194140
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | For the public benefit of residents of Leominster and the surrounding area, the prevention and relief of poverty by the provision of food, funds, goods or services |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
A twice weekly Food Bank session to supply food to clients in poverty and to signpost people to further support and provide referrals and financial help with gas and electricity. A twice weekly Food Share session, distributing food waste from local shops and supermarkets. A Money Advice service for clients in financial difficulties. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in exercising their duties and powers. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers
Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | From January to September 2024 we distributed food parcels to clients. From October to December 2024 we offered supermarket vouchers to some clients as an alternative to food parcels. This was on a referrals basis at the discretion of the referring organisation. In total, from January to December, we gave 2117 adult parcels/vouchers and 1418 child parcels/vouchers, totalling 3535 food parcels/vouchers distributed over the year. This was 420 more than in the previous year. Those people referred for a Food Bank voucher were given access to a wide range of food, toiletries and cleaning products and were given a mix of tinned and fresh food in their food parcel. Our referrals came from partner agencies such as Turning Point, Housing associations, mental health services and schools. Clients could also self-refer, when our dedicated group of volunteers offered ‘triage’ on arrival to the food bank. The volunteers check people’s eligibility for a referral based on income and personal circumstances where they have no other referral agency, and issue food bank vouchers where appropriate, as well as offering appointments for our Money Advice Centre. During Jan – Dec 2024 we saved over 21,700 kg surplus food from landfill (based on an average food crate holding 5kg food). This includes 11,700kg from local supermarkets and 10,000 kg from Fareshare. At our twice weekly Food Share sessions we served an average of 82 people each week. For Christmas 2024, all clients were given supermarket vouchers in addition to their usual food parcel. 166 adults and 123 children benefited from this. Our CMA Connect Centre money advice volunteers continued to work face to face |
with clients with money issues. A large part of this work was helping clients apply for grants to help with fuel costs, school uniform and other essentials from Tenbury Nils, The Fuel Bank, Herefordshire Community Foundation, Mothers Union and other local organisations. We made 116 successful referrals for fuel top ups to Fuel Bank. Fuel top ups ranged in value from £30 to £72. We referred households to Herefordshire Community Foundation for fuel support grants ranging from £200-£500. We referred people to Citizens Advice Bureau where appropriate. As well as our on-site services, we continued to attend the Barons Cross support drop-ins offering support and food share once a month. This gives increased access to our services to those living away from town on the Barons Cross housing estate. We also delivered food donated by the Co-op every night of the week to those people in need of more regular support. We had 60 volunteers, between them giving over 130 hours a week in volunteer time. We continued to campaign for the end of food and fuel poverty by speaking to radio and newspapers and being part of IFAN, the independent food aid network. We publicised the services we offer in the Herefordshire ‘Worrying about money’ leaflet in partnership with IFAN and other local organisations. We also produced our own leaflets and used Facebook and our website to increase awareness as well as featuring on the Herefordshire Talk Community Directory. Building repair works at our premises featured in our decision to trial offering supermarket vouchers to some clients, where they had been referred by another organisation. This reduced numbers of people attending sessions which was helpful for risk management in reducing numbers of vehicles and people on site. Early evaluation of this trial was that supermarket vouchers were positively welcomed by clients and supported by their referral organisations. Feedback included that they were better value, they reduced waste in terms of only buying items that were wanted/ needed, it improved
options for those with food allergies, it made it easier for people who lack transport or who work at the time of Food Bank sessions, it reduced the stigma of having to attend the Food Bank and it increased dignity and choice. We will continue to monitor this trial and work closely with referring organisations to allocate vouchers as we are aware it may encourage increased dependence on Food Bank use.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Our policy is to ensure an ability to provide ongoing support during a period involving a drop in donations, a sudden increase in expenditure, or an event not covered by insurance. We spent £68,000 on food, supermarket vouchers and other essentials during the year, and costs are increasing, so we need to hold £100,000 in reserves. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £100,000 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Appointed by other trustees |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and Para 1.51 training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Leominster Food Bank |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1194140 |
| Charity’s principal address | The Old Priory Rooms Leominster HR6 8EQ |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine Bland | Chair | |||
| Margaret Wilkerson | Treasurer | |||
| Anne Clark | ||||
| Caroline Arthur | ||||
| Elizabeth Womack | 15/01/2024 – 31/12/2024 | |||
| Graham Crane | 15/01/2024 – 31/12/2024 | |||
| LesleyKneen | 18/07/2024 – 31/12/2024 | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations Tho tru51eqs declare thatthoy havo apwoved th• truIt' rnport abov Signed on behaifof the ¢harlty'8 tAtht••g SlqnatwEI6) Full nam4B) Pts•ilion (•g S¢¢rotsry, CtrAir. etsl Artlxr MargJvt Wilk•rdo Ctta¥ Trpaswer
14-1£,"
Charity Name No (if any) Leominster Food Bank 1194140 Receipts and payments accounts For the period Period start date Period end date To from 1/1/2024 12/31/2024
CC16a
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts Regular MonthlyDonations 19,648 One-Off Donations of £100 or more 12,953 One-Off Donations of less than £100 2,034 Church Donations 1,696 Grants 44,200 MoneyAdvice Grants - Gift Aid 742 Interest 2,679 83,952 - - Sub total - Total receipts 83,952 A3 Payments Food 37,882 e-vouchers 22,100 Other Essentials 6,522 Equipment/Uniform 758 Rent Mileage Repayments 1,396 Utilities,Insurance,etc 3,870 MoneyAdvice Costs 892 - Sub total 73,420 Food Bank Equipment 1,220 MoneyAdvice Equipment - Sub total 1,220 Total payments 74,640 Net of receipts/(payments) 9,312 A5 Transfers between funds 6,678 A6 Cash funds last year end 104,434 Cash funds this year end 120,424 Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ Sub total(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
to the nearest £ - - - - 500 3,306 - - 3,806 - - - 3,806 - - - 500 2,226 - 357 1,337 - 4,420 - - - 4,420 - 614 - 6,678 12,161 4,869 Restricted funds |
to the nearest £ Endowment funds |
Total funds to the nearest £ 19,648 12,953 2,034 1,696 44,700 3,306 742 2,679 87,758 - - - 87,758 37,882 22,100 6,522 1,258 2,226 1,396 4,227 2,229 - 77,840 1,220 - 1,220 79,060 8,698 - 116,595 125,293 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
| - | 19,648 | 22,433 | ||
| - | 12,953 | 13,630 | ||
| - | 2,034 | 4,912 | ||
| - | 1,696 | 723 | ||
| - | 44,700 | 59,097 | ||
| - | 3,306 | 10,090 | ||
| - | 742 | 1,590 | ||
| - | 2,679 | 702 | ||
| - | 87,758 | 113,176 | ||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | 87,758 | 113,176 | ||
| - | 37,882 | 43,461 | ||
| - | 22,100 | |||
| - | 6,522 | 4,225 | ||
| - | 1,258 | 1,133 | ||
| - | 2,226 | 11,129 | ||
| - | 1,396 | 2,094 | ||
| - | 4,227 | 3,993 | ||
| - | 2,229 | 2,689 | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | 77,840 | 68,724 | ||
| - | 1,220 | 2,276 | ||
| - | - | 106 | ||
| - | 1,220 | 2,382 | ||
| - | 79,060 | 71,106 | ||
| - 614 | - | 8,698 | 42,070 | |
| - 6,678 | - | - | - | |
| 12,161 | - | 116,595 | 74,525 | |
| 4,869 | - | 125,293 | 116,595 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details Lloyds Bank Current Account Unity Bank Current Account Unity Bank Savings Account Details Details Details Food Bank - Shelving Food Bank - Crates Food Bank - Tables Food Bank - Other Items Purchased Food Bank - Donated Office Equipment Money Advice Equipment Details Signature Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ to nearest £ 11,625 - 9,147 - 99,652 4,869 120,424 4,869 OK OK to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) Unrestricted - Unrestricted - Unrestricted - Unrestricted - Unrestricted - Restricted - - - - - - - - - Print Name Margaret Wilkerson Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| 1,021 | |||
| 722 | |||
| 1,823 | |||
| 4,755 | |||
| 1,650 | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
| Margaret Wilkerson | |||