Trustee's Re ort to the Charit Commission Hands Outreach Team- Year 3 of Charitable Status Lovin Alms and Purpose5 Loving Hands Outreach Team was established to relleve poverty for those Ilvin8 In the community of the Metropolitan area of Klrklee5. Objectives and Artivities The 8roup was established durlng the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 to deliver essential food and household item5 to vulnerable people and families. Charitable statu5 was awarded in June 2021 and our work continue5 Wlthin the current uncertain economic cllmate. Data from the Kirklees Observatory, 2024 Indlcates a severe level of poverty in the Klrklees area. The Index of Multiple Deprlvation IIMD} 2019, the official measure of relative deprivatlon for small areas lor nel8hbourhoodsl in England, indlcates that 42% of neighbourhoods wlthln Kirklees fall into the top 30% of deprlved areas wlthln the local authority. Within North Kirklees, where the majority of our 5ervlce users reside, this number Increases to 57%. Food parcels are delivered by a teèm of volunteers to the beneficlarfs home address. Thèse packa8e5 typlcally contaln essential foods and household items such as tinned and packaged foods, cereal, bread, milk and e88s. Most importantly, to support health and well-being, fresh frult. ve8etables, and dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt5 are now included. Wherever P0551ble items such as toiletrles, napples and other baby items are also Supplied. Addltlonal support is provlded via the si8np05ting of other servlces, Including mental health Charities or helplines, other food banks, baby banks. and other charities working to reduce poverty. Families who require small items of second-hand furnltufe and other household items, such as beddin8, kitchen equipment and clothin8 are supported on an ad hoc basls, where items can be donated frorn within the local communitv. All of the support provided is funded through grants, fundraising artivities. and the collection of donations from local retailer5 and Gommunity donors. When plannln8 attivities for the yearthe trustees have considered the Commission's guidance on public benefit and 8uidance for charities specifically set up for the relief of poverty. Appropriate crlteria are used for 8uidance in selettin8 benefldarles requlrlng support, ensurin8 that the assSstance given to individuals is no more than is required to relieve thelr Immedlate need. For example, the beneficiarie5 may have to prove they are in receipt of universal credtt or other relevant state benefits (working wlth consent under GDPR). It should be noted that those in poverty, or at risk of being in poverty typically mean5 households who 80 short in some unacceptable way. This indudes people who despite workin8 Still fall into this category and people who may quallfy for assistance from a poverty charity whether or not they are eligible for state benefits.
Achievements and Performance Food Bank Service Development We have continued to provide a basic selection of tinned and packaged foods alonRside a range of fresh fruit and vegetables and dairy produrts. This has been facilitated by increasin8 success in applylng for and receiving funding through 8rant applications durln8 the reportlng period. This includes fundin8 from One Community, Kirklees Third Sector Leaders, Aviva Communlty Fund, The Natlonal Lottery Communlty Fund, Locala Community Fund and Asda Foundation. We have continued to supplement our fresh food offerin8 via a substrlptlon to Fare-share Yorkshlre, for surplus food sourced from major retailers and food manufarturers. Education Regular discussions wlth other charities and services in the community confirms that provision of food alone wlll not solve the lon8-term poverty and health cri515 in the community. Education 15 needed for those wlthln the community who would like to help themselves but need insplratlon and support to do so. We have continued to be successful in applying to the Locala Health Visitor Service for funding for our Cookery course which teaches the preparation of basic, cheap, and healthy recipes. We have been fortunate to 5ewred further fundin8 from the Aviva Communlty Fund to contlnue the cookery pro6ramme Into 2024-25. Locala health v151tors have provlded further support by attendin8 our monthly coffee clubs as 8uest speakers, provldln8 Invaluable information on childcare topics. All participant5 complete a questlonnaire at the end of the course, thereby allowlng us to continue to monltor the outcomes of our classes and address areas for improvement. Thls feedback also confirmed that those partlclpatln8 are now less rellant on food support from us and other services. Further analysis of the questlonnaire results revealed that many of the parents we support suffer with poor mental health and anxietyi which directly impact5 upon their ability to support themselves financially. This finding wa5 backed up with evidence from a study commissioned by the mental health charity Mind which conduded that there Is a direct correlation between poverty and poor mental health•. During Sprlng Summer 2024 we used funds from the AvNa Community Grant to run a new project, Love To Grow, helping people to Increase their health and well-beln8 through a combinatlon of growing their own produce and cooking cheap simple and nutrltious meals. This took place In a local community allotment wbth the support of Grow to School, Klrklees ThSrd Sector Leaders and Junlper Foodwlse. We provlded compost growba8s and a choice of ve8etables. herbs and fruit for participants to use their newly acquired skills and 8row their own produce at home with their family. As with our cookery classes our participants completed questionnaire at the end of our course. This feedback confirmed that those participating saw a noticeable improvement in their mental health and indicated an increased confidence In cooking with fresh produce. Thi5 led to them bein8 able to make better, healthier in8redient choices for famlly mealtimes. mlnd.org.uk study: Fi8hting for the MH of peopk living in poverty- finalJ>overty-scoplng-research- report.pdf Imind.org.uk)
Financial Review The current cost-of-livin8 crisis has continued to impact low-lncome households and the number of households requesting 5UPPOrt has continues to increase. Referrals have been made throu8h schools, health visitors, social workers, domestic violence charities, local churche5, Other local food banks and self-referra15 via our Facebook page. A E16K Critical C05t5 grant from The National Lottery enabled us to cover our basic food support costs. plu5 increase our capaclty by 25-30% for four-month period in early 2024. Data for the reporting period year ending September 2024 versus 2023 indicates that we regularly supported 574 adults lup 9% year-on-year), 592 children lup IO% year-on-yearl and 278 families lup 18% year-on-yearl, plus 187 smaller households without children lup 1% year-on-yearl. Food costs at the perlod endlng September 2023 were appfoxlmately £1500 per calendar month, at the end of the current reporting period thi5 monthly expenditure had increased by 53% to £2300. This cost increase was a function ofthe increase in number of houholds requesting support, plus the extra support provided during the first quarter of 2024. There were also Si8nificant increased costs associated with food and fuel inflation. LOVING HANDS OUTREACH TEAM FINANCIAL STATEMEKf FOR THE PERIOD 1st OCTOBER 2023-30- SEPTEMBER 2024 The balance of unrestricted funds carried forward into the next financial year is £36,645,01 RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT LOblNG HANDS oufREACH fEAM(W) yr9 •ccount¥ Ch•rftyM4 ft•••J7 TRANSACTIONS l•1 O¢tob•r202J. jolh t•mb•rlQ24 iTPANSACnC4 TVFE r•¢¢ Ir•¢t C<>ATJ TOTAL 21,272.19 SAJINTS. t>OPi4T10NS I FGACIFS FUNO liSING kV&Nfs •1 WFLe8.CIXiECTI STA1 QRDER .'1115CFI I ANFOUS J9 293 7) 39.293 73 354 354 00 F(K)D 26,327 95 453.77 ' 1.309Vk' 28.327.95 45377 1 3C992 CLOTh1. CLO$.ToYS. FAMILY EWPMENr FUNDRS1G COSTS COST OF PROMnIOft ¢trL4IT•ALE ACTIMnES OFFICE COSTS. LESè&. TRALthtJ IN9JRAPKE MISCÈLLANEOUS TOT CW PWO ¢ 2,961 27 2,912 12 2.90127 291212 112 J11
Reserves policy It is Loving Hands Outreach Team's policy to aim to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds, which equates to at least three months unrestricted income, equivalent to £9.300, to cover food and running costs for the provision of food parcels. Volunteers The Trustees would like to thank all the volunteers who work $0 hard to enable the charity to support so many people In need withtn the Kirklees communlty. Volunteers typically help wlth the collection, packing and delivery of the food parcels, Other househo5d items and clothin8. Volunteers also assist at cookery classes. providin8 on-site help with childcare for those attending the classes. Strurture, Governance and Management The method cf appolntment of trustees is set out In our 8overnin8 document. Thls Is based on the Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Or8anisaiion, whose only voting members are its charitv trustees. Mana8ernent Is carrled out by the Trustees and the Treasurer. These members are responslble for making decisions on all matters of zeneral concern and Importan to the day-to-day runnlng of the charity, includin8 deciding on how the funds of the charity are to be spent. The Board of Trustees met five times durlng the reportlng period wlth attendance of all trustees, includin8 some participatin8 online due to work commitments. Additional committees were established durin8 this reporting period, allowing the partiopation of non-tru5tee volunteers In specific prolect activities. Admlnlstratlve Inforniatlon Lovin8 Hands Ouireach Team Is located In 8atley, West Yorkshlre, the correspondence address is The Old Vlcara8e, 150 Hl8h Street, WF17 6DW. Trurtees.. Managlng Trustee and Chairperson- Loulsa Margaret Welr Trustee and Secretary- Dr Karen Margaret Wilson Ifrom 27th July 2022- presentl Trustee- Paula Cutler Ifrom July 2023 - present) Trustee- Helen Louise Poole (from July 2023 to present} Treasurer- Wendy Nuttall
Independent Examlners Report to the Trustee5 of Loving Hands Outreach Tearn 8atleyi West Yorkshire I report to the tru5tee5 on the accounts for the period 1st October 2023 to 30 September 2024 which are set out on page 3 of this report. As th• charlty tru8 of the Trust, you are Tesponsible for the preparation of the acuunts in ac¢crdarK• with t requirements ¢J the Charities Act R•spon•lbllltS•0 and 20111.tho Acri. bul• of rnport I report in respect of ry examin8tiM of the Trust's accounts carried out under Se)n 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have follryod the applble Dlre¢ti)ns gNen by the Charity C(xnmis8ion under section 14515llb} of the Act I have CuMpt) my eXamInatn. I Ihat no matwial matt•r$ hav• ome to my attent (other than th8t disclosed bel* "l in connection wtth ltre eXInaln whKh gives me Gau5e lo beliov• that in, any malenal respect. Independent examin•3 $tat•m•nt counling recNdg were not kept in 4Ce with 8fKtion 130 of the Act or th• %counts do not a¢wd with the •xoun14ng record I have no concerns arKJ have c(Yne across Tr) oth•r matt•r8 in conn•Gtion with the examinalpjn lo whh attention •houkl bè dr•wn in order lo en•b propw urKlerslandiTha of the aon to be reached. . Please delete the bvoth in the br8okels rf they do nol apply. a /0"7 /a¢a> Slgn•d: Dat•: M•m•: Rol•v•nt prof•Mlon•l qu•llfl¢•tlon(•l or body Ilf •ny>: AddrM•: svc.linn B Disclosii re on Cunpe rf the exIner needs lo hhlIght matters of concern15e8 CC32, Independent examinalw)n of charty account8.. direcliorA and guidance for •xaminern).