## Gurnos Chapel Gurnos Road, Ystalyfera SA9 2JA ## **Trustees’ Report 2022/23** In October 2021 CATCH was awarded registered charity status. This report covers the second year of operation ending October 31[st] 2023. CATCH is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registration number 1196127. ## **Charity objectives** The objects of the CIO, which are for the public benefit and to be carried out in the Upper Swansea Valley (Cwmtawe) and the surrounding area, are: 1) The prevention or relief poverty through the operation of a foodbank offering food, baby items, pet food and essential items together with linked support, services and advice to individuals and families in financial need. 2) To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life. ## **Activities, achievements and performance** CATCH’s main activity is the operation of a Foodbank, open three mornings a week. For part of the year a charity shop was run on the premises, selling only donated items, which provides income for the Foodbank and funds necessary refurbishments to the Chapel from which we operate This report covers the year of operation from November 1[st] 2022 - October 31[st] 2023. During that time the Foodbank has issued 851 parcels to 205 separate households, helping 537 individuals – 347 adults and 190 children. Many of these have been helped on more than one occasion (the table below counts an individual each time they are helped). The average food parcel contains 30 items of food. 105 of the households came to us for help for the first time this year. ## **Summary by month** ||Nov
22|Dec
22|Jan
23|Feb
23|Mar
23|Apr
23|May
23|June
23|July
23|Aug
23|Sep
23|Oct
23|**Total**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Total**
**people**|107|168|175|153|201|140|100|149|138|133|202|217|1883| |Adults|87|124|126|109|155|95|81|99|91|94|133|153|1347| |Children|20|44|49|44|46|45|19|50|47|39|69|64|536| |**Total**
**parcels**|56|78|82|68|98|61|55|59|56|61|83|94|851| |**Total**
**items**|1624|2256|2386|2012|2868|1913|1414|1938|1675|1910|2596|2685|25277| _During the week before Christmas we also distributed 60 Christmas dinner and treat hampers to the multiperson households we helped during October-December. These are not included in the December or annual totals._ March was our busiest month for parcels, with 98 issued, while we helped the most people in December, with 217. **----- Start of picture text -----**
People helped
250
200
150
100
50
0
Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
21-22 22-23
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Of the households we help, 16% have been referred by an agency (e.g. Pobl, Jobcentre) and the remainder self-referred. This is consistent with 21-22. ## **Reason for crisis** Where a reason for their current financial crisis is given, in 55% of cases general low income and the cost of living are cited. A further 17% of cases are caused by low income due to ill health or disability, and 11% by benefit delays. Other reasons include homelessness (4%), debt (2%), benefit sanctions (5%), sudden expenditure (3%), and job loss / cut in hours (2%). ## **Analysis by household** ## **Household make-up** Of the households helped, 43% have children and 56% have pets. The average number of individuals in the household is 2.6. The household composition is detailed below: |Single adult|33%| |---|---| |Two adults only|18%| |Three or more adults only|6%| |One adult with children|13%| |Two adults with children|26%| |Three or more adults with children|5%| ## **Location** 55% of the households helped are within Neath Port Talbot (48% in the Ystalyfera / Godre’rgraig ward). A further 43% are in Powys and 2% in other neighbouring counties. ## **Frequency of help** 42% of the households helped have only received one parcel. 30% have received 2 or 3 parcels, 10% have had 4-6 parcels, 9% have had 7-10 parcels, and 9% have been helped 11 times or more. ## **Analysis of parcels** ## **Household make-up** 30% of the parcels issued have gone to households with children. |Single adult|46%| |---|---| |Two adults only|19%| |Three or more adults only|6%| |One adult with children|8%| |Two adults with children|18%| |Three or more adults with children|4%| ## **Location** 62% of the parcels have gone to households within Neath Port Talbot (51% in the Ystalyfera / Godre’rgraig ward). A further 36% went to Powys and 2% to other neighbouring counties. ## **Frequency of help** 10% of parcels went to households who were only helped once. 17% went to households who needed help 2 or 3 times, 12% to those needing help 4-6 times, 18% to those needing help 7-10 times and 43% to those who needed assistance 11 times or more. ## **Financial review** During the year we have received funding and donations (both cash and supplies) from a range of organisations, including the National Lottery Community Fund, Powys County Council, Tesco, Asda and Home Bargains. Local businesses and other charities and groups have also been very generous with their support, as have the many individuals in our community who have donated items, money and their time. Without their help none of our work would be possible. Total income for the year was **£28,437.07.** The main income sources were: National Lottery Community Fund: £9990 Charity shop sales: £4411.67 Powys CC Food Poverty Grant: £7813.35 Total expenditure for the year was **£18,076.84** The main elements of expenditure were: Purchase of food & other essential items for foodbank: £8596.11 Chapel maintenance and refurbishment: £4254.26 Utilities and waste disposal: £3690.55 The total surplus for the year was **£10,360.23** . Much of this is due to the National Lottery grant, which was awarded in July 2023 to fund operations up to July 2024. Closing bank balances as at 31.10.23: Lloyds Bank (current account): £21,440.41 Monmouthshire Building Society (reserves): £15,717.41 ## **Structure, governance and management** CATCH, also known as Cwmtawe Action to Combat Hardship, is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, governed by a constitution dated October 12[th] 2021. ## **Appointment of charity trustees** (1) Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. (2) In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. The following were trustees of CATCH for some or all of the 2022/23 reporting year: Jackie Hankins Brian Hastie Cathie Hastie Louise Hastie John Howie Cathy James Ieuan James Jean Liles Beverley Stokes _29[th] January 2024_ ## **2022/2023 CATCH Financial Statement 01.11.22 to 31.10.23** The closing balances as at 31.10.22 brought forward for the 2022/23 financial year were: |Lloyds Bank|£12,145.96| |---|---| |Monmouthshire Building Society|£15,559.52| |Total openingbalance|£27,705.48| |**Income**|| |Donations|£3,551.97| |Grants|£20,808.35| |Food refund|£14.16| |Charity shop sales|£3,904.70| |Interest on MBS account|£157.89| |Total income|£28,437.07| |**Expenditure**|| |Food|£8,596.11| |Insurance|£275.94| |Utilities|£2,452.55| |Waste|£1,238.00| |IT|£328.44| |Building maintenance|£4,254.26| |Misc expenses|£931.54| |Total expenditure|£18,076.84| |Surplus for 2022/23|£10,360.23| |Closing balance for the 2022/23 financial year:|| |Lloyds Bank|£21,440.41| |Monmouthshire Building Society|£15,717.41| |Cash in hand|£907.89| |Total closingbalance|£38,065.71| ## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Cwmtawe Action to Combat Hardship (CATCH)** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Cwmtawe Action to Combat Hardship (CATCH) for the year ended 31[st] October 2023. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity trustees of CATCH you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of CATCH’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 examiner’s statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. 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. Signed: Name: Sarah Amber Thomas Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (if any): Acting Clerk – Gwaun Cae Gurwen Community Council Treasurer – Co-operative Party (South Wales Branch) Address: 45 Llwyn Road, Cwmgors, Ammanford, SA18 1RE Date: 27/08/2024