Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 13th December 2021 To 12th December 2022
Charity name: Grange Over Sands Community Foodshare Charity registration number: 1197066
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The Trustees can confirm that objects of the CIO, as presented within the charity’s governing document, are: To promote for the benefit of the public* the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by preventing food waste. To advance the education of the public in the subjects of the environmental damage caused by wasted food. The relief of financial hardship among people living or working in the South Lakeland District area by providing such persons with essential household appliances which they could not otherwise afford through lack of means. |
| 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 |
Grange Over Sands Community Foodshare is a community led charity based in south Cumbria which aims to combat climate change, tackle poverty, reduce social isolation, support refugee integration, build community bonds and create community based approaches to these issues and any others which might arise within the local area. The charity is community led, meaning the trustees and committee adapt to whatever issues the local community in South Cumbria are facing, from the cost of living crisis, to the integration of refugees from Ukraine. The charity’s services are as follows. |
intercepting surplus food from going to landfill and sharing it with local people to eat, in as many innovative and effective ways as possible through Foodclubs! Foodclubs aren't simply about taking direct environmental action every week, although that is their main goal, they are community clubs, people feel a sense of belonging and ownership, with friendships and new community organisations blossoming from connections made at our clubs. At the Foodclub, 500kgs of surplus food is received, processed and shared with the local community with the help of our volunteers and staff. These foodclubs are a very successful way of connecting with a diverse cross section of local people. The charity hosts three very well-attended and successful Art Clubs for little kids, teens and tweens and adults, with expert teaching and recycled materials, a diverse range of local people can hone their artistic skills, make friends and take away a food share. Our local teenagers frequently say how much they love our art clubs because there is nothing else for them in our rural area and many are becoming talented artists planning to take art as a main subject at GCSE and A level. These Art Clubs are environmental in focus and are a hands-on way of teaching children about climate change. The Charity runs two weekly English lessons and a weekly Ukraine Support Group for local refugees where they can make friends, share food and work closely with the council's housing officers to mitigate the refugee housing crisis that has developed since the hosts for Ukraine scheme ended this year. The group prepares and shares a fresh, healthy meal. Sometimes dinner is donated by one of the local restaurants and can take a food parcel all while making friends and connections.
Emergency community food parcels where trained staff parcel up surplus food and other essentials (and some treats) and deliver these parcels to
| those in need e.g. people facing housing insecurity, food insecurity, employment issues, abuse, isolation and any other vulnerable situations. People self-refer and we receive calls from friends, neighbours, nurses, police and care agencies. Case study: supporting a single mother of 3 children under 5 after she was made homeless due to domestic abuse.She was living in the homeless hostel in the local town for 5 months and became a reliable and kind-hearted volunteer. The charity provided food, toiletries , clothing ,a tv and children's toys at Christmas, helped her through job and housing applications by providing references, wifi and lifts and continues to support her as she gets back on her feet and makes friends within the charity and in Ulverston where she has finally settled. Providing essential household goods, such as washing machines, boilers, dishwashers, ovens and energy efficient heaters. These goods are provided to a section of the public who live in South Lakeland and are referred to us due to lack of financial means. |
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| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees can confirm that the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit has been extensively read and referred to when reporting on the charity’s activities, purposes and structure. Grange Over Sands Community Foodshare aims to relieve financial hardship by providing essential household appliances, to advance education within the South Lakeland area on the environmental damage caused by food waste and to protect the environment by preventing food waste, have a direct benefit for many of the people in the South Lakeland area, particularly individuals who are financially lacking means, are experiencing food insecurity, social isolation, unemployed, housing insecurity and those living in areas affected by climate change such as coastal or |
floodplain land. For example, the section of the public who live in the South Lakeland area and who are experiencing lack of financial security are able to access our services including food support from our surplus food, especial household goods, our winter warm spot and our volunteer opportunities. Through our volunteer opportunities, anyone in the South Lakeland area can gain skills, social interaction, training and references for future employment.
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 | Tackling climate change - Grange Over Sands Communityhad a hugely successfuland environmentally friendly year with the redistribution of nearly 25,000 tonnes of surplus food which would otherwise have been heading to landfill, saving 62,000 kgs of CO2 from emission. The charity also recycled 40 perfectly good white goods and household appliances that would otherwise be going to landfill , immediately improving the lives of the beneficiaries and reducing the amount of items going to landfill. Building communities - Highlights of Grange Over Sands Community Foodshare’s community building: 3 thriving ESOL groups running every week, a well-attended weekly Ukraine Refugee Support group, 2 weekly Foodclubs where the community gathers and shares surplus food and recipe, 1 weekly mental health support group hosted by an independent mental health charity, The Lighthouse, and run on the charity’s premises , 3 art clubs held weekly and with one group for children, one for teens and one for adults; weekly children's environmental activity club run throughout the school holidays. All these community led groups and activities reach over 500 members of the public in the South Lakeland area. and statistically feed three times that number. Relieving poverty - Over the course of the last year Grange Over Sands Community Foodshare has perceptively and deftly responded to an upsurge in demand due to the cost of living crisis.During the winter months, the charity transformed its premises into a thriving warm spot with hot drinks, blankets and warm meals available. The charity has supplied 73 South Lakeland households with white goods and household appliances and has given out over 1000 food parcels to people in financial hardship. |
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Environmental education - The charity continues to be a flagship educator and advocate for the environment within South Cumbria with weekly environmental Foodclubs and art clubs where the public are engaged and educated on climate change, climate change talks held within the charity’s premises and school holiday clubs where children learn about the environmental cycle of food and the effects of food waste. Overall, Grange Over Sands Community Foodshare continues to be a trailblazing community charity within the South Lakeland area, creating a safe space for those who are struggling to find respite, support and connections and all while furthering environmentalism and creating an example of the power of community .
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 | Grange Over Sands Community Foodshare holds a careful reserves policy with core running costs being covered at all times to allow the charity to comfortably deliver its services regardless of any issues that may arise. The charity has 100s of local people reliant on its services and must be able to remain adaptive to current events The charity’s reserve policy is based on the minimum amount of reserves needed to keep the charity running while taking into account possible changes in income and expenditure in order to balance any risks such as a budget shortfall due to lower than average grant based fundraising, the costs of an unplanned world event, for example we have had to adapt to deal with the pandemic in the past and more recently a large number of Ukrainian refugees needing our services. We also maintain some working capital at all times for expansion and upkeep. The reserves level needed to be maintained by the charity is estimated at £10,000. The actual unrestricted and free reserves held at 31/12/21 were £9,101. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | As of 31/12/21 the charity’s unrestricted reserves were £9,101. With restricted reserves of £14, 353. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | The charity’s reserves were in a £899 deficit in line with the reserve policy at 31/12/21 due to a late grant payment. |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | Grange Over Sands Community Foodshare has a variety of risk management policies and procedures to mitigate risks as, when and before they occur. The charity’s management committee and trustees are in charge of updating risk mitigation strategies and combating issues as they arise. The risks facing the charity are ● Excess demand overwhelming the supplier of services such as essential household goods and food parcels - Mitigation - The Charity keeps a policy on how many members of the public can access certain services such as |
| food parcels or household goods based on financial circumstances and availability of those goods, with a close network of similar charities remaining in touch as possible sign posting opportunities should demand outstrip supply. The charity also continuously readjusts its funding goals to keep up with the community. ● Health and safety concerns - Mitigation- The Charity has very strong policies on health and safety with a trained member of staff holding a level 2 certificate in good hygiene overseeing any and all activities and a mandatory set of cleaning and handling policies all staff and members of the public must follow. We achieved a 5 star rating from the environmental health department. ● Safeguarding sufficiently while working with vulnerable people - Mitigation - The Charity and trustees hold a variety of safeguarding policies and procedures including mandatory training in working with the vulnerable, anti racism training and anti harassment training. The Charity also makes regular DBS checks mandatory for all staff and volunteer leaders. The charity also has a dedicated safeguarding officer. ● Staff turnover - mitigation - The Charity and trustees have a rigorous training and interview process for all new staff and the charity ensures that all staff are paid above the real living wage and are safeguarded to ensure staff satisfaction. ● Loss of revenue dependent on grants - mitigation - The Charity has a fundraising policy which remains adaptive to changing needs within the charity, with a focus on securing long term restricted funding and unrestricted reserves continuously while also using the Charity’s premises and |
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social media to generate revenue and donations.
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: |
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|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Foundation Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Grange Over Sands Community Foodshare is constituted as a charitable Incorporated Organisation. Charity number 1197066 Grange Over Sands Community Foodshare is governed by a Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are its charity trustees last updated in January 2023 |
| 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 | Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed [for a term of 3 years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. 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 charity. Every charity trustee must be eligible according to the charity’s constitutional requirements for trustees. These requirements are as follows. No individual may be appointed as a charity trustee of the CIO: •if he or she is under the age of 16 years; or •if he or she is disqualified from acting as a charity trustee by virtue of sections 178-180 of the Charities Act 2011 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision). . No one is entitled to act as a charity trustee whether on appointment or on any re-appointment until he or she has expressly acknowledged, in whatever way the charity trustees decide, his or her acceptance of the office of charity trustee. At least one of the trustees of the CIO must be 18 years of age or over. If there is no trustee aged at least 18 years, the remaining trustees may only act to call a meeting of the charity trustees, or appoint a new charity trustee. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Grange Over Sands Community Foodshare |
|---|---|
Other name the charity uses |
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Registered charity number |
1197066 |
| Charity’s principal address | Main street, Grange Over Sands, LA116DP |
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 (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rahina Borthwick | Chair | All trustees |
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| Genevieve Borthwick |
Safeguarding officer | ||
| Melissa Harrington | |||
| Ben Tziros | |||
– 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)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
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| 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
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
Rahina Borthwick, Melissa Harrington Chair, safeguarding officer 17/8/23 |
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| 17/8/23 | ||
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end ol the period Endo*m•nt C4ie9OtIQJ OeièiL% IndA B1 C••hlund• D•t•4• LWWIIt CCXXR2xxroxtslSSI
Independ•nt Examln•rs Rep(trrt to the Trustees of Gran8e ¢)verSands Communlty Foodshare- Charfty No. 1197066 l pOrt on the finandal statements of the Trust forthe year ended 12" December 2022 whlth are set out on pa4e l. Respectl¥e Responslbllltles of the Trustees and Independent Examlner The charl5 trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charitls trustees conslderthat an audSt Is not requlred for the year under Section 144121 of the Charltles Art 2011lthe 2011 Actl and that an Independent examination Ss needed It is my spOnSIbl11ty to: o Examlne the financial statements under Section 145 of the 2011 Act Follow the procedures lald down In the General Dlrertlons glven by the Charftles Commlssloners Sectlon 1451511bl of the 2011 Art; and Stste whether partlcular matters have come to my attentlon. Basls of Independent Examlrws Statsment My examinatlon was carrled out In Kcordance with the General Dlrertlons glven by the Charfttes Commlsslon. An examlnatlon Includes a revlew of the accountln8 records kept by the charlty and a comparlson of the financlal statements presented wlth those records. tt also Includes considerations ¢f any unusual Items or dlsclosures in the financial 5t*ements. and seeking explanatlons from the management committee and trustees Conrning any suth matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all of the evidence that would be requlred of an audit and consequently rbo oplnlon is given as to whether the accounts present a.true and falrvle%¢ and the report Is Ilmlted to those matters set out In the next statement. Indep•ndent Examlners Statement Fn connectlon wlth my examlnatlon. no matter has come to my attentlon other than set out below: l) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any matsrial aspect the requlrements: to keep accounting records In accordance wlth Sectlon 130 of the 2011 A¢t otherthan some expense Involces I vouchers were mi55in8 but the payments could be traced to the relevant uedltors; and to prepare financial ststements whlch accord wlth the accountlng requlrements of the 2011 Art have not been met: or 21 to whlch. in my opinlon. attention should be drawn In orderto enable a proper understandln8 of the financlal statements to be reached. HARRY JEFFS 3 Au8USt 2023 4 Hlate House. 134 Hlghgate. Kendal, LA9 4HW