Annual Report 2023
The Felling Food Network
Registered Charity 1198236.
Annual Report from The Chair
The Chair firstly mentioned how The Felling Food Network had relocated from the Felling Hub in July 2023 to take on a Lease of the Cadet Building, off Wellington Street, Felling, Gateshead, NE10 0BF.
Our new venue is smaller than we had previously but has more outside space. Upon moving to the Cadet Building in July 2023, due to procedures The Felling Food Network did not reopen within the Felling community until the end of January 2024.
The Chair explained how the Charity has introduced new policies:-
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Personal Safety Awareness for Trustees, Volunteers, and members.
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Appointment system.
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A new referral system for those members who have obtained food support previously from the Charity either long or short term, so we are able to provide them with the support needed to meet their current needs, and if they are agreeable to support them by referring them onto relevant organisations for further support on issues.
continued…
Annual Report from The Chair
The Chair highlighted that food donations had still not improved over the past year and that funding had been applied for to purchase food for the food parcels and other personal hygiene and household items needed to support the most vulnerable. However monetary donations had been received for the Charity and we thanked everyone for their kindness and support as the donations helped to continue our work.
The Chair also wished to mention that with the Treasurers help and support they both attended a local venue during 2023 to raise funds for The Felling Food Network by selling arts and crafts that they had made
The Felling Food Network received funding from Gateshead Council which helped the Charity to provide a warm space area for those attending the foodbank to have a relaxing atmosphere to sit down with a tea or coffee and a sandwich.
The Chair would like to raise the important work The Felling Food Network is doing within the community and how she has been linking the Charity with many organisations to support this work. Felling is a ward of deprivation, and The Felling Food Network is not only supporting the most vulnerable in Felling and the surrounding areas in relation to Food Insecurity, but around Health and Wellbeing work being carried out at the foodbank as well as raising awareness on issues affecting people.
The Felling Food Network worked with local schools at Christmas and at Easter to provide families with food support during the holidays.
We have the Recovery Programme attending our venue each month to provide help/support who are based in Gateshead. They have a community of people both working and ambassadors who work voluntarily who have lived experience with alcohol and substance misuse.
continued…
Annual Report from The Chair
The Felling Food Network has also held events at the Charity on important issues:-
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Energy
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Gambling
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Stop the Loan Shark
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Cancer Awareness
The Chair is also delighted that the gardening project within the charity is beginning this year, after receiving LCF funding which would enable the charity to purchase gardening equipment. The Chair is linking the gardening project to raise The Felling Food Networks work on awareness and support on mental health, isolation by linking with other organisations, and looking for volunteers. The gardening project will allow the charity to grow some produce over the year to provide to those people attending the foodbank for food support and in the future provide some meals from the produce.
The Chair would like to firstly thank the Trustees for their hard work and support and to our team of volunteers for all their hard work and dedication.
Sonya Dickie
Chair
The Felling Food Network
The Felling Food Network
Registered Charity No. 1198236
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
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The Felling Food Network CIO Charity No. 1198236
Contents:
| Legal and Administrative Information | Page 3 |
|---|---|
| Examiners Report | Page 4 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | Page 5 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | Page 6 |
| Notes to the Accounts | Page 7 |
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The Felling Food Network CIO Charity No. 1198236
Charity Name: The Felling Food Network Charity No: 1198236 Registered Office: 18 Havelock Close GATESHEAD NE8 1QX Trustees: Sonya Dickie (Chair) Angela Knox (Treasurer) Anne Wheeler Independent Examiner: Darren Thompson FutureSkills North East CIC 44 Witton Drive Spennymoor Co. Durham DL16 6LU Bankers: Virgin Money 132 - 134 Northumberland Street Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7DG Lloyds Bank PO Box 1000 BX1 1LT
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The Felling Food Network CIO Charity No. 1198236
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
| INDEPENDENT | EXAMINER'S REPORT |
|---|---|
| Report to the Trustees | The Felling Food Network |
| Charity No | 1198236 |
| On the accounts for period ended | 31 December 2023 |
| Set out on pages | 5-7 |
Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Examiner:
The Trustees of the charity are responsible for the preparation of accounts. They consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and that an Independent Examination is needed. Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2001 Act.
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follow the procedure laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the independent examiner’s statement:
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view,’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiners statement:
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounts do not accord with such records; or
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the accounts do not comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102).
I 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.
Darren Thompson
FutureSkills North East CIC 44 Witton Drive Spennymoor Co. Durham DL16 6LU
Date: 13[th] June 2024
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The Felling Food Network CIO Charity No. 1198236
The Felling Food Network
Receipts and Payments Account
1 January 2023 - 31 December 2023
| Notes | Restricted | Unrestricted | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Receipts | |||||
| Events | - | 533.00 | 533.00 | 477.00 | |
| Donations | - | 3,041.00 | 3,041.00 | 8,431.00 | |
| Grants | 3 | 3,000.00 | - | 3,000.00 | 23,750.00 |
| Refunds | 93.00 | - | 93.00 | - | |
| Total Receipts | 3,093.00 | 3,574.00 | 6,667.00 | 32,658.00 | |
| Payments | |||||
| Charitable activities | 4 | 300.00 | - | 300.00 | 15,410.00 |
| Fundraising costs | - | 70.00 | 70.00 | 244.00 | |
| Legal fees | - | - | - | 5,299.00 | |
| Office costs | 6,590.00 | 7,693.00 | 14,283.00 | 1,381.00 | |
| Total payments | 6,890.00 | 7,763.00 | 14,653.00 | 22,334.00 | |
| Surplus/Deficit for the period | (3,797.00) | (4,189.00) | (7,986.00) | 10,324.00 | |
| Funds carried brought forward |
9,129.00 | 24,169.00 | 33,298.00 | 22,974.00 | |
| Funds carried forward as at 31st December 2023 |
5,332.00 | 19,980.00 | 25,312.00 | 33,298.00 |
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The Felling Food Network CIO Charity No. 1198236
The Felling Food Network
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
as at 31 December 2023
| 2023 | 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| Current assets: | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 25,312.00 | 33,298.00 | |
| Total current assets: | 25,312.00 | 33,298.00 | |
| Current liabilities: | |||
| Total current liabilities: | - | - | |
| Net assets: | 25,312.00 | 33,298.00 | |
| Represented by: | |||
| Restricted reserves | 5 | 5,332.00 | 9,129.00 |
| Unrestricted reserves | 6 | 19,980.00 | 24,169.00 |
| Total funds: | 7 | 25,312.00 | 33,298.00 |
The financial statements were approved on behalf of the Board of Trustees:
CHAIR Signed: ..................................................... Position: ......................................
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The Felling Food Network CIO Charity No. 1198236
The Felling Food Network
Notes to the accounts as at 31 December 2023
| 1 | The Felling Food Network is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Charity No.1198236 registered on 14thMarch 2022. The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees. The organisation has no paid staff. |
|---|---|
| 2 | The accounts are prepared on the receipts and payments basis in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities. |
| 3 | This includes: •Gateshead Council - £3,000.00 |
| 4 | This includes purchases of food and small items of equipment. |
| 5 | This includes funding set aside for specific purposes as agreed with individual funders. |
| 6 | This includes funding available to the charity without restriction to achieve its charitable objectives. |
| 7 | Total funds available to the charity as at 31.12.2023. |
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The Felling Food Network CIO Charity No. 1198236