Charity Registration No. 1198591
WEST SOMERSET FOOD CUPBOARD
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
WEST SOMERSET FOOD CUPBOARD
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
| Trustees | Katrina Midgley (Chair) |
|---|---|
| Barbara O’Keefe | |
| Susan Sharrocks (Treasurer) | |
| Reverend Nicola Butcher | |
| Jane Jones | |
| Michael Adams (resigned 24 July 2025) | |
| Jonathan Sealby (appointed 28 November 2024) | |
| Trudi Mann (appointed 22 January 2026) | |
| Susan Eley | |
| Charity number | 1198591 |
| Address | Church of St. Michael the Archangel |
| Church Street | |
| Alcombe | |
| Minehead | |
| Somerset | |
| TA24 6BN | |
| Bankers | HSBC UK |
| 250-251 High Street | |
| Exeter | |
| EX4 3PZ | |
| Independent examiner | Dan Stone Accountancy Ltd |
| 1 Bancks Street | |
| Minehead | |
| Somerset | |
| TA24 5DJ |
WEST SOMERSET FOOD CUPBOARD
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ Annual Report | 1 - 5 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 6 |
| Receipts and Payments Accounts | 7 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 8 |
WEST SOMERSET FOOD CUPBOARD
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2025 (including the information presented on the legal and administrative information page).
Structure, Governance and Management
West Somerset Food Cupboard, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), was established by a constitution dated 12th April 2022.
The operations of West Somerset Food Cupboard moved from being a project of the Parochial Church Council of the Church of St Michael the Archangel, Alcombe (PCC) from 1 September 2022. The decision to create an independent charity for the West Somerset Food Cupboard was taken following a strategic review of the Food Cupboard project, undertaken in September 2021, that looked at the needs of the beneficiaries and the Church. One of the recommendations of this report was that the PCC should consider passing the work of the West Somerset Food Cupboard to an independent charity, which could develop services as necessary to support an increasing number of beneficiaries and needs.
Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee is appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. One trustee shall be appointed by the PCC of the Church of St Michael the Archangel, Alcombe. When a trustee has served the three-year term, they will retire from office at the subsequent Board Meeting and can then seek re-election. A procedure has been introduced for the induction and training of trustees. The trustees attend board meetings every two months, as well as specific interim meetings of sub groups, for example the Finance and Fundraising sub Committee.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. The trustees regularly review their documented risk management policies.
Objectives and Activities
The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. The structure and content of this report is designed to reflect the requirement to explain how the Charity has operated within that guidance.
The Charitable Objects are:
The prevention or relief of poverty in West Somerset by providing items and services to people in need including, but not limited to:
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Providing and enabling access to free emergency food.
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Providing, and providing for, activities that support people who are experiencing food poverty.
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• Undertaking and supporting research into factors that contribute to food poverty and the most appropriate ways to mitigate these.
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Providing grants, information and advice to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisations working to prevent or relieve food poverty, and address surplus food waste.
Our Vision is a West Somerset where no-one has to go hungry.
Our Mission is to provide food, unconditionally, to those in need in such a way that they are given a handup, enabling them to move away from food poverty.
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WEST SOMERSET FOOD CUPBOARD
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Objectives and Activities (continued)
Our Values stem from the unconditionality of the original church-driven project. We believe that food poverty should be eradicated and, the provision of emergency food remains at the core of our service. We also believe that people should be enabled to help themselves and are committed to the support and education that can help to achieve this.
Our Core Activities
Provision of Emergency Food
West Somerset Food Cupboard provides emergency food to people in need from its base at Church of St Michael the Archangel, Alcombe.
The current area that we serve includes Alcombe, Minehead, Dunster, Carhampton, Timberscombe, Porlock and everywhere in between.
The food is donated by local people, checked and packed by volunteers, and distributed either by a local agency supporting someone through a particular challenge, or directly by a member of our team. WSFC is very grateful to everyone providing collections points across the area, including Tesco Minehead, Morrisons Minehead, Lidl Minehead, Minehead Co-op, Porlock One-Stop, Porlock Spar, Wootton Courtenay Villagers’ stores, Winsford Village Shop, Roadwater Stores, Rotary Club of Minehead, West Somerset Sports Centre and many West Somerset Churches.
Four different types of food parcels are prepared each week:
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Family food bags which are designed to feed a family of four for three days
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Food bag for individual with cooking facilities
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Food bag for individual with no cooking facilities (apart from access to hot water)
The food bags contain a carefully thought-out range of non-perishable food items including UHT milk, cereal, pasta, rice, tinned meat and fish, tinned fruit and vegetables, vegetables, sauces, desserts, hot and cold drinks and snacks. In addition, for those living in or near Alcombe, we are able to provide access to fresh fruit and vegetables. On request we can usually accommodate special diets.
This model of working with local agencies to tailor support for people in need, so that the issues that have led to food poverty can be addressed, led to the Charity being awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service in 2023. WSFC is very grateful to the following agencies for their help and support in driving our mission: Barnfield Unit (Minehead Community Mental Health Team) Butlins, Citizens Advice West Somerset, Church Projects, CCS - Village Agents, Home Start, The Hope Centre, Julian House, Magna Housing, Minehead Eye, Minehead Shed, NHS, Police/Fire/Probation, Refugee Support, Rethink Mental Illness, School/PFSAs, Social Care, Somerset Council, West Somerset College, YMCA.
Local Pantry
As well as the emergency provision of food described above, we run a Local Pantry membership scheme. This was established through a partnership agreement with supermarket surplus charity Fareshare South West and Somerset West and Taunton Council’s Local Pantries initiative. It enables local members, who live within 15 minutes travel time of Alcombe to access fresh, chilled and non-perishable supermarket surplus food that would otherwise have gone to waste at a very minimal cost. Members pay a subscription of £4.50 per week and receive £25 - £30 worth of food, which they collect during Pantry opening hours. They can benefit from this arrangement for up to six months.
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WEST SOMERSET FOOD CUPBOARD
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Objectives and Activities (continued)
Local Pantry (continued)
Once a month one of WSFC’s volunteers uses some of the items that members will receive to create a meal from scratch. Pantry members are then able to taste this, when they collect their food and are provided with the recipe, so they can make it at home. The recipes are also shared via social media.
WSFC is very grateful to Fareshare South West who make this service possible, along with the following donors: Lidl Minehead, Alcombe Co-op, The Good Vibe Veg Project, Porlock Allotments and Orchards, Minehead, Alcombe and Dunster allotment holders and gardeners, Red Larder, Cats Protection League, Tivington Farm School, Richard Little Family Butchers in Porlock, Plowright Organic of Nether Stowey, and Deane Barton Free Range Eggs.
Achievements and Performance
Emergency Food Provision
During the period covered by this report a total of 1,454 emergency food parcels were provided to people in need (an increase of 7% on the previous year). This was made up from a variety of parcels: standard family parcels (worth approx. £35), singles snack packs for people with cooking facilities (worth approx. £20) and singles snack packs for people with no cooking facilities (worth approx. £15) and included 205 specifically for Christmas.
Local Pantry
During the period covered by this report 1,945 bags of fresh and chilled food were distributed to Local Pantry subscribers. This saved over 10.5 tonnes of food from landfill.
Chair’s Report
2024/25 has been another busy year for our volunteers, staff and Trustees, with its own rewards and challenges.
Our new staff have settled in well and have been instrumental in us forming a partnership with Miles Tea and Coffee, a longstanding local firm, which is now supplying us with tea bags, coffee and drinking chocolate, so that our beneficiaries can have a local treat.
During the period we continued to enable partner agencies to support their clients with emergency food bags. In addition we had direct contact with around 100 individuals and families, who we referred to the relevant agency to support their ongoing needs, while providing initial emergency food to fill the gap. The Local Pantry membership continued to flourish, with 42 regular members and a waiting list of 18. By the end of the period.
The trustee board is incredibly grateful to all the volunteers who, alongside staff, enable WSFC to continue its work, to support people out of food poverty in the area. Our way of working with other local agencies, where possible, enables people to access services to support them with the issues that led to the need for emergency food. Our thanks also go to these agencies and to everyone who donates food. Together we aim to give people a hand-up rather than simply a hand-out.
Finally, some words from people who have accessed our services:
Emergency food recipient from Carhampton: “thank you for the generous bag of food, you don’t understand what a difference this makes.”
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WEST SOMERSET FOOD CUPBOARD
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Achievements and Performance (continued)
Porlock resident: "I am so grateful for the bags, it is a real support and lovely to be delivered by such a friendly supportive person.”
Local Pantry Member: ‘I followed the rainbow chard recipe last week and absolutely loved it!’
Financial Review
Reserves Policy and Risk Management
It is the intention of the Trustees that the freely available reserves of the Charity should be sufficient to ensure the continuance of its activities, should there be an unexpected short-term adverse fluctuation in income. The Reserves Policy seeks to balance spending the maximum amount of income raised as soon as possible after receipt with maintaining the minimum level of reserves to ensure uninterrupted operation and provide time to adjust to a change in financial circumstances.
A target reserve level of £32k, +/- £2k. (approx. 9 months expenditure) is assessed as striking an appropriate balance between the need to spend income when it is received and maintaining operational integrity.
Reserves are reported monthly in the financial management report. Business plans are set with the intent to maintain reserves around the target range. Given operational issues and changes in economic circumstances, it is possible for reserves to fall outside of the target range. If reserves fall below £18k, then a recovery plan will be prepared by the Treasurer for consideration by Trustees.
At 30 September 2025 there was a total of £35,281 of funding freely available for general purposes. The Trustees are satisfied that the long-term financial plans generate sufficient free reserves to satisfy its reserves policy over the coming 12 months and beyond. The Trustees review the charity's Reserves Policy every 6 months. This review is based on the future strategy and financial plans for the charity, as well as the environment which the charity is operating in at the time. The Trustees will make adjustments to the reserves based on this review and set them at a level that is deemed appropriate for the coming year. Having reviewed the reserves as at 30 September 2025, the Trustees are satisfied that the current level meets the requirements of the charity.
The Trustees have examined and addressed the financial risks to which the Charity is exposed and have mitigated those risks to the best of their ability.
Transactions and Financial Position
During the period the Charity incurred total expenditure of £39,180. Over the period the Charity received income of £34,611 leading to an overall deficit of £4,569 against a budgeted deficit of £8,758. The Statement of Assets and Liabilities shows total cash reserves at 30 September 2025 of £35,411 (2024 - £39,980).
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WEST SOMERSET FOOD CUPBOARD
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The trustees have the responsibility for:
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ensuring that the Charity keeps proper accounting records;
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preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity as at the end of the financial year and of its surplus or deficit for the financial year in accordance with current accounting standards;
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safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of financial or other irregularities;
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undertaking a risk assessment of the Charity activities and acting to protect members, employees and members of the public; and
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ensuring that the Charity complies with the public benefit statement set out in the 2011 Charities Act.
Declarations
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees:
Katrina Midgley Chair
Date:
Susan Sharrocks Treasurer
Date:
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WEST SOMERSET FOOD CUPBOARD
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF WEST SOMERSET FOOD CUPBOARD
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (the “Trust”, charity number 1198591) for the year ending 30 September 2025, which are set out on pages 1 to 8.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust, 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 the Trust’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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting 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.
Daniel Stone FCA
Dan Stone Accountancy Ltd 1 Bancks Street Minehead TA24 5DJ
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WEST SOMERSET FOOD CUPBOARD
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
| Receipts: Donations, legacies and grants Local Pantry membership Interest income Gift aid income Total receipts Payments: Wages and salaries Food & consumables Fairshare membership Bank charges Equipment & maintenance Advertising, printing and stationery Rent Travel expenses Insurance Training Professional fees Website Subscriptions Telephone Sundry Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
2025 Unrestricted £ 22,530 8,073 611 2,547 33,761 22,224 3,130 3,300 218 71 344 5,500 258 213 168 690 61 507 651 - 37,335 (3,574) 38,855 35,281 |
2025 Restricted £ 850 - - - 850 - 1,845 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,845 (995) 1,125 130 |
2025 Total Funds £ 23,380 8,073 611 2,547 34,611 22,224 4,975 3,300 218 71 344 5,500 258 213 168 690 61 507 651 - 39,180 (4,569) 39,980 35,411 |
2024 Total Funds £ 24,001 6,962 751 2,443 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34,157 | ||||
| 21,547 3,921 3,167 215 196 546 5,500 290 157 - 733 61 454 682 84 |
||||
| 37,553 | ||||
| (3,396) | ||||
| 43,376 | ||||
| 39,980 |
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WEST SOMERSET FOOD CUPBOARD
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES
AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
| Cash funds 2025 Unrestricted £ Current account 3,003 Savings account 31,834 Stewardship account 12 Equals card 298 Equals account 100 Petty cash 34 Total cash funds Unrestricted funds Designated funds: Premises move General funds Total unrestricted funds 35,281 12,000 23,281 35,281 Other monetary assets Gift aid Liabilities PAYE Assets retained for the Charity’s own use Folding ladders Storage shed Pantry shed Total |
2025 Restricted £ 2025 Total £ 130 3,133 - 31,834 - 12 - 298 - 100 - 34 130 35,411 2025 2024 £ £ - 228 2025 2024 £ £ 58 106 2025 2024 (at cost) (at cost) £ £ 205 205 600 600 6,600 6,600 7,405 7,405 |
2024 Total £ 4,235 35,223 42 280 200 - |
|---|---|---|
| 39,980 |
The Financial Statements were approved by the trustees on …………………………………. and signed on their behalf by:
Katrina Midgley Chair
Susan Sharrocks Treasurer
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