2024-02-29-accounts - Knighton & Presteigne Foodbank

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/03/2023 To 29/02/2024

Charity name: Knighton & Presteigne Foodbank

Charity registration number: 1200127

This is the annual report and audited accounts for the year ended 29 February 2024. The Trustees of Knighton & Presteigne Food Bank confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the trust deed and the Charities SORP (FRS 102).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Context – Knighton Food Bank started in October 2012 in response to the, then current, financial situation. It was one of several projects operated by Churches Together in Knighton & District (CTKD). In 2022, Knighton Food Bank was informed of the decision to de-register CTKD as a charity and Knighton & Presteigne Foodbank was awarded charitable status in its own right on the 19[th] August 2022.

Purposes – The prevention and relief of poverty by the provision of food, funds, goods or services for the public benefit of residents of Knighton, Presteigne and the surrounding area.

Activities - With the support of local government and other funding bodies together with donations from individuals in our local communities, we have been able to respond to the difficult economic situation by providing food, toiletries, and a range of other helpful items such as slow cookers to those in great need within our area. In addition, a Winter Project was run and special Christmas parcels made up and distributed.

Public benefit - In their decision-making and management, the Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The foodbank has operated throughout the period on two days in Knighton and on an outreach basis in Presteigne as we are now struggling to find suitable premises. This has required additional effort from our manager as she has administered Presteigne’s needs from Knighton.

The Knighton site has continued to be operated from a house attached to and owned by Knighton Baptist Church for two hours on Tuesdays and Fridays. After a trial period, the Presteigne Youth Centre was found to be unsuitable and, as already stated, we are actively looking for a more suitable location. Our clients (who we refer to as our ‘friends’) mostly continue to come to us from local support services referrals.

This has been a particularly challenging twelve months for everyone. As the financial crisis has bitten, we have seen food donations drop off. It has therefore been necessary to purchase a significant quantity of additional foodstuffs and other essentials to supplement the donations. We always give our friends the opportunity to choose their own ‘basket’ and include vouchers for local butchers and greengrocers in both towns so they can shop for fresh food.

Once again, we offer our grateful thanks to our local community who unstintingly donate cash, food and their valuable time and also, to Knighton Baptist Church for their support and to the Welsh Government and Powys County Council for their grant funding. Our manager’s operational report says all of the above – with much more detail and elegance! We, the charity’s trustees, thank both her and her fabulous volunteers from the bottom of our hearts.

KNIGHTON & PRESTEIGNE FOODBANK – MANAGER’S OPERATIONAL REPORT

Our aim continues to be the provision, when need has been ascertained, of a crisis food parcel consisting for a minimum of 3 days’ worth of tinned & dried food, plus fresh items such as milk, bread, cheese and eggs. Referrals this year were predominately from the local support services and agencies such as Midwives, Social Services, Housing, Women’s Aid, Mental Health Services, District Nurses, Health Visitors and CAB.

Whilst we continue to offer an outreach service to the community of Presteigne, we have not been able to secure permanent premises. However, the outreach service serving the Presteigne area continues to be a valuable resource for the community and as a consequence we continued this service by operating twice weekly from the food bank store based at Knighton Baptist Church. We are grateful for the dedicated donations of food and cash specifically for this purpose. In addition, we have received wonderful support & fundraising from local community enterprises, churches, schools and businesses in both Knighton and Presteigne.

This has been a challenging twelve months at food bank as we saw a significant increase in referrals and larger families needing our support. In addition, the direct food donations reduced considerably as many of our donors were finding the cost too great. Fortunately, we have been able to purchase food, laundry products, toiletries, pet food and vouchers for fresh food, from our cash donations and grant funding. Economic hardship has added to real poverty for many residents of Knighton & Presteigne. For some, including a higher number of working families, it has been a struggle to put food on the table, especially when faced with loss of a job, sickness and homelessness and debts. Towards the latter end of the year, we responded to an influx of referrals from Powys Housing, to support “rough sleepers” over the winter, who were being housed temporarily in a local hotel. We have also continued our support to schools, baby and tots groups and families for extra help with laundry and hygiene products plus provision of toiletries for babies, tots, teens and young adults. As a result of grant funding from the Welsh Government and Powys County Council, we also provided essentials for our “Winter Warmth Project” by purchasing hot water bottles, blankets, hats, gloves, socks and leggings plus children’s bedding and warm nightwear.

Summary of Referral Activity:

	2022-2023	2023 -2024
Referrals	126	295
Adults supported	199	412
Children supported	169	417

Note : Please see separate Table of Service Provision 2023 – 2024 for full breakdown.

Breakdown of Service Provision

KNIGHTON & PRESTEIGNE FOODBANK - FINANCIAL REVIEW 2023/24

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period – It has been encouraging to find that our local communities have continued to provide significant financial and other practical support to the Foodbank during its first full year of operation as a CIO. The much-valued regular monthly donations by standing order or gift aided (administered by Stewardship) increased by more than 20% over the course of the year. This underpinning funding has enabled the Foodbank to plan for the future with confidence.

Powys County Council provided new funding during the year of £11.2k through Direct Food Support and Discretionary Cost of Living grants. However, there were some indications towards the end of the year that one-off donations from individuals and organisations were tailing off, possibly as there was less media coverage of the cost-of-living crisis during this period.

Nevertheless, the Foodbank was able to run various special projects through the year in addition to its usual work of providing parcels of food and other essentials to individuals and families in financial trouble. A number of air fryers and slow cookers were purchased to enable some suitable Foodbank users to prepare healthy meals for manageable energy costs. Vouchers for use at local food retailers were provided with some food parcels allowing the recipients the dignity of shopping for themselves and greater choice. The special Christmas parcels were a great success once again, bringing an element of joy at a particularly difficult time of year for many. The Foodbank ended the period in a strong financial position and it is not anticipated that any specific fundraising initiatives will be required during the coming year.

Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held - We have aimed to maintain total cash assets at the bank of £60,000 which funds approximately 15 months running costs and also allows for possible future damaging political decisions, economic changes, or other emergencies which could result in reduced donations to the Foodbank and/or increased demand for its services. The reserves at the end of the period were more than sufficient to meet these requirements and the Trustees will consider options for effective use of excess funds during the next period in keeping with our charitable objects.

Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted - All the cash assets have been held in a current account and savings account with HSBC UK Bank plc. The total at the end of the period was below the Financial Services Compensation Scheme limit for charities of £85,000.

A description of the principal risks facing the charity - The main financial risk to the Foodbank is associated with the economic climate within the country and the ability of individuals in our local communities to afford to donate. However, the significant level of reserves held currently should enable the Foodbank to continue to operate even in the event of a national crisis.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Type of governing document – Constitution

How constituted – CIO

Trustee selection method – Appointed by the Committee of Trustees

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Charity name – Knighton & Presteigne Foodbank

Registered charity number – 1200127

Charity’s principal address – Tower House, 29 High Street, Knighton, Powys LD7 1AT

Names of the charity Trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
Julia Roberts	Chairperson	Committee of Trustees
Alison Thomas	Secretary
Madeleine McDonagh	Treasurer
Sally Mansell
Ann Curtis

I CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIAND AND WALES Knlghton & Pre8tolgn8 Foodb8nk 1200127 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod from 0110212023 29102?024 To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrictèd fund8 to th• nèarnit Restricted fuAd$ Endowrnent fund¥ Tolal funds Las¢ ytrar io tho nearest E to the n•arest£ tothe nèarest£ tothe nearest E A1 Recel ts 27.179 27.179 10.290 1.381 Grants Interest le1Ve Tran5feired from Knight and East Radnor Fotrj 8ank ithanty no 11723531 which wll bÈdiSSOlwno 759 59,253 Sub ¢otal(Gross income for ARI 27.938 39,175 70.924 A2 Asset and Investment sales. (see tablel. Sub total 27.938 11.23T 39.175 70,924 A3 Payment$ Manager rerninpraliorl Fc** toiletries. vthKherg. Slow 6.190 5,750 11,94D 5.475 7.634 9.685 293 300 1.38S 24 342 2$ fdephone & Intern PuDlICIty. Wstsoe. & ststionety Bank charge5 Hire & equippifig otpremis85 Insulan feel. Ètc 293 300 480 l.t84 46D 1,184 Sub total 10.382 13.$84 23,946 8.136 A4 A$$e¢ and Investment urchases,1see table) Sub total rotalpaym•nts 10.362 13,584 23,946 8.136 Net of receiptsl(paymentsJ AS Transfers between lund8 A6 Cash funds la8t year end Cash funds this year end t7,576 2.347 15.229 62.788 60,455 78.017 2.333 62.768 78.017 62.788 CCXX R1 accoun15 ISSI 1610512024

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted fund8 Restricted funds to nèamt E Endowrnent funds to nearest£ Catego¥les Details B1 Cash funds HS8C CharitableAxounl 28,00S S8C Money Manager Accouni 50.012 Cash recfjived but not banked Total cash funds 76.017 receipts paymerrts Unrestrlctsd fund$ lo noJr¢s1£ R88trlcted funds Endowment funds to nreSt£ Details ffid towhich set belon CuThont valu lo1 Details Colt ioplonall 83 Investment assets Fund to which A$èt lon CufrntVa• Detsll6 Sf*lviw. CupbDatd. Tro119y B4 Assets rotain8d for the charity's own use Laptop Computer. SmArtprthÈ unrèstncted F¥lld towhicb Whvn due Detsil$ on•1 B5 Liabllitiès Signed by one ortwo trustees on behalf of all the tru51ees 08te of roval Signature Print N8rne TS 18.031L CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 04103ft024

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts secon A Ind•p•ndent Examlnorf• 8•port R•port to the trust¢rfl M•mr¥ ¢1 On e0nIS for th• y•aff •nd•d 29 FEBRUARY 2024 Charlty no Ihf any 12(X1127 I rfjp th• my •xamination of th• weeounls ol the ab dwrity l-lhv TnAf) for th• pefth ended 29102 12024. R•$pongibilltles •nd As the chanty Iwslees ol I Tnjst. you are responsibk for the weparaii( basls ol r•wl of Iho accLwits accordsnc• wilh f¢gutr•nIJ Ot Chantsos Acl 2011 1.tho Act'i. I iepDrt in w•spocl of my •xami7otth of the T.$ occowts carrd ¢>Jt under 3¢¢1Kffi 145 01 Ihe 2011 Aci and ifi carying oul my examinatlon. I rive lolloed Ihe applKabl• t"reclKJns given by lh¥ Chanfy Commissbn uThJef se(ak)n 145(5Xb> A¢t. I hgv¢ eomploltsj my •xamtsnalt<>n. I confirm Ihat m•1•ri ma110rn have rx#me lo my attention ¢¥)nw)n with the examfftation w?h wes m• to knew that pi. any m)ten41 ro8poci' ac1X¢i9 ra(x)rd$ were not kepi in accordance wilh sedKn 130 01 Ihe Act o thg •¢¢fAW)ts do accord ilh the accounting rec05 Ind•pendent •xamin•rfs statement I have no concerDS havo clxng a(xoss rK¢ oLtrr mallers in connectbon wilh lh6 ex•mIn8n to oltèniion shOd be dr?wm in ordar efta a tKoper uTrJerstaTrJiry of accoLws ts bv ro•chod. Sign•d: M•m•: 5 CHRISTOPHER THOWS NATHANIEL DAVIS METhJ ACA 1m2024 R•v• qu•llllcatiorf•l lx body (il anyl- ICAEW Membwshts) # 2956147 Addw•s•: Houw Accounlan¢y & Taxalion Ltd Office 10. &oadaxo 8us*)ess pa PRESTEIGNE. Powys. LD8 2UH UNITED KJNGtIOM Section B Di5closur• Only ioiT)plL%IL If Ilie eXdll1111è' rieL4> io highl,ghl fndllers ol concern see CC32. Indopondenl examin¥tiw of thlnty ¥coiunts". direcll¢xrf and Qu80 lof oxanynws J. IER Al Octob•r 2018

Glv• here brief details of any Ttems that the examiner wishes to disclose. Nothing Further to R8port. IER A2 October 2018