Cranleigh Food Bank
Annual Review/Report September 2022 to August 2023
Trustees: Rosslyn Doney (Chair) Adrian Gosling, Hilary Clark, Stella Halloran (Treasurer)
Charity Overview
Cranleigh Foodbank has been in existence since 2014, and was in operation during the year September 2022 to August 2023. Cranleigh Foodbank has this year applied for, and been granted, registered charity status. The charity exists to relieve poverty through the provision of food, toiletries and other household items in a manner which demonstrates God’s love.
Cranleigh Food Bank operates each Friday morning throughout the year from Cranleigh Baptist Church, High Street, Cranleigh. Beneficiaries are able to receive food parcels following referral from local agencies and organisations.
Review of Activities 2022 to 2023
During the past year, we have been very busy, with a steadily increasing use of the Food Bank by local families, who represent the vast majority of our beneficiaries. The number of Ukrainian families needing help, which for a few months in 2023 represented a significant number of our beneficiaries, has now reduced to a trickle – just one or two families a week as they arrive and settle in Cranleigh.
However, during the year to 31[st] August 2023 we have provided 1001 parcels of food, feeding 1643 adults and 1146 children. Parcels vary in size according to the size of the family and each parcel should provide enough food for 4– 5 days.
Many local families are finding it more and more difficult to deal with the rise in food and energy prices and the reducing help from the Government. They come to the Food Bank by referral from local organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, Waverley Housing Department., local Home School Link Workers, the Probation Service, Local GPs and other health and social workers.
In addition to the regular Friday opening, a 24/7 emergency service is provided for those in very urgent need.
Alongside the facility for providing food parcels, a drop in café is run for anyone who wishes to have a free cup of tea or coffee and a chat with one of the volunteers. During the past year the popularity of the drop in café has recovered to its pre-pandemic levels and beyond.
The initiative to service hearings aids, now called ‘Hear Here’, also operates from Foodbank on the fourth Friday morning of each month and is staffed by a small group of volunteers who have all been trained by the Audiology Dept of the RSCH, and in conjunction with the Diocese of Guildford who coordinate the service. Anyone with an NHS hearing aid is welcome to come along, have it serviced and re-tubed as well as receiving batteries for it.
During the year Cranleigh CAB have begun to provide an advisor who is available at the Foodbank once a month to enable beneficiaries to get additional help where appropriate.
Donations during the year
As always, we are grateful for the many donations of food throughout the year, and particularly over the Christmas period when, in addition to our regular basic offer, we provided 72 Christmas hampers, these were offered to every family who had needed to use the Food Bank during the previous 6 months. (if they wished to have one).
We are also grateful to the local supermarkets. Co-op and Sainsbury’s allow us to have a collection point in-store, where donations can be left by the public: Nationwide collected donations for us at Christmas, Rawlings’ butchers were very generous in providing fresh meat, and a vegetable stall in the market provided veg and fruit at cost price. We can also collect surplus M&S and Sainsbury’s food each Friday.
Financial donations from many local organisations as well as individuals have enabled us to buy food items throughout the year; at times this is just to top up other donations but once the Christmas ‘glut’ is used up we have needed to buy increasing amounts of staple food; particularly so this year as donations of food have reduced. We are also generously funded by one family to buy fresh vegetables, milk, eggs, cheese etc. each week.
In addition to all the donations of food in kind, we have, during the past 12 months had cash donations from, Henry Smith Trust, Duke of Kent School, several Ewhurst fund-raising events and many individuals, totalling £19,149 We have spent £12,685 on food, £272 on Admin costs, £1000 donation to Cranleigh Baptist Church in lieu of rent and £245 on publicity and stationery. Since our registration as a charity we can now reclaim Gift Aid from HMRC for eligible financial donations
Volunteers
The Steering Group is very grateful to the volunteers who, each week, collect food from the donation points, shop for additional items, turn up regularly to receive stock, date and sort it, pack and distribute food to those in need, make refreshments and sit and talk with visitors. All our cakes and refreshments have been donated and none of those who run or help with Food Bank have asked for any expenses.
The Food Bank currently has 29 regular volunteers, who give their time on Fridays from 8am to noon; some attend each Friday and some on alternate weeks. During the year we have benefited from approximately 3,700 hours of volunteer time.
Future Plans
We plan to continue the foodbank service on an ongoing basis during 2023-24. The trustees and steering group meet regularly to review emerging needs and trends. We will continue to maintain and build links with other local community groups to ensure the best outcomes for our beneficiaries.
Without the generosity of the Cranleigh Community we would not be able to provide for the level of need that exists and we are grateful to all who have supported the Food Bank during the past year
Trustees and Steering Group of Cranleigh Food Bank
September 2023
CRANLEIGH FOODBANK RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS PERIOD TO 31 AUGUST 2023 ACCOUNT
| RECEIPTS Personal Donations Organisation Donations TOTAL PAYMENTS Administration Food Stationary and Photocopying In leiu of Rent TOTAL Excess of receipts over payments Cash in hand 1st September 2022 Unpresented chqs Lloyds Current Account at 1st Sep 2022 TOTAL Lloyds Current Account at 31st Aug 2023 Unpresented cheques Cash in hand 31st Aug 2023 TOTAL |
2022/2023 12,150 6,559 |
|---|---|
| 18,709 | |
| 272 12,686 245 1,000 |
|
| 14,203 | |
| 4,506 0 0 10,145 |
|
| 14,651 | |
| 14,651 0 0 |
|
| 14,651 |