Annual Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 March 2025
Registered No: 1202878
Annual Report of the Board of Trustees
| Chair’s introduction | 2 |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 4 |
| Independent Examiner’s report | 9 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 10 |
| Balance Sheet | 11 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 12 |
| Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity | 17 |
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Chair’s introduction
It is both distressing and life-affirming to present the second Shop & Drop Annual Report of the Board of Trustees, for the year ending 31 March 2025.
It is distressing because, at the time of our first annual report, 1 in 7 people living in the UK (and 1 in 5 children) were facing hunger.[1]
The picture appears to be getting more shocking. From April 2023 - March 2024, 655,000 people used a food bank for the first time; contributing to an increase in the need for emergency food parcels in England in the last five years of 94%[2] . 25% of Londoners are living in poverty.[3]
It is life-affirming because there are many organisations and even more people who care enough about their communities, working tirelessly every day to fight this iniquitous social injustice. From national charities to food banks and their armies of committed volunteers; from foundations to philanthropists and regular donors, all aim to alleviate the symptoms of food poverty, though none of us can guarantee its end.
Shop & Drop’s unique, and proven effective, contribution to the collective fight is our team’s exclusive focus on eliminating the immediate shortages in essential food items, as determined by the food banks we support.
In short, we contact our food bank managers, ask for a list of the four hundred items they most urgently need and then we shop and drop them for immediate distribution to their clients.
We are 100% volunteer-led and staffed and our impact is growing:
In this year, we have shopped and dropped over 85,500 specifically requested, essential items, continuing to include key staples like tinned tomatoes, tuna, cereal, pasta, pasta sauce, rice, tinned fruit. But we firmly believe it is essential for our food banks to be able to offer fresh food, too. The Camden Foodbank, at our encouragement, is now giving fresh food to their clients (for the first time since its opening 13 years ago); and bread, eggs and cheese are now requested, shopped and dropped routinely to all four food banks.
We continued to receive and meet frequent requests for toilet paper, sanitary products, deodorants, toothpaste, and shampoo.
From June 2024 we increased our bespoke drops of 400 essential items per food bank from fortnightly to weekly to Camden (The Camden Foodbank), Islington (The ARC Islington) and Notting Hill (The Kensington and Chelsea Foodbank).
1 Trussell March 2023
2 Trussell March 2024
3 Statista
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We started fortnightly deliveries in May 2024 to a new foodbank in Vauxhall (Vauxhall Food Bank) opened with the corporate support of Citywire. We plan to add Hackney to bring our total London Borough footprint to 5 in the next 12 months.
We operate a highly efficient and effective economic model. Entirely volunteer led, with no salary or rent to pay, donors appreciate that their money goes directly on buying essential and nutritious food to feed hungry people. Shop & Drop makes it easy for people to help address food poverty without having to shop and drop by themselves.
We are so grateful for our stellar bank of committed donors, whose generous and regular support creates reassurance among our food banks that they can rely on us for certainty and frequency of delivery.
We are immensely grateful to Andrew Potter, former Supply Chain Lead for the UN World Food Programme. He generously undertook, pro bono, a study of Shop & Drop’s impact which confirmed that our bespoke model scores high on ‘fit to the beneficiary need’ and low on ‘operational complexity’ for all our chosen food banks. We see for ourselves when visiting or volunteering the advantages of our model in practice, as well as in the regular feedback we receive from the food bank managers with whom our Shopper Droppers have developed highly trusting relationships, based on a detailed understanding of how they work and of how we can be of greatest help to them.
I feel particularly lucky to be supported by our co-founder and Head of Development, Alison Lurie whose ability to make things happen knows no bounds; our Treasurer, Jo Hunter whose rigorous governance and expertise is reflected in our robust financial health; and our newly appointed trustee, Rosemary Ashworth who joined to develop our work with trusts and foundations and who has already brought new thinking to our Board. Together they give Shop & Drop vast experience, enormous credibility, tenacity and compassion.
We dream of a day when our bespoke service will not be needed. Until then, Shop & Drop will not stop, because it remains desperately needed; and because it works.
We are passionate about the service we provide because we know how well it works and how much it is so desperately needed. I hope you enjoy reading this report.
Rosemary Hytner
Chair
“Our partnership with Shop & Drop is so valued by the whole foodbank team, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have been chosen by you as one of your supported foodbanks. Congratulations on having achieved such amazing figures for the last financial year 28,000 items is an enormous number of donated items and we hope you know how grateful they have been received and carefully distributed to our foodbank clients.” “ The difference it makes to us is enormous.” Kensington & Chelsea Foodbank
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Annual Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ending 31 March 2025
The trustees, present their annual report together with the accounts of Shop & Drop for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 12 to 13 and comply with the charity’s governing constitution, applicable laws, and the requirements of Statement of Recommended Practice on ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ issued in 2019.
Objectives and activities
The charity’s objects are the relief of those in need by way of financial hardship and other disadvantage through the supply of essential provision to food banks.
Shop & Drop offers bespoke shopping for essential, basic, nutritious food items needed at short notice by food banks to supplement their food supplies and fill their empty shelves. We contact the food bank managers, ask for a list of the four hundred items they most urgently need and then we shop and drop them off, so that they can be distributed immediately.
Shop & Drop’s simple and distinct contribution has proven to add real value to those in need and, critically, to the food banks serving them. Shopping ourselves and dropping at scale lifts some of the heavy burden off the shoulders of our food banks and their volunteers.
2. Achievements and performance
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In the year we have shopped and dropped over 85,500 specifically requested, essential items.
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From June 2024 we increased our bespoke drops of 400 essential items per food bank from fortnightly to weekly to Camden (The Camden Foodbank), Islington (The ARC Islington) and Notting Hill (The Kensington and Chelsea Foodbank).
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We started fortnightly deliveries in May 2024 to a new foodbank in Vauxhall (Vauxhall Food Bank) opened with corporate support.
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In Camden and Notting Hill, at our encouragement, they are now giving fresh food to their clients.
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Developed a proof of impact - Andrew Potter, former Supply Chain Lead for the UN World Food Programme undertook a pro bono study on Shop & Drops’ impact which confirmed that our bespoke model scores highly on fit to the beneficiary need and low on operational complexity for all our chosen food banks.
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We continue to build strong, trusting relationships with all four of our food bank managers, visiting regularly, as well as volunteering. We have a very detailed understanding of how they work and of how we can be of greatest help to them.
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Impart Summary to 31 March 2025 9 million Britons relying on food banks 190.5 4 Food Banks seNed Volunteer hours since launch 85,500+ Items Shopped & Dropped Hackney coming soon 1.000+ 94% Mouths we help to feed weekly 100% Funds raised spent directly on specifically requested food Staffed by volunteers /SHOP&DROP
Financial review
Income for the year ended 31 March 2025 was £113,348. This compares to the eleven-month period to 31 March 2024 which was £93,963 and included a grant of £36,000 from the Hollick Family Foundation received in March 2024 to scale up activities in the year to March 2025, this was placed in designated funds and fully utilised.
Restricted donations for the new Vauxhall Food Bank were received from Citywire - £6,000 for the year ended 31 March 2025, and in addition £7,000 was received at the end of the accounting period for the upcoming year ended 31 March 2026 and has been placed in restricted reserves at year end. A restricted donation was received during the year of £6,000 to fund toiletries in Notting Hill.
Expenditure on charitable activities, delivery of food and toiletries to food banks, was £82,751 (£16,430 in 2024).
Governance and fundraising costs were £5,115 (£3,075 in 2024). There were no rent or salary costs and minimal overhead costs.
£30,000 has been transferred to designated funds for scaling up in 2025/2026, leaving £57,814 of unrestricted free income.
Investment policy
The trustees, having regard to the liquidity requirements of operating the charity and to the reserves policy, have operated a policy of keeping available funds in interest-bearing deposit accounts.
Reserves policy
The trustees have considered the requirement for free reserves, i.e. those unrestricted funds not designated for a specific purpose or otherwise committed. It has been determined that, given the nature of the charity’s work, the level of free reserves should be equivalent to six to nine months of annual expenditure. This allows for future growth and provides sufficient flexibility to cover any temporary shortfall in incoming resources and will allow the charity to cope and respond immediately to a reasonable range of unforeseen adverse circumstances prior to specific remedial plans being implemented. General unrestricted funds of £57,814 as at 31 March 2025, represents approximately six months of forecast annual expenditure and are therefore within the charity’s policy.
Structure, governance and management
Governance
Shop & Drop and its trustees are bound by its Constitution dated 8 March 2023. The names of the trustees who served during the year are set out in the reference and administrative information on page 17.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
Reviews are undertaken to assess the skills of the current trustees and identify any areas for strengthening. New trustees are appointed by the existing trustees. One new trustee was appointed in the year, see page 17.
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Induction and training of new trustees
New trustees are provided with an induction to familiarise themselves with the charity and the not for profit sector. They are briefed on their responsibilities by the existing trustees. New trustees are also referred to the Charity Commission’s guide ‘The Essential Trustee’.
Organisational structure and decision making
The trustees review and approve all policies, and follow a strategy set in September 2023 and updated in January 2025. The trustees meet quarterly throughout the year and have an annual session to update and revise the strategy.
Trustee remuneration and conflict of interest
All trustees give their time freely and no trustee remuneration was paid in the year and no expenses were claimed by them. Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests in accordance with the charity’s Conflict of Interest Policy and withdraw from any decisions where a conflict of interest may arise. No disclosures have been made by the trustees since the charity was constituted.
Management
The charity does not have any paid employees and all fundraising and administrative work is currently undertaken by the trustees.
Risk management
The Board of Trustees reviews and assesses risks faced by the charity.
Policies
Policies for all relevant areas, as determined by the Board of Trustees, are maintained.
Public benefit
The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefits when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities.
Plans for the future
In the next year, we will continue our aim to take Shop & Drop to new areas in London and consider increasing deliveries to our existing foodbanks when needed.
This report was approved by the Board on 12 May 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
_______ Rosemary Hytner Chair
Joanna Hunter OBE Trustee
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Trustees’ responsibilities statement
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 12 May 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
_______ Rosemary Hytner Chair
Joanna Hunter OBE Trustee
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Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of Shop & Drop
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Shop & Drop, Charity Number 1202878, for the period ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 10 to 16.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees, 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 charity’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; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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.
Signed_______
Date: 18 June 2025
Jacqui Williams FCA FLB Audit LLP 1010 Eskdale Rd Winnersh Triangle Wokingham RG41 5TS
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Shop & Drop Accounts for Year Ended 31 March 2025 Registered Charity Number 1202878 Statement of Financial Activities
| Year ended 31 March 2025 | Period from 28 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ £ |
Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ £ |
| Incoming resources Income from: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities Other trading activities 2 Investments 2 Other Resources expended Expenditure on: Raising funds 3 Charitable activities 3 Independent examination 3 Other 3 Reconciliation of funds: 7 Transfer Total funds carried forward Total Total Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward |
66,637 - 19,000 85,637 - 25,871 - - 25,871 1,840 1,840 - |
48,994 36,000 6,000 90,994 - - - - 2,775 - - 2,775 194 - - 194 - - - - |
| 94,348 - 19,000 113,348 |
51,963 36,000 6,000 93,963 |
|
| 4,041 - - 4,041 35,494 36,000 11,257 82,751 960 - - 960 114 - - 114 |
2,175 - - 2,175 14,813 - 1,617 16,430 900 - - 900 - - - - |
|
| 40,609 36,000 11,257 87,866 |
17,888 - 1,617 19,505 |
|
| 53,739 (36,000) 7,743 25,482 |
34,075 36,000 4,383 74,458 |
|
| 34,075 36,000 4,383 74,458 (30,000) 30,000 - - |
- - - - - - - - |
|
| 57,814 30,000 12,126 99,940 |
34,075 36,000 4,383 74,458 |
|
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Shop & Drop Registered Charity Number 1202878 Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025
| Notes | Year ended Period ended 31 March 2025 31 March 2024 £ £ |
|
|---|---|---|
| Current Assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Total Current Assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Total Net Assets Funds of the Charity Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds |
4 5 6 7 |
3,093 1,967 98,252 73,391 |
| 101,345 75,358 1,405 900 |
||
| 99,940 74,458 |
||
| 57,814 34,075 30,000 36,000 12,126 4,383 |
||
| 99,940 74,458 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 12 May 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
_______ Rosemary Hytner Chair
________ Joanna Hunter OBE Trustee
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Shop & Drop Notes to the Accounts For the Year ended 31 March 2025
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1. Accounting Policies
Charity Information
Shop & Drop is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). It was registered as a UK charity with the Charity Commission of England and Wales on 28 April 2023 under number 1202878 and is governed by its constitution dated 8 March 2023. The charity’s principal office address is 12 Parsifal Road, NW6 1UH.
Basis of Accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s governing document, Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
Shop & Drop meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
Fund Accounting
General Funds are unrestricted funds available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for specific purposes.
Designated Funds are unrestricted funds which have been set up by the trustees to hold funds for specific purposes. The aim and use of the designated fund is set out in the notes to the accounts.
Restricted Funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donors. The aim and use of the restricted fund is set out in the notes to the accounts.
Income and expenditure is allocated to the Funds on a direct or time apportioned basis as appropriate.
Income
Income is included in the period in which the charity becomes entitled to the resources, the trustees have sufficient certainty that they will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
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Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure
Expenditure is included in the statement of financial activities when incurred and includes attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. All expenditure is allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity.
Investment Income
This is included in the accounts when receivable.
Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due. Accrued income and tax recoverable is included at the best estimate of the amounts receivable at the balance sheet date.
Creditors
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
Financial instruments
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
Cash at cash equivalents
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
Taxation
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
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| 2. Analysis of Income | Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted income funds Total funds £ £ £ £ |
Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted income funds Total funds £ £ £ £ |
|---|---|---|
| Donations and legacies Grants and donations Other |
66,637 - 19,000 85,637 - - - - |
48,994 36,000 6,000 90,994 - - - - |
| 66,637 - 19,000 85,637 | 48,994 36,000 6,000 90,994 | |
| Other trading activities Fundraising events Other Income from investments Interest income |
25,871 - - 25,871 - - - - |
2,775 - - 2,775 - - - - |
| 25,871 - - 25,871 | 2,775 - - 2,775 | |
| 1,840 - - 1,840 | 194 - - 194 | |
| 1,840 - - 1,840 | 194 - - 194 | |
| Total Income | ||
| 94,348 - 19,000 113,348 | 51,963 36,000 6,000 93,963 |
| 3. Analysis of Expenditure | Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted income funds Total funds £ £ £ £ |
Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted income funds Total funds £ £ £ £ |
|---|---|---|
| Other Charitable activities |
35,494 36,000 11,257 82,751 - - - - |
2,175 - 1,617 3,792 - - - - |
| 35,494 36,000 11,257 82,751 | - - 1,617 1,617 | |
| Expenditure on raising funds Events and fundraising costs |
4,041 - - 4,041 | 2,175 - - 2,175 |
| Other Support costs Independent examination fee |
- - - - | - - - - |
| 4,041 - - 4,041 | 2,175 - - 2,175 | |
| 960 - - 960 |
900 - - 900 |
|
| Other | 114 - - 114 | - - - - |
| Total expenditure | 1,074 - - 1,074 | 900 - - 900 |
| 40,609 36,000 11,257 87,866 | 3,075 - 1,617 4,692 |
4. Debtors
| Accrued Income | 2025 £3,093 |
2024 £1,967 |
|---|---|---|
5. Cash and Cash Equivalents
| Cash at bank | 2025 £98,252 |
2024 £73,391 |
|---|---|---|
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6. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Accruals | 2025 £1,405 |
2024 £900 |
|---|---|---|
7. Funds of the Charity
| 7. Funds of the Charity | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Fund names | Fund balances brought forward Income Expenditure Transfers Fund balances carried forward £ £ £ £ £ |
Fund balances brought forward Income Expenditure Fund balances carried forward £ £ £ £ |
| Unrestricted funds Designated Funds Hollick Family Foundation Designated Funds to scale up 2025/20206 Restricted Funds - Citywire Restricted funds - Peggy Post |
34,075 94,348 (40,609) (30,000) 57,814 36,000 - (36,000) - - - - - 30,000 30,000 - 13,000 (6,000) - 7,000 4,383 6,000(5,257) - 5,126 |
- 51,963 (17,888) 34,075 - 36,000 - 36,000 - - - - - - - - - 6,000(1,617) 4,383 |
| Total Funds | 74,458 113,348 (87,866) - 99,940 |
- 93,963(19,505) 74,458 |
Purpose and restrictions
| Type of Fund | Name | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Designated Fund | Hollick Family Foundation | Funds to scale up Financial Year 2025 |
| Designated Fund | Scale up | Funds to scale up Financial Year 2026 |
| Restricted Fund | Citywire | Funds restricted for Vauxhall Food Bank |
| Restricted Fund | Peggy Post | Funds restricted for toiletries for Notting Hill Food Bank |
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Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds
| Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds | |
|---|---|
| As at 31 March 2025 | Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted income funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ |
| Current assets Current liabilities Total Funds |
59,219 30,000 12,126 101,345 75,358 (1,405) - - (1,405) (900) |
57,814 30,000 12,126 99,940 74,458 |
|
| As at 31 March 2024 | Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted income funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ |
| Current assets Current liabilities Total Funds |
34,975 36,000 4,383 75,358 - (900) - - (900) - |
| 34,075 36,000 4,383 74,458 - |
8. Related Parties
During the period the charity received donations of £6,310 (£2,970 in 2024) from trustees and related parties of the charity, there were no other related transactions in the year.
The trustees did not receive any renumeration or benefits during the year.
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Reference and administrative information
| Registered name | Shop & Drop |
|---|---|
| Charity registration number | 1202878 |
| Corporate status | Charitable Incorporated Organisation |
| Registered office | 12 Parsifal Road, NW6 1UH |
| Website | www.shopanddrop.org.uk |
| Current Trustees | Rosemary Hytner (Chair) |
| Joanna Hunter (Honorary Treasurer) | |
| Alison Lurie | |
| Rosemary Ashworth appointed March 2025 | |
| Independent Examiner | FLB Audit LLP |
| 1010 Eskdale Rd | |
| Winnersh Triangle | |
| Wokingham | |
| RG41 5TS | |
| Bankers | Royal Bank of Scotland |
| 36 St Andrews Square | |
| Edinburgh | |
| EH2 2YB |
Digitally signed by SuiteFiles SuiteFiles Document Document Signing Reason: accepted Signing Location: UserIP:UserIPAddress Date: 2025.06.18 13:40:17
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