## Bedlington Foodbank Helping our Community Contact Email: bedlingtonfoodbank@gmail.com ## **Annual Report for 2024 (Including Statistics)** As we gather for this AGM, we take a moment to reflect on another year of service to our community. The Bedlington Foodbank has continued to provide vital support to those experiencing food insecurity, and this has only been possible through the dedication and generosity of our volunteers, donors, and community links. ## **Gratitude to Our Volunteers** First and foremost, we extend our sincere thanks to our incredible team of volunteers. Each week, you give tirelessly of your time and effort to ensure the smooth running of the Foodbank. Whether collecting food donations from local shops, preparing and packing food parcels, coordinating deliveries, or handling administration and email referrals, your commitment is invaluable. Without your collective hard work and compassion, the Foodbank could not operate as effectively as it does. “Thank You” must also go to the Management Trustees, Chris our Chairperson, Peter our Treasurer, Liane our Secretary and Pauline who coordinates and oversees the week by week working of the Foodbank. The Trustees are also responsible for making sure we comply with Charity Regulations including good policies on Data Protection, Safeguarding, and Health and Safety (in conjunction with Trinity Church Bedlington) “Thank You” to Trinity Church Bedlington for the use of their building giving us a good base to work from. ## **Acknowledging Our Supporters** We are incredibly grateful to all those who have donated food, toiletries, and financial contributions over the past year. Your generosity ensures that we can continue to meet the growing needs of individuals and families in our community. We also extend our thanks to Trinity Church, which has kindly provided us with the use of their hall as a base for storing provisions and packing parcels. Your support plays a crucial role in enabling our operations. Thank you to East Bedlington Town Council for their support in providing meat vouchers for families in need within their area. This additional assistance has made a meaningful difference in ensuring families have access to essential nutrition. ## **The Area Covered by the Foodbank:** Many people only need to use our Foodbank for a short amount of time - particularly if they are waiting for confirmation of their Benefit Applications etc (which can take up to 8 weeks to process). However, we do have a number of regular clients who are struggling with the Cost of Living Increases and do have to resort to using our Foodbank on a much more regular basis. An Emergency Food Parcel is delivered to each client, with enough food to last for at least 3 days - (the size of the parcel is dependent on the number of family members and the ages of any children). We continue to provide and delivered food parcels to people living in: - Bedlington - Bedlington Station - Guide Post - Stakeford - Choppington - Sleekburn (including both East and West) - Cambois ## **Statistics for 2024:** - The number of parcels we have delivered has been. - We recorded the number of adults, children and pets we have helped over the year: - We have delivered a Total of **335** Parcels - We were able to help a Total number of **411** Adults - We were able to help a Total number of **330** Children - We were able to help a Total number of **175** Pets - **(See The Statistics Sheet Overleaf)** ## **Northumberland Forum:** We continue to be registered as part of “The Northumberland Forum” The Forum is a platform used by Health Care Professionals and Members of the Public containing helpful direct links, contact details and general information for a wide variety of Well Being and Health Issue sites. ## **Impact Over the Past Year** Without the Foodbank, many of these individuals and families may have struggled to access sufficient food. Our ability to provide a substantial food parcels for these people is a testament to the strength of our community coming together to care for one another. A special thank you goes to East Bedlington Town Council for their support in providing meat vouchers for families in need within their area. ## **Looking Ahead** As we move into our third year, the challenges of supporting those in need remain significant. The demand for our services continues, and we are actively engaging with as many agencies as possible to expand our reach and support the most disadvantaged in our community. Our commitment is unwavering, and with the continued support of our volunteers, we are confident that we can rise to meet these challenges. Thank You Again To You All - Your kindness, time, and generosity enable us to serve our community and make a real difference to people’s lives ## **The Trustees of the Bedlington Foodbank** (On Behalf of Trustees) ## **Formal Information:** Bedlington Foodbank is a Registered Charity - Number 1203148 Our Operating Address is from TRINITY CHURCH BEDLINGTON NE22 5TZ ## **- Bedlington Foodbank Trustees are:** (Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Foodbank's Constitution.) Chris Elder - Chair Pauline Fryer - Co-Ordinator Peter Rand - Treasurer Liane Todd - Secretary CHARITY COMMISSIO FOR ENGiANO AMO WAi Bodlnqton Fo¢*Jbank 1203148 Recei tsand ments accounts CC16a Forlhe perfod 01-Jonw24 To Section A Receipts and payments funds Tot*1 lund¥ Al Recel FutthfromMaObfft¥ Stcuthtsts Chuth t￿￿￿1 Fyrtha*or Crn nc F￿tsIc siawtyd Chufth Uk• B￿d ￿•1 22 257 12Q Inn•r Wh¢dOon& JGrtnfBla Sans Dom 1nolty4du￿o￿•kn$ $6 221 S*StyJ 126 OoTralon AR) Purtha•èdFtsJd InwrdnC• ID ¢Btds 213 201 Putfkn•ofryWMrrt 17 Sub totsl 4W21 4,121 •.0 Net of rVcel￿(p*Yj￿￿tsj . A5 Tr4nsfrrJ bBl*wn lund¥ A6 C•¥h funds last yearend 1141 2,141 It￿212025 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period CategoTle¥ Deta116 Endowm*nt funds its nMr••t¢ fvnd8 fvnds ft•4rn*tÉ Bl Cash fund• 8•nk 1¢.19• 16,848 bthwdall I￿ In* SbJnalyr• . Prthl Nam& Date of roval i &/i/zs L.fodd CCXX p21￿£4￿￿ I$51 11h)2r2WdS CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees Bedbw FThxlbank On accounts for the year ended 31° December 2024 Charity no Ilf any) 1203148 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above chanty {Ihe Trust.) for the year ended 3111212024. Responslbllltle8 and basis of report As the chartys trustees. you are Tesponsbk for the preparation of th8 accounts in acuxdance ¥￿th the rwuirements of the Charittes Act 2011 (Ihe Ad.). I report in respect of my examinalion of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying oul my examlnation, I have followed all the applKable Directs'ons gNen by the Charity Commission uMleT Sect￿ 145(5){b> of the Aci. Independent examinerfs statement appl￿￿￿. Delete l J rfnot appI￿able. S have C(xn￿t￿j exanina1￿. I confimi that no material matters have to my attenlK)n in connecth)n with the examination 491h8￿ disG￿6￿ which gives me cause to believe that in, any material I have rK) cOn￿m8 and have ￿ ￿%0$$ no other matters in CA)nnection wrth the examina￿￿ to which attention shoukl be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. . Please del the words in Ihe brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Is Name: Hum6 Relevant professional qualification{s) or body IER Oct 2018 (rf any): Address: 7Yo£ ROVE Section B Disclosure Onw complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of GOn￿M (see CC32, Independent examination of dwnty ￿UTrts'. dIrect￿n$ arKI guKlar￿e for examiners). Give here brief detsils of any ftems that the examiner wishes to di8cIo30. IER Oct 2018