Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/04/2024 To 31/03/2025
Charity name: Ethnic Food Bank
Charity registration number: 1203329
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To relieve persons in Bedford who are in financial hardship in such ways as the trustees from time to time think fit, in particular, but not exclusively by: (1) Providing emergency food of ethnic origin. (2) Signposting to relevant information and advisory services. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
1) We have 100+ referrers from different organisations. 2) Clients not only get the food parcels, but also advice from the Citizen’s advisor onsite to help them come out of their crisis. 3) The grants money gives us a stability by having enough funds to buy the ethnic food, when the donations were very low. 4) We had stalls at local charity events in Bedford to raise awareness and raise funds. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | All the trustees agree with the ongoing charity work and have no concerns in the last AGM. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Volunteers have helped in collection of the food donations, sorting food donations, parcel making and distribution of the food parcels. Helping the clients with heavy parcels. They have also helped in fundraising. |
| Other | Not applicable |
Achievements and Performance
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SORP
reference
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| SORP reference |
SORP reference |
SORP reference |
SORP reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | 2233individuals were provided with 3 meals a day for at least 7days each amounting to48252 total meal parcels for the clients across Bedfordshire. _Home |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | 1)Actively trying to raise awareness to increase the uptake of the Ethnic food bank. 2) The chair of the Ethnic Food bank regularly attends the food providers meetings arranged by CVS and this has helped us and improved our collaboration/working in partnership with other agencies. |
|---|---|---|
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4) The clients speak to the Citizens
advisor about their hardship and are
signposted appropriately.
5) Having accurate data helps to
monitor whether all the multiethnic
population is accessing the food bank
or not and if not, then trying to find out
the reasons and address them.
6) I have contacted the big
supermarkets and so far, no luck in
gaining a space to keep our donation
boxes. Tesco declined our request. I
need to persevere in raising awareness
and find a way to increase the food
donations, so that we don’t have to buy
food.
The fundraising has been adequate so
Performance of far and the plan is to do more
fundraising activities fundraising events and raise
against objectives set Para 1.41 awareness.
None
Investment performance
against objectives Para 1.41
None
Other
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Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Annual accounts will be filed by an accountant |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | All the grants received are used as per the application and mid and final grant reports are sent before the deadlines. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Around £5000 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | To buy food if the grant money runs out. |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | None |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | None |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | The grants have been by application to the organisations like Harpur trust, Bedford Borough council. Fundraising was by setting up just giving page, stalls at Eid festival and other local charity events. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | None |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | Lack of space and still awaiting permission from the community centre new committee for getting a Portacabin through BPHA. |
| Other | None |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | It is a Charity incorporated Organisation |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | The trustees are appointed by discussion and decision of the board of trustees. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | Potential trustees are sent a document explaining the roles and responsibilities and they make an informed decision to become the trustees. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The charity has a chair and board of trustees. Most decisions are made in in the trustees meeting. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | Dr Nadeem Mazi-Kotwal and Dr Minaz Mazi-Kotwal are husband and wife. |
| Other | None |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Ethnic Food Bank |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses |
None |
| Registered charity number | 1203329 |
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Charity’s principal address 130 Ashmead road
Bedford
MK41 7FD
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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
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Name of person (or body)
Dates acted if not for
Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee
whole year
(if any)
Dr Minaz Mazi- 22/3/2023 Ongoing
1 Kotwal Ethnic Food bank founding
members
Dr Nadeem Mazi- 22/3/2023 Ongoing Ethnic Food bank founding
2
Kotwal members
Ms Rumina 22/3/2023 Ongoing Ethnic Food bank founding
3
Begum members
Dr Baljit Kaur 22/3/2023 Ongoing Ethnic Food bank founding
4
Upadhyay members
Mrs Manasi 22/3/2023 Ongoing Ethnic Food bank founding
5
Deshpande members
Mrs Ralley 22/3/2023 Ongoing Ethnic Food bank founding
6
Rahman members
Mrs Esther 22/3/2023 Ongoing Ethnic Food bank founding
7
McNeil members
Mrs Nesreen 22/3/2023 Ongoing Ethnic Food bank founding
8
Akhtar members
Ms Zofia Brady 17/3/2024 Resigned on Ethnic Food bank founding
9
25/1/2026 members
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name Dr Minaz Mazi-Kotwal Dr Nadeem Mazi-Kotwal Ms Rumina Begum
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
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Trustee name Dates acted if not for
whole year
None
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Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets None held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf None the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and None segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) Dr Minaz Mazi-Kotwal
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Not applicable
Other optional information
Not applicable
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Dr Minaz Mazi-Kotwal Position (eg Secretary, Chair and Trustee Chair, etc) Date 26/01/2026
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Ethnic Food Bank 1203329
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period 01-Apr-24 31-Mar-25
To
from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Donations 3,165 - 3,165 -
Grants 1,500 12,000 - 13,500 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
12,000 - 16,665 -
AR) [ 4,665 ]
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 4,665 12,000 - 16,665 -
A3 Payments
Advertising - 1,439 - 1,439 -
DBS - 22 22
Direct Expense - 5,671 - 5,671 -
Equipment - 215 - 215 -
Furniture - 891 - 891 -
Insurance - 84 - 84 -
Mobile - 96 - 96 -
Other 100 100
R&M - 75 - 75 -
Rent - 1,900 - 1,900 -
Sub total [ 100 ] 10,392 - 10,492 -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments [ 100 ] 10,392 - 10,492 -
Net of receipts/(payments) 4,565 1,608 - 6,173 -
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end - - - - -
Cash funds this year end 4,565 1,608 - 6,173 -
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
31/01/2026
1
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds CCXX R2 accounts (SS) |
Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Current Account Details Details Details Signature 2 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 16,065 5,841 - - - - 16,065 5,841 Agreement Error Agreement Error Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Dr Minaz MAzi-Kotwal Dr Nadeem MAzi-Kotwal |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval 31/01/2026 31/01/2026 |
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