2024-04-05-accounts - Book Banks

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 26[th] September 2023 to 5[th] April 2024

Charity name: Bookbanks

Charity registration number: 1204919

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The advancement of education and literacy for the public benefit amongst people who are in financial hardship and who are attending food banks, food pantries, food support services, and other establishments addressing food insecurity by the provision of free, donated books, printed materials, and other literacy and educational support.
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	The key activities for the charity are as follows: ●Running existing Bookbanks’ facilities within food banks and other establishments providing food to members of the public living in financial hardship; ●Liaising with personnel within the publishing industry to enable the provision of books for existing book bank facilities; ●Recruiting, training and coordinating volunteers to attend Bookbanks sites; ●Organising book-related events within existing Bookbank venues for the participation of food bank attendees; ●Sourcing new Bookbanks sites and liaising with food bank providers to agree new collaborations. These activities benefit members of the public who attend food banks by providing opportunities for dialogue and discussion through books, increasing literacy, confidence and community.

Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The Trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit when exercising their powers and directing the activities of the charity, as described in the next section.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Our volunteers are integral to the success of each Bookbanks site. During the reporting period, Bookbanks was developing and implementing its training programme for an initial cohort of volunteers. The training supports volunteers to staff Bookbanks stalls at food banks, where they advise on book choices and initiate discussions with members of the public. At least one volunteer staffs the Bookbanks stall every week. Each volunteer receives training, including in safeguarding and health and safety. Volunteers commit to monthly shifts of 2 hours for at least 6 months’ at their Bookbanks site, so that the whole volunteer team provides a weekly 2-hour service at the food bank.

Achievements and Performance

	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	Achievements Sep 2023 – April 2024 Bookbanks is a newly incorporated charity. New policies applicable to its stage and scale were created, volunteer training materials prepared and training performed. A bank account and insurance cover were both set up. The Newington Green Bookbanks site was established in September 2023 at St Jude and St Paul’s food bank, London. Partnerships with publishers were created for the purpose of providing books and other resources for distribution at Bookbanks locations. Over 3% of UK individuals (2.3 million people) are using food banks, and more than 1 in 12 UK children do not have a single book of their own. Meanwhile, a DWP study demonstrates that being read to at the age of 5 is “an important protective factor against poverty at the age of 30”. In a survey carried out at Bookbanks Newington Green, 100% of respondents agreed that the Bookbanks stall meant they owned a book they wouldn’t have bought otherwise, and 90% agreed that the Bookbanks stall had encouraged them to spend more time reading with their children. Bookbanks guests are wholeheartedly positive about the charity, with praise including: “if you haven't got money, but you have a book, the book is knowledge and knowledge is good” and “these books are so uplifting. They've helped me a lot.”

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	During the period of this report, Bookbanks provided over 60 hours of voluntary services during which over 1,500 books were distributed for free.
Other		Activities and achievements April 2024 - January 2025 In June 2024, a team of regular volunteers were deployed at Bookbanks Newington Green and the charity opened a second site, at the Wymondham Community Outreach Project in Norfolk. Two teams of volunteers began staffing the two Bookbanks sites, distributing 30-50 books to food bank guests at each site, each week. Later in 2024, two author talks were held at Bookbanks Newington Green and a writing workshop, in partnership with Indie Novella Press, was held at both sites. 25 copies of the authors’ books were distributed, and several guests engaged with the activities. One said: “It’s the first time in a long time I’ve really enjoyed a social situation.” Regular visits from local librarians have also been established at each site. In November 2024, the charity opened two more sites - one at the Hammersmith & Fulham food bank and another at the Norwich food bank. At the start of February 2025, there are 25 volunteers staffing the four sites, where more than 5,000 books have been distributed to food bank guests.

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Cash at bank on 5thApril 2024 was £9,684. The bulk of the income received up to this date originated from one private individual donor, who donated £11,000. The majority of the expenditure to the end of the period was for contracted consultancy fees, comprising £2,269.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Reserves Policy as at 5th April 2024 The trustees have agreed to £3,000 as an absolute minimum reserve.In addition, the trustees have added a further £2,000 buffer. If the £2,000 buffer has been exhausted, then staff members who have been paid on a consultancy basis will provide their services on a voluntary basis until such time as sufficient funds are available to adequately fund operations in accordance with the charity’s reserves policy.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	Cash reserves were in excess of £3,000.
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	N/A

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Foundation Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
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	Appointed by current trustees

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Bookbanks
Other name the charity uses	Book Banks
Registered charity number	1204919
Charity’s principal address	31 BERESFORD ROAD, London, N5 2HS

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Pete MacIntyre	Chair
Claire Davies	Treasurer
Neil Griffiths		26/09/2023 – 07/10/2024
Asma Mani
Annabelle Williams

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name N/A

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
N/A

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Emily Rhodes Hattie Garlick

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

Signature(s) Full name(s) Claire Davies Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Treasurer Date 21st January 2025

Bookbanks Registered Charity Number: 1204919

Receipts and Payments

For the Period 6th April 2023 to 5th April 2024

	Unrestricted
	Funds to the	Restricted Funds	Total Funds to
	nearest £	to the nearest £	the nearest £
Receipts	£	£
Donations	12,200	0	12,200
Grants	0	0	0
Gift Aid	0	0	0
Interest Received	0	0	0
	12,200	0	12,200
Payments
Staff Remuneration	1,965	0	1,965
IT costs	270	0	270
Training	151	0	151
Travel	117	0	117
Stationery / postage	0	0	0
Subsistence	13	0	13
	2,516	0	2,516
Net of Receipts and Payments	9,684	0	9,684
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at the end of the Period
	Unrestricted
	Funds to the	Restricted Funds	Total Funds to
	nearest £	to the nearest £	the nearest £
Cash Funds	9,684	0	9,684
Creditors
Staff remuneration invoices not paid March 2024	1,570	0	1,570