CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO ANO WALES Trustees. Annual Report for the period From 6th April 2024 to sth April 2025 Charity name: Bookbanks Charity registration number: 1204919 Objectives and Activities SORP f¢feret)ce Parg 1.17 Summary of the purposes ol the charity a$ set out in its goveming document 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 oth8r establishments addressing f¢)od insecurity by the provision of free, donated books, pnnted 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 identrfied in the accounts. Para 1.17 •nd 1.19 Th8 key activrtl88 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 lo attend Bookbanks Sites., Organising book-related events. including author readings, writing workshops and librarian visits. within existing Bookbank venues for the participation of food bank attendees., Sourcing new Bookbanks siles 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 communty.
statemènt confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit Para 1.18 The Trustees confim 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 harity, as described in the next se¢tion. Addltlonal Informatlon {optlonal You ma ¢hoose to include further statements where levant about.. SORP refor8nc• Our volunteers are integral to the SucsS of each Bookbanks site. During the reporting period, Bookbanks grew its number of volunteers from a handful to 50. All volunteers undergo onlinè training and an onsite induction. The training supports volunteers to look after Bookbanks stalls at food banks, where they advise on book choices and initiate discussions with members of the public. Al least one volunteer look8 after the Bookbanks stall every week. Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Each volunteer receives training, including in safeguarding and health and safety. Each volunteer commits to monthly shifts of at least 2 hours over a 6-month period at thèir local Bookbanks site.
Achievements and Performance SORP r8feron¢• AGhievements April 2024 - April 2025 In June 2024, a team of regular volunteers were deployed at Bookbanks Dalston {formerly referred to a5 Bookbanks Newington Greenl and the charity opened a second site, at the Wymondham Community Outreach Project in Norfolk. Two teams of volunteers began looking after the two Bookbanks siles, distributing 30-50 books to food bank guests at each sile, each week. Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the diff8r8nc8 the charity's work has made to the circumstan$ of ils beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as whole. Para 1.20 Later in 2024, two author talks were trialled at Bookbanks Dalston and a writing workshop, in partnership with Indie Novella Press, was held at both sites, 25 copies of the authors, books were distributed each time, and several guests engaged with the activities. One guest said.. 'Il'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, with librarians feeding back that they r8cognise the 'very valuable service, Bookbanks provides, and also using the opportunity to encourage guests to access libraries. One guest al Hammersmith & Fulham is visually impaired and the visiting librarian was able lo provide him wth informalion about free audiobooks. In November 2024, the charily opened tNo more sites one at the Hammersmith & Fulham food bank and another at the Norwich food bank. In February 2025 the charity welcomed new Volunte8r Coordinators to the team, each based in one of the charity's key geographic hub$. Tasked with managing Bookbanks volunteers across that 1oc81ity, they help to ensure the charity's smooth and responsible running a$ it grows. The first three Matthew's Talks events look place in March 2025 al the Dalston, Hammersmith & Fulham and Wymondham foodbanks. These events featured authors Andrew O'Hagan, Helen Whitaker and Hugh Aldersey-williams respectively. 25 copies of the authors, books were distributed at each event. Author and Bookbanks ambassador Andrew O'Hagan said.. '1 do live book ev8nts every other day and I love thern. But my Bookbanks experience was truly magical just a pause, for all of us, in our reoccu ations to hel each other alon as
human beings. I felt inspired by the people who came today. It reminds me what writing and so¢ial engagement is really all about. The impact on guests of Matthew's Talks was pronounced, inspiring one guest at Hammersmith & Fulham lo say, '1 came for food and left with food for the soul,, and anoth8r at Dalston to say.. 'It was inspirational becausè I'm a potential wriler myself., Bookbanks Euston at the Euston Foodbank- the third largest Trussell Foodbank in the UK opened its doors on the 1st April 2025 with 8 volunteers trained and availabl8 to attend the sessions. As at April 2025 on average 40 books are given out to food bank attendees from each site, every The Bookbanks stalls feel increasingly embedded in the food bank seNices, with guests looking forward to seeing what new books are displayed each week, enabling them to find something special at the food bank, alongside the essentials. Feedback frcm guests includes: '1 just keep getting great books,, and 'l've become my family's local library. I'd rather miss my bus and get to talk to you. People also talk about the impact the books have that they take home wilh them to share with their families. One guest at Bookbanks Dalston talked about how getting a book recommended for her teenage son enab18d her lo talk to him about hi8 school reading, and she was able to say she could find him 'more good books at Tuesday club,, rather than describing it as a food bank.
Additional information (optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about.. During the period of this report, Bookbanks grew from operating at one pilot site in Dalston, London to a total of 5 sites - 2 in Norfolk, 3 in London. Achievements against obje¢tives set Para 1.41 Bookbanks provided over 400 hours of voluntary services during which over 5,000 books were distributed for free. They h081ed 5 author talks and 2 writing workshops and sèt up regular visits from local librarians at their partner food bank sites. They held 3 online training sessions, bringing the total number of volunteers up to 50, spread betW88n London and Norfolk. Bookbanks has seen significant achievement in fundraising activities, including.. Two substantial multi-year grants of unrestricted funds. An initial donor repeating their donation the following year. Two foundations donations year on year. Monthly donations of unrestricled funds from individuals totalling £1000 per month. Significant fundraising drive for'matthew's Talks, which are Bookbanks themed events, raising £7,000, including some recurring donations. Significant local fundraising, raising £6,500 to open in Manchester (which happened in May 20251. new partnership with book retail platform booksho .or and the Indie Alliance of Publishers raising £2,500. Performance of fundraising activities against objective8 Set Para 1.41 increased thelr Activities and achlevements April 2025 August 2025 Other A new Bookbanks site opened in Manchester {speGifically Manchester Central Foodbank's Ardwlck distribution centre) in May 2025. Three further Matthew's Talks events took place in June 2025 wth authors Anne Sebba, Ruthie Collins and Hugh Aldersey-williams al various Bookbanks locations.
Financial Review Review of the charity's rinan¢i81 posrtion at the end of the period Par8 1.21 Cash at bank on 5th April 2025 was £46,270. Five grant$ were won over the year, totalling £23,000. Donations from individuals lolalled £47,000. Of this amount, £11,000 was donated by one individual. The charity received donations from over 150 individuals in the financial year to April 2025. By March 2025 there were 14 r8gular monthly donors. The majority of the expenditure lo the end of the period was for contracted consultancy fees (founders and volunteer coordinators), comprising £20,000. The trustees reviewed and amended the Reserves Policy in October 2025,. an extract of the current policy 15 reproduced below.. Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held Para 1,22 "Reserves will be funded with surplus unrestricted operating funds The trustees aim lo maintain free reserves in unre8tricted funds which equate to the sum of the following amounts: Cash Flow: 1 month of staffing costs., Contingency.. 10% of all income in the last financial year., Commitment.. increase in cosls due to new sites forecast to be opened within the next 18 months, as included within the Bookbanks Forecast Cash Flow document, and to fund operating each10¢8tion for a minimum of one year.. Closure,, a minimum of three months of total expenditur8. One month prlor to the Reserves falling below the thre&month total expenditure larget referring to Closure, Bookbanks management must notify the Board and submil to the Board an adion plan to return to a sustainable reserves level. The balances under each of the above categories at the financial year end will be included in the Bookbanks Trustees Annual Report. Amount of reserves held Reasons for holding zèro r&serves Para 1.12 Para 1.22 Cash reseNes were in excess of £3,000. NIA
Details of fund materially in deficit Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a oin ¢oncem Para 1.24 NIA Pora 1.23 NIA Addltional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements vthere relevant about.. Bookbanks, funds are principally sourwl from.. The charity's principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) Regular {monthly) and one-off donalions from individuals., Grants reiVed from other charitable and public organisations. Par# 1.47 The risks facing Bookbanks include., Increase in donations do not keep pace wrth expansion plan5', R8cruitmenl of volunteers does not keep pace with expansion plan8', Closure of food bank sltes at which Bookbanks operates. Safeguarding risks at food banks., risks to volunteers,. both of which may increase as Bookbanks. expand8 to new sites A description of the principal risks facing the charity Parl 1.4e
Structure, Governance and Management Description of charty's Irusts= Type of governing document IILi%I deed, ro al LhartLJrl How is the charity constituted? ' g uninLorpoi'ate(A sqnc.ptI0I1 C.l()I Trustee selection methods includin9 details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees Par8 1.25 Foundation Constitution P8r8 1.25 cio Pgra 1.25 Appointed by current trustees Reference and Administrative details Charit name Other name the charit uses istered charit number Charity's principal address Bookbanks 8ook Banks 1204919 31 BERESFORD ROAD, London, N5 2HS
Name of pgr¥on lor body) entltled to appolnt trustee ifan Trustee name Offie• lif any) Dat•9 acted if not for whole year Carla Priddon Claire Davies Chair 7th February 2025 Treasurer Pete Maclntyre Asma Mani Annaballe Williams Cor orate trustees- names of the directors at the date the re Oirector namo ortwasa roved NIA Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity Tru•tM nam• Dat¢• act•d If not lor whol• •ar NIA
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of the assets NIA held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian harity's objeds NIA Details of arrangements for Safe custody and segregation of such assets from the Gharity's own assets NIA Addltlonal Inforn)atlon (optlonal) Name of chlef exocutive or names of sonlor Staff momber8 (Optlonal Infornlatlonl Emily Rhodes (Consultant} Hattie Garlick (Consultant) Exemptions from disclosure Reason for non-disclosure of ke ersonnel details NIA Other o tional information io
Declarations The tru8tee8 declare that they have approved the trustsos, report abovg. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Slgnatura(sl Full name(sl Clair8 Davies P031tlon (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Treasurer Date 61h January 2026 li
Book Banks Re8iStered Charity Number: 1204919 Receipts and Payments For the Perlod 6th Aprfl 2024 to 5th April 2025 Unrestrlcted R•strlct•d Total Funds Receipts Donations 27,522 19,650 47,172 Grants 18,000 5,(*JO 23,000 Gift Ald 3,553 3,553 Interest Received 49,075 24.650 73,725 Payments onsultan¢y & Professional Fees Travelling Entertalnment Println8 Posta8e and Carria8e Office Stationery Computer & Software Bank Charges Office Equipment and IT Depreciation General Expenses Subscriptions Trainlng Costs 19,978 194 90 258 106 16 156 580 66 557 35 238 11,218 163 31,196 357 90 739 106 16 449 1,047 66 481 293 467 292 750 1,201 785 1,439 22.274 14.865 37,139 Net of Recelpts and Payments 26,801 9.785 36,586 Statement of Assets and Llabllltles at the end of the Perlod Unrestricted Funds to the nearest £ Restrlcted Fund5 to the Total Funds to nearest £ the Theèrest £ Cash Funds 36,485 9.785 46,270 Credltors Contractor remuneratlon Invoices not paid March 2025 1417 2.399 4.816
Unrestricted Reserve5 usa8e (according to Reserves Pollcy October Z0251 ijnrestricted Reserves to the nearest £ Restrirted Funds to the nearesr E Cash Flow.. l rnonth of consultant costs unrestricted 1,665 4,908 Contlngency.. IO% of tetal income unrestritted Commitment.. Increased costs (net of forecast intomel due to new sltes foiecast to be opened wlthin the next 18 months Comrnltrnent Ire5trlcted fvndsl.. Further Matthew's Talks and expansion of specific slles C105ure', a mlnlmurn of three months of total expendlture. 29,098 11,206 5,568 TOTAL ALLOCATED 41,239 11,206
Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Re to th• trustoes Boold)8nks On accounts for th• year •nded Aprll 2025 Charfty no (If any) 1204919 S•t ¢xrt on pag•s I report to the biBtees on my eXaThwts0n of tha actwnts of Ihe above charfty Trusf) for the year ènded Ro8ponglblHtlo8 and bul As the charitys trustees. you are SpOnsIble for thè praparan of of report accounts in accLYdance wlth the requirements of the Chariues Act 2011 Acn. I report in respect of rny examination of the Trust's ac¢xXts carried (Art under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carryirKJ out my examlrRlion, I have followed all Ihe appllcabl8 Dlreotlon8 glv8n by the Charty Cornml88lon undar section 14515Mb) of the ACL In(hpgnd•nt •xamlnorf8 8tatom•nt I have COated my examlnatlon. I conlfrm that no materfal matt8T3 have Corn8 to my atténtion in conn8ction wlth lh• examlnation which gives m cause lo bell8ve that in. any materfal respect: the accounting r8cords wero kept in acc(Kdancè wilh section 130 of the Charftie8 Ad; or the accounts did not arAX)rd lth the accountlng red8. or the 8ccwnts did not comply with th8 applScable requlrements ncemlw the fomi and content of accounts Set out In the Charltle5 (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than Y UIreman1 that the account8 glve a'true and falrf Maw vthtch is a matter consldered 8s part of an Indepdent examlnati(x¢. I havo no ojncems and hov& come acrDSS no other matter8 In ConnecOn wrth the ex8mination to which attention ShOd be draym In thls roport in order to enable a proper urKlerstanding of the accounts to be reathed. Sn•d: Namo: R•levanl profo•sioD quallficati¢>nls> or body {If eny)= Addro88: Ilt CLIVE IER Oct 2018
Only ¢omplete If the examtner ne8ds to hhlIght matertal rnatte of ¢oncem {s80 CC32. Indepèndènt examlrAfjt)n of chaty w)unts.' dlrerAlong and guidance for exarningr8). Give h•re brief (*tsil• of any Items that tho examiner wknhos lo dl8clo8e. IER Oct 2018