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 Suc￿sS 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 re￿iVed 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.p￿tI0I1 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 eXaThw￿ts0n of tha actwnts of Ihe above
charfty Trusf) for the year ènded
Ro8ponglblHtlo8 and bul* As the charitys trustees. you are ￿SpOnsIble for thè prapara￿n 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¢xX￿ts 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 CO￿ated 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 re￿d8. 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 Indep￿dent examlnati(x¢.
I havo no ojncems and hov& come acrDSS no other matter8 In Connec￿On
wrth the ex8mination to which attention ShO￿d be draym In thls roport in
order to enable a proper urKlerstanding of the accounts to be reathed.
S*n•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 h￿hlIght 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