Trustees Annual Report
and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
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The Trustees submit their annual report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) (“Accounting and Reporting by Charities”) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.
Reference and Administration Details
Name of Charity:
Ringwood Foodbank
Registered Charity number: 1206403 Registered Address: Ringwood Foodbank, Unit 10a, Forest Corner Farm, Hangersley, Ringwood, BH24 3JW
Principal Operating Address: Ringwood Foodbank, Unit 10a, Forest Corner Farm, Hangersley, Ringwood, BH24 3JW
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The Charity’s Trustees Office held Term of Office
Mr Chris Lee Chair 5.1.2024 – 5.1.2027
Mrs Patricia McAleer Safeguarding Officer 5.1.2024 – 5.1.2027
Mrs Claire Skelley Volunteer Co-ordinator 5.1.2024 – 5.1.2026
Mrs Anita Steel Secretary 5.1.2024 – 5.1.2028
Vice-chair
Mr Jonathan Gibson Treasurer 5.1.2024 – 5.1.2028
Mrs Debbie Spender Health and Safety Officer 1.7.2024 – 1.7.2025
Mrs Kim Green Safeguarding 1.7.2024 – 1.7.2025
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Bankers:
Barclays Bank PLC
In addition to the Trustees named above, the operation of the Foodbank is dependent on other principal postholders:
Mrs Christine Owen Warehouse Manager Mrs Louise Shrubsole Ringwood Distribution Centre Manager Mr David Evans Verwood Distribution Centre Manager Mr David Williams Fordingbridge Distribution Centre Manager - Resigned March 2025
The Foodbank has 130 volunteers who operate the three distribution centres and the warehouse on a day-today basis. This includes Drivers, Shift Supervisors, Mobile larder volunteers, a Data Input Team, Referral Agent Co-ordinators, a social media and website team and graphics expert.
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Structure, Governance and Management
The constitution of Ringwood Foodbank was adopted on January 5[th] 2024 at which point a new charity was incorporated with the Charity Commission, Ringwood Foodbank CIO, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. This replaces the existing Ringwood Foodbank charity which was founded in 2013 from an idea raised by Claire Skelley and Jacqueline Brown. The trustees of this Ringwood Foodbank have become trustees of the new charity resulting in good continuity of leadership. The official transfer was completed in July 2024.
The accounts for the initial period of Ringwood Foodbank CIO are from 5[th] January 2024 until 31[st] March 2025. This is to cover the period of the existence of the charity but in reality the figures only cover a 9 month period from July 2024 to March 2025 as all figures prior to this were included in the previous Ringwood Foodbank charity accounts. The previous charity has been dissolved with the Charity Commission.
When selecting individuals for appointment as trustees, the trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the Foodbank. New Trustees are co-opted for one year at which time an assessment is carried out and a decision made as to whether to invite the trustee to continue for a full 3 year term. In the interests of continuity all seven existing trustees were appointed for differing lengths of time in January 2024, one, two or three years. All trustees must sign a confidentiality agreement. All trustees give their time and skills voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits.
The Foodbank has supporters from many walks of life who provide donations of food, assist with food collections, donate financially and act as volunteers. It works closely with the range of churches in Ringwood, Fordingbridge and Verwood and an extended network of local front-line professionals including local Schools, Doctors’ surgeries, Citizens’ Advice and Social Services. The Foodbank leases two units at Hangersley for use as a warehouse. Distribution Centres are operated from the Activities Centre at Greyfriars in Ringwood, from the United Reformed Church in Verwood and The Old Laundry, Bartons Road, Fordingbridge.
In December 2020 Ringwood Foodbank entered into a franchise agreement with Trussell. We share common values of compassion, justice, dignity and community and are committed to working together to bring about an end to the need for foodbanks by tackling the societal causes of poverty and particularly food poverty.
Objectives and Activities
The objects of the charity are the relief of poverty in Ringwood, Verwood, Fordingbridge and surrounding areas, in particular but not exclusively by providing emergency food supplies to individuals in need and / or charities or other organisations working to relieve poverty. Ringwood Foodbank operates under the auspices of and in accordance with the regulations of the Foodbank Network, part of Trussell.
The main activity undertaken by the charity is the relief of food hardship and poverty for individuals and families living in and around Ringwood, Verwood and Fordingbridge. This is achieved through the collection of ambient food products donated by individuals, schools, churches and other community groups. The food is sorted and stored and then distributed to those in need. This is done through an e-referral scheme, whereby an electronic referral is issued by a care professional who is able to assess that there is a genuine need.
The strategic objectives of Ringwood Foodbank are detailed in Full in the Chair’s report below.
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Ringwood Foodbank pays for the provision of fruit and vegetables from FareShare, a waste reduction charity, which are shared amongst the three Distribution Centres. Fareshare also run mobile community Larders in Ringwood and Three Legged Cross aided by Foodbank volunteers and operate a mobile larder in Fordingbridge.
The operation of the Foodbank is entirely dependent on volunteers. All Trustees, key post-holders, managers and staff in the warehouse and distribution centre are volunteers. The Trustees wish to express their deep gratitude for the over-whelming level of support given by the people and communities of Ringwood, Verwood, Fordingbridge and the surrounding areas.
Achievements and Performance
The trustees do not envisage opening further distribution centres at the current time. Ringwood Foodbank CIO is a registered charity with the Charity Commission.
We have a regularly updated Facebook page (RingwoodFoodbank), Instagram account (@ringwoodfoodbank) and our website (Ringwood.Foodbank.org.uk). Due to the generosity of donations and grants, no active fundraising was undertaken in the last year.
A total of 3,852 people were fed for three days, compared with 4,662 in the year 2023 - 2024. Of these 69% were adults and 31% were children. This is a decrease of 17% on the previous year. More details on this are in the Statistics report below.
A number of financial donations were received totalling £34,290 and Grants for specific projects totalling £61,518 were received in the nine month period from the beginning of July 2024 to the 31[st] March 2025. These are detailed in the financial statements. The Trustees are grateful to all individuals and organisations who have given financially, as the operation of the Foodbank requires significant income to cover running expenses.
Two of these grants support the work of the two Financial Inclusion Support workers employed by Citizens Advice New Forest and a further Financial Inclusion Support worker in schools in Ringwood. We also received ‘warming grants’ for the purchase of items to help people stay warm through the winter. Items purchased have included bedding, coats and warm clothes, 26 families and 34 single people have been helped in this way.
Ringwood Foodbank is grateful to local organisations, Lidl, Acts4Sharing and Price’s Fish & Chip shop for their support.
Ringwood Foodbank is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and has taken steps to ensure that it is fully compliant with the terms of the General Data Protection Regulations.
Ringwood Foodbank is proud to assist with schemes which promote the reduction of food waste through the distribution of food from FareShare and accepting bakery items from Lidl in Ringwood on a regular basis.
In addition to the bank balances as at 31[st] March 2025, as noted in the Treasurers report, Ringwood Foodbank held inventory of donated food of 5,269 kg, with a value of £14,596 using Trussell’s current food value per kg of £2.77.
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Statistics
Ringwood Foodbank Clients Fed Each Month April 2024 - March 2025
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243
March ‘25 66
177
286
February ‘25 78
208
309
January ‘25 101
208
435
December ‘24 138
297
333
November ‘24 95
238
357
October ‘24 114
243
295
September ‘24 81
214
267
August ‘24 80
187
342
July ‘24 124
218
228
June ‘24 81
147
441
May '24 127
314
316
April '24 103
213
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Number Fed
Total Children Adults
Month
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Ringwood Foodbank Clients Fed Each Month
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600
500
400
2024/25
300
2023/24
200 2022/23
2021/22
100
2020/21
0
Number fed for 3 days
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Ringwood Foodbank Clients Fed Each Financial Year
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6000
5000
4000
2024/25
3000 2023/24
2022/23
2000
2021/22
1000 2020/21
0
Cumulative number fed for 3 days
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During the financial year 2024/25 3,852 clients were fed, 810 fewer than in the previous year, a decrease of approximately 17%. This is the second year the total number has fallen. However, the number fed remains above the figure for the years prior to 2022/23. Only in May 2024 was the number fed was higher than in the same month of the previous year. Indeed, May saw the highest number fed in the year 2024/25, 441 clients, whilst the lowest number was recorded in June, 228 clients.
December saw the second highest number of clients fed, 435, a drop of 12% compared to December 2023. followed by October 2024 and July 2024 with 357 and 342 respectively.
The number of children fed as a proportion of the total was 31% compared to 36% in the previous year and 40% in 2022/23.
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Policies
Ringwood Foodbank has the following policies in place:
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Safeguarding
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Health and Safety
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Donations Acceptance
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Data Protection
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Reimbursement for Personal Expenses
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Lone Working
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Financial Control
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Management of Petty Cash
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Equal Opportunity (Diversity)
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Complaints and Problem Solving
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Conflicts of Interest
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Data Retention Policy and Schedule
These are reviewed every one or three years as agreed by trustees..
Safeguarding
At Ringwood Foodbank we take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously. Our policy is reviewed and updated annually, and trustees attend regular training courses. We require all volunteers to ensure their behaviour and conduct is consistent with our policy. In order to maintain best practice, volunteers are sent a copy of the policy annually and asked to complete training provided by Trussell.
A copy of our safeguarding policy can be obtained by contacting us at: info@ringwood.foodbank.org.uk.
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Chairman’s Statement
Chris Lee, Chairman
Ringwood Foodbank does not have any paid staff. Very few Foodbanks affiliated to Trussell are now in this position. It is a credit to all our 130 volunteers that we have continued to provide emergency food whilst continuing to develop our services to help those in need. It says a lot about our communities that we continue to be able to function as a volunteer only organisation and to continue to recruit new volunteers. Our greatest asset is the sense of mission of our volunteers. Thank you to all our volunteers, in your wide range of roles, for all your work.
We also received huge support from our communities in terms of food and cash donations and we are grateful to all those that have helped us help those in need.
Changes
In July 2024 we changed from being an Unincorporated Charity to being a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. This has little or no impact on our day to day activities but does provide a better governance arrangement for us.
This year two of our long serving managers stepped down. The Trustees are very grateful to Louise Shrubsole, Ringwood Distribution Centre Manager, and David Williams, Fordingbridge Distribution Centre Manager, for their many years of service to their communities.
Ringwood and Fordingbridge Distribution Centres have both relocated to new premises both of which provide greater space. The additional space provides better meet and greet facilities and more private space for other agencies to meet with clients. Ringwood has moved to the Greyfriars Activity Centre and Fordingbridge to the Old Laundry building on the Fordingbridge hospital site. The move has enabled our Financial Inclusion team to regularly meet and support clients in the Foodbank. Ringwood DC has also been able to provide space for New Forest Disability and Hamersley homes, a Mental health charity, to provide drop in services one day a week.
Demand
We supplied 4572 fewer meals in 23/24 than in 22/23. This was in part due to the fact that the 272 Ukrainians who we helped in 22/23 no longer required our help which is a reflection of how well they had established themselves with the support of our communities. Numbers of meals provided were down again in 24/25 on 23/24 by 7,290. It is difficult to identify the cause of this welcome reduction in demand but we believe the work of the Financial Inclusion team and the Schools Hardship worker in helping clients to maximise their incomes is a significant factor.
Financial Inclusion and Debt support
Commencing in July 2022, with the help of a grant from Trussell, we have been able to fund Financial Inclusion Support workers to work with our clients to help them address the financial issues they are facing that contributed to them having to use a Foodbank. These workers are employed and supported by Citizens Advice
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New Forest. This scheme continues to be a great success with financial gains to clients of over £250,000 being achieved. Clients have really valued the intensive support that this team have been able to give them.
Working in Partnership with Ringwood Benefice and Poulner Baptist church there are now sufficient funds to establish a Christians against Poverty Debt centre with an employed debt centre manager. Steps are underway to recruit a manager.
Financial Hardship worker in Schools
We are jointly funding, together with STARF (Stronger together across Ringwood and Fordingbridge) a Financial Hardship worker. This person is employed by Citizens Advice on our behalf and works in the 8 schools in Ringwood and Fordingbridge. She works with families referred by the School’s Family support and Pastoral teams and by themselves to try to maximise their income and signpost other opportunities. This year’s report shows that she has supported 76 families, tackled 523 issues across 130 cases and achieved income gains of £243,000 for the most vulnerable families.
Warm items
Using grants provided by the Dorset and Hampshire County Councils we have been able to continue to provide warm clothing, bedding, heaters, hot water bottles, flasks, microwave ovens, air fryers and energy saving devices to clients. Many of the items were identified as being needed by the Financial Inclusion support workers and by Schools and purchased by us. This allowed us to ensure clients got what they needed.
Other Multi Agency working
We are grateful to be able to work with a wide range of statutory and voluntary agencies to assist the financially vulnerable in our communities, particularly those that are active in referring clients to us. I have mentioned some of those we work with above but we are also pleased to work with the Social Prescriber and her team from the Avon Valley practices in the Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust. We are very grateful to Acts4sharing for the use of their van to distribute food to our centres and for our ability to refer clients needing furniture, bedding and clothing to them for support. We are also represented on the New Forest Cost of Living group which brings together New Forest District Council, the Foodbanks in the Forest, Community First and Citizens Advice. The focus of the group in the coming year will be the implementation of a New Forest Cost of Living plan. We have also improved our working relationship with East Dorset Citizens Advice to the benefit of our Verwood clients. We are pleased that our volunteers are able to support Fareshare Larders, which provide heavily discounted food to its members, in Ringwood and Three Legged cross as these larders are a step on from Foodbanks. We continue to be very grateful to Price’s Fish and Chips who have been supplying free meals to our clients since 2019.
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Strategic Objectives
The headlines of our plan continue to be:
Our vision is that People experiencing poverty in the Ringwood, Fordingbridge and Verwood Areas receive sufficient help and support to enable them to avoid destitution and ultimately the need to use Foodbanks.
Strategic Objectives
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To continue to provide immediate support to those experiencing poverty
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To work towards the situation where as many people as possible in Ringwood, Fordingbridge and Verwood receive the maximum income they are entitled to through a continued and developing partnership with CANF.
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To create a greater understanding in our communities of the nature of poverty in our communities
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To work with local Schools to address the needs of families identified by them as vulnerable
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To work with churches to address the needs of the most vulnerable in our community
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To identify how best we can involve people with a lived experience of poverty in what we do.
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To Work within Verwood DC Region to establish a wider inter-linked group of community initiatives and support teams, with the intention of meeting the needs of clients (old, new and potential).
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To support the execution of the Strategic Plan with the development and implementation of Communication and fund raising Business Plan.
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To develop and implement a structured training programme across all foodbank operations.
Values
We will adopt the Trussell Trust values of Compassion, dignity, community and justice as the basis for everything we do.
Thank you to Our Trustees, Volunteers and Donors and everyone who has supported us over the past year. Those in need whom we have been able to support are very grateful for the support of their community.
Chris Lee
Chair of Trustees
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Financial Statements for the Period ended 31 March 2025
Mr Jonathan Gibson, Treasurer
We continue to have wonderful support from local people and organisations. We are fortunate in this respect and Trustees are most grateful for it.
As mentioned above, the CIO received bank balances from the former Ringwood Foodbank Charity at the beginning of July 2024. As a result, the accounts report receipts and payments from this date to the 31[st] March 2025. Therefore, total receipts for the nine months to 31[st] March 2025 at £95,808 have no comparatives with the prior twelve month period. The split of receipts, for this month period, was between restricted grants, mostly from Trussell, at £61,518, unrestricted donations at £32,616 and interest of £1,674 on a deposit account.
Grants for specific projects, (noted as “restricted” in the financial statement below) were received from the Trussell Trust as noted above, totalling £39,018, and further grants were received from Hampshire and Dorset County Councils totalling £22,000. Gift Aid received from HMRC in the current period was zero, due to the change in bank accounts caused by the set up of the CIO.
As noted in the chairman’s report, restricted grants received from the Trussell Trust, funded two posts headed Local Community Organiser and Financial Inclusion. The total paid to the Citizens Advice Bureaux in the period for these posts was £68,775. Restricted grants from Hampshire and Dorset County Councils, as noted in the chairman’s report, were also used to buy food and winter support items, with payments totalling £18,725 in the period
Excluding spend on specific restricted projects as noted above, total unrestricted payments were £29,094 in the current period. This is attributable to a number of items of expenditure as noted in the chairman’s report, the Foodbank continues to part fund a Financial Hardship Worker based in several local schools at cost of £11,312, and the distribution centres based in Ringwood and Fordingbridge have both been relocated to new larger premises, with a total set up cost of £3,615.
Ringwood continues to maintain healthy bank balances as at 31[st] March 2025 of £202,359 compared to bank balances as at 31[st] March 2024 of £182,599. This increase is caused primarily by timing differences on the receipts and payments of restricted grants.
The Trustees have continued with their policy of prudence and fairness in managing the financial affairs of Ringwood Foodbank and intend to continue in that vein for the indefinite future. A professional audit is not required for these Accounts since the receipts of the charity continues to be less than £250,000, the level prescribed by The Charity Commission for a professional audit. Trustees express their gratitude to Mr Peter Vanderwelde for having examined and reported on the Financial Statements in accordance with the Charity Commission guidelines.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees of Ringwood Foodbank seek to maintain adequate reserves to ensure that all reasonable day-today running costs can be met as and when they fall due, recognising the basic financial principle that the Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring that solvency is maintained. Due to the uncertainties caused by the ongoing challenging economic climate, the current reserves are considered appropriate to cope with any further increased call on the charity’s resources.
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| RINGWOOD FOODBANK | RINGWOOD FOODBANK | RINGWOOD FOODBANK | RINGWOOD FOODBANK | RINGWOOD FOODBANK | 1206403 | 1206403 | CC16a | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts and payments accounts | |||||||||
| For the period from |
5th January 2024 | To | 31st March 2025 | ||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |||||
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||
| A1 Receipts | |||||||||
| Grants for Restricted Projects | - | 61,518 | - | 61,518 | |||||
| 500 Club | 6,714 | - | - | 6,714 | |||||
| Donations | 25,902 | - | - | 25,902 | |||||
| Interest | 1,674 | - | - | 1,674 | |||||
| AR) | 34,290 | 61,518 | - | 95,808 | - | ||||
| Total receipts | 34,290 | 61,518 | - | 95,808 | - | ||||
| A3 Payments | |||||||||
| Funded Projects | - | 76,500 | - | 76,500 | - | ||||
| Own funded projects | 14,927 | - | - | 14,927 | - | ||||
| Food purchases | 492 | 11,000 | - | 11,492 | - | ||||
| Rent & Utility Costs | 7,975 | - | - | 7,975 | - | ||||
| Telephone & Internet costs | 1,620 | - | - | 1,620 | - | ||||
| Computer, Printer & Stationary costs | 1,452 | - | - | 1,452 | - | ||||
| Transport | 1,583 | - | - | 1,583 | - | ||||
| Insurance | 497 | - | - | 497 | - | ||||
| Other | 548 | - | - | 548 | - | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 29,094 | 87,500 | - | 116,594 | - | ||||
| Total payments | 29,094 | 87,500 | - | 116,594 | - | ||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | 5,196 | - 25,982 | - | - 20,786 | - | ||||
| Funds from Charity No. 115574 | 169,481 | 53,664 | - | 223,145 | - | ||||
| Cash funds this year end | 174,677 | 27,682 | - | 202,359 | - | ||||
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |||||||||
| Categories | Details | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
|||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||||
| B1 Cash funds | Total cash funds | 174,677 | 27,682 | - |
This report has been approved by the Trustees of Ringwood Foodbank 21st July 2025
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Seclion A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trus¢ee51 members of RiDtd Fwdbank On 4ccourtts for th• period ended 31¥ Mwch 2025 Charity no lif arby} 12(6403 out on pa I report to the trusteès on my *xamination of thè accounts ol thtr above charity I'tha Trust'l for the period ended 31103 12025. R•sponsibilltie5 and As Ihe charity Irusiees of the Tnjst. you orè res$1• for lh& preparaiion basis of pOrt of the ac¢ounts in accordance the rgquirements of the ch"tieS Ad 2011 1.thè Act'l. I report in respect of my eyaminabon of the Trust's accounts carned out dÈr secb'on 145 01 the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination. I havè foll¢Md the appli¢able Directs"ons given by Ihe Charity Ccrfnmission under section 1451Sllbl of the Act. I have complèted my examination. I confim that no material matters have me to my attenDon lother Ihan thal disdosed below'l irt ¢onnection V•ith Ihè examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect.. accowlTrrvJ c5 kept in accordanc• wlh secliJi 130 01 Ihè Act or th¢ accounts do not accord wth the ae¢ounting cdS I have r¥) concems and have cornè across no olher matters in connectio ith Iho examinats.on to which attention should dravm in order lo enable proper understanding of Ihè accounts to be Teached. ' Please delete the words in the brtckets i111Y do r)1 apply. Dale.. 18 July 2025 Independent examinerfs statement Signed: Name: PETER VANDERVELOE Relevant professional qualification{sl or body Irf anyl: ACA Address.. IX)DSIDE. FOREST LANE, HIGHTOWN HILL. RING}0D IER (ktobfrr 2018 Page | 13