## **SUSTENANCE** 

## **Registered Charity Number: 1209111** 

## **Annual Accounts** 

**for the For the period 14th July 2024 to 30th September 2025** 

Contents: 

Organisation information Trustees' Annual Report Receipts and Payments Account Statement of Assets and Liabilites Independent Examiner's report 

Doc ID: 6a5db1e41c2e94635aece54c063a290c2c8f829c 



## **SUSTENANCE Organisational Structure For the period 14th July 2024 to 30th September 2025** 

|**Registered charity number:**|1209111|
|---|---|
|**Legal form:**||
|**Governing document:**|CIO Registration - 12th July 2024|
|**Address:**|C/O Jackson Hall|
||Portland Place|
||Hastings|
||TN34 1QN|
|**Trustees:**|James Bennett (Chair)|
||Madeleine Mason|
||Celia Wilson|
|**Independent Examiner:**|Louise Cavill, Independent Examiner|
||Cavill & Cruikshank Accountants and Tax Advisors|
|**Objects and Activities:**||
||1. The relief of poverty and the preservation|
||and promotion of good nutrition, good health|
||and social improvement among people who|
||are suffering from social or economic distress|
||in Hastings and surrounding area;|
||2. The advancement of the education of the|
||public in reclamation of waste food, preparing|
||and preserving health food;|
||3. The promotion and enhancement of human|
||health through providing information and|
||advice in relation to health eating and|
||nutrition;|
||4. The conservation, protection and|
||improvement of the environment for the|
||public benefit by the promotion of reduction of|
||food waste, use of recycled food products and|
||the use of surplus food.|



Doc ID: 6a5db1e41c2e94635aece54c063a290c2c8f829c 



SUSTENANCE
Trustees, Annual Report July 2024 to September 2025
1. About Sustenance
Charity name: Sustenance
Charity structure.. Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Charity number: 1209111
Registered address: Sustenance, Jackson Hall, Portland Place, Haslings. TN34 1QN
Trustees in 2025..
James Bennett {Chair}
Madeleine Mason
Celia Wilson
Sustenance is a community-led food charity based in St Leonards and Hastings. We exist to improve food
security, nutrilion and connection for people experiencing hardship, while reducing food waste locally.
2. How we are run
Sustenance is govemed by a board of Iruslees who are also the CIO'S members, as set out in our constitution.
The trustees oversee the charity's strategy. finances and risk. Day-lo-day delivery is carried out by volunteers,
supported by systems and processes developed during 2024-2025.
We had no salaried staff in this period. However, to support the setvice during a period of growth, we engaged
a freelance project coordinator on a short-term basis to manage specific parts of the work. This was an interim
measure while we continued to build a stable financial base.
We plan to appoint our first part-time staff member in 2026 to strengthen consistency and sustainability as the
Servi￿ grows.
3. What we did in 2024 and 2025
Doc ID.. 6a5db1841c2894635a8ce54c063a290c2c8F829c

Our core setvice runs weekly and is built around repurposing surplus food and tuming it into nutritious meals
and fresh produce bags for people facing food scarcity in our community.
In summary, this year we..
Collected 32.209 kg surplus food from local retailers and growers
Served 1,956 three-course meals
Distributed 2,648 shopping bags of fresh produce to take home
Created a safe and welcoming social space
Connected our members with local support se￿I￿S such as Citizen's Advice, Sussex Energise, and
Hastings Advice and Representation Centre
Coordinated a 60+ volunteer team who deliver the service with care and consistency
These activities are shaped by Sustenance's five core values.. Purpose. Sustainability & Place-Based
Growth. Innovation. Contribution. and Empathy & Respect.
4. Public benefit and the difference we made
The Charity Commission asks all charities to explain how their work delivers public benefit.
In 2024 and 2025, Sustenance's work contributed to..
Reduced food waste. by repurposing surplus from supermarkets and growers
Reduced loneliness and increased social connection, especially for refugees and residents
experiencing hardship
Improved nutrition and wellbeing, by offering fresh, healthy meals and produce
Stronger links with local support services, improving access lo advice and practical help
Community consultation carried out in 2025 showed that people value Sustenance not only for food, but also
for company, safety, dignity and a sense of belonging.
5. Highlights and achievements
In our first year operating as a charity we..
strengthened partnerships with local organisalions offering advice and support
Gathered community feedback that directly shaped improvements lo our setvice
Continued to refine Sustenance's long-term seNice model and business plan
Developed and strengthened our relationship with local food producers and suppliers
Secured storage and cooking facilities to support our Se￿iCe
These achievements demonstrate strong alignment with our outcomes around health, environment. community
cohesion and early access to support
Doc ID.. 6a5db1841c2894635a8ce54c063a290c2c8F829c

6. Financial review
In¢oma.' £88,042
Expenditure- £39,347
Funds Carried forward: £48,694
Our income came from small grants, donations and community-based fundraising. Expenditure covered food,
essential supplies, volunteer costs, hall hire, kitchen use and basic operational costs.
Reserves
We aim to hold a small reserve to ensure we can continue weekly delivery even when funding is Ljncertain. If
reseNes are low. this reflects the reality of meeting immediate community needs.
Debts
The charity held no debts at year-end.
Custodian funds
We did not hold any funds as a custodian trustee.
7. Plans for 2026
Our priorities for next year include..
Recruiting our first part-time staff member
Improving kitchen space and equipment
Enhancing volunteer training (including inclusion, anti-racism and trauma-informed practice)
Developing impact measurement tools
Exploring satellite or outreach services in neighbourhoods with the highest need
Preparing to follow SORP 2026, which applies to charities for accounting periods starting on or after 1
January 2026
8. Trustees, responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing this report and the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act
2011 and the Charity Commission's reporting requirements for small charities. They must ensure financial
records are kept properly and that the charity's resources are used only lo further ils purposes.
Doc ID.. 6a5db1841c2894635a8ce54c063a290c2c8F829c

9. Approval of the report
Approved by the trustees on:
Date:
Signed-
James Bennett, Trustee
Doc ID.. 6a5db1841c2894635a8ce54c063a290c2c8F829c

## **SUSTENANCE** 

## **Receipts and Payments Accounts For the period 14th July 2024 to 30th September 2025** 

|||||||**Previous**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**Current Year**|||**Year**|
|**Receipts**||Restricted|Designated|Not Restricted|Total Funds||
|Donations|||20,000.00|22,343.12|42,343.12|-|
|Grant income||||35,892.00|35,892.00|-|
|Grant income - Chalk Hill||5,000.00||-|5,000.00|-|
|Transfer from Karmabank||||4,902.54|4,902.54|-|
|Interest income||||4.03|4.03|-|
|TOTAL RECEIPTS||5,000.00|20,000.00|63,141.69|88,141.69|-|
|**Expenditure**|||||||
|Food costs||||11,420.73|11,420.73|-|
|Direct costs||||587.89|587.89|-|
|Advertising & Marketing||||749.35|749.35|-|
|Accountancy fee||||192.00|192.00|-|
|Bank Fees||||0.61|0.61|-|
|Cleaning||||45.43|45.43|-|
|Computer Equipment||||22.80|22.80|-|
|Consultancy||1,500.00||13,690.00|15,190.00|-|
|Entertainment||||266.89|266.89|-|
|General Expenses||||770.73|770.73|-|
|Insurance||||246.40|246.40|-|
|IT Software and Consumables||||213.34|213.34|-|
|Motor Costs||||807.27|807.27|-|
|Postage||||77.74|77.74|-|
|Printing and Stationery||||743.13|743.13|-|
|Rent||||7,236.50|7,236.50|-|
|Repairs and maintenance||||347.15|347.15|-|
|Staff Training||||101.14|101.14|-|
|Subscriptions||||2.07|2.07|-|
|Website costs||||244.80|244.80|-|
|Travel||||81.42|81.42|-|
|||||-|-|-|
|**TOTAL PAYMENTS**||1,500.00|-|37,847.39|39,347.39|-|
|**Net Surplus/(Deficit)**||3,500.00|20,000.00|25,294.30|48,794.30|-|
|Fund Balances B/F|01/10/2024|-|-|-|-|-|
||||||||
|Fund Balances C/F|30/09/2025|3,500.00|20,000.00|25,294.30|48,794.30|-|



Doc ID: 6a5db1e41c2e94635aece54c063a290c2c8f829c 



## **SUSTENANCE Statements of Assets and Liabilities For the period 14th July 2024 to 30th September 2025** 

||||**2025**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Current Assets**||||
|Current Account|@|30/09/2025|39,004|
|Deposit Accounts|@|30/09/2025|10,001|
|Cash in hand|@|30/09/2025|2|
||||49,007|
|**Less Current Liabilities**||||
|Accruals|||213|
||||48,794|
|**Represented by:**||||
|Accumulated Fund B/F|||-|
|Restricted Grant - Chalk Hill|||3,500|
|Designated Fund - Van|||20,000|
|Surplus/(Deficit) for the|year||25,294|
||||48,794|



## Other Assets 

An inventory of assets is held by the Treasurer and is available on request. 

Charity Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which comply with the regulations set out in the Charities Act 1993. The trustess have elected to take advantage of the provisions that apply to small charities and have prepared a Receipts and Payments account and Statement of Assets and Liabilities. 

Approved by the Trustees on                                   and signed on behalf by 


01 / 05 / 2026 

Doc ID: 6a5db1e41c2e94635aece54c063a290c2c8f829c 



## **SUSTENANCE** 

## **For the period 14th July 2024 to 30th September 2025** 

## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Committee of Sustenance** 

I report on the accounts of Sustenance for the fourteen month period ended 30th September 2025 

## **Respective responsibilities of committee & examiner** 

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act), and that an independent examination is needed. 

## **It is my responsibility:** 

to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act 

to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities 

Act), and 

to state whether particular matters have come to my attention 

## **Basis of independent examiner's report** 

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the supporting documentation presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair" view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. 

## **Independent examiner's statement** 

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 

- 1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: 

to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met; or 

- 2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

Louise Cavill FCCA ACA Chartered Accountant Cavill & Cruikshank Accountants and Tax Advisors 7 Henderson Close Hastings TN34 2DU 

Dated: 3rd March 2026 

Doc ID: 6a5db1e41c2e94635aece54c063a290c2c8f829c 



Audit trail 

Sign 

30.09.2025 Sustenance Final Title 30.09.2025 Sustenance Final .pdf File name Document ID 6a5db1e41c2e94635aece54c063a290c2c8f829c Audit trail date format DD / MM / YYYY Status Signed 






**01 / 05 / 2026** Sent for signature to James Bennett 16:18:17 UTC+1 (james@sustenance.org.uk) by integrations@hellosign.com acting on behalf of info@candcaccountants.co.uk IP: 212.221.167.2 **01 / 05 / 2026** Viewed by James Bennett (james@sustenance.org.uk) 16:18:33 UTC+1 IP: 213.31.13.0 **01 / 05 / 2026** Signed by James Bennett (james@sustenance.org.uk) 16:19:07 UTC+1 IP: 213.31.13.0 **01 / 05 / 2026** The document has been completed. 16:19:07 UTC+1 

Sign 

Powered by