Annual Trustees Report 2024
Larne
foodbank
ANNUAL
Trustees Report 2024
Our Vision
Is to work towards an
end to food poverty
Our Mission
Larne
Foodbank
Is to partner with local
communities to help
those who are
experiencing food
poverty
Objectives
To collect, sort and
store donations of
long-life food and
toiletries
Who we are
Larne Foodbank is a non4enominational
Christian outreach registered charity
operating under the aUspi￿S of the Trussell
Trust which has several hundred foodbanks
throughout the United Kingdom.
Larne Foodbank is supported by many
churches, organisations, groups and
individuals in and around Larne
To provide a three
day supply of food
to individuals or
families in crisis
We supply a 3-day pack of nutritionally
balanced food items as well as toiletries to
people in crisis.
To signpost possible
longer term solutions
or support for clients
Larne
foodb

Annual Trustees Report 2024
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Annual Trustees Report 2024
Larne Foodbank. its Management Board, Trustees. administrative team and some 70 volunteer
workers have been meeting the needs of those suffering food poverty within our community since
March 2013.
In the eleven years of operation, we have provided 3 days, emergency fch3d and other essential items
to 16,415 people,. 10,520 adults and 5.895 children.
This report covers the period from 1st April 2023 to 3111 March 2024.
1:R•
ort from Paul Adam8on Tru8ts0 and Chair
f Larne F odbank Mana
ement Board:
I took over as Chairman in January 2024 and have seen a lot of changes at Larne Foodbank over the
past year. We have seen many chan8es in personnel; chan8es in our structure; and changes to the
Larne Foodbank Constitution. Most notably we record with sadness the death of our Honorary
Secretary and good friend and colleague MrAlex Munro. Alex is greatly missed by all in the
Foodbank Community.
My thanks 80 to the small workin8 group who identified that the structure and operations within the
Foodbank did not meet our chan8ing needs. We have now changed the constitution which was
ratified at our AGM held on 23, May 2024.
The number of people fed between 2022123 and 2023124 has risen marginally from 2847 to 2870
However, it should be noted that the number of children needing SUPPOrt represents 41.6% of all
people in receipt of food partels.
The statistics below show a levelling off between 2023 and 2024. But the Increase from 2022 to 2024
represents a massive increase of 49.4%.1 think we can all agree the times are very challenging for
our neighbours in Larne. l say nei8hbours, as the parable of the Good Samaritan tells us our
neighbours are anyone we come in contact with, and the values of our Foodbank mean we
• welcome strangers.
• help them in their hour of need,
• show compassion, without judgement.
Our Volunteers show these values at every distribution session.
You can 8au8e from the Food Donated and Food issued, that basicaltyl, what we are getting in is
80in8 Straight out. The stock level in our small warehouse is at the lowest it has been for some time.
but we have never run out. When we ask for food and products that we are short of, the people of
Larne respond in such a positNe way, responding to our need as a foodbank. Wrthout the support of
the people of Larne. we couldn't meet our clienvs needs.
The Foodbank and tts Referrers Work in partnership to best help our clients to escape from the cycle
of financial hardship. The foodbank provides the basic need of food with our specialist referrers
workin8 with the clients to develop pathways and 501utions out of their particular problems. We do
commit to supporting some clients with additional food parcels on the understanding that they
continue to work with referrers to complete the programme identified that will break the cycle of
poverty they find themselves in. Some agencies are more successful in assisting people than others
and we have sought to develop 8ood working relationships with these agencies for the benefit of our
clients.
Flnancial hardship is the main reason why people attended our foodbank. Financial hardship
includes cost of living crisis, inflation, increased debt, utility bills, food, rent, mortgage payments. We
all know this but fortunately for some of us we haven't been pushed over that threshold. It 15 a very

Annual Trustees Report 2024
narrow line and we know iys not going to get any easier. This coming year, I believe will be more
challenging for the foodbank.
From April 23 to March 24 Trussell Trust foodbanks in Nl distributed 90,375 food parcels, with Nl
seeing the largest percentage increase of food parcels distributed in any of the UK regions, an
increase of Il%. The Trussell Trust have in place a 10-point plan called 'Guaranteeing Our
Essentials,. They will canvass government both here at Stormont and at Westminster to ensure
peoples income covers the cost of living while sUPPOrtingthe wellbeing of everyone who needs help.
As a Trussell Trust Foodbank we will continue supporting this campaign in the coming year, an
election year as well.
It is a sad indictment of government and society that we had 375 referrals for clients who had never
attended the foodbank previously. It shows that people are being pushed over the edge financially
and the only people they can turn to for support are foodbanks and our referrers.
At Christmas of 2023 CAP, Equality Period, St Vincent de Paul and Larne Foodbank ensured another
successful Christmas Hamper programme. Hampers were prepared and delivered to feed a total of
692 people. Our Admin Team put in a lot of work and stress behind the scenes to make thi5 all
happen. The response from our partners and volunteers was amazing and local business such as
ASAP helped us with logistics. We can't underestimate how the School and Church Harvest
collections fill our stores in readiness for Christmas ad without this contribution I don't know what
we would do.
ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR Obviously, I'll leave something or someone out, so accept my
apologies in advance.
Schools out Pro8ramme- providing familles overthe school holiday perlods with additional
help.
Breakfast Club- providing cereal and juice to some local breakfast clubs.
Supporting CAP- Wendy and Sharon ran a cook along with your children course. We
supported it with a little additional food and encouraging people to get involved.
Larne Community Cluster, provided training for our Volunteers and we would encourage all
our volunteers to take advantage of any training offered. 11 of ourvolunteers completed a
emergency first aid at work course, and gained certification.
Supporting the Trussell Trusts'Guaranteeing Our Essentials" campaign.
Supporting the School Uniform scheme throu8h our friends at MEACAS.
Highlighting the Hunger in Nl Report.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Craigyhill Methodist Church for their continued
support and commitment to Larne Foodbank. A special thank you to our Administration Team
for their continued dedication and hard workthroughout the year, and of course you, our
volunteerTeam, a massive thank you.

Annual Trustees Report 2024
2: Runnln
the Foodbank:
Finanee: The cost of wnning Lame Foodbank is approximately £42k per annum, see Statement of
Receipts and Payments, (The figures presented at the AGM are given below).
Table 1.. Figures presented at the AGM of Receipts and Payments in the year ended 31 S March 24
and a graph showing the re￿Ipts and payments over the eleven years of Lame Foodbank.
¢¢olpts-*ar Ended Jl" Marth 2024 Unrestflct￿ '
8221
Just Gi¥ini
P•opl•sFundf•lsl
Fundr•islni Ev•nts
1170
1152
h4)011
2335
Ch￿rd￿ Dlr•cMy
Church•s Indlr•dlyi￿ouIh Its Momb•rs
2159
13318
Glft Ald
Totsi
1831
441512
1221
52373
Payments - Year Ended 31" March 2024 Unrestrfct•d '
Funds i
Donetlonsto Partn•r Charl￿S
3560
Fr•th Food vouth•r•nd stork
4820
8827
Vl•i•s and Offit•exp•n
f•nt Exp•ns
750
Equlpm•nl
TryH•llTrust H*￿$t￿tIOn
360
33135
8827
41962
Yotsl r•¢•ipts
Total P•ym•nts
44152
8Z21
52373
3313S
8827
41962
Swplus /- D•fl¢ltforth• Y••r
Fundj •t 3tst M•ith Olpr•via￿y•Ir
•l•nc•
11017
10411
90762
91368
101779
101779

Annual Trustees Report 2024
80000
Receipts and Payments over 11 years of
Larne Foodbank
60CQO
40000
13114 14115 15116 16117 17118 18119 19120 20121 2ty22 22123 23124
Clearly our finances are stable and very healthy. We are pleased to report that over the past year we
have received restricted donats'ons from local businesses of £8,222 and a further £7,305 of
unrestrided donations, a total of £15,527 from local Business. It is hoped that we can secure some
grant funding towards the cost of wages over the n8Xt financial year.
GDPR: There were no data breaches in the year that this report covers.
Safeguardlng: Thefe are no safeguarding issues to reporL
Heatth and 8afety: Emergency First Aid training was undertaken by eleven of our volunteers on 111n
October 2023. The training was funded by MKI and East Antrim Borough Council through the Lame
Community Cluster and delivered by BISP Training Ltd.
3: Annual
tat18ti
Donations..
18.970 Kilogrammes of food and essential Éiems were donated to the Foodbank in 2023-24 with just
under 23% being donated by local churches and 39% being donated via the ASDA donation point.
We are particularly grateful for this as ASDA contribute a monetary donation as a percentage of the
total weight donated by the public.
Donations overall We￿ On￿ again good and VR ar8 immensely grateful to the local community for
their support. As you can see from the diagram below we distributed more food than was donated and
our stocks are ￿ducing. However, the Foodbank was able to meet the demand. We are humbled to
see the support, throughout our 11 years of operation, where the donations received Correlates
closely to the volume of food distributed. However, as can be seen the amount of food being donated
is falling behind a little and we have had to purchase some items ourselves to ensure we have all
the items on the picking lists. The amount of purchased food is expected to increase over the next
year.
Food Donated and Issued April 23 to March 24
18.970kg
Food
Donated
20.IO¢k8

Annual Trustees Report 2024
Food Donated and Issued over 11 years
250ty)
150
14
18
19
io
Food donated 4ood issued
13
Roferrer8' A stron
Referral A
enc
P rtnerBhi
Individuals and families are referred to us through a wide range of some 52 active referral agencies
who are intended to also assist people with their crisis. Some referral agencies are better than others
at providing the important additional assistance to help people wth a long term resolution to their
crisis. We have tried to signpost people to th&8e agencies and work most closely with those who
provide this help.
Referrals during the past year,1 April 2023 to 31 st March 2024, We￿ 2,870, up from 2,847 in the
same pefiod in 2022123. While this is a very small increase from last year it should be noted that the
increase over the period 1 April 2022 to 31 st March 2024 is just under 50%. Larne Foodbanks.
increase this past year is much lower than the Trussell Trust Northern Ireland increase of 11 %.
Table 2: Referral agencies and numbers of p80ple referred with a graph b810w'.
Roferral agency
Number
Referral agency
Number
Advice Nl
613
21.3
FSIT
108
MEACAS
397
13.8
Churches
108
Larne Community Care
305
10.6
Doctors surgeries
95
Health Visitor Teams
Social Service Teams
93
Cristians Against Poverty (CAP)
156
The Simon Community
82
St Vincent de Paul
124
Equality Period
69
Local Electéd Representatives
124
Self-referral at Foodbank
869
Womens Aid
122
Fewer than 30 referrals
129
Horizon Surestart
108
3.85
Total Indlvlduals
Referred
2870
100

Annual Trustees Report 2024
Referral Agencies
wA￿ce Nl
MEACAS
Larne Communlty Care Centre
He3lth Visitors
CAP Lame
21%
3%
3%
Saint Vlncent de Paul
• Elected Representitives
Womens Aid
HcKiton s￿￿$tart
4%
14%
FSIT
4%
Churches
4%
DoctOfS sur8erys
• Social services reams
4%
11%
• The Simon Communlty
Equallty Period
r Dlstrlbutlon Centre
Fewer than 30 referrals
Statistics gathered throughout the year show our nine main Referrers were: Advice Nl, 21.3%;
MEACAS (fomerly Citizens Advice),13.8%,. Larne Community Care and Crisis H0using,10.6°￿'. Health
Visitor Teams, 5.9%,. Christians Against Povety (CAP), 5.9%. st Vincent de Paul, 4.3%,. Elected
Representatwes, 4.3%; Women'5 Aid, 4.3%. and Horizon Surestart, 4.3%. Most of these referral
agencies are good at further assisting people with their crisis.
The plan to phase out the number of sew-referrals at Lame Foodbank has been more successful this
past year and we have managed to reduce it to 2.4% of the total referrals. Down from 7% in the
previous year.
Cr1818 t
' as Identifiod b referrer8:
When an individual or family is referred to the Foodbank the referral agency completes a fom. part of
which is to identify the reason(s) why the referral is being made. This form has been amended by
Trussell Tnjst over the past year in order to give further evidence which can be used as a lobbying
tool to Change Government Policy. Referrers are able to identfy the main and secondary reasons for
crisis.
The table and chart below shows that 65% of those referred a￿ listed as having financial difficulties,
with the biggest reason being the rising cost of essential. This has r8sulied in the Trussell Trust along
th the Joseph Rowntree Foundation instigating a 'Guarantee Our Essentials, Campaign to
endeavour to get Govemm8nt to covef the Cost of basic essentials within the benefrts system.

Annual Trustees Report 2024
Table 3.. Crisis type5 and numbers referred (it shoukl be noted that a main cause and a secondary
cause of crisis is recorded),.
Reasons for referral
Financial- earnings related
Change in work hours
Unemployment following permanent work
Unemployment following temporary work
Delay in or awaiting other income
Financial - benefits related
Benefit delay
Benefrt deduction due to overpayment or benefrt advance
Benefit reduction due to change in eligibility
Benefit reduction due to sanction
Awaiting first benefit payment for less than a month
Awaiting first benefit payment for more than a month
Financial - debts, costs and expenses
Priorty debt
Non-priority debt
Cost of dependents has increased
Rising costs of essentials
Other unexpected expense
Personal circumstances
Insecurely housed
No access to financial support due to immigration status
Loss of support from friends or family
Change in relationship status
Domestic abuse
Change in dependents
Health
New physical or mental health condition
Ongoing impact of physical or mental health condition
Change in existin8 physical or mental health condition
Vouchers
Adults
Children
Total
19
43
49
81
18
53
24
45
73
126
27
89
28
36
78
121
13
45
60
li
52
181
24
97
li
19
17
22
12
li
56
69
135
421
127
118
125
238
756
212
56
iio
312
547
178
174
235
550
1303
390
63
76
21
97
li
84
39
92
37
li
41
57
27
22
40
17
52
38
92
156
15
191
24
257
12
4088
116
66
1361
2348
1740
Reasons for referral April 23 to March 24
Heatth Wl 293
Personal ¢ircuMstsn￿S 111111479
Financial debts. costs and
expenses
Financial- bènèfits related 11111349
Flnancial- earnlngs relaied 1111315
I(KN) 1500 20CKI 25(KI 3000

Annual Trustees Report 2024
Numbers of
le negdln
Foodbank hel
Table 4: year￿on-Year and cumulative r￿U￿$ and graphs below show Lame Foodbanks statistics
over the past eleven years.
Year
Yearly flgure8
Cumulatlve flgures
Children
Adults
Total
Children
Adults
Total
2012-13
2013-14
153
615
154
623
777
2014-15
128
432
560
282
1,055
1.337
201&16
214
647
861
496
1,702
2,468
3.287
2,198
3,173
4,341
6,442
6,691
8,777
10,698
13,545
16,415
201&17
209
766
975
705
2017-18
349
819
1,168
1.101
1,054
2018-19
352
749
1,406
4.036
4,845
6,041
201￿20
440
809
1,249
2,086
1,846
2,736
2020-21
890
1.196
2021-22
810
1,921
2,847
2,870
3,546
7.152
2022-23
1.155
1,692
1,676
4,701
5,895
2023-24
1,194
10,520
Number of people fed over past two years
1st April to 31st March
202312024
2870
202212023
2847
500
1500
2511)
3500
• Children • Adults 11 Total
Number of people fed by Larne Foodbank each
year since opening in 2013
4000
3000
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
2026

Annual Trustees Report 2024
The Trussell Trust identrfies Northem Ireland as having rewrded the largest increase in food parcels
issued in the past year at 11 % increase. England shows 5% increase, Scotland a decrease of 0.1 %
and Wales a 1 % increase. This shows that Northem Ireland has work to do to help prevent people
needing Foodbanks and for us as a net4vork of Foodbanks to help resolve people's crisis by
signposting to further assistan￿.
This is why Larne Foodbank continues to build Closer working relationships with our ￿ferra1 agencies,
churches, charities and community groups. gathering strength, information and high quality
signposting to continue to reverse this alaming trend.
trat Ic an
bu8ines8
lannin
Goals and initiatives of Larne Foodbank a￿ listed below with comments on what we were able to
achieve.
GOAL
MET?
NOTE
To continue to provid& food for families and
individuals who find theMSe￿eS in crisis.
Met
The basic role and functh?n of the Foodbank.
To signpost those who seek our help to other
agencies who may be of assistance.
Met
We have improved our referrals to agencies
such as GAP. Mid and East Antrim Affordable
Food Club, St Vin￿nt de Paul, Larne Baby
Bank and others.
To continue to develop our services in
Glenami and Carnlough.
Partly
met
We still find that referrals from Glenarm and
Camlough are low.
To continue to monitor the impact of the
wetfare system.
Met
Through local agencies, MEACAS, Advice Nl
and the Trussell Trust nationally as can be
seen in the Hunger in Nl r8POrt.
To continue to seek support from grant
awarding bodies.
Not
Met
While we did apply for one grant we were
unsuccessful.
To grow our relationships with local
communities and schools and fomi stronger
links with other Foodbanks.
Met
We continued with our 'schools out,
programme through the summer holidays and
supplied breakfast cereal to some local
schools. We connected w811 with Carrick
Foodbank.
To build on the intensive survey of our
volunteers with training events and skills
developmenl...
Met
We offered 8 number of training opportunities
to our volunteers including First Aid, Social
Media, Manual Handling and Safeguarding
training.
To develop stronger relationships with local
business.
Met
We received donations of £15,527 from Local
Business in the year 2023- 24. Further work
can be done.
To generate a markelinglfund raising strategy
Partly
met
While our staff produces a monthly UPDATE
infonning the community about our worf( and
we continue to be more proactive through
Facebook, we would like to develop this
further.

Annual Trustees Report 2024
To aim for a continuation of the 'fresh produce
vouchers,.
Met
We have the funds to continue this highly
successful scheme.
To engage wth the Trussell Trusts 'Guarantee
Our Essentials, campaign
Met
We took every opportunity to promote this
initiative at our AGM and at other community
events.
Conclusions:
The work carried out by our volunteers and staff. the generosity of the local people, organisations and
businesses and the partnerships formed with l¢)cal Referral Agencies has placed us in a strong
position to deal with the numbers of those who seek our help while at the same time working towards
a day when we are no longer needed.
Signed.. Chair Lame Foodbank
Date..
Signed.. Honorary Secretsry Larne Foodbank
Date:

Annual Trustees Report 2024
Public Benefit Statement 2023/2024
During the year 2023/2024 Larne Foodbank received donations of 18.970
Kilogrammes of food and toiletries from a variety of sources: _ collettion points in
local shops, local churches. local businesses, individuals, organisations and schools.
Larne Foodbank provided a minimum of three days, supply of non-perishable food
and toiletries to families and individuals, who were identified by referral agencies as
being in crisis, leading to food poverty. We also issued vouchers for fresh meat, fruit,
vegetables, milk and bread to individuals and families on their initial visits. Other
items such as cat and dog food (supplied by USPCA) were issued when available.
Recipients must obtain a voucher from one of our 52 referring agencies before
receiving food. In the year ending March 2024 we gave out 20.104 kilogrammes of
food and toiletries fulfilling 1029 vouchers. This provided food to 1676 adults and
1194 children, a total of 2870 people. The bulk of these recipients were referred by
Advice Nl (21.3%), Mid and East Antrim Community Advice Services {13.8Yo), Larne
Community Care Centre (10.6%) Health Visitor Teams {5.9¥0) and Christians Against
Poverty (5.4%). The average number of food parcels issued to each unique family
was 1.76 parcels in the year.
The major reason for clients being in crisis was identified by our Referrers as
Financial hardship. including debt, costs and expenses (65%). Other reasons
identified by referrers as reasons for referral were: _ Personal Circumstances (11.5%),
Benefit issues (8.5Yo), Earnings related problems (8%) and Health issues {7%).
At Christmas of 2023 Larne Foodbank, along with our partners from Christians
Against Poverty, Equality Period and St Vincent de Paul, delivered 381 bags of food
and other items to 236 homes.
The work of Larne Foodbank is supported by over 70 volunteers who sort, date and
store food, meet with and listen to clients and manage and administer the charity
with the support of three part-time paid staff.
Signed on Behalf of the Trustees of Larne Foodbank
Signature
Print Name
Date
/Jrn
pJJi

Annual Trustees Report 2024
Larne Foodbank 31 Sl March 2024
I have examined the Receipts and Payments account of the Larne Foodbank for the
year ended 3111 March 2024 with the b¢)oks and records and in my opinion the
Receipts and Payments account is in accordance thefev4ith.
Physical f&)d donations are not part of my ￿vieW.
I(~-
Stephen Knox
22 Bay Palk. Lame
21$t May 2024

Annual Trustees Report 2024
Statement of receipts and payments- Year Ended 31 March 2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
202312024
Total
202212023
Recei
ts
Voluntary Receipts
Donations and Gift Aid
Grant. donations for restricted items
42982
42982
49509
11400
8221
8221
Miscellaneous
Fundraisin8 Events
1170
44152
1170
52373
8221
60909
Pa
ments
Cosi of Fundraising
C05t of Charitable Activities
Governance costs
Grants and donations
Ifor the allevation of poverty)
Total Payments
29215
8827
38042
40563
360
360
360
3560
3560
3000
33135
8827
41962
43923
Surplus/-DeficiF for the year
Funds at 31st March of previous year
Balance
11017
90762
101779
.606
606
10411
91368
101779
16986
74382
91368
Reconcilliation
Balance per Bank
Petty Cash
less cheque not cleared
Cash and Bank in Hand
101723
91326
56
42
101779
91368
Signed
iiNX4
Date
Audited
Ik￿ 'Y
Date

Annual Trustees Report 2024
foodbank
Larne Foodbank Statement of assets and liabilities . Year ended 31st March 2024
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
funds
Total Funds
Previous Year
Cash in Bank and in
Hand
£ 101,779.00
£ 101,779.00
£ 91,368.00
details
current value
Assets retained for the
charities own use
Food Stock
7,917.00
20.(XI
10,687.44
30.00
Computers
printers
office equipment
training equipment
storage facility
Total
loo.00
50.00
90.00
100.(M)
20.00
30.00
4,375.00
£ 12,522.00
4,900.00
15,797.44
details
Vouchers - outstanding payments
Liabilities
1,265.
1,138.00
Signature
Print Name
Date
CL4
J.ILJ_
ki j LS'J
fjlINlJ AL(gAJlbER