## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION** 

**TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT** 

**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** 

**Registered Charity No:  SC043220** 

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## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **TABLE OF CONTENTS** 

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES ........................................................................................................................................... 3 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES .................................................................... 14 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES ...................................................................................................................... 17 BALANCE SHEET ......................................................................................................................................................... 18 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS .................................................................................................................................... 19 ACCOUNTING POLICIES .............................................................................................................................................. 20 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..23 

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**EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **Foreword** 

24/25 was a year of significant change for Edinburgh Food Project: We pushed forward with our strategy focussing on the themes of relief, support, and change, and said goodbye to Director after 9 years with the charity. 

has grown the organisation substantially to become more than just a foodbank and we are grateful for all of her hard work and dedication. She will be succeeded in June 2025 by 

where she was the Senior Relationship Manager leading the fundraising and communications teams. She is passionate about social justice and has over a decade of experience working in senior level roles in both the voluntary sector (including Citizens Advice, the Scottish Book Trust, and Families Outside) and the Scottish Government. Within her role at Cyrenians she has been involved with Fareshare and has an understanding of both food insecurity and the funding landscape for organisations working to alleviate poverty in Edinburgh.  She is also a serving Board member of Homeless Network Scotland and a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. 

The cost-of-living crisis continued to pose significant challenges throughout 2024/25 with our warehouse team and our volunteers collecting and sorting over 134,590kg of stock to provide over 18,138 food parcels, through our seven foodbank centres. 

Our Money Advice Service proved more crucial than ever, helping over 285 people secure over £823,240 in financial gains, with the average gain per person being £2,888. Thanks to fixed-term funding from Trussell our service is now being delivered in other Trussell foodbanks Edinburgh-wide. 

We actively supported Trussell's Essentials Guarantee campaign, which aimed to ensure everyone has access to enough money to buy the essentials. We also supported the work of the Poverty Alliance and Child Poverty Action Group to push for policies that address the systemic causes of poverty. 

We are thankful for the resilience and dedication shown by our staff and volunteer team, who work tirelessly to ensure we can support people experiencing poverty. We are also very grateful to our host building partners, the public, corporate supporters, and grant funders whose generosity provided the resources to help people in need. 

2025/26 will bring with it its own set of challenges, but we are confident that with our strategy and our new Chief Executive in place we will make positive steps towards achieving our vision of an Edinburgh without poverty, where everyone has what they need to thrive. 


**Chair** 


**Acting Director** 

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## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for Edinburgh Food Project for the year ended 31 March 2025. 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting Policies set out in this report and comply with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). 

## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** 

Edinburgh Food Project is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The objectives are set out in the Trust Constitution and are: 

- The prevention or relief of poverty in Edinburgh 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 prevent or relieve poverty; and 

- To advance citizenship and community development by encouraging volunteering within the project. 

Edinburgh Food Project are a member of the Trussell Foodbank Network, that provides training, data collection and management systems, and strategic development support. 

Throughout 24/25 we delivered the first year of our new three-year strategy to support our vision, mission, and strategic aims. 

**Our Vision:** An Edinburgh without poverty, where everyone has what they need to thrive. 

**Our Mission:** To provide food and other everyday essentials, support, and advice, while working with individuals, communities, and partners to address the root causes of poverty. 

## **Our strategic aims:** 

- 

- RELIEF: To offer dignified immediate relief to people experiencing poverty 

- SUPPORT: To offer support and advice to people experiencing poverty 

- CHANGE: To advocate for societal change 

- INFRASTRUCTURE: To have adequate resources to sustain our service for as long as it is needed. 

## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** 

RELIEF 

To offer dignified immediate relief to people experiencing poverty 

## _FOOD_ 

## **Foodbank centres** 

We operated seven foodbank centres in the North West, Central and East areas of Edinburgh including one at our Community Hub in Craigmillar. By the end of 2024/25 we had provided 18,138 food parcels, containing three meals per day for three days, to 9,119 households. 

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## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **Grassmarket** 

In conjunction with the Grassmarket volunteer team, and in consultation with the people who use the Grassmarket centre, we conducted a review of the items that were routinely rejected by people using the Grassmarket centre.  In Autumn 2024 we piloted a smaller core pack at Grassmarket, which includes the items that were universally popular. On top of the core pack, people were invited to make a selection from 15 other items, including pulses and pasta, as well as a selection of items that could be prepared with a kettle.  This pack was well received and, after collating feedback from the people using the centre during feedback fortnight in November, it was adopted as the standard pack for Grassmarket. 

## **Hub** 

Our first Community Hub located in the Thistle Centre for Wellbeing, Craigmillar marked its first full year of operation with a celebration bringing together support agencies, volunteers and members of our focus group. This event served as an opportunity to launch the Hub impact report that showcased the first year of activity and learning. Key highlights from the Hub Impact report included: 12 support agencies held drop-ins, a total of 40 events were held with 105 attendances, and support agencies had 512 significant conversations with people we support. 

## _OTHER EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS_ 

## **Items** 

We continued to provide other everyday essentials including: toiletries, household cleaning products, baby items, and pet food at our seven foodbank centres. 

## **Grants** 

We continued to provide cash grants via our Money Advice Service to help people with the cost of gas and electricity. In the year we issued 37 people with fuel grants totalling £4,650.  We also worked with partner organisations to maximise the support available around fuel poverty. The team supported 156 clients to access £7,479 through the Fuel Bank Foundation and Hope4You vouchers. 

SUPPORT 

To offer support and advice to people experiencing poverty 

In addition to providing emergency food, foodbanks provide a safe and respectful environment where people can access expert advice and support services that can help address the underlying causes of food poverty. This includes money advice (benefits and debt) along with help with utility bills, housing, and employment. 

## _MONEY ADVICE SERVICE_ 

The Money Advice Service ensures readily available access to specialist welfare right and debt support for those experiencing financial crisis/hardship, in a diverse and accessible manner. 

We received funding from Trussell to extend our Money Advice Service to Edinburgh North East and Edinburgh South East foodbanks. This expansion has brought an additional 6 posts to the team and significantly increases the number of people we can support.  The team of 10 Advisers (three senior) now offer drop-in support at 68 foodbank sessions per month. 

During the year the Money Advice Service helped people secure £823,240 in financial gains, an increase of 85% from the previous year. 591 new clients accessed the Money Advice Service with 213 people receiving a financial gain so far. 

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## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## _ADVICE AND SUPPORT_ 

## **Drop ins** 

We offer people the opportunity to access additional services (such as employability, housing and energy advice) through drop-ins at the foodbank centres and Hub, delivered by our partner agencies. We offered an average of 24 drop-in sessions per month from 12 partners across seven locations.  Partners included: 

- Access to Industry 

- Aditi 

- Advocard 

- Big Issue 

- Changeworks 

- Circle 

   - Turning Point Scotland 

   - Venture Scotland 

   - Vocal 

   - Voice Ability 

   - Enable 

   - CEC Family Household Support 

- Edinburgh Tenants Federation 

## **Partner activities** 

We also offered one off events, workshops, and activities for people at our Hub including: 

- Five-week Digital Inclusion workshop 

- Cooking classes 

- Women’s exercise classes 

- Family activity day 

- Energy advice event and workshops 

- Crafting group for families affected by substance misuse 

- Focus groups with people with lived experience 

## **Outreach** 

Outreach work was also undertaken with EFP becoming embedded within local and Edinburgh wide networks such as the East Synergy Group and the Menu For All network. Increasingly EFP have been taking a leading role in these networks guiding decision making and becoming recognised as a trusted, expert partner. The Children and Families Network in Craigmillar also led to a number of partnerships with local organisations. 

## **Referral and signposting** 

Our Referral Pathways Coordinator worked across the city to streamline the way that referrals are made; training and guiding referral agents to work differently to reduce repeated foodbank use, resulting in better outcomes for the people we support. This project works on the principle that foodbanks should be a last resort and encourages other agencies to carefully consider other more appropriate avenues of support before making referrals to the foodbank. 

## CHANGE 

To advocate for societal change 

## PROMOTE 

Edinburgh Food Project are part of Trussell’s network of 1,200 foodbank centres, working to tackle food poverty and hunger in our local communities and across the UK. Together with the Trussell Trust, 

we also supported the work of the Poverty Alliance (a network of organisations and individuals in Scotland who work to end poverty) and the Child Poverty Action Group. 

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## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **SHARE** 

To build a better, more just future where poverty and inequality are not inevitable, it is important that we draw on the skills and knowledge of other professionals and interested groups to ensure we focus on where we can make the biggest difference and to ensure we share our knowledge, expertise and learning. 

Throughout the year Edinburgh Food Project staff participated in various fora, networks, and events to build relationships and develop partnerships including: The Edinburgh Advice Partnership, Edinburgh Community Health Forum and The Menu for All Network. 

The Strategic Partnership and Development Lead has built relationships with two local MP’s articulating our concerns with proposed cuts to social welfare. Adding our voice to similar campaigns will become a greater part of our work going forward. 

As a member of the Trussell network of foodbanks we share the data of those who visit our foodbank centres; allowing our work and our learning to feed into regional and national statistics of poverty, and evidence the need for wider societal change. 

## **LEAD** 

At Edinburgh Food project we believe that we should practice what we preach and lead by example in the areas of employment and equality and inclusion. 

## **Employment** 

In 24/25 we provided our staff a 3.5% pay increase to reflect the rate of inflation. 

Our new Training and Development Policy was introduced in May 2024 to support staff to attain professional accreditation.   We also introduced a wellbeing hour per month for all staff which has been very well received. 

## INFRASTRUCTURE 

To have adequate resources to sustain our services for as long as it is needed. 

## **DONATIONS** 

Financial donations from individuals, companies, charities, and other groups amounted to £513,967 (2023/24 £486,524).  Grant funding increased by 6% to £369,695 (2023/24 £348,047). The majority of grant income came from Trussell to support projects, and we added significant new donations from the Robertson Trust, the National Lottery, and Scottish Government’s Advice in Accessible Settings Funding Programme to our portfolio. 

The cash value of food donations increased to £317,392 (2023/24 £308,881). 

Holding adequate stocks of food is vital to ensure that we can meet the fluctuations in demand which occur throughout the year and especially at times of crisis. The charity maintains strong working partnerships with food retailers, schools, and faith groups who support us with food donations, and our Harvest Festival and Christmas appeals were very successful. During the year we ran a total of 36 supermarket collection days, collecting a total of 16,534kg of food, which represents 13% of the total donated stock for the year. 

Overall total donations of food were 125,354kg in 2024/25 (130,329kg in 2023/24) and purchased stock equated to 28,339kg. 

The charity held 10,534kg of stock at year end. 

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## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## _PEOPLE_ 

## **Volunteers** 

Volunteers remain at the heart of our charity: collecting, organising, and delivering donations; and being there for our clients right across the city.  In 2024/25, our volunteers gave over 11,950 hours of volunteering. This is as many hours as 7 full time staff working for a year. 

We completed the assessment process to renew our Investing in Volunteers accreditation for another three years. Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management.  The assessment looks at six quality areas including Vision, Planning, Inclusion, Recruitment, Support and Development.  The assessor reviewed the self-assessment and supporting documents, and conducted interviews with 36 people, including staff and volunteers.  The final report was very positive, and included helpful suggestions for continuous improvement, many of which will be implemented over the coming year. 

## **Staff** 

At year end we had 31 staff (11PT/20FT). 11 new staff were recruited and inducted, four of our team were promoted to more senior roles of which one was a previous volunteer.  In total, 6 of our staff are former volunteers. 

Senior Adviser roles were developed within the Money Advice team and were supported with coaching and leadership training. We have also supported an internal secondment and hosted a student internship. 

We continued to support our team completing regular 1-1s, team meetings and providing learning and development opportunities, including:  Helping Employers Recruit Fairly, CPAG Welfare Rights, Diploma in Xero and Excel, Values First, and Making services more accessible for people with learning difficulties. 

Twice per year we conduct a staff feedback survey: 

- 100% of people agreed, or mostly agreed, Edinburgh Food Project is a good place to work 

- Everyone knows what is expected of them in their role 

- 100% of people agreed or mostly agreed that they feel supported in their work 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

## **Governing document** 

Edinburgh Food Project was constituted on 8 May 2012 as a single tier organisation that was granted charitable status as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 18 June 2012. The charity is governed by a constitution, which states that its aims are the prevention of relief of poverty in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas in particular but not exclusively by providing emergency food supplies to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty; and to advance citizenship and community development by encouraging volunteering within the project. Copies of the Trust Constitution are available from the office at Unit 12, New Lairdship Yards. 

## **Related parties** 

EFP are a member of the Trussell Trust Foodbank Network, which provides training, data collection and management systems and strategic development support. 

## **Organisational structure** 

The structure consists of the charity Trustees who are also its only members and comprise the Board. Each of the charity Trustees must comply with the code of conduct and rules on conflicts of interest adopted by the Board. The code of conduct is supplemental to the conduct provisions in the constitution and the duties imposed on charity 

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## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

Trustees under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) 2005. The board met 6 times in 2024/25. The Director is not a Trustee and has day to day responsibility for the operational management of the organisation, staff and ensuring that the organisation, staff and volunteers continue to develop skills and working practices in line with good practice. 

## **Recruitment and appointment of Board of Trustees** 

A Board of Trustees are responsible for setting the strategic direction and policy of the charity. At each AGM, all the charity Trustees retire from office but may then be re-elected. The charity Trustees elect from amongst themselves a Convener, Treasurer and a Secretary. The Board also seeks out new Trustees with appropriate skills and enthusiasm. The maximum and minimum number of charity Trustees are twelve and three. There were eight Trustees at 31 March 2025, all of whom were in post for the whole year.  Their details are set out on page 13 and the Convener keeps a register of the charity Trustees. 

## **Induction and training of new Trustees** 

On appointment new Trustees receive a thorough induction to the organisation which covers all aspects of the Charity including Policies and Procedures, OSCR Guidance for Charity Trustees and the organisation chart. In addition, the new Trustees meet with the Senior Management Team for an induction visit. 

## **Pay policy for Key Management Personnel** 

The Board of Trustees review staff pay annually and regularly benchmark salaries against pay levels within the charity sector. 

## **Plans For Future Periods** 

To achieve our strategic objectives across activity areas, we have outlined key ambitions to focus our development activity over the next year and help us work towards our vision in line with our mission and values. 

- **HUB MODEL** For 25/26 we will extend our community activities through the acquisition of a community garden offering community members the opportunity to learn how to grow their own food as well as acting as a social space for people we support. We will continue to meet the needs of the local community by providing ESOL classes over the summer holidays. We will look to foreground the voice of the community on issues that matter to them by partnering with Voiceability to provide Group Advocacy sessions. 

- **MONEY ADVICE SERVICE** For 25/26 we will continue to work with other Trussell Trust network foodbanks to offer our Money Advice Service Edinburgh-wide. 

- **REFERRAL PATHWAYS** Our Referral Pathways project will conclude in January 2026. In this final year of the project we will focus on the sustainability of the project beyond its funding period as well as grow links with and between our partner organisations. 

- **LOCATION REVIEW** During 25/26 our lease from our warehouse ends, we will be reviewing if our current locations and warehouse model is still fit for purpose and considering alternatives that would allow us to better support the people who use our services. 

- **EVALUATION & IMPACT** In 24/25 we implemented a new evaluation structure to better understand the impact and ensure our services and activities are achieving the desired outcome for the people we support. 

- **PARTICIPATION** In 25/26 we will continue to increase the meaningful participation of people with lived experience across our activities including at board level, in our service design, and in our decision making. 

- **PROFILE & REPUTATION** In 25/26 we will continue to develop the profile of Edinburgh Food Project locally and nationally, both within the sector and wider society to attract partners and funding, and to be included in key conversations. 

- **LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY** In 25/26 we will continue to develop our role as leaders within our sector, to advocate for the people we support, and to add our voice to campaigns and movements for change that support our vision. 

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## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** 

The charity generated a deficit of £296,650 (2023/24: £167,074) of which £36,788 related to restricted funds (2023/24: £38,128) and £259,862 (2023/24: £128,946) related to unrestricted funds after transfers. Total income was £1,241,066 (2023/24: £1,177,175) of which restricted income was £382,991 (2023/24: £283,818) and unrestricted income was £858,075 (2023/24: £893,357). Total expenditure was £1,539,401 (2023/24: £1,344,249) of which restricted expenditure was £415,483 (2023/24: £301,855) and unrestricted expenditure was £1,123,918 (2023/24: £1,042,394). At the year-end total funds amounted to £882,571 (2023/24: £1,179,221), of which £142,749 (2023/24: £179,537) related to restricted funds and £739,822 (2023/24: £999,684) related to unrestricted funds. We have run a planned deficit for the past two years.  Going forward, a key focus of the Trustees and senior management is sustainability and managing the deficit. 

## **Restricted Income** 

Restricted income consists mainly of grants, and this increased by £99,173. The make-up also changed, with funding from Trussell for our main Money Advice Service and for our referral pathways project coming to an end, and new funding from Trussell for our extension of the Money Advice Service across Edinburgh totalling £225,000 in the year. We also successfully diversified our grant funding, receiving restricted grants totalling £119,772 from a variety of new funders. 

## **Unrestricted income** 

Unrestricted income includes both financial donations and the donation of food. Financial donations were £500,167 (2023/24: £479,434). Food donations equate to £317,392 (2023/24: £308,881), an increase of 3%. Food donations were valued at £2.37 per kg until 30 September 2024, from which point they were valued at £2.77 per kg. This is the Trussell Trust recommended value and reflects the cost of a standard food parcel. 

## **Expenditure** 

Expenditure on charitable activities increased by £141,951 - 12%.  This is largely due to the expansion of the Money Advice Service team to enable us to provide advice across the whole of Edinburgh.  It was partially offset by a reduction in expenditure on food provision, as we made the difficult decision to end the provision of supermarket vouchers to people accessing foodbank centres. 

## **Donations and grant funding** 

In notes 2 and 4 on pages 23 – 24 of the notes to the financial statements, we formally identify the income received from donations and grant funding. The Trustees wish to record their thanks and gratitude to the many individuals and organisations who have so generously provided the charity financial and food donations, which have allowed the charity to meet its objectives. 

## **Principal risks and uncertainties** 

EFP maintains a risk register that is discussed at each board meeting. The following key risks have been identified: **Increased need for our service** 

The cost-of-living crisis continues to have a devastating impact on people, resulting in a higher need for our service. This has been exacerbated in 24/25 with the changes to Universal Credit having a drastic impact on people with long term health conditions, caring responsibilities, or irregular incomes. 

To mitigate the effects, we will continue to expand our Money Advice Service to ensure people are able to access the income they are entitled to and continue to develop our Referral Pathways project to ensure people are supported in their time of crisis. Furthermore, we will lend our voice to local and national campaigns calling for change including supporting Trussell and Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Essentials Guarantee campaign to increase Universal Credit to £120 per week. 

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## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **Reduction in food donations** 

As the cost-of-living impacts people’s ability to donate we expect to see a continued decrease in the food donations from the public. To mitigate this, we have increased the capacity of our Food Liaison Officer to ensure we are exploring all avenues including building strong and sustained relationships with local supermarkets and churches; reaching out to Scottish food manufacturers; and exploring partnerships with local retailers. 

## **Fundraising** 

We are mindful of giving trends and the challenges facing fundraising across all income streams. Our Fundraising Lead monitors our progress against targets monthly, and we maintain a mixed income model so that we can pivot in response to changes in giving trends. 

## **Reserves Policy** 

The Trustees regularly review reserves, using the Reserves Policy to support the Strategic Plan.  A risk-based approach is used to calculate an optimal amount of reserves that looks at reliability of income, costs of providing core activities, and specific liabilities. 

Currently we have no big capital plans in place.  We will review the level of reserves required should we identify such plans, for example if we aim to purchase a property.  There is significant uncertainty over future income.  While we have diverse fundraised income, we know that Trussell are winding down their grant giving to us and will need to either identify alternatives or reduce our spending base.  In addition fundraising from individuals is volatile and is reducing across the sector. 

We also need to plan for day to day operational costs and unforeseen emergencies.  As a foodbank provider we have the pressures of static or declining donations of food for emergency parcels while facing increased need.  We therefore need to consider the fact that additional food has to be purchased and take a forward view of charity expenditure, setting reserves based on this.  The cost of food is small in relation to our expenditure on our Money Advice Service so we believe that increases in this expenditure line will be amply covered by the reserves amount enabling us to continue should future income be less than budgeted. 

Therefore we consider that continuing to hold six months of budgeted expenditure (£694,538) remains reasonable. At 31 March 2025 our free reserves figure was below target at £690,055, therefore the reserves policy was not met. We commit to reviewing the level required when a new budget is agreed, or new spending priorities are identified, such as a new building.  We will also review the level required should the key risks on the risk register change.  As disclosed above, the key risks were an increased need for our service, reduction in food donations, and fundraising. All of the above have been considered in this policy.   We will review the figure that six month’s funding equates to through the finance reports provided to the Trustees at each meeting, and during Annual Accounts preparation. 

## **Grant making Policy** 

EFP made fuel grants to individuals in Edinburgh. Payments are made to clients of the Money Advice Service who have had a full benefits check, and where their energy bills are more than 10% of their income. 

We also made infant formula grants to individuals in Edinburgh as funded by FEED UK. Grants are available to clients of the Money Advice Service who have children under one year old and would benefit from the financial support. 

We also make small discretionary grants to individuals for specific needs, funded by individual grants from Edinburgh Lothian Trust Fund.  Where we could not identify alternative sources, we made small grants from our unrestricted reserves.  These grants are available to clients of the Money Advice Service on a discretionary basis where specific needs have been identified. 

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EDINBURGH FOOD PROJEcr
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
For the year ended 31 March 2025
Reference and administrative information
Charity Name: Edinburgh Food Project:
Charity No.. SC043220
Charity Trustees
Key Management Personnel
Principal office
Unit 12, New Lairdship Yards, Broomhouse Road, Edinburgh, EHII 3UY
Independent Auditors
Whitelaw Wells, 9 Ainslie Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6AT
Bankers
Bank of Scotland plc, PO Box 1000, BX2 ILB
The Co-operative Bank plc, PO Box 250, Skelmersdale, WN8 6
Triodos Bank, Deanery Road, Bristol, BSI SAS
Virgin Money, Jubilee House, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 4PR
st
CAF Charity Deposit Platform, provided by Flagstone Group Ltd, l Floor, Clareville House, 26-27 Oxendon Steet,
London, SWIY 4EL
Investment Managers
Evelyn Partners, Atria Two. 3rd Floor, 148 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EX
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**EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES** 

The charity Trustees are responsible for preparing a Trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

The law applicable to charities in Scotland requires the charity Trustees to prepare financial statements for each year, which show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are required to: 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- observe the methods and principals in the applicable Charity SORP; 

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in operational existence. 

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

The Trustees are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the charity and its financial information on the congregation’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

## **Statement as to disclosure to auditors** 

So far as the Trustees are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity’s auditors are unaware; and each Trustee has taken all steps that they ought to have taken as a Trustee in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity’s auditors are aware of that information. 

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf, 


.   Date:  28 July 2025 

**Convenor of the Board of Trustees** 

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## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES OF EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **Opinion** 

We have audited the financial statements of Edinburgh Food Project for the year ended 31 March 2025, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating the Income and Expenditure Account), the Balance Sheet and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, Including FRS102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

In our opinion the financial statements: 

- give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of the resources for the year then ended; 

- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and 

- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). 

## **Basis for opinion** 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs UK) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

## **Conclusions relating to going concern** 

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 

## **Other information** 

The other information comprises the information in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard. 

14 



## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES OF EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities Act 2011, the Charities and Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 

- the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the Governors’ annual report; 

- Proper accounting records have not been kept; or 

- The financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or 

- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit 

## **Responsibilities of Trustees** 

As explained more fully in the Trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 14, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements which give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** 

We have been appointed as auditor under section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder. 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. 

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: 

Irregularities that result from fraud are inherently more difficult to detect than irregularities that result from error. 

From enquiries of those charged with governance, it was determined that the risk of material misstatement from fraud was low with little scope for fraud to occur. Our audit testing is designed to detect material misstatements from fraud where there is not high-level collusion. 

Our audit testing was designed to detect material misstatements from other irregularities that result from error where there is not high-level concealment of the error. In this regard the following audit work was undertaken: applicable laws and regulations were reviewed and discussed with management; senior management meeting minutes were reviewed; internal controls were reviewed; and journals were reviewed. From this audit testing it was determined that the risk of material misstatement in this regard was low. 

15 



## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES OF EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements (cont.)** 

We carried income testing and grants payable testing which was designed to identify any irregularities as a result of simple mistakes or human error. From this audit testing it was determined that the risk of material misstatement in this regard was low. 

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. 

This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 

## **Use of our report** 

This report is made solely to the charity’s Governors, as a body, in accordance with section 44 (1) (c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulation 10 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s Governors those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors’ report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and its Governors as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 


Whitelaw Wells Statutory Auditor 9 Ainslie Place Edinburgh EH3 6AT 

Whitelaw Wells is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006 

28 July 2025 

16 



## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITES** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

|||**Unrestricted Funds**|**Restricted Funds**|**Total Funds**|**Total Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**Notes**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**||||||
|Donations and legacies|2|500,167|13,800|513,967|486,524|
|Donations of goods and services|3|318,742|-|318,742|309,961|
|Charitable activities|4|504|369,191|369,695|348,047|
|Other income||10,915|-|10,915|-|
|Investment income||27,747|-|27,747|32,643|
|**Total**||858,075|382,991|1,241,066|1,177,175|
|**EXPENDITURE ON**||||||
|Raising funds|5|170,175|-|170,175|116,974|
|_Charitable activities_:||||||
|The provision of emergency food|5|582,763|8,854|591,617|698,143|
|Drop ins, partner activities, and|5|29,378|77,475|106,853|39,907|
|referral pathway||||||
|Hub|5|103,713|14,400|118,113|136,619|
|Money advice service|5|237,889|314,754|552,643|352,606|
|**Total**||1,123,918|415,483|1,539,401|1,344,249|
|Net gains/(losses) on investments||1,685|-|1,685|-|
|**Net (Expenditure)/ Income**||(264,158)|(32,492)|(296,650)|(167,074)|
|**Transfers between funds**|20|4,296|(4,296)|-|-|
|**Net Movement in funds**||(259,862)|(36,788)|(296,650)|(167,074)|
|**Reconciliation of Funds**||||||
|Total funds brought forward||999,684|179,537|1,179,221|1,346,295|
|**Total Funds Carried Forward**|19|739,822|142,749|882,571|1,179,221|



The notes on pages 23 to 34 form part of these financial statements 

17 



## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **BALANCE SHEET** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

|**Notes**<br>**Fixed Assets**<br>Tangible assets<br>11<br>**Current Assets**<br>Investments<br>12<br>Stocks<br>13<br>Debtors<br>14<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>15<br>**Total Current Assets**<br>**Liabilities**<br>Creditors falling due within one year<br>16<br>**Net Current Assets**<br>**Net Assets**<br>19<br>**Funds**<br>**Unrestricted funds**<br>Designated funds<br>20<br>Unrestricted general funds<br>20<br>**Restricted funds**<br>20<br>**Total funds**||**£**<br>787,899<br>29,662<br>45,216<br>59,650<br>922,427<br>(59,961)<br>862,466|**2025**<br>**£**<br>20,105<br>20,105<br>882,571<br>-<br>739,823<br>739,823<br>142,748<br>882,571|**£**<br>-<br>29,481<br>97,513<br>1,117,382<br> <br>1,244,376<br> <br>(110,135)<br>1,134,241||**2024**<br>**£**<br>44,980<br>44,980|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||||
||||||||
||||||1,179,221||
||||||157,178<br>842,506<br>999,684<br>179,537<br>1,179,221|157,178<br>842,506|
|||||||999,684<br>179,537|



Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by: 


Date:  28 July 2025 


Date:  28 July 2025 

The notes on pages 23 to 34 form part of these financial statements 

18 



## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

|**2025**<br>**Funds**<br> <br>**£**<br> <br>**Cash flow from operating activities**<br>Net movement of funds<br>(296,650)<br> <br>Adjustments for:<br>Interest receivable<br>(27,747)<br> <br>Depreciation of fixed assets<br>24,875<br> <br>(Increase)/decrease in stock<br>(181)<br> <br>Decrease/(increase) in debtors<br>52,297<br> <br>(Decrease)/Increase in creditors<br>(50,174)<br> <br>Net (gains) on investments<br>(1,686)<br> <br>**Net cash (used)/generated from operating activities**<br>(299,266)<br> <br> <br>**Cash flows from investing activities**<br>Purchase of fixed assets<br>-<br> <br>Interest receivable<br>27,747<br> <br>Purchase of investments<br>(1,596,910)<br>Proceeds from the sale of investments<br>838,084<br> <br>**Net cash (used)/generated from investing activities**<br>(731,079)<br> <br> <br>**Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents**<br>(1,030,345)<br> <br>Cash and equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period<br>1,117,382<br> <br> <br>**Cash and equivalents at the end of the reporting period**<br>**Represented by:**<br>87,037<br> <br> <br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>59,650<br>Cash held as part of investment portfolio<br>27,387<br> <br>**Total Cash and cash equivalents**<br>87,037<br> <br>|**2024**<br>**Funds**<br>**£**<br>(167,074)<br>(32,643)<br>23,092<br>34,209<br>(77,504)<br>77,023<br>-<br> <br>(142,897)<br> <br>(15,294)<br>32,643<br>-<br>-<br> <br>17,349<br> <br>(125,548)<br>1,242,930<br> <br>1,117,382<br> <br>1,117,382<br>-<br> <br>1,117,382<br>|
|---|---|



19 



**EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

The principal accounting policies, which have been applied consistently in the current and preceding year in dealing with items, which are considered material to the accounts, are set out below. 

## 1.1 **Basis of preparation** 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated by relevant notes to the accounts. They have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) issued on 16 July 2014, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). 

Edinburgh Food Project meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recorded at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s). 

## 1.2 **Going Concern** 

The Trustees consider there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Trustees going concern assessment covers a period of at least 12 months from the date of signing of these financial statements. Accordingly, the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. 

## 1.3 **Income** 

Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income: 

- Donations and legacies are included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. 

   - Income from activities for generating funds is recognised as earned, as the related services are provided. 

- Investment income is included when receivable. 

- Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, 

   - are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant. 

- Incoming resources from service level agreements, where related to performance and specific 

   - deliverables, are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance. 

- Income is only deferred where entitlement conditions have not been met or related services have not been provided as at the year end. 

- Donated services and facilities are recognised where the benefit to the charity is reasonably 

   - quantifiable and measurable. The value placed on these services is the estimated price that would be paid in the open market for an equivalent service or facility. 

- Goods donated and held as stock for distribution by the charity, including food items donated to foodbanks, are recognised as incoming resources when received as stock and an equivalent amount is included as resources expended when stock is distributed. 

20 



**EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## 1.4 **Expenditure** 

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. 

These are allocated as between charitable expenditure and Governance costs. The charity is not registered for VAT and, accordingly, expenditure is shown gross of irrecoverable VAT. 

Charitable expenditure is incurred in direct pursuance of the charity’s principal objects and as set out in the Directors’ Report. Raising funds comprises costs incurred in inducing organisations to contribute financially to the charity’s work and income received in pursuance of these areas is shown within incoming resources. 

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include governance costs which support the charity’s programmes and activities. These costs include the expenses of directors’ meetings, the statutory audit and legal and professional fees. Support costs have been allocated to expenditure on charitable activities on the basis of staff time. 

## 1.5 **Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation** 

Tangible fixed assets are initially recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows: 

Property improvements:  5 years or the remaining life of the lease; whichever is shorter. Motor vehicles:  5 years. 

Expenditure on tangible fixed assets costing less than £2,000 has been charged to the income and expenditure account, unless bought from specific capital funding. 

## 1.6 **Investments** 

The charity holds an investment portfolio consisting of UK government issued Gilts, investments in a liquidity fund, and associated cash.  All of these investments are intended to be held for less than a year and are therefore classed as current asset investments.  The investments are held at fair value, determined as their market value as at 31 March 2025. 

## 1.7 **Financial Instruments** 

Financial instruments comprise financial assets and financial liabilities, which are recognised when the company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial instruments are classified as “basic” in accordance with the FRS 102 and are accounted for at amortised cost using the effective interest method. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash flows over the life of the financial assets or liability to the net carrying amount on initial recognition. Discounting is not applied to shortterm receivables and payables, where the effect is immaterial. Financial assets comprise cash, grants receivable and other debtors. Financial liabilities comprise other creditors and accruals. 

## 1.8 **Pensions** 

The charity operates a Defined Contributions Pension Scheme. Contributions are charged in the accounts as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the Scheme. 

21 



**EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## 1.9 **Stock** 

Stocks comprise food, toiletries and household essentials held for distribution by the foodbanks directly operated by the charity. Stocks are valued at fair value, after allowance for obsolete and slow-moving items. 

## 1.10 **Debtors** 

Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due. 

## 1.11 **Funds Accounting** 

Funds are classified as either restricted funds or unrestricted funds, defined as follows: 

Restricted funds are funds subject to specific requirements as to their use which may be declared by the donor or with their authority or created through legal processes, but still within the wider objects of the charity. Restricted reserves are held where at year end, these funds have not been fully used. 

Unrestricted funds are expendable at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. If parts of the unrestricted funds are earmarked at the discretion of the Trustees for a particular purpose, they are designated as a separate fund. This designation has an administrative purpose only and does not legally restrict the Trustees’ discretion to apply the funds. 

## 1.12 **Hire purchase and Leasing Commitments** 

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease. 

## 1.13 **Judgements in Applying Accounting Policies and Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty** 

In preparing the financial statements judgements have been made when applying the accounting policies. These judgements are evaluated on an ongoing basis and are based on historical experience. The only area where judgement has a material effect on the values within the financial statements relates to valuation of donated goods, which are recognised as income on receipt and as expenditure on distribution and as stock held on the balance sheet. 

22 



## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2025**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**2.**<br>**DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**<br>Individual giving<br>261,520<br>10,830<br>Community income<br>73,880<br>220<br>Corporate income<br>111,278<br>2,750<br>Unrestricted grants<br>53,489<br>-<br> <br> <br>500,167<br>13,800<br> <br>|**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>272,350<br>74,100<br>114,028<br>53,489<br> <br>513,967<br>|**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>282,729<br>54,943<br>118,852<br>30,000<br> <br>486,524<br>|
|---|---|---|



Income from donations and legacies was £513,967 (2023/24: £486,524) of which £500,167 (2023/24: £479,434) was unrestricted and £13,800 (2024: £7,090) was restricted. 

## **3. DONATED GOODS AND SERVICES** 

|Donated services<br>Donations of food|1,350<br>317,392<br> <br>318,742<br>|-<br>-<br> <br>-<br>|1,350<br>317,392<br> <br>318,742<br>|1,080<br>308,881<br> <br>309,961<br>|
|---|---|---|---|---|



Donations of goods and services were £318,742 (2023/24: £309,961) of which £318,742 (2023/24: £309,961) was unrestricted. 

23 



## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**4.**<br>**INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**<br>**The provision of emergency food and essentials:**<br>Arnold Clark Community Fund<br>-<br>2,500<br>Edinburgh Airport Community Fund<br>-<br>1,500<br>Feed Infant Formula Grant<br>-<br>100<br>Sainsburys<br>-<br>500<br>Watches of Switzerland Group<br>-<br>-<br> <br>Total<br>-<br>4,600<br>**Service development**<br>Mental Health Workshops<br>-<br>1,600<br>Cookery Workshops<br>-<br>5,000<br>National Lottery Community Fund – Cost of Living<br>Support Scotland Fund<br>-<br>20,000<br>Hub<br>-<br>500<br>Trussell Trust – Referral Pathways<br>-<br>-<br> <br>-<br>27,100<br>**Money advice service**<br>Advice in Accessible Settings<br>-<br>47,595<br>Baillie Gifford<br>-<br>5,000<br>National Lottery Community Fund – Cost of Living<br>Support Scotland Fund<br>-<br>30,000<br>Edinburgh Lothian Trust Fund<br>-<br>2,027<br>M&G plc Local Community Grant<br>-<br>-<br>Translation service<br>-<br>9,050<br>Trussell Trust – Financial Inclusion<br>504<br>18,819<br>Trussell Trust – MAS City wide<br>-<br>225,000<br> <br>504<br>337,491<br> <br>504<br>369,191<br>|**2025**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>2,500<br>1,500<br>100<br>500<br>-<br>4,600<br>1,600<br>5,000<br>20,000<br>500<br>-<br>27,100<br>47,595<br>5,000<br>30,000<br>2,027<br>-<br>9,050<br>19,323<br>225,000<br>337,995<br>369,695|**2024**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>250<br>-<br>24,000|
|---|---|---|
|||24,250<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>146,600|
|||146,600<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>5,000<br>-<br>138,447<br>33,750|
|||177,197|
|||348,047|



Income from charitable activities was £369,695 (2023/24: £348,047), of which £504 (2023/24: £71,319) was unrestricted and £369,191 (2023/24: £276,728) was restricted. 

24 



## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

|**5.**<br>**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**<br>Raising funds<br>**Charitable activities:**<br>Provision of emergency food<br>Drop ins, partner activities,<br>referral pathway<br>Hub<br>Money Advice Service<br>Total Expenditure|**Staff**<br>**Costs**<br>**£**<br>141,506<br> <br>105,809<br>71,420<br>39,502<br>357,834<br> <br>574,565<br> <br>716,071|**Project**<br>**Costs**<br>**Governance**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>28,669<br>-<br>442,286<br>4,250<br>6,055<br>2,869<br>62,362<br>1,587<br>47,621<br>14,373<br>558,324<br>23,079<br>586,993<br>23,079|**Support**<br>**Costs**<br>**Total**<br>**Expenditure**<br>**Total 2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>170,175<br>116,974<br>39,272<br>591,617<br>698,143<br>26,509<br>106,853<br>39,907<br>14,662<br>118,113<br>136,619<br>132,815<br>552,643<br>352,606<br>213,258<br>1,369,226<br>1,227,275<br>213,258<br>1,539,401<br>1,344,249|
|---|---|---|---|



Within the year Edinburgh Food Project made fuel grants to 37 individuals in Edinburgh, totalling £4,650. Payments are made to clients of the Money Advice Service team, who have had a full benefits check, and where their energy bills are more than 10% of their income. 

Total expenditure was £1,539,401 (2023/24: £1,344,249), of which £1,123,918 (2023/24: £1,042,394) was unrestricted and £415,483 (2023/24: £301,855) was restricted. 

**6. SUPPORT COSTS** 

|**Governance:**<br>Audit Fees<br>Director’s Salary and Trustees Costs<br>Trussell Trust Membership<br>**Support Costs:**<br>Finance, Compliance & Office Support<br>Strategy Development<br>H R Support|**2025**<br>**£**<br>8,400<br>14,679<br>-<br>23,079<br>158,085<br>50,803<br>4,370<br>213,258|**2024**<br>**£**<br>6,960<br>15,834<br>1,080|
|---|---|---|
|||23,874|
|||151,289<br>60,914<br>4,370|
|||216,573|



25 



**EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

|**7.**<br>**STAFF COSTS AND NUMBERS**<br>Salaries and wages<br>Agency costs<br>Social Security Costs<br>Pension Costs<br>**Total staff costs**<br>**The average number of employees during the year**<br>Total number of staff|**2025**<br>**£**<br>733,230<br>23,078<br>60,894<br>37,820<br>855,022<br>29|**2024**<br>**£**<br>512,936<br>15,604<br>39,652<br>28,015<br>596,207<br>24|
|---|---|---|



The charity considers its key management personnel to be the Senior Leadership Team, made up of the Director, the Finance Lead, the Operations Lead, the Fundraising Lead and the Strategic Partnership and Development Lead (replacing Business Development Lead in October 2024). The total employment benefits including employer national insurance and pension contributions were £212,509 (2023/24: £195,954). No employee had emoluments of more than £60,000. 

## **8. PENSION COMMITMENTS** 

During the year, the charity operates personal pension plans for all employees. The charge for the year was £37,820 (2023/24: £28,015). £6,433 (2023/24: £7,098), including both the employees’ and employers’ contributions, was outstanding at the balance sheet date. 

## **9. TRUSTEE REMUNERATION AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS** 

During the year, no Trustee received any remuneration and £52 (2023/24: £0) was reimbursed to one (2023/24: none) trustee for expenses incurred on behalf of the charity. 

No Trustee or person related to a Trustee had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year. 

## **10. VOLUNTEERS** 

The charity recognises the generosity of those who donate foodstuffs for distribution at the foodbanks and also the efforts of its unpaid volunteers without whom the charity could not operate. It also appreciates the provision of the premises used for the distribution centres. 

26 



## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

|**11.**<br>**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**<br>**Property**<br>**Improvements**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>**Cost or Valuation**<br>At the beginning of the year<br>66,989<br>Additions<br>-<br>At the end of the year<br>66,989<br>**Depreciation**<br>At the beginning of the year<br>47,091<br>Charge<br>15,668<br>62,759<br>**Net Book Value**<br>At the beginning of the year<br>19,898<br>At the end of the year<br>4,230|**Motor**<br>**Vehicles**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>46,036<br>-<br>46,036<br>20,954<br>9,207<br>30,161<br>25,082<br>15,875|**Total**<br>**2025**<br>**Property**<br>**Improvements**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>113,025<br>66,989<br>-<br>-<br> <br>113,025<br>66,989<br> <br>68,045<br>31,423<br>24,875<br>15,668<br> <br>92,920<br>47,091<br> <br>44,980<br>35,566<br> <br>20,105<br>19,898|**Motor**<br>**Vehicles**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>30,742<br>15,294<br>46,036<br>13,530<br>7,424<br>20,954<br>17,212<br>25,082|**Total**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>97,731<br>15,294<br>113,025<br>44,953<br>23,092<br>68,045<br>52,778<br>44,980|
|---|---|---|---|---|



## **12. INVESTMENTS** 

|**2025**<br>**£**<br>Historical cost and fair value at the beginning of the year<br>-<br>Movements during year:<br>Purchases<br>1,596,910<br>Disposals/redemptions<br>(838,084)<br>Realised gains<br>3,319<br>Unrealised losses<br>(1,633)<br>Cash movements<br>27,387<br>Fair value at the end of the year<br>787,899<br>Historical cost at the end of the year<br>784,903<br>Investments were made up as follows:<br>UK Gilts<br>719,012<br>Liquidity Funds<br>41,500<br>Cash<br>27,387<br>787,899|**2024**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|
|---|---|
||-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|
||-|



None of the investments held have been impaired.  Risk and sensitivity are considered low since UK Government gilts have a low level of volatility, and the liquidity funds are easily realised.  The investments (other than cash held as part of the portfolio) are susceptible to changes in market conditions, however minimally so.  UK Gilts have tracked broadly in line with their redemption value for the last five years. 

27 



## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **13. STOCK** 

|**STOCK**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Unrestricted**<br>**2025**<br>**Restricted**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>Food held for clients<br>29,180<br>-<br>Supermarket Vouchers<br>482<br>-<br>29,662<br>-|**Total**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>29,180<br>482<br> <br>29,662|**Total**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>24,221<br>5,260|
|||29,481|



## **14. DEBTORS** 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>Gift Aid Due<br>22,188<br>Grants Receivable<br>-<br>Trade debtors<br>500<br>Accrued Income<br>5,114<br>Prepayments<br>12,690<br> <br>40,492|**Restricted**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>-<br>1,600<br>-<br>-<br>3,124<br> <br>4,724|**Total**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>22,188<br>1,600<br>500<br>5,114<br>15,814<br> <br>45,216|**Total**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>21,467<br>33,750<br>-<br>30,589<br>11,707<br>97,513|
|---|---|---|---|



## **15. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND** 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**2025**<br>**Restricted**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>15,717<br>43,933<br>15,717<br>43,933|**Total**<br>**2025**<br>**Total**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>59,650<br>1,117,382<br>59,650<br>1,117,382|
|---|---|



28 



## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **16. CREDITORS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR** 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**2025**<br>**Restricted**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>Trade creditors<br>2,838<br>2,406<br>Other creditors<br>-<br>-<br>Charge cards<br>3,341<br>234<br>HMRC – PAYE<br>15,647<br>-<br>Smart Pensions<br>6,433<br>-<br>Accruals<br>25,793<br>3,269<br>54,052<br>5,909|**Total**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>5,244<br>-<br>3,575<br>15,647<br>6,433<br>29,062<br>59,961|**Total**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>18,628<br>46,145<br>3,211<br>12,615<br>7,098<br>22,438<br>110,135|
|---|---|---|



## **17. LEASE COMMITMENTS** 

|Operating lease payable<br>Within one year<br>Between one to five years|**2025**<br>**£**<br>35,755<br>6,039<br>41,794|**2024**<br>**£**<br>81,615<br>43,102<br>124,717|
|---|---|---|



## **18. FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** 

||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|Financial assets at amortised costs|89,053|1,169,438|
|Financial assets at fair value|787.899|-|
|Financial liabilities at amortised costs|(44,313)|(97,520)|



29 



## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

|**19a.**|**ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUNDS AT 31 MARCH 2025**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|
|||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|
||Fixed assets|20,105|-|20,105|
||Investments|687,899|100,000|787,899|
||Stock|29,662|-|29,662|
||Debtors|40,492|4,724|45,216|
||Cash at the bank and in hand|15,716|43,934|59,650|
||Creditors|(54,052)|(5,909)<br>|(59,961)|
||Total net assets|739,822|142,749<br>|882,571|
|**19b.**|**ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUNDS AT 31 MARCH 2024**||||
|||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|
|||**2024**|**2024**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|
||Fixed assets|44,980|-|44,980|
||Stock|29,481|-|29,481|
||Debtors|92,091|5,422|97,513|
||Cash at the bank and in hand|928,512|188,870|1,117,382|
||Creditors|(95,380)|(14,755)<br>|(110,135)|
||Total net assets|999,684|179,537|1,179,221|



30 



## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **20a. FUND BALANCES AT 31 MARCH 2025** 

|**Balance at**<br>**01.04.2024**<br>**Income Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>Food Purchase Fund<br>-<br>6,470<br>(6,470)<br>Advice in Accessible Settings<br>-<br>47,595<br>(47,595)<br>Cost of Living Fund<br>1,884<br>-<br>(1,884)<br>Cookery Workshops<br>-<br>5,000<br>-<br>City of Edinburgh Council MAS<br>-<br>-<br>(12,498)<br>City of Edinburgh Council Fuel grants<br>772<br>-<br>(772)<br>Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund<br>-<br>2,027<br>(1,805)<br>National Lottery Community Fund – Cost<br>of Living Support Scotland Fund<br>-<br>50,000<br>(21,132)<br>Hub<br>-<br>500<br>(500)<br>Baillie Gifford Triage Adviser Fund<br>-<br>5,000<br>(5,000)<br>Infant Formula Fund<br>225<br>100<br>(100)<br>Mental Health Workshops<br>-<br>1,600<br>-<br>Sainsburys<br>-<br>500<br>(500)<br>Translation Service<br>-<br>9,050<br>(2,015)<br>Trussel Financial Inclusion MAS<br>Edinburgh Wide<br>-<br>225,000<br>(157,581)<br>Trussell Trust Financial Inclusion<br>78,126<br>18,819<br>(80,156)<br>Trussell Trust Referral Pathways<br>98,530<br>-<br>(77,475)<br>Van appeal<br>-<br>11,330<br>-<br> <br>**Total Restricted Funds**<br>179,537<br>382,991<br>(415,483)<br> <br>Donated food reserve<br>24,221<br>317,392<br>(312,434)<br>Hub Designated Fund<br>157,178<br>-<br>(87,964)<br>Unrestricted Funding<br>818,285<br>542,368<br>(723,520)<br> <br>**Total Unrestricted Funds**<br>999,684<br>859,760<br>(1,123,918)<br> <br>**Total Funds**<br>1,179,221<br>1,242,751<br>(1,539,401)|**Transfers**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>12,498<br>-<br>(5)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(16,789)<br>-<br>-<br>(4,296)<br>-<br>(69,214)<br>73,510<br>4,296<br>-|**Balance at**<br>**31.03.2025**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>5,000<br>-<br>-<br>217<br>28,868<br>-<br>-<br>225<br>1,600<br>-<br>7,035<br>67,419<br>-<br>21,055<br>11,330<br>142,749<br>29,179<br>-<br>710,643<br>739,822<br>882,571|
|---|---|---|



## **Description of funds** 

The Food Purchase Fund is funded by a variety of small funders and is designed to be used to top up our food donations. 

The Advice in Accessible Settings Fund is a Scottish Government Fund administered by AdviceUK, and covers some of the costs of providing our Money Advice Service. 

The Cost of Living Fund was funded by Watches of Switzerland Group, M&G plc and CMS Social Impact Fund to provide additional items to clients during the cost-of-living crisis, such as supermarket vouchers, and was completed within the 2024/25 financial year. 

31 



**EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **20a. FUND BALANCES AT 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)** 

The Cookery Workshops fund enables us to deliver cookery workshops to those we support. 

The City of Edinburgh Council MAS fund was towards the costs of providing our Money Advice Service and was completed within the 2024/25 financial year.  Some of the expenditure against this fund in 2023/24, Trussell Trust has now agreed can be allocated against the Trussell Trust Financial Inclusion fund instead, resulting into a transfer into this fund during the year. 

The City of Edinburgh Council Fuel grants fund was awarded to provide grants to individuals in Edinburgh struggling with energy costs and was completed within the 2024/25 financial year. 

The Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund consists of funds that we have applied to Edinburgh and Lothian Trust Fund on behalf of people we support through our Money Advice Service.  The funds are then used to purchase specific items for the individuals and any underspend is returned (unless it is under £10 in which case we release it to unrestricted funding). 

The National Lottery Community Fund – Cost of Living Support Scotland Fund covers a proportion of the rental costs, and our Money Advice Service at our community hub in Craigmillar 

The Baillie Gifford Triage Adviser Fund is towards the costs of our triage advisers, an integral part of our Money Advice Service. 

The Infant Formula Fund was awarded to provide grants to individuals in Edinburgh struggling to buy formula for their children. 

The Mental Health Workshops Fund enables us to run workshops in partnership with Salvation Army. 

The Sainsbury’s fund was towards the purchase of food for the people we support and was completed within the 2024/25 financial year. 

The Translation Service allows us to offer telephone interpreting services to those we support through our Money Advice Service and is funded by City of Edinburgh Council and Stafford Trust. 

The Trussell Trust Financial Inclusion grant provided three years of funding towards the costs of the Money Advice Service providing benefit, budgeting and debt advice to individuals and families experiencing food poverty and visiting foodbanks.  It was completed within the 2024/25 financial year.  Some of the expenditure in 2023/24 had been allocated to unrestricted funds and City of Edinburgh Council MAS fund, but after discussion with Trussell Trust, they allowed us to use this fund instead, resulting in transfers between the three funds. 

The Trussell Financial Inclusion MAS Edinburgh Wide provides two years of funding towards the costs of expanding our Money Advice Service to reach people across Edinburgh. 

The Trussell Trust Referral Pathways provides 1.5 years of funding to work across the city to streamline the way that referrals are made; training and guiding referral agents to work differently to reduce repeated foodbank use and resulting in better outcomes for the people we support. 

The van appeal is to enable us to buy a new van that meets the LEZ requirements. 

The Donated food reserve consists of donated food and household items. 

The Hub Designated Fund relates to funds that have been designated by the Trustees towards the first two years’ costs of running our first Hub under our new community hub model.  The first two years are now at an end, hence the transfer out of designated funds back to unrestricted funds. 

32 



## **EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **20b. FUND BALANCES AT 31 MARCH 2024** 

|**Balance at**<br>**01.04.2023**<br>**Income Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>Trussell Trust Stock<br>2,511<br>-<br>(2,511)<br>Food Purchase Fund<br>1,790<br>4,300<br>(6,090)<br>Cost of Living Fund<br>-<br>25,500<br>(5,500)<br>City of Edinburgh Council MAS<br>108,880<br>-<br>(113,359)<br>City of Edinburgh Council Fuel grants<br>14,000<br>-<br>(11,253)<br>Foodbanks –specific foodbanks<br>-<br>290<br>(290)<br>Baillie Gifford Triage Adviser Fund<br>-<br>5,000<br>(5,000)<br>Infant Formula Fund<br>-<br>250<br>(25)<br>Sainsburys<br>-<br>1,000<br>(1,000)<br>Trussell Trust Financial Inclusion<br>90,484<br>120,000<br>(127,879)<br>Trussell Trust Referral Pathways<br>-<br>127,478<br>(28,948)<br> <br>**Total Restricted Funds**<br>217,665<br>283,818<br>(301,855)<br> <br>Donated food reserve<br>60,515<br>308,881<br>(345,175)<br>Hub Designated Fund<br>429,503<br>-<br>(103,977)<br>Unrestricted Funding<br>638,612<br>584,476<br>(593,242)<br> <br>**Total Unrestricted Funds**<br>1,136,295<br>893,357<br>(1,042,394)<br> <br>**Total Funds**<br>1,346,295<br>1,177,175<br>(1,344,249)|**Transfers**<br>**Balance at**<br>**31.03.2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(18,116)<br>1,884<br>4,479<br>-<br>(1,975)<br>772<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>225<br>-<br>-<br>(4,479)<br>78,126<br>-<br>98,530<br>(20,091)<br>179,537<br>-<br>24,221<br>(168,348)<br>157,178<br>188,439<br>818,285<br>20,091<br>999,684<br>-<br>1,179,221|
|---|---|



## **Description of funds** 

The Trussell Trust Stock grant is intended to fund additional food purchases for clients and was completed within the 2023/24 financial year. 

The Food Purchase Fund is funded by The Conference for Consciousness & Human Evolution (TCCHE) for the purchase of food and was completed within the 2023/24 financial year. 

The Cost of Living Fund was funded by Watches of Switzerland Group, M&G plc and CMS Social Impact Fund to provide additional items to clients during the cost-of-living crisis, such as supermarket vouchers. 

The City of Edinburgh Council MAS fund is towards the costs of providing our Money Advice Service and was completed within the 2023/24 financial year. 

The City of Edinburgh Council Fuel grants fund was awarded to provide grants to individuals in Edinburgh struggling with energy costs. 

33 



**EDINBURGH FOOD PROJECT** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **20b. FUND BALANCES AT 31 MARCH 2024 (continued)** 

The Foodbanks Fund is made up of donations to specific foodbanks as requested by the donors. 

The Baillie Gifford Triage Adviser Fund is towards the costs of our triage advisers, an integral part of our Money Advice Service. 

The Infant Formula Fund was awarded to provide grants to individuals in Edinburgh struggling to buy formula for their children. 

The Sainsbury’s fund was towards the purchase of food for the people we support and was completed within the 2023/24 financial year. 

The Trussell Trust Financial Inclusion Grant provides three years of funding towards the costs of the Money Advice Service providing benefit, budgeting and debt advice to individuals and families experiencing food poverty and visiting foodbanks. 

The Trussell Trust Referral Pathways provides 1.5 years of funding to work across the city to streamline the way that referrals are made; training and guiding referral agents to work differently to reduce repeated foodbank use and resulting in better outcomes for the people we support. 

The Donated food reserve consists of donated food and household items. 

Restricted fund transfers relate to releasing funds to the unrestricted funds, for example for overheads, and to moving funds between restricted funds when, after discussions with funders, it became clear that funds could be used for additional purposes. 

The Hub Designated Fund, and the transfer out of it, relates to funds that have been designated by the Trustees towards the costs running our first Hub under our new community hub model, and was reduced in the year as we now have a better understanding of the costs involved. 

## **21. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS** 

There are no capital commitments. 

## **22. NET (EXPENDITURE)/ INCOME** 

This is stated after charging: 

|**T (EXPENDITURE)/ INCOME**<br>is is stated after charging:|||
|---|---|---|
|Auditor’s remuneration–audit fee<br>Depreciation<br>Operating Leases|**2025**<br>**£**<br>8,400<br>24,875<br>80,427<br>113,702|**2024**<br>**£**<br>6,960<br>23,092<br>60,047|
|||90,099|



34