Edlnburgh NE fooclb EDINBURGH NORTH EAST FOODBANK SCIO Annual Report and Financial Statements For theyear ended 31 October 2024 OSCR Scottish Charity Regulator www.oscr.org.uk Registered SCIO SC044944
Truste& Annual Report for the year erKled 31 October 2024 The trustèes have pFeasure in presentinRtheir rekK*rt together wrf(h the financial statements for the year ended 31 Ortober 2024 Refefence and Adwlnistratlve Infixmatlon Charily name Edinbur8h North East Food bank SCIO Charity Tro SC044944 Bankers Vir8in Monèy 83 George Street Edinburgh EH2 3ES
Structure, Go¥emance and Management Constltutlon The Charity is 8 Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation la SCIOI. It was registered 20 June 2014. Appointment of Trustees The management committee, which normally meets on a Tuesday evening every couple of months, is thè charity's trustee5, Other office be3rS and preSentatIveS from each of the Churches involved. Membership of the mana8ement committee is open to all volunteers participatin8 in the running of the food bank. Trustees are elected at the annual gene[81 meeting held annually. There MUSE be a minimum of three and a rnaximum of nine trustees. ObSe¢tlves and Artivities The prevention or relief of poverty in Edinbur8h North East and surrounding areas in particular but not exclusively. by providingemergencyfood suppliesto individuals in need. to preventor relieve poverty. To aclvance cit12enship and communrty development by encouragiftg volunteering within the project. The organisation shall promote Ibut not promote exclusively) its activities and delivery operations to people within the'Area of Benefit, who are experienclng financial hardship and orvulnerable. These people will be the organisation's beneficiaries. Charitable Purposes Thè relief of poverty ofthose in need by reason of financial hardship, by the provision of short term food supplies and advicelassistance reEarding relieflprevention of underlying situation. The advancement of citizenship or community development by bringing volunteefs from the local area to distribute the food supplies and offer companionship by sharing conve¥sation and refreshments while the supplies are belng made up and passing on dètails of appmpriate professionals to alleviate the client's situatTron Artivities Ourfood bank helps no particulargroup specifically. butanybody in need in the community in general. Itoperates under the guidelFne5 Of the Trussell Trust. We are open Mon: I.IK)pm- 2.30pm North and South Leith Parish Church Halls, 6 Henderson Street, EH6 6BS Tue-. 1.00 pm- 2.30pm 11.00am- 12.30pm St Margaret'5 Church Halls, 48 Restalrig Road South, EH7 6LE Leith St Andrews Parish Church, 41(M12 Easter Road, EH6 8HT Wed.. Wed.. 4.30pm- 6.IXlpm Pilrig St Pauls Parish Church, Ib Pilrig Street. EH6 5AH. 10.00am- 11.30am ieith St Andrews Parish Church, 410412 Easter Road. EH6 8HT Fri.. 3.00pm- 5.¢J)pm North South Leith Parish Church Halls. 6 Henderson Street, EH6 6B5
representation of our volunteers and talks from the Referral Pathway Coordinator and Senior Money Advise Adviser, so that volunteers We up to date on all OL¢r developments. The foodbank relies on voliJnteer5 for its operètion, and has a well-established tean7 of approx., 60 volunteers. who Work across our 5 Atre5, our warehouse and on our van. We had a lot of enquiries for people looking to volunteer and recruited 4 new people to join our team& All volunteers arè supported by the General Manager and team leaders at each of our distribution centres. During the year we held 3 volunteer meetings, where volunteer5 receive update5, trainin8, shared real life stories and learning points. We also held 3 social evening to thank and celebrate the amazinB team of volunteers we have at the foodbank. In the last year we have lost one of our distribution centres, this was due to changes in the strurtufe of the Church of Scotland, where con8re8ation have been joining together and chsjrch buildin85 closing. This means we know operate from 4 buildings. with the possibility of operatin8 from 3 buildings in the next year. In the last year. the food bank has benefited from several permanent collection points induding Tesco Leith, Tesco Express Leith, Asda Newh&*ven, Poundland Meadowbank and Easter Greensand one of our local Lidl stores. The amount of food donated ha5 decreased this year. however having our regular supermarket collections has reminded customers of the food collection points in store. The food bank management board 15 most appreciative of food donations at special time5 of year e.8." Easter Eggs at Easter and Christmas fare around December and toiletrie5, which all add to helping restore di8nity3nd hope forthe many dients who usè ourfood bank. We continue to provide the Scotmid vouchèrs. however these weregiven outover the winter months onty. when people were morè in need. due to rise in fuel costs and cold weather. Our meal voucher project is well established and used re8ularly by clients and we will continue to provide this service a5 long as funding allows. The Leiih Pantry is well established and has been in operation for two year5, over that t(me we have had 149 members using the Pantry. As we move into the new financial year our bi88est challenge is Boing to be maintaining our stock levels. despite the decrease in numbers usingthe foodbankwe arestill a very much needed Service and therefore arestill reliant on donations to help maintsin our operations. However, through working in p8rtnershlp wlth supermafkets, schools, and our regular donators, it ks hoped we will be ableto hève morefood donated, and redUthe amount we will need to purchase, and sustalnin& good sock levels. Our other focu5 for the next year, 15 to continue developlng the Money Advi Service, by reintroduclng our tea and coffees at the foodbank, it is hoped this will encourage people to stay in a warm space and have J Chat with volunteers and the money adviser5. We will also increase the number of distribution centres the MoneyAdvisers attend. and it is hoped all 4 centres will havesomeone there every weekor second week. Asthis service develops. it is hoped that we will also see referrals to the Pantry sncfease, allowing us to keep running two session5 per week.
supermarket collecbon5, Ollt with the ones we already do throughout the year. We will also contart the donors who collect food at Christmas fjme, to see if they might be willing to do collection at other times in the year. We undertook 3 talk5 in schools this year, two We at the school assembly and one of our volunteers went along to support thTr5. the other one w3S SUPPOrted by the General Manager who went along and did a talk with a P5 class. about Poverty and its impact on society. The class then did a School assembly around poverty and foodbanks. with a whole school food drive taking place. The c135s alw came tothè warehouse to pack some food parcels. This hopefully gavethe pupils a richer experience from doing something pra¢btal. The General manager was also involved wbth the local High School and theii Young Philanthropy Project IYPII. This is where Eroups of pupils pick local charities. learn about their work and then do a presentation. The school vote on the presentation, and the charity that wÈns receives £3.L. On this occasion we were not the winning charity however the richness of this project is not the winning but learnin8 about what 8oe5 on in the community and pupils work collaborative to gain that knowledge. The General Manager has been InolVed with the Edinburgh Trussell Trust Network Group. this group was setup by the Trussell Trust area manager, and the 4 Trussell Trust Foodbanks in Edinburgh. It is a relatively unique Sltuation to have 4 Foodbanks in one city, and it was felt that a collaborative approach to how we operate acr0$5 the City was needed. There have been 6 meettngs throughout the year. and we have discusseil topi(s on voucher numbers. stock levels and financial indusion. We have partnered up with Edinburgh Food Project Money Advice Service. through funding from Trussell Trust and we now have dedicated money advisers at two of ourfoodb3nk centres. This Service gives people who come along to the foodbank, instant a$5 to support with any financial concerns they might have, by speaking with the adviser it is hoped that they will ffind ways to maximise their income and reduce the need to come to the Foodbank. As well a5 building relationships with otherfoodbanks the General Manager has also been working in partnership with other statutory and voluntary agencies across the city. particularly those within the Leith community. The General Manager attended monihly meeting5 Wlth the Leith Network Forum. This forum rs made up of other voluntary agencies within the community, it focuses on how we can all work toÈether to support those in need. Being part of this forum allows the foodbank to be an integrated Servi within the community, we have gained greater knowledBe of what is h3ppeninB Within the communitv, giving us richer re50uvces to support our foodbank clients. This forum has led to us working in partnership with a city-wide charity that supports people with addithons. Twice 3 week a support worker from the charity attends our foodbank ntre. this allows the lients that we support with addiction5 to have someone they can talk to informally over a cup of tea. and if needed we have more confidential spaces available to use. The General Manager also sits on a small locality forum and is involved in ensuring all support seTh$S are meeting the need of people with4n this locality. The General Manager hasbeen sUPPOrted bythe Management Board, the are 6 Management Board members, and 4 Management Board meetings have taken pla this year, along with our AGM. At our AGM we had 3 good
representstion of our volunteers and talks from the Referral Pathway Coordinator and Senior Money Advise Adviser, 50 that volunteers were up to date on all our developments. The foodbank relies on volunteer5 for its operation, and has a well-established team of approx.. 60 volunteers, who work acros5 our 5 centres. our warehouse and on our van. We had a lot of enquÈries for people looking to volunteer and recruited 4 new people to join our teams. All volunteers ale 5UPPOrted by the General Manager and team leaders at each of ou¥ distribution ntre5. During the year we held 3 volunteer meetin85, whère volunteers receive updates, trainin& Shared re31 life stories and learning points. We a150 held a social evening to thank and celebrate the amazing team of volunteers we have at the foodbank. In the last year we have lost one of our distribution centres. thls was due to changes in the structure of the Church of Scotland, where congregation have been joining together and church buildings closin& This means we know operate from 4 buildings. with the possibility of operating from 3 buildings in the next year. In the last year, the food bank has benefited from several permanent collection points including Tesco Leith, Tesco Express Leith, A5da Newhdven, Poundland Meadowbankand Easter Greens and one of ourlocal Lidl stores. The amount of food donated has decreased this year. however having our regular supermarket collections ha5 minded customers of the food collection points in store. The food bank management board is fflost appreciative of food donations at special fjmes of year e.g." &ister Eggs at Easter and Chrisimas fare around December and toiletries. which all add to helping restore dignity and hopefor the many clients who use our food bank. WÈ tontinue to provide the Scotmid vouchers, however these were given out over the winter months onlv. when people were more in need, due to rise in fuel costs and cold weather. Our meal voucher project is well established and used regularly by clients and we will continue to provide this service as long as fvnding allows. The Lelth Pantry is well estsblished and hos been in operation for two years. over that time we have hèd 149 members using the Pantry. As we move into the new financial year our biggest challenge is goin8 to be maintalnlng our stock leve15, despite thedecrease Fn numbers usinBthe foodbank we are still a very much needed Servi and therefore are still reliant on donations to help maintain our operation& However. through working in partnership with supermarkets, schools, and our regular donators. it is hoped we will be able to have more food donated. and reducethe amount we will need to purchase, and sustaining Bood sock levels. Our other focus for the next year. is to continue developing the Money Advrce Service. by Teintroducing our tea and coffees at the foodbank, it is hoped this will encourage people to stay in a warm spate and have a chat with volunteers and the money advisers. Wewill also increase the number of distribution Cent&the MoneyAdvisers attend, and it is hoped all 4 £Èntres will have someone there every week orsecond week. As this service develops, It is hoped that we will also see referrals to the Pantry increase, allowing us to keep running two sessions per week.
The Lelth Pdn Leith Pantry has been open for just over 2 ar%. In that time. we have offered memberships to 149 individuals many with families- 424 visits made throughout 2023-2024 were by single parents supporting 218 children. As planned, we opened another session in April in the afternoon for those unable to make a morninÈ sesslon and to redu the waiting list. This afternoon sessior¢ has been much quieter a5 most members say they Pfefer to visit in the morning. This will be reviewed at the end of the year. Awareness forthe Pantry has increased and therefore. more charitiesare referring into the Pantry. The Cyrenians and Bethany Christian Trust a or8anisations suptx)rting people at risk of homelessness, now living in their Leith based temporary accommodation. Between the two charitie5 they have referied 8 clients to the Pantry. We received 10 referrals from the Link Worker based at Leith Mount Surgery alone. Referrdls such as these ensu those that need the Pantry have access to tt. The Pantry Is not only a place to shop but to chat and Leith Pantry being a smaller Pantry in membership and Space Seems to create a feeling of safety. so members often share what 158oing on in their lives. We have heard some very personal stories over the past two years and often the Pantry is able to signpost members to other groups and supports in Leith such a5 debt advice, housing support or leisure opportunitie5. However. because of this sense of Security, it (3rt also become clearthrough conversationsthat Some membersdo not fitthe criterta and are just usinE the Pantry as a cheaper food shop. In Octobei the Management Committèe undertook 3 review of the pantry membetship. it was decided that as part of our Commitment to our members and due to the high demand for the Pantry, all memberships will be reviewed at 3 months intervals and will be for a maximum of 12 months. This 15 to enable new members to benelit from the Pantry. Members will also be expected to engage with our new money advice service, if they are not receiving support from anywhere else. Members who no longei fit the Pantry triteria or have been with the Pantry 12 months or more werè given notice that their membership will termlnate at the end of 2024. This will leave the Pantry with 30 members to go forwarded into 2025. Going forward a new initial assessment and membership agreement will be implemented. and it is hoped this will help minimise those who do not fit the criteria. Our partnership with YMCA has stopped due to restructuring and role changes within the YMCA and therefore. the development of a map showing a pathway of supports In Leith dbd not materialise. This is now beinE taken on board through the Leith Network Forum which meets 4 Me% a year. This is a collertive of local voluntary and Statutory Services located in Leith meetin8 together to discuss pertinent issues. We have a member volunteer and have appioached several other mernbers to consider thi5 Opportunity. The operation of the Pantry 15 reliant on volunteers. and we are now an 8 stron& dedicated volunteer team, who engage well with members. and have forged good relationshlps with them. Throughout the year the volunteers have had opportunities to develop their skills and trained to undertake further responsibilities, which means they now manage the Pantry in the absence of the Pantry Coordinator.
Our membership with Fare5hare is currently£90 per month whlch allows us to have l(KI-300k8 food eath week. We have always had sufficient food, and the relationship fostered between the Pantry and FareSha means we often get extra during PFckup. The Pantry is also a partner with Neighbourly, a charily that supports supermarkets to link with Foodbank, so surplus foods can be distributed tsirly. We werè partnered with our local Sainsbury to receive any surplus foods, however the quality of food was poor. and so the Pantry stopped the partnership. We applied for a £500 grant through Neighbourly on two occasions but were not suc¢essful due to the high number of applications. The Pantry continues to receive food from the Edinburgh North East Foodbank which is either donated or purchased using monetary donations to the foodbank. Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home provide pet products and members get a free weekly allocation if they have a pet. We still supply free sanitary products received as donations from the foodbank. In August we conducted our anr.ual review and received some positive feèdback .1 experted the Pttntry to be o smoll shop• where I could pkk up store cupboanl l)asi(s for a lot less. My expertorf¢)nshove been metandexceeded. Therearekn of baskfoods tochoosefrom, howeverthere Is also o lot nre cholce on offer- "Nkefrlendty wor*force. can'tdo en04whfvryou. Greotfood. GOtSeleCtIOn-PleAty oAfreshAruit and veg.- "I wouldspy thotitis On excelkntserth withfrfendfystoff, qftdltreolfy helps you getthrough tough dmes." "Good voluei goodseledlon worth the money.- Going forward we will continue to monitor the Pantry fnembership to ensure those who need the Panlry have access to it. As the Pantry fits into the Strategic plan of the Edinburgh North East Foodbank we will explore the benefits and drawback% of continuing our affiliation to Your Local Pantry. We will also be looking to recruit volunteers to help drive the van and pick up food.
finan¢lal Revlew Summary The food bank continues io be in a strong State financtally, however in¢ome reduced from 2023 by £41,691, reflecting the economic climate. With the exception of December 2023and January 2024 we ran al a deficit each month. The year end bank and cash balances totalled £259.175. 3 decrease on last years figure of £307,097. The deficit for the year is £47,922 which is a reduction on last year's svrplu5 of £15,Y)2. We anticipated a deficit ihis year due to the reduction in income and an increase in food costs. The Foodbank is in a better p051tion, sttstk W15e, at the year end with around 4 weeks stock available in the Warehouse. At the end of 2023 the stock held was minimal. These accounts do not include a value for stock held at the year end. Main sourte of fvndSng We continue to benefit from the 8enerosity of the general public. local community and businessès across the City. We have a steady stream of Standing orders and Jusrgiving donations, many of the former belng au8mented by gift aid and the latter increasing year on year. Grants A 8rant was received this year totalling £500 for the purchase of food for the Pantry. The amount was spent in total. JustGiving Ju5tgivin@ continues to bring in significant donations. totèllinB £39.436 this year. Standlng orders Standing orders continue to bring in a steady amount of donations totalling just over £36,714 in thls financial vear. ExpendTture As expected. total expenditure intre3sÈd by nearly 14% on the prevtous year. Although inlation has played it part in this there are other factors. Food ancl transport costs have increase to meet the demand of increased stock leve15 in the warehouse and both categorie5 have been impacted by inflation. Salary costs increased with a full year salary for the warehouse coordinator thi5 year. The Pantry ha5 now been operatin8 for two years. Costs totalled £42.573 with incorne (including grants) of £10,470. Warehouse costs are in line with 2023. Resernes Pollcv DescrSption of the tharity, its beneficlarles and itsfvnding streams. Our funding comes from individuals and orEanisations Within Edlnburgh and wider Scotland. We receive regular donations by standin8 order which supports, in large part, our day-ttrday operational expenses. Re5erve5 are used to ssjpporl new initiatives i.e. the food pantry. They are also used primarily to purchase food supplies fo¥ both the food bank and pantry. 2. The rationale behind the reserves policy. Our reserve policy is based upon p055iblÈ rèductions on fvnding from indi¥rduals and organisations. Having reserves of one yearfs opefating costs which indudes staff, premises and food Purchased. we believe would allow the food bank to operate and look to other funding sources rf current sources dried up.
- The level of reserves required. Edinbu¥BhNE Foodbank believe we need one year of ieserves which at Culnt levels is £125,fKM). How and when the reseNes pollcy wlll be reviewed. EdinburEhNE food bank will monitor the TeseNes policy on a slx-monthty basis and fully review it on a yearlv basis ¢onsidering the previous yearfs fundinE SOUT$ and predicted expenditure in the coming three years of operation.
Notes to the A¢¢ounts-ftr the ended 31 Odober 2024 l. Basls of Acc4)unting These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Cha¥itie5 & Trustee Investment (Scotlandl Act 2¢XJ5 and the Charities Accounts Iscotlandl Regulation5 2006 las amended) 2. Nature and Purpose of Funds Unrestrirted funds are those that can be used at the discretron of the trustees irF furtherance of the objects of the charity. The trustees maintain a single unrestrirted fund for the day to day runnine of the charity. Restricted funds may onty be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor o¥ when funds are raised for specific purposes. Two bank accounts are held but restricted funds, since not common, will be managed manually. 3. Donatlons Over 1000 financial donations were reiVed over the year. Many were from the Beneral publie bui also many companies contacted us to make donations and ranged from whatever people could atord to some very significant amounts, all of which are very rnuch appreciated by the foodbank. Many of these donations are a150 not just one off but 5UPPOrt in an ongoing and continuing way by standing order and repeated donations 4. Grants Recelved Leith Gives £500 S. Cost of Charftable Actlvtt5es This coveis small miscellaneous costs incurred in carrying out the funttion. 6. Governance Costs This 15 an honorarium for the examiner of the accounts. 7. RestrScted Funds The Ripple Fund remaining balance of £50 w35 repaid this year. The fund for Leith Community Café was increased with a donation of £6,0(X). The year end balance for the Supply of hot meals is £7,364
Future Plans Our focus for next year, will be to continue to develop the Leith Pantry, whereby through additional funding we will be able to increase our membership capacity and take on new volunteers For the year ahead the Pantry will be lookin8 to develop the following= Increase membership and opening hours to accommodate an increase in membership Continue to Sour cheaper food5. Butld on the rel8tionships forged already in Leith i.e. Lidl ènd make new ones. As we foster relationships with members. we can identify additional needs and SiEnpostlsupport as appropriate Look to partner with charle% that teach cooking skills i.e. Cyrenians
Indeperxtent Examlnerfs Report I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 October 2024 Respectlve re5pon5ibilties of trustees and examiner The charity trustees are responsible for the preparatton of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities and TFU5tee Investment Iscotlandl Act 20)5 and the Charities Accounts15Wtl3ndl re8ulatlons 2006 The charitytrustees considerthat the audit requirement of Regulation IOlIl Idl oFthe accounts Regulations doe5 not appty. It 15 my responsbility to examlne the accounts under settion 44lilQ of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent exanlnerfs statefflent My examination 15 carried out in accordancewith Re8ulation 11 of the Charities Accounts Iscotlandl Regulations 2006. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the attounts presented with those records. It also includes consTrderation of at)y unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning ary such matters. The proce(lu5 undertaken LkTr not provide all the evsdente that would be requred in an audiL and consequently I do not èxpress an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independentexamlnerfs statement In the course of my examination of the statement of account for the year endéd 31 October 2024, no matter has come to my attention l. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect: F, Accountingrecords have Th)t been kept in accordancewith Section 44 Iillal of the Charities and Trustee Investments Iscotlandl Att 2005 an(t Regulation 4 of the ChaTIti25 Accounts1S£otlandl RegulatlOV5 2(K)6 The accounts do not accord with these records The statement of accounts do not comply with any of the requirements of Regulation 9 01 the Charities Accounts Iscotlandl Rewlations 21J)6 2. to which. in my opinn, attention should be drawn in ordèrto enable a proper understanding ol the accounts
0M al o Lf> otho 0000 rfj mmm wwwwwwwww r4 M tsi o o Ltl rrio0
I