## **Peeblesshire Foodbank – Chairman’s Report 2025**
## **Introduction**
Peeblesshire Foodbank has continued to deliver vital support to individuals and families experiencing crisis across our community over the past year. Demand for our services has remained high, reflecting ongoing financial pressures and the continued vulnerability of many households. Throughout these challenges, our volunteers, staff, partners, and supporters have demonstrated exceptional commitment to ensuring that no one in our area faces hunger alone.
## **Overview of the Year**
The year has been characterised by sustained levels of need, with many people seeking assistance due to rising living costs, income insecurity, and unexpected crises. In response, the organisation has strengthened both its operational capacity and its wider community engagement. Alongside providing emergency food, we have continued to develop approaches that promote connection, dignity, and holistic support.
We have also dedicated significant time to reviewing and improving our internal processes, ensuring that our operations remain safe, effective, and resilient.
## **Governance**
Peeblesshire Foodbank benefits from the leadership and oversight of a committed Board of Trustees. The current officers are:
Chair – Vice Chair – | | Treasurer – | Board Members - ~~ee~~
> We extend sincere thanks to fe , who retired as Treasurer in December 2024.
## **Statistics and Demand**
Demand for our services remained high across the reporting year. During that time, our charity
- provided approximately 20,000 meals
- supported 1,640 people in crisis
- handled 30 tonnes of food through our warehouse
These figures underline the scale of need within our community and the essential role played by the our charity. Staff and volunteers worked diligently to ensure that every person received support with dignity and compassion.
## **Projects and Community Work**
Peeblesshire Foodbank continued to develop and deliver a range of community-based initiatives designed to reduce hardship and foster connection. Key activities included:
- community cafés, providing warm, welcoming spaces offering low-cost meals and opportunities for social connection.
- the Summer Lunch Scheme, through which we provided 6,500 lunches to local children and families during the school holiday period.
- our annual Christmas Hamper Initiative remained a significant undertaking, supporting households at a time of heightened pressure and ensuring that families could enjoy a more secure and dignified festive period.
## **Volunteers and Staffing**
Peeblesshire Foodbank’s work is made possible by our volunteers, who remain at the heart of our organisation. We now have around 75 volunteers, whose contribution to stock management, parcel preparation and delivery, client sessions, and community projects is invaluable.
Staffing capacity has continued to develop in line with our operational needs. Our staff team has demonstrated professionalism, resilience, and a consistent commitment to supporting individuals with care and dignity.
## **Partnerships and Local Engagement**
We have continued to strengthen relationships with statutory agencies, charities, churches, schools, businesses, and community groups. These partnerships are essential in enabling us to provide effective, joinedup support to those in need.
Our strong collaboration with Citizens Advice Bureau has remained particularly impactful, ensuring that individuals benefit from financial guidance, advocacy, and improved income security alongside access to
emergency food.
## **Finance and Resources**
The financial environment has remained challenging, with increased operational pressures and rising costs. The organisation has maintained a firm focus on financial stewardship and sustainability.
Support from grant funders, local groups, churches, businesses, and individual donors has been crucial. These contributions have enabled us to maintain stock levels, deliver core services, and invest in the infrastructure required for safe and effective operations.
## **Looking Ahead**
The coming year will continue to present significant challenges for households across Peeblesshire. The foodbank remains committed to strengthening its services, deepening partnership working, and developing approaches that prevent and reduce the need for emergency food.
Our priorities will include ongoing improvements to operational processes, continued delivery of community projects, and sustained investment in dignity-centred support.
Sourcing funding to maintain core services will remain a priority, especially since funding from Trussell will be reduced as part of their new five year strategy.
## **Conclusion**
Peeblesshire Foodbank has made a substantial impact over the past year, responding to high levels of need with dignity, compassion, and professionalism. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend heartfelt thanks to our volunteers, partners, funders, and supporters. Their dedication enables us to continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of people across Peeblesshire.
24 May 2025
## **APPENDIX 3**
|**APPENDIX 3**
O9CK||
|---|---|
||**Independent examiner’s report on the accounts**
**V2**|
|**Report to the**
**trustees/members of**|Peeblesshire Foodbank SCIO|
|**Registered charity**|**SC045330**|
|**number**||
|**On the accounts of the**|Period start date
Period end date|
|**charity for the period**|Day
Month
Year
Day
Month
Year|
||1
Apr
2024
**to**
31
Mar
2025|
|**Set out on pages**|1 to 8|
|||
|**Respective**
**responsibilities of**
**trustees and examiner**|The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance
with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) 2005 Act and the
Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charity trustees|
||consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the Accounts Regulations|
||does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section|
||44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.|
|**Basis of independent**
**examiner’s statement**|My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts
Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the|
||charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes|
||consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeks|
||explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken|
||do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, I do|
||not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.|
|**Independent examiner’s**|In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention|
|**statement**
**Signed:**
**Name:**|1.
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the
requirements:
•
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and
Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and
•
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with
Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
have not been met, or
2.
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Date:**
23/01/2026
~~—~~|
|**Relevant professional**||
|**qualification(s) or body**|Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland|
|**(if any):**||
|**Address:**|Cobalt AccountancyScotland Ltd|
||27 Lauriston Street|
||Edinburgh|
||EH3 9DQ|
APPENDIX 3
Disclosure section
Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material problems.
Glve re brlef detslls of
any Items that thé
•xamlner wlshes to
dlsclose
None
## **Peeblesshire Foodbank SCIO**
## **Charity No. SC045330 Accounts for the Period to 31 Mar 2025**
The accounts are prepared on an accruals basis, and are presented in this report as follows:
Statement of Financial Activities
Profit and Loss Account
Balance Sheet Detail of Restricted Funds Notes
Independent Examiner's Report
## **Peeblesshire Foodbank SCIO**
**Charity No. SC045330 Accounts for the Period to 31 Mar 2025**
|**Income**
Donations and Grants
Income from Charitable activities
**Total Income**
**Expenditure**
**Costs of raising funds**
Fundraiser Salaries
Pension Contributions
NI
Advertising and Promotion
Postage
Printing
**Expenditure on Charitable Activities**
Value of food distributed
Vouchers Claimed
Heating Grants Disbursed
Clothing purchased
Materials purchased
Subcontactor (Financial Inclusion)
**Other Expenditure**
Rent
Office Costs
Bank/Finance Charges
Insurance
Office Equipment
Computer Software
Internet and Telephone
Subscriptions
Mobile Phone
Trussel Trust Fee
Food etc Purchased
Motor Expenses
Charitable donations
Accommodation and Meals
Staff Training
Staff Entertaining
Legal and Professional Fees
Books and Journals
Travel
Sundries
**Total Expenditure**
**Other recognised gains and losses**
Revaluation of fixed assets
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward|Unrestricted
£
135,775
64,359|Restricted
£
129,215|**Total 2025**
£
**264,990**
**64,359**|**Total 2024**
£
194,429
49,626|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**200,134**
**69,958**
62,000
5,035
2,230
346
62
285
**64,359**
64,359
**56,300**
15,492
933
90
1,305
1,962
80
686
399
72
31,986
234
1,639
108
689
77
513
35|**129,215**
**21,467**
21,467
**98,535**
156
98,379
**1,436**
1,436|**329,349**
**91,425**
83,467
5,035
2,230
346
62
285
**162,894**
64,359
-
156
-
-
98,379
**-**
**57,736**
15,492
933
90
1,305
1,962
80
686
399
72
-
31,986
1,436
234
1,639
108
689
77
-
513
35|**244,055**
**62,495**
57,683
4,670
122
6
14
**93,852**
49,613
426
820
6,469
1,524
35,000
**52,320**
14,878
2,645
226
340
1,553
80
654
847
72
-
27,671
2,213
504
27
354
59
75
87
35|
||**190,617**
**9,517**
313,273
136,856|**121,438**
**7,777**
193,710|**-**
**312,055**
-
**17,294**
313,273
330,566|**208,667**
6,716
**28,672**
284,601
313272.5|
Note 1
## **Peeblesshire Foodbank SCIO**
**Charity No. SC045330 Accounts for the Period to 31 Mar 2025**
|**Income**
Cash/cheque donations
Tesco/Trussel Trust
Interest received
Gift Aid
Grants
Total donations and grants
Value of Food Donated
**Total Income**
**Expenditure**
Rent
Office Costs
Bank/Finance Charges
Insurance
Office Equipment
Computer Software
Internet and Telephone
Mobile Phone
Food etc Purchased
Advertising and Promotion
Printing & Stationery
Postage
Subscriptions
Motor Expenses
Salaries
Employers NI
Pension Contributions
Staff Pensions
Subcontractor Costs
Accommodation and Meals
Vouchers Claimed
Heating Grants Disbursed
Charitable donations
Clothing purchased
Materials (warm boxes etc)
Depreciation
Staff Training
Staff Entertaining
Legal and Professional Fees
Books and Journals
Travel
Sundries
Total Expenditure
Value of Food Distributed
**Total Expenditure**
**Surplus for Period**|**Year to 31/3/25**
Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
£
£
120,938
6,217
5,737
2,883
129,215|**Year to 31/3/25**
Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
£
£
120,938
6,217
5,737
2,883
129,215|**Year to 31/3/24**
Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
£
£
61,382
15,101
13
1,125
116,821
194,442
Note 1
49,613
Note 2
**244,055**
14,878
2,645
226
340
1,553
80
654
72
27,671
122
14
6
847
2,213
57,683
Note 4
3,440
1,230
35,000
504
426
820
6,469
1,524
6,716
27
354
59
75
87
35
165,770
49,613
Note 1
**215,383**
**28,672**
119,744
46,026
208,667|**Year to 31/3/24**
Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
£
£
61,382
15,101
13
1,125
116,821
194,442
Note 1
49,613
Note 2
**244,055**
14,878
2,645
226
340
1,553
80
654
72
27,671
122
14
6
847
2,213
57,683
Note 4
3,440
1,230
35,000
504
426
820
6,469
1,524
6,716
27
354
59
75
87
35
165,770
49,613
Note 1
**215,383**
**28,672**
119,744
46,026
208,667|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||15,492
933
90
1,305
1,962
80
686
72
31,986
346
285
62
399
1,436
62,000
21,467
2,230
5,035
98,379
1,639
156
234
6,580
108
689
77
513
35|264,990
64,359
**329,349**
254,276
64,359|14,878
2,645
226
340
1,553
80
654
72
27,671
122
14
6
847
2,213
57,683
3,440
1,230
35,000
504
426
820
6,469
1,524
6,716
27
354
59
75
87
35|194,442
49,613|
|||||**244,055**
165,770
49,613|
||132,838
121,438|**318,635**
**10,714**
312,055|119,744
46,026||
## **Peeblesshire Foodbank SCIO**
**Charity No. SC045330 Accounts for the Period to 31 Mar 2025**
|**Assets**
**Capital Assets**
Computer Equipment b/f
Computer Depreciation b/f
Computer Equipment purchase
Computer Depreciation in year
Fixtures and Fittings b/f
Fixtures Depreciation b/f
Fixtures Purchase
Fixtures Depreciation in year
Motor vehicle b/f
Motor vehicle depreciation b/f
Motor vehicle purchase
Motor vehicle Depreciation in year
Net book Value
**Prepayments**
Voucher prepayments
**Cash at Bank**
Current Account
Soldo Payment Card
Monzo Expenses Card
**Total Assets**
**Liabilities**
PAYE/NI
Pension Creditor
Other Creditors
**Total Liabilities**
**Net Worth**
Opening Net Worth
Surplus (Shortfall) for the period
**Closing Net Worth**|**At 31/3/25**
£
£
7,504
(4,162)
(2,095)
1,411
(470)
1,295
(470)
20,073
(12,044)
(4,015)|**At 31/3/25**
£
£
7,504
(4,162)
(2,095)
1,411
(470)
1,295
(470)
20,073
(12,044)
(4,015)|**At 31/3/24**
£
£
4,378
(1,931)
3,126
(2,231)
1,411
_freezer purchase_
(470)
20,073
(8,029)
-
(4,015)
12,312
-
19,430
19,430
281,771
165
4,450
286,386
**318,128**
1,663
3,280
-
**4,943**
**313,183**
284,598
28,672
**313,270**|**At 31/3/24**
£
£
4,378
(1,931)
3,126
(2,231)
1,411
_freezer purchase_
(470)
20,073
(8,029)
-
(4,015)
12,312
-
19,430
19,430
281,771
165
4,450
286,386
**318,128**
1,663
3,280
-
**4,943**
**313,183**
284,598
28,672
**313,270**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||7,027
-
312,188
**319,215**
5,877
7,988
-
**13,865**
**323,984**
313,270
10,714|19,430|12,312
-
19,430
286,386|
||308,652
2
3,534||281,771
165
4,450||
|||||**318,128**
1,663
3,280
-|
|||||**4,943**
**313,183**
284,598
28,672|
|||**323,984**|||
## **Peeblesshire Foodbank SCIO**
|**Accounts for the Period t**
**Opening balance**
**Income**
Grants
**Total Income**
**Expenditure**
Rent
Salaries & NI
Subcontractor Costs
Heating Grants Disbursed
Motor Expenses
Warm boxes etc
Food purchased
Clothing
Voucher Prepayments
**Total Expenditure**
**Closing balance**|**o 31 Mar 2025**
**Trussel Trust**
**C**
**Financial Inclusion**
**120,951**
£
51,013|**orra Foundation**
**Heating Grants**
**1,676**
£|**Charity No. SC045330**
**Restricted Funds**
**Trussel Trust**
**Salary support**
**37,831**
£
31,843|**SBC**
**Vehicle support**
**2,866**
£|**CLLD**
**F**
**4,715**
£|**oundation Scotland**
**Warm Boxes**
**8,339**
£
12,100|**SBC**
**Border**
**Slow cookers**
**9,555**
£|**s Community Action + SBC CLLD**
**Community Cafes**
**-**
£
34,259|**Total**
**185,933**
£
129,215|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**51,013**
(98,379)
**(98,379)**|**-**
(156)
**(156)**|**31,843**
(21,467)
**(21,467)**|**-**
(1,436)
**(1,436)**|**-**
**-**|**12,100**
**-**|**-**
**-**|**34,259**
**-**|**129,215**
-
(21,467)
(98,379)
(156)
(1,436)
-
-
-
-
**(121,438)**|
||**73,584**|**1,520**|**48,207**|**1,430**|**4,715**|**20,439**|**9,555**|**34,259**|**193,710**|
> Borders Community Action community cafes £19,780 > SBC CLLD community cafes £14,479
> Cash for Kids summer lunch scheme £3,000 > Trussell post
> SBC warm boxes £3,100 > CAB warm boxes £4,000 > Trussell CAB financial Inclusion £51,012.50 > Foundation Scotland slow cookers £5,000
## **Notes**
## **Accounts for the Period to 31 Mar 2025**
Value of food donated: it is a requirement of the Trussel Trust to impute a value on the donated food and to show this as both an income and an expense. The standard value of £1.75 per kg has been used in these accounts, and applied to the weight of food distributed as entered on the Trussel Trust website
2 Trussel Trust Stock Distributions 1 Apr 2024 - 31 Mar 2025 Total food distributed 24,104.5 kg at £2.67/kg £ 64,359.00 Grants 3 Borders Community Action 19,780.00 community cafes SBC CLLD 14,479.00 community cafes Trussell 31,843.00 salaries SBC 3,100.00 warm boxes CAB 4,000.00 warm boxes Trussell CAB 51,012.50 financial inclusion Foundation Scotland 5,000.00 slow cookers **Total £ 129,214.50**