Page 11 Orkney Foodbank Annual Report of Activity Year 2024125 Orkney Foodbank working Wlth Q Trussell EThliry huwtogether Ortney Fo(Mlb8nk18 run in p8rMershipwith ic￿1 churches OrkneyFoodbank is a Scottish Chaiit8blelncorpor8ted Oryanisation {SCIOI R*stration No: SC046553 P a g e | **2** ## **Executive Summary** At Orkney Foodbank, we continue our journey from the past year into another challenging year for the community we serve. The lasting effects of COVID-19, together with the ongoing cost-of-living and energy crises, continue to impact the lives of many of our clients, directly affecting their quality of life. While our operational statistics show that the number of clients is slightly lower than in 2024, we are seeing an increase in the number and size of families seeking our support. Increasingly, the impact of mental health challenges is also being recognised by local agency referrers, reflecting the underlying difficulties many of our client’s face. We are grateful that, through strong work within the organisation, we have once again been able to secure significant grant funding. This will sustain us financially in the coming year and allow us to continue providing much-needed help and support to those in need. It is our duty to continue standing alongside our island community in their times of need, and we are deeply encouraged by the care and generosity of those who support us. With God’s grace, we believe we will continue to prevail in this mission. I would also like to bring to your attention the decision of the Board this year to support a local charity, Orkney Fair Trade, by providing Fair Trade tea and coffee for our clients. These are being sourced locally from Westray, strengthening both our values and our community ties. I take this opportunity to thank all the local businesses and individuals who so faithfully provide financial support and food donations. Your contributions make it possible for us to sustain our commitment to those who need us most. I also wish to express my gratitude to our Board members and Operational Team; whose oversight and management are crucial to the running of Orkney Foodbank. Finally, I must recognise and thank our dedicated team of volunteers, whose tireless efforts make our work possible. Without them, we simply could not fulfil our mission. Chairperson, Orkney Foodbank Orkney Foodbank is run in partnership with local churches Orkney Foodbank is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) Registration No: SC046553 P a g e | **3** ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** The duties of Orkney Foodbank are carried out with a Christian ethos, supporting values and principles, which promote social inclusion and anti-discriminatory practices. ## **Objectives** 2. The Orkney Foodbank objects are: (a) The Prevention or relief of poverty. (b) The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage. ## **Achievements and performance in summary** 1. During the period the Orkney Foodbank team received 765 referral vouchers and gave support to 1538 clients – including 536 children 2. Clients were in 286 unique households with 142 referrals being first time referrals 3. THAW Orkney was the main referrer with 171 referrals; followed by CAB with 73 vouchers. 4. Stock in was 23,199.89Kgs (12,371.94 being purchased by Orkney Foodbank which is 53% on average) 5. Stock out was 20,125.87Kgs 6. We are very fortunate to have 21 volunteers who work hard to make sure we can meet all requests and that the Foodbank runs smoothly 7. We continue to have 2 paid members of staff working alongside our Foodbank Manager – our food resilience and support worker who provides invaluable support to clients and assesses how/if additional support is required and who best placed to provide it. Our office administrator/stock controller who leads on our purchasing and has achieved significant financial savings as a result. All 3 are essential team members who has ensured we can meet the significant increase in client activity. 8. Orkney Foodbank issues supermarket gift vouchers and electricity top ups to clients so additional items can be purchased and they can heat the items issued. 9. Our operational team also have a restricted hardship fund they can access as they determine appropriate 10. In December our clients receive a “Christmas bag” with extra treats and the contents of a Christmas dinner consisting of non perishable items. Orkney Foodbank is run in partnership with local churches Orkney Foodbank is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) Registration No: SC046553 P a g e | **4** ## **Overview of 2024/25** The financial year 2024/25 has been another one of Orkney Foodbank’s busiest years ever since being established in 2013 – with only last year being busier - as can be seen in the table below. ||**24/25**|**23/24**|**22/23**|**21/22**| |---|---|---|---|---| |**Vouchers**|**765**|**850**|**646**|**468**| |**Adults**|1002|1119|859|568| |**Children**|536|642|440|374| |**Total **|**1538**|**1761 **|**1299**|**942**| ||**24/25**
**762 **|**23/24**
**850 vouchers**|**22/23**
**646 vouchers**| |---|---|---|---| |**Unique Households**|287|334|292| |**First time referral**|143|187|156| |**Average frequency of**
**visit**|2.67|2.54|2.21| |**One voucher only**|151|173|159| |**Two vouchers only**|56|47|61| |**Three vouchers only**|20|42|24| |**Single client with most**
**vouchers**|20|22 vouchers|15 vouchers| Orkney Foodbank is run in partnership with local churches Orkney Foodbank is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) Registration No: SC046553 P a g e | **5** |**Underlying**
**information for**
**those referred**|**No**
**Vouchers**
**24/25**|**No**
**Clients**
**24/25**|**Number of**
**vouchers 23/24**|**Number of clients**
**affected**| |---|---|---|---|---| |**Earning , no benefits**|48|79|91|187| |**Earning and benefits**|95|233|115|296| |**Benefits, not**
**earning**|474|910|458|890| |**No income**|29|41|33|42| |**Priority Debt**|104|194|114|234| |**Non Priority Debt**|72|125|72|147| |**Rising Cost of**
**Essentials**|328|642|411|888| |**Unexpected**
**expense**|77|176|72|215| |**Health related issue**|237|456|290|516| |||||| ## **Stock** ||**24/25**|**23/24**| |---|---|---| |**Stock in**|23,199.89 Kgs|22,449.95 Kgs| |**Stock out**|20,125.87|23,008.21| |**Donated**|10,803.75|14,227.14| |**Purchased**|12,371.94 (53%)|8150.66 (36%)| |||| Orkney Foodbank is run in partnership with local churches Orkney Foodbank is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) Registration No: SC046553 P a g e | **6** ## **Referrers** Orkney Foodbank is extremely grateful to the local agencies who have agreed to act as referrers. Currently we have 58 registered referrers but this is being reviewed to ensure all want to remain as current referrers. The table below shows the top 10 referring partners:- ||**2024/25**
**Number of**
**referrals**
**(23/24 in**
**brackets)**|**Adults**|**Children**| |---|---|---|---| |**THAW**|171 (257)|249|125| |**CAB**|73 (106)|98|35| |**Adult Social**
**Services**|60 (70)|105|24| |**Housing &**
**Homelessness**|63 (66)|67|19| |**Mental Health**
**Team**|32 (32)|65|49| |**Right There**|39|40|3| |**Blide Trust**|30 (46)|33|6| |**Children &**
**Families**|28 (14)|34|55| |**OHAL**|20 (33)|28|18| |**Womens Aid**|20 (30)|22|32| ||||| ||||| ||||| ## **Orkney in comparison to Scotland** Ratio of adults to children Orkney 35% of our clients are children – Scottish average is 32% Households with children Orkney data shows 31% whilst Scottish average is 33% Households with 3+ children – Orkney data shows 12% of our households have more than 3 children with the Scottish Average being 9% Stock purchased Orkney purchases 53% whilst the Scottish average is 20% Orkney Foodbank is run in partnership with local churches Orkney Foodbank is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) Registration No: SC046553 P a g e | **7** ## **Funding Streams** Orkney Foodbank is extremely fortunate to have so many generous supporters of its activity in the local community. Weekly we receive donations of food items, toiletries and cleaning products. In addition we have many supporters who make financial donations which enable us to continue the service needed by so many locally. We are extremely humbled and grateful and welcome every donation whether a few pounds or a few thousand pounds. Having said that, we are now in a position that rising costs and significantly increased activity means we need to monitor our finances closely and be aware of any grant funding that we can apply for to bolster our accounts and ensure our service can continue as long as it is required. During 23/24 and 24/25 we successfully received significant grant funding from Trussell Trust grants as well as Isles Cost of Living Crises and Orkney Money Matters. We now have 2 funded projects in partnership with Trussell Trust to further support clients locally on a cash first basis. Project 1 funds 1.26 wte Money Support workers as part of the wider financial support services CAB have the expertise in. This is a 3 year project and we are in year 2. Project 2 is about to get off the ground and funds 2 days per week Foodbank Support worker and 3 days per week THAW Energy Support Advisor who will offer additional support to foodbank clients. This is a 2 year project. We also secured grant funding in 24/25 via Bank of Scotland for 2 years so we can purchase food items. Cash First – Orkney Foodbank was part of a collaboration with THAW Orkney and CAB referring clients for additional fi8nancial support through the Cash First Fund administered by THAW on behalf of he the partnership. Whilst this brought significant financial gain to clients the administration was onerous and actually diverted staff attention from client support to administration of the fund. This was an 18 month project (due to end on Sept 25). ## **Volunteering and Staffing** We have an amazing group of staff and volunteers who keep the show on the road each week. There are 21 volunteers at the moment and 7 Board Members. - Alan Scott is our Foodbank Manager and is a volunteer and Board member. - Ray Kemp supports Alan with volunteers and also general fabric of the building and running of the service. He is Orkney Foodbank Chair and a volunteer/supervisor. - Kate Brown is our paid part time Food Resilience Support worker supporting clients with their needs and linking with referrers. She also administers the electricity top up system - Linda Nicolson is our paid stock manager and makes sure our stock levels are maintained as well as looking after wider financial and administrative aspects ## **Wider Organisation Involvement** Orkney Foodbank is represented on a variety of different groups including:- - Orkney Money Matters Steering Group - Orkney Money Matters Operational Group Orkney Foodbank is run in partnership with local churches Orkney Foodbank is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) Registration No: SC046553 P a g e | **8** - Cost of Living Task Force – covering Child Poverty, Food Poverty and Dignity and Fuel Poverty. - Good Food Nation Strategy Development - Building Food Security in Scotland (through University of Aberdeen) - Northern Hub (meeting with other foodbanks in the north of Scotland) - Cash First ## **Summary** Orkney Foodbank is doing well and gets positive feedback from clients and referrers alike on the dignified and supportive approach our service provides. We remain totally committed to supporting our clients and making sure our charity runs smoothly. Looking forward we have set our service priorities as:- - Client support - Volunteer support - Financial governance - Charity Governance - Stock control – both in stock levels and issue In addition we want to make sure we are involved in the local discussions about strategy and policy so we can highlight what our data is telling us so this can play into decisions made and priorities set that will affect those living in our communities. ## **Oct 2025** Orkney Foodbank is run in partnership with local churches Orkney Foodbank is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) Registration No: SC046553 Orknèy Foodbank Trustoas Annual report 202412025 Orkney Foodbank trustees present thelr report wlth Ihe financial ststements of the charlty for the year 8ndad 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charilies: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities p￿parIng Ih8ir accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicabl8 In the UK and Republic of Ir81and (FRS 102) (effectlve 1 January 2015). OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES The duties of Orkney Foodbank are carried out with a Christian ethos, supporting values and principles, which promote social inclusion and anti-discrimlnatory practices. ObJ8ctlv•8 2. The Orkn8y Foodbank objects are: (a) The preventlon or rellef of povety. {b) The relief of those in need by reason of age,111-health, dlsablllty, Ilnanclal hardshlp or other disadvantage. Achlevements and pèrlormanco 1. During the ￿rIOd the Orkn8y Foodbank team received 764 referral vouchers and gavè support to 1537 clients - including 536 children. 2. Clients were in 286 unique households with 142 referrals being first time referrals. 3. THAW Orkney was the main referrer with 180 referrals; followed by CAB with 73 referrals. 4. Stock in was 23,199.89Kgs (12,371.94 being purchased by Orknay Foodbank) 5. Stock oul was 20,056.17Kgs 6. We are very fortunate to have 21 volunteers work hard to make 8ure we can meet all requests 8nd that the Foodbank runs smoothly. 7. We continué lo have 2 part-tlme pald members of slaff worklng alongskle our Foodbank Manager- our focyj resilience and support worker provides invaluable support to clients and asse&ses howlif additional support is reqUI￿d and who best pla￿d to provide it. Our office administratorlstock controller who leads on our purchasing and has achieved significant financial savings as a result. All 3 are essential team members who have ensured we can meet the significant increase in cllent activity. 8. Orkney Foodbank issues supennarket gift voucher8 and electricity lop ups to clients 80 additional items can be purchasad, and th8y can heat th8 items issuad. 9. Our operational t8am also have a restricted hardship fund they can access as they determine appropriate. Orkw Fwdimnk is rnn in pwth¢ts￿p with local chU￿be& Orknty 18 A S¢4x¢ish Charithble In¢ory)or*ted or￿l$allon (SCIOI RegisNion No: SC046553 FINANCIAL REVIEW Income - £183.071 Donations - £48,462 Expenditure - £148,118 End of year balance - £190,554 We also rac8lv8 glfts In kSnd from local companies including Orkney Insurance. Orkn8y Cheese, Orkney Cabs and Cook8 Aquaculture. Orf(ney Foodbank is extremely fortunate to have so many generous supporters of its activity in th8 local community. Weekly we receive donations of food items, toiletries and deanlng products. In additional we have many supporters who make financial donations throughout the year which enables us to continue the service needed by 80 many locally. We are extremely humbled and gralelul and walcom8 8v8ry donation wh8thar a faw pounds many thousand pounds. Having said that we are supported admlrably by the local ￿MMUnitY we are now In a position thal rising costs and slgnlficantly Increa88d actlvlty means we need to monitor our finance8 dosety and ba awar8 of any grant funding that we can apply for to bolster our accounts and ensure our service can continue as long as it is r8quir8d. Durlng 24125 we successfully applled for and secured slgnificant grant funding Trussell Trust grant Isles Cost of Llvlng Crlses from OIC Bank of Scotland Cooke Aquacultu Project Fundlng We now hav8 2 funded proJ8Cts In partnershlp with Trussell Trust cfT) to further support clients locally on a cash first basis. Project 1 funds1.26 wte Money Support workers as part of the wider financial support services Orkney Cilizens Advice Bureau {CAB) have the expertise in. This is a 3-year prolect, and we are in year 2. Project 2 funds 2 days per week Foodbank Supporl worker and 3 days per week THAW Energy Support Advisor who will offer additional support to foodbank clients. This is a 2-year project and commenced in October 24. For both Ihese projecls the grant funding from rr is received into Orkney Foodbank bank accounts and will be paid to the respective organisations over the life of the projects on ceipt of invoicès. Roserves pollcy The accumulated reseNes of £124,168 are sufficient to maintain the tharity for its continued opèration with careful monltorlng ol actlvity and exp8ndllur8. Thas8 r8s8rves wlll be carried forward for use by the charlty to achieve its ststed aims and objectives durfng the next financial y8ar. Orkney For￿)￿ is in partnershAP with local clMLrches. Orkthty Foodbank i& a SeMish LTrwiiable In¢orporakd Organis•TiM ISLIO) RegtsrrJti¢YA No.. SCO46353 STRUCTURE. GOVERNANCEAND MANAGEMENT Governlng document The charity is controlled by Its governing document. a deed of trust and constltutes Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). New members of the Trustee Board are either elected annually at the Annual General Meetlng from the rnembership (x appointed at any time by the Board rnembers, those nominated by body with the charity has dose contact in the course of its aclivities or on the basis that Ihey have rel8vanl specialist skills or experienc8. Truste8s retire automatically after three years but are eligible for re-election. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS R8g18tor8d Charlty numb•r SC046553 Prlnclpal addre Dunkirk Shore Street Klrkwall KW15 1LG Tru8tO08 The trustees who served during the year and up to Ihe date of signalure of the financial stat8m8nts were: Independenl examlner VAO 8rldge Street Klrkwall COMMENCEMENT OF ACTIVITIES The charity commenced full Iradlng aclNlties fv1ay 2016 (having been established Nov 2013), Orkney Fc¥y]bank is run in p*rthershhp ￿7th local ¢hurclk¥. Orkney Fwjbknk Ig a Seonish Cbarfuble IMowd Or8an[￿lU)fft (SLIO) Re8iskniioM No.. SC046S53 Independent Exarnlner's Report Forth• Porlod from 1 Aprfl 2024 to 31 March 2025 Independent Examlner's Report to the Trustees of Orkney Foodbank I report on the financial stalements of the charlty for the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. which are set out on pages 5 4. Resp8ctlvo Responsibilities of Trustses and Examiner The charlty's trustees are reSp￿Sible for the preparation of the accounts In accordance wlth the tenns of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 ("the 2005 Act") and th8 Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulati￿S 2006 (as amended) ("the 2006 Regulations"). The tharty's trustees conslder that the audit requiremenl of regulation 10(1) {d) of the 2006 Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to 8xamin8 the accounls 88 required under section {44)(1){G) of the 2005 Act and to State whether particular matter5 have come to my attenllon. Basls of Independent Examlnar's Statèmont My examination is carri8d out in accordance with Regulation 11 of thè 2006 Regulations. An 8x8mlnatlon Includes a review ol the accounting records kept by th8 charity and a comparison of the accounts presented wlth th088 records. It also Includes conslderatlon of any unusual Items or disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanatlons from the trustees concemlng any such matters. Th8 procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be requlred In an audit and, cons8qU8ntly. I do not express an audit opinion on th8 view glven by the aGcountS. Indopondont Examlnor's Statemont In connectlon wlth my examlnation, no matter has come lo my attention.. which gives m8 reasonable cause to believe thal, in any material respect, th8 requlrements: to keep accountlng r8cords In accord8nc8 With s8Ction 44{1)(a) of th8 2￿6 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Regulallons, and to prèpara accounts whlch accord wllh the accountlng records and comply with Regulation 9 of th8 2(X)6 Accounts Regulations have not been met, or to which, in rny opinion, attenlion should be drawn in order to enable a proper und8rsl8nding of the accounts to be reached. Date: as Orklley FotsJbw)k is run in p￿￿71p with koi Re8isirth'onNo.. SCN6553 Statsmérrt of Balances - as at 31 March 2025 un￿striCte Restricte Total Total Funds Reconclllatlon Funds Funds 2024125 2023124 Cash at Bank & In Hand - 1104124 86,344 69,257 155,601 160,381 Surplusl(Deficit) for year 37,824 (2,871) 34,953 {4,780) Cash at Barbk & In Hand - 31103125 124,16 66,386 190,554 155,601 Bank and Cash BalanGe8 Bank Account C88h In Hand 190,293 261 Orkney Ffy)db￿th in partnethp witb local churches. Orkney Fcrt*Jbamk Is & Seonlsh Lhar[￿ble In¢ow*ed Owiwioft {SCIO) Regi$TNiOn No.. SL046533 Nots8 to tho Account8 - for the Perlod from 1 Aprll 2024 to 31 March 2025 l Basis of Accountlng These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts & Payments basis in accord8nc8 With the Charities & Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charlll88 Accounls (Scolland> Regulation5 2006 (as 8rnended). 2 Natur• and purpose of funds Asat 114124 R8c8lpts Paymenls Transfers in l (-) out Asat 3113125 Unr8slrlcted funds 86,344 68,191 30,367 124.168 Rèstrfcted funds: Donatlons - electrlclty 24,257 15.205 39,462 Orkney18lands Council (OIC) - 818clrlclty 15,000 15,000 OIC - Food & assoclated costs 25,000 25,000 Voluntary Actlon Orknoy - Vouchers 5,000 5,000 Trus8611 Tru8t - CA8 Advisor 44,869 44,869 Tesco Groundworks - 818Ctricity 375 375 Tesco - PCP Top Up - foodltoilelries 1,783 1.783 Cooke Aquacultur8 - Christmas food 1,000 1,000 Orkney Island Councll - Cost Crfsls Fund - foodftoiletries 15,000 6,400 8,600 Trussel Trust - THAW Energy Support Advisor 36,648 18.324 18,324 Total Restrlcted funds 69,257 114,880 117,751 66.386 Tots18 155,601 183,071 148,118 190,554 Unrestricted funds are those that may be used at the dlscretion of the trustees In furtherance of the objects of the charity. The trustees maintain 8 single unrestricted fund for the day to day running of its service. Orkney F(M>4bank 1$ rutk in P￿tK￿l)ip with ￿tal churches Orkney F&)dhnk is & se￿￿h LhAntsble Incorp)r•ted Orynisiiion ISLIOI Registrntton No.. SCY)46SSJ RestrScted funds may only be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when spedfied by the donor or when funds are raised for specific purpose 3 Related Party Transactions No trustaes received reimbursed expenses during tha year (2024.. R Walk8r £1,705, M Carybell £30) 4 Donatlons Recelved Unrestricted Funds R8Stricted Funds Total Total 2024125 2023124 Donallon8 Glft Ald Tesco cuslomer donations 28,981 3,356 920 15.205 44,186 3,356 920 82.502 7.148 33,257 15,205 5 Grants r8celv•d Unrestrlcte Restrlcted Totsl Total Funds Fund8 2024125 2023124 Cooke Aquacultu￿ - Chrlstmas food Truss81 Trust - Food Trussel Trust - Hardship Twssel Trust- Administration Tesco Groundworks - Electricity Orkney IslarKJs Council - Eleetrlclty Orkney Island8 Council - Food Volun18ry Aciion Orkney - Vouchers Trussel Trust - CAB Advisor Trussell Trust - THAW Advisor T8sco PCP Top Up Bank of Scotland Found8llon Orkney Islands Councll - Vouchers Restricted donations incorrectly included In Grants note 4 pfy 1,000 1,000 1,000 4,000 2,000 1,000 375 375 15,000 25,000 5,000 8,731 5,497 44,869 36,648 1,783 51,600 42,145 1,783 20,000 I s.000 20,000 15,000 11,125 32,228 99,675 131,903 64,125 Orkney FLvJbHnk 15 run m pAr￿ership wilh lo¢al Ch￿¢b Othey F(xyjb￿k is •S¢4dish Charitable ]r*ixp)r￿cd Or8anisaiioh (SL'IOI R¢$isir#hon No.. SC046SS3 Orkney FOodb￿￿ Is run in parts)ership with local chuwhes. Orkney Foodb•nk is • S¢orti$h Charitsblt Ir*orpora*d Or8•ni￿ri0￿ ISCIOI Re¥￿tratIon￿O. SLYJ46553