Annual Report

and

Financial Statements

for the year ended

31 March 2018

Charity No: 1152574

Trustees Annual Report

for the period

1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018

The trustees submit their annual report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2017. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) (“Accounting and Reporting by Charities”) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.

Reference and Administration Details

Name of Charity: Ringwood Foodbank

Registered Charity number: 1152574

Registered Address: The Parish Office, St John the Baptist Church, Linford Road, Poulner, Ringwood, BH24 1TY

Principal Operating Address: Ringwood Foodbank, Unit 10a, Forest Corner Farm,

Hangersley, Ringwood, BH24 3JW The Charity’s Trustees:

Office held Term of Office

Dr Tim Brigstocke Safeguarding Officer 19.06.13 – 19.06.16 19.06.16 – 05.09.19

Mrs Jacqueline Brown Honorary Secretary 19.06.13 – 21.09.15 21.09.15 – 21.09.18

Mr Chris Lee

Co-opted 21 November 2016 01.10.17 – 30.09.20

Mrs Patricia McAleer

12.10.17 – 11.10.20

Dr Geoffrey Ridgway Chairman

19.06.13 – 19.06.16 19.06.16 – 05.09.19 From 1 September 2016

Mrs Claire Skelley Volunteer Co-ordinator 19.06.13 – 21.09.15 21.09.15 – 21.09.18

Mr Peter Trebilco Vice Chairman

01.12.14 – 21.09.15 21.09.15 – 21.09.18 From 1 September 2016

Dr Peter Wilmer Treasurer 21.09.15 – 21.09.18

Bankers: Barclays Bank PLC, 6 – 8 High Street, Ringwood, BH24 1BZ Nationwide Building Society In addition to the Trustees named above, the operation of the Foodbank is dependent on other principal post-holders: Mrs Christine Owen Warehouse Manager Mrs Louise Shrubsole Ringwood Distribution Centre Manager Mrs Carolyn Johannesen Verwood Distribution Centre Manager Mr David Williams Fordingbridge Distribution Centre Manager The Foodbank has 140 volunteers who operate the Distribution Centres and Warehouse on a day-to-day basis. This includes Shift Supervisors, a Data Input Team, three Referral Agent Co-ordinators, a website manager and graphics expert.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Charity’s governing documents are a Trust Declaration adopted on 16 June 2013 and Supplementary Declaration dated 21st September 2015. There must be a minimum of five trustees and a maximum of eight, who are appointed or re-appointed annually at the AGM held in September. Apart from the first trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of 3 years by a resolution of the trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as trustees, the trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the Foodbank. All trustees must sign a confidentiality agreement. All trustees give their time and skills voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits. The Foodbank is supported by supporters from many walks of life who provide donations of food, assist with food collections, donate financially and act as volunteers. It works closely with the range of churches in Ringwood and the surrounding areas and an extended network of local front-line professionals including all of the local Schools, Doctors’ surgeries, Citizens’ Advice Bureaux, Social Services and local churches. Distribution Centres are operated from the Wesley Centre in Ringwood, part of the Trinity Church complex, and from the United Reformed Churches in Verwood and Fordingbridge.

Objectives and Activities

The objects of the charity are the relief of poverty in Ringwood and the surrounding area, specifically including Verwood and Fordingbridge, in particular but not exclusively by providing emergency food supplies to individuals in need and / or charities or other organisations working to relieve poverty. Ringwood Foodbank operates under the auspices of and in accordance with the regulations of the Foodbank Network, part of the Trussell Trust. The main activity undertaken by the charity is the relief of food hardship and poverty for individuals and families living in and around Ringwood, Verwood and Fordingbridge. This is achieved through the collection of ambient food products donated by individuals, schools, churches and other community groups. The food is sorted and stored and then distributed to those in need. This is done through a voucher system, whereby a voucher is issued by a front-line professional who is able to assess that there is a genuine need. The operation of the Foodbank is entirely dependent on volunteers. All Trustees, key post-holders, managers and staff in the warehouse and distribution centre are volunteers. The Trustees wish to express their deep gratitude for the over-whelming level of support given by the people and communities of Ringwood, Verwood, Fordingbridge and the surrounding areas.

Achievements and Performance

The year to 31 March 2018 was the fifth year of operation of Ringwood Foodbank. Emergency Food Boxes are supplied to the Trussell Trust shop in Ferndown. Ringwood Foodbank has undergone a significant level of growth since its inception in November 2012 and is therefore now in a period of consolidation. Ringwood Foodbank is a registered charity with the Charity Commission. A funding and communications team has been set up to ensure effective communications with both volunteers and the public and work thus far includes an active Facebook page, up-to-date website and regular, high-quality Newsletters. Food donations have been given generously by the people of the towns and surrounding areas, and a total of 22,815kg with a nominal value of £39,926.25, was donated in the year to 31 March 2018. 19,074kg, nominal value £33,380 has been given out in food parcels. The amount of stock held at 31 March 2018 was 5,367kg which has a nominal value of £9,392. A total of 1,801 people were fed for three days, compared with 1,647 in the year 2016-17. Of these 1,058 were adults and 743 children. This is an increase of 9.4% on the previous year. A number of financial donations were received totalling £22,480 and are detailed in the financial statements. This is a slight decrease as donations in 2016-17 totalled £25,968 which had represented a significant increase of 53.8% on the previous year. The Trustees are grateful to all individuals and organisations who have given financially, as the operation of the Foodbank requires significant income to cover running expenses. Ringwood Foodbank is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and has taken steps to ensure that it is fully compliant with the terms of the General Data Protection Regulations.

Statistics

• Yet again demand increased year on year with an additional 155 clients being fed compared with last year. • Once more the highest demand by far was in December • Compared with previous years there was higher demand in July, August, September, January and February which coincided with children’s holidays • Compared with previous years there was lower demand in May, June and November.

Policies

Ringwood Foodbank has the following policies in place:

• Policy Statement for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults from Abuse (Safeguarding)

• Health and Safety: Statement of General Policy

• Donations Acceptance Policy

• Data Protection Policy

• Reserves Policy

• Financial Control Policy

• Management of Petty Cash

• Payment of Personal Expenses

• Lone Working Policy

These are reviewed appropriately. In addition, the Foodbank is operated in accordance with the Operating Manual supplied by the Trussell Trust.

Future Plans

Dr Geoffrey Ridgway OBE, Chairman

This year marks the 5th year of operation of the Ringwood Foodbank (RFB). Over this period, we have seen a growth to three Distribution Centres (DCs) and a doubling of our Warehouse space. This reflects our increased community responsibility to serve those unfortunate enough to require the provision of emergency food supplies. This past year has yet again yielded an increase need for our service with 9.4% more clients fed compared with the previous year. RFB continues in a period of consolidation. There are no plans to open further DCs at this time. However, earlier this year following discussions with the Warehouse Manager, DC Managers and Referral Coordinators, the Trustees agreed a Three-Year Plan with the following objectives:

1. To seek to ameliorate the impact of the implementation of Universal Credit on our clients 2. To increase the amount of food donated via Supermarket collections 3. To work with other agencies to ensure families with children on free school meals receive

enough food during school holidays 4. To increase the availability of vouchers for different items for example fresh food, frozen

food and bread via Distribution Centres 5. To increase the number of Agencies co-locating with the DCs along with encouraging

increase use of the Drop in Facility at the DCs. 6. To seek to identify within the next year, the extent of unmet need in the outlying areas of

Verwood and Fordingbridge 7. To ensure Volunteers are confident in their ability to signpost clients appropriately 8. To ensure Volunteers are confident in dealing with Safeguarding, awkward clients and IT

issues 9. To develop a Business Continuity Plan for RFB 10. To ensure that RFB has enough Volunteers with appropriate skills and knowledge to carry

out its core functions. 11. To investigate introducing E vouchers into RFB 12. To investigate the feasibility of RFB funding hot meals for those in need, in partnership with

other Agencies.

Mindful of the time commitment of key members of the RFB we have investigated the possibility of employing key staff. The Trustees have concluded that for the present we will not be pursuing this line. Financially, thanks in no small way to the generosity of our regular donors, we are currently secure. We continue to be mindful of our vulnerability in these times of increasing austerity and other conflicting demands on the generosity of the general public.

We remain grateful to the local people who have supported the Foodbank by donating almost 23 metric tons of food this year. In addition, we are grateful to the increasing number of local food supply businesses who are involved in the various pilot schemes to supply fresh produce and hot food to our clients. My personal thanks to all of them. Finally, having been with the RFB since its inception and Chair of Trustees for the past 18 months, I feel it is time for me to stand down. It has been a pleasure to be involved with the successful development of a thriving and sadly, necessary Charity. The success of the RFB would simply not have been possible without the tireless effort of my fellow Trustees, the Warehouse Manager, Distribution Managers and the large number of Volunteers that make RFB the success it is. Thank you all.

Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 March 2018

Dr Peter Wilmer, Treasurer

We are very fortunate to have wonderful financial support from local people and organisations. Our finances are now in considerable surplus with funds being held in our bank accounts sufficient to meet the costs of at least two years of our normal operations. This exceeds Trustees’ policy intention of retaining a reserve of at least 12 months’ normal operating costs. Some of our financial well-being has been the result of the generosity of a small number of donors but it is now clear that this will reduce in future. We will become more dependent on our long established regular donors. The Trustees have taken action to invest some of our funds in an interest-bearing bank account and we are taking initiatives to increase and improve the support given to local people in need and we expect to cover the costs of these from our current resources. The Trustees have continued with their policy of prudence and fairness in managing the financial affairs of Ringwood Foodbank and intend to continue in that vein for the indefinite future. A professional audit is not required for these Accounts since the income of the charity is less than the level prescribed by The Charity Commission.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees of Ringwood Foodbank seek to maintain adequate reserves to ensure that all reasonable day-to-day running costs can be met as and when they fall due, recognising the basic financial principle that the Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring that solvency is maintained. ‘Adequate reserves’ is deemed to be sufficient funding for twelve months’ of normal expenditure.

Accounts for the year ended

31st March 2018

Income 2018 2017

Donations from organisations 9174 9343

Donations from private individuals 1674 5528

Other donations 50

Gift Aid recovered 3018 1161

500 Club 8564 9936

TOTAL £22480 £25968

Expenditure 2018 2017

Rent / lease 10531 10583

Electricity and Water 441 359

Insurance 791 767

Stationery 490 471

Travel 46 64

Telephone and internet 565 540

Affiliation fees 370 370

Sundries 188 180

Equipment and fittings 1950 774

TOTAL £15372 £14108

Surplus of income over expenditure £7108 £11860

Movement of Funds

Balance at Barclays Bank, 29 March 2017 24,976

Creditor at 29 March 2017 (uncashed cheque) -18

Surplus 2017 – 18 7108

Creditor at 29 March 2018 (uncashed cheque) 19

TOTAL £32,085

Balance

Barclays, 29 March 2018 22085

Nationwide 10000

TOTAL £32,085

Peter Wilmer

Treasurer

Statement of the Independent Examiner I have examined the accounts of Ringwood Foodbank and am content that there are no issues which require the attention of the Trustees. In my opinion these accounts represent a true and accurate statement of the financial affairs of Ringwood Foodbank at 29 March 2018.

Anita Steel Independent Examiner 18th May 2018

Declaration

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Report as above. Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees: ................................................. Dr Geoffrey Ridgway Chairman Date……………………………….