Broxbourne Foodbank Trustees’ Report for the year July 2015 to June 2016
Trustees July 2015 – April 2016 D Free (Chair) G Evans (Treasurer), J Pearce (Co-ordinator), Rev B Quant;
Sadly David Free, Chair of Trustees died on 8th April 2016, he is greatly missed. His drive and support was exceptional.
Trustees April 2016 – June 2016. Rev B Quant (Acting Chair) G Evans (Treasurer), J Pearce (Co-ordinator)
Secretary July 2015 – May 2016 Mrs H Dellar.
Acting Secretary May 2015 – July 2016 Mrs E Batten.
All of the above are willing to continue in office for the period July 2016 – June 2017
There are no paid employees and neither the trustees nor the secretary receive any remuneration.
The registered office is St James Church, St James Road Goffs Oak Herts EN7 6TP.
The foodbank operates from Foodbanks warehouse, 18 Fairways, New River Trading Estate, Cheshunt, EN8 0NP
Broxbourne foodbank has 4 distribution centres:
- Wormley Free Church, Slipe Lane, Broxbourne, EN10 6AA: Monday to Friday 4-5pm.
- Waltham Cross Baptist Church, Waltham Cross. EN8 7HH: Monday /Tuesday 4-5pm.
- Hoddesdon Baptist Church, Burford Street, Hoddesdon, EN11 8HX: Tuesday /Thursday 4-5pm.
- Salvation Army, Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey EN9 1HZ Wednesday / Friday 4.30-5.30pm
Purposes of the Charity
To relieve persons in Broxbourne and areas nearby that are in financial hardship in such ways as the Trustees from time to time think fit, in particular, but not exclusively by:
- a) providing emergency food, essential toiletries, and household items to individuals and families in need and/or for distribution by charities or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty
- b) such other means, including (but not limited to) the provision of support or signposting to relevant information and other advisory services.
Review of Activities during the year to carry out those purposes (for the public benefit)
Food donations.
During the reporting period we have had 58 tons of food donated from individuals, community groups, local businesses, churches, school and local shops.
Our harvest collection from churches and schools was 6 tons of food.
We have taken part in two national supermarket collections at Tesco in July and December, we also collected of food at Tesco offices Welwyn Garden City. In total over 7 tons of food was donated.
Tesco Head Office Delamare Road, Tesco Resource Centre and Tesco Concept centre have continued to support the foodbank with very generous; donations.
Warburton’s bakery have continued to supply trays of bread twice a week. Bakery goods are also donated by Greggs Cheshunt.
Fresh food has continued to be donated by Swinthenbank, this is distributed to local Children’s centres.
During the year Collections points have been set up in Nat West Hoddesdon, Halifax in Cheshunt and Hoddesdon.
M&S neighbourly. In November 2015 we were contacted by M&S Cheshunt as they wanted to donate end of date goods to the foodbank. Every day we collect bakery goods, fresh fruit & veg, flowers and some tinned goods.
Food distribution
Over the year we have continued to distribute parcels of food and essentials to those in need.
During the year 66 agencies referred clients for food parcels.
2282 vouchers have been fulfilled, 3411 adults and 2147 children. This is an increase upon last year.
Raising awareness of Broxbourne foodbank within the local community.
Elaine Batten and Jeremy Pearce have given various presentations during the year to inform schools, organisations etc about the work of the foodbank. Meetings have also been held with agencies.
We have had information stalls at a Community event in Waltham Cross and at Broxbourne Council Open Day
Van. In December 2015 B3 Living very generously made a donation of an electric van, for which we are very grateful to B3 and especially Brian Cooke and Helen Wright. The van has had a significant impact upon the work of the foodbank.
Bingo Night. A group of volunteers coordinated by Polly Smith organised an extremely successful Bingo Night in October 2015. Over £1000 was raised, this included a matched donation for the raffle total from Santander. It was a great evening and we hope to repeat the event.
Volunteers. Broxbourne foodbank could not operate if it was not for the fantastic band of volunteers we have. “jobs” include sorting/storing food, making up food parcels at the warehouse, driving parcels to distribution centres, doing admin tasks, helping at supermarket collections, meeting clients at distribution centres. The Trustees would like to express their thanks to all volunteers – without you the foodbank could not operate.
Clothing bank – during the year our clothing bank has developed and we now have a good supply of basic clothing for babies, children and adults.
Baby Bundles/NCT Hertford. We have been working in partnership with NCT Hertford to provide Baby Bundles for new mums. We have distributed over 15 which have been well received. We also have been give very generous donations of baby clothes and equipment.
Fuel Poverty, Hertfordshire Community Foundation. We applied for a grant from HCF to help clients who had no electricity or gas to cook food. We were given a grant of £1000, this was given out to clients who were referred by agencies. We were able to provide 25 fuel top ups. HCF used Broxbourne foodbank as a pilot scheme and we have been working with HCF to establish further fuel top up schemes.
Responsibility of Trustees for Public Benefit
The trustees, in making decisions about activities, have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.
Communications to the public are by means of the Broxbourne Foodbank website, a newsletter and Facebook.
Future Plans
We intend to look into the collection of end of day food from local supermarkets and the provision of fresh food to distribution centres.
We will be looking into ways we can support clients that is “more than food.”
Trustees will look at the running costs of the warehouse as the foodbank will have been operating from the warehouse for over a year and agree a contingency fund to hold should we need to move from the warehouse. We are on a months’ notice should Broxbourne need the warehouse back.
Ben Quant Jeremy Pearce
Ben Quant Jeremy Pearce.
