Finance Score: 8

Governance Score: 6

Support Score: 12

Liabilities <10%: +3
Strong growth: +2
Fundraising costs low: +3

Good trustee age range: +3
Dynamic board: +3

Large volunteers +3
Grant maker support: +9

Overall GiG Score: 26

BOW FOODBANK

Operation of an independent foodbank in Tower Hamlets

Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

This charity has been successful in attracting volunteers relative to its size
The charity has received backing from multiple prominent grant makers recently
This charity has a robust balance sheet
There has been strong growth in spending over the last 5 years
There have been no material income shortfalls in recent years
Fundraising costs are unusually low relative to funds raised
The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and dynamic in terms of composition

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

Over half the Board have joined recently

Established: 9 years

www.bowfoodbank.org

info@bowfoodbank.org

07305103479

Charity Commission for England and Wales

Tweets

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?

Sources of Income ?

Y/E	Income £k	Spending £k	Surplus/ Deficit	Fundraising Cost £k	Total Funds £k	Unrestricted Funds £k	Mths Rsrvs	Staff	Volun- teers
31/03/23	£809	£670	£140	£1	£554	£436	7.8	13	200
31/03/22	£523	£579	£-56	£1	£414	£353	7.3	14	300
31/03/21	£1,057	£646	£411	£0	£470	£419	7.8	0	200
31/03/20	£127	£115	£12	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	100
31/03/19	£80	£69	£10	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	70
31/03/18	£73	£53	£20	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/17	£44	£43	£1	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/16	£48	£38	£10	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0

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Financial Ratios

Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 0.1%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 0.1%
Highest pay band: Less than £60,000
Liabilities/Assets: 2%
Liabilities/Income: 1%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 79%
Reserves/Spending: 7.8 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 10 months
Quick Ratio: 49.1

Asset Split ?

Listed activities

The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

How it operates

Provides advocacy/advice/information
Provides services

Where it operates

Tower Hamlets,

Who it helps

Other Defined Groups

Who works here?

13 employees
200 volunteers

Who's supporting them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following significant donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years

National Lottery Community Fund	£297,400
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	£86,800
The London Community Foundation	£43,300
Garfield Weston Foundation	£40,000
DCMS	£40,000
Co-Operative Group	£22,115

Specific Donations

Amount	When Months	To be used for
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Bow Foodbank and Bethnal Green Foodbank
£3,120	22/10/2022	We wish to have food and other essentials on hand to help those in need when they are in crisis. We provide this service two days per week and will help anyone who comes to the sessions.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Bow Foodbank
£8,252	23/10/2021	We would like to continue to supply emergency food and other essential hygiene items to those who are struggling, especially families.
London Catalyst - The Bow Foodbank Limited - 1
£2,000	07/09/2021	Food support - Bow and Bethnal Green
National Lottery Community Fund - Bow and Bethnal Green Foodbanks
£297,400	28/07/2021	The group is using funding to support two staff posts a CEO and Operational Manager to manage two foodbanks operating from Bromley By Bow Centre and Bethnal Green on a day-to-day basis and to develop ....more The group is using funding to support two staff posts a CEO and Operational Manager to manage two foodbanks operating from Bromley By Bow Centre and Bethnal Green on a day-to-day basis and to develop a funding and sustainability strategy for the future. The project aims to help alleviate food poverty and provide related support to people in the area.
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award - COVID19 response
£40,000	11/06/2021	Bow Foodbank and Bethnal Green Foodbank
The Grocers' Charity - 2021 - Bow Foodbank Limited
£5,000	24/03/2021	A grant of £5,000 would allow help provide emergency food support to around 1,100 children during the school holidays in August. £2.75 x 1100 x 4 weeks = £12,100.
DCMS - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
£40,000	22/09/2020	"The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to ....more "The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to operate, thereby reducing the burden on public services.2) To ensure essential services are provided to vulnerable people, both in the short and long term through increased community support through the work of charitable organisations."
The London Community Foundation - Grant to The Bow Foodbank Limited
£38,300	30/06/2020	We have seen such a dramatic increase in numbers that we have had to move to larger premises ( temporary use while their project is closed). We believe that the numbers in food poverty and seeking ....more We have seen such a dramatic increase in numbers that we have had to move to larger premises ( temporary use while their project is closed). We believe that the numbers in food poverty and seeking support from us will remain high in the post-pandemic period and we are seeking funding to help us cope with supporting families through this critical time .
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Covid-19 Food Charity Grant Scheme
£43,400	15/06/2020	The aim of this activity is to provide immediate support for a limited period of time to keep food charities and front-line charities that provide food aid open and supporting those most vulnerable ....more The aim of this activity is to provide immediate support for a limited period of time to keep food charities and front-line charities that provide food aid open and supporting those most vulnerable due to the economic impacts of Covid-19.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Covid-19 Food Charity Grant Scheme
£43,400	15/06/2020	The aim of this activity is to provide immediate support for a limited period of time to keep food charities and front-line charities that provide food aid open and supporting those most vulnerable ....more The aim of this activity is to provide immediate support for a limited period of time to keep food charities and front-line charities that provide food aid open and supporting those most vulnerable due to the economic impacts of Covid-19.
The London Community Foundation - Grant to The Bow Foodbank Limited
£5,000	14/04/2020	Providing food and essential hygiene items to those in need. We are also supporting other local organisations who have approached us for help. We see the need to establish ourselves as a hub for the ....more Providing food and essential hygiene items to those in need. We are also supporting other local organisations who have approached us for help. We see the need to establish ourselves as a hub for the distribution of food in the coming weeks to the smaller, less organised, local groups who are also trying to establish support systems for vulnerable families and adults known to them.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to The Bow Foodbank Ltd
£10,744	15/11/2019	We want to buy food and other essentials to increase stocks at our independent local food bank helping local people in need.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to The Bow Foodbank Ltd
£6,214	29/11/2017	Help us buy non-perishable food items for people in crisis and suffering from food poverty.

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Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (9)

Current Trustees appointed

Age Range of Trustees: 36-69

DR IRUM SHEHREEN ALI Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Consultant

EMMA LOUISE SINGH Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Asset Manager

JAGMOHAN SINGH BHAKAR Appointed: 2014, Occupation: Entrepreneur

KRISTIN ELIZABETH KONSCHNIK Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Lawyer

LATIKA SHAH Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Public Relations Consultant

LYNN PATRICIA STONE Appointed: 2018, Occupation: Retired

REV TIMOTHY GEORGE MAY Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Minister, Other trusteeship: THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY AND HOLY TRINITY, BOW (WITH BROMLEY SAINT LEONARD),

STEVE GILVIN Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Retired, Other trusteeships: THAMES' FRIENDS, CITY & EAST LONDON BEREAVEMENT SERVICE,

VINCENT PATRICK FRANCOIS ALLILAIRE Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Credit Analyst

Legal constitution

Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 15/06/2015, number: 1162185
Registered at Companies House on 20/01/2014, number: 08852728

Gift Aid

Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid

Policies in force

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investment
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Filing Record

8 returns made; all on time

Main office

177 Bow Road
London
E3 2SG

Objectives

THE RELIEF OF POVERTY IN TOWER HAMLETS, LONDON, THROUGH THE PROVISION OF FOOD AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS.

Data Sources