The 11th MVFB Annual General Meeting was held on 13th April 2026 at the Wickham Centre.
The meeting opened with recently appointed Chair of Trustees, David Proud, welcoming everyone and thanking their interest and support to us over the year. Thanks were given to Theresa our Foodbank Manager, and our volunteers who every week receive the donations, store them, pack the bags, welcome our clients, and sometimes sit with clients who want to have a cup of tea and a chat. Also, those who collect the donated food from shops, churches, schools, to individuals, street collections and businesses in the Meon Valley who have supported us. To the drivers from Bishop Waltham Rotary who provide our delivery service, our partners at the Wickham Centre, To our referral agencies, Citizens Advice, Home Start, Community Safety Officers, Winchester City Council, Social Services, Housing Associations, and local churches.
The Trustees have met on eight occasions to fulfil our legal responsibilities as trustees of our Charity, to meet the purposes of the MVFB, and to establish and review policies and procedures e.g. Risk Assessment, Financial policies, and Health and Safety. Most importantly, to support Theresa and the team of volunteers. We are in an outstanding position to respond to the needs of those in food insecurity now and in an uncertain future.
Our total income in 2025 was £60,810 comprising financial donations and Gift Aid of £30,810 and £30,000 in grants from Hampshire County Council. Our total expenditure was £44,417. The percentage breakdown of expenditure is as follows: Manager’s Salary and PAYE 44%. (substantial proportion of the salary paid through successful grant applications); Food and Household Donations to Clients 36%; Rent for Wickham Centre 16%; Other items 4%. A healthy bank balance of £78,687 provides us with ample resources to continue to help ameliorate the challenges faced by the families and individuals in our community who are in food insecurity. This is especially important in the present economic climate with rising food and energy prices and uncertainty regarding the impact of major wars in the world.
Theresa our Manager took us through the statistics of 2025 and the changes in clients’ needs from previous years. The stand out change from the year was the huge increase in food for children who receive free school meals during term time but not during school holidays. Each bag contains lunch for one child for 10 days. At Christmas 2024 we provided 41 bags to local schools. At Christmas 2025, we provided 195 bags! The increase partly stems from of our growing relationship with local schools and how we now arrange distribution.
Mike Salter spoke briefly about our future strategies, including reviewing the effectiveness of our communications both to those who may require help and also those who support us through finance and food donations. Also, possible creation of MVFB hub in Bishop’s Waltham and how future housing developments in our area might create demand for our services.
The formal part of the evening finished and was followed by a highly informative talk from Homestart Hampshire Co-Chair, Ian Wollam and Homestart Gosport, Fareham, Meon Valley and Havant Area Manager, Margaret Moane. Homestart-Hampshire exists to help develop our services to meet the growing need across our local community. We provide a range of support to families with at least one child under the age of five, across the county’ Do look at their excellent website if you would like to know more.