Third quarter report (January 2014 - March 2014)

Introduction

Time pass so quickly.  It is now 9 months since we first started this project and as we mentioned before, the project wouldn't have thrived without the support of our donors and contributors.

This last quarter has been an exciting one as we have had a few changes and events:

1. We have two new partner organisations:
• Rock Trust who work with homeless youths between 16-25 and youths at risk of losing their home.
• Central Mosque who help the needy in the Muslim community. 
2. We would like to welcome Miss Maria Semper, an accountant at RBS, onto the Meal on Me team.  She helped us with the accounting spreadsheet when we first started and has been a great help in other areas since.
3. We had our first fund raising event, a bake sale, in the grounds of the Central Mosque.  Read about it here.
4. We are working towards getting the project registered as a charity.  At the moment, we have gone to an initial course to understand what the Office of Scottish Charity Regulators has to say.  We are scheduled for another course on 2nd April to start the process for the charity status. 

Based on our bank balance as of March 2014, £645.17, we have decided to issue 60 vouchers for March distributed amongst these four organisations:

1. Bethany Trust
2. One Parent Families
3. Saheliya
4. Rock Trust

This month, we have 33 redeemed vouchers: 2 from Bethany Trust, 2 from Rock Trust, 11 from Saheliya and 18 from One Parent Families.  Throughout these 9 months, out of the 492 vouchers distributed, 151 vouchers were redeemed.

Information for the donations and usage is given below

Donation Update

March Donation:

MS	£  10.00
SS	£    5.00
Anonymous	£250.00
SA	£  50.00
NM	£  50.00

3rd Quarter Donation Report:

30/12/2013	Quarter 2 Balance C/F	£533.33
8/1/2014	MS	£  10.00
24/1/2014	SA	£  50.00
3/2/2014	Transfer to Aroma Café		-£300.00
4/2/2014	NM	£  50.00
8/2/2014	MS	£  10.00
20/2/2014	SS	£    5.00
24/2/2014	SA	£  50.00
21/2/2014	Bake Sale Profits	£171.84
3/3/2014	Transfer to Aroma Café		-£300.00
8/3/2014	MS	£  10.00
20/3/2014	SS	£    5.00
20/3/2014	Anonymous	£250.00
24/3/2014	SA	£  50.00
28/3/2014	NM	£  50.00
30/3/2014	Quarter 3 Balance C/F	£645.17

Usage Update

Below is the table of the number of redeemed and not-redeemed vouchers over the past nine months (except this month).

Date	Asociation	Collected	Not Collected	Total
July	Saheliya	16	4	20
July	Bethany Christian Trust	13	7	20
August	One Parent Scotland	16	4	20
Total August		45	15	60
September	Saheliya	5	19	24
September	Bethany Christian Trust	4	20	24
September	One Parent Scotland	15	9	24
Total September		24	48	72
October	Saheliya	0	30	30
October	Bethany Christian Trust	9	21	30
October	One Parent Scotland	21	9	30
Total October		30	60	90
November	Saheliya	16	14	30
November	Bethany Christian Trust	13	17	30
November	One Parent Scotland	7	23	30
Total November		36	54	90
January	Rock Trust	4	16	20
January	Bethany Christian Trust	6	14	20
January	One Parent Scotland	0	20	20
Total January		10	50	60
February	Bethany Christian Trust	4	8	12
February	One Parent Scotland	0	12	12
February	Rock Trust	0	12	12
February	Saheliya	2	10	12
February	Central Mosque	0	12	12
Total February		6	54	60

Thank you again for all the support, prayers and donations.  We hope to steer the project through to the next quarter with your blessings.

Regards,
The Meal on Me Team.

February Updates

Hello everyone,

It's again the end of the month and so it is time for our monthly updates.  We have had quite an active month, actually and are happy to report on the activities.

Activity Updates:

1. Saheliya managed to distribute our vouchers to their service users and therefore, we have decided to continue working with them to benefit the minority women who are in need of not only a meal but also social support.
2. Central Edinburgh Mosque has also approached us to see if we can support them in helping the needy in the Edinburgh Muslim community.  We have decided to give them vouchers on an adhoc basis for now.
3. On Friday 21/2/14, we had our first fund raising drive - a bake sale.  Being our first, we have had a few challenges and learning points to consider but overall, we are really pleased with the results.  We were able to raise £171.84 with the help of so many people.  So we would like to thank the following people/organisations:
1. Central Edinburgh Mosque for letting us use their venue for the bake sale.
2. The excellent bakers who contributed so many delicious cakes and biscuits.  You all were amazing!
3. The volunteers who helped out at the stall.  A special shout out for our young helpers - Ben and Anna Gray.  Ben especially asked if he could get his own stall next time.
4. The customers - without your buying the cakes, we wouldn't have had been able to raise the money.
5. Representatives from Bethany Trust and One Parent Families who came to support us.  We are hoping to be able to plan for events which can involve our partners more in future.
4. We have a new website!!  Check it out at mealonme.webs.com.  We had help from Lena and her husband on it.  Thanks to both of them.
5. We also received two surveys back and are chasing the organisations if they can encourage more feedback.

Accounts and Donations:

Of course, as per usual, we present our accounts and donors for this month.  

MS	£10.00
SS	£  5.00
SA	£50.00

NM	£50.00
Bake Sale Profits	£171.84

Given previously we have £293.33 in the bank, we have a total of £580.17.  We also are distributing 60 vouchers worth £300/- for this month.  So, that leaves our bank balance of £280.17.  The amount is enough for us to issue out vouchers for another month but we are in sore need of your donations to keep this project going.  So, we appeal to you for donations.  Please go to our donation page on our website if you wish to find out how to donate.  Any amount is welcome!

Thank you all for your much needed support.  

Yours truly,

MoM team