Finance Score: 5
Governance Score: 9
Support Score: 12
  • Future income +5
  • No PartB
  • Good trustee age range: +3
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Gender balanced board: +3
  • Overall weighted support: +12
Overall GiG Score: 26 ?

FAMILIES INFOCUS (ESSEX)

To support, strengthen and improve the quality of life for Essex families with children and young people with any special educational need or disability (SEND), requiring quality advice, information, emotional and practical support, especially at the time of diagnosis or varied transition points. Through 'holistic' information, advice and support projects/services and range of family activities.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • Spending has increased over the last 3 years relative to the previous period
  • A significant proportion of recent income was derived from major grant makers including the Government and there are significant future grants due to be received
  • The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and gender and dynamic in terms of composition

Financial issues to consider:

  • A PartB annual return has not been required and so detailed financial information is not available from the online data

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?
Sources of Income ?
Y/E Income
£k
Spending
£k
Surplus/
Deficit £k
Fundraising
Cost £k
Total
Funds £k
Unrestricted
Funds £k
Mths
Rsrvs
Staff Volun-
teers
31/03/23£430£441£-11n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/22£386£356£30n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/21£354£325£29n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/20£296£314£-18n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/19£324£327£-3n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/18£333£342£-9n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/17£274£305£-31n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/16£258£304£-45n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/15£301£294£7n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/14£227£258£-31n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/13£246£248£-2n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/12£227£250£-23n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/11£212£243£-31n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/10£221£218£3n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/09£206£206£0n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/08£213£176£37n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/07£195£193£1n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/06£195£211£-16n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/05£196£186£10n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/04£244£185£59n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Highest pay bracket: less than £60,000
Established: 28 years

www.familiesinfocusessex.org.uk

helpline@fifessex.org.uk

01245353575

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseFacebook
UN SDGs
?
Listed activities
  • Disability
  • Education/Training
  • The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
  • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
GiG Classification
  • Services for people with disabilities
How it operates
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides services
Where it operates
  • Essex, Southend-on-sea, Thurrock,
Who it helps
  • Children/Young People
  • Other Defined Groups
  • People With Disabilities

Who supports them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

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

Major supporters in last 5 years
National Lottery Community Fund£691,072
Access to Justice Foundation£500,000
Essex Community Foundation£162,975
Henry Smith Charity£129,500
Garfield Weston Foundation£60,000
BBC Children in Need£36,000
DCMS£34,882
Postcode Places Trust£25,000
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
Access to Justice Foundation - Improving Lives Through Advice Grant
£500,000 01/05/2024
The Improving Lives Through Advice programme is made possible by a £30 million grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. Working in partnership with the largest community funder in the UK, the Improving ....more
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£30,000 21/12/2023
Support to families who have a child or young person with any special educational need or disability (SEND).
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£36,000 26/10/2023
This project will provide a two hour weekly activity club for young people with special educational needs and their siblings, to have fun in a safe environment and make friends
Essex Community Foundation - Families InFocus (Essex)
£1,000 22/09/2023
to provide a christmas event for local children
Essex Community Foundation - Families InFocus (Essex)
£10,000 14/09/2023
to help continue and further develop a family support service for families of children and young people with disabilities or special needs across Essex
National Lottery Community Fund - Family Support Continuation
£260,302 11/05/2023
The funding will be used to support core running costs of their Family Support service which works with families who have a child or children with any form of SEND in Essex. The project aims to offer advice and support to families to improve mental ....more
Postcode Places Trust - Unrestricted Funding
£25,000 01/05/2023
This funding will help us to support SEND families across Essex with advice, information and family activities.
Essex Community Foundation - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£20,000 12/01/2023
to continue and develop a family support service for families of children and young people with disabilities or special needs
Essex Community Foundation - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£7,500 03/11/2022
to support a weekly activity club in Chelmsford for children with SEND and their families
Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust - Families InFocus (Essex) - 31/05/22
£2,500 23/06/2022
Core Funding
Essex Community Foundation - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£1,800 19/05/2022
to provide a two day event in Chelmsford with performances and interactive circus skill workshops for local children
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£30,000 04/04/2022
Family Support Project
Essex Community Foundation - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£655 16/12/2021
to provide a double pushchair, buggy board and sensory items for a young boy with autism and global development delay
Essex Community Foundation - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£26,700 09/12/2021
24
to continue and develop a family support service to Braintree district families of children and young people with disabilities or special needs over two years
Masonic Trust - MCF Small Grant
£13,500 10/11/2021
Unrestricted core funding for small charities
Essex Community Foundation - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£7,500 04/11/2021
to develop a new website with accessible information for families with children with SEND needing support across Essex
Essex Community Foundation - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£30,000 19/08/2021
towards the operational costs of family advisor support services for families with a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities to meet an increased demand across Essex
Essex Community Foundation - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£20,000 03/06/2021
to increase family advisor support services for families with a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities across Mid and South Essex
Essex Community Foundation - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£6,500 25/03/2021
towards a family support project in meeting the additional needs of children and young people who have special educational needs or disability, brought about by the COVID19 pandemic, in Colchester
Essex Community Foundation - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£5,500 18/03/2021
towards a family support project in North Essex for those who have a child or young person with special educational needs or disabilities
DCMS - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
£34,882 29/09/2020
"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 operate, thereby reducing the burden on public ....more
Essex Community Foundation - Family Support to Braintree District families of CYP with any SEND
£20,820 16/12/2019
35
To maintain and improve Family Support to Braintree District families of children and young people with disabilities or special needs over two years
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Families InFocus
£129,500 10/12/2019
36
towards three years' continuation funding of the running costs of the 'Family Support Adviser Project' to support disadvantaged and/or vulnerable families from Essex with a child with a disability or special need
Essex Community Foundation - Family Support to Chelmsford families of CYP with any SEND
£5,000 09/12/2019
11
To provide Family Support to Chelmsford families of children with any SEND issues
National Lottery Community Fund - Family Support
£430,770 09/12/2019
35
This organisation provides holistic support to families of children with disabilities and special needs (aged 0 to 25) across Essex, who require advice, information and support, particularly at times of change, challenge and crisis. The funding will ....more
Essex Community Foundation - Family Support to North East Essex families of CYP with any SEND
£10,000 27/09/2019
11
Towards the provision of family support to North East Essex in addressing special educational needs and disabilities
Essex Community Foundation - Young Carers (Siblings) Support
£8,240 30/04/2019
11
Towards the running costs of clubs providing respite to siblings of children with special educational needs
Essex Community Foundation - Family Support to Chelmsford families of children/young people with any disability or special need
£5,000 14/03/2019
11
To extend and enhance family support to Chelmsford families of children and young people with any disability or special need
Essex Community Foundation - Family Support to Chelmsford families of children/young people with any disability or special need
£2,600 25/01/2019
Towards home adaptations for a family with a special educational needs child in Chelmsford
Essex Community Foundation - Siblings "Kidzspace" Support
£5,000 06/02/2018
11
Towards a 'Kidzspace' support project for young carers of siblings with SEND issues, to help improve their own health and well-being
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£20,000 24/01/2018
Family Support
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£28,758 10/05/2017
36
A Saturday Family Activity Club for 195 young people with Special Educational Needs in Chelmsford. By attending the club the children will improve their confidence, have a healthier lifestyle and have the chance to have fun with their friends.
National Lottery Community Fund - Family Support
£331,185 22/02/2017
36
This is the continuation of a project by Families InFocus (Essex) which aims to provide specialist, independent and person-led support to any parent, carer or family that has a child with a special educational need or disability. The project will ....more
Essex Community Foundation - x
£20,500 13/12/2016
35
To enable Family Support to Braintree District families of children and young people with disabilities or special needs over 3 years
Essex Community Foundation - Grant to Families InFocus (Essex)
£115,200 13/12/2016
36
Towards three years continuation of the running costs of the Family Support Adviser Project to support disadvantaged and/or vulnerable families from Essex with a child with a disability or special need.
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Families InFocus
£115,200 08/12/2016
36
towards three years' continuation of the running costs of the 'Family Support Adviser Project' which supports families in Essex who have a disabled child
Essex Community Foundation - Family Support to South Essex families of children/young people with SEND
£9,927 04/11/2016
12
To extend and enhance a Family Support service for those with children who have disabilities and special needs in South Essex
Masonic Trust - Core funding
£4,980 19/10/2016
Advice and information, respite and group activities for families who have children with disabilities.
Essex Community Foundation - Family Saturday Activity Club
£4,820 30/09/2016
6
To help support the Family Saturday Activity Club in Chelmsford for children with disabilities and special needs
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Families InFocus
£122,400 05/12/2013
36
towards three years' running costs of the Family Support Adviser Project to support disadvantaged and/or vulnerable families from Essex with a child with a disability or special need
Lloyds Bank Foundation - Grant to Families In Focus (Essex)
£35,000 30/05/2012
the salaries and on-costs of the Director and Assistant, rent, utilities, postage, printing and stationery, insurance subscriptions and library, audit, accountancy, payroll and CRBs and IT
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (6)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split

Age Range of Trustees: 47-68
  • ANDREW GOTHARD Appointed: 2014, Occupation: Retired
  • JULIE SARTI Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Retired
  • KIRSTY CORNELL (Chair) Appointed: 2024
  • MARTIN PETER MERRELL Appointed: 2013, Occupation: Civil Servant
  • MARC JORDAN Appointed: 2021, Occupation: Commercial Director
  • SUSAN JANE DEWAR Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Company Director
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 12/05/1997, number: 1062311
  • Registered at Companies House on 04/12/1996, number: 03287829
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
  • Investing charity funds policy and procedures
  • Investment
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding policy and procedures
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Social media policy and procedures
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
  • Trustee expenses policy and procedures
  • Volunteer management
Filing Record
20 returns made; all on time
Main office

Families Infocus (Essex)
Townfield House
30-33 Townfield Street
CHELMSFORD
CM1 1QL

Objectives

TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (AGED 0 TO 25) WITH ANY SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEED OR DISABILITY (SEND) ANYWHERE IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, WHICH COMPRISES THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES OF ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE UNITARY AUTHORITIES OF SOUTHEND ON SEA AND THURROCK, BY ENSURING THAT THEY, THEIR FAMILIES AND CARERS RECEIVE INFORMATION, ADVICE, PRACTICAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. IN PARTICULAR, THROUGH THE PROVISION OF ADVICE, INFORMATION AND SUPPORT TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF, AND RELIEVE THE POVERTY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SEND, TO ENHANCE THE STABILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. A CENTRAL CONSIDERATION WILL BE THE EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF ALL CONCERNED. THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF FAMILIES INFOCUS (ESSEX) IS FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT AND FALL WITHIN THE DESCRIPTION THE RELIEF OF THOSE IN NEED, BY REASON OF YOUTH, AGE, ILL-HEALTH, DISABILITY, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR OTHER DISADVANTAGE

Defined Area of Benefit:

ESSEX

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

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