Finance Score: 6
Governance Score: 6
Support Score: 10
  • Good reserves management: +3
  • Fundraising costs low: +3
  • Good trustee age range: +3
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Overall weighted support: +10
Overall GiG Score: 22 ?

CARERS FIRST

Carers FIRST is a charity supporting people who look after a relative or friend who due to ill health, physical or mental illness, disability, frailty, or addiction cannot manage without their support. We provide information, advice, guidance, emotional support, training and activities, giving carers an opportunity to have a break from their caring role and help them to get the support they need.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • Reserves management has been consistently within official guidelines
  • Spending has increased over the last 3 years relative to the previous period
  • Fundraising costs are unusually low relative to funds raised
  • A significant proportion of recent income was derived from major grant makers including the Government
  • The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and dynamic in terms of composition

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

  • This charity is not recognised by HMRC for Gift Aid according to its latest published return
  • Over half the Board have joined recently

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£4,695£4,873£-179£82£1,794£1,3893.414170
31/03/22£4,564£4,447£117£74£2,096£1,7624.81460
31/03/21£4,285£4,132£153£72£1,934£1,6644.81450
31/03/20£3,741£3,716£24£38£1,559£1,3014.213670
31/03/19£4,395£4,138£257£7£1,735£1,5194.414870
31/03/18£3,484£3,541£-57£15£1,458£1,2914.41260
31/03/17£3,089£3,087£1£5£1,528£1,3455.21180
31/03/16£2,754£2,032£722£1£1,431£1,2257.2740
31/03/15£1,750£1,706£44£10£728£6334.4630
31/03/14£1,873£1,806£68£15£678£6164.1740
31/03/13£1,176£1,161£14£15£608£5876.1590
31/03/12£1,282£1,164£118£15£590£4764.9510
31/03/11£1,230£1,101£129£21£472£3904.3550
31/03/10£1,148£1,009£139£29£342£2793.3480
31/03/09£620£586£34£23£164£1272.6190
31/03/08£482£446£36n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/07£421£420£1n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/06£407£414£-7n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/05£381£362£19n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/04£305£302£4n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 1.8%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 1.7%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 2%
Highest pay band: £70,000-£80,000
Liabilities/Assets: 23%
Liabilities/Income: 11%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 77%
Reserves/Spending: 3.4 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 1 months
Quick Ratio: 1.1
Asset Split ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 24 years

www.carersfirst.org.uk

hello@carersfirst.org.uk

03003031555

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseFacebookInstagramX
UN SDGs
?
Listed activities
  • Disability
  • Economic/Community Development/Employment
  • Education/Training
  • General Charitable Purposes
  • Human Rights/Religious Or Racial Harmony/Equality Or Diversity
  • Other Charitable Purposes
  • Recreation
  • The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
  • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
GiG Classification
  • Care for carers
How it operates
  • Other charitable activities
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides services
  • Sponsors or undertakes research
Where it operates
  • Essex, Hackney, Haringey, Lincolnshire, Medway, Waltham Forest,
Who it helps
  • Children/Young People
  • Elderly/Old People
  • Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
  • Other Defined Groups
  • People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
  • People With Disabilities
  • The General Public/Mankind

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£270,713
The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington£249,579
BBC Children in Need£162,048
Greater London Authority£124,277
Masonic Trust£56,330
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
Hackney CVS - Hackney Giving and LBH Cost of Living
£5,061 09/11/2023
Distribution of supermarket vouchers to thirty unpaid carers living across Hackney to enable them to purchase food and other essential household items.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Carers First
£1,685 21/10/2023
We would love to offer unpaid carers the chance to relax and unwind at events such as afternoon teas and trips to the cinema, and provide vouchers for beauty treatments and local garden centres.
National Lottery Community Fund - Helping Carers Thrive
£261,255 17/02/2023
This funding will be used by Carers First to develop bespoke training and information packages for carers supporting in the areas of dementia mental health learning disabilities and autism physical disabilities sensory conditions dependency people ....more
Hackney CVS - Hackney Giving and LBH Cost of Living
£6,000 31/01/2023
Supermarket vouchers for carers
The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington - Grant to Carers FIRST
£84,928 25/01/2023
To deliver a three-year blended wellbeing programme co-produced by carers of respite activities and training; strengthening family relationships and boosting emotional wellbeing in Lincolnshire
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£20,000 09/12/2022
Main Grants award
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Carers First
£2,500 30/11/2022
This project will provide the opportunity to develop and grow a community partnership with your local McDonald’s restaurant. This will support disadvantaged children and young people to reach their full potential.
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Carers First
£500 20/10/2022
0
‘Cost of Living uplift: £500 to help projects meet their rising costs and respond to increased demand 31/10/2022’
The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington - Grant to Carers FIRST
£60,000 19/05/2022
Train and support volunteers to deliver new peer support groups, telephone befriending and ‘check-in-and-chat’ services for older unpaid carers in London, reducing loneliness and isolation.
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Carers First
£98,904 03/02/2022
This project will deliver support and activities to young carers in Medway, which will result in reduced loneliness, improved emotional well-being and better coping mechanisms. This request is for £98,404 over 3 years.
Masonic Trust - MCF Matched Funding
£500 10/11/2021
Unrestricted matched funding in partnership with the local masonic province
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Carers First
£8,401 23/10/2021
We would like to provide social activities for bereaved carers, including bowling, tea and cake, cinema visits, meals out and trips to places such as Lincoln and York.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Carers FIRST
£1,284 23/10/2021
We are a group of people who care for a friend or relative who would struggle without support. The funding would help pay for a monthly meeting to chat, have a cuppa and share ideas.
National Lottery Community Fund - Carers Benefits
£9,458 08/10/2021
The funding will be used to pay for a Carers Rights Advisor delivering a pilot project supporting unpaid carers to access financial support. The project aims to improve carers improve their financial wellbeing confidence and reduce the emotional ....more
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Carers First
£1,000 31/08/2021
This project will provide training and mentoring to a project worker who will deliver money management sessions to disadvantaged children. Children will improve their life skills through developing their understanding of financial management.
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£20,000 20/08/2021
Together for 250,000 carers
Masonic Trust - MCF Large Grant
£55,830 24/02/2021
A grant to support older carers and former carers in Lincolnshire via social activities and 121 support.
The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington - Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund Grant
£5,000 11/11/2020
5
In support of IT equipment and Zoom licences for staff and volunteers to continue to work from home over the winter whilst restrictions apply. This will ensure the blended model of face to face and digital support can be delivered effectively on an ....more
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Carers First
£57,459 09/09/2020
18
COVID19 - This project will deliver online activities and workshops to young carers in Medway, isolated due to Covid-19. These activities will help improve their well-being, strengthen resilience and reduce feelings of loneliness.
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Carers First
£1,685 17/06/2020
COVID19 - This grant will fund Identify Cards for young carers who feel isolated, anxious and exhausted due to Covid-19, to use, for example, to shop during priority times in supermarkets and will give them a sense of identity and relieve anxiety.
Lincolnshire Community Foundation - Carers First Covid Project
£2,000 10/04/2020
Resources for carers
The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington - Grant to Carers FIRST
£99,651 30/01/2020
24
Recruit/upskill/supervise volunteers to meaningfully engage with older carers (OCs) via telephone or peer support, ensuring OCs remain connected with each other and Carers FIRST.
Greater London Authority - Carers FIRST
£124,277 01/01/2020
Positive activities for young people involved in crime or at risk of crime or exclusion
National Lottery Community Fund - Young Carers Celebrations
£9,990 07/08/2019
12
Young Carers Celebrations
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Carers First
£110,235 28/02/2019
36
This project will provide one to one support and recreational activities for young carers in Medway. The activities will reduce loneliness and isolation, increase opportunities and increase resilence.
Essex Community Foundation - Carers HEART (Health, Exercise, Attitude, Relaxation, Time)
£12,074 13/12/2018
34
To deliver activities in Braintree District that promote emotional and physical wellbeing for people that are caring for a loved one over 2 years
National Lottery Community Fund - Celebrating and Caring Unpaid Carers
£9,823 14/03/2018
12
The project will hold a series of 12 roadshows inviting trained staff and external advisors to speak with carers about their needs and requirements, offering support, advice and a chance to meet with other carers.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Carers FIRST
£5,133 04/08/2017
A social event this Carers Week with refreshments & entertainment will give carers respite from their daily roles & reduce social isolation.
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Carers First
£55,000 03/12/2015
24
towards two years' salary of the Volunteer Co-ordinator at a project providing support services to adult and young carers in Kent
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (9)
Current Trustees appointed

Age Range of Trustees: 47-73
  • CLIVE BERTRAM SPARROW Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Retired
  • DANIELA DOMENICA CECCHINI Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Retired
  • MANIR HUSSAIN Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Director
  • MARCUS SHAW Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Ceo
  • PETER ALAN JENKINS Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Communications Director
  • ROBERTA CAMILLA HEYS Appointed: 2023, Occupation: General Manager
  • SEMANTHA NEAL (Chair) Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Not Working
  • SUKWINDER BASSI Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Consultant/Chief Executive Officer
  • VICKI JAYNE WELLS Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Deputy Chief Inspector
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 07/03/2001, number: 1085430
  • Registered at Companies House on 19/01/2001, number: 04144820
Gift Aid
  • NOT registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Event History
Policies in force
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
  • Complaints handling
  • Complaints policy and procedures
  • Conflicting interests
  • Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
  • 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
  • Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
  • 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

Michael Gill Building
Tolgate Lane
Strood
Kent
ME2 4TG

Objectives

4.1 For the public benefit, to relieve the needs of carers and persons who are sick, infirm, disabled or who have social care needs in particular but not exclusively by:4.1.1 the provision of information, advice and support4.1.2 the provision of respite care

Defined Area of Benefit:

NOT DEFINED

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

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