Finance Score: 3
Governance Score: 6
Support Score: 10
  • Low unrestricted reserves: -2
  • Strong growth: +2
  • Fundraising costs low: +3
  • Good trustee age range: +3
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Overall weighted support: +10
Overall GiG Score: 19 ?

FIRST LIGHT SOUTH WEST LTD

Mission:

A place where we live in safety free from Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • There has been strong growth in spending over the last 5 years
  • 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:

  • Over half the Board have joined recently

Financial issues to consider:

  • Unrestricted reserves appear to be dangerously low at the latest year end
Comment by the Charity:
    First Light was formed in April 2019 as a result of a merger of two local charities, Twelves Company and Skoodhya, with a vision to create a safer South West free of violence and abuse. Since 2019 the charity has secured a number of statutory contracts to transform support for victims and survivors. Over the last 2 years the charity has begun to diversify its income to innovate and develop best practise, extend services and fill gaps in provision, and explore prevention of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

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£4,801£4,608£193£51£2,208£6961.81059
31/03/22£4,186£3,526£660£45£2,015£7242.5797
31/03/21£3,356£2,670£685£0£1,355£6342.8663
31/03/20£2,642£2,402£241£5£670£4672.36513
31/03/19£2,065£2,159£-94£0£429£18416215
31/03/18£1,894£1,560£334£0£523£1991.5600
31/03/17£1,136£1,068£68£0£190£1711.9550
31/03/16£1,137£1,203£-66£0£121£940.9440
31/03/15£1,069£1,087£-17£134£188£1451.6440
31/03/14£875£921£-47£102£205£1962.6350
31/03/13£494£560£-66n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/12£472£374£98n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/11£469£371£99n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/10£425£355£70n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/09£404£390£14n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/08£255£230£25n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/07£164£159£5n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/06?*£50£71£-21n/an/an/an/an/an/a
30/09/05£123£103£20n/an/an/an/an/an/a
30/09/04£55£62£-6n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 1.1%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 1.1%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 2%
Highest pay band: £60,000-£70,000
Liabilities/Assets: 13%
Liabilities/Income: 7%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 31%
Reserves/Spending: 1.8 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 5 months
Quick Ratio: 6
Asset Split ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 23 years
(27 years as a company)

www.firstlight.org.uk

info@firstlight.org.uk

03458 121212

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseFacebookInstagramXYouTube
UN SDGs
?
How you can help
What it does
First Light provide specialist support to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence including advice and support through the criminal justice process, crisis intervention and therapeutic recovery support
Listed activities
  • Accommodation/Housing
  • Education/Training
  • General Charitable Purposes
  • The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
  • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
GiG Classification
  • Support for victims of domestic or sexual abuse
  • Emotional support, counselling or therapy
How it operates
  • Other charitable activities
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides services
Where it operates
  • Throughout England And Wales,
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
Ministry of Justice£187,698
Henry Smith Charity£180,000
BBC Children in Need£76,557
The Rayne Foundation£60,000
Charles Hayward Foundation£50,000
DCMS£48,600
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
Co-Operative Group - Grant to First Light South West
£3,801 22/10/2022
We would like to support the recovery of more children and young people in Plymouth who have experienced sexual abuse, exploitation and violence.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to First Light South West
£3,219 22/10/2022
With your help First Light will provide listening and mentoring support to 375 individuals and families affected by domestic abuse, helping them to move on to happier, healthier lives.
Access to Justice Foundation - Help Accessing Legal Support (HALS)
£19,500 13/09/2022
Help Accessing Legal Support (HALS) is a programme of The Access to Justice Foundation with the Ministry of Justice. We are working with organisations to sustain and improve access to early social welfare and family legal advice, to enable users ....more
Access to Justice Foundation - Improving Outcomes Through Legal Support (IOTLS) grant
£22,106 23/05/2022
The funding programme aims to support organisations working to sustain and improve access to early social welfare and family legal support and advice, to enable users to resolve these problems as early as possible and avoid the need for court or ....more
Garfield Weston Foundation - Multi-Year Grant (3 Years) award - COVID19 response
£20,000 20/05/2022
36
Sexual Violence Advice & Support: North Devon & Exeter
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to First Light
£120,000 17/05/2022
36
towards three years' salary of a Sexual Violence Triage Administrator at a project providing support for survivors of sexual violence and abuse, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, in Devon.
Charles Hayward Foundation - Grant to First Light
£25,000 29/04/2022
Recovery Pathways Service Administrator
The Rayne Foundation - Grant to First Light South West
£60,000 08/03/2022
Towards a piloting a family centred approach to recovery support for young person victims (11-18yrs) of sexual abuse or exploitation in Devon.
National Lottery Community Fund - Support For All: Hidden Victims
£9,989 21/01/2022
The funding will be used to create digital and print communications for people experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence. The project aims to remove barriers to engagement in support services due to sexuality gender ethnicity and age.
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Grant to First Light South West
£15,000 16/12/2021
First Light South West (FLSW) runs the Sexual Assault Referral Centre. (SARC) for Wiltshire and Swindon. The grant will help pay for an outreach worker
Devon Community Foundation - Victims of Sexual Violence: Client contingency fund
£600 11/10/2021
Transport and communication device costs for victims of rape, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to First Light
£60,000 09/06/2021
36
towards three years' salary of a Sexual Violence Triage Administrator for a project providing support for survivors of sexual violence and abuse throughout Devon.
Charles Hayward Foundation - Grant to First Light
£25,000 26/03/2021
Recovery Pathways Service Administrator
Tudor Trust - Grant to First Light South West Ltd
£2,000 04/03/2021
as an additional grant to support staff, volunteer and trustee wellbeing, to assist the organisation deliver its charitable purpose more effectively
Garfield Weston Foundation - Multi-Year Grant (3 Years) award
£20,000 12/02/2021
36
Sexual Violence Advice & Support: North Devon & Exeter
Ministry of Justice - Support for charities providing support services for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence
£90,345 12/11/2020
Provision of Victim Services
DCMS - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
£48,600 05/10/2020
"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
BBC Children in Need - Grant to First Light South West Ltd
£76,557 09/09/2020
18
COVID19 - This project will deliver support services for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. The services will reduce feelings of isolation, increase understanding healthy relationships improve self-esteem.
Ministry of Justice - Support for charities providing support services for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence
£97,353 22/06/2020
Provision of Victim Services
Devon Community Foundation - COVID19 PPE for Outreach Work with Sexual Violence victims
£3,439 11/06/2020
1
Grant to First Light
Cornwall Community Foundation - Phone top-ups in response to Covid 19
£4,700 27/05/2020
12
To upgrade and increase licences for live chat to support more victims. They also need to purchase smart phones with 4G/Wifi capability to be used by victims. Support will also be provided for victims to flee domestic violence.
The Leathersellers' Company Charitable Fund - Grant to First Light
£7,500 06/05/2020
12
Emergency Covid Additional Grant unrestricted core costs
National Lottery Community Fund - Therapy Triage for Abuse Victims
£10,000 31/05/2019
12
The funding will be used to run a programme of therapy assessments for people affected by abuse. The project aims to offer a targeted support integration at the earliest stage.
Ministry of Justice - Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund
£86,520 01/04/2019
To provide independent, specialist support to female and male victims of rape and sexual abuse, including victims of child sexual abuse.
Tudor Trust - Grant to First Light South West Ltd
£90,000 30/10/2018
36
over three years towards the running costs of a historic sexual abuse support service in Plymouth
The Leathersellers' Company Charitable Fund - Grant to First Light
£60,000 12/10/2018
48
Main Grant unrestricted core costs
Ministry of Justice - Female Rape Support Fund (Child Sexual Abuse Support Funding)
£24,000 01/04/2018
To increase the volume of support offered to victims of child sexual abuse and help meet the increased demand on services.
Ministry of Justice - 2014-2019 Female Rape Support Fund
£67,102 01/04/2018
To provide direct and front line support to females over the age of 13 who are victims of rape and sexual violence
BBC Children in Need - Grant to First Light South West Ltd
£118,964 02/03/2018
36
The project provides art psychotherapy for children who have been victims of sexual abuse. The children will be helped to express their feelings, develop resilience and build better relationships with others.
Ministry of Justice - 2014-2018 Female Rape Support Fund (CSA Uplift)
£24,000 01/04/2017
To increase the volume of support offered to victims of child sexual abuse and help meet the increased demand on your services.
Ministry of Justice - 2014-2018 Female Rape Support Fund
£63,624 01/04/2017
To provide direct and front line support to females over the age of 13 who are victims of rape and sexual violence.
Ministry of Justice - 2014-2017 Female Rape Support Fund (CSA Uplift)
£24,000 01/04/2016
12
To increase the volume of support offered to victims of child sexual abuse and help meet the increased demand on your services.
Ministry of Justice - 2014-2017 Female Rape Support Fund
£60,000 01/04/2016
12
To provide direct and front line support to females over the age of 13 who are victims of rape and sexual violence
Lloyds Bank Foundation - Grant to Twelves Company
£20,000 29/01/2014
The charity deals with people suffering from sexual violence in Plymouth and Cornwall. It seeks support for the sexual violence service manager salary. The work helps mainly women to deal with the trauma of sexual violence, improving their wellbeing.
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How do they operate?

Safer Futures

Objectives: Supporting people to be free of domestic abuse, seek criminal justice outcomes, recover from abuse and prevent revictimisation.

Intervention period: From a single call to around 2 years

Beneficiaries: Adults and children affected by domestic abuse.

Location: Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Description: Integrated domestic abuse service incorporating:.
- Helpline providing immediate support 9am-9pm Mon to Fri, and 9-5pm on Saturdays
- Needs and risk assessment within 24hrs for individuals and families in crisis
- Practical advice and emotional support following recent or historic domestic abuse
- Advice on reporting to the Police, including anonymous reporting
- 1-2-1 support through Police and Criminal Justice Process
- Advocacy for individuals and families with complex needs
- Recovery therapy, group support and mentoring for survivors

Sexual Violence Advice & Recovery

Objectives: Support individuals to be physically and emotional safe, and seek criminal justice outcomes, and recover from trauma.

Intervention period: From 3 months to 4 years

Beneficiaries: Adults and children effected by sexual violence including: rape, sexual assault, exploitation, abuse and other contact and non-contact sexual offenses.

Location: Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Description: Dedicated team supporting victims to be physically and emotionally safe, including:
- Needs and risk assessment within 24hrs for individuals in crisis
- Practical advice and emotional support following recent or historic sexual violence
- Advice on reporting to the Police, including anonymous reporting
- 1-2-1 support through Police and Criminal Justice Process
- Pre and post trial therapy
- Recovery therapy for survivors

Sexual Assault Referral Centre

Objectives: Support individuals to be physically and emotional safe, and seek criminal justice outcomes

Intervention period: From a single session to 6months

Beneficiaries: Adults and young people effected by sexual violence including: rape, sexual assault, exploitation, abuse and other contact sexual offenses.

Location: Swindon & Wiltshire

Description: Dedicated Crisis Team operate 24hours a day, 365 days per year supporting victims rape and sexual assault helping to keep them physically and emotionally safe. We provide to all victims:
- Practical advice and emotional support for individuals in crisis following recent or historic sexual violence
- Risk assessment to ensure their immediate safety; 1in5 assessments result in a safeguarding alert.
- Access to forensic medical examinations for the collection of evidence
- Advice on reporting to the Police, including anonymous reporting
- Emergency contraception
- Needs assessment for sexual health, mental health, GP and other support services
- On-going advocacy for victims whilst they await other support services.

Who works here?

  • LYN GOODING
    Chief Executive
Having previously served as a Police Officer with Devon & Cornwall Police, Lyn gained experience in a range of areas including child abuse investigations, critical incident management and partnership working. Lyn was also successful in helping to secure funding to establish Cornwall’s first Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) . Following retirement, Lyn joined the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Devon & ....more
  • MEL FRANCIS
    Safer Futures - Service Manager
Mel was born and raised in Manchester. She has lived abroad and established a drop-in group and support network for women and families experiencing Domestic Abuse in the Armed Forces setting. As one of the first Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) in Cornwall, Mel has worked with women and men experiencing high-risk domestic abuse at the point of crisis.
  • CATH CURNO
    Director of Sexual Violence Services
Cath was born in Plymouth and started her career at 16 as an apprentice with British Aerospace. She then joined Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust as a medical secretary and began her management career in Clinical Governance. Cath completed a CMI Diploma in Management and took a more senior role as CAHMS Service Manager and subsequently Deputy Directorate Manager for Paediatrics. Cath joined First Light in 2012 as the Plymouth Sexual Violence ....more

How is it governed?

Trustees (12)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split
Based on 11/12 persons

Age Range of Trustees: 37-59
  • ADRIAN ANTHONY FOULGER Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Director / Consultant
  • ALISON CHITTY Appointed: 2016, Occupation: Assistant News Editor, BBC Southwest
  • AMY YOUNG Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Head Of Procurement, Supply Chain, It & Legal
  • BEATE VAN LOO-BORN Appointed: 2022
  • CHRISTOPHER JONES Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Chief Information Officer
  • FRANKA FUELLER Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Head Of Mass Giving
  • HELENA FRUMSON BELITSKY Appointed: 2024
  • KIMBERLY JONES Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Head Of People
  • MICHELLE DAVIES Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Police Superintendent
  • SOPHIE DUPRE-ECHEVERRIA Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Chief Risk & Compliance Officer
  • SUSANNA SNYDER Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Lecturer In Theology And Ethics, Dir Of Research
  • VIKKI MARTIN Appointed: 2016, Occupation: Solicitor, Head of Family Law at Wolferstans Solicitors
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 06/02/2002, number: 1090457
  • Registered at Companies House on 26/09/1997, number: 03440794
Gift Aid
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Fundraising Regulator
First registered: 07/25/2017, current status: Small charity
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
  • 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; AR06: 27 days late,
Main office

First Light
The Business Centre
2 Cattedown Road
PLYMOUTH
PL4 0EG

Objectives

TO PROMOTE THE BENEFIT FOR THOSE LIVING, WORKING AND VISITING ENGLAND AND WALES, BY ASSOCIATING TOGETHER THE INHABITANTS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES, VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS IN A COMMON EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE, PARTICULARLY THOSE AFFECTED BY INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE AND ABUSE, THROUGH THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION, THE RELIEF OF POVERTY AND THE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF GOOD HEALTH AND WELL BEING.

Defined Area of Benefit:

SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving
Charizone

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