Finance Score: 4
Governance Score: 9
Support Score: 12
  • Poor Liquidity: -1
  • Good reserves management: +3
  • Pension deficit: -1
  • Strong growth: +2
  • Multiple Deficits: -2
  • Fundraising costs low: +3
  • Good trustee age range: +3
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Gender balanced board: +3
  • Overall weighted support: +12
Overall GiG Score: 25 ?

ACTION FOR CHILDREN

We protect and support children and young people, providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard, and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives. Last year, we helped more than 387,000 children and families across the UK.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • Reserves management has been consistently within official guidelines
  • 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 gender and dynamic in terms of composition

Financial issues to consider:

  • Liquidity appears to have been slender at the latest year end
  • There is a pension deficit of £551,000
  • On several occasions in recent years income has been less than spending

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
31/03/24£155,280£161,033£-5,753£6,663£75,605£70,4825.34,432561
31/03/23£149,787£149,390£397£6,277£80,803£62,30354,4291,006
31/03/22£142,648£139,354£3,294£5,259£84,021£65,0725.64,4982,553
31/03/21£145,212£139,397£5,815£5,385£82,389£65,2325.64,7412,875
31/03/20?£147,651£147,851£-200£25,682£74,604£59,3714.84,9902,501
31/03/18£151,341£148,817£2,524£21,602£78,775£65,0325.24,9310
31/03/17£159,830£156,841£2,989£12,709£67,240£52,58945,0130
31/03/16£160,884£157,144£3,740£6,859£67,823£54,7764.25,1430
31/03/15£173,070£159,887£13,183£7,736£36,925£24,0791.83,4780
31/03/14£179,670£168,484£11,186£6,211£31,079£19,0471.43,7810
31/03/13£180,029£172,637£7,392£9,445£27,676£16,6461.23,9120
31/03/12£197,962£184,093£13,869£12,452£20,596£10,8800.74,2080
31/03/11£196,156£198,796£-2,640£9,578£32,362£23,0731.44,2500
31/03/10£194,662£199,333£-4,671£12,900£9,917£1,5150.14,1440
31/03/09£200,408£205,783£-5,375£12,802£44,090£35,4762.14,0680
31/03/08*£209,568£199,883£9,685£10,706£86,385£77,8334.73,9940
31/03/07£217,711£214,019£3,692£11,806£49,540£41,9542.44,0930
31/03/06£219,456£239,367£-19,911n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/05*£207,093£202,122£4,971n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/04£0£0£0n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 4.4%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 4.2%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 5%
Highest pay band: £150,000-£200,000
Liabilities/Assets: 22%
Liabilities/Income: 14%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 93%
Reserves/Spending: 5.3 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 1 months
Quick Ratio: 0.1
Asset Split ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 21 years

www.actionforchildren.org.uk

ask.us@actionforchildren.org.uk

01923361500

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseFacebookInstagramX
UN SDGs
?
Listed activities
  • Accommodation/Housing
  • Disability
  • Education/Training
  • General Charitable Purposes
  • Other Charitable Purposes
GiG Classification
  • Emotional support, counselling or therapy
How it operates
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides buildings/facilities/open space
  • Provides services
  • Sponsors or undertakes research
Where it operates
  • Northern Ireland, Scotland, Throughout England And Wales,
Who it helps
  • Children/Young People

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
Prudence Trust£535,000
City Bridge Trust£193,290
Garfield Weston Foundation£150,000
DCMS£80,104
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
City Bridge Trust - Grant to Action for Children
£149,990 30/11/2023
24
£149,990 over two years (£74,916, £75,074)) (0.5 FTE Parenting Coach, 0.2 FTE Children?s Services Manager, 0.1 FTE Parenting Practioner Lead and support from the national Parent Talk team including Content Designers, User Experience Experts and ....more
Sport England - Supporting children into cycling at Pedal Power North Devon
£13,240 06/11/2023
10
This project will renovate outdoor space at North Devon Children's Centre to allow cycling lessons and provide a lean to facility to allow all weather bike maintenance. This will support the Pedal Power project that is working in partnership with ....more
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children Bury Social Opportunities Service
£2,112 21/10/2023
We want to fund 10 tubing trips that would benefit our 80 children. These outings help build confidence in physical and mental abilities, and encourage them to work together toward a common goal.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children
£1,764 21/10/2023
We are looking to make improvements to our garden and activity space to ensure it is user-friendly for those accessing our outdoor space.
Prudence Trust - Parents and Carers 2023: Action for Children
£535,000 13/06/2023
Addition of 1.5 FTE parenting coaches to Parent Talk and review of communication channels.
Cornwall Community Foundation - Kernow Connect ASB Detached Program
£1,300 05/04/2023
Action for Children aims to ensure every child has a safe, happy childhood and the tools to thrive. Kernow Connect offers services for young people in Cornwall, fostering friendships, support, and happiness.
Cornwall Community Foundation - Connect and Explore
£8,562 30/03/2023
Action for Children aims to ensure every child has a safe, happy childhood and the tools to thrive. Kernow Connect offers services for young people in Cornwall, fostering friendships, support, and happiness.
Garfield Weston Foundation - Major Grants award
£150,000 20/03/2023
Capital redevelopments in residential centres for indoor and outdoor sensory spaces "improving the physical experience for disabled children and young people"
Ministry of Defence - ARMED FORCES FAMILY FUND (AF3)
£43,570 22/02/2023
To enable grants to be made in mitigating the adverse impact of mobility and deployment on Service childrens education. Providing one-off grants to schools and other educational bodies and mitigating the adverse impact that Service life can have on ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Action for Children mental wellbeing project North Wales
£10,000 31/01/2023
Action for Children will support the mental wellbeing of children and young people in rural areas of Conwy and Denbighshire. They will deliver training and workshops for adults children and young people in partnership with North Wales Rugby. £10000 ....more
Cornwall Community Foundation - Wheal Jewel Boxing sessions
£500 12/12/2022
Action for Children aims to ensure every child has a safe, happy childhood and the tools to thrive. Kernow Connect offers services for young people in Cornwall, fostering friendships, support, and happiness.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children - Buckie
£1,809 22/10/2022
Our family support service works closely with families across Buckie delivering advice, guidance and support; ranging from benefit advice to parenting support.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children - Tullibody
£1,272 22/10/2022
Our service provides early intervention and support to children and their families with the key aim of improving outcomes to reach their potential and who may then require more complex interventions.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Cornwall SPACE
£2,882 22/10/2022
We would like to offer workshops to help raise the self-esteem and confidence of young people with a learning disability at our short breaks activities and youth groups.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children - Glasgow
£1,359 22/10/2022
We offer a residential service that supports accommodation for young people aged 16-21 who are homeless. The service provides support for a 9-month period to prepare them for independent living.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children - Fareham
£2,230 22/10/2022
We would like to provide trauma and therapeutic training for foster carers and social workers, to enable far-reaching benefits across many years.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Short Breaks @ West Hyde
£3,673 22/10/2022
We would like to make our garden inclusive, so all of our children and young people can play regardless of their physical abilities.
Cornwall Community Foundation - St Ives outreach consultation project
£1,581 26/09/2022
Action for Children aims to ensure every child has a safe, happy childhood and the tools to thrive. Kernow Connect offers services for young people in Cornwall, fostering friendships, support, and happiness.
Cornwall Community Foundation - Crisis fund Kernow Connect
£500 18/08/2022
Action for Children aims to ensure every child has a safe, happy childhood and the tools to thrive. Kernow Connect offers services for young people in Cornwall, fostering friendships, support, and happiness.
County Durham Community Foundation - Northumberland early Help
£3,500 01/06/2022
Relief in need.
County Durham Community Foundation - Northumberland Central Children's Centre
£3,000 25/10/2021
To support families.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Cornwall SPACE
£5,460 23/10/2021
We would like to provide support packs for disabled children and young people during Covid-19, and put on fun activities and events once the pandemic is over.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children Torridge Children's Centre
£1,425 23/10/2021
We would like to improve our outdoor area and make it a safe and stimulated space for children and their families when they need it most.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Torridge Children's Centre Bideford
£1,768 23/10/2021
We would like to develop our outdoor area to make a safe and stimulating space for children and their families when they need it most.
County Durham Community Foundation - Central Northumberland Children's Centre
£5,000 16/11/2020
To support families in providing a safe and secure environment for their children at home.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children - Elgin Residential Unit
£3,471 24/10/2020
We would like to improve the outdoor space at our residential unit for children who can't live with their own families.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Kernow Young Carers
£4,345 24/10/2020
We would like to take young adult carers, aged 16-25, on a residential trip to give them a break from their caring roles.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Wigan Family Support
£7,354 24/10/2020
We would like to provide families in Wigan support to give their children a healthy diet, school uniform and a warm bed to sleep in.
National Lottery Community Fund - Technology equality for Prep for Life service users
£9,600 10/09/2020
2
This funding will be used to purchase devices and upgrade the wi-fi infrastructure at Action for Children's emergency supported accommodation base in Alexandria.
DCMS - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
£80,104 11/08/2020
"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
City Bridge Trust - Grant to Action for Children
£43,300 11/06/2020
£43,300 to fund the essential and urgent costs outlined in the application, in order to carry on providing support to Londoners.
National Lottery Community Fund - The Action for Children Emergency Coronavirus Fund
£10,000 22/05/2020
6
This group will use the funding to provide essential items to vulnerable families across Scotland during the COVID-19 crisis.
Department for Education - Parent Carer Participation grant
£7,500 01/04/2020
To fund 152 Parent Carer Forums to represent and support their local area's SEND parents, carers and families.
Department for Work and Pensions - Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) - Challenge Fund Grant (2020-2021)
£35,931 01/04/2020
Payments to 3rd party supplier to deliver a Parental Conflict Challenge Fund to support Reducing Parental Conflict Programme (2018)
National Lottery Community Fund - Life Competency Skills - Wrexham/Flintshire
£10,000 05/02/2020
2
Action for Children in Wrexham will use the grant to provide Life Competency Skills Workshops for children who are transitioning out of the care system. £10,000 will fund partner delivery costs, staff salaries, mileage, equipment, printing, ....more
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action For Children
£3,690 15/11/2019
We want to provide a holiday kitchen, offering free healthy lunches to local vulnerable families during the school holidays.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Teignbridge Children's Centre
£3,732 15/11/2019
We want to provide a holiday kitchen offering free healthy lunches to local vulnerable families during the school holidays.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children West Lothian Housing Support
£4,514 15/11/2019
Help us buy starter packs of essential items for young people at risk of homelessness, who are moving into their first home.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children Aberdeen Priority Families Service
£3,903 15/11/2019
Help us support disadvantaged families to share their first positive experience together and make happy memories that will last a lifetime.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children Bolton Children's Rights
£2,686 15/11/2019
We want to provide 'Mind of My Own' (MOMO) apps for all our young people, to enable them to communicate their views and needs more easily.
National Lottery Community Fund - Serious Organised Crime Early Intervention Service
£4,654,217 22/06/2019
36
Serous Organised Crime Early Intervention Service UK Pilots
National Lottery Community Fund - Young Adult Carer Support Groups
£488,592 07/05/2019
36
The project is supporting carers aged 18-25 across Northern Ireland. The three-year project is using the £488,592 grant to provide one to one support and group activities across Northern Ireland, including outdoor pursuits, theatre workshops, ....more
Ministry of Justice - ALB - Cafcass - Supported Child Contact Centres (SCCC) Grant 19-20
£2,805 01/04/2019
Provide support for contact centres
Department for Work and Pensions - Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) - Challenge Fund Grant - Action for Children
£153,808 01/04/2019
Payments to 3rd party supplier to deliver a Parental Conflict Challenge Fund to support Reducing Parental Conflict Programme (2018)
National Lottery Community Fund - Breaking the Cycle
£292,327 20/12/2018
36
Breaking the Cycle
National Lottery Community Fund - Sidestep CSE Service
£9,800 17/12/2018
12
This group will use the funding to continue a pilot project that will develop stay safe plans and will identify ways to divert young people into positive activities.
National Lottery Community Fund - Chat and Play
£55,707 26/11/2018
36
Chat and Play
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children, Clackmannanshire Family Support Service.
£4,118 19/11/2018
We want to pay for a day trip for vulnerable families at Christmas time. We will see what is on at local theatres and arrange transport.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Action for Children - Bridgend Young Carers Project
£5,508 19/11/2018
Help us provide young carers with respite trips during the school holidays to places such as Longleat Safari Park.
Sport England - Thompson Park Family Hub
£474,525 06/11/2018
47
Funding under Sport England's Families Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled Thompson Park Family Hub. This project lists its main activity as Multi-Skill Coaching
National Lottery Community Fund - Puppetry to identify at risk children
£10,000 01/11/2018
12
The group will use creative puppetry workshops in to identify disadvantaged young children with mental health problems. Tailored intervention plans will then be put in place working alongside families and teachers, improving health and wellbeing of ....more
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Action For Children
£49,900 27/08/2018
Forgotten Power – Gathering strength from our deepest roots
National Lottery Community Fund - Family Support Volunteers
£92,496 31/07/2018
27
This project will continue its work supporting parents, families and children under the age of eight who are described as 'just coping'. There will be a particular focus on families whose children are at risk of compulsory measures of care. This ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Action for Children
£730,207 26/03/2018
60
This initiative aims to address youth homelessness before it reaches crisis point in West Dunbartonshire. It will do this through researching and mapping the current system and carrying out tests of change including a multi-agency housing options ....more
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Action For Children- Wales
£29,979 13/03/2018
36
This project will provide training opportunities for disabled young people. They will increase their feelings of worth, make more friends, and increase their life skills.
Quartet Community Foundation - Byte Night
£10,300 08/12/2017
As requested by the donor, towards matched funding for a charity sleep-out event raising funds for children and young people, in particular those who are homeless.
National Lottery Community Fund - SideStep: Diverting vulnerable young people from organised crime
£446,790 09/11/2017
36
This funding will be used to develop a project in Govan/Craigton and Canal/Possilpark for vulnerable young people aged 12-18. It will focus on early intervention and preventative work. The young people will receive support from peer mentors and ....more
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Action For Children- Wales
£114,793 17/10/2017
36
This project will provide play therapy sessions for looked after children. They will be better able to deal with the challenges they have faced, feel more stable in their placements, and improve their emotional wellbeing.
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Action for Children - England
£30,000 10/08/2017
36
This project will provide art and music sessions to looked after children and young people that are leaving the care system. By taking part in the activities it will help to improve their emotional well-being and increase confidence.
National Lottery Community Fund - Swansea SAIL (Support, Advocacy, Information, Life-coaching)
£496,742 25/01/2017
36
Swansea SAIL (Support, Advocacy, Information, Life-coaching)
National Lottery Community Fund - Family Support Volunteers
£150,000 01/08/2016
23
This project will support parents and children in deprived areas of Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire to develop confidence in their parenting skill, it also aims to reduce isolation. Families described as ‘just coping’ will be matched ....more
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Action For Children
£95,800 21/03/2016
Researching migrant and ethnic minority cultural heritage to empower and include young women in Scotland
City Bridge Trust - Grant to Action for Children
£50,000 18/03/2016
£50,000 over 6 months to develop a multi-borough commissioning model in London for children on the edge of care.
National Lottery Community Fund - Breaking the Cycle - Domestic Violence Counselling for Children in New
£173,428 25/09/2015
36
The aim is to support children and young people aged four to 16 who have experienced domestic violence in the past and are living away from the abusing parent. They will have been the victim of or witnessed the abuse of a parent or carer.
National Lottery Community Fund - Scottish Borders Young Carers Primary School Project
£207,856 04/02/2015
48
Not Available
National Lottery Community Fund - Young Fathers' Network (YFN)
£476,917 25/06/2014
36
Not Available
National Lottery Community Fund - Skills for Living
£500,000 21/05/2014
36
Not Available
National Lottery Community Fund - Sensory Garden at Silverton Short Breaks
£10,000 27/04/2014
12
Not Available
National Lottery Community Fund - Moray Care Farming
£345,000 22/04/2014
36
Not Available
National Lottery Community Fund - Uplands Children's Centre
£10,000 26/03/2014
12
The school in Watford will use the funding for an outdoor play facility for a childrenÂ’s centre. This project will replace the unsafe current play facility and will encourage healthy outdoor play and community interaction._x000B_.
National Lottery Community Fund - Little Steps/Big Steps
£668,679 16/04/2013
36
The project will support 280 young parents aged 14-25 living in Swansea by delivering improved signposting and support throughout their parenting journey. This will be achieved by working with them and using other agencies to define pathways through ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - The Denbighshire Bridge Project (Bridging the gap in Early Intervention)
£1,079,847 19/03/2012
60
This new three year project will be delivered by Action for Children across Denbighshire and has been endorsed by Denbighshire County Council, which is also a partner, to benefit 240 families with children aged between five and ten.
National Lottery Community Fund - Action for Children Connecting Families Project
£1,078,045 19/03/2012
60
Action for Children will deliver the project in partnership with Bridgend Home-Start, Families First and Bridgend County Borough Council's Integrated Family Support team, locally known as Connecting Families project. The project will deliver ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Action for Children Connecting Families Project
£10,000 29/09/2011
12
This is a development grant which has been awarded so that the applicant can work up a more detailed application.
National Lottery Community Fund - North Devon Young Fathers Network
£245,220 10/03/2010
60
This project will provide a confidential support and information service for young fathers aged 14 to 25 and their children, aged five and under, in North Devon. The project will help establish professional mentoring relationships and trust between ....more
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (10)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split
Based on 9/10 persons

Age Range of Trustees: 45-65
  • CHARLES NAIRN GEEKIE KC Appointed: 2023
  • DAWN LESLEY WARWICK Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Executive Coach & Social Care Consultant
  • ENDA MICHAEL JOHNSON Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Group Corporate Development Director
  • LESLIE ELIZABETH EVANS Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Trustee
  • LYNNE ANN ATKIN Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Trustee
  • NAVIN KAUL Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Trustee
  • PETER THOMAS CURRAN Appointed: 2021, Occupation: Trustee
  • REV MICHAEL JOHN ADRIAN LONG Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Methodist Church Minister
  • SARIKA PATEL (Chair) Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Company Director
  • STEVEN DAVID BELL Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Trustee
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 11/06/2003, number: 1097940
  • Registered at Companies House on 14/05/2003, number: 04764232
Gift Aid
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Event History
Other Regulators
  • Care Quality Commission
  • Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)
  • Estyn: Her Majesty's Inspectorate For Education And Training In Wales
  • Ofsted (Office For Standards In Education)
  • Welsh Government (Social Landlords And Housing Associations)
Policies in force
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • Campaigns and political activity 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
  • 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; AR08: 343 days late, AR05: 1 days late,
Main office

3 THE BOULEVARD
ASCOT ROAD
WATFORD
HERTFORDSHIRE
WD18 8AG

Objectives

THE CHARITY WORKS FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT HAVING AS ITS OBJECTS THE PROMOTION OF THE UPBRINGING AND CARE OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEED FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS, CULTURES, AND FAITHS OR NONE IN PARTICULAR BY:1. PROMOTING THEIR BETTER CARE AND SAFEGUARDING THEM;2. PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CARERS;3. PROMOTING THEIR HEALTH;4. PROMOTING THEIR EDUCATION AND ESTABLISHMENT IN LIFE.

Defined Area of Benefit:

NOT DEFINED.

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

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