Finance Score: 15
Governance Score: 6
Support Score: 13
  • Liabilities <10%: +3
  • Good reserves management: +3
  • Reasonable growth: +1
  • Fundraising costs low: +3
  • Future income +5
  • Good trustee age range: +3
  • Gender balanced board: +3
  • Overall weighted support: +13
Overall GiG Score: 34 ?

SPARK INSIDE

Spark Inside runs coaching programmes in prisons across London and the South East, to encourage rehabilitation and reduce reoffending.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • This charity has a robust balance sheet
  • Reserves management has been consistently within official guidelines
  • There has been reasonable growth in spending 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 and there are significant future grants due to be received
  • The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and gender

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£928£888£40£33£855£5237.1117
31/03/22£835£739£96£30£816£4757.780
31/03/21£787£670£117£29£720£4127.490
31/03/20£940£791£149£30£603£3966100
31/03/19£730£684£47£21£454£3746.6100
31/03/18£624£476£148£16£407£3899.880
31/03/17£488£462£26n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/16£364£331£32n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/15£334£180£154n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/14£86£118£-32n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/13£157£78£79n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 3.6%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 3.7%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 11%
Highest pay band: £80,000-£90,000
Liabilities/Assets: 8%
Liabilities/Income: 8%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 61%
Reserves/Spending: 7.1 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 12 months
Quick Ratio: 12.1
Asset Split ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 12 years

www.sparkinside.org

team@sparkinside.org

02034680706

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseInstagramX
UN SDGs
?
Listed activities
  • Economic/Community Development/Employment
  • Education/Training
  • General Charitable Purposes
GiG Classification
  • Mentoring and leadership support
  • Emotional support, counselling or therapy
How it operates
  • Provides services
Where it operates
  • Throughout England,
Who it helps
  • Children/Young People
  • Other Defined Groups

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
Esmee Fairbairn£349,000
City Bridge Trust£200,000
Henry Smith Charity£150,000
Paul Hamlyn Foundation£90,000
AB Charitable Trust£79,000
The Blagrave Trust£71,400
Barrow Cadbury Trust£70,000
Charles Hayward Foundation£50,000
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
AB Charitable Trust - A grant to Spark Inside
£22,000 14/03/2024
An unrestricted grant of £22,000 (Year 3 of 3 years). Spark Inside provides coaching programmes for young people in the criminal justice system across London and the South East.
City Bridge Trust - Grant to Spark Inside
£200,000 23/02/2024
60
£200,000 over five years (£50,000, £45,000, £40,000, £35,000, £30,000) towards staff salaries and core running costs of the charity.
Charles Hayward Foundation - Grant to Spark Inside
£25,000 29/11/2023
Delivery of Hero’s Journey, Hero’s Journey from a Black Perspective and Hero’s Journey in the Community
AB Charitable Trust - A grant to Spark Inside
£22,000 20/04/2023
An unrestricted grant of £22,000 (This grant is renewable - year 2 of up to 3 years)This grant includes a 10% cost of living uplift. Spark Inside provides coaching programmes for young people in the ....more
The Blagrave Trust - The Listening Fund Phase 2
£71,400 31/03/2023
The Listening Fund - phase two
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Spark Inside
£24,000 27/02/2023
Towards unrestricted core costs as a Cost of Living Uplift
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Core funding to support strategic and operational growth
£10,000 18/01/2023
Spark Inside runs coaching programmes in prison to encourage rehabilitation and reduce reoffending. Core funding will support strategic and operational growth. This grant will help the organisation ....more
Charles Hayward Foundation - Grant to Spark Inside
£25,000 22/12/2022
Delivery of Hero’s Journey, Hero’s Journey from a Black Perspective and Hero’s Journey in the Community
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Spark Inside
£150,000 06/12/2022
36
towards three years' running costs of the 'Hero’s Journey' project, providing support for young people in transition to being released from prison across England.
The Childhood Trust - New hope and opportunities for young prisoners.
£17,500 12/06/2022
For the last 2 years, young adult prisoners have been kept in solitary confinement, with very little education or support services. This has worsened issues (e.g. mental ill-health) and stripped away ....more
AB Charitable Trust - A grant to Spark Inside
£20,000 21/04/2022
An unrestricted grant of £20,000 (This grant is renewable - year 1 of up to 3 years). Spark Inside provides coaching programmes for young people in the criminal justice system across London and the ....more
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£30,000 01/04/2022
Transforming the lives of young people in the criminal justice system
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Spark Inside
£300,000 14/09/2021
60
Towards unrestricted core costs of Spark Inside’s coaching work in the justice system - aiming to achieve change at an individual, institutional and systemic level.
The Childhood Trust - Enabling young prisoners to move on from Covid-19
£3,000 22/06/2021
Covid-19 has significantly exacerbated the issues young people in prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (YOIs) face while locked up. Our innovative coaching programmes will enable young people ....more
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Spark Inside organisational growth and development
£30,000 08/03/2021
Spark Inside is the only specialist provider of life coaching for young people in or leaving prison in the UK. This grant provides core support to the organisation's growth and development as part of ....more
Barrow Cadbury Trust - Wellbeing & racial equity for young men in prison
£70,000 23/01/2021
30
To influence prison policy and practice to better support the wellbeing of young men in prison
AB Charitable Trust - A grant to Spark Inside
£15,000 08/10/2020
An unrestricted grant of £15,000. Spark Inside provides coaching programmes for young offenders in prisons across London and the South East.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - COVID19 Emergency Funding
£20,000 30/09/2020
3
Support to aid the organisation in dealing with the challenges posed by COVID19.
DCMS - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
£50,000 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 ....more
CHK Foundation - CHK Main Grant
£20,000 09/09/2020
to support specified work
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Spark Inside
£25,000 05/05/2020
6
towards unrestricted costs as a COVID-19 Fast Response grant
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Spark Inside organisational growth and development
£30,000 16/03/2020
Spark Inside is the only specialist provider of life coaching for young people in or leaving prison in the UK. This grant provides core support to the organisation's growth and development as part of ....more
CHK Foundation - CHK Main Grant
£3,759 15/01/2020
to support specified work
City Bridge Trust - Grant to Spark Inside
£57,500 26/09/2019
24
£57,500 over two further and final years (£30,000; £27,500) to contribute to the Chief Executive’s salary and the core running costs of the Charity.
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£50,000 18/06/2019
Piloting a Transformational Programme for Young Black People in Prison
AB Charitable Trust - A grant to Spark Inside
£15,000 25/04/2019
An unrestricted grant of £15,000. Spark Inside works to support rehabilitation and reduce reoffending through structured life coaching programmes delivered with men aged 15-25 in prisons.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Core funding to support strategic and operational growth
£500,000 19/03/2019
12
Core funding to support strategic and operational growth, and to scale and improve coaching programmes in prisons, influence policy and practice, and affect systems change.
Comic Relief - Sustainability Fund 2
£39,796 13/02/2019
3
We would utilise Futures Lab funding to fund a Freelance Project Manager to design and pilot (with support from consultants EP:IC and Spark Inside staff) a way of engaging with people who have ....more
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Spark Inside
£120,000 13/06/2018
36
towards three years' continuation funding of a project that works across London and the South East supporting young people in prison to move away from offending and transition successfully to life in ....more
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Spark Inside
£150,000 24/01/2018
36
Towards unrestricted core costs to support young people in the criminal justice system to reduce reoffending and create culture change within prisons making them more conducive for rehabilitation.
The Leathersellers' Company Charitable Fund - Grant to Spark Inside
£40,000 12/10/2017
Main Grant unrestricted core costs
Triangle Trust 1949 Fund - Spark Inside - 3
£80,000 23/03/2017
36
Core funding so the organisation can concentrate on building its evidence base to fulfil its sustainability ambitions.
The Rayne Foundation - Grant to Spark Inside
£10,000 16/03/2017
12
Towards delivering the Systems Coaching Programme in HMP Pentonville and HMP Brixton, and in HMP Belmarsh, and Isis Young Offenders' Institute.
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Spark Inside
£30,000 08/09/2016
12
towards one year's running costs of a project supporting young offenders from prison into the community in London and the South East
City Bridge Trust - Grant to Spark Inside
£90,000 14/07/2016
36
£90,000 over three years (£30,000; £30,000, £30,000) to contribute towards the Chief Executive’s full time salary, rent and associated office costs.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Providing the foundation to accelerate Spark Inside's impact with young offenders
£60,000 19/04/2016
24
This grant will fund the salary of the CEO. This would provide stability and security to enable Spark Inside to work with more young people (300 a year), effect widespread systemic change influencing ....more
Comic Relief - Professional Life Coaching Programme with young people, aged 15-24, leaving prison or custody.
£100,000 16/03/2016
36
Re-offending rates for young people released from prison are consistently over 70%. Many young people enter prison highly vulnerable (with experiences of mental ill-health, abuse, neglect), and many ....more
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Through-the-gates life coaching pilot for young women leaving prison
£2,758 22/09/2014
Spark Inside aims to pilot a through-the-gates, one-to-one professional life coaching programme with 20 high-risk young adult women at HMP Bronzefield. Through-the-gates life coaching pilot for ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Through-the-gates life coaching pilot for young adult men leaving pris
£10,000 06/08/2014
12
Not Available
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Spark Inside
£90,000 16/07/2014
Towards core costs of a programme that builds the emotional resilience of young ex-offenders.
Triangle Trust 1949 Fund - Spark Inside - 2
£105,000 20/03/2014
To develop an evidence base for life coaching as a successful rehabilitation programme for youth offenders, with the aim of it becoming a commissioned service.
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Spark Inside
£30,000 30/07/2013
Towards the salaries of the executive director and programme manager, overseeing an innovative 'through the gate' life coaching programme for young people in custody.
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How effective are they?
Outputs
Outcomes
Y/EPeople on Hero's JourneyPeople receiving 1-2-1 coaching
31/03/2022117143
Commentary: Spark has commissioned external evaluations but does not disclose data on numbers of beneficiaries
See what you could achieve with a donation of: £
How do we calculate this?

How is it governed?

Trustees (7)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split

Age Range of Trustees: 34-59
  • ERICA LOUISE HANDLING (Chair) Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Lawyer
  • HAMISH DOUGLAS MACLELLAN Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Alternative Investment Manager
  • JOSEPHINE OLUTOPE LYSEIGHT Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Accountant
  • MELISSA CASE Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Executive Coach
  • ROBERT DOUGLAS FERGUSON Appointed: 2018, Occupation: Company Executive
  • SIMON DRYSDALE Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Hm Prison Service
  • STEPHANIE MICHELLE DAVIN Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Student
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 02/08/2012, number: 1148420
  • Registered at Companies House on 09/03/2012, number: 07984016
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
  • 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
11 returns made; all on time
Main office

Office 386 Salisbury House
London Wall
LONDON
EC2M 5SQ

Objectives

The charity's objects (Objects) are specifically restricted to the following for the public benefit:4.1.1 to advance the education of people who have come into contact with, or are working in, the criminal justice system, individuals at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system and socially excluded groups through the development of individual capabilities, competencies, skills and understanding; and4.1.2 to prevent and relieve poverty by promoting the reduction and prevention of crime and (so far as it is exclusively charitable) by promoting the welfare of people who have come into contact with the criminal justice system, individuals at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system and socially excluded groups; and4.1.3 to advance the rehabilitation of people who have come into contact with the criminal justice system and reduce reoffending.

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

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