Finance Score: 3
Governance Score: 9
Support Score: 9
  • Low unrestricted reserves: -2
  • Strong growth: +2
  • Fundraising costs low: +3
  • Good trustee age range: +3
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Gender balanced board: +3
  • Overall weighted support: +9
Overall GiG Score: 21 ?

ASPIRE OXFORDSHIRE COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE LIMITED

Aspire Oxfordshire is an employment charity and social enterprise that creates real work placements, training, employment and housing opportunities for people who face severe and multiple disadvantages such as homelessness, substance misuse and offending. Our charity is dedicated to transforming the life chances of local men and women who have survived adversity.
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 gender 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

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£2,672£2,797£-125£97£831£5642.45920
31/03/22£2,867£2,771£95£152£953£4091.87325
31/03/21£2,513£1,990£523£148£859£3722.25855
31/03/20£1,753£1,674£79£138£339£310.25226
31/03/19£1,519£1,535£-17£243£259£400.34726
31/03/18£1,215£1,184£31£52£276£700.7310
31/03/17£991£949£42£1£245£670.8260
31/03/16£821£844£-24£8£204£130.2240
31/03/15£594£644£-50£12£227£1342.5150
31/03/14?£728£661£67£13£278£2033.7120
31/12/12£365£378£-14n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/12/11£388£361£27n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/12/10£351£369£-18n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/12/09£285£237£47n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/12/08£277£193£85n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 3.9%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 3.5%
Highest pay band: Less than £60,000
Liabilities/Assets: 17%
Liabilities/Income: 6%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 68%
Reserves/Spending: 2.4 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 3 months
Quick Ratio: 4.7
Asset Split ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 18 years
(23 years as a company)

www.aspireoxfordshire.org

info@aspireoxford.co.uk

01865204450

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies House
UN SDGs
?
Listed activities
  • Economic/Community Development/Employment
  • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
GiG Classification
  • Emotional support, counselling or therapy
How it operates
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides services
Where it operates
  • Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire,
Who it helps
  • 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
Oxfordshire Community Foundation£173,681
DCMS£82,000
The Leathersellers' Company Charitable Fund£60,000
Crisis UK£45,000
Heart Of England Community Foundation£40,163
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£10,000 06/11/2023
Aspire's Homelessness Prevention Service
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - NRPF Project Year 2
£8,675 25/05/2022
Housing and individual wrap-around support for people with No Recourse To Public Fund.
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Housing First personalisation funding
£35,000 25/05/2022
This funding is for individual personalisation budgets for the 50 upcoming Housing First accommodation units being put in place as part of the Councils strategy to move to a more Housing Led approach. Some of the units will be run by A2 Dominion and ....more
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Aspire Active Projects
£20,620 16/03/2022
This grant would enable us to sustain and develop our variety of fitness classes and subsequent wellbeing sessions, making use of the data taken from sessions to inform the physical activities we develop and introduce in future.
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Grant to Aspire
£15,009 14/03/2022
Grant to Aspire
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - From housing to homes
£15,000 13/07/2021
11
Grant to Aspire
Dulverton Trust - Aspire Oxfordshire core costs 2021/22
£15,000 09/06/2021
Aspire Oxfordshire core costs 2021/22
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Bringing Oxfordshire Online
£20,000 18/05/2021
7
Grant to Aspire
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - STRIVE
£3,000 16/04/2021
6
Grant to Aspire
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - NRPF funding for Oxfordshire Homeless Movement
£10,980 22/03/2021
11
Aspire will use this funding to manage up to 3 of Soha housing's 2-bed properties in South Oxfordshire, for adults experiencing homelessness with NRPF status, currently residing in hotel settings. This is Aspire's part in a collaborative project ....more
The Leathersellers' Company Charitable Fund - Grant to Aspire Oxfordshire
£60,000 12/03/2021
48
Main Grant unrestricted core costs
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Community Employment Support Project (CESP)
£2,000 23/02/2021
increasing budget for Community Employment Support Project (CESP).
Masonic Trust - MCF Freemasons COVID-19 Community Fund
£10,000 03/12/2020
Grant for a 'Personalisation Fund' to guide homeless people into move on housing, ensuring the transition into their new home is positive and lasting. This will include; support from a Caseworker, a homestarter kit, decorating tools, provision of ....more
The Clothworkers Foundation - Grant to Aspire Oxfordshire
£10,000 23/06/2020
refurbishment of building for a charity that with vulnerable and marginalised people in Oxfordshire
DCMS - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
£82,000 04/06/2020
"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
Crisis UK - Grant to Aspire Oxfordshire
£45,000 06/05/2020
Support to fund housing-led approach out of temporary accommodation.
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Move-on housing for rough sleepers with complex needs in Oxford city
£29,965 04/05/2020
12
Grant to Aspire
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - COVID19 Response
£1,666 18/04/2020
Advice & Support - Provide crisis services for rough sleepers and those living in temporary accommodation during this pandemic.
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Ongoing support
£4,000 31/03/2020
Support from funds raised by HS Sylvia Jay during her Shrieval Year
Heart Of England Community Foundation - Housing First for rough sleepers with complex needs in West Oxfordshire
£40,163 11/02/2020
12
We would like to deliver a Housing First project in West Oxfordshire in partnership with Cottsway Housing Association. This project will provide accommodation alongside wrap-around support for six people with multiple, complex needs who are rough ....more
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Grant to Aspire
£5,266 15/01/2020
Aspire have been involved with the Oxford Homeless Movement from the outset as a founding member and our homelessness programmes are fully aligned with the strategic priorities of the Oxford Homeless Movement. We are very excited to be part of this ....more
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Ongoing support
£2,500 04/12/2019
Grant to Aspire
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Homelessness prevention in Oxfordshire
£20,000 04/11/2019
11
Grant to Aspire
National Lottery Community Fund - Homelessness prevention in Oxfordshire
£212,376 24/10/2019
59
Homelessness prevention in Oxfordshire
National Lottery Community Fund - Team Oxford
£160,650 01/07/2019
48
Team Oxford
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - STRIVE: stepping stones to employment
£3,500 20/12/2018
Aspire would like to launch a new physical activity engagement project in Oxfordshire, known as STRIVE: sport, training & recovery into volunteering, education and employment. This project will target the areas of greatest deprivation across the ....more
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Aspire's Gym Bus: overcoming disadvantage through sports & physical activity
£5,225 20/11/2018
12
We are going to launch Oxfordshire's first ever "Gym Bus" to take sports and physical activity sessions to highly disadvantaged women across the county to provide them with essential early intervention support and help them take their ....more
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - STRIVE: stepping stones to employment
£7,500 19/11/2018
Aspire would like to launch a new physical activity engagement project in Oxfordshire, known as STRIVE: sport, training & recovery into volunteering, education and employment. This project will target the areas of greatest deprivation across the ....more
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Specialist parenting courses for ex-offenders - improving family life
£4,926 27/02/2018
10
Delivering three specialist Nurturing Programme Family Links parenting courses specifically aimed at ex-offenders both in custody and also for those in the community
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Oxford Big Tea Party - tackling loneliness and isolation in local elderly people
£2,500 06/07/2017
Community transport volunteer driver and assistant training courses and support Cutteslowe Community Association to set up their new social club for the elderly with dedicated transport this month.
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Through the Gate
£13,020 17/11/2016
Transfer of funds from Said Business School lecture
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Opening the Door
£5,000 05/05/2016
to help disadvantaged and vulnerable people back into work
Lankelly Chase Foundation - Camerados
£15,000 07/09/2015
5
Development funding to scope potential for an approach to supporting people facing severe and multiple disadvantage that is based on the core principles of friends and purpose.
Lloyds Bank Foundation - Grant to Aspire Oxfordshire Community Enterprise Limited
£56,282 08/07/2015
36
supporting young people aged 18 - 24 who have been out of education, work and training for more than a year and have additional barriers to getting a job such as substance misuse, criminal record. The grant will fund the Employment and Development ....more
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Aspire Oxfordshire Community Enterprise Ltd
£68,300 11/06/2015
36
towards three years' salary of the Chief Operating Officer at a project providing employment support services and training to disadvantaged people in Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley
Oxfordshire Community Foundation - Aspire
£5,000 08/05/2014
Improve life skills, education, employability and enterprise
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (9)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split

Age Range of Trustees: 37-75
  • CHARLES RICHARD DICK Appointed: 2018, Occupation: Director
  • CATHERINE ROWE Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Marketing Director
  • CHRISTOPHER ROY BLACKBURN Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Retired
  • CLARE DREENA EMMA DINES Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Health Services Professional
  • EDWARD JOHN ANDREWS Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Investment Manager
  • HELEN MARIE CANNON Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Company Director
  • HUGH RICHARDSON Appointed: 2021, Occupation: Retired
  • LAURA MARGARET BROWN Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Solicitor
  • WILLIAM HUBERT POWLETT SMITH (Chair) Appointed: 2021, Occupation: Retired
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 29/01/2007, number: 1117726
  • Registered at Companies House on 14/08/2001, number: 04270053
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
  • 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
15 returns made; all on time
Main office

ST THOMAS'S SCHOOL
OSNEY LANE
OXFORD
OX1 1NJ

Objectives

3. OBJECTSTHE EXPRESSION THOSE IN NEED MEANS THOSE WHO ARE POOR (AS POVERTY IS UNDERSTOOD BY THE LAW RELATING TO CHARITIES) OR WHO ARE OTHERWISE DISADVANTAGED BY REASON OF HOMELESSNESS, OR IMPAIRMENT OF MENTAL OR PHYSICAL HEALTH OR ABILITY, OR UNEMPLOYMENT OR OF PERSONAL HISTORIES OF ALCOHOL- OR DRUG-ABUSE OR CRIME. THE OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY ('THE OBJECTS') ARE:(1) TO RELIEVE THE POVERTY OF THOSE IN NEED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM;(2) TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF, PROVIDE TRAINING FOR AND OTHERWISE ASSIST THOSE IN NEED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM TO ENABLE THEM TO OBTAIN PAID EMPLOYMENT;(3) TO PROMOTE THE IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF, AND PROMOTE AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF, THE PERFORMANCE AND SKILLS OF INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT PROVIDED BY THE CHARITY AND OTHERS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY ARE MORE EFFECTIVE AND ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTS.

Defined Area of Benefit:

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

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