Finance Score: -1

Governance Score: -2

Support Score: 5

Volatile income
spending growth: -1
No PartB

Very static board: -5
Gender balanced board: +3

Large volunteers +3
Grant maker support: +2

Overall GiG Score: 2

BLESSING IN DISGUISE

PROVISION OF SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT AND ACTIVITIES TO RELIEVE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN THE UK WHO ARE DISABLED, HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS OR TERMINALLY ILL, AND THEIR PARENTS OR CARERS, ENABLING THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL, INCREASE INDEPENDENCE AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE BY THE PROVISION OF RESPITE, RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES OTHER SERVICES OR SUPPORT TO ADDRESS THEIR NEED

Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

This charity has been successful in attracting volunteers relative to its size
There have been no material income shortfalls in recent years
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 gender

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

The Board composition appears to be very static

Financial issues to consider:

A PartB annual return has not been required and so detailed financial information is not available from the online data
Income has been volatile recently but spending has been maintained

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?

Sources of Income ?

Y/E		Income £k	Spending £k	Surplus/ Deficit	Fundraising Cost £k	Total Funds £k	Unrestricted Funds £k	Mths Rsrvs	Staff	Volun- teers
05/04/23		£76	£82	£-6	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	63
05/04/22		£61	£94	£-32	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	48
05/04/21		£106	£84	£22	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	4
05/04/20		£153	£77	£76	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	20
05/04/19	*	£97	£79	£18	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	70
05/04/18		£98	£78	£21	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
05/04/17		£86	£67	£19	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
05/04/16	*	£81	£68	£13	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0

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Highest pay bracket: less than £60,000

Established: 9 years

www.blessingsindisguise.co.uk

blessingsindisguisecharity@gmail.com

01942 316113

Charity Commission for England and Wales

Tweets

Listed activities

Disability
Economic/Community Development/Employment
General Charitable Purposes
Other Charitable Purposes
Recreation
The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

GiG Classification

Services for people with disabilities

How it operates

Makes Grants to Individuals
Other charitable activities
Provides human resources
Provides services

Where it operates

Northern Ireland, Scotland, Throughout England And Wales,

Who it helps

Children/Young People
People With Disabilities

Who works here?

Unknown number of employees
63 volunteers

Who's supporting them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following significant donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Specific Donations

Amount	When Months	To be used for
National Lottery Community Fund - Cost of living support parcels
£10,000	28/03/2023	The funding will be used to distribute surplus and returned goods in support parcels to families with seriously ill or disabled children with the aim of supporting vulnerable families through the ....more The funding will be used to distribute surplus and returned goods in support parcels to families with seriously ill or disabled children with the aim of supporting vulnerable families through the cost of living crisis.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Blessings in Disguise
£1,346	22/10/2022	We wish to build confidence in the community we work with by getting back on track and providing activities that bring families back together in a safe and supportive environment.
National Lottery Community Fund - Blessings community support
£10,000	22/04/2020 12	The funding will be used to continue vital work meeting the needs of children and young people who have life limiting illnesses and disabilities and enable the project to tackle social isolation by ....more The funding will be used to continue vital work meeting the needs of children and young people who have life limiting illnesses and disabilities and enable the project to tackle social isolation by implementing new and innovative services.
Masonic Trust - MCF Small Grant
£2,500	22/10/2018	Unrestricted core funding for small charities
National Lottery Community Fund - Lets Enable not Disable
£10,000	17/01/2018 12	The group will provide specialist equipment such as communication aids, sensory equipment and wheelchairs, for children and young adults with disabilities or life-shortening illnesses. This will help ....more The group will provide specialist equipment such as communication aids, sensory equipment and wheelchairs, for children and young adults with disabilities or life-shortening illnesses. This will help reduce social isolation among families.

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (5)

Current Trustees appointed

Gender Split

Age Range of Trustees: 53-85

CATHERINE HOLT Appointed: 2013, Occupation: Director

CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR Appointed: 2015, Occupation: Company Director

COLETTE SCOFIELD Appointed: 2014, Occupation: Foster Carer

JAMES ELLIS Appointed: 2015, Occupation: Councillor

SHARON SARGENT Appointed: 2013, Occupation: Director

Legal constitution

Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 31/03/2015, number: 1161139
Registered at Companies House on 26/11/2013, number: 08790053

Gift Aid

Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid

Policies in force

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

8 returns made; AR19: 8 days late, AR16: 60 days late,

Main office

Lilford House
St. Helens Road
Leigh
Greater Manchester
WN7 4HG

Objectives

THE CHARITY'S OBJECTS (OBJECTS) ARE SPECIFICALLY RESTRICTED TO THE FOLLOWING:-TO RELIEVE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN THE UK WHO ARE DISABLED, HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS OR ARE TERMINALLY ILL, AND THEIR PARENTS AND CARERS, BY THE PROVISION OF RESPITE, RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES AND OTHER SERVICES OR SUPPORT TO ADDRESS THEIR NEED.

Data Sources