Finance Score: -2

Governance Score: 9

Support Score: 1

Excess liquidity: -1
Large legacies income: +2
Fundraising costs high: -3

Good trustee age range: +3
Dynamic board: +3
Gender balanced board: +3

Grant maker support: +1

Overall GiG Score: 8

BLUE CROSS

THE BLUE CROSS'S PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE IS TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE KINDNESS TO, AND THE PROTECTION OF, ANIMALS AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP. THE BLUE CROSS AIMS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY PET WILL ENJOY A HEALTHY LIFE IN A HAPPY HOME.

Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

The charity has received modest backing from several prominent grant makers recently
This charity has received more than half of its income from legacies in recent years
There have been no material income shortfalls in recent years
The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and gender and dynamic in terms of composition

Financial issues to consider:

Liquidity appeared to be considerably in excess of CC guidelines at the latest year end especially considering the historic stability of income
Fundraising costs are extremely high relative to funds raised

Established: 59 years
(83 years as a company)

www.bluecross.org.uk

info@bluecross.org.uk

03007909903

Charity Commission for England and Wales

Tweets

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
31/12/22	£45,925	£41,188	£4,737	£11,924	£74,744	£72,954	21.3	771	2,280
31/12/21	£37,474	£37,311	£163	£11,503	£76,235	£75,190	24.2	763	2,500
31/12/20	£36,049	£35,900	£149	£4,288	£71,834	£70,037	23.4	779	4,974
31/12/19	£39,924	£39,767	£157	£11,697	£69,715	£67,144	20.3	774	5,000
31/12/18	£39,452	£38,145	£1,307	£11,930	£64,638	£61,834	19.5	769	4,327
31/12/17	£38,964	£37,660	£1,304	£11,152	£65,604	£64,165	20.4	768	0
31/12/16	£35,294	£37,635	£-2,341	£10,818	£60,643	£59,767	19.1	637	0
31/12/15	£34,158	£39,617	£-5,459	£12,845	£59,597	£57,870	17.5	630	0
31/12/14	£33,368	£34,685	£-1,317	£11,334	£64,998	£63,117	21.8	624	0
31/12/13	£29,493	£31,571	£-2,078	£10,346	£65,822	£63,714	24.2	538	0
31/12/12	£30,979	£31,358	£-379	£9,300	£65,069	£62,988	24.1	534	0
31/12/11	£28,604	£27,027	£1,577	£8,725	£56,914	£49,558	22	462	0
31/12/10	£26,878	£25,149	£1,729	£7,481	£56,785	£49,839	23.8	455	0
31/12/09	£25,411	£25,562	£-151	£5,842	£52,641	£46,194	21.7	449	0
31/12/08	£24,268	£31,662	£-7,394	£5,318	£49,880	£42,646	16.2	430	0
31/12/07	£25,394	£21,580	£3,814	£4,131	£57,274	£49,636	27.6	409	0
31/12/06	£22,529	£19,678	£2,851	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/12/05	£21,557	£17,937	£3,620	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/12/04	£19,837	£14,997	£4,840	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0

Show more rows -->

Show financials table -->

Download accounts

Financial Ratios

Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 32.5%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 29.3%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 6%
Highest pay band: £140,000-£150,000
Liabilities/Assets: 12%
Liabilities/Income: 22%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 98%
Reserves/Spending: 21.3 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 6 months
Quick Ratio: 0.6

Asset Split ?

Listed activities

Animals
Education/Training

How it operates

Acts as an umbrella or resource body
Makes Grants to Individuals
Makes Grants to Organisations
Provides advocacy/advice/information
Provides human resources
Provides services
Sponsors or undertakes research

Where it operates

Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Throughout England And Wales,

Who it helps

Children/Young People
Elderly/Old People
Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
Other Defined Groups
The General Public/Mankind

Who works here?

771 employees
2,280 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
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Blue Cross Bromsgrove
£3,952	23/10/2021	We would recruit and train five new volunteers to increase capacity for our Pet Bereavement Support Service so they can be there to help owners cope with the loneliness and grief of losing a pet.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Blue Cross Swindon
£1,055	23/10/2021	We aim to recruit and train five new volunteers to increase capacity for our Pet Bereavement Support Service. The new volunteers would help owners coping with the loneliness and grief of losing a pet.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Blue Cross Merton
£1,639	23/10/2021	We would like to recruit and train five new volunteers to increase capacity for our Pet Bereavement Support Service, so they can help owners coping with the loneliness and grief of losing a pet.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Blue Cross for Pets Grimsby Educational Talks
£4,716	24/10/2020	We aim to reach more young people giving them an understanding of how to act responsibly around pets in the home and their community.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Blue Cross – Cambridge Rehoming Centre
£8,790	29/11/2017	We want to build a dog run to help find them new, happy homes.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Blue Cross
£6,180	29/11/2017	We want to tackle social isolation of vulnerable older people through effective pet care and need supplies and equipment.

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (12)

Current Trustees appointed

Gender Split

Based on 10/12 persons

Age Range of Trustees: 46-71

ALISON FORRESTAL Appointed: 2021, Occupation: Managing Director

CAROLINE GOSLING Appointed: 2018, Occupation: Director

CHRISTOPHER MARTIN Appointed: 2018, Occupation: It Director

CLIVE EVEREST MA FCA Appointed: 2016, Occupation: Retired, Other trusteeship: MEDICAL DETECTION DOGS,

JEREMY ROSS STEWART Appointed: 2014, Occupation: Veterinary Surgeon

KATH QUALTROUGH Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Director

KERRY BLACKSTOCK Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Fundraiser

MICHELE JENNINGS Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Executive Board Director

NICHOLAS ROBERT PARK Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Veterinary Surgeon

NICOLA JANE BROOKS-COPPARD Appointed: 2020, Occupation: People Director

STEPHEN PAUL SWIFT Appointed: 2014, Occupation: Retired

TIMOTHY HENRY RALPH PORTER (Chair) Appointed: 2012, Occupation: Chartered Accountant

Legal constitution

Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 08/02/1965, number: 224392
Registered at Companies House on 11/09/1940, number: 00363197

Gift Aid

Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid

Policies in force

Complaints handling
Conflicting interests
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Volunteer management

Filing Record

19 returns made; all on time

Recent reorganisation events:

Asset transfer in from THE GUTHRIE ESSAME CHARITABLE TRUST on 14/05/2021

Main office

Blue Cross
Shilton Road
BURFORD
OX18 4PF

Objectives

TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE KINDNESS TO AND THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN RESPONSIBLE ANIMAL OWNERSHIP.

Defined Area of Benefit:

NOT DEFINED

Data Sources