Finance Score: -2

Governance Score: 9

Support Score: 13

Low unrestricted reserves: -2

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

Large volunteers +3
Grant maker support: +10

Overall GiG Score: 20

GROUNDWORK EAST

Groundwork is an environmental charity that works alongside the whole community to transform places and livesBuilding of sustainable communities through joint environmental action.Environmental Regeneration throughout Hertfordshire, Luton and Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk and surrounding areas.

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 age and gender and dynamic in terms of composition

Financial issues to consider:

Unrestricted reserves appear to be dangerously low at the latest year end

Established: 38 years

www.groundwork.org.uk/east

hertfordshire@groundwork.org.uk

01707260129

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
31/03/23		£2,950	£2,546	£404	£0	£982	£596	2.8	55	881
31/03/22		£2,448	£2,367	£82	£0	£578	£551	2.8	50	1,077
31/03/21		£1,952	£2,065	£-113	£0	£496	£496	2.9	47	269
31/03/20		£2,496	£2,515	£-18	£0	£609	£568	2.7	51	2,143
31/03/19		£2,901	£2,778	£122	£0	£787	£568	2.5	56	1,730
31/03/18		£3,068	£3,140	£-73	£0	£665	£475	1.8	61	0
31/03/17		£2,663	£2,852	£-189	£0	£737	£587	2.5	78	0
31/03/16		£2,528	£2,456	£72	£0	£926	£736	3.6	65	0
31/03/15		£2,413	£2,457	£-45	£19	£854	£713	3.5	43	0
31/03/14	*	£2,163	£2,051	£111	£18	£899	£713	4.2	38	0
31/03/13		£2,193	£2,286	£-93	£22	£787	£678	3.6	36	0
31/03/12		£2,122	£2,397	£-275	£37	£880	£198	1	34	0
31/03/11		£2,435	£2,478	£-42	£39	£1,156	£715	3.5	37	0
31/03/10		£2,330	£2,667	£-337	£37	£1,198	£681	3.1	34	0
31/03/09		£2,482	£2,413	£70	£46	£1,535	£680	3.4	34	0
31/03/08		£3,177	£3,037	£139	£43	£1,433	£663	2.6	28	0
31/03/07		£2,734	£2,806	£-72	£40	£1,294	£622	2.7	30	0
31/03/06		£2,643	£2,637	£6	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/05		£1,588	£1,769	£-181	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/04		£2,043	£2,431	£-388	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0

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Financial Ratios

Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 0%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 0%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 4%
Highest pay band: £70,000-£80,000
Liabilities/Assets: 40%
Liabilities/Income: 22%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 61%
Reserves/Spending: 2.8 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 3 months
Quick Ratio: 1

Asset Split ?

Listed activities

Amateur Sport
Economic/Community Development/Employment
Education/Training
Environment/Conservation/Heritage

How it operates

Provides services

Where it operates

Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Suffolk,

Who it helps

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

Who works here?

55 employees
881 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.

Major supporters in last 5 years

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation	£112,748
Cambridgeshire Community Foundation	£85,641
Hertfordshire Community Foundation	£34,000
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	£22,500

Specific Donations

Amount	When Months	To be used for
Cambridgeshire Community Foundation - Yaxley Outdoors and Active Programme
£85,641	13/12/2023	to deliver an 18 month pilot of a programme of dynamic outdoor activities in the most in need areas of Yaxley including family outdoor play, family food growing courses, outdoor gym and buggy fitness ....more to deliver an 18 month pilot of a programme of dynamic outdoor activities in the most in need areas of Yaxley including family outdoor play, family food growing courses, outdoor gym and buggy fitness benefitting 5,729 people
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation - Community Food Hubs,
£22,700	05/01/2023	Outdoor Health and Wellbeing sessions at Farley Hill and Memorial Park Community Food Hubs
Harpur Trust - Grant to Groundwork Luton and Bedfordshire
£1,998	07/06/2022	Youth TV – The Show
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - WEIF8401 22/23-Upper Lea
£7,500	01/04/2022	The Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF) grant is to support the maintenance of partnerships across Englands catchments, primarily to deliver a catchment based approach to water, land and flood ....more The Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF) grant is to support the maintenance of partnerships across Englands catchments, primarily to deliver a catchment based approach to water, land and flood management. Partnerships need to consider the targets of the 25 year environment plan, including: clean and plentiful water, thriving plants and wildlife, using resources from nature more sustainably and efficiently, enhancing beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment and mitigating and adapting to climate change. This focus will include actions to deliver improvements to the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England & Wales) Regulations 2017 objectives, climate crisis, biodiversity crisis, flood risk, coastal erosion, growing population, plastics and land management delivered through an integrated catchment approach. Managing the water environment (including rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuaries and the sea) can be very complex and requires balancing the priorities and needs of multiple water users, landowners, and organisations with differing roles and responsibilities considering how to maximise natural capital and net gain. Individual grant values range from £3,250 for sub-catchments to £250,000 for the Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) National Support Group (NSG).
Hertfordshire Community Foundation - Boundary Park Youth Conservation and Wildplay
£5,000	04/03/2022	Grant to Groundwork East
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation - Natural Wellbeing Programme
£20,100	09/02/2022	Wellbeing walks for women, school holiday nature play sessions and 3 hour nature conversation and wellbeing workshops.
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation - Mind, Body and Soil
£3,500	20/01/2022	Costs for running the 'Farley Food Growing Hub', an outdoor growing space for food and plants, in collaboration with Lea Vale Medical Group to benefit patient's wellbeing and reduce isolation.
National Lottery Community Fund - SkateSuffolk
£9,470	29/04/2021	The funding will be used to host events and community consultation to improve Stoke Bridge Skate Park. The project aims to provide an opportunity for people to try skating and learn more about the ....more The funding will be used to host events and community consultation to improve Stoke Bridge Skate Park. The project aims to provide an opportunity for people to try skating and learn more about the history of skating in Suffolk.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - WEIF8401-2122 - Upper Lea - Catchment Host Funding
£7,500	01/04/2021	Defras Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) Policy published in June 2013, defined a framework to encourage the adaptation of an integrated catchment based approach to improving the quality of our water ....more Defras Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) Policy published in June 2013, defined a framework to encourage the adaptation of an integrated catchment based approach to improving the quality of our water environment. Defra has supported civil society organisations to establish and maintain partnerships across Englands catchments.
Hertfordshire Community Foundation - Grant to Groundwork East
£10,000	29/03/2021	We have found that loneliness and isolation has been a contributing factor to their health and well being during the pandemic. We have been helping them have better access to their gardens to enable ....more We have found that loneliness and isolation has been a contributing factor to their health and well being during the pandemic. We have been helping them have better access to their gardens to enable them the opportunity to get outdoors and be more active.
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation - Grant to Groundwork East
£20,000	25/03/2021 23	Luton Food Poverty Alliance
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation - Delivery of Family Play and Learning at the Luton Community Food Hubs
£21,918	22/12/2020	Grant to Groundwork East
Hertfordshire Community Foundation - Grant to Groundwork East
£4,000	28/09/2020	Grant to Groundwork East
Hertfordshire Community Foundation - #staycationLetchworth
£5,000	04/08/2020	Grant to Groundwork East
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - WEIF8401-20/21 - Upper Lea
£7,500	15/05/2020	Defras Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) Policy published in June 2013, defined a framework to encourage the adaptation of an integrated catchment based approach to improving the quality of our water ....more Defras Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) Policy published in June 2013, defined a framework to encourage the adaptation of an integrated catchment based approach to improving the quality of our water environment. Defra has supported civil society organisations to establish and maintain partnerships across Englands catchments.
National Lottery Community Fund - Horticulture training for customers of Essex Cares Ltd
£9,034	04/02/2020 4	The organisation will use the funding to offer customers of Essex Cares a practical horticulture qualification. This will help adults with learning disabilities to gain access to a new qualification ....more The organisation will use the funding to offer customers of Essex Cares a practical horticulture qualification. This will help adults with learning disabilities to gain access to a new qualification and improve opportunities for employment.
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation - Grant to Groundwork East
£24,530	30/01/2020 12	Development of the Luton Community Food Hubs
Hertfordshire Community Foundation - Green Aiders for young volunteers
£5,000	27/09/2019	Grant to Groundwork East
Hertfordshire Community Foundation - Green Team - Colnbrook School, South Oxhey
£5,000	03/06/2019	Grant to Groundwork East
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - WEIF8401-19/20 UPPER LEE WFD CRF GRANT PAYMENTS TO CHARITIES
£7,500	01/04/2019	Water Environment Improvement Fund - Catchment Partnership Action Fund (CPAF) 2019/20
National Lottery Community Fund - Combating food poverty through social action at community hubs
£139,883	22/11/2018 36	The project will use the funding to tackle issues of food poverty through the development and establishment of a minimum of 6 community food hubs across Bedfordshire. The project aims to increase the ....more The project will use the funding to tackle issues of food poverty through the development and establishment of a minimum of 6 community food hubs across Bedfordshire. The project aims to increase the number of people working together to tackle food poverty and increase the number of holiday hunger programmes. The project will also increase promotion and uptake of the Healthy Start voucher scheme, increasing the number of vulnerable households using the free scheme improving nutrition in early years.
Hertfordshire Community Foundation - Pathways to Recovery
£5,000	21/11/2018 6	Grant to Groundwork East
Hertfordshire Community Foundation - Green Aiders with young volunteers
£5,000	21/11/2018 5	Grant to Groundwork East
National Lottery Community Fund - Young families developing skills for active outdoor play - Wisbech and
£122,808	31/10/2018 36	This project aims to work directly with local families, children's centres, nurseries and other local early years professionals to support parents to make use of their neighbourhood green spaces and ....more This project aims to work directly with local families, children's centres, nurseries and other local early years professionals to support parents to make use of their neighbourhood green spaces and help their children to develop active play habits to prevent inactive childhoods. This will take place through 8 week programmes, during which time the organisation will work with parents to review their skills and help them to identify nearby outdoor spaces and potential activities and discuss safety.
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation - Grant to Groundwork Luton and Beds
£10,000	09/05/2018 10	Community Food Hubs - tackling food poverty.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - ALB - Environment Agency - UPPER LEA WFD CRF GRANT PAYMENTS TO CHARITIES
£7,500	01/04/2018	Water Envronment Improvement Fund Hosting for Catchment Partnership for 1819
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - ALB - Environment Agency - Yellow Fish Suffolk 18/19
£10,000	01/04/2018	Partnership Grants for England (PG) is a payment mechanism enabling us to provide capital and revenue grants to third sector organisations for projects which protect and enhance the water environment ....more Partnership Grants for England (PG) is a payment mechanism enabling us to provide capital and revenue grants to third sector organisations for projects which protect and enhance the water environment and deliver other EA objectives
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - ALB - Environment Agency - Yellow Fish Suffolk 18/19
£15,000	01/04/2018	Partnership Grants for England (PG) is a payment mechanism enabling us to provide capital and revenue grants to third sector organisations for projects which protect and enhance the water environment ....more Partnership Grants for England (PG) is a payment mechanism enabling us to provide capital and revenue grants to third sector organisations for projects which protect and enhance the water environment and deliver other EA objectives
Suffolk Community Foundation - Fromus Centre, Saxmundham
£2,979	16/05/2017	Supporting an outdoor project for people living with mental ill health.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Upper Lea
£7,500	01/04/2017	[Placeholder]
National Lottery Community Fund - Keeping the wheels turning
£9,580	15/03/2017 12	The funding will be used by a charity to commission a study into an underused cycle and bridleway route including a condition assessment, route audit, asset inspection and community consultation. ....more The funding will be used by a charity to commission a study into an underused cycle and bridleway route including a condition assessment, route audit, asset inspection and community consultation. This will be used to support a future bid for improvement works to increase usage of the route.
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Groundwork East
£37,800	21/10/2015	Only Rain Down the Drain – The Essex Yellow Fish Campaign
National Lottery Community Fund - Sprouting Out
£122,978	24/03/2015 24	Not Available
National Lottery Community Fund - Purchase of new vehicle
£10,000	07/05/2014 12	Not Available

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Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (11)

Current Trustees appointed

Gender Split

Based on 10/11 persons

Age Range of Trustees: 43-70

DR ELISABETH GEORGE Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Retired

JOHN CHESTERS Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Ceo, Other trusteeship: MILTON KEYNES HOMELESSNESS PARTNERSHIP,

JULIE SMITH Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Solicitor

LISA GOLDSMITH Appointed: 2021, Occupation: Director, Other trusteeship: THE BRITISH CONTACT LENS ASSOCIATION LIMITED,

MARK ROGER HUBBOCKS Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Chartered Accountant

PATRICK JOHN HUGHES (Chair) Appointed: 2021, Occupation: Consultant, Other trusteeship: CLARION FUTURES,

PETER DUFFY Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Retired, Other trusteeship: Crossroads Caring For Life Ltd,

PHILIP JOHN BIBBY Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Retired

RICHARD CHARLES POWELL OBE Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Director

RUTH THOMSON Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Ceo

TEMILOLUWA OLUBUKOLA AWOFALA Appointed: 2021, Occupation: Data Protection / Risk Officer

Legal constitution

Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 02/12/1985, number: 293141
Registered at Companies House on 03/09/1985, number: 01944186

Gift Aid

Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid

Other Regulators

Ofsted (Office For Standards In Education)

Policies in force

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

Filing Record

20 returns made; AR14: 1 days late,

Main office

Groundwork East
Hertford Road
Hatfield
Hertfordshire
AL9 5PE

Objectives

THE OBJECTS OF THE COMPANY ARE: 4.1 TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION, PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL, NATURAL AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE AREA;4.2 TO PROVIDE FACILITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR RECREATION AND LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE FOR THOSE LIVING IN OR VISITING THE AREA;4.3 TO ADVANCE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS AND OTHER WAYS OF BETTER CONSERVING, PROTECTING AND IMPROVING THE SAME WHERESOEVER;4.4 TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, ADVICE AND SUPPORT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE PROVISION OF YOUTH SUPPORT SERVICES, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYABILITY, TO THOSE FACING DIFFICULTIES IN ACCESSING MAINSTREAM EDUCATION OR IN OBTAINING RELEVANT TRAINING OR QUALIFICATIONS, OR WHO ARE IN ECONOMIC AND OTHER KINDS OF NEED;4.5 TO PROMOTE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, URBAN OR RURAL REGENERATION IN AREAS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION WITHIN THE AREA BY ALL OR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING MEANS:4.5.1 THE RELIEF OF POVERTY IN SUCH WAYS AS MAY BE THOUGHT FIT; 4.5.2 THE RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN SUCH WAYS AS MAY BE THOUGHT FIT INCLUDING ASSISTANCE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT;4.5.3 THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION, TRAINING OR RE-TRAINING PARTICULARLY AMONGST UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE AND PROVIDING UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE WITH WORK EXPERIENCE; 4.5.4 THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, BUSINESS ADVICE OR CONSULTANCY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE IN CASES OF FINANCIAL OR OTHER CHARITABLE NEED THROUGH HELP:I. IN SETTING UP THEIR OWN BUSINESSES; OR II. TO EXISTING BUSINESSES; 4.5.5 THE CREATION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES BY THE PROVISION OF WORK SPACE, BUILDINGS AND/OR LAND FOR USE ON FAVOURABLE TERMS;4.5.6 THE MAINTENANCE, IMPROVEMENT OR PROVISION OF PUBLIC AMENITIES, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF ROUTEWAYS SUCH AS FOOTPATHS AND CYCLEWAYS AND ACCESS TO MAIN TRANSPORT ROUTES;4.5.7 THE PRESERVATION OF BUILDINGS OR SITES OF HISTORIC OR ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE;4.5.8 THE PROVISION OR ASSISTANCE IN THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE AND/OR THOSE WHO BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABLEMENT, POVERTY OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES, HAVE NEED OF SUCH FACILITIES;4.5.9 THE PROTECTION OR CONSERVATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING THE RECLAMATION OF DERELICT LAND FOR USE AS OPEN SPACE;4.5.10 THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES AND CHILDCARE, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF SCHEMES TO PROMOTE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES AND CRÈCHE FACILITIES TO INCREASE THE ABILITY OF PARENTS TO TAKE UP EMPLOYMENT;4.5.11 THE PROMOTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREVENTION OF CRIME, INCLUDING THE ALLEVIATION OF ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR;4.5.12 SUCH OTHER MEANS AS MAY FROM TIME TO TIME BE DETERMINED SUBJECT TO THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND AND WALES. 4.6 TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC WITHIN THE AREA BY:4.6.1 THE PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION AND THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PRUDENT USE OF RESOURCES;4.6.2 THE RELIEF OF POVERTY AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN SOCIALLY AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES;4.6.3 THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE MEANS OF ACHIEVING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND REGENERATION.4.7 TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN SUBJECTS RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE PROTECTION, ENHANCEMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO PROMOTE STUDY AND RESEARCH IN SUCH SUBJECTS PROVIDED THAT THE USEFUL RESULTS OF SUCH STUDY ARE DISSEMINATED TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. 4.8 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS ARTICLE ABOVE MEANS DEVELOPMENT WHICH MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS.4.9 TO PROMOTE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CHARITIES IN THE DIRECT FURTHERANCE OF THEIR OBJECTS (OR ANY ONE OF THEM) BY THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION, ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT, ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SUCH CHARITIES INCLUDING ASSISTANCE OF ALL TYPES IN CONNECTION WITH THE RAISING AND DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.4.10 TO PROMOTE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC BY THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION, SUPPORT AND ADVICE TO LOCAL COMMUNITY BASED GROUPS ANYWHERE IN THE AREA.

Defined Area of Benefit:

THE COUNTIES OF HERTFORDSHIRE, BEDFORDSHIRE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE, SUFFOLK, ESSEX, NORFOLK AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

Data Sources