Finance Score: 5

Governance Score: 6

Support Score: 8

Good reserves management: +3
Strong growth: +2

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

Large volunteers +3
Overall weighted support: +5

Overall GiG Score: 19

COMMUNITIES 1ST

Communities 1st develops, connects and supports local voluntary and community organisations, helping to improve the quality of peoples lives across the districts of Hertfordshire and neighbouring counties. We are home to the local Volunteer Centre, providing support and guidance for those who want to become volunteers and those who want to recruit volunteers.

Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

This charity has been successful in attracting volunteers relative to its size
Reserves management has been consistently within official guidelines
There has been strong growth in spending since inception
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

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

This charity is not recognised by HMRC for Gift Aid according to its latest published return

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
31/03/24		£1,352	£1,320	£32	£0	£1,067	£886	8.1	46	400
31/03/23		£1,766	£1,408	£358	£0	£1,035	£901	7.7	46	400
31/03/22		£1,373	£961	£412	£0	£677	£661	8.3	50	1,200
31/03/21	*	£724	£564	£160	£0	£265	£250	5.3	23	5,000

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Financial Ratios

Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 0%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 0%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 6%
Highest pay band: £60,000-£70,000
Liabilities/Assets: 29%
Liabilities/Income: 33%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 83%
Reserves/Spending: 8.1 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 8 months
Quick Ratio: 2.4

Asset Split ?

Balance Sheet History

Established: 5 years

www.communities1st.org.uk

us@communities1st.org.uk

01727 649900

Charity Commission for England and Wales

Tweets

Listed activities

Amateur Sport
Disability
Economic/Community Development/Employment
Education/Training
General Charitable Purposes
Human Rights/Religious Or Racial Harmony/Equality Or Diversity
Other Charitable Purposes
Recreation
The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

GiG Classification

Other facilities management and maintenance

How it operates

Acts as an umbrella or resource body
Provides advocacy/advice/information
Provides buildings/facilities/open space
Provides services

Where it operates

Barnet, Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Enfield, Essex, Harrow, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Peterborough City, Suffolk,

Who it helps

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

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

DCMS	£45,140
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation	£5,000
Hertfordshire Community Foundation	£5,000
Co-Operative Group	£3,000

Specific Donations

Amount	When Months	To be used for
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation - AbletoEnable project- to provide advice and training to create a skilled workforce that meets the needs of local employers, and create job opportunities for local residents.
£5,000	20/09/2022	Able2Enable
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Communities 1st
£3,000	23/10/2021	We would like to provide a free telephone befriending service to help those who may be feeling lonely and isolated, for all residents aged 18 and over.
DCMS - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
£45,140	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 "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 services.2) To ensure essential services are provided to vulnerable people, both in the short and long term through increased community support through the work of charitable organisations."
Hertfordshire Community Foundation - Compassionate Community Connectors
£5,000	18/05/2020	Grant to Communities 1st
Hertfordshire Community Foundation - Grant to Communities 1st
£5,000	20/09/2019	Communities 1st provide an invaluable and affordable door to door transport for people with mobility problems, helping them to maintain their independence, stay healthy and not feel isolated at home. ....more Communities 1st provide an invaluable and affordable door to door transport for people with mobility problems, helping them to maintain their independence, stay healthy and not feel isolated at home. We are looking for help funding the purchase of two new replacement minibuses for this service.

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (11)

Current Trustees appointed

Gender Split

Age Range of Trustees: 43-78

ANN ROGERS Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Retired

ANN MURIEL HARRISON Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Retired

CHRISTOPHER NORMAN CLOKE Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Retired

JOHN HOWSON Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Director

JASON JOHN (Chair) Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Management Consultant

JOY CAROLYN DOBBS Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Statistician

KARL DAMIAN WILDING Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Research Manager

ROBERTA BEATON Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Assistant Director

ROSS GEMMELL Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Accountant

SARAH HELEN YEXLEY Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Interim H R Consultant

SUSAN PEARLMAN Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Consultant

Legal constitution

Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 31/12/2019, number: 1187164
Registered at Companies House on 11/03/2019, number: 11875362

Gift Aid

NOT registered with HMRC for Gift Aid

Event History

31/05/2022 - Asset transfer in from BUSHEY AND OXHEY CARE
17/03/2023 - Asset transfer in from VOLUNTEER CENTRE BROXBOURNE AND EAST HERTS

Policies in force

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Campaigns and political activity 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
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

4 returns made; AR21: 18 days late,

Recent reorganisation events:

Asset transfer in from BUSHEY AND OXHEY CARE on 31/05/2022
Asset transfer in from VOLUNTEER CENTRE BROXBOURNE AND EAST HERTS on 17/03/2023

Main office

Ver House
Park Industrial Estate
Frogmore
ST. ALBANS
Hertfordshire
AL2 2WH

Objectives

A) THE PROMOTION OF ANY CHARITABLE PURPOSES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTY OF HERTFORDSHIRE AND ITS ENVIRONS (HEREINAFTER CALLED THE AREA OF BENEFIT) AND IN PARTICULAR THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION, THE PROTECTION OF HEALTH; THE RELIEF OF POVERTY, DISTRESS AND SICKNESS; AND DEVELOPING THE CAPACITY AND SKILLS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS BETTER ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND HELP MEET ITS NEEDS AND TO PARTICIPATE MORE FULLY IN SOCIETY;B) UNDERTAKE SUCH OTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES AS THE COMPANY DEEMS NECESSARY IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT FROM TIME TO TIME.

Data Sources

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