Finance Score: 3
Governance Score: 3
Support Score: 8
  • Fundraising costs low: +3
  • Good trustee age range: +3
  • Overall weighted support: +8
Overall GiG Score: 14 ?

COMMUNITY FIRST

Community First supports rural communities across Wiltshire & Swindon. Find out more about our award winning services to support vibrant communities and brighter futures.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • Spending has increased over the last 3 years relative to the previous period
  • 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

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£2,301£2,327£-26£81£1,904£8004.14930
31/03/22£2,137£1,997£140£83£1,930£7894.74722
31/03/21£2,212£2,097£115£71£1,780£69644924
31/03/20£2,303£1,913£391£7£1,665£6153.94830
31/03/19£1,720£1,821£-101£126£273£1831.24540
31/03/18£1,745£1,756£-11£157£546£-331-2.3400
31/03/17£1,623£1,832£-209£43£291£-587-3.8420
31/03/16£1,984£2,027£-43£110£1,600£6794510
31/03/15£2,303£2,173£130£169£1,628£6763.7350
31/03/14£2,303£2,401£-97£189£1,498£4052350
31/03/13£2,690£2,499£191£104£1,595£4001.9400
31/03/12£2,353£2,531£-178£117£1,404£2811.3630
31/03/11£2,870£2,582£289£189£1,581£4121.9520
31/03/10*£2,910£2,826£84£165£1,293£3011.3450
31/03/09£2,460£2,777£-317£161£1,209£3141.4360
31/03/08£2,531£2,267£264£120£1,352£3301.7280
31/03/07£2,060£1,975£85£86£1,088£2621.6330
31/03/06£1,810£1,645£165n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/05£1,725£1,739£-14n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/04£1,711£1,510£201n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 4.1%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 3.5%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 4%
Highest pay band: £70,000-£80,000
Liabilities/Assets: 11%
Liabilities/Income: 10%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 42%
Reserves/Spending: 4.1 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 8 months
Quick Ratio: 6.4
Asset Split ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 41 years

www.communityfirst.org.uk

enquiries@communityfirst.org.uk

01380722475

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseFacebookX
UN SDGs
?
Listed activities
  • Economic/Community Development/Employment
  • Education/Training
  • General Charitable Purposes
GiG Classification
  • General Community services
How it operates
  • Acts as an umbrella or resource body
  • Makes grants to organisations
  • Provides services
Where it operates
  • Swindon, Wiltshire,
Who it helps
  • Children/Young People
  • Elderly/Old People
  • Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
  • 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
National Lottery Community Fund£582,985
The Blagrave Trust£128,120
Wiltshire Community Foundation£47,430
Masonic Trust£23,800
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
Masonic Trust - MCF Matched Funding
£1,000 08/01/2024
Unrestricted matched funding in partnership with the local masonic province
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Splash – Community First
£1,031 21/10/2023
We aim to support young people facing challenges in their lives, increasing confidence and self-esteem, developing feelings of self-worth, reducing bullying and improving wellbeing.
National Lottery Community Fund - Bridges 2 Success
£327,821 26/07/2023
Community First aims to strengthen communities encourage enterprise and tackle disadvantage across Wiltshire and Swindon. This funding will be used to improve the overall wellbeing of 180 long term ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Wiltshire Young Carers Fun & Free Summer Holiday Respite Programme
£9,649 28/04/2023
The funding will be used to provide a free to access intensive respite programme of four day sessions and a one night residential for 48 vulnerable and marginalised Wiltshire young carers aged 6 to ....more
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Grant to Youth Action Wiltshire
£4,528 23/03/2023
5
The grant is restricted to support Youth Action Wiltshire work and activities in pursuit of its objects benefiting Wiltshire and Swindon. The funds will contribute to the support we provide to rural ....more
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Grant to Community First
£3,890 22/02/2023
Community First provides a number of services to support and strengthen communities across Wiltshire. Funding will help meet increased running costs.
Wiltshire Community Foundation - #YouthActionWiltshireWill
£10,000 15/12/2022
Community Frist provides a range of services across Wiltshire including targeted support for young people facing additional challenges. Funding is towards the development of their young leader’s ....more
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Youth Clubs
£1,570 01/09/2022
The grant is restricted to support Youth Action Wiltshire work and activities in pursuit of its objects benefiting Wiltshire and Swindon
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Youth Clubs
£5,122 02/03/2022
The grant is restricted to support Youth Action Wiltshire work and activities in pursuit of its objects benefiting Wiltshire and Swindon
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Youth Clubs
£1,203 03/09/2021
The grant is restricted to support Youth Action Wiltshire work and activities in pursuit of its objects benefiting Wiltshire and Swindon
Masonic Trust - MCF Freemasons COVID-19 Community Fund
£22,800 05/07/2021
The grant will support 50 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with 12 months of tailored support including one to one specialist counselling, group activities and peer support sessions.
National Lottery Community Fund - Make A Splash
£140,136 24/06/2021
The organisation will use the funding to support young people living in Wiltshire who are facing challenges in their lives including young victims of crime and young people who are rurally isolated ....more
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Grant to Community First
£5,000 21/04/2021
1
Contribution towards the purchase second hand minibus to transport young people to outdoor activities and group events
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Youth Clubs
£3,757 03/02/2021
The funds will contribute to the support we provide to rural youth clubs. It will support the training offer to leaders, support the development of young leaders and governance support and activity ....more
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Grant to Community First
£2,700 15/12/2020
To work with Wiltshire Council on safe opening of community spaces and activities, to advise village halls in particular about covid-compliant opening, and to help village halls to recruit new ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Connect Together
£46,059 05/10/2020
5
Community First (CF) provides services across Wiltshire and Swindon for disadvantaged young people and young carers as well as run a community transport service. Funding for the group will go towards ....more
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Community First
£3,000 17/06/2020
6
COVID19 - This grant will fund online and face to face activity sessions for 100 children and young people from low income families who are isolated at home due to Covid-19. Young people will ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Community First - Covid-19 response
£59,320 26/05/2020
6
The funding will be used to develop ways to support local community groups and charities who are supporting people during Covid-19 alongside signposting people to services and providing welfare ....more
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Grant to Community First
£4,764 09/04/2020
Staff costs to liaise with Wiltshire Council on behalf of the voluntary sector, providing information to the Council for their response planning and co-ordination and feeding information into the ....more
DCMS - Youth Covid Support Fund 2021
£17,361 01/04/2020
To ensure young people have uninterrupted access to Youth services, preventing their closure
The Blagrave Trust - Youth work programmes
£128,120 27/03/2020
Youth work delivery in Wiltshire
Wiltshire Community Foundation - #Young Leaders
£4,896 15/11/2019
Youth Action Wiltshire (YAW) provides a range of services to support and develop young people facing disadvantages in Wiltshire. This includes support for youth clubs to ensure they operate ....more
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Youth Clubs
£3,645 03/09/2019
The funds will contribute to the support we provide to rural youth clubs. It will support the training offer to leaders, support the development of young leaders and governance support and activity ....more
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Community First
£89,600 12/06/2019
36
towards three years' continuation funding of the salary of the Co-ordinator of the Improving Lives Young Carers Support Project in Wiltshire
National Lottery Community Fund - Connect 2
£98,984 28/02/2019
36
The project address the issue of loneliness, through community hubs, placing volunteers in public places to talk to people, along with knocking on doors to reach out to those who are lonely. The ....more
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Youth Clubs Support Service
£9,000 26/02/2019
Community First seeks to support and develop communities through a range of support services including transport, encouraging enterprise, supporting village halls and community resources etc. They ....more
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Community First
£29,481 22/11/2018
36
This project will deliver advocacy and advice support sessions to children and young people who are young carers. The project will enable them to feel safer in their caring role, increase self-esteem ....more
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Youth Clubs
£5,381 12/09/2018
The funds will contribute to the support we provide to rural youth clubs. It will support the training offer to leaders, support the development of young leaders and governance support and activity ....more
Woodward Charitable Trust - Towards a summer play scheme.
£500 05/06/2018
Towards a summer play scheme.
Wiltshire Community Foundation - YAW Young Leaders Programme
£5,000 18/05/2018
Youth Action Wiltshire, part of Community First, provides a range of activities for disadvantaged young people to help them overcome the challenges in their lives and also supports voluntary –run ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - YAW Young Leaders Programme
£9,640 12/04/2018
12
The funding will be used to run leadership training, support and development for 20 young people aged 13-17. The group will include young carers, NEET (not in education, employment or training), or ....more
DCMS - Community Organisers Expansion Program
£17,378 01/04/2017
To train & support 90 community organisers over a 3 year period.
The Blagrave Trust - YAW Work Programmes
£120,000 14/03/2017
Core funding
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Grant to Youth Action Wiltshire
£2,723 23/02/2017
12
Youth Action Wiltshire, which is part of Community First, provide services and support for the network of voluntary youth clubs throughout Wiltshire, and additional work directly with young people ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Community Connect
£10,000 09/11/2016
12
This project will develop new platforms of digital support for rurally located village halls and community buildings in the region. This will create new ways of supporting community organisations and ....more
The Blagrave Trust - Young listeners
£3,980 09/08/2016
Improving feedback systems- Feedback Fund 2016
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to Community First
£86,800 09/06/2016
36
towards three years' salary of the Young Carers Co-ordinator at a project providing support and respite programmes for young carers in Wiltshire
National Lottery Community Fund - SwW/1/1 - Building Bridges
£2,000,140 12/05/2016
42
This grant will be used to support those furthest from the labour market to overcome barriers and move towards and into education, training and employment across the Swindon and Wiltshire LEP area. ....more
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Grant to Youth Action Wiltshire
£5,035 08/03/2016
12
Youth Action Wiltshire, which is part of Community First, provide services and support for the network of voluntary youth clubs throughout Wiltshire, and additional work directly with young people ....more
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Grant to Community First
£5,000 10/11/2015
12
Community First is the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire and Swindon and aim to strengthen communities, grow communities and tackle disadvantage. The grant supported a core youth leader training ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - SwW/1/1 Building Bridges
£49,750 06/11/2015
12
The grant will be used to engage with people furthest from the labour market and from disadvantaged areas to move closer to work. The development funding will be used for business development costs, ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - 'Try It, Learn to Lead, My Space'
£197,580 16/10/2012
60
A new project aims to establish youth activity for marginalised young people aged 12-24, living in rural communities in and around Wiltshire. The user led project will be delivered via a three tier ....more
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (7)
Current Trustees appointed

Age Range of Trustees: 43-82
  • EDWARD WILLIAM HEARD Appointed: 2012, Occupation: Property Consultant
  • JAMES MOODY Appointed: 2016, Occupation: Policy Manager
  • MEROPE SYLVESTER Appointed: 2021, Occupation: Compliance Officer
  • PIERS FARQUHAR DIBBEN Appointed: 2007, Occupation: Company Director
  • SANJEEN PAYNE-KUMAR Appointed: 2021
  • STEVEN BOOCOCK Appointed: 2015, Occupation: Chief Executive Officer
  • VIRGINIA KEEN Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Director
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 30/11/1983, number: 288117
  • Registered at Companies House on 29/09/1983, number: 01757334
Gift Aid
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Event History
Other Regulators
  • Financial Conduct Authority
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
  • 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
20 returns made; AR10: 1 days late,
Recent reorganisation events:
  • Asset transfer in from THE CALNE YOUTH TRUST on 14/10/2021
Main office

Unit C2 Beacon Business Centre
Hopton Road
DEVIZES
SN10 2EY

Objectives

A (1) TO PROMOTE ANY CHARITABLE PURPOSES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE WILTSHIRE AND SWINDON BY ASSISTING THE WORK OF STATUTORY AUTHORITIES AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS ENGAGED IN ADVANCING EDUCATION, FURTHERING HEALTH, RELIEVING POVERTY DISTRESS OR SICKNESS, IMPROVING THE SKILL OF COUNTY CRAFTSMEN, OR IN PURSUING ANY OTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES. (2) TO PROMOTE AND ORGANISE CO-OPERATION IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SAID PURPOSES AND TO THAT END TO BRING TOGETHER IN COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AUTHORITIES AND ORGANISATIONS ENGAGED IN THE FURTHERANCE OF THE SAID PURPOSES WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATIVE COUNTY OF WILTSHIRE.TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC BY:B (1) THE PROVISION MAINTENANCE OR IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC PARKS RECREATION GROUNDS OR OPEN SPACES; OR(2) THE MAINTENANCE REPAIR OR RESTORATION OF BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES WHICH ARE PLACES OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP OR OF HISTORIC, SCIENTIFIC OR ARCHITECTURAL INTEREST; OR(3) THE PROVISION OF SOME OTHER PUBLIC AMENITYIN EACH CASE IN THE VICINITY OF A LANDFILL SITE, AND LANDFILL SITE SHALL HAVE THE MEANING ASCRIBED TO IT BY SECTION 66 OF THE FINANCE ACT 1996; AND BY(4) EDUCATING THE PUBLIC IN THE BENEFITS TO THE ENVIRONMENT OF SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES; OR(5) CARRYING OUT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INTO SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND DISSEMINATING THE USEFUL RESULTS OF THAT RESEARCH; ANDSUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES INCLUDING WASTE MINIMISATION, MINIMISATION OF POLLUTION AND HARM FROM WASTE, REUSE OF WASTE, RECYCLING OF WASTE, WASTE RECOVERY ACTIVITIES AND THE CLEARING OF POLLUTANTS FROM CONTAMINATED LAND.

Defined Area of Benefit:

COUNTY OF WILTSHIRE

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

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