CARERS FIRST — Charity Commission profile

01 Identity

Registration and reporting

Registration status: Registered
Reporting status: Submission Received
Charity type: Charitable company
Registered: 7 March 2001
Removed: Not supplied
Company number supplied: 04144820
Financial period: 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025
Latest income: £5,289,243
Latest expenditure: £5,114,805
Gift Aid: No
Owns or uses land: Yes
In administration: No
Insolvent: No
CIO: No

Public contact address: Michael Gill Building, Tolgate Lane, Strood, Kent, ME2 4TG

Website recorded by the regulator: www.carersfirst.org.uk (displayed as text)

02 Activities

What the charity does

Carers FIRST is a charity supporting people who look after a relative or friend who due to ill health, physical or mental illness, disability, frailty, or addiction cannot manage without their support. We provide information, advice, guidance, emotional support, training and activities, giving carers an opportunity to have a break from their caring role and help them to get the support they need.

03 Official extract

Charity Annual Return History

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2025
Ar Cycle Reference: AR25
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2026
Date Annual Return Received: 11 December 2025
Date Accounts Received: 11 December 2025
Total Gross Income: £5,289,243
Total Gross Expenditure: £5,114,805

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2024
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2025
Date Annual Return Received: 11 December 2024
Date Accounts Received: 11 December 2024
Total Gross Income: £4,931,362
Total Gross Expenditure: £5,056,341

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2022
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2023
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2024
Date Annual Return Received: 18 December 2023
Date Accounts Received: 18 December 2023
Total Gross Income: £4,694,622
Total Gross Expenditure: £4,873,317

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2021
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2022
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2023
Date Annual Return Received: 1 November 2022
Date Accounts Received: 1 November 2022
Total Gross Income: £4,563,735
Total Gross Expenditure: £4,446,618

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2020
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2021
Ar Cycle Reference: AR21
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2022
Date Annual Return Received: 20 December 2021
Date Accounts Received: 20 December 2021
Total Gross Income: £4,285,129
Total Gross Expenditure: £4,132,221

04 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Parta

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: Yes
Fin Period Order Number: 1
Ar Cycle Reference: AR25
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2025
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2026
Ar Received Date: 11 December 2025
Total Gross Income: £5,289,243
Total Gross Expenditure: £5,114,805
Grant Making Is Main Activity: Yes
Count Govt Contracts: 10
Count Govt Grants: £9
Income From Government Contracts: 4546039
Income From Government Grants: £132,176
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: Yes
Count Salary Band 60001 70000: 2
Count Salary Band 70001 80000: 1
Count Volunteers: 83

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 2
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2024
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2025
Ar Received Date: 11 December 2024
Total Gross Income: £4,931,362
Total Gross Expenditure: £5,056,341
Grant Making Is Main Activity: No
Count Govt Contracts: 8
Count Govt Grants: £4
Income From Government Contracts: 3798586
Income From Government Grants: £94,000
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: Yes
Count Salary Band 60001 70000: 1
Count Salary Band 80001 90000: 1
Count Volunteers: 253

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 3
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2022
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2023
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2024
Ar Received Date: 18 December 2023
Total Gross Income: £4,694,622
Total Gross Expenditure: £4,873,317
Grant Making Is Main Activity: No
Count Govt Contracts: 8
Count Govt Grants: £0
Income From Government Contracts: 3805383
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: Yes
Count Salary Band 70001 80000: 1
Count Volunteers: 70

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 4
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2021
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2022
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2023
Ar Received Date: 1 November 2022
Total Gross Income: £4,563,735
Total Gross Expenditure: £4,446,618
Charity Raises Funds From Public: Yes
Charity Professional Fundraiser: No
Charity Commercial Participator: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts: Yes
Count Govt Contracts: 8
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants: No
Income From Government Contracts: 3460888
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: Yes
Count Salary Band 70001 80000: 1
Count Volunteers: 0

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 5
Ar Cycle Reference: AR21
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2020
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2021
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2022
Ar Received Date: 20 December 2021
Total Gross Income: £4,285,129
Total Gross Expenditure: £4,132,221
Charity Raises Funds From Public: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts: Yes
Count Govt Contracts: 8
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants: No
Income From Government Contracts: 3582008
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: Yes
Count Salary Band 70001 80000: 1
Count Volunteers: 0

05 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Partb

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: Yes
Fin Period Order Number: 1
Ar Cycle Reference: AR25
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2025
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2026
Ar Received Date: 11 December 2025
Income Donations And Legacies: 712770
Income Other Trading Activities: 0
Income Charitable Activities: 4546039
Income Investments: 30434
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 5289243
Income Legacies: 111111
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £94,196
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £5,020,609
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 5114805
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 0
Expenditure Governance: 0
Expenditure Support Costs: 656012
Expenditure Depreciation: 35657
Gain Loss Investment: -29793
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £1,867,992
Assets Total Fixed: 1070959
Assets Own Use: 34098
Assets Long Term Investment: 1036861
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £1,376,729
Assets Total Liabilities: £579,696
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £1,867,992
Creditors One Year Total Current: 579696
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 0
Assets Cash: £907,491
Funds Endowment: 0
Funds Unrestricted: 1235740
Funds Restricted: 632252
Funds Total: 1867992
Count Employees: 138
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 2
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2024
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2025
Ar Received Date: 11 December 2024
Income Donations And Legacies: 1096765
Income Other Trading Activities: 0
Income Charitable Activities: 3798585
Income Investments: 36012
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 4931362
Income Legacies: 275000
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £68,663
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £4,987,678
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 5056341
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 0
Expenditure Governance: 0
Expenditure Support Costs: 668726
Expenditure Depreciation: 46023
Gain Loss Investment: 54581
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £1,723,347
Assets Total Fixed: 1170324
Assets Own Use: 51815
Assets Long Term Investment: 1118509
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £1,030,128
Assets Total Liabilities: £477,105
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £1,723,347
Creditors One Year Total Current: 477105
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 0
Assets Cash: £460,178
Funds Endowment: 0
Funds Unrestricted: 1373952
Funds Restricted: 349395
Funds Total: 1723347
Count Employees: 142
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 3
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2022
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2023
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2024
Ar Received Date: 18 December 2023
Income Donations And Legacies: 855151
Income Other Trading Activities: 0
Income Charitable Activities: 3805383
Income Investments: 34088
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 4694622
Income Legacies: 23734
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £81,837
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £4,791,480
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 4873317
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 0
Expenditure Governance: 0
Expenditure Support Costs: 765294
Expenditure Depreciation: 46120
Gain Loss Investment: -123268
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £1,793,745
Assets Total Fixed: 1466687
Assets Own Use: 73473
Assets Long Term Investment: 1393214
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £865,834
Assets Total Liabilities: £538,776
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £1,793,745
Creditors One Year Total Current: 538776
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 0
Assets Cash: £590,729
Funds Endowment: 0
Funds Unrestricted: 1389173
Funds Restricted: 404572
Funds Total: 1793745
Count Employees: 141
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 4
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2021
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2022
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2023
Ar Received Date: 1 November 2022
Income Donations And Legacies: 739769
Income Other Trading Activities: 0
Income Charitable Activities: 3791822
Income Investments: 32144
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 4563735
Income Legacies: 0
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £73,947
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £4,372,671
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 4446618
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 0
Expenditure Governance: 0
Expenditure Support Costs: 699495
Expenditure Depreciation: 34787
Gain Loss Investment: 44224
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £2,095,708
Assets Total Fixed: 1557109
Assets Own Use: 66109
Assets Long Term Investment: 1491000
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £1,069,772
Assets Total Liabilities: £531,173
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £2,095,708
Creditors One Year Total Current: 531173
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 0
Assets Cash: £535,565
Funds Endowment: 0
Funds Unrestricted: 1762499
Funds Restricted: 333209
Funds Total: 2095708
Count Employees: 146
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 5
Ar Cycle Reference: AR21
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2020
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2021
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2022
Ar Received Date: 20 December 2021
Income Donations And Legacies: 582902
Income Other Trading Activities: 0
Income Charitable Activities: 3664997
Income Investments: 37230
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 4285129
Income Legacies: 0
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £71,891
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £4,060,330
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 4132221
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 0
Expenditure Governance: 12075
Expenditure Support Costs: 575060
Expenditure Depreciation: 43687
Gain Loss Investment: 222390
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £1,934,367
Assets Total Fixed: 1286048
Assets Own Use: 62654
Assets Long Term Investment: 1223394
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £1,210,644
Assets Total Liabilities: £562,325
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £1,934,367
Creditors One Year Total Current: 562325
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 0
Assets Cash: £938,121
Funds Endowment: 0
Funds Unrestricted: 1664207
Funds Restricted: 270160
Funds Total: 1934367
Count Employees: 145
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

06 Official extract

Charity Area Of Operation

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Medway
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Lincolnshire
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Haringey
Parent Geographic Area Type: Metropolitan Counties
Parent Geographic Area Description: Greater London
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Waltham Forest
Parent Geographic Area Type: Metropolitan Counties
Parent Geographic Area Description: Greater London
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Essex
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Hackney
Parent Geographic Area Type: Metropolitan Counties
Parent Geographic Area Description: Greater London
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Croydon
Parent Geographic Area Type: Metropolitan Counties
Parent Geographic Area Description: Greater London
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Southend-on-sea
Welsh Ind: No

07 Official extract

Charity Classification

Classification Code: 201
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: Children/young People

Classification Code: 203
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: People With Disabilities

Classification Code: 204
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin

Classification Code: 207
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: The General Public/mankind

Classification Code: 101
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: General Charitable Purposes

Classification Code: 205
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies

Classification Code: 310
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Other Charitable Activities

Classification Code: 117
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Other Charitable Purposes

Classification Code: 307
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Provides Advocacy/advice/information

Classification Code: 116
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Recreation

Classification Code: 103
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives

Classification Code: 113
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Economic/community Development/employment

Classification Code: 105
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

Classification Code: 115
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity

Classification Code: 102
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Education/training

Classification Code: 308
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Sponsors Or Undertakes Research

Classification Code: 306
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Provides Services

Classification Code: 104
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Disability

Classification Code: 206
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: Other Defined Groups

Classification Code: 202
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: Elderly/old People

08 Official extract

Charity Event History

Charity Name: CARERS FIRST
Charity Event Order: 2
Event Type: Asset transfer in
Date Of Event: 2013-04-18T00:00:00
Reason: Transfer of funds
Assoc Organisation Number: 4008074
Assoc Registered Charity Number: 1104884
Assoc Charity Name: MEDWAY CARERS CENTRE

Charity Name: CARERS FIRST
Charity Event Order: 1
Event Type: Standard registration
Date Of Event: 2001-03-07T00:00:00

Charity Name: CARERS FIRST
Charity Event Order: 3
Event Type: Asset transfer in
Date Of Event: 2018-11-14T00:00:00
Reason: Amalgamated
Assoc Organisation Number: 3978958
Assoc Registered Charity Number: 1085023
Assoc Charity Name: MEDWAY CROSSROADS, CARING FOR CARERS

09 Official extract

Charity Governing Document

Governing Document Description: MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES INCORPORATED 19/01/2001AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION(S) DATED 12/10/2004AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION(S) DATED 08/12/2006NOW ARTICLES ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED 18 DEC 2015 as amended on 26 Jul 2017 as amended on 04 Nov 2020
Charitable Objects: 4.1 For the public benefit, to relieve the needs of carers and persons who are sick, infirm, disabled or who have social care needs in particular but not exclusively by:4.1.1 the provision of information, advice and support4.1.2 the provision of respite care
Area Of Benefit: NOT DEFINED

10 Official extract

Charity Policy

Policy Name: Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures

Policy Name: Bullying and harassment policy and procedures

Policy Name: Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures

Policy Name: Internal risk management policy and procedures

Policy Name: Conflicting interests

Policy Name: Paying staff

Policy Name: Complaints handling

Policy Name: Safeguarding policy and procedures

Policy Name: Social media policy and procedures

Policy Name: Trustee expenses policy and procedures

Policy Name: Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries

Policy Name: Serious incident reporting policy and procedures

Policy Name: Complaints policy and procedures

Policy Name: Volunteer management

Policy Name: Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures

Policy Name: Investing charity funds policy and procedures

Policy Name: Risk management

Policy Name: Financial reserves policy and procedures

Policy Name: Investment