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Carers First

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.

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Activities & Mission

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.

Areas of Operation

Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.

Show all 6 areas of operation

Financial Information

Latest Income
£5,289,243
Latest Expenditure
£5,114,805

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 94.9%
% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 59% of UK Health charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 1286). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 98.2%
% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 60% of UK Health charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 1.8%
Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 65% of UK Health charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £712,770
Charitable Activities £4,546,039
Other Trading £0
Investments £30,434
Other Income £0

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £5,020,609
Raising Funds £94,196
Governance £0
Grants to Institutions £0
Other Expenditure £0

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.

Financial YearIncomeExpenditureCharitable SpendingNet AssetsReservesStaff
2025
£5,289,243
£5,114,805£5,020,609£1,867,992£1,867,992138 / 83
2024
£4,931,362
£5,056,341£4,987,678£1,723,347£1,723,347142 / 253
2023
£4,694,622
£4,873,317£4,791,480£1,793,745£1,793,745141 / 70
2022
£4,563,735
£4,446,618£4,372,671£2,095,708£2,095,708146 / 0
2021
£4,285,129
£4,132,221£4,060,330£1,934,367£1,934,367145 / 0

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about Carers First

What does Carers First do?

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.

How much income did Carers First report in 2025?

Carers First reported total income of £5.29m and reported expenditure of £5.11m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is Carers First?

Carers First has a program ratio of 94.9%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 59% of UK Health charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 1286 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was Carers First registered as a charity?

Carers First was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 7 March 2001 as charity number 1085430. It has been registered for 25 years.

Who runs Carers First?

Carers First is governed by a board of 12 trustees. The chair of trustees is Semantha Neal. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does Carers First operate?

Carers First operates across 6 areas, including Essex, Hackney, Haringey and 3 others. The full list is shown on its profile.

Is Carers First a registered charity?

Yes — Carers First is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1085430.

Details

Address
Michael Gill Building
Tolgate Lane
Strood
Kent
ME2 4TG
Registration Date
7 March 2001
Status
Registered

Registry Information

Organisation Number
3979623
Charity Number
1085430

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Trustees

Semantha Neal Chair
Caroline Bernadette Elizabeth Withers
Christian Patrick Shepley Higham
CLIVE BERTRAM SPARROW
Also governs 1 other charity
Daniela Domenica Cecchini
Hannah Elizabeth Usher
Josephine Mary Taylor
Manir Hussain
Peter Alan Jenkins
Roberta Camilla Heys
Sarah Joan Louise Pickersgill
Vicki Jayne Wells

Sectors & Classifications

Data & trust

Register data refreshed
14 May 2026
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