Point North Community Foundation

Registered charity 1047625 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as COUNTY DURHAM COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, COUNTY DURHAM FOUNDATION

County Durham Community Foundation promotes lasting charitable giving, by bringing together donors with their chosen causes, through well targeted grants that make a genuine difference to the lives of local people within the communities of County Durham & Darlington.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£16.1m

Latest spending

£6.5m

Registered

1995

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported an operating surplus of £90,926 for the year ended 31 March 2025, driven by lower-than-anticipated costs and strong investment income. The trustees confirm that reserves are sufficient to continue as a going concern, with unrestricted funds standing at £986,518. The financial forecast indicates a modest operating deficit on unrestricted funds for the upcoming year, which the trustees consider acceptable given the organization's strong track record of income opportunities.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: more than £80,000 — below the median for charities its size (£130k)

“During the year, one member of staff received remuneration of more than £80,000 (2024: One £70,000) and one more than £60,000 (2024: One £60,000).” — page 22

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Largest income source: Charitable activities (94% of income)

“Charitable activities 3 - 5,502,985 9,605,343 15,108,328 5,584,290” — page 35

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: three (3) and six (6) months of expenditure plus opportunity reserves (held: £987k)

“The first theme is the operating reserves range. This is defined as the expenditure required to operate the organisation for a period between three (3) and six (6) months. The second theme is the opportunity reserves range.” — page 26

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Grants paid to Durham Youth CIO, an organisation of which Emily Burns (Trustee) is a Director and Rebecca Armstrong (Trustee) is an advisor.

“During the year grants totalling £18,920 (2024: £10,000) were paid to Durham Youth CIO, an organisation of which Emily Burns, Trustee, is a Director and Rebecca Armstrong, Trustee, is an advisor.” — page 59

“During the year grants totalling £1,998 (2024: £5,000) were paid to Creative Youth Oppurtunities CIC, an organisation of which Rebecca Armstrong, Trustee, is a Trustee.” — page 59

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Grants paid to Creative Youth Opportunities CIC, an organisation of which Rebecca Armstrong (Trustee) is a Trustee.

“During the year grants totalling £18,920 (2024: £10,000) were paid to Durham Youth CIO, an organisation of which Emily Burns, Trustee, is a Director and Rebecca Armstrong, Trustee, is an advisor.” — page 59

“During the year grants totalling £1,998 (2024: £5,000) were paid to Creative Youth Oppurtunities CIC, an organisation of which Rebecca Armstrong, Trustee, is a Trustee.” — page 59

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Grants paid to Great North Air Ambulance, an organisation of which Rebecca Armstrong (Trustee) is an advisor.

“During the year grants totalling £18,920 (2024: £10,000) were paid to Durham Youth CIO, an organisation of which Emily Burns, Trustee, is a Director and Rebecca Armstrong, Trustee, is an advisor.” — page 59

“During the year grants totalling £1,998 (2024: £5,000) were paid to Creative Youth Oppurtunities CIC, an organisation of which Rebecca Armstrong, Trustee, is a Trustee.” — page 59

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Grants paid to Pioneering Care Partnership, an organisation of which Ann Dolphin (Trustee) is a member.

“During the year grants totalling £18,920 (2024: £10,000) were paid to Durham Youth CIO, an organisation of which Emily Burns, Trustee, is a Director and Rebecca Armstrong, Trustee, is an advisor.” — page 59

“During the year grants totalling £1,998 (2024: £5,000) were paid to Creative Youth Oppurtunities CIC, an organisation of which Rebecca Armstrong, Trustee, is a Trustee.” — page 59

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Grants paid to Sherburn Hill Hub, an organisation of which Rebecca Armstrong (Trustee) is an advisor.

“During the year grants totalling £18,920 (2024: £10,000) were paid to Durham Youth CIO, an organisation of which Emily Burns, Trustee, is a Director and Rebecca Armstrong, Trustee, is an advisor.” — page 59

“During the year grants totalling £1,998 (2024: £5,000) were paid to Creative Youth Oppurtunities CIC, an organisation of which Rebecca Armstrong, Trustee, is a Trustee.” — page 59

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by UNW LLP. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income

£16.1m

Total spending

£6.5m

Cost of raising funds

£218k

Reserves (reported)

£987k

Employees

10

Reported reserves equal ~1.8 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (94% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 1.4% of total income — below the median for charities its size (3.8%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Received assets from another charity (15/05/2026) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (20/03/2024) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (27/05/2022) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (04/06/2020) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (04/06/2020) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (04/06/2020) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

Alison Dunn · trustee of 1 other charity
Emma Ruth O'Rourke
Gillian Chinhengo
Joanna Margaret Barker MBE · trustee of 3 other charities
Judith Hartley
Sarah Thorpe
Timothy Mallon

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£16.1m	£6.5m
31/03/2024	£6.4m	£8.2m
31/03/2023	£4.3m	£6.0m
31/03/2022	£4.9m	£4.3m
31/03/2021	£5.5m	£5.5m

Common questions

Is Point North Community Foundation financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported an operating surplus of £90,926 for the year ended 31 March 2025, driven by lower-than-anticipated costs and strong investment income. The trustees confirm that reserves are sufficient to continue as a going concern, with unrestricted funds standing at £986,518. The financial forecast indicates a modest operating deficit on unrestricted funds for the upcoming year, which the trustees consider acceptable given the organization's strong track record of income opportunities. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by UNW LLP.

What does the highest-paid employee of Point North Community Foundation earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the more than £80,000 band.

Who funds Point North Community Foundation?

Funders whose own accounts filings name Point North Community Foundation as a grant recipient include NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HOSPITALS NHS CHARITY, LEMPRIERE PRINGLE 2015, THE FOYLE FOUNDATION, CEO SLEEPOUT.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HOSPITALS NHS CHARITY	FY2022	£1.4m	Community Partnership projects
LEMPRIERE PRINGLE 2015	FY2022	£500k
LEMPRIERE PRINGLE 2015	FY2024	£500k
THE FOYLE FOUNDATION	FY2025	£200k
CEO SLEEPOUT	FY2024	£6k

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The Mercers' Company	05/02/2026	£150k	Grant to Point North
The Mercers' Company	05/02/2026	£150k	Grant to Point North
Community Foundation North East	08/01/2026	£555	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	30/10/2025	£283k	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	09/10/2025	£545	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	23/09/2025	£77k	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	17/07/2025	£527	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	08/05/2025	£3k	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	08/05/2025	£3k	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	17/04/2025	£518	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	27/02/2025	£45k	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	09/01/2025	£549	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	17/10/2024	£538	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	11/07/2024	£544	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	18/04/2024	£541	Grant to Point North Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	23/02/2023	£3k	Grant to County Durham Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	10/02/2023	£3k	Grant to County Durham Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	12/01/2023	£515	Grant to County Durham Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	13/10/2022	£509	Grant to County Durham Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	13/10/2022	£5k	Grant to County Durham Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	14/07/2022	£521	Grant to County Durham Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	20/04/2022	£571	Grant to County Durham Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	17/02/2022	£3k	A grant to County Durham Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	13/01/2022	£606	A grant to County Durham Community Foundation
Community Foundation North East	14/10/2021	£591	A grant to County Durham Community Foundation

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
SIR JOHN PRIESTMAN CHARITY TRUST	2	£12k
THE PARGITER TRUST	1	£400k
Fuel Bank Foundation	1	£152k
DAVID LAING FOUNDATION	1	£141k
THE JOHN ARMITAGE CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£140k
THE FRANK JACKSON FOUNDATION	1	£100k
THE RANDAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	1	£42k
UTILITA GIVING	1	£40k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with AGE CONCERN DURHAM COUNTY.

AGE CONCERN DURHAM COUNTY income £1.5m
DURHAM SCOUT COUNTY COUNCIL income £673k
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION income £1.7m
Community Foundation North East income £10.7m
DURHAM CHRISTIAN PARTNERSHIP income £2.0m
THE WINDLESTONE FOUNDATION income £489k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
Point North Community Foundation	£16.1m	more than £80,000	—	above	—	no doubt
AGE CONCERN DURHAM COUNTY FY2025	£1.5m	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
DURHAM SCOUT COUNTY COUNCIL FY2025	£673k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FY2025	£1.7m	—	1	unclear	—	no doubt
Community Foundation North East FY2025	£10.7m	—	—	above	—	no doubt
DURHAM CHRISTIAN PARTNERSHIP FY2024	£2.0m	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.