VOLUNTARY ACTION ROTHERHAM
VAR provides support services to the voluntary and community groups/organisations within the borough. This is provided by the following: a volunteer centre, developing and facilitating networks and collaborative working, undertakes policy analysis and research, lobbies on behalf of the sector, runs a membership scheme, develop and manage several bespoke projects. VAR is a membership based org.
Latest income
£3.3m
Latest spending
£3.9m
Registered
1999
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that general free reserves stood at £526,463, which is substantially below the charity's stated minimum target level of approximately £974,700. Despite this deficit against policy, the trustees and auditors confirm the charity is a going concern with sufficient resources to continue operations for at least twelve months.
What the accounts disclose
Highest-paid employee band: more than £60,000 — below the median for charities its size (£70k)
“1 employee received total employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000 (2024: 1).”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Employees paid over £60,000: 1
“1 employee received total employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000 (2024: 1).”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £526k; policy: three to six months expenditure)
“At 31 March 2025, our general free reserves stood at £526,463, substantially below our minimum target level.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Grant to Shiloh
“J Dalton is a Trustee and Director of VAR and the Chair persion to Shiloh. During the year VAR made grants of £nil (2024: £10,740) to Shiloh.” — page 43
“C Batchford is a Trustee and Director of VAR and is also an employee of Social Supermarket. During the year VAR made grants of £5,000 (2024: £5,000) to Social Supermarket.” — page 43
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Grant to Social Supermarket
“J Dalton is a Trustee and Director of VAR and the Chair persion to Shiloh. During the year VAR made grants of £nil (2024: £10,740) to Shiloh.” — page 43
“C Batchford is a Trustee and Director of VAR and is also an employee of Social Supermarket. During the year VAR made grants of £5,000 (2024: £5,000) to Social Supermarket.” — page 43
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Grant to The Learning Community
“J Dalton is a Trustee and Director of VAR and the Chair persion to Shiloh. During the year VAR made grants of £nil (2024: £10,740) to Shiloh.” — page 43
“C Batchford is a Trustee and Director of VAR and is also an employee of Social Supermarket. During the year VAR made grants of £5,000 (2024: £5,000) to Social Supermarket.” — page 43
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Grant to S62 Community Together Rotherham (CIC)
“J Dalton is a Trustee and Director of VAR and the Chair persion to Shiloh. During the year VAR made grants of £nil (2024: £10,740) to Shiloh.” — page 43
“C Batchford is a Trustee and Director of VAR and is also an employee of Social Supermarket. During the year VAR made grants of £5,000 (2024: £5,000) to Social Supermarket.” — page 43
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Pension scheme deficit: £31.6m
“A full actuarial valuation for the scheme was carried out at 30 September 2020. This valuation showed assets of £800.3m, liabilities of £831.9m and a deficit of £31.6m.” — page 42
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Spectrum Futures C.1.C.
“The SOFA includes income of £10,086 (2024: £23,389) and expenditure of £10,086 (2024: £23,389) relating to our trading subsidiary, Spectrum Futures C.1.C.” — page 10
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Total income
£3.3m
Total spending
£3.9m
Cost of raising funds
£9k
Reserves (reported)
£526k
Employees
60
Trustees
- Angham Ahmed
- Christine Batchford
- Jeanette Mallinder
- John Barber
- Judy Dalton
- Karen Shaw
- Mohammed Ramzan
- Nicholas Wilson
- STUART WALLS
- Sarah Lacey
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £3.3m | £3.9m |
| 31/03/2024 | £3.0m | £3.2m |
| 31/03/2023 | £3.6m | £3.5m |
| 31/03/2022 | £4.7m | £2.6m |
| 31/03/2021 | £2.5m | £1.9m |
Common questions
Is VOLUNTARY ACTION ROTHERHAM financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that general free reserves stood at £526,463, which is substantially below the charity's stated minimum target level of approximately £974,700. Despite this deficit against policy, the trustees and auditors confirm the charity is a going concern with sufficient resources to continue operations for at least twelve months. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Henton & Co LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of VOLUNTARY ACTION ROTHERHAM earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the more than £60,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 09/06/2026 | £129k | "Palladiums of the North" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 15/04/2025 | £67k | "The Sensational Alzana’s and other Daredevils!" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 19/12/2016 | £10k | Giving Time |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 12/08/2015 | £10k | Funding Information Station (F.I.S) |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 15/02/2012 | £404k | D.R.E.A.M - (Developing real economic activity with me.) |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 26/05/2011 | £4k | Brand New 4 U |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 22/01/2009 | £592k | South Yorkshire HR Services Network |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 15/07/2008 | £665k | The Advice Partnership - Leading Legal Advice Providers Unite |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £4k |
| THE LONDON MARATHON CHARITABLE TRUST LIMITED | 1 | £172k |
| THE PEARS FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £151k |
| JOFFE CHARITABLE TRUST CIO | 1 | £95k |
| MAUDSLEY CHARITY | 1 | £44k |
| ENERGISE ME | 1 | £19k |
| CHURCH BURGESSES TRUST | 1 | £11k |
| MARJORIE COOTE OLD PEOPLES CHARITY FUND | 1 | £11k |
Charities like this
- HART VOLUNTARY ACTION LIMITED
- Wolverhampton Voluntary and Community Action
- VOLUNTARY ACTION SHEFFIELD
- RUSHMOOR VOLUNTARY SERVICES
- VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH WEST SURREY
- CROYDON VOLUNTARY ACTION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VOLUNTARY ACTION ROTHERHAM | £3.3m | more than £60,000 | 1 | below | — | no doubt |
| HART VOLUNTARY ACTION LIMITED | £455k | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |
| Wolverhampton Voluntary and Community Action | £1.5m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION SHEFFIELD | £3.7m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| RUSHMOOR VOLUNTARY SERVICES | £661k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH WEST SURREY | £601k | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |