THE SPACE
To preserve and protect the mental health of children and young people, in particular, but not exclusively aged between 4-18 living in the Cheddar Valley, Somerset through:a) The provision of one to one counselling, support, advice and information;b) Recreational and leisure time activities.
Objects
TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY AGED BETWEEN 4-18 LIVING IN THE CHEDDAR VALLEY, SOMERSET THROUGH:A) THE PROVISION OF ONE TO ONE COUNSELLING, SUPPORT, ADVICE AND INFORMATION;B) RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES.
Financial health, per its FY2026 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit for the year of £2,006, resulting in total funds of £66,298. The trustees confirmed they have a reserves policy to cover three months of unexpected operating costs. Per the independent examiner's report, no material matters were identified that would cause concern regarding the financial statements.
What the accounts disclose
“The Trustees of The Space CIO unanimously confirm that they adopt a Reserves Policy to provide reserves provision to cover three months unexpected operating costs at the 2026 forecast level of expenditure.” — page 11
“The building from which the charity operates is owned by a member of key management. During the year, the charity paid rent and associated costs totalling £16,500 to the landlord.” — page 18
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- 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
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2026
- Volunteers: 15
- Government income: £1,000 — grants £1,000 (1); under 1% of the £278,691 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£60,001–£70,000: 1)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2025
- Volunteers: 12
- Government income: £35,320 — grants £35,320 (2); 18% of the £193,400 total gross income on the same return
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2024
- Volunteers: 11
- Government income: £23,000 — grants £23,000 (1); 12% of the £190,367 total gross income on the same return
Trustees
- Dr John Pimblottchair
- Dr Stephen Kite
- Ian James Biggs
- Sandra Legg
- Suzanne Smith
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2026 | £279k | £281k |
| 31/03/2025 | £193k | £260k |
| 31/03/2024 | £190k | £152k |
| 31/03/2023 | £167k | £116k |
| 31/03/2022 | £74k | £81k |
Common questions
Is THE SPACE financially healthy?
Per its FY2026 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit for the year of £2,006, resulting in total funds of £66,298. The trustees confirmed they have a reserves policy to cover three months of unexpected operating costs. Per the independent examiner's report, no material matters were identified that would cause concern regarding the financial statements. Its FY2026 accounts were independently examined.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset Community Foundation | 19/02/2025 | £5k | Contribution to salary of play therapist working with disadvantaged children in the Cheddar Valley area |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 14/02/2025 | £10k | Support to members of the local community who need additional help during the winter. |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 14/03/2024 | £4k | Provide play therapists to enable a scheme to support children 8 and under in Cheddar |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 30/08/2023 | £225k | Community of Support continuation |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 17/08/2023 | £5k | Core costs for a young people's mental health service in Cheddar |
| Postcode Lottery | 26/04/2022 | £19k | The Space Running Costs |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 07/04/2022 | £5k | Counselling and group activities for young people in the Cheddar area |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 24/06/2021 | £40k | Community of Support |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 29/03/2021 | £3k | Cheddar Youth Club |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 18/12/2020 | £2k | COVID19 Youth work provision in Cheddar |
| UK government | 28/07/2020 | £10k | Coronavirus Community Support Fund |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 05/06/2020 | £4k | COVID19 Virtual counselling for young people |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| BOLTON TOGETHER | 1 | £67k |
| THE WILLIAM ARTHUR RUDD MEMORIAL TRUST | 1 | £53k |
| ROCKCLIFFE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £27k |
| THE ANTHONY V MARTIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £21k |
| HACKNEY PAROCHIAL CHARITIES | 1 | £12k |
| DAVID LISTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £11k |
| TALLOW CHANDLERS BENEVOLENT FUND NO 2 | 1 | £10k |
| THE YAPP CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £9k |
Charities like this
- MAKING A DIFFERENCE
- SPACE
- SPACE Counselling Chesterfield
- THE SPACE - SUPPORTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
- HEADSPACE
- CHAT YOUTH COUNSELLING
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE SPACE | £279k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| MAKING A DIFFERENCE | £30k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SPACE | £256k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| SPACE Counselling Chesterfield | £323k | — | 0 | unclear | — | noted |
| THE SPACE - SUPPORTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT | £317k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| HEADSPACE | £113k | — | — | above | — | no doubt |