HAPPY HILL ESSEX CIO
To advance in life and relieve the needs of young people through:(a) the provision of recreational and leisure time activities provided in the interest of social welfare, designed to improve their conditions of life;(b) providing support and activities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.
Objects
TO ADVANCE IN LIFE AND RELIEVE NEEDS OF HELP YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH:(A) THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES PROVIDED IN THE INTEREST OF SOCIAL WELFARE, DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE;(B) PROVIDING SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES WHICH DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS, CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY AS MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS.
Financial health, per its FY2026 accounts
The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £232,158, which exceeds its stated policy target of six months' expenditure. The accounts state there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“The Trustees aim to hold funds amounting to six months' of expenditure to ensure that it can continue to operate should there be an unexpected reduction in income levels.” — page 12
“Happy Hill Essex CIO has received £108,972 (2025: £113,240) of funding during the year.” — page 32
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investment
- Paying staff
- 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: 43
- Trustee benefits, answered Yes to: any trustee benefit
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2025
- Volunteers: 80
- Government income: £115,442 — contracts £113,240 (1), grants £2,202 (1); 40% of the £291,483 total gross income on the same return
- Trustee benefits, answered Yes to: any trustee benefit; payments to trustees for services to the charity
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2024
- Volunteers: 7
- Government income: £94,000 — contracts £94,000 (1); 48% of the £196,296 total gross income on the same return
- Trustee benefits, answered Yes to: any trustee benefit; payments to trustees for services to the charity
Trustees
- Heather Hillchair
- Debbie Mary Hart
- Jacqueline Waite
- Kim Alliston
- Kim Leggett
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2026 | £379k | £271k |
| 31/03/2025 | £291k | £225k |
| 31/03/2024 | £196k | £147k |
| 31/03/2023 | £125k | £84k |
| 31/03/2022 | £141k | £70k |
Common questions
Is HAPPY HILL ESSEX CIO financially healthy?
Per its FY2026 accounts: The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £232,158, which exceeds its stated policy target of six months' expenditure. The accounts state there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2026 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds HAPPY HILL ESSEX CIO?
Funders whose own accounts filings name HAPPY HILL ESSEX CIO as a grant recipient include CHARLES S FRENCH CHARITABLE TRUST, THE CHARIS TRUST, THE NINEVEH CHARITABLE TRUST, THE TUDWICK FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES S FRENCH CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £5k | |
| CHARLES S FRENCH CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £5k | |
| THE CHARIS TRUST | FY2022 | £4k | donation towards additional needs activity centre. |
| THE NINEVEH CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £4k | |
| THE TUDWICK FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £3k | |
| CHARLES S FRENCH CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £3k | |
| CHARLES S FRENCH CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £2k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 14/02/2025 | £18k | Youth Club for Young Adults with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 15/10/2021 | £10k | Support for Children with SEND in our Saturday and Holiday Clubs |
| UK government | 24/06/2020 | £6k | VSCE CMC Fund |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE STEVE MORGAN FOUNDATION | 1 | £266k |
| SISTERS OF MERCY SUNDERLAND | 1 | £210k |
| PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION | 1 | £200k |
| JOHN ELLERMAN FOUNDATION | 1 | £120k |
| THE TOTTENHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOUNDATION | 1 | £61k |
| LEEDS CULTURE TRUST | 1 | £25k |
| THE RAYNE FOUNDATION | 1 | £17k |
| THE GOSLING FOUNDATION LIMITED | 1 | £15k |
Charities like this
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAPPY HILL ESSEX CIO | £379k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| 20 STORIES HIGH | £627k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Cherry Hill Trust Ltd | £157k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| PRIORITY YOUTH PROJECT | £367k | — | 0 | unclear | — | noted |
| KIDS IN MIND | £4.2m | — | 0 | unclear | 5.4% | no doubt |
| ACTIVITEENS | £144k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |