Women Connect First
What it does
The principal activities of Women Connect First during the year continued to be the education, training for employment and relief from poverty and distress of members of the public from the black and ethnic minority and white communities and helping them to fully integrate within British society, whilst promoting equality and diversity.
Its charitable purposes
1. TO ADVANCE EDUCATION AMONGST WOMEN MEMBERS OF THE ETHNIC MINORITY COMMUNITIES;2. TO RELIEVE POVERTY AND DISTRESS ARISING FROM FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND/OR PHYSICAL AND/OR MENTAL SUFFERING AMONGST WOMEN MEMBERS OF THE ETHNIC MINORITY COMMUNITIES;3. THE PROMOTION OF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY IN WALES, BY (I) DEVELOPING THE CAPACITY AND SKILLS OF WOMEN MEMBERS OF ETHNIC MINORITY COMMUNITIES IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO IDENTIFY, AND HELP MEET THEIR NEEDS AND PARTICIPATE MORE FULLY IN SOCIETY;(II) RAISING AWARENESS OF THE SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS NEEDS OF MEMBERS OF ETHNIC MINORITY COMMUNITIES.
Causes
- What it works on
- General charitable purposes
- Education and training
- Health and saving lives
- Preventing or relieving poverty
- Religious activities
- Arts, culture, heritage and science
- Amateur sport
- Environment, conservation and heritage
- Economic and community development, and employment
- Human rights, equality and diversity
- Other charitable purposes
- Who it helps
- Children and young people
- Older people
- Disabled people
- People of a particular ethnic or racial origin
- Other charities and voluntary bodies
- Other defined groups
- How it works
- Provides staff or volunteers
- Provides buildings, facilities or open space
- Provides services
- Provides advocacy, advice or information
- Sponsors or carries out research
- Other charitable activities
Where it works
- In Wales
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Vale of Glamorgan
Area of benefit in its governing document: Wales
Income and spending
In the year ending 31 March 2025, it had income of £424,595 and spent £413,738.
| Year ending | Income | Spending | Paid staff | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2025 | £424,595 | £413,738 | Not reported | 30 |
| 31 March 2024 | £479,356 | £495,714 | Not reported | 30 |
| 31 March 2023 | £611,059 | £640,018 | 14 | 30 |
| 31 March 2022 | £672,102 | £526,540 | 11 | 30 |
| 31 March 2021 | £631,300 | £571,279 | 19 | 10 |
Financial position
Separate measures from the charity's own returns and accounts, each with its year. Read them together: no single measure says how well a charity is run.
- Income over time
- Down 33%, from £631,300 in the year to 31 March 2021 to £424,595 in the year to 31 March 2025.
- Spending against income
- It spent 97% of its income in the year to 31 March 2025. It spent more than its income in 2 of the 5 years shown.
- Largest funder
- Welsh Government gave £176,385 in the year to 31 March 2024, 37% of that year's income.
Government funding, as the charity reported it
Government grants in the year ending 31 March 2025: £165,039 from 6 grants. Government contracts: Not reported.
| Year ending | Government grants | Government contracts |
|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2025 | £165,039 from 6 grants | Not reported |
| 31 March 2024 | £180,385 from 3 grants | Not reported |
| 31 March 2023 | £249,346 from 7 grants | Not reported |
| 31 March 2022 | £209,016 from 8 grants | Not reported |
| 31 March 2021 | £274,811 from 5 grants | Not reported |
Where its income came from in the year ending 31 March 2023
- Donations and legacies£3,423
- Charitable activities, including grants and contracts for its work£607,570
- Investments£66
Who funds it, according to its accounts
In its accounts for the year ending 31 March 2024, the charity named 13 funders who gave £416,371 between them. £240,876 of that came from public bodies.
These figures were read from the accounts the charity filed with the Charity Commission by Claude, an AI model, in OpenEconomy's accounts reader. AI can misread a table, so check the accounts on the register before relying on a figure.
| Funder | Type | Mar 2024 | Mar 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welsh Government | Welsh Government | £176,385 | £214,254 |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | National Lottery | £60,491 | £10,000 |
| Tudor Trust | Trust, company or other | £40,000 | £40,000 |
| Wales & West Utilities | Trust, company or other | £31,695 | £11,745 |
| Lloyds Bank Foundation | Trust, company or other | £25,000 | £27,250 |
| Postcode Community Trust | Trust, company or other | £25,000 | |
| Zurich Community Trust | Trust, company or other | £19,250 | £17,500 |
| National Grid | Trust, company or other | £10,000 | £10,000 |
| Children in Need | Trust, company or other | £9,463 | £500 |
| Glamorgan Voluntary Services | Trust, company or other | £8,300 | |
| The National Heritage Memorial Fund | Trust, company or other | £6,787 | |
| Cardiff Council | Council | £4,000 | £15,000 |
| Paul Hamlyn Foundation | Trust, company or other | £47,000 | |
| CAF Resilience Fund Phase 2 | Trust, company or other | £37,920 | |
| Smallwood Trust and the Women Thrive Fund | Trust, company or other | £7,112 | |
| Rosa | Trust, company or other | £7,000 | |
| Wales Council for Voluntary Action | Other public body | £5,979 | |
| Older People's Commissioner for Wales | Trust, company or other | £3,000 |
Charities whose accounts say they funded it
| Funder | Year ending | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff Third Sector Council (C3sc) | 31 March 2023 | £3,000 |
Grants awarded to it, published on 360Giving
Funders that publish to 360Giving list 40 grants to this charity since 2005, worth at least £3,523,315.
By funder
- The National Lottery Community Fund£2,143,620, 13 grants
- Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales£371,124, 7 grants
- Paul Hamlyn Foundation£364,700, 4 grants
- The Tudor Trust£225,800, 5 grants
- CAF£131,681, 1 grant
- Independent Age£122,231, 1 grant
- BBC Children in Need£55,182, 4 grants
- Postcode Community Trust£50,000, 2 grants
- Smallwood Trust£48,052, 1 grant
- Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport£10,425, 1 grant
- Virgin Money Foundation£500, 1 grant
| Awarded | Grant | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 13 May 2026 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £20,000 |
| 15 Oct 2025 | Paul Hamlyn Foundation | £200,000 |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Postcode Community Trust | £25,000 |
| 4 Dec 2024 | Independent Age | £122,231 |
| 3 Apr 2023 | Postcode Community Trust | £25,000 |
| 18 Jan 2023 | Paul Hamlyn Foundation | £4,700 |
| 14 Dec 2022 | Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales | £2,250 |
| 20 Oct 2022 | BBC Children in Need | £500 |
| 14 Sept 2022 | Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales | £50,000 |
| 31 Jan 2022 | BBC Children in Need | £28,911 |
All 40 grants
| Awarded | Grant | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Nov 2021 | CAF | £131,681 |
| 5 Nov 2021 | The Tudor Trust | £120,000 |
| 12 Jul 2021 | Smallwood Trust | £48,052 |
| 8 Jul 2021 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £8,499 |
| 17 May 2021 | Paul Hamlyn Foundation | £140,000 |
| 26 Feb 2021 | The Tudor Trust | £2,000 |
| 28 Jul 2020 | Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales | £5,500 |
| 16 Jul 2020 | The Tudor Trust | £11,800 |
| 18 Jun 2020 | The Tudor Trust | £2,000 |
| 17 Jun 2020 | BBC Children in Need | £3,267 |
| 10 Jun 2020 | Paul Hamlyn Foundation | £20,000 |
| 12 May 2020 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £9,937 |
| 10 Sept 2019 | Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales | £72,237 |
| 28 Aug 2019 | Virgin Money Foundation | £500 |
| 30 Apr 2019 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £5,000 |
| 1 Feb 2019 | Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport | £10,425 |
| 19 Dec 2018 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £10,000 |
| 31 Aug 2018 | The Tudor Trust | £90,000 |
| 30 Jul 2018 | BBC Children in Need | £22,504 |
| 17 Jan 2018 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £99,471 |
| 5 Sept 2017 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £4,996 |
| 20 Sept 2016 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £1,908 |
| 20 Jul 2016 | Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales | £72,237 |
| 4 Feb 2016 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £4,980 |
| 16 Apr 2013 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £977,546 |
| 28 Feb 2013 | Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales | £20,000 |
| 7 Dec 2012 | Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales | £148,900 |
| 25 May 2010 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £499,959 |
| 22 Nov 2006 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £499,961 |
| 22 Nov 2005 | The National Lottery Community Fund | £1,363 |
In council meetings
Council business that names this charity, from the records councils publish, gathered by OpenCouncil. Newest first.
11 May 2026, Cardiff
Named in an agenda item or minute of Community & Adult Services Scrutiny Committee
Ageing Well Strategy Refresh
27 January 2022, Cardiff
Named in an agenda item or minute of Council
Oral Questions
13 December 2021, Cardiff
Named in an agenda item or minute of Economy & Culture Scrutiny Committee
Adult Community Learning Review/ Approach to funding for Into Work Advice Services - Pre-decision Scrutiny - to Follow
In the Senedd and Welsh Government
Senedd and Welsh Government records that name this charity, gathered by OpenSenedd. Newest first.
16 July 2026
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: First Minister
Purpose: Let's Age Well Women Connect First.
Let's Age Well Women Connect First
24 June 2024
Named in a written question from Andrew RT Davies
Addressed to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice.
…Advertising/Marketing Banning conversion practices campaign THE FOLK GROUP LTD £22,931 Advertising/Marketing Period Proud Campaign Filming WOMEN CONNECT FIRST 750 Advertising/Marketing ArWAP Video BANANA AGENCY LTD TA J M CREATIVE 4950 Advertising/Marketing Race - ARWAP pop up banners ACT REPROGRAP…
24 June 2024
Named in a written question from Andrew RT Davies
Addressed to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice.
…Advertising/Marketing Banning conversion practices campaign THE FOLK GROUP LTD £22,931 Advertising/Marketing Period Proud Campaign Filming WOMEN CONNECT FIRST 750 Advertising/Marketing ArWAP Video BANANA AGENCY LTD TA J M CREATIVE 4950 Advertising/Marketing Race - ARWAP pop up banners ACT REPROGRAP…
24 June 2024
Named in a written question from Andrew RT Davies
Addressed to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice.
…Advertising/Marketing Banning conversion practices campaign THE FOLK GROUP LTD £22,931 Advertising/Marketing Period Proud Campaign Filming WOMEN CONNECT FIRST 750 Advertising/Marketing ArWAP Video BANANA AGENCY LTD TA J M CREATIVE 4950 Advertising/Marketing Race - ARWAP pop up banners ACT REPROGRAP…
24 June 2024
Named in a written question from Andrew RT Davies
Addressed to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice.
…Advertising/Marketing Banning conversion practices campaign THE FOLK GROUP LTD £22,931 Advertising/Marketing Period Proud Campaign Filming WOMEN CONNECT FIRST 750 Advertising/Marketing ArWAP Video BANANA AGENCY LTD TA J M CREATIVE 4950 Advertising/Marketing Race - ARWAP pop up banners ACT REPROGRAP…
9 November 2022
Named by Jane Hutt in the Senedd
…ting the group at the end of this month, and they will be very pleased to hear about this debate today. Can I just thank Children in Wales, Women Connect First and Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales—they've all supported us in engaging with young people—and also all of those who we've met through…
22 June 2022
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Dep Min for MHWB
Purpose: Women Connect First.
Women Connect First
21 March 2022
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Dep minister for SP
Purpose: International Women's day, community based event: Women Connect First, HAYAAT, HENNA Foundation, Bangladeshi Women's Association.
International Women's day, community based event: Women Connect First, HAYAAT, HENNA Foundation, Bangladeshi Women's Association
17 March 2022
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Min for HSS
Purpose: Women Connect First.
Women Connect First
8 March 2022
Named by Jane Hutt in the Senedd
…women in poverty, older women, girls and others to deliver equality and social justice. We will do this with expert stakeholders, including Women Connect First, WEN Wales, BAWSO and many others, to engage communities across Wales, building upon relationships and trust, developed over decades. We mus…
1 March 2022
Named by Jane Hutt in the Senedd
…deal with the physical and emotional changes that occur throughout their lives. I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to Children in Wales, Women Connect First, Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales and our period dignity round-table members for their ongoing advocacy and their support as we turn ou…
1 March 2022
Named by Jane Hutt in the Senedd
…rt the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities? Reaching out to them. And we actually did have a lot of sessions with Children in Wales, with Women Connect First, looking at the experiences of different people with different protected characteristics. We want to really ensure that we get through to th…
2 February 2022
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: DM for SS
Purpose: Women Connect First, Hayaat Women’s Trust & Henna Foundation.
Women Connect First, Hayaat Women’s Trust & Henna Foundation
16 December 2021
Named in a ministerial meeting or engagement: Dep Min for MHWB
Purpose: Women Connect First, Hayaat Women’s Trust & Henna Foundation and Privilege Café (gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol / with the Deputy Minister for Social Services).
Women Connect First, Hayaat Women’s Trust & Henna Foundation and Privilege Café (gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol / with the Deputy Minister for Social Services)
15 November 2021
Named by Shavanah Taj in the Senedd
…specifically, again, going back to the BME women's sector, and it's something that has been discussed quite a bit by organisations such as Women Connect First, but several others as well. Part of what they actually do is to support women who have gone through a range of different issues in their pe…
15 November 2021
Named by Shavanah Taj in the Senedd
…ctually said that this should have been included, and for some of the childcare provisions that are currently offered, for example, through Women Connect First, there is a big uptake for that support. But the reality is that we need to think about how we consider the issues of systemic racism within…
8 June 2021
Named by Julie Morgan in the Senedd
…ation and are successfully raising awareness and transforming services for carers across Wales. I have been impressed by the project led by Women Connect First to support older black, Asian and minority ethnic women and carers during the pandemic. Like many third sector organisations, Women Connect…
Trustees
6 trustees run the charity.
- Gwendolin Chi NgumChair
- Dr Sofia Vougioukalou
- Lyan Hassan
- Misbah Mohammed Abdul-Halim
- Saroop Kaur
- Stephanie Makuvise
Filing record
Of the last 5 annual returns that were due, 3 arrived by the deadline.
| Year ending | Due | Annual return | Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2025 | 31 January 2026 | Received 15 January 2026, 16 days early | Received 15 January 2026 |
| 31 March 2024 | 31 January 2025 | Received 31 January 2025 | Received 31 January 2025 |
| 31 March 2023 | 31 January 2024 | Received 7 February 2024, 7 days late | Received 7 February 2024 |
| 31 March 2022 | 31 January 2023 | Received 31 January 2023 | Received 31 January 2023 |
| 31 March 2021 | 31 January 2022 | Received 2 February 2022, 2 days late | Received 2 February 2022 |
About this charity
- Charity number
- 1110834
- Status
- Registered
- Registered with the Commission
- 11 August 2005
- Governing document
- MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES INCORPORATED 28 MAR 2003AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION(S) DATED 09 JUN 2005AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION(S) DATED 02 MAY 2017
- Company number
- 04715832This company on OpenEconomyThis company on Companies House
- Website
- www.womenconnectfirst.org.uk
- Council area of its contact address
- Cardiff
Sources
- Register details, income, spending, trustees and filing dates: Charity Commission for England and Wales, register of charities. Loaded by OpenEconomy on 2 November 2026.
- Funding from accounts: the charity's filed accounts, read by OpenEconomy's AI accounts reader on 2 November 2026.
- Grants awarded: 360Giving open grants data, from funders that publish there. Loaded by OpenEconomy on 2 November 2026.
- In council meetings: councils' published meeting records, gathered by OpenCouncil and matched to the charity by OpenEconomy on 4 November 2026.
- In the Senedd and Welsh Government: records gathered by OpenSenedd and matched to the charity by OpenEconomy on 5 November 2026.
Elsewhere in the Edau family
- OpenCouncil: council records that name this charity
- OpenSenedd: Senedd records that name this charity
- OpenCouncil: Cardiff Council's meetings and decisions
- OpenEconomy: Cardiff's economy in figures
- OpenSenedd: the Members of the Senedd for Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf
- OpenSenedd: the Members of the Senedd for Caerdydd Penarth