The Forward Trust

Analysis

The Forward Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in January 1991, 35 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and accommodation/housing, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02560474). It says it provides human resources, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Forward Trust reported income of £44.4m and spending of £45.8m, spending 103% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £21.4m to £44.4m (+108%), an average of +20% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 61%. Over the whole period it spent 99% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, The Forward Trust sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Stroke Association (£44.4m), King Edward Vii's Hospital (Sister Agnes) (£44.5m) and The Abbeyfield Society (£44.3m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 95% and donations and legacies 4.5%. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.2%. Reserves of £1.0m would cover about 0 months of spending at that rate. It employed 817 people.