The St Barnabas Society

Analysis

The St Barnabas Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Reading. It was registered in March 1992, 34 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the prevention or relief of poverty and religious activities, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02645233). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides other finance.

In the financial year ending May 2025, The St Barnabas Society reported income of £922k and spending of £639k, leaving 31% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from May 2021 to May 2025, income grew from £532k to £922k (+73%), an average of +15% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to May 2024, when income rose by 41%. Over the whole period it spent 101% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, The St Barnabas Society sits at the 92nd percentile: it is larger than about 92% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 93rd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Dynamic New Anglian Networks (£922k), The Pargiter Trust (£923k) and The Life and Light Missions (£921k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 67%, investments 27% and charitable activities 4.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £528k. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 1.7%. Reserves of £12.2m would cover about 225 months of spending at that rate. It employed 3 people.