Whale and Dolphin Conservation

Analysis

Whale and Dolphin Conservation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Chippenham. It was registered in October 1992, 34 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, animals and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02737421). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending September 2025, Whale and Dolphin Conservation reported income of £5.2m and spending of £5.9m, spending 113% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2021 to September 2025, income grew from £5.0m to £5.2m (+4.4%), an average of +1.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2023, when income rose by 24%. Over the whole period it spent 104% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, Whale and Dolphin Conservation sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Humane World for Animals United Kingdom (£5.2m), The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Limited (£5.3m) and The Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare Limited (£4.9m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 78%, charitable activities 12% and trading 9.4%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £610k. Charitable activities took 79% of spending and raising funds 20%. Reserves of £1.1m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 71 people.