The Drinks Trust

Analysis

The Drinks Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in July 1993, 33 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02783340). It says it makes grants to individuals and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Drinks Trust reported income of £1.0m and spending of £1.2m, spending 118% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £1.4m to £1.0m (-25%), an average of -7.0% a year. Over the whole period it spent 124% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, The Drinks Trust sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Eastside Community Trust (£1.0m), Harrow Law Centre (£1.0m) and Working Chance Ltd (£1.0m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 63%, trading 21% and investments 11%. Charitable activities took 85% of spending and raising funds 15%. Reserves of £5.5m would cover about 55 months of spending at that rate. It employed 6 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.