Shooting Star Children's Hospices
Analysis
Shooting Star Children's Hospices is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Middlesex. It was registered in November 1994, 32 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the advancement of health or saving of lives, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02927688). It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Shooting Star Children's Hospices reported income of £13.1m and spending of £12.5m, spending 96% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £10.0m to £13.1m (+31%), an average of +6.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 16%. Over the whole period it spent 89% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Shooting Star Children's Hospices 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Order of St Augustine of the Mercy of Jesus (£13.1m), CML - Chevras Mo'oz Ladol (£13.1m) and The Hadley Trust (£13.0m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 34%, trading 30%, charitable activities 29% and investments 3.1%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.6m. Charitable activities took 71% of spending and raising funds 29%. Reserves of £19.0m would cover about 18 months of spending at that rate. It employed 210 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 22%
- Legacies 12%
- Charitable activities 29%
- Trading 30%
- Investments 3.1%
- Other 4.3%
In the charity's own words
The charity provides care services to life-limited children and their families at home, in the community and at their two hospices, Christopher's in Guildford and Shooting Star House in Hampton. These services included respite care, symptom management and end of life care. A wide range of therapy and bereavement counselling services are also provided for children and family members.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Order of St Augustine of the Mercy of Jesus | Burgess Hill | £13.1m |
| CML - Chevras Mo'oz Ladol | London | £13.1m |
| The Hadley Trust | Barnet | £13.0m |
| The Ramblers' Association | London | £13.2m |