Big Issue North Trust Ltd
Analysis
Big Issue North Trust Ltd is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Manchester. It was registered in June 1996, 30 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03164559). It says it provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Big Issue North Trust Ltd reported income of £810k and spending of £766k, spending 95% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £711k to £810k (+14%), an average of +3.3% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 66%. Over the whole period it spent 96% of the income it received.
Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Big Issue North Trust Ltd 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 Mission Direct Limited (£808k), Shaarei Rachamim Limited (£810k) and Engineers Without Borders UK (£808k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 83%, donations and legacies 11% and charitable activities 5.4%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1,062. Charitable activities took 18% of spending and raising funds 6.1%. Reserves of £323k would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 15 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 11%
- Legacies 0.1%
- Charitable activities 5.4%
- Trading 83%
- Investments 0.8%
- Other 0.0%
In the charity's own words
The Big Issue North Trust supports the homeless and vulnerably housed people who sell Big Issue North magazine in the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber. From providing financial aid during periods of hardship, to funding education and training courses, to projects such as breakfast clubs and home furnishing packages, it exists to help vendors to change their lives and achieve their goals.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Mission Direct Limited | Hitchin | £808k |
| Shaarei Rachamim Limited | London | £810k |
| Engineers Without Borders UK | England | £808k |
| Cohere Charity | Wiltshire | £811k |