Youth Options

Analysis

Youth Options is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Eastleigh. It was registered in June 1996, 30 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, recreation and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under amateur sport and recreation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03184237). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Youth Options reported income of £3.8m and spending of £2.8m, leaving 27% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £1.4m to £3.8m (+177%), an average of +29% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 71%. Over the whole period it spent 91% of the income it received.

Among 12,174 England and Wales charities whose main cause is amateur sport and recreation and that reported income, Youth Options sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. 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 Aston Students' Union (£3.7m), Lta Tennis Foundation (£4.0m) and Norman Garon Trust (£3.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 66%, trading 4.1% and donations and legacies 4.0%. Charitable activities took 89% of spending and raising funds 6.1%. Reserves of £615k would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 102 people.