Southmead Development Trust

Analysis

Southmead Development Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Bristol. It was registered in March 1997, 29 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, disability and the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under disability. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03044008). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Southmead Development Trust reported income of £4.3m and spending of £2.1m, leaving 53% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £1.8m to £4.3m (+136%), an average of +24% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 70%. Over the whole period it spent 72% of the income it received.

Among 12,871 England and Wales charities whose main cause is disability and that reported income, Southmead Development Trust 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 Thornleigh Camphill Communities Limited (£4.3m), Polesworth Group Homes Limited (£4.3m) and Crossroads Care Kent (£4.3m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 97%, investments 1.1% and trading 1.1%. Charitable activities took 93% of spending and raising funds 6.8%. Reserves of £601k would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 49 people.