The Anna Freud Centre
Analysis
The Anna Freud Centre is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in August 1999, 27 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and 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 03819888). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides services and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending August 2025, The Anna Freud Centre reported income of £27.5m and spending of £29.7m, spending 108% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £16.9m to £27.5m (+63%), an average of +13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2022, when income rose by 30%. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, The Anna Freud Centre 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 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Guild Care (£27.5m), Yorkshire Cancer Research (£27.7m) and Movember Europe (£27.4m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 81% and donations and legacies 17%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 2.2%. Reserves of £5.3m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 472 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 17%
- Charitable activities 81%
- Investments 0.2%
- Other 1.8%
In the charity's own words
The Anna Freud Centre improves the lives of thousands of children and young people with mental health problems every year. It provides a vital lifeline for families under pressure and is the UK's only children's mental health organisation to combine practice, training and world-class research, with a focus on family well-being.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Guild Care | Worthing | £27.5m |
| Yorkshire Cancer Research | North Yorkshire | £27.7m |
| Movember Europe | London | £27.4m |
| The Adolescent and Children's Trust | Kinmel Bay | £27.8m |