The Basic Life Charity

Analysis

The Basic Life Charity is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Felixstowe. It was registered in February 2000, 26 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, the advancement of health or saving of lives, the prevention or relief of poverty and overseas aid/famine relief, which this site groups under health and saving lives. It says it makes grants to individuals and makes grants to organisations.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Basic Life Charity reported income of £350k and spending of £377k, spending 108% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £265k to £350k (+32%), an average of +7.2% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2024, when income rose by 20%. Over the whole period it spent 97% 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 Basic Life Charity sits at the 79th percentile: it is larger than about 79% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 87th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include David Laing Foundation (£350k), Holmfield Charitable Trust (£350k) and Home-Start Camden and Islington (£349k).