The Compassionate Friends

Analysis

The Compassionate Friends is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in September 2000, 26 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 04029535). It says it provides human resources, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2026, The Compassionate Friends reported income of £564k and spending of £567k, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £460k to £564k (+23%), an average of +5.2% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 41%. Over the whole period it spent 106% 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 Compassionate Friends sits at the 85th percentile: it is larger than about 84% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Progressability.org (£564k), The Brompton Fountain Royal Brompton & Harefield Family Support Group (£565k) and The Mindfulness Network (£564k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 62%, trading 19% and charitable activities 18%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £34k. Charitable activities took 79% of spending and raising funds 13%. Reserves of £219k would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 9 people.