Royal Benevolent and Educational Fund for Watermen and Lightermen

Analysis

Royal Benevolent and Educational Fund for Watermen and Lightermen is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in June 2001, 25 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty and accommodation/housing, which this site groups under poverty relief. It says it makes grants to individuals, provides buildings/facilities/open space and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending June 2025, Royal Benevolent and Educational Fund for Watermen and Lightermen reported income of £727k and spending of £705k, spending 97% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2021 to June 2025, income grew from £538k to £727k (+35%), an average of +7.8% a year. Over the whole period it spent 108% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Royal Benevolent and Educational Fund for Watermen and Lightermen sits at the 91st percentile: it is larger than about 91% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 92nd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Kickstart Norfolk Ltd (£726k), Safety4sisters North West (£727k) and Luton Citizens Advice Bureau (£726k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 79%, investments 9.4%, charitable activities 6.6% and donations and legacies 4.3%. Charitable activities took 55% of spending and raising funds 1.0%. Reserves of £3.8m would cover about 65 months of spending at that rate. It employed 4 people.