The St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service
Analysis
The St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Andover. It was registered in June 2001, 25 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the advancement of health or saving of lives and armed forces/emergency service efficiency, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04185635). It says it provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending March 2026, The St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service reported income of £4.8m and spending of £4.4m, spending 93% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £2.2m to £4.8m (+118%), an average of +22% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 29%. Over the whole period it spent 93% 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 St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% 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 Turner Home (£4.8m), Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity (£4.8m) and Recovery Connections (£4.7m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 55% and charitable activities 44%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £1.4m would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 77 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 55%
- Charitable activities 44%
- Investments 0.8%
In the charity's own words
The principal objects of DMWS are: - The provision of hospital welfare services for members of HM Forces, their dependants, and others engaged by or acting in support of the Armed Forces whilst in the medical pathway. - In addition, we support frontline groups such as the Police and NHS staff.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Turner Home | Liverpool | £4.8m |
| Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity | Wiltshire | £4.8m |
| Recovery Connections | Cleveland | £4.7m |
| St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital | London | £4.8m |