Foundation of Light

Analysis

Foundation of Light is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Sunderland. It was registered in November 2001, 25 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and disability, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04243171). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Foundation of Light reported income of £5.6m and spending of £5.8m, spending 104% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £3.8m to £5.6m (+48%), an average of +10% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2022, when income rose by 16%. Over the whole period it spent 108% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Foundation of Light sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% 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 Magpas (£5.6m), City Catering Southampton (£5.6m) and Ct4n Charitable Trust (£5.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 64%, trading 33% and donations and legacies 2.7%. Charitable activities took 80% of spending and raising funds 19%. Reserves of £1.3m would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 148 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.