Absolute Return for Kids (Ark)

Analysis

Absolute Return for Kids (Ark) is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in January 2003, 23 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training and the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04589451). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and provides services.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Absolute Return for Kids (Ark) reported income of £6.4m and spending of £7.5m, spending 117% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income fell from £35.0m to £6.4m (-82%), an average of -35% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2025, when income dropped by 79%. Over the whole period it spent 96% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Absolute Return for Kids (Ark) sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% 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 Yesamach Levav (£6.4m), Impakt Housing & Support (£6.4m) and The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs (£6.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 89% and investments 5.7%. Charitable activities took 88% of spending and raising funds 8.8%. Grants to other organisations totalled £3.6m. Reserves of £4.0m would cover about 6 months of spending at that rate. It employed 31 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.