The Symbol Trust
Analysis
The Symbol Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Maidstone. It was registered in April 2003, 23 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and disability, which this site groups under health and saving lives. It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending December 2025, The Symbol Trust reported income of £693k and spending of £687k, spending 99% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £547k to £693k (+27%), an average of +6.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 21%. Over the whole period it spent 103% 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 Symbol Trust sits at the 86th percentile: it is larger than about 86% 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 British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (£692k), Age UK Teesside (£693k) and The Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy Limited (£692k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 98% and donations and legacies 1.8%. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £20k would cover about 0 months of spending at that rate.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 1.8%
- Charitable activities 98%
In the charity's own words
-supporting small scale specialist education services for young people with special needs for whom no mainstream options are available - developing a web based national educational resource for students with special needs, their teachers and families - funding specialist after-school education for children whose parents have special needs in order to help them keep up with their peers
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition | Letchworth Garden City | £692k |
| Age UK Teesside | Middlesbrough | £693k |
| The Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy Limited | Gloucestershire | £692k |
| The Military Wives Choirs Foundation | London | £693k |