Aid to the Church in Need (United Kingdom)
Analysis
Aid to the Church in Need (United Kingdom) is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Surrey. It was registered in June 2003, 23 years ago. Its declared purposes cover religious activities, which this site groups under religion. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04747666). It says it makes grants to organisations and acts as an umbrella or resource body.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Aid to the Church in Need (United Kingdom) reported income of £13.5m and spending of £14.0m, spending 103% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £10.2m to £13.5m (+32%), an average of +7.2% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 19%. Over the whole period it spent 98% of the income it received.
Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, Aid to the Church in Need (United Kingdom) sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Leeds Diocesan Trust (£13.3m), Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees (£13.5m) and Imagine the Day Limited (£13.2m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 97% and trading 2.9%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £5.6m. Charitable activities took 87% of spending and raising funds 12%. Grants to other organisations totalled £10.2m. Reserves of £3.8m would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 46 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 56%
- Legacies 41%
- Trading 2.9%
In the charity's own words
To advance the Christian religion by supporting and promoting the Church, especially in countries where Christians are suffering persecution or discrimination and to further the other charitable work of the Church by providing practical assistance and pastoral care for persons in need, especially those who are living in, or are refugees, from such countries.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds Diocesan Trust | Leeds | £13.3m |
| Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees | Nottingham | £13.5m |
| Imagine the Day Limited | Solihull | £13.2m |
| The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford of the Foundation of Sir Thomas Pope | Oxford | £13.5m |