Autistica

Analysis

Autistica is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in December 2004, 22 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. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 05184164). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Autistica reported income of £1.8m and spending of £2.5m, spending 136% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £2.0m to £1.8m (-8.3%), an average of -2.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 94%. Over the whole period it spent 94% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Autistica sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 96th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The British Geriatrics Society (£1.8m), Bell View (Belford) (£1.8m) and Wates Family Enterprise Trust (£1.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 93%, trading 4.1% and investments 2.9%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £31k. Charitable activities took 72% of spending and raising funds 25%. Grants to other organisations totalled £31k. Reserves of £600k would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 30 people.