Essential Needs
Analysis
Essential Needs is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Harrogate. It was registered in February 2005, 21 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the prevention or relief of poverty, environment/conservation/heritage and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 05312941). It says it provides services.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Essential Needs reported income of £235k and spending of £235k, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £122k to £235k (+93%), an average of +18% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 31%. Over the whole period it spent 95% of the income it received.
Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Essential Needs sits at the 78th percentile: it is larger than about 78% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 83rd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Colchester Methodist Circuit (£235k), Tove Valley Baptist Fellowship (£235k) and Crawley Community Youth Service Limited (£235k).
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
To provide furniture and household items to people on low incomes and state benefits for a modest charge.To protect and preserve the environment for the benefit of the public, including (without limitation), the re-use and recycling of goods and their component parts and materials as a means of waste reduction.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Colchester Methodist Circuit | Essex | £235k |
| Tove Valley Baptist Fellowship | Northamptonshire | £235k |
| Crawley Community Youth Service Limited | West Sussex | £235k |
| The Steve Sinnott Foundation | Building 6 | £235k |