Bernard Sunley Foundation

Analysis

Bernard Sunley Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in April 2005, 21 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives, disability and the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 05407187). It says it makes grants to organisations.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Bernard Sunley Foundation reported income of £3.0m and spending of £5.8m, spending 191% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £2.6m to £3.0m (+15%), an average of +3.5% a year. Over the whole period it spent 191% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Bernard Sunley Foundation sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Bromley by Bow Centre (£3.0m), Mental Health UK (£3.0m) and Ethar Relief (£3.0m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from investments 100%. Charitable activities took 86% of spending and raising funds 13%. Grants to other organisations totalled £4.6m. Reserves of £167.7m would cover about 345 months of spending at that rate. It employed 3 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.