Swings & Smiles

Analysis

Swings & Smiles is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Thatcham. It was registered in August 2007, 19 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, disability and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under disability. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 06182577). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Swings & Smiles reported income of £556k and spending of £607k, spending 109% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £381k to £556k (+46%), an average of +9.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 15%. Over the whole period it spent 102% of the income it received.

Among 12,871 England and Wales charities whose main cause is disability and that reported income, Swings & Smiles sits at the 88th percentile: it is larger than about 88% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include D & L Trust Fund (£555k), West London Welcome (£556k) and The Caxton Youth Organisation (£555k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 95%, donations and legacies 2.6% and investments 2.1%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1,875. Charitable activities took 90% of spending and raising funds 7.2%. Reserves of £153k would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 25 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.