The Switchback Initiative

Analysis

The Switchback Initiative is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in July 2008, 18 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under children and youth development. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 06615923). It says it provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Switchback Initiative reported income of £1.7m and spending of £1.5m, spending 88% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £915k to £1.7m (+90%), an average of +17% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2024, when income rose by 27%. Over the whole period it spent 94% of the income it received.

Among 5,641 England and Wales charities whose main cause is children and youth development and that reported income, The Switchback Initiative sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% 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 F Glenister Woodger Trust CIO (£1.7m), JFS Charitable Trust Limited (£1.8m) and William Adlington Cadbury Charitable Trust (£1.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 98% and investments 2.1%. Charitable activities took 85% of spending and raising funds 14%. Reserves of £823k would cover about 6 months of spending at that rate. It employed 24 people.