Community Initiatives South West Limited
Analysis
Community Initiatives South West Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Bristol. It was registered in September 2008, 18 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 06130395). It says it provides services and other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Community Initiatives South West Limited reported income of £1.7m and spending of £2.2m, spending 129% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £2.1m to £1.7m (-17%), an average of -4.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income dropped by 43%. Over the whole period it spent 98% of the income it received.
Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Community Initiatives South West Limited sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% 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 Benevolent Fund of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (£1.7m), The Royal Naval Benevolent Society for Officers (£1.7m) and Secular Clergy Common Fund (£1.7m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 61% and charitable activities 39%. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 5.2%. Reserves of £350k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 40 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 61%
- Charitable activities 39%
- Other 0.4%
In the charity's own words
The charity's mission is to combat food waste and thereby reduce food poverty by supporting communities and groups (its network members) which work with people who have:Low or no income, poor access to affordable nutritious food and a lack of knowledge or skills or equipment to ensure food is safe and prepared properly.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Benevolent Fund of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers | London | £1.7m |
| The Royal Naval Benevolent Society for Officers | London | £1.7m |
| Secular Clergy Common Fund | London | £1.7m |
| St Luke's Parochial Trust | London | £1.7m |