The British Asian Trust

Analysis

The British Asian Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Kent. It was registered in January 2009, 17 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 06588239). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides services.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The British Asian Trust reported income of £12.5m and spending of £15.4m, spending 123% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £5.5m to £12.5m (+128%), an average of +23% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 295%. Over the whole period it spent 93% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, The British Asian Trust sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Tree Aid (£12.5m), YMCA Black Country Group (£12.8m) and The Victory (Services) Association (£12.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 60% and donations and legacies 39%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £82k. Charitable activities took 89% of spending and raising funds 11%. Grants to other organisations totalled £4.6m. Reserves of £1.7m would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 47 people.

Data notes from the register: The latest annual return was received after its deadline.