School Food Matters
Analysis
School Food Matters is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in February 2010, 16 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 06657048). It says it provides advocacy/advice/information and acts as an umbrella or resource body.
In the financial year ending August 2025, School Food Matters reported income of £1.5m and spending of £1.5m, spending 98% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £1.5m to £1.5m (+1.5%), an average of +0.4% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2023, when income rose by 52%. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, School Food Matters sits at the 92nd percentile: it is larger than about 92% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 95th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Phoenix Sports and Recreation (Rotherham) (£1.5m), Ashbourne Community Transport (£1.5m) and Peepul Centre (£1.5m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 97% and donations and legacies 2.0%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 1.8%. Grants to other organisations totalled £77k. Reserves of £174k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 22 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 2.0%
- Charitable activities 97%
- Investments 0.3%
- Other 0.3%
In the charity's own words
School Food Matters exists to teach children about food and to improve children's access to healthy, sustainable food during their time at school. We provide fully-funded food education programmes to schools. Our experience delivering these programmes informs and strengthens our campaigns, bringing the voices of children, parents and teachers to government policy.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Sports and Recreation (Rotherham) | Rotherham | £1.5m |
| Ashbourne Community Transport | Derbyshire | £1.5m |
| Peepul Centre | London | £1.5m |
| Carers in Bedfordshire | Bedfordshire | £1.6m |