The Mustard Tree

Analysis

The Mustard Tree is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Manchester. It was registered in March 2010, 16 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04386613). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Mustard Tree reported income of £2.1m and spending of £2.2m, spending 101% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £1.7m to £2.1m (+29%), an average of +6.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 27%. Over the whole period it spent 102% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, The Mustard Tree sits at the 97th 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 Army Dependants' Trust (£2.1m), Hope into Action UK (£2.1m) and Everyday Language Solutions (£2.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 65% and charitable activities 31%. Charitable activities took 71% of spending and raising funds 28%. Reserves of £119k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 45 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.