The Literacy Pirates Limited
Analysis
The Literacy Pirates Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in December 2011, 15 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, which this site groups under education and training. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 07790039). It says it provides services.
In the financial year ending August 2025, The Literacy Pirates Limited reported income of £1.1m and spending of £1.1m, spending 102% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £886k to £1.1m (+20%), an average of +4.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2022, when income rose by 21%. Over the whole period it spent 96% of the income it received.
Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, The Literacy Pirates Limited sits at the 94th percentile: it is larger than about 94% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Yavneh Foundation Trust (£1.1m), Cambridge Philosophical Society (£1.1m) and Cambridge Steiner School Project (£1.1m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 94%, investments 2.8%, charitable activities 1.9% and trading 1.7%. Charitable activities took 74% of spending and raising funds 26%. Reserves of £566k would cover about 6 months of spending at that rate. It employed 29 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.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 94%
- Charitable activities 1.9%
- Trading 1.7%
- Investments 2.8%
In the charity's own words
The Literacy Pirates develops literacy, confidence and perseverance among young people who are falling behind at school and who have fewer opportunities. We do that through providing extra adult attention, the chance to work on real-world publishing projects and extra reading support. Activities take place in our unconventional out-of-school learning environments, in Hackney and online.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Yavneh Foundation Trust | Borehamwood | £1.1m |
| Cambridge Philosophical Society | Cambridge | £1.1m |
| Cambridge Steiner School Project | Cambridge | £1.1m |
| Derwent Training Association | Malton | £1.1m |