Aching Arms
Analysis
Aching Arms is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Essex. It was registered in August 2013, 13 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and the advancement of health or saving of lives, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Aching Arms reported income of £562k and spending of £571k, spending 102% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £179k to £562k (+214%), an average of +33% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2025, when income rose by 87%. Over the whole period it spent 99% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Aching Arms sits at the 85th percentile: it is larger than about 84% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Faith Together in Leeds 11 (£561k), Hackney Migrant Centre (£562k) and Al -Isharah (£561k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 97% and charitable activities 2.7%. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 4.0%. Reserves of £38k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 12 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 97%
- Charitable activities 2.7%
- Investments 0.4%
In the charity's own words
Aching Arms provides comfort teddy bears to parents whose baby has died during pregnancy, birth or infancy. They gift bears to parents via maternity health professionals and befriending groups in the UK. The bears are used to discuss support available to parents. The charity also leads awareness training for health professionals and hosts a telephone befriending service for bereaved parents.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Faith Together in Leeds 11 | Leeds | £561k |
| Hackney Migrant Centre | London | £562k |
| Al -Isharah | London | £561k |
| Ellesmere Childrens Centre | Sheffield | £562k |