Reading University Students' Union

Analysis

Reading University Students' Union is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Berkshire. It was registered in September 2014, 12 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 08840709). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending July 2025, Reading University Students' Union reported income of £5.6m and spending of £5.9m, spending 105% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £3.4m to £5.6m (+64%), an average of +13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2022, when income rose by 49%. Over the whole period it spent 99% of the income it received.

Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, Reading University Students' Union sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Brilliant Club (£5.6m), Sevenoaks Preparatory School Limited (£5.6m) and Moreshet Hatorah Ltd (£5.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 62%, trading 5.8% and investments 1.3%. Charitable activities took 92% of spending and raising funds 4.7%. Reserves of £1.2m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 158 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.