Breaking Barriers

Analysis

Breaking Barriers is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in May 2015, 11 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty, economic/community development/employment and human rights/religious or racial harmony/equality or diversity, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it provides human resources, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending May 2025, Breaking Barriers reported income of £3.6m and spending of £3.5m, spending 96% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from May 2021 to May 2025, income grew from £1.8m to £3.6m (+96%), an average of +18% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to May 2022, when income rose by 55%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Breaking Barriers sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% 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 Co-Operative Community Investment Foundation (£3.6m), Fair Credit Charity Ltd (£3.6m) and Salford Foundation Limited (£3.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 82% and charitable activities 17%. Charitable activities took 80% of spending and raising funds 19%. Reserves of £1.8m would cover about 6 months of spending at that rate. It employed 68 people.