South Downs Leisure
Analysis
South Downs Leisure is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Worthing. It was registered in September 2015, 11 years ago. Its declared purposes cover recreation, which this site groups under amateur sport and recreation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 09204269). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.
In the financial year ending March 2025, South Downs Leisure reported income of £11.5m and spending of £10.7m, spending 93% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £4.9m to £11.5m (+136%), an average of +24% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 40%. Over the whole period it spent 95% of the income it received.
Among 12,174 England and Wales charities whose main cause is amateur sport and recreation and that reported income, South Downs Leisure sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Imperial College Union (£11.4m), The Cathedral School (Llandaff) Limited (£11.7m) and The University of Nottingham Students' Union (£11.1m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 94% and trading 5.7%. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 5.4%. Reserves of £3.3m would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 486 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Charitable activities 94%
- Trading 5.7%
- Investments 0.6%
In the charity's own words
TO PROVIDE OR ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR FACILITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR RECREATION OR OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NEED OF SUCH BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABILITY, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OR TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial College Union | London | £11.4m |
| The Cathedral School (Llandaff) Limited | Cardiff | £11.7m |
| The University of Nottingham Students' Union | Nottingham | £11.1m |
| Parkrun Global Limited | Surrey | £11.7m |