Once Upon a Smile Limited

Analysis

Once Upon a Smile Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Manchester. It was registered in January 2017, 9 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 09836201). It says it provides other finance and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Once Upon a Smile Limited reported income of £531k and spending of £387k, leaving 27% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £272k to £531k (+95%), an average of +18% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2025, when income rose by 70%. Over the whole period it spent 91% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Once Upon a Smile Limited sits at the 88th percentile: it is larger than about 88% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Chassidei Belz Manchester (£530k), Coatham House (£531k) and Claimworth Ltd (£530k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 74% and trading 26%. Charitable activities took 66% of spending and raising funds 31%. Reserves of £269k would cover about 8 months of spending at that rate. It employed 7 people.