Mountain Rescue England and Wales
Analysis
Mountain Rescue England and Wales is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Cockermouth. It was registered in April 2018, 8 years ago. Its declared purposes cover 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 and acts as an umbrella or resource body.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Mountain Rescue England and Wales reported income of £1.3m and spending of £923k, leaving 29% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £447k to £1.3m (+191%), an average of +31% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 232%. Over the whole period it spent 88% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Mountain Rescue England and Wales sits at the 91st percentile: it is larger than about 91% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 95th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Rockinghorse Children's Charity (£1.3m), Care and Relief for the Young (£1.3m) and Multiple System Atrophy Trust (£1.3m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 87%, charitable activities 8.6%, investments 2.5% and trading 1.7%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £785k. Charitable activities took 93% of spending and raising funds 3.4%. Reserves of £2.1m would cover about 26 months of spending at that rate.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 27%
- Legacies 60%
- Charitable activities 8.6%
- Trading 1.7%
- Investments 2.5%
In the charity's own words
Promotes the efficiency and effectiveness of mountain rescue charities:- Ensuring high standards of training and equipment - Provide training, for searching for and rescuing people in difficulties in mountainous or inhospitable environments- Co-ordinate the work of its members engaged in larger-scale search and rescue operations- Ensure effective links with other rescue services
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Rockinghorse Children's Charity | Brighton | £1.3m |
| Care and Relief for the Young | Hampshire | £1.3m |
| Multiple System Atrophy Trust | London | £1.3m |
| The Park Community Centre Limited | Bristol | £1.3m |