The Cowshed

Analysis

The Cowshed is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Berkshire. It was registered in January 2019, 7 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes and the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it provides services and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Cowshed reported income of £656k and spending of £679k, spending 104% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £284k to £656k (+131%), an average of +23% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 42%. Over the whole period it spent 98% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, The Cowshed sits at the 90th percentile: it is larger than about 90% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 92nd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Green Man Trust Ltd (£655k), The Bedford and District Citizens Advice Bureau (£656k) and Manchester Vineyard (£653k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 79%, trading 14% and charitable activities 7.8%. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 4.6%. Reserves of £69k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 11 people.