Arthritis UK

Analysis

Arthritis UK is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in September 1962, 64 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 company (Companies House number 00490500). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Arthritis UK reported income of £30.0m and spending of £41.0m, spending 137% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £25.4m to £30.0m (+18%), an average of +4.2% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 20%. Over the whole period it spent 159% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Arthritis UK sits at the 99th 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 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Cranstoun (£29.8m), Farleigh Hospice (£30.2m) and Saint John of God Hospitaller Services (£29.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 85%, charitable activities 6.8%, investments 5.8% and trading 1.0%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £22.8m. Charitable activities took 84% of spending and raising funds 14%. Grants to other organisations totalled £16.6m. Reserves of £124.6m would cover about 36 months of spending at that rate. It employed 280 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.