Scripture Union

Analysis

Scripture Union is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Fox Milne. It was registered in January 1966, 60 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and religious activities, which this site groups under religion. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00039828). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides services.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Scripture Union reported income of £4.7m and spending of £5.7m, spending 121% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £4.5m to £4.7m (+4.2%), an average of +1.0% a year. Over the whole period it spent 110% of the income it received.

Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, Scripture Union 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 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Waverley Abbey Trust (£4.7m), The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Bath Abbey with St James, Bath (£4.7m) and Universities & Colleges Christian Fellowship (£4.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 74%, charitable activities 24% and investments 2.7%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.3m. Charitable activities took 90% of spending and raising funds 9.3%. Grants to other organisations totalled £162k. Reserves of £2.5m would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 76 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.