The Salvation Army Social Work Trust

Analysis

The Salvation Army Social Work Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in February 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty, accommodation/housing and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Salvation Army Social Work Trust reported income of £239.7m and spending of £235.0m, spending 98% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £172.7m to £239.7m (+39%), an average of +8.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 26%. Over the whole period it spent 94% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, The Salvation Army Social Work Trust sits at the 100th 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 The Archbishops' Council (£234.9m), Oxfam (£339.4m) and Stewardship Services (Uket) Limited (£170.9m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 86%, donations and legacies 12% and investments 1.5%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.1m. Charitable activities took 100% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £22.4m would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 2,016 people.