Samaritans

Analysis

Samaritans is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Epsom. It was registered in August 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and 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 00757372). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2026, Samaritans reported income of £24.6m and spending of £27.4m, spending 111% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income fell from £27.4m to £24.6m (-10%), an average of -2.7% a year. Over the whole period it spent 107% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Samaritans 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 Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (£24.4m), University College London Hospitals Charity (£24.7m) and The Rotherwick Foundation (£24.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 73%, trading 16%, charitable activities 9.8% and investments 1.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £4.7m. Charitable activities took 71% of spending and raising funds 27%. Reserves of £10.0m would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 322 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.