Henshaws Society for Blind People

Analysis

Henshaws Society for Blind People is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Stretford. It was registered in April 1980, 46 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, disability and accommodation/housing, which this site groups under disability. It says it provides human resources, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Henshaws Society for Blind People reported income of £11.4m and spending of £11.5m, spending 101% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £10.7m to £11.4m (+6.0%), an average of +1.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2023, when income rose by 19%. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.

Among 12,871 England and Wales charities whose main cause is disability and that reported income, Henshaws Society for Blind People 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Jack Petchey Foundation (£11.3m), Bethphage (£11.4m) and Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association (£11.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 89%, donations and legacies 7.5%, trading 2.2% and investments 1.6%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £245k. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 4.8%. Reserves of £611k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 305 people.