Destitute Animals Shelter

Analysis

Destitute Animals Shelter is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Bolton. It was registered in November 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover animals, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it provides human resources, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Destitute Animals Shelter reported income of £569k and spending of £636k, spending 112% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £85k to £569k (+567%), an average of +61% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 263%. Over the whole period it spent 130% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, Destitute Animals Shelter sits at the 88th percentile: it is larger than about 88% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Ashbourne and District Animal Welfare Society (£566k), Shropshire Cat Rescue (£572k) and Ape Action Africa (£564k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 74%, trading 12%, charitable activities 10.0% and investments 3.6%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £319k. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 2.7%. Reserves of £1.1m would cover about 21 months of spending at that rate. It employed 14 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.