Vetlife

Analysis

Vetlife is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in October 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the advancement of health or saving of lives, the prevention or relief of poverty and accommodation/housing, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00153010). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Vetlife reported income of £1.1m and spending of £1.2m, spending 110% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £777k to £1.1m (+44%), an average of +9.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 28%. Over the whole period it spent 98% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Vetlife sits at the 90th percentile: it is larger than about 90% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Institute of Family Therapy (£1.1m), Shine Lincolnshire (£1.1m) and Teignbridge Community and Voluntary Services (£1.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 74%, investments 23% and charitable activities 3.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £32k. Charitable activities took 77% of spending and raising funds 21%. Reserves of £407k would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 6 people.