The Licensed Trade Charity
Analysis
The Licensed Trade Charity is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Berks. It was registered in February 1964, 62 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and disability, which this site groups under health and saving lives. It says it makes grants to individuals and makes grants to organisations.
In the financial year ending December 2025, The Licensed Trade Charity reported income of £29.4m and spending of £29.1m, spending 99% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £23.4m to £29.4m (+26%), an average of +5.9% a year. Over the whole period it spent 95% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, The Licensed Trade Charity 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 St Christophers Hospice (£29.4m), The Oxfordshire Care Partnership (£29.6m) and South England Conference of Seventh Day Adventists (£29.1m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 90%, trading 4.4% and investments 4.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £36. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 4.4%. Reserves of £34.6m would cover about 14 months of spending at that rate. It employed 315 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 0.9%
- Legacies 0.0%
- Charitable activities 90%
- Trading 4.4%
- Investments 4.2%
- Other 0.8%
In the charity's own words
The Charity assists those working in:those who have worked in or have retired from the licensed drinks trade in the following areas:(a)those who are sick ,infirm or distressed; (b) in the case of financial hardship and (c) the relief of ills consequent of old ageThe Charity through its schools educates the children from the general public but with preference to those working in the trade.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| St Christophers Hospice | London | £29.4m |
| The Oxfordshire Care Partnership | Lincoln | £29.6m |
| South England Conference of Seventh Day Adventists | Watford | £29.1m |
| Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales | London | £29.6m |