Gingerbread, the Charity for Single Parent Families

Analysis

Gingerbread, the Charity for Single Parent Families is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in May 1964, 62 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00402748). It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending March 2026, Gingerbread, the Charity for Single Parent Families reported income of £1.5m and spending of £959k, leaving 36% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income fell from £1.8m to £1.5m (-19%), an average of -5.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 40%. Over the whole period it spent 98% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Gingerbread, the Charity for Single Parent Families sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 95th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Lighthouse Homes (£1.5m), School of Hard Knocks (£1.5m) and The Earl of Northampton's Charity (£1.5m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 54% and charitable activities 44%. Charitable activities took 62% of spending and raising funds 38%. Reserves of £889k would cover about 11 months of spending at that rate. It employed 13 people.