BFBS

Analysis

BFBS is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Gerrards Cross. It was registered in May 1964, 62 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, armed forces/emergency service efficiency, recreation and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under armed forces, emergency and public safety. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00407270). It says it makes grants to organisations and provides services.

In the financial year ending March 2025, BFBS reported income of £32.3m and spending of £33.4m, spending 104% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £27.6m to £32.3m (+17%), an average of +4.0% a year. Over the whole period it spent 103% of the income it received.

Among 200 England and Wales charities whose main cause is armed forces, emergency and public safety and that reported income, BFBS sits at the 100th 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 The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (£19.6m), The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (£16.2m) and Army Benevolent Fund (£13.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 96% and trading 4.1%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 0.6%. Grants to other organisations totalled £377k. Reserves of £35.0m would cover about 12 months of spending at that rate. It employed 291 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.