Salesians of Don Bosco UK

Analysis

Salesians of Don Bosco UK is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Bolton. It was registered in May 1964, 62 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, overseas aid/famine relief and religious activities, which this site groups under overseas aid and international. It says it provides human resources, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Salesians of Don Bosco UK reported income of £13.5m and spending of £14.9m, spending 111% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £4.0m to £13.5m (+238%), an average of +36% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 239%. Over the whole period it spent 104% of the income it received.

Among 1,223 England and Wales charities whose main cause is overseas aid and international and that reported income, Salesians of Don Bosco UK 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Worldwide Veterinary Service (£13.2m), The Border Consortium (£14.1m) and Conciliation Resources (£12.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 79%, donations and legacies 12% and investments 8.8%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £292k. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 1.4%. Reserves of £8.4m would cover about 7 months of spending at that rate. It employed 138 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.