The Bath and Wells Diocesan Board of Finance

Analysis

The Bath and Wells Diocesan Board of Finance is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Somerset. It was registered in October 1966, 60 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, accommodation/housing and religious activities, which this site groups under housing and shelter. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00139557). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides other finance.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Bath and Wells Diocesan Board of Finance reported income of £15.8m and spending of £15.6m, spending 99% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £12.1m to £15.8m (+31%), an average of +6.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 26%. Over the whole period it spent 101% of the income it received.

Among 2,324 England and Wales charities whose main cause is housing and shelter and that reported income, The Bath and Wells Diocesan Board of Finance 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 Solace Women's Aid (£15.8m), Morden College (£16.1m) and YMCA Dulverton Group (£15.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 69%, trading 8.0%, investments 7.3% and charitable activities 4.1%. Charitable activities took 96% of spending and raising funds 3.9%. Grants to other organisations totalled £990k. Reserves of £3.1m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 75 people.