The Royal School for the Blind

Analysis

The Royal School for the Blind is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Surrey. It was registered in August 1968, 58 years ago. Its declared purposes cover disability and accommodation/housing, which this site groups under disability. It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Royal School for the Blind reported income of £36.5m and spending of £35.9m, spending 98% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £24.2m to £36.5m (+50%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 15%. Over the whole period it spent 97% of the income it received.

Among 12,871 England and Wales charities whose main cause is disability and that reported income, The Royal School for the Blind 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 Norwood Ravenswood (£34.4m), Joseph Rowntree Foundation (£36.5m) and The National Deaf Children's Society (£33.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 95% and donations and legacies 3.7%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £462k. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 1.4%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1,000. Reserves of £8.8m would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 1,106 people.