Action on Smoking and Health (Ash)

Analysis

Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in January 1971, 55 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the advancement of health or saving of lives, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00998971). It says it provides advocacy/advice/information, sponsors or undertakes research and acts as an umbrella or resource body.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) reported income of £913k and spending of £961k, spending 105% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £929k to £913k (-1.8%), an average of -0.4% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income dropped by 22%. Over the whole period it spent 97% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) sits at the 89th percentile: it is larger than about 88% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 93rd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Nialls Foundation (£912k), National Voices (£913k) and Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre (Darlington and County Durham) CIO (£911k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 95% and investments 1.9%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £500. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £752k would cover about 9 months of spending at that rate. It employed 12 people.