Shelter, National Campaign for Homeless People Limited

Analysis

Shelter, National Campaign for Homeless People Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in March 1972, 54 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01038133). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Shelter, National Campaign for Homeless People Limited reported income of £77.0m and spending of £79.9m, spending 104% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £72.9m to £77.0m (+5.6%), an average of +1.4% a year. Over the whole period it spent 103% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Shelter, National Campaign for Homeless People Limited 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 Harpur Trust (£73.0m), Tearfund (£80.2m) and Migrant Help (£69.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 64%, trading 18% and charitable activities 17%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £7.0m. Charitable activities took 57% of spending and raising funds 42%. Reserves of £7.7m would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 1,226 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.