The Thalidomide Trust

Analysis

The Thalidomide Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in St Neots. It was registered in August 1973, 53 years ago. Its declared purposes cover disability, which this site groups under disability. It says it makes grants to individuals, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending September 2025, The Thalidomide Trust reported income of £28.6m and spending of £38.1m, spending 133% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2021 to September 2025, income grew from £27.2m to £28.6m (+5.2%), an average of +1.3% a year. Over the whole period it spent 145% of the income it received.

Among 12,871 England and Wales charities whose main cause is disability and that reported income, The Thalidomide Trust 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 Mental Health Matters (£28.2m), The Brookside Trust (£28.8m) and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (£27.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 84% and investments 16%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 1.3%. Reserves of £144.8m would cover about 45 months of spending at that rate. It employed 22 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.