Design Council
Analysis
Design Council is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in October 1976, 50 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and disability, which this site groups under health and saving lives. It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides other finance.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Design Council reported income of £3.7m and spending of £3.5m, spending 94% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £3.6m to £3.7m (+2.7%), an average of +0.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 25%. Over the whole period it spent 101% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Design Council sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Manchester YMCA (£3.7m), Cure Leukaemia (£3.7m) and Bone Cancer Research Trust (£3.7m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 100%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £863k would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 34 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Charitable activities 100%
In the charity's own words
Design Council's purpose is to make life better by design.We are an independent charity and the government's advisor on design. Our vision is a world where the role and value of design is recognised as a fundamental creator of value, enabling happier, healthier and safer lives for all. Through the power of design, we make better places, better products, better processes and better performance.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester YMCA | Manchester | £3.7m |
| Cure Leukaemia | Birmingham | £3.7m |
| Bone Cancer Research Trust | Leeds | £3.7m |
| Northamptonshire Sport | Northampton | £3.7m |