Launchpad Reading

Analysis

Launchpad Reading is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Reading. It was registered in June 1980, 46 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty and accommodation/housing, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01459149). It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2026, Launchpad Reading reported income of £4.9m and spending of £4.6m, spending 93% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £3.3m to £4.9m (+50%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 28%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Launchpad Reading sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 98% 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 The Millennium Awards Trust (£4.9m), Global Greengrants Fund UK (£4.9m) and Royal Variety Charity (£4.9m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 86%, donations and legacies 11% and trading 2.7%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 2.1%. It employed 57 people.