Tools for Self Reliance

Analysis

Tools for Self Reliance is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Southampton. It was registered in October 1980, 46 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty, overseas aid/famine relief and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01487630). It says it provides services.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Tools for Self Reliance reported income of £754k and spending of £768k, spending 102% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £764k to £754k (-1.3%), an average of -0.3% a year. Over the whole period it spent 106% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Tools for Self Reliance sits at the 91st percentile: it is larger than about 91% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 92nd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include St Athanasius Monastery (£753k), Kiran Support Services (£755k) and The Work Avenue Foundation (£753k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 42%, charitable activities 33%, trading 13% and investments 12%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £33k. Charitable activities took 86% of spending and raising funds 12%. Grants to other organisations totalled £260k. Reserves of £193k would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 8 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.