British Humanist Association

Analysis

British Humanist Association is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in January 1983, 43 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, human rights/religious or racial harmony/equality or diversity and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under human rights and equality. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00228781). It says it provides human resources, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2025, British Humanist Association reported income of £3.3m and spending of £4.2m, spending 127% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £2.7m to £3.3m (+24%), an average of +5.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 30%. Over the whole period it spent 104% of the income it received.

Among 700 England and Wales charities whose main cause is human rights and equality and that reported income, British Humanist Association sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation (£3.3m), Media Legal Defence Initiative (£3.4m) and Reprieve (£3.3m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 52%, charitable activities 46% and investments 2.1%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £555k. Charitable activities took 93% of spending and raising funds 6.5%. Reserves of £3.3m would cover about 9 months of spending at that rate. It employed 43 people.