Self Help Africa (UK)

Analysis

Self Help Africa (UK) is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Shrewsbury. It was registered in March 1988, 38 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty and overseas aid/famine relief, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02226352). It says it makes grants to organisations and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Self Help Africa (UK) reported income of £3.2m and spending of £2.6m, leaving 20% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £1.6m to £3.2m (+98%), an average of +19% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2025, when income rose by 368%. Over the whole period it spent 111% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Self Help Africa (UK) 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 Paddington Development Trust (£3.2m), Huggard (£3.2m) and Buttle UK (£3.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 78% and donations and legacies 21%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £672k. Charitable activities took 89% of spending and raising funds 4.4%. Grants to other organisations totalled £2.2m. Reserves of £169k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 4 people.