Meningitis Now

Analysis

Meningitis Now is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Stroud. It was registered in March 1990, 36 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. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02469130). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Meningitis Now reported income of £2.1m and spending of £2.6m, spending 120% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £2.2m to £2.1m (-4.1%), an average of -1.1% a year. Over the whole period it spent 108% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Meningitis Now sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 96th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Cadogan Charity (£2.1m), Healthworks Newcastle (£2.1m) and The Society of British Neurological Surgeons (£2.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 72% and charitable activities 13%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £122k. Charitable activities took 67% of spending and raising funds 30%. Grants to other organisations totalled £90k. Reserves of £956k would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 49 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.