![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.policybee.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/UK-charity-stats-2026-main-image-istock-edit.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nCharities, community groups, and non-profit organisations do amazing things for their communities every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From local, volunteer-run groups to national organisations with international reach, charities support people and invest in causes in a way that simply wouldn\u2019t exist otherwise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, running a charity does come with certain challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Costs are rising. Demand is growing. Trustees are getting harder to recruit. And many charities are asked to do more, with less…leaving them with less time and resources to properly assess their risks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what does the UK charity sector actually look like in 2026? And what does that mean for the good work that charities do? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Want to know more about which types of insurance will benefit your organisation the most? Take a good look round our charity and not-for-profit insurance hub<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The UK\u2019s charity sector is huge. And it\u2019s growing every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Charity Commission\u2019s online sector review<\/a>, which is updated daily, there are approximately: <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, this is likely just a small part of a much larger picture. The true size of the UK charity sector is unknown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Only not-for-profits with a gross annual income of \u00a35,000 or more<\/a> are required to register with the Charity Commission. Meaning there are plenty more small, unregistered groups quietly supporting their communities year-on-year \u2013 from volunteer-run food projects to local sports clubs and faith groups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, there may be as many as 20,000 organisations<\/a> that aren’t generally regarded as charities that also have charitable status \u2013 like private schools, churches, and museums. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2025 saw a small but steady increase in the number of charities applying for registration compared to 2024.<\/a> With 9,836 applications made (and 9,008 in 2024). <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, the number of charity closures also increased: 4,233 charities left the Charity Commission\u2019s register in 2025 (compared to 3,885 in 2024). <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, new charities are forming all the time and their income is rising year-by-year \u2013 with a 10% rise in overall charity sector income<\/a> in 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That tells us something important: that the charity sector is still growing in the UK. And that communities still step up where there’s a need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2024\/25, the total income of UK-registered charities was \u00a3102bn<\/a> (up from \u00a396bn in 2023\/24). In May 2026, however, this figure is closer to \u00a3107bn<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the UK Civil Society, volunteer organisations contribute around \u00a369.1bn<\/a> to the UK economy each year, accounting for almost half (46%) of all charity income. Around one fifth of this income (21%) is made up of public donations. Then government grants (8%) and funding from other organisations (7%). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Behind these numbers are thousands of carefully balanced budgets, thoughtful funding decisions, and people trying to make resources stretch as far as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As economic uncertainties persist, balancing income with spending is as important for charities as ever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the gap between charity income and spending narrowing slightly, total spending remained high in 2025 at \u00a3101 billion<\/a> (up from \u00a394 billion in 2024). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Margins remain tight, however, especially for smaller organisations. Many charities are finding they have to spend around 95% of their income<\/a> to keep doing the good work they do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The UK’s biggest charities (with incomes over \u00a310m) represent less than 1%<\/a> of the charity sector. Yet they do vital work \u2013 making up around 66% of all charity income. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The largest charities in the UK<\/a> (by income) in 2026:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Charities as large as this often rely on large gifts from wealthy donors. And the good news is that people are giving more generously than ever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n High-value giving increased by 21%<\/a> between 2024-2025, with the average amount donated higher than it\u2019s ever been in the last five years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to public support, a charity\u2019s income doesn\u2019t always tell the full story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A YouGov poll revealed the UK\u2019s most popular charities<\/a> in 2026:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s clear that the UK public thinks positively of lot of different charities, but especially ones supporting the health and wellbeing of humans and animals. Or that fund research into serious and life-changing diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, charities are seen well in the UK. According to the Charity Commission\u2019s annual report<\/a>, 70% of people believe the charities they donate to are making a real difference. And 66% think they operate to high ethical standards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That support is hugely valuable and is something charities work hard to protect. Especially as reputational damage, data breaches or legal disputes can undermine it quickly if they\u2019re not prepared. <\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Small and micro-charities (AKA whose income is below \u00a3100k) make up roughly three quarters of the UK’s charity sector<\/a>. These organisations rely heavily on their volunteers. And their impact on local communities is huge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to UK small charity statistics gathered by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), the most common small charity causes<\/a> in 2021\/22 were: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Village halls, youth clubs, and scout groups also featured further down the list. They made up a combined 12% of voluntary organisations in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These small charities are often the first place people turn to when they need help. However, they also feel pressures more sharply than larger organisations \u2013 whether that\u2019s because of cash flow or compliance issues, cyber risks or problems resulting from their trustees\u2019 personal liabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Volunteering levels are still recovering after the pandemic years, and trustee recruitment remains a challenge. That means trustees and managers often carry a lot of responsibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some key facts about the UK charity workforce:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The geographical breakdown of the voluntary sector workforce<\/a> across the UK in 2024 is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of the 170,056 charities registered in the UK<\/a> in 2024, the geographical breakdown<\/a> was:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scotland had the highest number of registered smaller charities<\/a> per 1,000 people in the population at 3.6. Wales had the lowest at 2.3 per 1,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the latest UK charity sector statistics, larger charity organisations are more likely to be active nationally and internationally. Most of these are based in London and the south. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Smaller charities tend to be local, often working within the country or area they\u2019re based. That local focus is powerful \u2013 but it also means risks are very real and personal. A slipped step at a fundraiser, a damaged laptop, a lost data file…these aren\u2019t abstract problems when you know the people involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Having seen a period of huge digital acceleration, shifts in working models, and the streamlining of operations post-pandemic, many UK charities have had to invest heavily in their digital services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s easy to take for granted that online fundraising, remote meetings and keeping digital records is the new normal for UK charities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But the gap between large and small charities remains wide, especially when you consider that smaller charities are more likely to struggle to secure investment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 74% of charities say digital is a medium or high priority<\/a> for them. But while digital awareness among charities is higher than in previous years, 68% of small charities are still at the early stages of their digital journey<\/a> and just over a third (34%) say they are advancing with digital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, over a third (35%) of charities confess to being poor at online fundraising. And 27% say they don\u2019t do any online fundraising at all… <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the meantime, the charity sector faces many new and fast-evolving cyber risks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 76% of charities now use AI tools. And with more data held online \u2013 including details about staff, volunteers and donors \u2013 understanding the rules around data privacy<\/a> and how to manage their cyber risks<\/a> is more important now than ever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 69% of charities report strained finances<\/a> as the reason they\u2019ve been unable to progress digitally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And just 44% say they have a clear digital strategy to help them manage their cyber risks (compared to 50% in previous years). <\/p>\n\n\n\n This may well start to change in the new future, however, with half (49%) of charities saying developing their strategy for digital, data, and AI is a priority for them. <\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Charities of all shapes and sizes need specialist insurance to protect them from risk. Just because you\u2019re doing something good doesn\u2019t mean others won\u2019t point the finger of blame if something goes wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What kind of cover suits any organisation best will depend on whether they’re a charity, club, or community group. Also, what their purpose is, including if they offer a service or advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public liability insurance<\/a> covers events, fundraisers, and meetings in case of injury to anyone attending or damage to property. Employers\u2019 liability insurance for charities<\/a> is the only cover required legally and protects an organisation\u2019s staff and volunteers. Trustees\u2019 insurance<\/a> protects trustees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contents and portable equipment insurance<\/a> covers loss of or damage to kit, big or small. And professional indemnity insurance<\/a> deals with claims an organisation\u2019s service was sub-standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Charity cyber insurance<\/a> provides technical expertise, plus legal, PR, and financial help if an organisation is targeted by cybercriminals. It also deals with data breaches \u2013 which is important when almost a third<\/a> of charities confess to being targeted by one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re not sure where to start with charity insurance, that\u2019s normal. Most charities we speak to feel the same way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t need to have all the answers. You just need someone who\u2019ll take the time to understand what you do, and help you protect it properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our charity and not-for-profit insurance hub<\/a> has plenty of help and advice you can read through. Or you can give our friendly team a call on 0345 222 5391<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Image used under license from iStock. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Charities, community groups, and non-profit organisations do amazing things for their communities every day. From local, volunteer-run groups to national organisations with international reach, charities support people and invest in causes in a way that simply wouldn\u2019t exist otherwise. That said, running a charity does come with certain challenges. Costs are rising. Demand is growing. Trustees … Continue reading How many charities are there in the UK?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What does this say about the current state of the UK charity sector?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
UK charity sector statistics & key facts:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow much income do UK charities make?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The UK’s biggest charities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The UK’s most popular charities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"UK](\"https:\/\/www.policybee.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/STAT-2-UK-charity-stats-2026.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhat causes do small charities support?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Recruitment in the UK charity sector<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Where are UK charities based?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Mind the digital gap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Statistics](\"https:\/\/www.policybee.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/STAT-3-UK-charity-stats-2026.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nGenerously protected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Expert help you can rely on<\/h2>\n\n\n\n