CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY
Christians Against Poverty provides free professional debt help, money education and support groups to members of the public. Services are delivered face-to-face in partnership with local churches, allowing us to provide both practical and emotional support to our clients.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £0.5 million for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in free (unrestricted) reserves of -£0.3 million. This figure is £1.8 million below the trustees' stated reserves policy target of three months' cash flow for fixed costs less regular income. The trustees acknowledge the reserves are below the target but state they have taken decisive cost-reduction actions and forecast a surplus for the following year to restore reserves.
What the accounts disclose
“Individuals £9.8m (65%)” — page 7
“Fundraising: £1.9 million (2023/24: £1.3 million), representing 10.9% (2023/24: 6.5%) of total income.”
“Free (unrestricted) reserves at the end of 31March 2025 were -£0.3 million (2024: £0.6 million), which is £1.8 million (2024: £1.2 million) under the minimum reserves set out in our reserves policy.”
“During the year one of the Trustees provided £2,700 of training and consultancy services to some of the Fundraising Team. This was invoiced post year end, along with an additional £300 of consultancy services in April 2025, so there were no outstanding balances at the reporting date.” — page 32
In the news
- ‘Real fear’ over energy price-cap rise, Christians Against Poverty warns
- ‘Very deep poverty’ rises across UK, Christians Against Poverty reports
- Christians Against Poverty and Community Money Advice unite to tackle U.K. debt crisis
- Christians Against Poverty Australia enters a new season as Hope Economy
- Christians Against Poverty: Job rejections adding to mental-health crisis
- Don’t take the strain alone, Christians Against Poverty tells anxious debtors
- Christians Against Poverty appoints David Nussbaum as new chair of trustees, calling him a ‘man of faith’
- Christians Against Poverty welcomes ‘ideal minister’
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Justine — Chief People Officer
- Claire Cowles — Head of Strategic and Digital Communications
- Martin Cowles — Head of Impact
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (18/06/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (13/03/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (05/12/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (24/10/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (10/09/2024)
- Received assets from another charity (27/02/2024)
Trustees
- David Nussbaumchair
- Alison Kathleen Padfield
- Andrew James Maskell OBE
- Catherine Nicholas-Vilkaitis
- Folajimi Ayodele Adedoyin
- Jane Kathleen Elizabeth Pleace
- Julian Stanier Mander
- MARK ROBERT SHEARD
- Olufemi Ayolomo Ishola
- ROBIN BRYAN DAVID WILLISON
- Roger Mawle
- Sandra Jane Keene
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £15.0m | £15.5m |
| 31/03/2024 | £19.2m | £20.0m |
| 31/12/2022 | £15.0m | £17.2m |
| 31/12/2021 | £15.2m | £14.7m |
| 31/12/2020 | £15.4m | £14.2m |
Common questions
Is CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £0.5 million for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in free (unrestricted) reserves of -£0.3 million. This figure is £1.8 million below the trustees' stated reserves policy target of three months' cash flow for fixed costs less regular income. The trustees acknowledge the reserves are below the target but state they have taken decisive cost-reduction actions and forecast a surplus for the following year to restore reserves. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by RSM UK Audit LLP.
Who funds CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY?
Funders whose own accounts filings name CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY as a grant recipient include THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF SAINT ANDREW AND SAINT MARK, SURBITON, THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MICHAEL LE BELFREY WITH ST CUTHBERT, YORK, THE MAURICE AND HILDA LAING CHARITABLE TRUST, MYTON CHURCH, THE MILK AND HONEY TRUST.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK government | 26/01/2024 | £68k | Grant for the Administration of Debt Relief Orders - CAP |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 23/08/2019 | £4k | Provision of new CAP Debt Advice Centre |
| UK government | 01/08/2017 | £106k | Savers Support Fund |
| Northern Rock Foundation | 09/10/2001 | £27k | Grant awarded to Christians Against Poverty (Yorkshire) |
| UK government | — | £106k | Savers Support Fund |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE GRACE TRUST | 2 | £4k |
| THE PEARS FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £110k |
| THE INDIGO TRUST | 1 | £108k |
| TRUST FOR LONDON | 1 | £90k |
| FUSION21 FOUNDATION | 1 | £49k |
| THE T U U T CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £38k |
| HAMMERSMITH UNITED CHARITIES | 1 | £16k |
| LONDON CATALYST | 1 | £10k |
Charities like this
- THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD OVERCOMERS HOUSE CHIPPENHAM
- CHILD POVERTY ACTION GROUP
- CHRISTIAN AID
- CHRISTIAN POLICE ASSOCIATION
- PEOPLE AGAINST POVERTY
- THE CHRISTIAN TRUST
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY | £15.0m | — | — | below | 10.9% | no doubt |
| THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD OVERCOMERS HOUSE CHIPPENHAM | £109k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CHILD POVERTY ACTION GROUP | £5.6m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| CHRISTIAN AID | £71.4m | £151,497 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CHRISTIAN POLICE ASSOCIATION | £134k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| PEOPLE AGAINST POVERTY | £104k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |