SAFELIVES
SafeLives, formerly known as CAADA is a national charity supporting a strong multi-agency response to domestic abuse. SafeLives provides practical tools, training, guidance, quality assurance, policy and data insight to support professionals and organisations working with domestic abuse victims. The aim is to protect the highest risk victims and their children.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £673k for the year ended 30 June 2025, a reversal from the previous year's surplus. Unrestricted reserves were deliberately drawn down to £2,023k, representing 3.93 months of core operating costs, which is below the stated policy target of 3 to 6 months. The trustees project a further deficit for 2025/26 and note that continued deficits are not sustainable.
What the accounts disclose
“The Trustees have set a target level of unrestricted reserves to be maintained at a level to cover 3 to 6 months of core operating costs.”
“During the course of the year £50,000 was paid to the University of Bristol for evaluation services as a partner in the Drive Project. Isabel Boyer's husband Mr J Boyer is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the University of Bristol.” — page 38
“There have been three serious incidents referred to the Charity Commission during the last 12 months. The Charity Commission was satisfied with our response to the incidents, and no additional action was required.” — page 16
Corporate structure
- Registered company of the charity Companies House 05203237
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Tracey Bleakley — Interim CEO
Company officers (Companies House)
- MILLER, Maria Frances Lewis, Dame on trustee list
- MITCHELL, Patrick Michael on trustee list
- HANDLEY, Rebecca Anna Marie on trustee list
- HAWKINS-LONGLEY, Emily on trustee list
- BEGUM, Shana on trustee list
- BILLINGHAM, Zoe Ann on trustee list
- SYMINGTON, Timothy Douglas, Mr. on trustee list
- HUGHES, Elizabeth on trustee list
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 30/06/2025)
Trustees
- Dame Maria Frances Lewis Millerchair
- Emily Hawkins-Longley
- Patrick Michael Mitchell
- Rebecca Handley
- Shana Begum
- Timothy Douglas Symington
- Zoe Ann Billingham
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 30/06/2025 | £10.6m | £11.3m |
| 30/06/2024 | £9.9m | £8.8m |
| 30/06/2023 | £8.8m | £9.8m |
| 30/06/2022 | £9.2m | £9.2m |
| 30/06/2021 | £8.3m | £7.3m |
Common questions
Is SAFELIVES financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £673k for the year ended 30 June 2025, a reversal from the previous year's surplus. Unrestricted reserves were deliberately drawn down to £2,023k, representing 3.93 months of core operating costs, which is below the stated policy target of 3 to 6 months. The trustees project a further deficit for 2025/26 and note that continued deficits are not sustainable. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.
Who funds SAFELIVES?
Funders whose own accounts filings name SAFELIVES as a grant recipient include THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION, Army Benevolent Fund, FOUNDATIONS - WHAT WORKS CENTRE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, THE NUFFIELD FOUNDATION, HOLLYHOCK CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 17/09/2024 | £90k | Authentic Voice: Transforming the response to domestic abuse |
| City Bridge Foundation | 24/07/2024 | £357k | Grant to SafeLives |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 18/09/2023 | £1.4m | A community approach to ending domestic abuse |
| UK government | 23/03/2023 | £379k | Multi-Agency Response to Domestic Abuse |
| UK government | 23/03/2023 | £379k | Multi-Agency Response to Domestic Abuse |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 21/03/2023 | £2.3m | Drive Partnership |
| Greater London Authority (GLA) | 14/03/2023 | £147k | Grant to SafeLives, LB Bromley, LB Croydon, LB Sutton, Rise Mutual CIC |
| UK government | 05/12/2022 | £80k | SafeLives - IT Update |
| Greater London Authority (GLA) | 10/10/2022 | £649k | Grant to SafeLives |
| UK government | 16/05/2022 | £229k | Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Intervention Fund |
| UK government | 01/04/2022 | £17k | SAFELIVES |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 15/02/2022 | £41k | Authentic Voice: embedding the diverse survivor experience |
| City Bridge Foundation | 23/04/2020 | £101k | Grant to SafeLives |
| Greenwood Place | 01/04/2020 | £160k | Grant to Safe Lives |
| Greenwood Place | 01/01/2020 | £75k | Grant to Safe Lives |
| UK government | 01/04/2019 | £512k | SafeLives - MARAC Development Programme 2019-20 |
| UK government | 01/04/2018 | £220k | Domestic Abuse Training For Social Workers 2018-19 |
| UK government | 01/04/2018 | £512k | Safe Lives_18-19 |
| City Bridge Foundation | 02/12/2010 | £48k | Grant to SafeLives |
| UK government | — | £512k | Safe Lives (formerly CAADA |
| UK government | — | £50k | IDVA and ISVA Training _17-18 |
| UK government | — | £512k | Safe Lives_17-18 |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| SKIPTON BUILDING SOCIETY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 2 | £4k |
| BOLTON TOGETHER | 1 | £415k |
| The Leathersellers' Foundation | 1 | £200k |
| BOLTON COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY SERVICES | 1 | £147k |
| THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £106k |
| THE THOMAS BRINGTON FOUNDATION | 1 | £28k |
| SOCIETY OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS CIO | 1 | £25k |
| THE LINDER FOUNDATION | 1 | £25k |
Charities like this
- SAFENET DOMESTIC ABUSE AND SUPPORT SERVICES LTD
- SAFER PLACES
- SAFE Foundation
- NORTHAMPTONSHIRE DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE
- SAFETY WELLBEING AND CHALLENGING ABUSE
- FORTALICE LIMITED
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAFELIVES | £10.6m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SAFENET DOMESTIC ABUSE AND SUPPORT SERVICES LTD | £8.0m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SAFER PLACES | £4.4m | £82,482 | 3 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SAFE Foundation | £268k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NORTHAMPTONSHIRE DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE | £1.7m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| SAFETY WELLBEING AND CHALLENGING ABUSE | £1.1m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |