ARTHRITIS ACTION
Founded in 1942, Arthritis Action is a UK charity helping people with arthritis to live a more active life with less pain. The Charity offers a holistic self-management approach to people living with all forms of arthritis, comprised of healthy eating and nutritional consultations, education and support groups, self-management events, and access to physical therapies across the UK.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £108,983 for the year ended 31 October 2025, resulting in total funds decreasing to £4,424,923. The trustees confirm that the financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis with no material uncertainties identified. The charity maintains unrestricted reserves of £2,12,298 against a policy target of covering at least six months of operating costs.
What the accounts disclose
“Two employee's were paid emoluments, including benefits in kind, of between £90,000 and £100,000 (2024 - One employee within the range £80,000 - £90,000).” — page 28
“Two employee's were paid emoluments, including benefits in kind, of between £90,000 and £100,000 (2024 - One employee within the range £80,000 - £90,000).” — page 28
“Our largest income source continues to be legacies, making up 51% of our total income in 2024-2025 (23-24: 73%)” — page 7
“The Trustees believe it is crucial to maintain a minimum level of free reserves. These reserves are intended to cover orderly wind-up costs and at least six months of operating costs if required.”
“Arthritis Action has two subsidiary companies, The Arthritis Association and The Arthritic Association. These subsidiaries have no assets or liabilities and are both dormant.” — page 24
Year-over-year changes
- Top pay band moved from £80,001 - £90,000 (FY2024) to £90,000 - £100,000 (FY2025).
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (FY2024) → 2 (FY2025).
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/10/2025)
Trustees
- Andrzej Kawalec
- Caroline Alexia Langley
- Colin Peter Beevor
- Dirk Vennix
- Elizabeth Takyi
- Funmi Akinfenwa
- Matthew John Myles-Brown
- Pille Harrison
- Professor Sarah Anne Vickerstaff
- Ricardo Borges
- Susan Powell
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/10/2025 | £651k | £1.2m |
| 31/10/2024 | £1.3m | £1.2m |
| 31/10/2023 | £602k | £1.2m |
| 31/10/2022 | £919k | £1.2m |
| 31/10/2021 | £606k | £1.1m |
Common questions
Is ARTHRITIS ACTION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £108,983 for the year ended 31 October 2025, resulting in total funds decreasing to £4,424,923. The trustees confirm that the financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis with no material uncertainties identified. The charity maintains unrestricted reserves of £2,12,298 against a policy target of covering at least six months of operating costs. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by LMDB Limited t/a LMDB Accountants.
What does the highest-paid employee of ARTHRITIS ACTION earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £90,000 - £100,000 band, and 2 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds ARTHRITIS ACTION?
Funders whose own accounts filings name ARTHRITIS ACTION as a grant recipient include JOAN AINSLIE CHARITABLE TRUST, LONDON CATALYST, CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST, CBRE UK CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOAN AINSLIE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £5k | |
| JOAN AINSLIE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £5k | |
| JOAN AINSLIE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £5k | |
| LONDON CATALYST | FY2022 | £3k | Open Clinics at the Central YMCA to help individuals learn how to manage their arthritis symptoms; keeping active, and dietary support. |
| CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £2k | |
| CBRE UK CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £750 |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 27/08/2021 | £10k | Arthritis Action Groups addressing digital exclusion |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| The Squire Patton Boggs Charitable Trust | 3 | £1k |
| SIR SAMUEL SCOTT OF YEWS TRUST | 2 | £20k |
| THE OAKDALE TRUST | 2 | £5k |
| DORIS FIELD CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £4k |
| THE WILLIE AND MABEL MORRIS CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £4k |
| THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £191k |
| THE JOAN LYNETTE DALTON CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £155k |
| PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £72k |
Charities like this
- Arthritis UK
- BRITISH SOCIETY FOR RHEUMATOLOGY
- Juvenile Arthritis Research
- MS ACTION LIMITED
- THE NATIONAL RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS SOCIETY
- THE JGW PATTERSON FOUNDATION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARTHRITIS ACTION | £651k | £90,000 - £100,000 | 2 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Arthritis UK | £30.0m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BRITISH SOCIETY FOR RHEUMATOLOGY | £5.4m | — | 0 | above | 0.0% | no doubt |
| Juvenile Arthritis Research | £103k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| MS ACTION LIMITED | £355k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| THE NATIONAL RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS SOCIETY | £1.7m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |