BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL — Charity Commission profile

01 Identity

Registration and reporting

Registration status: Registered
Reporting status: Submission Received
Charity type: Charitable company
Registered: 2 October 1992
Removed: Not supplied
Company number supplied: 02727514
Financial period: 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025
Latest income: £14,924,000
Latest expenditure: £19,632,000
Gift Aid: Yes
Owns or uses land: Yes
In administration: No
Insolvent: No
CIO: No

Public contact address: BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL, 134 - 138 The Grove, LONDON, E15 1NS

Website recorded by the regulator: www.refugeecouncil.org.uk (displayed as text)

02 Activities

What the charity does

The Refugee Council is one of the leading charities in the UK working directly with refugees, and supporting them to rebuild their lives. We also speak up for refugees using our direct work as an evidence base, ensuring refugees have a stronger and more influential voice in decisions that will affect them. We work with a range of partners and in collaboration to ensure we best support our clients.

03 Official extract

Charity Annual Return History

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2025
Ar Cycle Reference: AR25
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2026
Date Annual Return Received: 18 December 2025
Date Accounts Received: 18 December 2025
Total Gross Income: £14,924,000
Total Gross Expenditure: £19,632,000

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2024
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2025
Date Annual Return Received: 21 January 2025
Date Accounts Received: 21 January 2025
Total Gross Income: £20,697,000
Total Gross Expenditure: £19,364,000

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2022
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2023
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2024
Date Annual Return Received: 24 January 2024
Date Accounts Received: 24 January 2024
Total Gross Income: £19,074,000
Total Gross Expenditure: £17,110,000

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2021
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2022
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2023
Date Annual Return Received: 24 January 2023
Date Accounts Received: 24 January 2023
Total Gross Income: £15,791,943
Total Gross Expenditure: £12,918,924

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2020
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2021
Ar Cycle Reference: AR21
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2022
Date Annual Return Received: 13 December 2021
Date Accounts Received: 13 December 2021
Total Gross Income: £12,602,000
Total Gross Expenditure: £11,551,000

04 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Parta

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: Yes
Fin Period Order Number: 1
Ar Cycle Reference: AR25
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2025
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2026
Ar Received Date: 18 December 2025
Total Gross Income: £14,924,000
Total Gross Expenditure: £19,632,000
Grant Making Is Main Activity: No
Count Govt Contracts: 7
Count Govt Grants: £14
Income From Government Contracts: 3619000
Income From Government Grants: £4,436,000
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: Yes
Count Salary Band 60001 70000: 6
Count Salary Band 80001 90000: 3
Count Salary Band 100001 110000: 1
Count Salary Band 110001 120000: 1
Count Volunteers: 431

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 2
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2024
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2025
Ar Received Date: 21 January 2025
Total Gross Income: £20,697,000
Total Gross Expenditure: £19,364,000
Grant Making Is Main Activity: No
Count Govt Contracts: 2
Count Govt Grants: £27
Income From Government Contracts: 2131000
Income From Government Grants: £8,457,000
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: Yes
Count Salary Band 60001 70000: 4
Count Salary Band 70001 80000: 3
Count Salary Band 90001 100000: 1
Count Volunteers: 423

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 3
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2022
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2023
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2024
Ar Received Date: 24 January 2024
Total Gross Income: £19,074,000
Total Gross Expenditure: £17,110,000
Grant Making Is Main Activity: No
Count Govt Contracts: 2
Count Govt Grants: £17
Income From Government Contracts: 45000
Income From Government Grants: £8,404,000
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: Yes
Count Salary Band 70001 80000: 2
Count Salary Band 90001 100000: 1
Count Volunteers: 423

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 4
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2021
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2022
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2023
Ar Received Date: 24 January 2023
Total Gross Income: £15,791,943
Total Gross Expenditure: £12,918,924
Charity Raises Funds From Public: Yes
Charity Professional Fundraiser: Yes
Charity Agreement Professional Fundraiser: Yes
Charity Commercial Participator: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts: Yes
Count Govt Contracts: 2
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants: Yes
Count Govt Grants: £14
Income From Government Contracts: 383000
Income From Government Grants: £7,145,000
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: Yes
Count Salary Band 60001 70000: 3
Count Salary Band 80001 90000: 1
Count Volunteers: 305

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 5
Ar Cycle Reference: AR21
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2020
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2021
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2022
Ar Received Date: 13 December 2021
Total Gross Income: £12,602,000
Total Gross Expenditure: £11,551,000
Charity Raises Funds From Public: Yes
Charity Professional Fundraiser: Yes
Charity Agreement Professional Fundraiser: Yes
Charity Commercial Participator: Yes
Charity Agreement Commerical Participator: Yes
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts: Yes
Count Govt Contracts: 12
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants: Yes
Count Govt Grants: £16
Income From Government Contracts: 3873706
Income From Government Grants: £3,086,463
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: Yes
Count Salary Band 60001 70000: 4
Count Salary Band 70001 80000: 1
Count Volunteers: 305

05 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Partb

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: Yes
Fin Period Order Number: 1
Ar Cycle Reference: AR25
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2025
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2026
Ar Received Date: 18 December 2025
Income Donations And Legacies: 3198000
Income Other Trading Activities: 0
Income Charitable Activities: 11561000
Income Investments: 165000
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 14924000
Income Legacies: 554000
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £2,699,000
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £16,933,000
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 19632000
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 22000
Expenditure Governance: 275000
Expenditure Support Costs: 4137000
Expenditure Depreciation: 220000
Gain Loss Investment: 0
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £1,249,000
Assets Total Fixed: 446000
Assets Own Use: 442000
Assets Long Term Investment: 4000
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £9,867,000
Assets Total Liabilities: £2,875,000
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £7,438,000
Creditors One Year Total Current: 1721000
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 1154000
Assets Cash: £5,341,000
Funds Endowment: 110000
Funds Unrestricted: 6079000
Funds Restricted: 1249000
Funds Total: 7438000
Count Employees: 349
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 2
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2024
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2025
Ar Received Date: 21 January 2025
Income Donations And Legacies: 9129000
Income Other Trading Activities: 24000
Income Charitable Activities: 11399000
Income Investments: 0
Income Other: 145000
Income Total Income And Endowments: 20697000
Income Legacies: 3947000
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £2,692,000
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £16,672,000
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 19364000
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 997000
Expenditure Governance: 289000
Expenditure Support Costs: 3889000
Expenditure Depreciation: 201000
Gain Loss Investment: 0
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £4,000,000
Assets Total Fixed: 606000
Assets Own Use: 602000
Assets Long Term Investment: 4000
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £14,308,000
Assets Total Liabilities: £2,768,000
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £12,146,000
Creditors One Year Total Current: 2456000
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 312000
Assets Cash: £4,847,000
Funds Endowment: 110000
Funds Unrestricted: 9964000
Funds Restricted: 2072000
Funds Total: 12146000
Count Employees: 339
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 3
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2022
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2023
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2024
Ar Received Date: 24 January 2024
Income Donations And Legacies: 6235000
Income Other Trading Activities: 9000
Income Charitable Activities: 12801000
Income Investments: 29000
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 19074000
Income Legacies: 2500000
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £1,213,000
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £15,897,000
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 17110000
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 1437000
Expenditure Governance: 171000
Expenditure Support Costs: 2992000
Expenditure Depreciation: 157000
Gain Loss Investment: 0
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £4,500,000
Assets Total Fixed: 689000
Assets Own Use: 685000
Assets Long Term Investment: 4000
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £13,159,000
Assets Total Liabilities: £3,035,000
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £10,813,000
Creditors One Year Total Current: 2723000
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 312000
Assets Cash: £5,368,000
Funds Endowment: 110000
Funds Unrestricted: 7692000
Funds Restricted: 3011000
Funds Total: 10813000
Count Employees: 321
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 4
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2021
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2022
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2023
Ar Received Date: 24 January 2023
Income Donations And Legacies: 6099000
Income Other Trading Activities: 8927
Income Charitable Activities: 9684016
Income Investments: 0
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 15791943
Income Legacies: 389000
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £1,697,521
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £11,221,403
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 12918924
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 1162804
Expenditure Governance: 61184
Expenditure Support Costs: 1923000
Expenditure Depreciation: 94930
Gain Loss Investment: 0
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £4,618,239
Assets Total Fixed: 543070
Assets Own Use: 539070
Assets Long Term Investment: 4000
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £10,565,327
Assets Total Liabilities: £2,259,000
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £8,849,397
Creditors One Year Total Current: 2159000
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 100000
Assets Cash: £5,951,000
Funds Endowment: 110347
Funds Unrestricted: 6347309
Funds Restricted: 2391741
Funds Total: 8849397
Count Employees: 242
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 5
Ar Cycle Reference: AR21
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2020
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2021
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2022
Ar Received Date: 13 December 2021
Income Donations And Legacies: 4486000
Income Other Trading Activities: 6000
Income Charitable Activities: 8108000
Income Investments: 2000
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 12602000
Income Legacies: 551000
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £1,239,000
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £10,312,000
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 11551000
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 974000
Expenditure Governance: 129000
Expenditure Support Costs: 1173000
Expenditure Depreciation: 95000
Gain Loss Investment: 0
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £2,924,000
Assets Total Fixed: 638000
Assets Own Use: 634000
Assets Long Term Investment: 4000
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £7,295,000
Assets Total Liabilities: £1,957,000
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £5,976,000
Creditors One Year Total Current: 1857000
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 100000
Assets Cash: £5,098,000
Funds Endowment: 110000
Funds Unrestricted: 4274000
Funds Restricted: 1592000
Funds Total: 5976000
Count Employees: 222
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

06 Official extract

Charity Area Of Operation

Geographic Area Type: Region
Geographic Area Description: Throughout England
Welsh Ind: No

07 Official extract

Charity Classification

Classification Code: 115
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity

Classification Code: 201
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: Children/young People

Classification Code: 113
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Economic/community Development/employment

Classification Code: 309
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body

Classification Code: 101
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: General Charitable Purposes

Classification Code: 306
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Provides Services

Classification Code: 307
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Provides Advocacy/advice/information

Classification Code: 206
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: Other Defined Groups

Classification Code: 308
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Sponsors Or Undertakes Research

Classification Code: 102
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Education/training

08 Official extract

Charity Event History

Charity Name: BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL
Charity Event Order: 1
Event Type: Standard registration
Date Of Event: 1992-10-02T00:00:00

09 Official extract

Charity Governing Document

Governing Document Description: MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES INCORPORATED 30/06/1992AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION(S) DATED 21/06/1996AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION(S) DATED 08/11/1999AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION(S) DATED 26/01/2005AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION(S) DATED 02/12/2009AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION REGISTERED AT COMPANIES HOUSE ON 17/12/2009AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION(S) DATED 26/11/2015AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION(S) DATED 24 MAR 2016 as amended on 28 Sep 2023
Charitable Objects: A)TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR REFUGEES AND THEIR DEPENDANTS WHO ARE IN CONDITIONS OF NEED, HARDSHIP OR DISTRESS B) TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF REFUGEES AND THEIR DEPENDANTS INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS C) TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF REFUGEES AND THEIR DEPENDANTS IN NEED THEREOF SO AS TO ADVANCE THEM IN LIFE AND ASSIST IN THEIR REHABILITATION WITHIN A NEW COMMUNITY D) TO PROMOTE RESEARCH INTO THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE OF REFUGEES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND WAYS OF PROVIDING CHARITABLE RELIEF FOR THEM AND TO PUBLISH THE RESULTS OF ALL SUCH RESEARCH E) TO ADVANCE PUBLIC EDUCATION ABOUT THE POSITION OF REFUGEES AND THE SITUATIONS WHICH GIVE RISE TO REFUGEE MOVEMENTS.
Area Of Benefit: WORLDWIDE

10 Official extract

Charity Other Names

Charity Name Id: 70889
Charity Name Type: Working name
Charity Name: REFUGEE COUNCIL

Charity Name Id: 70894
Charity Name Type: Working name
Charity Name: THE REFUGEE COUNCIL

11 Official extract

Charity Policy

Policy Name: Internal risk management policy and procedures

Policy Name: Serious incident reporting policy and procedures

Policy Name: Complaints policy and procedures

Policy Name: Trustee expenses policy and procedures

Policy Name: Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures

Policy Name: Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries

Policy Name: Social media policy and procedures

Policy Name: Complaints handling

Policy Name: Conflicting interests

Policy Name: Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures

Policy Name: Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures

Policy Name: Investing charity funds policy and procedures

Policy Name: Volunteer management

Policy Name: Risk management

Policy Name: Financial reserves policy and procedures

Policy Name: Paying staff

Policy Name: Bullying and harassment policy and procedures

Policy Name: Safeguarding policy and procedures