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Free To Be Kids

Free to Be Kids provides respite holidays, therapeutic adventures, after-school support and a range of year round residentials for children who are struggling with social or emotional difficulties, significant social/financial disadvantage or who are growing up in marginalised communities. Without our work, many would not have support or a break from often extremely difficult home circumstances.

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Activities & Mission

Free to Be Kids provides respite holidays, therapeutic adventures, after-school support and a range of year round residentials for children who are struggling with social or emotional difficulties, significant social/financial disadvantage or who are growing up in marginalised communities. Without our work, many would not have support or a break from often extremely difficult home circumstances.

Areas of Operation

Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.

Show all 10 areas of operation

Financial Information

Latest Income
£701,056
Latest Expenditure
£649,652

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 83.1%
% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 39% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £100K to £1M (sample: 3459). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 89.7%
% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 24% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £100K to £1M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 10.7%
Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 19% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £100K to £1M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £680,509
Charitable Activities £16,520
Other Trading £0
Investments £4,027
Other Income £0

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £582,484
Raising Funds £67,168
Governance £2,408
Grants to Institutions £0
Other Expenditure £0

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2024.

One or more years show a significant change in income (over ±100%) compared with the prior year. This usually reflects a merger, transfer of activities, restated accounts, or a one-off legacy — not necessarily a real change in operating scale. See the methodology for context.

The Commission record shows these related events on the register:

  • Asset transfer in in 2026 — Potterspury Lodge Trust Limited (organisation 4007342)
  • Asset transfer in in 2024 — Oliver '68 (organisation 265840)
Financial YearIncomeExpenditureCharitable SpendingNet AssetsReservesStaff
2024
£701,056
£649,652£582,484£370,373£266,1678 / 225
2023
£663,991
£600,461£540,582£318,969£293,9777 / 210
2022
£412,030
£428,0310 / 201
2021
£456,809
£264,3360 / 181
2020
£191,555
£146,6300 / 178

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about Free To Be Kids

What does Free To Be Kids do?

Free to Be Kids provides respite holidays, therapeutic adventures, after-school support and a range of year round residentials for children who are struggling with social or emotional difficulties, significant social/financial disadvantage or who are growing up in marginalised communities. Without our work, many would not have support or a break from often extremely difficult home circumstances.

How much income did Free To Be Kids report in 2024?

Free To Be Kids reported total income of £701k and reported expenditure of £650k for the financial year ending 2024, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is Free To Be Kids?

Free To Be Kids has a program ratio of 83.1%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 39% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £100K to £1M (sample of 3459 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was Free To Be Kids registered as a charity?

Free To Be Kids was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 22 February 2016 as charity number 1165678. It has been registered for 10 years.

Who runs Free To Be Kids?

Free To Be Kids is governed by a board of 11 trustees. The chair of trustees is Emma Kendall. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does Free To Be Kids operate?

Free To Be Kids operates across 10 areas, including Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, East Sussex and 7 others. The full list is shown on its profile.

Is Free To Be Kids a registered charity?

Yes — Free To Be Kids is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1165678.

Details

Address
Free to Be Kids c/o Living Space
1 Coral Street
Lambeth
London
SE1 7BE
Registration Date
22 February 2016
Status
Registered

Registry Information

Organisation Number
5072700
Charity Number
1165678

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Trustees

Emma Kendall Chair
Amy-Kate Robinson
Beulah Antonin
Dr GEMMA CHENEY
Elena Davies
Joel Nathanael Campbell-Brazier
Leila Shepherd-North
Olusola Adebiyi
Richard Nicholas
Rosie Macpherson
Theresa Anne Dauncey

Data & trust

Register data refreshed
14 May 2026
Report a data issue