Livability

Also known as: Grooms - Shaftesbury, John Grooms, Shaftesbury

Livability is the disability charity committed to enabling children, young people and adults to live a life that adds up for them. Every day, we deliver a wide range of disability care, special education, and rehabilitation services to over 1,000 people who are at the heart of everything we do. Our Christian ethos is why we were founded in 1844 and it's why we still exist today.

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Activities & Mission

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.

Region

England

Financial Information

Latest Income

£66,413,000

Latest Expenditure

£61,157,000

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 85.9%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 30% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income over £10M (sample: 685). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 93.3%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 30% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income over £10M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 2.8%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 39% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income over £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £6,363,000

Charitable Activities £56,686,000

Other Trading £993,000

Investments £117,000

Other Income £2,254,000

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £57,058,000

Raising Funds £1,356,000

Governance £335,785

Grants to Institutions £0

Other Expenditure £2,743,000

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.

Financial Year	Income	Expenditure	Charitable Spending	Net Assets	Reserves	Staff
2025	£66,413,000	£61,157,000	£57,058,000	£42,449,000	£34,110,000	1086 / 15
2024	£60,423,000	£58,839,000	£56,222,000	£41,071,000	£28,095,000	1029 / 18
2023	£49,843,000	£54,131,000	£51,809,000	£41,192,000	£29,060,000	1240 / 33
2022	£53,516,000	£50,287,000	£45,920,000	£47,289,000	£0	1374 / 30
2021	£46,138,000	£48,433,000	£46,411,000	£33,154,000	£2,574,000	1560 / 106

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about Livability

What does Livability do?

How much income did Livability report in 2025?

Livability reported total income of £66.41m and reported expenditure of £61.16m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is Livability?

Livability has a program ratio of 85.9%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 30% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income over £10M (sample of 685 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was Livability registered as a charity?

Livability was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 30 October 2006 as charity number 1116530. It has been registered for 20 years.

Who runs Livability?

Livability is governed by a board of 8 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does Livability operate?

Livability operates in England, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.

Is Livability a registered charity?

Yes — Livability is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1116530.