Release International
Also known as: Christian Mission to the Communist World, Voice of Persecuted Christians
To provide practical and spiritual support to persecuted Christians overseas.To inform and educate the UK Church about the persecution of Christians overseas.
Activities & Mission
To provide practical and spiritual support to persecuted Christians overseas.To inform and educate the UK Church about the persecution of Christians overseas.
Grants
Release International is a grant-making charity: making grants is its main activity.
- Gives grants to
- organisations and individuals
- Grants paid (2025)
- £1,285,223
- Who it helps
- other defined groups
- What it supports
- religious activities
As recorded with the Charity Commission. To ask about applying, use the contact details and check the trustees and latest accounts below.
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Learn more about premium profiles See a sample profileAreas 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 28 areas of operation Hide areas of operation
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 30% of UK Religion charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 298). How is this calculated?
Higher than 37% of UK Religion charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 26% of UK Religion charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?
Latest Financial Breakdown
Income Sources
Expenditure Categories
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 | £3,728,590 | £3,158,662 | £2,918,724 | £1,855,405 | £1,405,022 | 27 / 195 |
| 2024 | £3,098,198 | £3,292,630 | £3,001,394 | £1,285,476 | £592,000 | 29 / 50 |
| 2023 | £3,461,382 | £3,705,409 | £3,390,149 | £1,479,910 | £731,345 | 31 / 260 |
| 2022 | £3,084,500 | £3,270,081 | £2,988,162 | £1,723,934 | £684,366 | 29 / 262 |
| 2021 | £3,123,885 | £2,865,591 | £2,597,064 | £1,909,513 | £591,349 | 28 / 235 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about Release International
What does Release International do?
To provide practical and spiritual support to persecuted Christians overseas.To inform and educate the UK Church about the persecution of Christians overseas.
How much income did Release International report in 2025?
Release International reported total income of £3.73m and reported expenditure of £3.16m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is Release International?
Release International has a program ratio of 78.3%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 30% of UK Religion charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 298 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was Release International registered as a charity?
Release International was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 19 August 1980 as charity number 280577. It has been registered for 46 years.
Who runs Release International?
Release International 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 Release International operate?
Release International operates across 28 areas, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bhutan and 25 others. The full list is shown on its profile.
Is Release International a registered charity?
Yes — Release International is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 280577.
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Registry Information
Other notable Religion charities
Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 1 other charity
Sectors & Classifications
Also Known As
- Christian Mission to the Communist World
- Release International
- Voice of Persecuted Christians
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 9 November 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated