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Royal Engineers Association

Also known as: Rea, The Sapper Charity

To provide financial and other assistance to serving and former members of the Corps, their spouses, widows, widowers and dependants who are in need through poverty. To make grants, within Association Guidelines, to the Army Benevolent Fund and to other charities that further the objectives of the Association.

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Activities & Mission

To provide financial and other assistance to serving and former members of the Corps, their spouses, widows, widowers and dependants who are in need through poverty. To make grants, within Association Guidelines, to the Army Benevolent Fund and to other charities that further the objectives of the Association.

Grants

Royal Engineers Association is a grant-making charity: making grants is its main activity.

Gives grants to
organisations and individuals
Grants paid (2025)
£102,000
Who it helps
children and young people, elderly people, people with disabilities, other charities or voluntary bodies and other defined groups
What it supports
general charitable purposes, education and training, the advancement of health or the saving of lives, disability, the prevention or relief of poverty, accommodation or housing, amateur sport, economic or community development and employment, armed forces or emergency service efficiency, recreation and other charitable purposes

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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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.

Financial Information

Latest Income
£1,731,738
Latest Expenditure
£1,989,007

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 114.8%
% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 89% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 959). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 99.9%
% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 72% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 1.6%
Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 52% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £1,019,313
Charitable Activities £0
Other Trading £180,012
Investments £474,695
Other Income £57,718

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £1,987,196
Raising Funds £1,811
Governance £30,763
Grants to Institutions £102,000
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 2025.

Financial YearIncomeExpenditureCharitable SpendingNet AssetsReservesStaff
2025
£1,731,738
£1,989,007£1,987,196£12,687,031£11,241,54920 / 650
2024
£1,437,036
£1,966,681£1,964,485£12,095,451£11,534,40011 / 330
2023
£2,436,674
£2,398,573£2,394,973£12,163,258£11,462,9158 / 324
2022
£1,359,139
£1,903,521£1,902,420£12,091,630£11,462,9157 / 250
2021
£1,326,966
£1,445,496£1,445,208£14,412,630£13,391,3946 / 300

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about Royal Engineers Association

What does Royal Engineers Association do?

To provide financial and other assistance to serving and former members of the Corps, their spouses, widows, widowers and dependants who are in need through poverty. To make grants, within Association Guidelines, to the Army Benevolent Fund and to other charities that further the objectives of the Association.

How much income did Royal Engineers Association report in 2025?

Royal Engineers Association reported total income of £1.73m and reported expenditure of £1.99m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is Royal Engineers Association?

Royal Engineers Association has a program ratio of 114.8%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 89% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 959 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was Royal Engineers Association registered as a charity?

Royal Engineers Association was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 3 June 1969 as charity number 258322. It has been registered for 57 years.

Who runs Royal Engineers Association?

Royal Engineers Association is governed by a board of 11 trustees. The chair of trustees is Maj Gen A S Dickinson CBE. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does Royal Engineers Association operate?

Royal Engineers Association operates across 3 areas: Northern Ireland, Scotland and England And Wales.

Is Royal Engineers Association a registered charity?

Yes — Royal Engineers Association is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 258322.

Details

Contact (address, email, phone)
Registration Date
3 June 1969
Status
Registered

Registry Information

Organisation Number
258322
Charity Number
258322

Trustees

Maj Gen A S Dickinson CBE Chair
Also governs 1 other charity
Col retd Jonathan Mark Ruddy
Col Claire James RE
Colin Basnett CBE
Colonel Guy Cheesman ADC
Craig Smith
Also governs 1 other charity
Jeffrey Jupp KC
Lord Lancaster Mark Lancaster TD PC
Lt Col Retd. Martin James Heffer TD RE
Also governs 2 other charities
Matt Bazeley OBE
Rowan Adams

Also Known As

  • Rea
  • The Sapper Charity

Data & trust

Register data refreshed
9 November 2026
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