Vso
Also known as: Voluntary Service Overseas
VSO IS THE WORLD'S LEADING INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY WORKING FOR CHANGE THROUGH VOLUNTEERS. VSO BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SHARE SKILLS, CREATIVITY AND LEARNING TO BUILD A FAIRER WORLD. VSO HAS PROGRAMMES IN OVER TWENTY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FOCUSING ON DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN THREE THEMATIC AREAS: EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SECURE LIVELIHOODS.
Activities & Mission
VSO IS THE WORLD'S LEADING INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY WORKING FOR CHANGE THROUGH VOLUNTEERS. VSO BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SHARE SKILLS, CREATIVITY AND LEARNING TO BUILD A FAIRER WORLD. VSO HAS PROGRAMMES IN OVER TWENTY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FOCUSING ON DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN THREE THEMATIC AREAS: EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SECURE LIVELIHOODS.
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 23 areas of operation Hide areas of operation
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 94% of UK Charity and VCS support charities with income over £10M (sample: 62). How is this calculated?
Higher than 42% of UK Charity and VCS support charities with income over £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 35% of UK Charity and VCS support charities with income over £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 | £24,673,000 | £30,613,000 | £26,795,000 | £7,879,000 | £6,950,000 | 407 / 19 |
| 2024 | £32,059,000 | £34,522,000 | £29,390,000 | £16,047,000 | £9,237,000 | 473 / 23 |
| 2023 | £40,397,650 | £39,180,000 | £34,086,000 | £18,510,000 | £10,429,000 | 500 / 105 |
| 2022 | £33,310,000 | £38,809,000 | £34,228,000 | £17,292,000 | £11,882,000 | 518 / 69 |
| 2021 | £49,434,000 | £46,951,000 | £41,818,000 | £21,637,000 | £12,800,000 | 660 / 80 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about Vso
What does Vso do?
VSO IS THE WORLD'S LEADING INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY WORKING FOR CHANGE THROUGH VOLUNTEERS. VSO BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SHARE SKILLS, CREATIVITY AND LEARNING TO BUILD A FAIRER WORLD. VSO HAS PROGRAMMES IN OVER TWENTY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FOCUSING ON DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN THREE THEMATIC AREAS: EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SECURE LIVELIHOODS.
How much income did Vso report in 2025?
Vso reported total income of £24.67m and reported expenditure of £30.61m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is Vso?
Vso has a program ratio of 108.6%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 94% of UK Charity and VCS support charities with income over £10M (sample of 62 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was Vso registered as a charity?
Vso was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 14 February 1962 as charity number 313757. It has been registered for 64 years.
Who runs Vso?
Vso is governed by a board of 7 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does Vso operate?
Vso operates across 23 areas, including Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia and 20 others. The full list is shown on its profile.
Is Vso a registered charity?
Yes — Vso is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 313757.
Details
2 PUTNEY HILL
LONDON
SW15 6AB
Registry Information
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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
Sectors & Classifications
Also Known As
- Voluntary Service Overseas
- Vso
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated