When You Wish Upon A Star
When You Wish Upon a Star aims to grant the 'Wishes' of children from the age of 4 to 16 years who are living with a life threatening or terminal illness
Activities & Mission
When You Wish Upon a Star aims to grant the 'Wishes' of children from the age of 4 to 16 years who are living with a life threatening or terminal illness
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.
Country
Region
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 26% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 3130). How is this calculated?
Higher than 6% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 4% 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
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 | £1,066,377 | £1,492,650 | £852,836 | £850,634 | £930,959 | 10 / 8 |
| 2024 | £1,275,399 | £1,273,204 | £710,668 | £1,357,232 | £897,552 | 17 / 44 |
| 2023 | £1,068,604 | £1,362,501 | £852,313 | £1,355,037 | £665,558 | 19 / 20 |
| 2022 | £1,186,152 | £1,198,310 | £682,850 | £1,564,983 | £443,585 | 21 / 15 |
| 2021 | £1,028,263 | £1,013,969 | £478,207 | £1,577,532 | £455,722 | 22 / 15 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about When You Wish Upon A Star
What does When You Wish Upon A Star do?
When You Wish Upon a Star aims to grant the 'Wishes' of children from the age of 4 to 16 years who are living with a life threatening or terminal illness
How much income did When You Wish Upon A Star report in 2025?
When You Wish Upon A Star reported total income of £1.07m and reported expenditure of £1.49m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is When You Wish Upon A Star?
When You Wish Upon A Star has a program ratio of 80.0%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 26% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 3130 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was When You Wish Upon A Star registered as a charity?
When You Wish Upon A Star was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 26 February 1997 as charity number 1060963. It has been registered for 29 years.
Who runs When You Wish Upon A Star?
When You Wish Upon A Star is governed by a board of 8 trustees. The chair of trustees is Paul Smith. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does When You Wish Upon A Star operate?
When You Wish Upon A Star operates across 4 areas: Scotland, Spain, United States and England And Wales.
Is When You Wish Upon A Star a registered charity?
Yes — When You Wish Upon A Star is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1060963.
Details
Mellors Way
Nottingham Business Park
NOTTINGHAM
NG8 6PY
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
Sectors & Classifications
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated