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The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

Charity rating & review

86/100 Clarity Score · 4 stars · Charity Commission filings · How we score

Verified · Charity Commission data
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86 /100

Clarity score

Good

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Quick answer

Is The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children a good charity?

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children scores 86/100 (4 stars, Good) on CharityCompare's Clarity Score, calculated from its UK regulator filings. Its latest accounts year is 2025 (£120m total income, 72% of spending on charitable activities). This reflects financial transparency and stewardship on paper — not the real-world impact of its programmes. See the full breakdown.

London · UK-wide · EC2A 3NH Reg 216401 Registered charity Official website Charity Commission register

What does The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children do?

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is a registered charity (no. 216401) working in education across the United Kingdom. Its latest Charity Commission filing directs 72% of spending to charitable activities, holding roughly 10 months of reserves, and files its annual accounts on time. Reported income has been broadly stable over recent years. CharityCompare's Clarity Score rates the organisation only from public Charity Commission accounts — accountability, financial health, efficiency and community support — not the quality or impact of its programmes.

Summarised from public filings — The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children hasn't added its own description yet. Work here? Add it free →

In short: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN scores 86 out of 100 (4 stars). 72% average program spend (3-year average). Filings are up to date with no major concerns.

What is The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children?

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has a Clarity Score of 86 out of 100 on CharityCompare (4 stars, Good). Charity Commission registration number 216401. Status: Registered. Primary cause area: Education. Latest accounts year 2025: total income £120m, with 72% of expenditure on charitable activities. Accounts filing: up to date. Reserves: approximately 10 months of operating costs. No major red flags from our filing review. Scores are independent and based on official filings — not a donation recommendation.

Data from Charity Commission register, last updated .

Overall score

86/100

4★ · Good

Cause spend

72%

3-yr avg · charitable activities

Accountability

100/100

Finance beacon

Income

£120m

Latest year 2025

Reserves

10 mo

Months of running costs

Accounts filing

On time

Charity Commission

£4.3 raised per £1 fundraising (3-yr avg) · 25% overhead · Website on register · Confidence: high

How does THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN compare?

Clarity Score percentile against similar UK charities — the share of peers THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN scores higher than.

Income band (£10m+)80thpercentile

Scores higher than 80% of 943 charities in its income band · 86/100 vs 77 peer average (marker).

Education charities79thpercentile

Scores higher than 79% of 579 charities in this cause · 86/100 vs 74 peer average (marker).

How reliable is The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's data?

Source
Charity Commission (England & Wales)
Accounts year
2025
Filing date
Profile reviewed

High confidence — complete filing data

Scores reflect the latest annual accounts on the register. Clarity Score measures how clearly the charity accounts for money in those filings — not programme impact.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources: Charity Commission for England and Wales, Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Open Government Licence v3.0 .

What is The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Beacon report?

Detailed accountability and finance metrics from UK regulator filings — structured for transparency in our four-beacon report.

Accountability & Transparency

Baseline trust from filing discipline, board oversight, and declared governance policies.

100/100

Accountability & Transparency metrics for THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN
Metric Score Value
Filing history (5 years)

100% on-time over five years = 15 pts · one late filing = 5 pts · two or more = 0 pts.

100% 15/15 pts
Trustee oversight

Three or more trustees on the register = 15 pts, scaled down for fewer (governance red flag below three).

100% 12 trustees · 15/15 pts
Declared policies

Safeguarding (4) · conflict of interest (3) · volunteer management (3) — from Charity Commission annual return.

100% 10/10 pts

Financial Health

Stability and solvency — reserves, revenue trend, and debt from Charity Commission accounts.

80/100

Financial Health metrics for THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN
Metric Score Value
Reserves (months of cash)

3–24 months = full marks, tapering on both sides · 0 months or 4+ years (hoarding) = 0 pts.

100% 10 months · 15/15 pts
Income stability / growth

+20% or more over the window = 10 pts · flat = 5 pts · −20% or worse = 0 pts, scaled between.

50% 5/10 pts · 3-year average
Liabilities to assets

0% liabilities-to-assets = 5 pts, scaling down to 0 pts at 60%+ debt.

80% 12% · 4/5 pts

Financial Efficiency

How efficiently funds reach the cause — program spend and fundraising cost ratios.

60/100

Financial Efficiency metrics for THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN
Metric Score Value
Program expense ratio

90%+ on charitable activities = full marks, scaling down to 0 pts at 50% or below.

60% 72% · 6/10 pts (3-year average)
Fundraising efficiency

≤10p to raise £1 = full marks, scaling down to 0 pts at 40p or above (fundraising cost ÷ income).

60% 23p per £1 income · 6/10 pts (3-year average)

Community Support

Grassroots backing from Charity Commission workforce data — volunteers vs paid staff.

100/100

Community Support metrics for THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN
Metric Score Value
Volunteer-to-staff ratio

Volunteers at 2x staff or more = full marks · no volunteers = 0 pts, scaled between.

100% 3,909 volunteers / 1484 staff · 10/10 pts

How we calculate beacon scores →

What is The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Clarity Score?

86/100 total · Good · 4 of 5 stars

Four pillars (40 + 30 + 20 + 10 points) from Charity Commission filings — see methodology for full weightings.

100/100
Accountability & Transparency
80/100
Financial Health
60/100
Financial Efficiency
100/100
Community Support

Accountability & Transparency

Baseline trust from filing discipline, board oversight, and declared governance policies.

100/100

Filing history (5 years)15/15 pts
Trustee oversight12 trustees · 15/15 pts
Declared policies10/10 pts

Financial Health

Stability and solvency — reserves, revenue trend, and debt from Charity Commission accounts.

80/100

Reserves (months of cash)10 months · 15/15 pts
Income stability / growth5/10 pts · 3-year average
Liabilities to assets12% · 4/5 pts

Financial Efficiency

How efficiently funds reach the cause — program spend and fundraising cost ratios.

60/100

Program expense ratio72% · 6/10 pts (3-year average)
Fundraising efficiency23p per £1 income · 6/10 pts (3-year average)

Community Support

Grassroots backing from Charity Commission workforce data — volunteers vs paid staff.

100/100

Volunteer-to-staff ratio3,909 volunteers / 1484 staff · 10/10 pts

How much does The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children raise and spend?

Latest filed year 2025 · Source: Charity Commission filings

THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN revenue and expenses for 2025
Category Amount % of spend
Total income £120m
Total expenditure £122m
Charitable activities £85m 70%
Fundraising £34m 28%
Governance & admin £486k 0%
70%On charitable activities

Where does the money go?

Latest accounts (2025) · £122m spent

  • Charitable activities70%
  • Fundraising28%
  • Governance0%
  • Other spending2%

What trust indicators does The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children have?

Pulled from the Charity Commission register — filing behaviour, board size, and workforce where reported.

  • Accounts filed on time

    up to date · last filing

  • Trustee board size (3–12)

    12 trustees on the Charity Commission register

  • Workforce on register

    1484 employees · 3,909 volunteers (3:1 volunteer-to-staff)

Fundraising Regulator

Status not yet checked

Separate from our financial scores — shows whether the charity follows the Code of Fundraising Practice.

Check Fundraising Regulator →

Official register

Reg 216401

Full trustee list, accounts, and regulatory history on the Charity Commission.

View on Charity Commission →

Trustees & officers

  • ANDREW CAMERON KERR since 2018
  • Ife Grillo since 2020
  • Eithne Mary Fiona Daly since 2020
  • Sheanna Patelmaster since 2020
  • Albert Lawrence Heaney since 2021
  • Emma Jane Smyth since 2021
  • Abigail Zein since 2023
  • Ryan Jean Stourton den Rooijen since 2024
  • Kathleen Ruth Saxton since 2024
  • Emma Scott Chair · since 2025
  • Gillian Bruton since 2026
  • Sajad Manzoor since 2026
How we score charities +

The Clarity Score is a 100-point rating from UK regulator filings (Charity Commission for England and Wales, OSCR and CCNI). Four pillars — Accountability & Transparency (40), Financial Health (30), Financial Efficiency (20), and Community Support (10) — each scored on a continuous scale, not pass/fail cutoffs. A statutory inquiry sets the score to 0 automatically.

Full methodology →

Accountability & Transparency

Scored from filings

40 points — filing history (15), trustee oversight (15, scaling up to a board of three or more), declared policies (10).

Financial Health

Scored from filings

30 points — reserves (15, full marks 3–24 months, tapering on both sides), income stability (10), liabilities to assets (5, scaling down as debt rises).

Financial Efficiency

Scored from filings

20 points — program expense ratio and fundraising cost, each on a graduated scale (not a single cutoff). Kept at 20% of the total: financial-ratio scoring alone is not a reliable effectiveness signal (see "why not just an overhead ratio?" below).

Community Support

Scored from filings

10 points — volunteer-to-staff ratio from Charity Commission workforce data, scaling continuously up to a 2:1 ratio.

Overall score

Sum of all pillar points. Display stars use the same bands as the labels: 90–100 → 5★ Exceptional; 75–89 → 4★ Good; 60–74 → 3★ Needs improvement; 1–59 → 2★ Poor; 0 → not rated.

How have The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's finances changed over five years?

£0k £31200k £62400k £93600k £124800k 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Income 2021: £121,821k Spending 2021: £112,503k Cause spend 2021: £83,285k Income 2022: £123,609k Spending 2022: £103,861k Cause spend 2022: £76,039k Income 2023: £120,582k Spending 2023: £103,533k Cause spend 2023: £77,254k Income 2024: £124,734k Spending 2024: £118,230k Cause spend 2024: £85,548k Income 2025: £120,284k Spending 2025: £122,181k Cause spend 2025: £85,278k
  • Income
  • Spending
  • Cause spend

Values in £ thousands · Cause spend plotted only when the filing discloses a split · Source: Charity Commission accounts

What are the key facts about The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children?

Overall score
86/100 (4★)
Income
£120m
Cause spend
72% of expenditure
Reg number
216401
Scope
UK-wide
Reserves
10 months
Trustees
12
Accounts year
2025
Filing
up to date

Where THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN sits

The causes this charity is classified under, and other charities working nearby.

Similar education charities

Top-rated peers by CharityCompare score

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Frequently asked questions

Common questions about The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's rating, finances, and Charity Commission status.

Is The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children a good charity? +

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children scores 86 out of 100 (4 stars — Good) on CharityCompare's Clarity Score, our independent read of its UK regulator filings. Around 72% of its spending goes to charitable activities and its accounts are up to date. That reflects how transparent and financially healthy it looks on paper — it does not measure the real-world impact of its work, so treat it as one factor alongside the cause you care about. CharityCompare never tells you where to donate.

Is The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children a legitimate charity? +

Yes — The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is a legitimate registered charity (charity number 216401). Verify it on the official register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/216401. Registration proves status; Clarity Score then summarises filing transparency on paper, not programme impact.

What is The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's charity number? +

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's charity number is 216401. Check that number on the official register (Charity Commission, OSCR or CCNI) or this CharityCompare profile before you donate — scammers sometimes reuse real numbers on fake appeals.

What is The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's charity rating? +

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children scores 86 out of 100 on CharityCompare (4 stars — Good). The Clarity Score V1 sums four pillars from UK regulator filings: Accountability & Transparency (40 pts), Financial Health (30), Financial Efficiency (20), and Community Support (10). Stars use the same bands as those labels — 90+ is 5★ Exceptional. It is not an impact ranking.

Does The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children have reviews and complaints? +

CharityCompare does not host public user reviews for The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Instead you get a filing-based Clarity Score, cause spend, reserves and red flags such as late accounts. For formal complaints about a charity, contact the Charity Commission, OSCR, CCNI or the Fundraising Regulator as appropriate.

How much of my donation reaches The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children? +

According to its 2025 regulator filing, 72% of The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's total spending went to charitable activities (3-yr avg across disclosed years). That is the closest official figure to "how much of your donation reaches the cause" — it is an average across all spending in the filing, not a pound-by-pound breakdown of an individual gift.

What are The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's overheads? +

According to its 2025 regulator filing, fundraising costs were about 25% of total expenditure and combined overheads (fundraising plus governance) were about 25% of total expenditure at The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The filings CharityCompare uses do not publish CEO or senior-staff pay, so we cannot say what The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's chief executive is paid — where disclosure rules apply, senior pay appears in the trustees' annual report on the Charity Commission register.

How much income does The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children receive? +

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children reported £120m total income in its 2025 accounts, based on UK regulator filings. Five-year trend: stable.

Are The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's accounts up to date? +

Filing status: up to date (last filing 2026-06-24). CharityCompare flags late or missing accounts separately from the financial score.

Where is The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children based? +

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is listed at London · UK-wide · EC2A 3NH and operates UK-wide, focused on education.

How does CharityCompare score The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children? +

We calculate a Clarity Score of 0–100 from four pillars in The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's regulator filings: Accountability & Transparency (40 points — filing history, trustees, policies), Financial Health (30 — reserves, income trend, debt), Financial Efficiency (20 — cause spend and fundraising cost, on a graduated scale) and Community Support (10 — volunteer-to-staff ratio). An open statutory inquiry scores 0. The score measures reporting on paper, not programme impact. CharityCompare is free for donors, takes no commission on donations, and scores cannot be bought.

How often is this page updated? +

This profile was last updated on 17 July 2026 from the latest UK regulator data available to CharityCompare, and The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's most recent accounts cover 2025. Scores and figures refresh whenever we re-ingest the register, so the page reflects our latest data pull rather than a one-off review.