Charities by cause

Pick something you care about to see the charities working on it, what they do, and the small, local ones that rarely get noticed. Every one is on the Charity Commission register, chosen from all 185,661.

Updated 29 October 2026. More causes are on the way.

• Mental health charities

  4,559 charities, 2,101 of them small

  Mental health charities listen, talk things through and stay alongside people when life gets hard.

• Homelessness charities

  1,957 charities, 846 of them small

  Homelessness charities do everything from a hot meal and a sleeping bag on a cold night to helping someone settle into a home of their own, and keep it.

• Cancer charities

  1,447 charities, 779 of them small

  Cancer charities fund research, help on hospital wards and in hospices, and support people and their families through treatment and afterwards.

• Animal charities

  3,606 charities, 1,965 of them small

  Animal charities rescue and rehome pets, care for injured wildlife, look after horses and donkeys, and help owners who are struggling with vet bills.

• Environmental charities

  5,798 charities, 3,454 of them small

  Environmental charities look after nature reserves and woodland, clean up rivers and beaches, plant trees, and help communities cut waste and use less energy.

• Charities for children and young people

  52,856 charities, 34,020 of them small

  Charities for children and young people run youth clubs and holiday schemes, support families, help children who are ill or disabled, and give young people somewhere safe to go and someone to talk to.

• Charities for older people

  7,973 charities, 5,731 of them small

  Charities for older people visit people at home, run lunch clubs and day centres, give lifts to appointments, and provide homes in almshouses.

• Disability charities

  18,072 charities, 9,603 of them small

  Disability charities help people live the life they choose.

• Poverty and hardship charities

  13,261 charities, 8,110 of them small

  Poverty and hardship charities give grants to people in need, help with debt and benefits, hand out food, clothes and furniture, and help people into work.

• Food poverty charities

  1,208 charities, 573 of them small

  Food poverty charities run food banks, community pantries, free meals and breakfast clubs, and many save good food from going to waste.

• Charities for refugees and asylum seekers

  1,408 charities, 662 of them small

  Charities for refugees and asylum seekers offer a warm welcome, English lessons, legal advice, a bed for the night and help finding work.

• Domestic abuse charities

  758 charities, 224 of them small

  Domestic abuse charities give people a safe place to stay, answer helplines, support them through court, and help them and their children recover and start again.

• Dementia charities

  498 charities, 245 of them small

  Dementia charities run memory cafes and day clubs, support carers and families, give people living with dementia the chance to sing, dance and stay connected, and fund research.

• Addiction and recovery charities

  972 charities, 418 of them small

  Addiction and recovery charities help people with alcohol, drugs and gambling.

• Hospice and end of life charities

  651 charities, 296 of them small

  Hospice and end of life charities care for people in their last months, days and hours, at home or in a hospice, and support their families before and after.

• Charities for veterans

  421 charities, 169 of them small

  Charities for veterans help former service men and women and their families with grants, housing, mental health support and the friendship of people who've served.

• Charities for unpaid carers

  321 charities, 109 of them small

  Charities for unpaid carers support people looking after a family member or friend.

• Heart and lung charities

  223 charities, 115 of them small

  Heart and lung charities support people living with heart conditions and breathing problems, fund research, help hospital units buy equipment, and run support groups and exercise classes.

• Overseas aid charities

  4,018 charities, 2,591 of them small

  Overseas aid charities bring clean water, healthcare and schooling to communities abroad, help people make a living, and respond when disaster strikes.

• Arts and heritage charities

  21,987 charities, 14,975 of them small

  Arts and heritage charities run local theatres, choirs, orchestras and festivals, care for museums and historic buildings, and bring art to people who might never see it.