Charities in Canterbury

There are 610 registered charities based in and around Canterbury. 446 of them (73%) are small, with an income under £100,000 a year. The most common causes are education, children and young people, and the arts and heritage.

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Canterbury in numbers

610
registered charities in and around the area
73%
are small, with an income under £100,000
7,100
volunteers give their time to local charities

What they work on

  • Education186
  • Children and young people178
  • Arts and heritage93
  • Poverty and hardship55
  • Disability50
  • Older people34
  • Environment21
  • Animals20

We count a charity under a cause when its description on the register makes it clear, which is true of 421 of the 610. Charities are placed by their registered address, so the numbers include some national charities with an office here. Volunteers are as reported by the 359 local charities under £1 million a year that file an annual return, from the returns held in October 2026. Data from the Charity Commission register, last refreshed in June 2026.

Education charities in Canterbury

5 of the 186 we found.

  1. The Canterbury Day Nursery, Holiday Playscheme and After School Club

    CT1 · Income £100k to £1m

    Nursery afterschool club and holiday playschemes

  2. Friends of Junior King's School, Canterbury

    CT2 · Small charity, income under £100k

    The object of FJKS is to advance the education of pupils in the school in particular by:1. Developing effective relationships between staff, parents and others associated with the school.2. Engaging in activities or…

  3. New School Canterbury Ltd

    CT4 · Income £100k to £1m

    To advance the education of children, families and the wider community, in accordance with, but not limited to, the holistic principles of Waldorf education. Principally to achieve this by the establishment, development…

  4. Friends of Canterbury School of Visual Arts

    CT5 · Income under £10k

    The principal aim of the Trust is to enhance the teaching and learning experience of students of Art at Canterbury College by facilitating public art activities in the wider community and by providing opportunities for…

  5. Canterbury Christian Schools Work Trust

    CT5 · Small charity, income under £100k

    The provision of manpower and other resources for the furtherance of Christian education in primary and secondary schools, through presentations at assemblies, RE lessons, mentoring, Christian unions and after-school…

Charities for children and young people in Canterbury

5 of the 178 we found.

  1. Canterbury Unit 67 of the Sea Cadet Corps

    CT1 · Income under £10k

    Through adventure that launches young people for life today, Canterbury Sea Cadets aim to help teenagers develop into resilient, confident young people who can launch well into today's complex and sometimes overwhelming…

  2. 14th Canterbury Scout Group

    CT1 · Small charity, income under £100k

    The Aim of the Scout Association is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of…

  3. The Rotary Club of Canterbury Millennium Scholarship Trust Fund

    CT2 · Income under £10k

    Providing grants to young people in Canterbury undertaking voluntary work and in particular, to assist with charitable organisations working abroad.

  4. La Petite Ecole De Canterbury

    CT2 · Small charity, income under £100k

    The object of La Petite Ecole de Canterbury is to promote the education of children living in South East Kent, educated in local English-speaking schools and having a knowledge of French by providing teaching services…

  5. Canterbury and District Early Years Project

    CT1 · Income £100k to £1m

    Established 32 years ago (1090139) becoming a CIO (1194003) in January 2022. The charity provides a range of services and resources to enhance the education, development, wellbeing and supports for children and their…

Arts and heritage charities in Canterbury

5 of the 93 we found.

  1. Friends of Canterbury Museums

    CT1 · Income under £10k

    Provide support and grants for Museums and Archive Offices in and for Canterbury

  2. Canterbury Theatre and Festival Trust

    CT1 · Income £100k to £1m

    Kent's International Arts Festival.Year round education & outreach activities.Commissioning & producing new works of relevance to East Kent

  3. The Friends of St Mildred's Church Canterbury

    CT1 · Income under £10k

    Assistance in the maintenance of the fabric of the parish church of St. Mildred's, Canterbury and in its preservation & protection and the promotion of its use for various social purposes by local residents & others.

  4. Canterbury Chamber Choir

    CT5 · Small charity, income under £100k

    Mixed voice chamber choir - concerts to raise money for charity

  5. Canterbury Music Club

    CT4 · Small charity, income under £100k

    Promoter of chamber music concerts by professional musicians to subscription paying members and the ticket purchasing public in the wider Canterbury area of Kent by live attendance as well as by online streaming of the…

Poverty and hardship charities in Canterbury

5 of the 55 we found.

  1. Canterbury Relief in Need Charity

    CT1 · Income under £10k

    Relief to those in Need in the City of Canterbury

  2. Canterbury Food Bank

    CT5 · Income £100k to £1m

    Canterbury Food Bank operates within the Canterbury City Council District (Whitstable, Canterbury, Herne Bay and surrounding villages) to alleviate poverty through the provision of crisis food parcels, items, services…

  3. Ctiw Haven Project

    CT5 · Small charity, income under £100k

    The relief of financial hardship among rough sleepers and other vulnerable people in and around Whitstable, Kent. Sadly, CTiW Haven Project (Haven) has closed permanently and is now in dormancy due to serious…

  4. Children of Grace Home

    CT1 · Small charity, income under £100k

    The preservation and protection of health and the relief of financial hardship among children living in visakhapatnam, india, particularly those orphaned or homeless, by such means as the trustees in their absolute…

  5. The Social Justice Network

    CT1 · Income £100k to £1m

    1.1 The relief of financial hardship, either generally or individually, through the provision of grants, goods, or services, mainly but not exclusively for the homeless, refugees and asylum seekers, and those leaving…

Disability charities in Canterbury

5 of the 50 we found.

  1. The Lord Mayor of Canterbury's Christmas Gift Fund

    CT4 · Small charity, income under £100k

    To relieve and assist isolated, vulnerable or needy individuals and families in the Local Government District for Canterbury City Council, by providing vouchers, food or any other means as the trustees deem appropriate.…

  2. Canterbury Health and Wellness Centre

    CT2 · Small charity, income under £100k

    To provide a safe, accessible inclusive fitness and wellbeing facility for the public benefit inCanterbury which will support the provision of sports and activities that encourage healthand fitness whilst promoting…

  3. The Thorndene Society Limited

    CT1 · Small charity, income under £100k

    The thorndene society provides financial assistance and other services to people with learning disabilities in order to enrich their lives. it also assists other organisations that have the same, or similar, aims.

  4. Westbere Sailing Opportunities (For People With Disabilities)

    CT5 · Income under £10k

    Westbere sailing opportunities offers therapeutic and recreational sailing experiences to people of all ages who have physical disabilities, learning difficulties or other conditions which might otherwise predude them…

  5. The Jamuna Trust

    CT4 · Income under £10k

    Support for education, training medical staff, relief from poverty and helping people with disabilities or medical needs.

Charities for older people in Canterbury

5 of the 34 we found.

  1. The Hospitals of St John the Baptist and St Nicholas, Canterbury

    CT1 · Income £100k to £1m

    The objective of the charity is to provide affordable residential accommodation for elderly people in need who have a link with Canterbury. The charity provides independent flats or cottages occupied at low rents. The…

  2. Canterbury and District University of the Third Age

    CT2 · Small charity, income under £100k

    Providing activities for those persons who are no longer in full-time employment. Groups, tutored and self-help, study and take part in classes in many subjects, dance, exercise, musical, dramatic sessions. The emphasis…

  3. Frank Kingsland's Trust for the Elderly

    CT3 · Small charity, income under £100k

    Provision of housing for the elderly

  4. East Kent Hospitals Charity

    CT1 · Income £100k to £1m

    Enhances the services and amenities provided by the Hospital Trust by purchasing both medical and other equipment, developing facilities for patients, visitors and staff, providing additional non essential training and…

  5. Oks Educational and Benevolent Trust

    CT1 · Small charity, income under £100k

    The principal objective of the charity is to pay all or part of the school fees payable in respect of deserving boys or girls, who are in education at the King's School, Canterbury, and, who but for the help of the…

Small charities in Canterbury

Most charities here are small, often a few volunteers doing good work close to home, and few of them can afford to advertise. Each of these has an income under £100,000 a year and has reported its accounts recently.

  1. Acol Village Hall

    CT7 · Income under £10k

    The charity maintains the upkeep of the village hall and arranges fund-raising events. These encourage participation by all and ensure a continual village environment. Events include :- Spring and Autumn fairs, beetle…

  2. Chartham Village Hall Management Committee

    CT4 · Small charity, income under £100k

    Operation, maintenance and management of Chartham Village Hall.

  3. 18th Dover (Shepherdswell) Scout Group

    CT4 · Small charity, income under £100k

    scout group general fundraising

  4. City Boxing Abc

    CT2 · Small charity, income under £100k

    The boxing club is a charity boxing club allowing members fees at a reduced rate so more children and low income families are able to take part in this activity.

  5. The Friends of Adisham Church

    CT3 · Income under £10k

    The charity is charged by adisham parochial church council to secure the reordering of holy innocents church, adisham for the benefit of the people of adisham. the charity raises funds to pay for the structural work…

  6. Wingham Pre-school CIO

    CT3 · Small charity, income under £100k

    We provide high quality care & education to pre-school children aged 2-5 years in a safe, secure & stimulating environment within a framework that promotes equality and values diversity. We work in partnership…

  7. The Malcolm Eglin Trust

    CT1 · Small charity, income under £100k

    Support for young people - particularly in a sporting context

  8. Whitstable,herne Bay, Canterbury Lions Club (CIO)

    CT6 · Small charity, income under £100k

    We are part of Lions Clubs International with our Head Office in Oakbrook, Chicago USA.We run fund raising events such as Boot Fairs, Santa Grotto, Bucket Shakes etc for Charity to support our local community

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Questions people ask

How many charities are there in Canterbury?

There are 610 registered charities based in and around Canterbury. 446 of them (73%) are small, with an income under £100,000 a year. The figures come from the Charity Commission register for England and Wales, last refreshed in June 2026, and count charities by their registered address.

What do charities in Canterbury work on?

The most common causes are education (186), children and young people (178), and the arts and heritage (93). We count a charity under a cause when its own description on the register makes that clear, which is true of 421 of the 610, so the real numbers are higher.

How many people volunteer for charities in Canterbury?

Local charities in and around Canterbury have 7,100 volunteers between them. That's what 359 charities with an income under £1 million a year told the Charity Commission in their latest annual return. Charities with an income under £10,000 don't have to report it, so the real number is higher.

How do I choose a charity in Canterbury to support?

Start with what matters to you. Answer a few short questions and we'll pick the few Canterbury charities that fit you best, with the reasons why. It's free, takes a couple of minutes, and we never ask for any contact details. No charity can pay to appear on your list. Start with your story.

How can I check a charity in Canterbury is genuine?

Look it up on the Charity Commission register by its name or charity number. Its page there shows what it does, who its trustees are and its latest accounts. Every charity on this page links straight to its register record.

Charities in places nearby

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