Investments keep Lighthouse in the black

The Lighthouse construction industry charity has reported a small profit, despite spending more than it earned in 2024.

The Ipswich-based organisation, which tackles mental health in the construction industry, spent £4.6m in the year ended 31 December 2024, with £1.8m spent on “welfare and benevolence” for charity users and £1.25m spent on fundraising and publicity. 

The organisation’s total income was only £4.5m, with the charity spending £84,000 more than it accrued. Most of its income (£3.6m) was from donations and legacies, with a further £796,000 coming from trading activities such as contracts with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). 

However, the value of the charity’s financial investments increased by £97,000, meaning it reported £14,000 net income for the year. It’s total cash investment held with fund manager Brewin Dolphin now stands at £697,000.

Lighthouse’s expenditure increased by 27 per cent — or almost £1m — last year, with £680,000 being spent on new staff members for its partnerships team, which is driving an initiative to grow more supporters. 

However, the charity still reduced its operating deficit, having spent £245,000 more than it earned in 2023. Its total funds stood at £2.8m at the end of the year, down £46,000 from a year earlier. 

Lighthouse said it is seeking to increase its number of company supporters to drive predictable income and reduce its reliance on fundraising events, and is also seeking to bolster its “reactive services” responding to incidents. 

“Simultaneously, we are committed to enhancing the efficiency of our internal systems and processes,” it added. 

“Through rigorous evaluation and optimisation, and where feasible, automation, we aim to streamline operations, reduce manual workload, and enhance decision-making capabilities, ultimately driving down costs.”

Lighthouse helped clients receive support worth £2.27m from other charities and the welfare system in 2024, with its helpline supporting 5,695 construction families in need of emotional, physical or financial support. 

The charity’s Make It Visible On-Site outreach programme also saw ambassadors visit 572 building sites to talk about mental health, with 28,070 workers engaged and 88 “active rescues” initiatiated — whereby workers with suicidal ideation were given immediate counselling.