Income at an armed forces support charity increased by £2.4m after a multimillion-pound bump in legacy income, new figures show.

The Army Benevolent Fund’s accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2024 show its income increased to £15.2m from £12.8m in 2022/23.

The rise was due to legacy income more than doubling from £2.3m in 2022/23 to £5.2m last year, according to the accounts. 

This increase was mainly because of eight legacies the charity received in 2023/24 totalling £2m, the charity said. 

A spokesperson for the charity said: “The number of legacy notifications in the financial year ending 31 March 2024 (36 residual legacies and 38 pecuniary legacies) was similar to 31 March 2023 (31 residual legacies and 40 pecuniary legacies).

“However, eight residuary notifications accounted for around £2m, reflecting the increase in our legacy income.”

Donations income was slightly lower at £2.8m in 2023/24 compared with £3.3m in the previous year but income from the army, which comprises donations from individuals, regimental and corps charities and the Army Dependants’ Trust, increased by about £400,000 year on year to just under £2m.

Total spending at the organisation, which last year reverted to its former name after 14 years as ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, increased by just under £1m to £15.6m, with fundraising costs increasing £5.7m to £6.5m.

The Army Benevolent Fund spent £9m on charitable activities reaching about 75,000 soldiers, veterans and their families through 3,800 individual grants and by providing funding to 86 other charities and organisations, the accounts say. 

This is up from 2022/23, when the charity supported 70,000 people in 45 countries through 3,763 individual grants, also funding 74 organisations.