Income is on the rise at one of the country's most popular charities

Income is up at Help for Heroes, arresting four years of decline according to the organisation’s latest annual accounts.

The forces’ charity has witnessed a £3.3m rise in income for the year ending September 2014 up to £37.2m from £33.9m.

This amount reverses a steady fall in income since 2011 when it peaked at £46.6m.

Total spending was up £12m to more than £33m. Voluntary income has increased by £2m up to £26m, largely due to an increase in legacies.

Expenditure has increased due to the charity awarding more grants and an increase of a third in spending on “recovery delivery costs”, which involves supporting the wounded, the figures show.

And the amount spent on employees and salaries rose by around £3m while the average number of employees increased to 304 from 224.

Some £4.8m of reserves is held by the organisation, the accounts show, enough for five months of fixed running costs.

Chief executive Bryn Parry said: “Historically, much of our income has come from voluntary donations. However, that balance is changing as single voluntary donations are making way for other more predictable ways of giving such as regular giving and legacies.

“In this financial period we sought to stabilise our income, reversing a downward trend that had been evident since a peak in 2010.

“That year saw some of the worst fighting in recent times, and the public’s reaction to what they saw on their TVs, internet and in their newspapers throughout 2009 and 2010 was incredible.”