The British Red Cross grew its income by £28m in the year 2013, according to accounts filed earlier this month.

The figures show that it rose to £228m, a 14 per cent rise compared to £200m in the previous year.

The charity said the increase was largely down to an increase in its appeals income, including an appeal for victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, which raised £14m.

Donations rose 19 per cent to £107m, while contract and fee income, principally from first aid training in the UK, rose 14 per cent to £44m. The charity also received £28m from retail, £25m in grants, and £22m in legacies.

The previous year the charity had suffered a £14m drop in income, which it said was largely down to a drop in appeals income, caused by fewer high-profile disasters.

“Whilst we are reporting a strong financial position for 2013, we do have concerns for the future with the strain on government contracts linked to the continuing austerity measures as well as indications that the growth in our fundraising income is beginning to slow,” the charity said in its accounts.

The charity spent £232m, of which £155m went directly on charitable activities.

“All expenditure ultimately goes towards helping those in crisis, be it expenditure directly on our charitable activities or expenditure to secure our future income,” the accounts said.

The charity said that it was intentionally spending more than it earned as it ran down its reserves. Free reserves were £32m, down from £38m.

Sir Nicholas Young, who is to retire as chief executive of the charity later this year, saw his salary rise to between £200,000 and £210,000, up from £190,000 to £200,000 in the previous year.