The Bat Conservation Trust
Analysis
The Bat Conservation Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in June 1992, 34 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, animals and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02712823). It says it provides advocacy/advice/information, sponsors or undertakes research and acts as an umbrella or resource body.
In the financial year ending March 2025, The Bat Conservation Trust reported income of £3.0m and spending of £3.1m, spending 103% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £1.6m to £3.0m (+90%), an average of +18% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 58%. Over the whole period it spent 96% of the income it received.
Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, The Bat Conservation Trust sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Wildheart Trust (£3.0m), International Cat Care (£3.0m) and The Wildlife Hospital Foundation (£2.9m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 80%, donations and legacies 17% and investments 2.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £163k. Charitable activities took 91% of spending and raising funds 8.3%. Reserves of £859k would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 60 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 12%
- Legacies 5.5%
- Charitable activities 80%
- Investments 2.3%
In the charity's own words
The Bat Conservation Trust's mission is to secure the future of bats in a changing world. Our work spans discovering more about bats and their landscapes, taking action to secure bat populations and protect key habitats, and engaging people with bat conservation. We work locally, nationally and internationally to achieve our vision of a world where bats and people thrive together in harmony.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Wildheart Trust | Isle of Wight | £3.0m |
| International Cat Care | Salisbury | £3.0m |
| The Wildlife Hospital Foundation | Buckinghamshire | £2.9m |
| John Pearce Foundation | London | £3.0m |