The Shark Trust

Analysis

The Shark Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Devon. It was registered in September 1997, 29 years ago. Its declared purposes cover animals and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03396164). It says it provides advocacy/advice/information, sponsors or undertakes research and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Shark Trust reported income of £764k and spending of £787k, spending 103% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £470k to £764k (+62%), an average of +13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 65%. Over the whole period it spent 104% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, The Shark Trust sits at the 90th percentile: it is larger than about 90% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 92nd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Dogs' Friends (£760k), Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Wirral and Chester Branch (£764k) and Greyhound Rescue Wales (£751k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 47%, charitable activities 44% and trading 4.3%. Charitable activities took 86% of spending and raising funds 5.9%. Grants to other organisations totalled £91k. Reserves of £150k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 11 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.