The Forum Trust Limited

Analysis

The Forum Trust Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Norwich. It was registered in March 1999, 27 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science, environment/conservation/heritage and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03470398). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Forum Trust Limited reported income of £3.7m and spending of £4.9m, spending 132% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £2.2m to £3.7m (+71%), an average of +14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 42%. Over the whole period it spent 130% of the income it received.

Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Forum Trust Limited sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust Limited (£3.7m), Achieve Lifestyle (£3.7m) and High Peak Theatre Trust Limited (£3.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from investments 57%, trading 32%, charitable activities 9.2% and donations and legacies 1.9%. Charitable activities took 50% of spending and raising funds 48%. Reserves of £4.1m would cover about 10 months of spending at that rate. It employed 50 people.

Data notes from the register: The latest annual return was received after its deadline. Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.