Play to the Crowd

Analysis

Play to the Crowd is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Winchester. It was registered in August 1999, 27 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03696681). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Play to the Crowd reported income of £2.7m and spending of £2.7m, spending 101% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £1.7m to £2.7m (+61%), an average of +13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 18%. Over the whole period it spent 96% 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, Play to the Crowd 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 Barbican Centre Trust Limited (£2.7m), Hofesh Shechter Company Ltd (£2.7m) and Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators (£2.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 63%, donations and legacies 22%, trading 14% and investments 1.3%. Charitable activities took 93% of spending and raising funds 7.3%. Reserves of £517k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 24 people.

Data notes from the register: The latest annual return was received after its deadline.