South West Lakes Trust
Analysis
South West Lakes Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Devon. It was registered in March 2000, 26 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science, amateur sport and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03946529). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space.
In the financial year ending January 2025, South West Lakes Trust reported income of £5.5m and spending of £5.8m, spending 106% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from January 2021 to January 2025, income grew from £4.0m to £5.5m (+36%), an average of +7.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to January 2022, when income rose by 31%. Over the whole period it spent 99% 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, South West Lakes Trust sits at the 99th 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 Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (£5.5m), The Pleasance Theatre Trust (£5.5m) and The Complete Works Limited (£5.4m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 51%, trading 44%, investments 1.6% and donations and legacies 1.4%. Charitable activities took 60% of spending and raising funds 39%. Reserves of £651k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 145 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.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 1.4%
- Charitable activities 51%
- Trading 44%
- Investments 1.6%
- Other 1.3%
In the charity's own words
The Trust has charitable and trading activities, including safeguarding the environment and providing access and recreation for all abilities at its sites in Devon Cornwall and Somerset.Managing public access, education, conservation, forestry and land at 50 sites, 5,000 hectares of land with 2 million visits each year.Wheal Martyn is an independant China Clay Museum near St Austell
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing | London | £5.5m |
| The Pleasance Theatre Trust | London | £5.5m |
| The Complete Works Limited | London | £5.4m |
| Sheffield Museums Trust | Surrey Street | £5.5m |