The Message Trust

Analysis

The Message Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Manchester. It was registered in July 2000, 26 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, religious activities and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under religion. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03961183). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and provides services.

In the financial year ending August 2025, The Message Trust reported income of £10.3m and spending of £10.4m, spending 101% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £7.6m to £10.3m (+37%), an average of +8.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2023, when income rose by 25%. Over the whole period it spent 104% of the income it received.

Among 20,496 England and Wales charities whose main cause is religion and that reported income, The Message Trust sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Catholic Trust for England and Wales (£10.3m), United Christian Broadcasters Limited (£10.4m) and Salesian College Farnborough Limited (£10.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 73% and charitable activities 26%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £241k. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 2.7%. Grants to other organisations totalled £183k. Reserves of £875k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 168 people.