Retail Trust

Analysis

Retail Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in January 2002, 24 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty, accommodation/housing and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04254201). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending April 2025, Retail Trust reported income of £12.3m and spending of £13.6m, spending 111% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from April 2021 to April 2025, income grew from £8.5m to £12.3m (+45%), an average of +9.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to April 2023, when income rose by 31%. Over the whole period it spent 101% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Retail Trust sits at the 99th 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 Kosher Outlet Assistance Ltd (£12.2m), The Victory (Services) Association (£12.4m) and Premier Christian Media Trust (£12.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 64%, trading 33%, investments 1.5% and donations and legacies 1.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £69k. Charitable activities took 92% of spending and raising funds 7.9%. Reserves of £37.8m would cover about 33 months of spending at that rate. It employed 127 people.