Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK

Analysis

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in West Sussex. It was registered in May 2004, 22 years ago. Its declared purposes cover animals, environment/conservation/heritage and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04791958). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK reported income of £10.4m and spending of £4.0m, leaving 61% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £8.6m to £10.4m (+20%), an average of +4.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 19%. Over the whole period it spent 72% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% of them. 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 Hertfordshire Zoo (£10.1m), South West Environmental Parks Limited (£10.9m) and Essex Wildlife Trust Limited (£10.0m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 95%, investments 2.5% and trading 2.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £2.8m. Charitable activities took 78% of spending and raising funds 22%. Grants to other organisations totalled £2.6m. Reserves of £6.7m would cover about 20 months of spending at that rate. It employed 6 people.