Dorset Opera
Analysis
Dorset Opera is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Dorset. It was registered in August 2004, 22 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 05170704). It says it other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending September 2025, Dorset Opera reported income of £884k and spending of £822k, spending 93% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2021 to September 2025, income grew from £437k to £884k (+103%), an average of +19% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2022, when income rose by 49%. 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, Dorset Opera sits at the 94th percentile: it is larger than about 94% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 93rd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Westmorland County Agricultural Society Limited (£883k), Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust (£886k) and The National Horseracing Museum (£883k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 44% and donations and legacies 36%. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.9%. Reserves of £300k would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 36%
- Charitable activities 44%
- Trading 0.6%
- Investments 0.8%
- Other 19%
In the charity's own words
Providing an opportunity for young people to experience the demands and joys of participating in the choral or technical theatre aspects of opera production, through a residential summer school, alongside highly experienced professional soloist/tutors, production staff and orchestra, culminating typically in six public opera performances and a gala concert.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Westmorland County Agricultural Society Limited | Cumbria | £883k |
| Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust | Bristol | £886k |
| The National Horseracing Museum | Newmarket | £883k |
| The Plough Arts Centre Limited | Torrington | £887k |