Colchester Zoological Society

Analysis

Colchester Zoological Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Colchester. It was registered in August 2004, 22 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, animals and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 05150424). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Colchester Zoological Society reported income of £27.4m and spending of £17.5m, leaving 36% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £1.3m to £27.4m (+2037%), an average of +115% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2024, when income rose by 2122%. Over the whole period it spent 57% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, Colchester Zoological Society 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 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Soil Association Limited (£24.9m), The Howletts Wild Animal Trust (£30.8m) and The Brooke Hospital for Animals (£24.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 50%, trading 24% and donations and legacies 3.8%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £111k. Charitable activities took 70% of spending and raising funds 30%. Grants to other organisations totalled £307k. Reserves of £8.9m would cover about 6 months of spending at that rate. It employed 361 people.