Active Luton

Analysis

Active Luton is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in 30-34 Upper George Street. It was registered in October 2005, 21 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and amateur sport, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 05458934). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Active Luton reported income of £15.7m and spending of £15.4m, spending 98% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £10.4m to £15.7m (+51%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 38%. Over the whole period it spent 95% 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, Active Luton 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 Britten Pears Arts (£15.3m), Newcastle Theatre Royal Trust Limited (£16.3m) and Birmingham Repertory Theatre Limited (£15.3m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 74%, donations and legacies 23%, investments 1.4% and trading 1.1%. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £501k. Reserves of £6.2m would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 217 people.