The National Literacy Trust
Analysis
The National Literacy Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in October 2006, 20 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 05836486). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending March 2025, The National Literacy Trust reported income of £14.3m and spending of £14.4m, spending 101% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £7.1m to £14.3m (+101%), an average of +19% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 28%. Over the whole period it spent 97% 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, The National Literacy 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 Sandwell Leisure Trust (£14.2m), Bristol Music Trust (£14.4m) and Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (£14.1m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 66%, donations and legacies 29% and trading 4.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £300k. Charitable activities took 91% of spending and raising funds 9.4%. Grants to other organisations totalled £47k. Reserves of £513k would cover about 0 months of spending at that rate. It employed 202 people.
Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 27%
- Legacies 2.1%
- Charitable activities 66%
- Trading 4.3%
- Investments 0.4%
- Other 0.1%
In the charity's own words
We are an independent charity that transforms lives through literacy. We improve reading, writing, speaking and listening in communities where poverty is on the increase and literacy levels are low. Our research and analysis make us the leading authority on literacy and drive our interventions. Our work is focused on critical moments in literacy development when we can make the greatest impact.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Sandwell Leisure Trust | West Midlands | £14.2m |
| Bristol Music Trust | Bristol | £14.4m |
| Caribbean Biodiversity Fund | Cheshire | £14.1m |
| Chetham's Hospital School and Library | Manchester | £14.4m |