Chess in Schools and Communities

Analysis

Chess in Schools and Communities is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in December 2009, 17 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 07017640). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides human resources.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Chess in Schools and Communities reported income of £2.0m and spending of £1.7m, spending 88% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £1.0m to £2.0m (+97%), an average of +18% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2025, when income rose by 60%. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Chess in Schools and Communities sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 96th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Greensand Trust (£2.0m), Avon Needs Trees (£2.0m) and The Emerson College Trust Limited (£1.9m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 65% and charitable activities 32%. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.5%. Reserves of £1.2m would cover about 8 months of spending at that rate. It employed 4 people.