The Silver Society

Analysis

The Silver Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Dartmouth. It was registered in July 2011, 15 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 07582798). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Silver Society reported income of £1.4m and spending of £138k, leaving 90% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £66k to £1.4m (+2086%), an average of +116% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 2196%. Over the whole period it spent 19% 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 Silver Society 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 95th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Belarus Free Theatre (£1.4m), The Norden Farm Centre Trust Limited (£1.4m) and Mathsworlduk (£1.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 97% and investments 1.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.4m. Charitable activities took 91% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £74k. Reserves of £123k would cover about 10 months of spending at that rate.