The Institute of Refrigeration

Analysis

The Institute of Refrigeration is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Carshalton. It was registered in May 2016, 10 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, environment/conservation/heritage and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and acts as an umbrella or resource body.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Institute of Refrigeration reported income of £523k and spending of £511k, spending 98% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £309k to £523k (+69%), an average of +14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 42%. Over the whole period it spent 101% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Institute of Refrigeration sits at the 91st percentile: it is larger than about 91% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Cynnal Cymru - Sustain Wales (£520k), Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust (£524k) and Campaign for National Parks (£519k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 50%, donations and legacies 43% and investments 6.1%. Charitable activities took 85% of spending and raising funds 7.8%. Reserves of £213k would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 5 people.