Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru-The Books Council of Wales
Analysis
Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru-The Books Council of Wales is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Aberystwyth. It was registered in November 2020, 6 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru-The Books Council of Wales reported income of £7.5m and spending of £8.2m, spending 110% of what it took in. Across the 4 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2025, income fell from £13.4m to £7.5m (-44%), an average of -18% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income dropped by 22%. Over the whole period it spent 99% 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, Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru-The Books Council of Wales sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% of them. 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 The Watershed Arts Trust Limited (£7.5m), Cheltenham Festivals (£7.5m) and Film London (£7.4m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 64% and trading 36%. Charitable activities took 63% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £2.2m. Reserves of £875k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 36 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Charitable activities 64%
- Trading 36%
- Investments 0.1%
In the charity's own words
Elusen genedlaethol sy'n cefnogi'r diwydiant cyhoeddi ac yn datblygu darllen yng Nghymru yw Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. Rydym yn hyrwyddo llythrennedd a darllen er pleser drwy ystod o ymgyrchoedd, gweithgareddau a diwyddiadau ledled Cymru, gan weithio'n aml mewn partneriaeth gydag ysgolion, llyfrgelloedd a sefydliadau llenyddol eraill. Mae'r elusen hon yn olynu'r elusen flaenorol 505262.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Watershed Arts Trust Limited | Bristol | £7.5m |
| Cheltenham Festivals | Gloucestershire | £7.5m |
| Film London | London | £7.4m |
| UK Storyhouse Limited | Chester | £7.6m |