Paines Plough Limited
Analysis
Paines Plough Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Coventry. It was registered in June 1974, 52 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01165130). It says it other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Paines Plough Limited reported income of £1.3m and spending of £1.3m, spending 98% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £1.1m to £1.3m (+25%), an average of +5.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 40%. Over the whole period it spent 103% 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, Paines Plough Limited 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 Grand Union Arts CIO (£1.3m), Academy for Contemporary Circus and Physical Theatre (£1.3m) and Jerwood Foundation (£1.3m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 58% and donations and legacies 32%. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 0.7%. Reserves of £359k would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 6 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 32%
- Charitable activities 58%
- Investments 0.7%
- Other 9.2%
In the charity's own words
As the UK's national theatre of new plays with the playwright at its heart, Paines Plough widely tours world premiere productions and offers bespoke development support to playwrights.Over the past 40 years, Paines Plough has established itself as a leading new writing company producing work by a wide range of playwrights across the UK and abroad.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Union Arts CIO | Birmingham | £1.3m |
| Academy for Contemporary Circus and Physical Theatre | Bristol | £1.3m |
| Jerwood Foundation | Ludlow | £1.3m |
| East Street Arts | Leeds | £1.3m |