Rare Breeds Survival Trust

Analysis

Rare Breeds Survival Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Kenilworth. It was registered in June 1982, 44 years ago. Its declared purposes cover animals and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01204694). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Rare Breeds Survival Trust reported income of £966k and spending of £758k, leaving 22% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £713k to £966k (+36%), an average of +7.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2024, when income rose by 28%. Over the whole period it spent 87% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, Rare Breeds Survival Trust sits at the 92nd percentile: it is larger than about 92% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Sheffield Cats Shelter (£961k), The Manta Trust (£977k) and The Newbury and District Agricultural Society (£937k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 79%, investments 11%, charitable activities 8.5% and trading 1.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £469k. Charitable activities took 67% of spending and raising funds 31%. Reserves of £4.3m would cover about 66 months of spending at that rate. It employed 9 people.