The Shaw Trust Limited

Analysis

The Shaw Trust Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in West Midlands. It was registered in September 1983, 43 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, disability, the prevention or relief of poverty and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under disability. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01744121). It says it provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending August 2025, The Shaw Trust Limited reported income of £291.1m and spending of £289.1m, spending 99% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £263.4m to £291.1m (+11%), an average of +2.5% a year. Over the whole period it spent 97% of the income it received.

Among 12,871 England and Wales charities whose main cause is disability and that reported income, The Shaw Trust Limited sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Royal Mencap Society (£247.3m), The Eric Wright Charitable Trust (£314.8m) and Fondation Chanel (£172.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 96%, donations and legacies 1.9% and trading 1.2%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 1.4%. Reserves of £243.8m would cover about 10 months of spending at that rate. It employed 4,998 people.