The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain

Analysis

The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in January 1985, 41 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01858278). It says it provides services.

In the financial year ending November 2025, The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain reported income of £5.2m and spending of £4.5m, spending 88% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from November 2021 to November 2025, income grew from £2.8m to £5.2m (+84%), an average of +16% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to November 2023, when income rose by 29%. Over the whole period it spent 98% 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, The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include SS Great Britain Trust (£5.1m), The Piece Hall Trust (£5.2m) and Rambert Trust Limited (£5.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 86%, charitable activities 7.4% and investments 1.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.3m. Charitable activities took 70% of spending and raising funds 29%. Reserves of £1.9m would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 28 people.