The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society

Analysis

The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Westcliff-on-Sea. It was registered in December 1987, 39 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02167853). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and provides services.

In the financial year ending October 2025, The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society reported income of £5.7m and spending of £5.7m, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to October 2025, income grew from £251k to £5.7m (+2148%), an average of +118% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to October 2022, when income rose by 1285%. Over the whole period it spent 90% 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 Paddle Steamer Preservation Society 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 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust (£5.6m), Opera Holland Park (£5.7m) and Sherborne House Trust 2018 (£5.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 64%, trading 24%, donations and legacies 9.4% and investments 2.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £157k. Charitable activities took 84% of spending and raising funds 0.4%. Reserves of £4.1m would cover about 9 months of spending at that rate. It employed 37 people.