The Ipswich Institute Reading Room and Library

Analysis

The Ipswich Institute Reading Room and Library is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Ipswich. It was registered in August 1971, 55 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it makes grants to organisations, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Ipswich Institute Reading Room and Library reported income of £560k and spending of £618k, spending 110% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £305k to £560k (+84%), an average of +16% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 27%. Over the whole period it spent 121% 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 Ipswich Institute Reading Room and Library 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 91st percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Dorchester Arts (£559k), Theatre Orchard Projects Limited (£560k) and Word Up North Limited (£558k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 51%, trading 29%, investments 12% and donations and legacies 7.5%. Charitable activities took 57% of spending and raising funds 39%. Reserves of £939k would cover about 18 months of spending at that rate. It employed 16 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.