Writers and Scholars Educational Trust
Analysis
Writers and Scholars Educational Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in February 1974, 52 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and human rights/religious or racial harmony/equality or diversity, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it provides human resources, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Writers and Scholars Educational Trust reported income of £1.3m and spending of £1.4m, spending 110% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £811k to £1.3m (+54%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 40%. Over the whole period it spent 91% 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, Writers and Scholars Educational Trust sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 95th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Trinity Theatre and Arts Centre Limited (£1.2m), Lewisham Music (£1.3m) and Steephill School (£1.2m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 60%, donations and legacies 35% and trading 4.9%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £139. Charitable activities took 64% of spending and raising funds 35%. Reserves of £446k would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 11 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 35%
- Legacies 0.0%
- Charitable activities 60%
- Trading 4.9%
- Investments 0.8%
In the charity's own words
Such charitable purposes including the advancement and promotion by teaching, lecturing, publishing or disseminating in written or spoken form or otherwise, as shall best advance and encourage education or other charitable purposes beneficial to the community in connection with the study of political, economic, social, natural sciences and the humanities and human rights.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity Theatre and Arts Centre Limited | Kent | £1.2m |
| Lewisham Music | London | £1.3m |
| Steephill School | Longfield | £1.2m |
| Hastings Contemporary | Hastings | £1.3m |