Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust

Analysis

Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Sunderland. It was registered in April 1973, 53 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 01100887). It says it makes grants to organisations and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust reported income of £22k and spending of £26k, spending 114% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £11k to £22k (+101%), an average of +19% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 95%. Over the whole period it spent 96% 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, Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust sits at the 52nd percentile: it is larger than about 52% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 47th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Colerne Village Hall Association (£22k), The Rootes Archive Centre Trust (£22k) and Scunthorpe Musical Festival Association (£22k).