Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum Trust Limited

Analysis

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum Trust Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Widnes. It was registered in July 1987, 39 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 02115913). It says it provides services.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum Trust Limited reported income of £861k and spending of £906k, spending 105% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £614k to £861k (+40%), an average of +8.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 42%. Over the whole period it spent 108% 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, Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum Trust Limited sits at the 94th percentile: it is larger than about 94% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 93rd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Cardboard Citizens (£858k), Wysing Arts Charity (£863k) and First Story Limited (£858k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 49%, charitable activities 38% and trading 13%. Charitable activities took 88% of spending and raising funds 12%. Reserves of £141k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 30 people.

Data notes from the register: The latest annual return was received after its deadline. Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.