The Silk Heritage Trust

Analysis

The Silk Heritage Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Macclesfield. It was registered in November 1987, 39 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science, environment/conservation/heritage and recreation, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02182687). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Silk Heritage Trust reported income of £635k and spending of £670k, spending 105% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £405k to £635k (+57%), an average of +12% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 54%. Over the whole period it spent 95% 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 Silk Heritage Trust sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% 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 Institute of International Visual Arts (£633k), The King George V Memorial Scouts and Guides Recreation Lands (£636k) and Artis Community/Cymuned Ltd (£633k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 63%, charitable activities 31% and trading 6.1%. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 2.5%. Reserves of £1.5m would cover about 26 months of spending at that rate. It employed 7 people.