The Greater Manchester Trust for Recreation

Analysis

The Greater Manchester Trust for Recreation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Greater Manchester. It was registered in March 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, amateur sport and recreation, which this site groups under amateur sport and recreation. It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Greater Manchester Trust for Recreation reported income of £22.9m and spending of £1.0m, leaving 96% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £122k to £22.9m (+18647%), an average of +270% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 5257%. Over the whole period it spent 11% of the income it received.

Among 12,174 England and Wales charities whose main cause is amateur sport and recreation and that reported income, The Greater Manchester Trust for Recreation sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Barnsley Premier Leisure (£22.1m), Rugby Football Foundation (£24.9m) and Active Northumberland (£20.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from investments 1.5% and donations and legacies 1.4%. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 4.1%. Grants to other organisations totalled £45k. Reserves of £2.0m would cover about 23 months of spending at that rate. It employed 19 people.