Maritime Archaeology Trust

Analysis

Maritime Archaeology Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Southampton. It was registered in July 1989, 37 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02394244). It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Maritime Archaeology Trust reported income of £751k and spending of £378k, leaving 50% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £284k to £751k (+165%), an average of +28% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 123%. Over the whole period it spent 75% 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, Maritime Archaeology Trust 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 92nd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Royal Artillery Museum (£748k), Chequer Mead Arts and Community Trust (£751k) and The Modern Humanities Research Association (£748k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 70%, charitable activities 29% and investments 1.4%. Charitable activities took 86% of spending and raising funds 13%. Reserves of £640k would cover about 20 months of spending at that rate. It employed 18 people.