THE MAGDALEN ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
Registered charity 1002373 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE MAGDALEN PROJECT, THE WESSEX FOUNDATION
A sustainable-living charity, working in the community and operating a residential centre at the heart of a 132 acre organic farm, where a diverse range of managed and natural habitats provide the setting for a wide range of courses, bespoke workshops and eco-adventures.Children & adults learn new skills, develop a deeper understanding of the countryside and a more sustainable approach to life.
Causes: Education/training · Disability · Environment/conservation/heritage · Economic/community Development/employment · Other Charitable Purposes · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net surplus of £28,991 for the year ended 31 December 2025, with total income of £754,091 and total expenditure of £725,100. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted free reserves were maintained at approximately £1,099,637, which the charity considers sufficient to meet its policy target of three months' operating costs. The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and holds significant tangible fixed assets valued at £2,678,034.
Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: three months operating costs, including salaries (held: £1.1m)
“we will maintain unrestricted free reserves approximately equivalent to three months operating costs, including salaries”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The charity paid £53,957 to Magdalen Farm Limited for produce.
“During the period charity has paid £53,957 (2024: £36,596) to Magdalen Farm Limited for produce.” — page 40
“Payroll costs for the period and recharged from The Magdalen Environmental Trust to Magdalen Farm Limited totalled £96,893 (2024: £59,755.)” — page 40
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The charity recharged £96,893 to Magdalen Farm Limited for payroll costs.
“During the period charity has paid £53,957 (2024: £36,596) to Magdalen Farm Limited for produce.” — page 40
“Payroll costs for the period and recharged from The Magdalen Environmental Trust to Magdalen Farm Limited totalled £96,893 (2024: £59,755.)” — page 40
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Magdalen Farm Limited made a Gift Aid payment of £89,872 to the charity.
“During the period charity has paid £53,957 (2024: £36,596) to Magdalen Farm Limited for produce.” — page 40
“Payroll costs for the period and recharged from The Magdalen Environmental Trust to Magdalen Farm Limited totalled £96,893 (2024: £59,755.)” — page 40
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The charity received £2,773 from River Axe CIC for services provided.
“During the period charity has paid £53,957 (2024: £36,596) to Magdalen Farm Limited for produce.” — page 40
“Payroll costs for the period and recharged from The Magdalen Environmental Trust to Magdalen Farm Limited totalled £96,893 (2024: £59,755.)” — page 40
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Magdalen Farm Limited, Magdalen Events Ltd
“It is the sole owner of two trading subsidiaries, Magdalen Farm Ltd and Magdalen Events Ltd (which is a dormant company).”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.
Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — The Magdalen Environmental Trust (matched by registered charity number).
Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Cost of raising funds
£70k
Reported reserves equal ~29.8 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).
Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (78% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.
Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 9.3% of total income — above the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).
- Hilary Habberfield
- Hilary Margaret Baker
- MRS G SPENCE
- Rupert Farthing
- Sarah Gleadell
- Stephen Miller QC
- William Davies
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Throughout England And Wales
Income and spending
Common questions
Is THE MAGDALEN ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net surplus of £28,991 for the year ended 31 December 2025, with total income of £754,091 and total expenditure of £725,100. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted free reserves were maintained at approximately £1,099,637, which the charity considers sufficient to meet its policy target of three months' operating costs. The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and holds significant tangible fixed assets valued at £2,678,034. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds THE MAGDALEN ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE MAGDALEN ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST as a grant recipient include THE POINTER FAMILY TRUST, THE ALICE ELLEN COOPER-DEAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE CLARE MILNE TRUST, SOMERSET COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE FRENCH HUGUENOT CHURCH OF LONDON CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.
Government & lottery funding
Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).
Funders of similar charities
Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.
Charities like this
Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with NORTHCLIFFE ENVIRONMENTAL ENTERPRISES TEAM.
Side by side with its peers
Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.