ROYAL ENGINEERS CENTRAL CHARITABLE TRUST
Latest income
£1.5m
Latest spending
£1.5m
Registered
1991
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity generated a net movement in funds of £476,067, increasing total unrestricted reserves to £10,962,488. The trustees report that free reserves of £10,705,315 are consistent with their stated policy target of maintaining reserves in the range of £10 million to mitigate financial risks. The auditor confirmed that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: in the range of £10 million (held: £10.7m)
“Therefore, Trustees have assessed the level of reserves and related investments required to meet these contingencies and to mitigate against the current risk profile, to be in the range of £10 million.” — page 11
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: RECCT collected subscription income on behalf of RE HQ Mess totalling £166,685 which was transferred during the year. In addition, £6,587 of other reimbursements were made in relation to sundry donations, grants and gift aid. There were also reimbursements to RECCT from RE HQ Mess of £62,167 during the year, relating to recharges of staff salaries and various admin charges.
“Brigadier James Webster and Colonel Richard Bouke Hawkins MBE ADC, both Trustees of the Royal Engineers Central Charitable Trust (RECCT) are also Trustees of Royal Engineers Headquarter Mess (RE HQ Mess) for which transactions have taken place during the year. RECCT collected subscriptions income on behalf of RE HQ Mess totalling £166,685 which was transferred during the year (2024: £160,944). In addition, £6,587 of other reimbursements were made in relation to sundry donations, grants and gift aid (2024:£2,351). There were also reimbursements to RECCT from RE HQ Mess of £62,167 during the year (2024: £73,849), relating to recharges of staff salaries and various admin charges.” — page 42
“Brigadier James Webster, Colonel Richard Bouke Hawkins MBE ADC, Colonel Alastair Cooper QVRM TD, Brigadier Simon John Carvel and Major General David W Southall CBE, Maj.Gen. N Cavanagh CB, and WOI1 Spencer Eeardley are Trustees of the Royal Engineers Central Charitable Trust (RECCT) are also Trustees of the Institution of Royal Engineers (Inst RE) for which transactions have taken place during the year. During the year RECCT collected subscription income of behalf of the Institution of Royal Engineers totalling £459,466 (2024: £443,079) and gift aid of £37,109 (2024: £16,983) which was transferred during the year. A further £2,465 of other donations and sundry charges were also transferred (2024: £276). As of 31 December 2025 no balance was owed from RECCT (2024: £nil). During the year, the Institution of Royal Engineers also reimbursed £85,381 to RECCT for recharges relating to salaries and pensions, postage, and other admin costs (2024: £80,107).” — page 42
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: RECCT collected subscription income on behalf of the Institution of Royal Engineers totalling £459,466 and gift aid of £37,109 which was transferred during the year. A further £2,465 of other donations and sundry charges were also transferred. The Institution of Royal Engineers also reimbursed £85,381 to RECCT for recharges relating to salaries and pensions, postage, and other admin costs.
“Brigadier James Webster and Colonel Richard Bouke Hawkins MBE ADC, both Trustees of the Royal Engineers Central Charitable Trust (RECCT) are also Trustees of Royal Engineers Headquarter Mess (RE HQ Mess) for which transactions have taken place during the year. RECCT collected subscriptions income on behalf of RE HQ Mess totalling £166,685 which was transferred during the year (2024: £160,944). In addition, £6,587 of other reimbursements were made in relation to sundry donations, grants and gift aid (2024:£2,351). There were also reimbursements to RECCT from RE HQ Mess of £62,167 during the year (2024: £73,849), relating to recharges of staff salaries and various admin charges.” — page 42
“Brigadier James Webster, Colonel Richard Bouke Hawkins MBE ADC, Colonel Alastair Cooper QVRM TD, Brigadier Simon John Carvel and Major General David W Southall CBE, Maj.Gen. N Cavanagh CB, and WOI1 Spencer Eeardley are Trustees of the Royal Engineers Central Charitable Trust (RECCT) are also Trustees of the Institution of Royal Engineers (Inst RE) for which transactions have taken place during the year. During the year RECCT collected subscription income of behalf of the Institution of Royal Engineers totalling £459,466 (2024: £443,079) and gift aid of £37,109 (2024: £16,983) which was transferred during the year. A further £2,465 of other donations and sundry charges were also transferred (2024: £276). As of 31 December 2025 no balance was owed from RECCT (2024: £nil). During the year, the Institution of Royal Engineers also reimbursed £85,381 to RECCT for recharges relating to salaries and pensions, postage, and other admin costs (2024: £80,107).” — page 42
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: RECCT paid The Royal Engineers Museum grants totalling £60,000. RECCT collected subscription income on behalf of the Royal Engineers Museum totalling £11,146 and reimbursed admin charges of £4,513 which was transferred during the year. The Royal Engineers Museum also paid over £72,265 to RECCT during the year in relation to recharges for salaries and pension costs, as well as admin recharges.
“Brigadier James Webster and Colonel Richard Bouke Hawkins MBE ADC, both Trustees of the Royal Engineers Central Charitable Trust (RECCT) are also Trustees of Royal Engineers Headquarter Mess (RE HQ Mess) for which transactions have taken place during the year. RECCT collected subscriptions income on behalf of RE HQ Mess totalling £166,685 which was transferred during the year (2024: £160,944). In addition, £6,587 of other reimbursements were made in relation to sundry donations, grants and gift aid (2024:£2,351). There were also reimbursements to RECCT from RE HQ Mess of £62,167 during the year (2024: £73,849), relating to recharges of staff salaries and various admin charges.” — page 42
“Brigadier James Webster, Colonel Richard Bouke Hawkins MBE ADC, Colonel Alastair Cooper QVRM TD, Brigadier Simon John Carvel and Major General David W Southall CBE, Maj.Gen. N Cavanagh CB, and WOI1 Spencer Eeardley are Trustees of the Royal Engineers Central Charitable Trust (RECCT) are also Trustees of the Institution of Royal Engineers (Inst RE) for which transactions have taken place during the year. During the year RECCT collected subscription income of behalf of the Institution of Royal Engineers totalling £459,466 (2024: £443,079) and gift aid of £37,109 (2024: £16,983) which was transferred during the year. A further £2,465 of other donations and sundry charges were also transferred (2024: £276). As of 31 December 2025 no balance was owed from RECCT (2024: £nil). During the year, the Institution of Royal Engineers also reimbursed £85,381 to RECCT for recharges relating to salaries and pensions, postage, and other admin costs (2024: £80,107).” — page 42
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: RECCT collected subscription income on behalf of REA totalling £454,625 which was transferred to the REA during the year. A further £6,023 of other reimbursements were made to the REA in relation to sundry recharges, and gift aid. The REA also paid £118,838 to RECCT during the year in relation to recharges for salaries and pensions, grants and admin recharges.
“Brigadier James Webster and Colonel Richard Bouke Hawkins MBE ADC, both Trustees of the Royal Engineers Central Charitable Trust (RECCT) are also Trustees of Royal Engineers Headquarter Mess (RE HQ Mess) for which transactions have taken place during the year. RECCT collected subscriptions income on behalf of RE HQ Mess totalling £166,685 which was transferred during the year (2024: £160,944). In addition, £6,587 of other reimbursements were made in relation to sundry donations, grants and gift aid (2024:£2,351). There were also reimbursements to RECCT from RE HQ Mess of £62,167 during the year (2024: £73,849), relating to recharges of staff salaries and various admin charges.” — page 42
“Brigadier James Webster, Colonel Richard Bouke Hawkins MBE ADC, Colonel Alastair Cooper QVRM TD, Brigadier Simon John Carvel and Major General David W Southall CBE, Maj.Gen. N Cavanagh CB, and WOI1 Spencer Eeardley are Trustees of the Royal Engineers Central Charitable Trust (RECCT) are also Trustees of the Institution of Royal Engineers (Inst RE) for which transactions have taken place during the year. During the year RECCT collected subscription income of behalf of the Institution of Royal Engineers totalling £459,466 (2024: £443,079) and gift aid of £37,109 (2024: £16,983) which was transferred during the year. A further £2,465 of other donations and sundry charges were also transferred (2024: £276). As of 31 December 2025 no balance was owed from RECCT (2024: £nil). During the year, the Institution of Royal Engineers also reimbursed £85,381 to RECCT for recharges relating to salaries and pensions, postage, and other admin costs (2024: £80,107).” — page 42
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: RECCT paid £43 relating to sundry recharges and donations to REVETT. There were also reimbursements to RECCT from REVETT of £50,005 during the year relating to recharges of staff salaries and various admin charges.
“Brigadier James Webster and Colonel Richard Bouke Hawkins MBE ADC, both Trustees of the Royal Engineers Central Charitable Trust (RECCT) are also Trustees of Royal Engineers Headquarter Mess (RE HQ Mess) for which transactions have taken place during the year. RECCT collected subscriptions income on behalf of RE HQ Mess totalling £166,685 which was transferred during the year (2024: £160,944). In addition, £6,587 of other reimbursements were made in relation to sundry donations, grants and gift aid (2024:£2,351). There were also reimbursements to RECCT from RE HQ Mess of £62,167 during the year (2024: £73,849), relating to recharges of staff salaries and various admin charges.” — page 42
“Brigadier James Webster, Colonel Richard Bouke Hawkins MBE ADC, Colonel Alastair Cooper QVRM TD, Brigadier Simon John Carvel and Major General David W Southall CBE, Maj.Gen. N Cavanagh CB, and WOI1 Spencer Eeardley are Trustees of the Royal Engineers Central Charitable Trust (RECCT) are also Trustees of the Institution of Royal Engineers (Inst RE) for which transactions have taken place during the year. During the year RECCT collected subscription income of behalf of the Institution of Royal Engineers totalling £459,466 (2024: £443,079) and gift aid of £37,109 (2024: £16,983) which was transferred during the year. A further £2,465 of other donations and sundry charges were also transferred (2024: £276). As of 31 December 2025 no balance was owed from RECCT (2024: £nil). During the year, the Institution of Royal Engineers also reimbursed £85,381 to RECCT for recharges relating to salaries and pensions, postage, and other admin costs (2024: £80,107).” — page 42
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Total income
£1.5m
Total spending
£1.5m
Cost of raising funds
£215k
Reserves (reported)
£11.0m
Employees
17
Trustees
- Sir Christopher Linley Tickellchair
- BRIGADIER JAMES WEBSTER
- BRIGADIER Jason Ainley
- BRIGADIER SIMON JOHN CARVEL
- COLONEL GUY CHEESMAN ADC
- CSM Spencer Eardley
- Col Daniel Hall VR MInstRE
- MAJOR GENERAL ALASTAIR DICKINSON CBE
- MAJOR GENERAL DAVID SOUTHALL CBE
- MAJOR GENERAL ELDON NICHOLAS SOMERVILLE MILLAR MBE
- MAJOR GENERAL NICHOLAS JOHN CAVANAGH
- MAJOR GENERAL PETER ROWELL MBE
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £1.5m | £1.5m |
| 31/12/2024 | £1.4m | £1.5m |
| 31/12/2023 | £1.4m | £1.5m |
| 31/12/2022 | £1.4m | £1.4m |
| 31/12/2021 | £1.4m | £1.2m |
Common questions
Is ROYAL ENGINEERS CENTRAL CHARITABLE TRUST financially healthy?
The accounts state that the charity generated a net movement in funds of £476,067, increasing total unrestricted reserves to £10,962,488. The trustees report that free reserves of £10,705,315 are consistent with their stated policy target of maintaining reserves in the range of £10 million to mitigate financial risks. The auditor confirmed that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Kreston Reeves Audit LLP.
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| DEBMAR BENEVOLENT TRUST LIMITED | 1 | £530k |
| SIR ROBERT GEFFERY'S ALMSHOUSE TRUST | 1 | £4k |