THE WORLD OF GLASS (ST HELENS) LIMITED

Registered charity 1006990 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as HOTTIES SCIENCE AND ARTS CENTRE LIMITED, THE WORLD OF GLASS

To educate the public generally in respect of science and technology with particular reference to the glass industry. To promote and advance public education by the maintenance of a museum to provide facilities for leisure-time occupation. To promote education in the sciences. To promote education in the arts and history

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity operated at a deficit of £180,736 and held free reserves in deficit by £164,611 as of 31 March 2025. The trustees note that the charity is dependent on continued funding from St Helens Council to continue trading as a going concern. Despite these risks, the charity secured £286,000 in grant funding and removed itself from the Museums at Risk register following the year-end.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Accounts audited by BK Plus Audit Limited. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Corporate structure

• Registered company of the charity Companies House 02592450
• Trading subsidiary: THE WORLD OF GLASS ENTERPRISES LIMITED Companies House 02723960

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

• Arts Council England — “Awarded over £76K from Arts Council England In May 2026 the World of Glass was awarded over £76K from Arts Council England National Lottery …” (source page)
• National Heritage Lottery Fund — “National Heritage Lottery Fund £131K In April, we secured over £131K from the National Heritage Lottery Fund to explore creating a St Helens…” (source page)

Company officers (Companies House)

Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.

• OWEN, William Joseph — director, appointed 19/06/2026not on trustee list
• CHAMBERS, William John, Professor — director, appointed 19/06/2026not on trustee list
• CLARKE, Gregory — director, appointed 26/03/2024on trustee list
• WHITTAKER, Alan — director, appointed 26/03/2024on trustee list
• FULLER, Aston — director, appointed 26/03/2024on trustee list
• MCAREAVEY, Damian Gerald — director, appointed 26/03/2024on trustee list
• WILCOCK, Tanya Marie — director, appointed 07/12/2021on trustee list
• PILKINGTON, Alice Kirsty — director, appointed 13/12/2011on trustee list
• COUSINS, Paul Somerset — director, appointed 13/12/2011on trustee list
• BRICKNELL, David John — director, appointed 09/02/2000on trustee list

Official officers record.

Property (HM Land Registry)

2 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2024)

Reported reserves equal ~0.7 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 7.0 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (89% 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: 6.5% of total income — above the median for charities its size (2.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

• ROBERT ALAN WHITTAKERchair · trustee of 1 other charity
• Aston Fuller
• Damian McAreavey
• David Bricknell · trustee of 3 other charities
• Dr Gregory Clarke
• KIRSTY PILKINGTON
• PAUL SOMERSET COUSINS
• ROBERT CHARLES HEPWORTH MBE
• Tanya Marie Wilcock

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: St Helens

Income and spending

Common questions

Shared trustees with funders

Register facts shown side by side: a person serves as trustee of both this charity and a funder whose accounts record grants to it. Shared trusteeship is lawful and common; well-run charities manage it through declared-interest procedures.

• David Bricknell — trustee here and at THE RAINFORD 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).