THE BAT CONSERVATION TRUST
The Bat Conservation Trust's mission is to secure the future of bats in a changing world. Our work spans discovering more about bats and their landscapes, taking action to secure bat populations and protect key habitats, and engaging people with bat conservation. We work locally, nationally and internationally to achieve our vision of a world where bats and people thrive together in harmony.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £83,748 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in a decrease in total funds. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £859,122, which is below the stated policy target of approximately £885,000.
What the accounts disclose
“No employees earned in excess of £60,000 in this year or the prior year.” — page 57
“We spend just 8.6p on fundraising per £1 raised” — page 39
“The trustees' policy is to work towards holding six months operating costs, approximately £885,000, in unrestricted reserves.”
“Amounts paid to Annika Binet in respect of the above in the year ended 31 March 2025 were £nil (2024: £525). At year end £nil (2024: £525) was outstanding.”
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (06/06/2019)
Trustees
- Ani Binet
- Benjamin Collins KC
- Colette Teresa Marshall
- Dr Cerys Bradley
- Dr Orly Nechama Razgour
- Dr Ruth Waters
- Gayathri Sudhakaran
- Helen Louise Slinger
- JEAN MATTHEWS
- Matthew Browne
- Matthew William Terry
- Nicola Jane Granger
- Steven Roe
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £3.0m | £3.1m |
| 31/03/2024 | £2.7m | £2.3m |
| 31/03/2023 | £1.7m | £1.8m |
| 31/03/2022 | £1.6m | £1.6m |
| 31/03/2021 | £1.6m | £1.4m |
Common questions
Is THE BAT CONSERVATION TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £83,748 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in a decrease in total funds. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £859,122, which is below the stated policy target of approximately £885,000. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of THE BAT CONSERVATION TRUST earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the Under £60,000 band.
Who funds THE BAT CONSERVATION TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE BAT CONSERVATION TRUST as a grant recipient include JOHN ELLERMAN FOUNDATION, THE HDH WILLS 1965 CHARITABLE TRUST, THE ROSE ANIMAL WELFARE TRUST CIO, KATHLEEN BERYL SLEIGH CHARITABLE TRUST, CECIL PILKINGTON CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN ELLERMAN FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £100k | Towards core costs of policy and advocacy work supporting bat species recovery |
| THE HDH WILLS 1965 CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £35k | |
| THE ROSE ANIMAL WELFARE TRUST CIO | FY2023 | £20k | |
| THE HDH WILLS 1965 CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £20k | Martin Wills Fund - Conservation and wildlife charities |
| KATHLEEN BERYL SLEIGH CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £5k | |
| THE ROSE ANIMAL WELFARE TRUST CIO | FY2022 | £5k | |
| KATHLEEN BERYL SLEIGH CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £5k | |
| CECIL PILKINGTON CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £3k | |
| CECIL PILKINGTON CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £3k | |
| CECIL PILKINGTON CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £3k | |
| CECIL PILKINGTON CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £3k | |
| THE JACK PATSTON CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £2k | |
| CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £2k | |
| CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £1k | |
| JOHN SWIRE 1989 CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £1k | |
| MARJORIE COOTE ANIMAL CHARITY TRUST | FY2023 | £1k | One-off grant |
| MARJORIE COOTE ANIMAL CHARITY TRUST | FY2025 | £1k | |
| MARJORIE COOTE ANIMAL CHARITY TRUST | FY2024 | £0 |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK government | 24/04/2024 | £2k | NatureAir: a scalable low-cost ground-truthed reliable method for biodiversity monitoring in terrestrial ecosystems |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 14/09/2023 | £2.3m | "Connecting People and Landscapes in a changing climate" |
| UK government | 19/12/2022 | £126k | #NNF2 Gobaith Coetir Woodland Hope |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 19/12/2022 | £32k | "#NNF2 Gobaith Coetir – Woodland Hope" |
| UK government | 19/12/2022 | £45k | #NNF2 Gobaith Coetir Woodland Hope |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 28/07/2015 | £92k | "Discovering the connection between natural heritage and cultural influence in Swanton Novers woodland using volunteers" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 11/03/2009 | £3k | There is no project name available for this record |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 04/06/2008 | £49k | "Count Bat Wales" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 21/09/2007 | £596k | "England Count Bat" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 05/04/2005 | £50k | "Count Bat - The UK-wide Bat Survey" |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| ROYAL SOCIETY OF WILDLIFE TRUSTS | 2 | £335k |
| CHK Foundation | 2 | £140k |
| LANGDALE TRUST | 2 | £18k |
| R G HILLS CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £5k |
| THE GERRICK ROSE ANIMAL TRUST | 1 | — |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £1.0m |
| ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION FUND | 1 | £1.0m |
| The Brindle Foundation | 1 | £275k |
Charities like this
- WORLD OWL TRUST
- PEOPLE'S TRUST FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES
- THE HAWK AND OWL TRUST LTD
- THE WILDHEART TRUST
- HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT WILDLIFE TRUST
- WORLD LAND TRUST
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE BAT CONSERVATION TRUST | £3.0m | Under £60,000 | 0 | unclear | 8.6% | no doubt |
| WORLD OWL TRUST | £214k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| PEOPLE'S TRUST FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES | £1.8m | — | — | unclear | 26.7% | no doubt |
| THE HAWK AND OWL TRUST LTD | £725k | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| THE WILDHEART TRUST | £2.1m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT WILDLIFE TRUST | £9.9m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |