THE LIVING PAINTINGS TRUST
We publish unique Touch to See books which enable blind and partially sighted people, young and old, to explore and enjoy the world of pictures. Our purpose is to relieve the social and educational isolation that they suffer throughout their lives. These unique books are available throughout Britain and Ireland to all visually impaired people completely free from our postal library service.
Objects
TO RELIEVE AND EDUCATE VISUALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity achieved an operating surplus of £81,895 for the year ended 31 May 2025, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £602,756. Per the trustees' report, the General Cash Reserve of £278,106 meets the stated policy target of six months' unrestricted expenditure, which was calculated at £274,626. The charity reports no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“In the band £80,001 – £90,000 1”
“In the band £80,001 – £90,000 1”
“Trusts and Foundations £607,265”
“During the year one trustee, Louis Moorhouse, received remuneration of £2,240 (2024: £0) for freelance sound editing work.” — page 50
“During the year, the charity paid £5,000 to the spouse of a Trustee, David Hall, for contracted services to conduct research into the lives of blind and visually impaired children aged 0-4 years.” — page 55
“During the year one trustee, Louis Moorhouse, received remuneration of £2,240 (2024: £0) for freelance sound editing work.” — page 50
“During the year, the charity paid £5,000 to the spouse of a Trustee, David Hall, for contracted services to conduct research into the lives of blind and visually impaired children aged 0-4 years.” — page 55
“During the year one trustee, Louis Moorhouse, received remuneration of £2,240 (2024: £0) for freelance sound editing work.” — page 50
“During the year, the charity paid £5,000 to the spouse of a Trustee, David Hall, for contracted services to conduct research into the lives of blind and visually impaired children aged 0-4 years.” — page 55
“During the year one trustee, Louis Moorhouse, received remuneration of £2,240 (2024: £0) for freelance sound editing work.” — page 50
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/05/2025
- Volunteers: 200
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£70,001–£80,000: 1)
- Trustee benefits, answered Yes to: any trustee benefit; payments to trustees for services to the charity
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/05/2024
- Volunteers: 200
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£70,001–£80,000: 1)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/05/2023
- Volunteers: 200
- Government income: £40,000 — grants £40,000 (1); 6% of the £664,131 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£60,001–£70,000: 1)
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/05/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (02/03/2023)
- Received assets from another charity (12/07/2022)
Trustees
- Catherine Baileychair
- Claire Short Mrs
- David Robert Hall
- Ellie Natasha Radburn
- Jane Elizabeth Burgess
- LOUIS MOORHOUSE
- Paramjit Kaur Jetha
- Shalin Malde
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/05/2025 | £685k | £603k |
| 31/05/2024 | £476k | £522k |
| 31/05/2023 | £664k | £549k |
| 31/05/2022 | £491k | £441k |
| 31/05/2021 | £515k | £396k |
Common questions
Is THE LIVING PAINTINGS TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity achieved an operating surplus of £81,895 for the year ended 31 May 2025, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £602,756. Per the trustees' report, the General Cash Reserve of £278,106 meets the stated policy target of six months' unrestricted expenditure, which was calculated at £274,626. The charity reports no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Gravita Audit Oxford LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of THE LIVING PAINTINGS TRUST earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £80,001 - £90,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds THE LIVING PAINTINGS TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE LIVING PAINTINGS TRUST as a grant recipient include THE ANTON JURGENS CHARITABLE TRUST, VINCHEL FOUNDATION, THE HEADLEY TRUST, THE UNDERWOOD TRUST, THE BATCHWORTH TRUST.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 11/04/2025 | £20k | Free postal library service for blind children in Wales |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 19/11/2024 | £2k | Core costs of providing books and learning resources to blind or visually impaired children across Somerset |
| Community Foundation North East | 27/06/2024 | £2k | Grant to The Living Paintings Trust |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 26/01/2024 | £20k | Free postal library service for blind and partially sighted children |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 21/10/2022 | £10k | Free postal library of Touch to See books for blind and partially sighted people |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 10/10/2022 | £2k | Providing 'Touch to See' books to blind and partially sighted children in Somerset via a free postal library |
| Community Foundation North East | 22/09/2022 | £2k | Grant to The Living Paintings Trust |
| Postcode Lottery | 26/04/2022 | £23k | Staff salary: to meet growing demand for our charitable activity. |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 13/08/2021 | £10k | Living Paintings Touch to See Books for blind and partially sighted people |
| The Mercers' Company | 06/12/2018 | £23k | Grant to Living Paintings Trust |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 26/09/2017 | £450 | Touch to See Book Clubs |
| Somerset Community Foundation | 10/05/2016 | £200 | Event sponsorship |
| Northern Rock Foundation | 01/08/2001 | £6k | Grant awarded to The Living Paintings Trust (North East) |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| LILIAN FRANCES HIND BEQUEST (TRUSTEES OF LADY HIND) | 2 | £47k |
| THE INMAN CHARITY | 2 | £21k |
| THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH MUSIC | 1 | £179k |
| THE BLYTH CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £75k |
| PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £42k |
| THE ADINT CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £40k |
| THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY | 1 | £36k |
| THE FRANCIS WINHAM FOUNDATION | 1 | £35k |
Charities like this
- LIVING WATERS EUROPE
- SOFT TOUCH ARTS LIMITED
- LISTENING BOOKS
- ALIVE PUBLISHING LIMITED
- REACH LEARNING DISABILITY
- SHARING LIFE TRUST
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE LIVING PAINTINGS TRUST | £685k | £80,001 - £90,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| LIVING WATERS EUROPE | £192k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SOFT TOUCH ARTS LIMITED | £773k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| LISTENING BOOKS | £1.3m | £90,000 - £100,000 | 1 | within | — | no doubt |
| ALIVE PUBLISHING LIMITED | £660k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| REACH LEARNING DISABILITY | £3.9m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |