BIG ISSUE NORTH TRUST LTD

Registered charity 1056041 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH TRUST, THE BIG STEP

The Big Issue North Trust supports the homeless and vulnerably housed people who sell Big Issue North magazine in the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber. From providing financial aid during periods of hardship, to funding education and training courses, to projects such as breakfast clubs and home furnishing packages, it exists to help vendors to change their lives and achieve their goals.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Other Charitable Purposes · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£810k
Latest spending
£766k
Registered
1996
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity generated a net surplus of £43,422 for the year ended 31 March 2025, with total income of £809,890 against total expenditure of £766,468. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted funds increased to £329,364, which is significantly above the stated reserves policy target of £64,000. The auditor confirmed there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Other trading activities (83% of income)
Income from Trading Activity (mainly Magazine Sales) was £672,496
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: E Robinson received £8,000 remuneration from The Big Life Company Ltd for her role as chair of the Big Life Company Ltd.
During the year remuneration of £8,000 (2024: £8,000) was paid to E Robinson, a Trustee, by the Big Life Company Ltd for her role as chair of the Big Life Company Ltd. — page 24
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Remuneration to Trustee E Robinson
During the year remuneration of £8,000 (2024: £8,000) was paid to E Robinson, a Trustee, by the Big Life Company Ltd for her role as chair of the Big Life Company Ltd. — page 24
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Menzies LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income
£810k
Total spending
£766k
Cost of raising funds
£47k
Reserves (reported)
£323k
Employees
15

Reported reserves equal ~5.1 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Trustees

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

Operates in: Leeds City · Liverpool City · Manchester City · Sheffield City

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/03/2025£810k£766k
31/03/2024£925k£1.0m
31/03/2023£1.0m£1.1m
31/03/2022£1.2m£1.1m
31/03/2021£711k£420k

Common questions

Is BIG ISSUE NORTH TRUST LTD financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity generated a net surplus of £43,422 for the year ended 31 March 2025, with total income of £809,890 against total expenditure of £766,468. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted funds increased to £329,364, which is significantly above the stated reserves policy target of £64,000. The auditor confirmed there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Menzies LLP.

Who funds BIG ISSUE NORTH TRUST LTD?

Funders whose own accounts filings name BIG ISSUE NORTH TRUST LTD as a grant recipient include THE DWF FOUNDATION.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE DWF FOUNDATIONFY2024£1k

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
Southway Housing Trust01/12/2020£500The Big Issue
Northern Rock Foundation02/05/2002£10kGrant awarded to The Big Issue In The North Trust (Yorkshire)