THINKTANK TRUST
THINKTANK TRUST'S CHARITABLE OBJECTS ARE TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC BY THE OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MUSEUMS IN BIRMINGHAM AND THE INCREASING OF PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING ABOUT HISTORY, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that Thinktank Trust held unrestricted reserves in deficit of £2,408,451 as of 31 March 2025, an increase from the previous year's deficit of £2,003,097. The charity is entirely dependent on the continued financial support of its parent company, Birmingham Museums Trust, to meet operational costs, with the parent confirming this support for the foreseeable future. While the parent company also faces financial pressures from local authority funding changes, it maintains sufficient free reserves to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“Grant to cover rent and service charges 1,417,000”
“At 31 March 2025, Thinktank Trust had unrestricted reserves deficit of £2.408m (2024: £2.003m)” — page 6
“The Trustees are satisfied that the company has sufficient financial resources and support to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and for this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.” — page 6
“The accounts include an intercompany creditor with the parent company of £2.451m (2024: £2.033m). A grant of £1.417m (2024: £1.417m) was received from Birmingham City Council contributing to the rent, service charge and rates.” — page 6
“Thinktank Trust received a grant from BCC of £1.417m during the year (2024: £1.417m) to assist in the provision of lease payments on Thinktank to Millennium Point Property Limited.” — page 20
“The accounts include an intercompany creditor with the parent company of £2.451m (2024: £2.033m). A grant of £1.417m (2024: £1.417m) was received from Birmingham City Council contributing to the rent, service charge and rates.” — page 6
“Thinktank Trust received a grant from BCC of £1.417m during the year (2024: £1.417m) to assist in the provision of lease payments on Thinktank to Millennium Point Property Limited.” — page 20
Year-over-year changes
- Going concern: no going-concern doubt (FY2023) → going-concern doubt noted (FY2025).
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Trustees
- Niels de Vos
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £1.4m | £1.8m |
| 31/03/2024 | £1.4m | £1.8m |
| 31/03/2023 | £1.4m | £2.0m |
| 31/03/2022 | £1.4m | £1.9m |
| 31/03/2021 | £1.4m | £2.1m |
Common questions
Is THINKTANK TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that Thinktank Trust held unrestricted reserves in deficit of £2,408,451 as of 31 March 2025, an increase from the previous year's deficit of £2,003,097. The charity is entirely dependent on the continued financial support of its parent company, Birmingham Museums Trust, to meet operational costs, with the parent confirming this support for the foreseeable future. While the parent company also faces financial pressures from local authority funding changes, it maintains sufficient free reserves to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Cooper Parry Group Limited.
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM FRIENDS | 1 | £822k |
| THE ROYAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BLIND PEOPLE | 1 | £309k |
| THE SPECTRIS FOUNDATION | 1 | £200k |
| KUSUMA TRUST UK | 1 | £130k |
| THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION | 1 | £125k |
| JOHN ELLERMAN FOUNDATION | 1 | £97k |
| THE HEADLEY TRUST | 1 | £94k |
| THE APAX FOUNDATION | 1 | £81k |
Charities like this
- BIRMINGHAM MUSEUMS TRUST
- LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM LIMITED
- GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARWICKSHIRE RAILWAY TRUST
- ENTHUSE CHARITABLE TRUST
- THE IHR TRUST
- CREATE SPACE LONDON
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THINKTANK TRUST | £1.4m | — | 0 | below | — | noted |
| BIRMINGHAM MUSEUMS TRUST | £12.6m | — | — | above | — | noted |
| LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM LIMITED | £19.9m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARWICKSHIRE RAILWAY TRUST | £733k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| ENTHUSE CHARITABLE TRUST | £3.4m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE IHR TRUST | £195k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |