THE SOLA TRUST

Registered charity 1062739 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

Providing grants to individuals involved in training for gospel word ministry. Such training may be at theological college or be of an apprentice-style, based at at a Church. Also provision of grants to churches and other organisations involved in promoting the Christian faith to assist with the launch of new ministries. On occasion provides grants to gospel workers facing financial hardship.

Causes: Education/training · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Religious Activities · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£1.2m

Latest spending

£626k

Registered

1997

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that total funds increased to £952,239, driven by a net increase in resources of £584,536 against charitable expenditure of £625,835. The charity relies entirely on voluntary donations, which totaled £1,188,333, to fund its grant-making activities. The trustees maintain a policy of keeping prudent cash reserves of up to £25,000 while generally aiming for low levels of uncommitted reserves.

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Donations (99% of income)

“Donations under Gift Aid Income Tax recoverable for Gift Aid donations Other donations Total 57,466.00 14,366.50 1,116,500.62 1,188,333.12”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: prudent cash reserves of up to £25,000 for a short period... generally aim to run the Trust with a low level of ongoing uncommitted reserves (held: £952k)

“For this reason, besides keeping prudent cash reserves of up to £25,000 for a short period beyond the normal grant making cycle, the Trustees generally aim to run the Trust with a low level of ongoing uncommitted reserves.”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Barrow LLP. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

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

Total income

£1.2m

Total spending

£626k

Reserves (reported)

£952k

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~18.3 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (99% 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: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

SIMON HUMPHREY WESTLAND PILCHERchair · trustee of 3 other charities
Brian William O'Donoghue · trustee of 6 other charities
RACHEL MARGUERITE PILCHER

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

Operates in: Belgium · Ireland · New Zealand · Northern Ireland · Scotland · South Africa

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£1.2m	£626k
31/03/2024	£182k	£427k
31/03/2023	£360k	£516k
31/03/2022	£16k	£438k
31/03/2021	£1.1m	£381k

Common questions

Is THE SOLA TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total funds increased to £952,239, driven by a net increase in resources of £584,536 against charitable expenditure of £625,835. The charity relies entirely on voluntary donations, which totaled £1,188,333, to fund its grant-making activities. The trustees maintain a policy of keeping prudent cash reserves of up to £25,000 while generally aiming for low levels of uncommitted reserves. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Barrow LLP.

Who funds THE SOLA TRUST?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE SOLA TRUST as a grant recipient include THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MICHAEL AND ST GEORGE, FULWELL, THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. STEPHEN WITH ST. LUKE, PADDINGTON.

Known funders

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

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MICHAEL AND ST GEORGE, FULWELL	FY2024	£3k	Support for Jess Grubb's role
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. STEPHEN WITH ST. LUKE, PADDINGTON	FY2023	£3k	Ministry Grants

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
HINCHLEY CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£26k
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF HOLY SEPULCHRE CAMBRIDGE	1	£20k
ALTAJIR TRUST	1	£15k
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ,BEDGROVE, AYLESBURY	1	£1k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE CHRISTIAN TRUST.

THE CHRISTIAN TRUST income £2.5m
Islington Gospel Trust Limited income £240k
THE MATTHEW 25 35 TRUST income £107k
SOLOMON ACADEMIC TRUST income £311k
GOSPEL PARTNERS TRUST income £393k
THE LOSELEY CHRISTIAN TRUST income £1.4m

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
THE SOLA TRUST	£1.2m	—	above	—	no doubt
THE CHRISTIAN TRUST FY2024	£2.5m	—	unclear	—	no doubt
Islington Gospel Trust Limited FY2025	£240k	—	above	—	no doubt
THE MATTHEW 25 35 TRUST FY2025	£107k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
SOLOMON ACADEMIC TRUST FY2025	£311k	—	above	—	no doubt
GOSPEL PARTNERS TRUST FY2024	£393k	—	above	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.