THE QUILTERS' GUILD OF THE BRITISH ISLES

Registered charity 1067361 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE QUILTER'S GUILD OF THE BRITISH ISLES, THE QUILTERS GUILD · also registered in Scotland as SC043174 (OSCR)

Promoting and maintaining inter alia for the public benefit the art history heritage and techniques of the allied crafts of patchwork, applique and quilting.

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£679k
Latest spending
£616k
Registered
1998
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity recorded a surplus of £67,585 for the year ended 31 October 2025, marking a return to profitability after previous challenges. However, the trustees note that free reserves of £399,424 remain below the stated policy target of covering 12 months of operating expenditure, which is calculated at £482,833. The trustees acknowledge that rebuilding reserves to the required level remains a key priority while managing ongoing economic pressures.

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Membership (47% of income)
Membership income has grown, Gift Aid recovery has strengthened, and trading performance has remained robust. — page 4
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £399k; policy: 12 months of operating expenditure)
Free reserves at the year end totalled £399,424. The Guild’s reserves policy requires sufficient reserves to cover approximately 12 months of operational costs, currently calculated at £482,833. While the current position represents a substantial improvement, it remains below the policy target. — page 15
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Purchase from subsidiary
During the year the Charity made purchases from Festival of Quilts Limited, the subsidiary, of £72,096 (2024: £67,610). The Charity received a charitable donation made under gift aid of £26,436 (2024: £1,129). Details of outstanding balances as at the year-end are given in note 19 of these Financial Statements. — page 58
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Festival of Quilts Limited
The Charity has one wholly owned subsidiary; Festival of Quilts Ltd (“FOQ Ltd”) known as QGBI Enterprises, QShop, and now trading as Quiltworks. This company’s principal activity is that of raising funds for the Quilters’ Guild. — page 17
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Clive Owen LLP. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Property (HM Land Registry)

1 registered titlein England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/10/2025)

Total income
£679k
Total spending
£616k
Cost of raising funds
£20k
Reserves (reported)
£399k
Employees
7

Reported reserves equal ~7.8 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/10/2025£679k£616k
31/10/2024£706k£734k
31/10/2023£606k£707k
31/10/2022£650k£783k
31/10/2021£595k£607k

Common questions

Is THE QUILTERS' GUILD OF THE BRITISH ISLES financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity recorded a surplus of £67,585 for the year ended 31 October 2025, marking a return to profitability after previous challenges. However, the trustees note that free reserves of £399,424 remain below the stated policy target of covering 12 months of operating expenditure, which is calculated at £482,833. The trustees acknowledge that rebuilding reserves to the required level remains a key priority while managing ongoing economic pressures. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Clive Owen LLP.

Government & lottery funding

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

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund10/08/2020£48k"COVID19:The Quilters' Guild of the British Isles"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund18/09/2013£89k"Talking Quilts: Saving Quilters' Stories"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund05/03/2008£194k"Unfolding The Quilts; An Education and Learning Programme for the Quilters' Guild."
The National Lottery Community Fund29/01/2007£5kVolunteer Training Project
The National Lottery Community Fund19/10/2006£8kA Quilting Experience for You
The National Lottery Community Fund14/12/2005£5kVolunteer Training
The National Lottery Heritage Fund30/06/2004£17k""This Is Me", Quilters Guild"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund28/03/2002£50k"Quilter's Guild Resource Centre, Halifax"

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.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
The Goldsmiths' Foundation1£103k
THE GOLDSMITHS CENTRE1£39k
THE SAINTBURY TRUST1£4k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE EMBROIDERERS' GUILD.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
THE QUILTERS' GUILD OF THE BRITISH ISLES£679k0belowno doubt
THE EMBROIDERERS' GUILD FY2025£167k0unclearnoted
THE GUILD OF HANDICRAFT TRUST FY2025£130k0unclearnoted
THE ASSOCIATION OF GUILDS OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS AND DYERS FY2025£315k0aboveno doubt
THE GUILD OF ST GEORGE FY2025£176k0belowno doubt
INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS GUILD FY2024£1.0munclearno doubt

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