COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST
Latest income
£8.9m
Latest spending
£6.2m
Registered
1998
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that unrestricted funds increased to £435,522 (group) from £379,325 in the prior year, with a designated reserves policy fund of £105,362 held to cover three months of operational activities. The trustees and auditors confirm the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, with no material uncertainties identified regarding its going concern status.
What the accounts disclose
Highest-paid employee band: £70,001 - £80,000 — below the median for charities its size (£76k)
“There was one employee whose annual remuneration was between £60,000 and £69,999 (2024: None). There was one employee whose annual remuneration was between £70,000 and £79,999 (2024: None).” — page 31
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Employees paid over £60,000: 2
“There was one employee whose annual remuneration was between £60,000 and £69,999 (2024: None). There was one employee whose annual remuneration was between £70,000 and £79,999 (2024: None).” — page 31
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: three months of operational activities (held: £436k)
“Reserves policy – this is to fund 3 months of operational activities for CFT core services.” — page 37
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Consultancy services provided by Abbeystead Partners Ltd, a company directed by trustee Roger Pearson.
“During the year, Community Forest Trust entered into a commercial arrangement with Roger Pearson, a trustee of Community Forest Land Trust and Mersey Forest Foundation, who provided consultancy services to the charity through a company he is director of, Abbeystead Partners Ltd. The total value of these services amounted to £99,879 during the financial year. The transactions were conducted at arms length.” — page 45
“During the year, Community Forest Trust incurred sales of £36,830 from Mersey Forest Foundation.” — page 45
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Sales from Mersey Forest Foundation to Community Forest Trust.
“During the year, Community Forest Trust entered into a commercial arrangement with Roger Pearson, a trustee of Community Forest Land Trust and Mersey Forest Foundation, who provided consultancy services to the charity through a company he is director of, Abbeystead Partners Ltd. The total value of these services amounted to £99,879 during the financial year. The transactions were conducted at arms length.” — page 45
“During the year, Community Forest Trust incurred sales of £36,830 from Mersey Forest Foundation.” — page 45
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Expenses paid by Community Forest Trust to Mersey Forest Foundation.
“During the year, Community Forest Trust entered into a commercial arrangement with Roger Pearson, a trustee of Community Forest Land Trust and Mersey Forest Foundation, who provided consultancy services to the charity through a company he is director of, Abbeystead Partners Ltd. The total value of these services amounted to £99,879 during the financial year. The transactions were conducted at arms length.” — page 45
“During the year, Community Forest Trust incurred sales of £36,830 from Mersey Forest Foundation.” — page 45
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee expenses reimbursed.
“During the year, Community Forest Trust entered into a commercial arrangement with Roger Pearson, a trustee of Community Forest Land Trust and Mersey Forest Foundation, who provided consultancy services to the charity through a company he is director of, Abbeystead Partners Ltd. The total value of these services amounted to £99,879 during the financial year. The transactions were conducted at arms length.” — page 45
“During the year, Community Forest Trust incurred sales of £36,830 from Mersey Forest Foundation.” — page 45
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Year-over-year changes
- Top pay band moved from £100,001 - £110,000 (FY2024) to £70,001 - £80,000 (FY2025).
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (FY2024) → 2 (FY2025).
Corporate structure
- Registered company of the charity Companies House 03598556
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 30/06/2025)
Total income
£8.9m
Total spending
£6.2m
Reserves (reported)
£257k
Employees
44
Trustees
- ALISON BALLchair
- Angela Main
- BENJAMIN WILLIAMS
- Clare Shaw
- Jane Worthington-Cobb
- Kieran Wilcock
- PROF ALAN SIMSON
- Thomas Kirkman
- Tom Lindley
- VICTORIA MERTON
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 30/06/2025 | £8.9m | £6.2m |
| 30/06/2024 | £11.6m | £10.6m |
| 30/06/2023 | £9.8m | £11.8m |
| 31/03/2022 | £7.4m | £5.5m |
| 31/03/2021 | £3.1m | £2.8m |
Common questions
Is COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST financially healthy?
The accounts state that unrestricted funds increased to £435,522 (group) from £379,325 in the prior year, with a designated reserves policy fund of £105,362 held to cover three months of operational activities. The trustees and auditors confirm the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, with no material uncertainties identified regarding its going concern status. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited.
What does the highest-paid employee of COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £70,001 - £80,000 band, and 2 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST as a grant recipient include COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST.
Shared trustees with funders
- ALISON BALL — trustee here and at COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST
- Angela Main — trustee here and at COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST
- BENJAMIN WILLIAMS — trustee here and at COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST
- Clare Shaw — trustee here and at COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST
- Jane Worthington-Cobb — trustee here and at COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST
- Kieran Wilcock — trustee here and at COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST
- PROF ALAN SIMSON — trustee here and at COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST
- Thomas Kirkman — trustee here and at COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST
- Tom Lindley — trustee here and at COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST
- VICTORIA MERTON — trustee here and at COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COMMUNITY FOREST TRUST | FY2024 | £1.5m |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 22/06/2017 | £207k | "Woodland Futures" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 31/10/2016 | £10k | "Heroes Wood" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 18/06/2013 | £739k | "Greater Manchester's Heritage Trees" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 03/09/2009 | £574k | "Lightshaw Meadows" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 19/01/2006 | £4k | "This Group Is Planning A Full Calendar Of 14 Training Opportunities For People To Develop Skills And To Be Involved In Their Local Green Spa" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 01/12/2005 | £25k | "The Green Bridge Project" |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE NORTHWICK TRUST | 3 | £62k |
| CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | 3 | £8k |
| SWIRE 2765 | 2 | £40k |
| THE GUNTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £5k |
| JACOBS FUTURA FOUNDATION | 1 | £827k |
| THE BANISTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £742k |
| THE TRESANTON TRUST | 1 | £731k |
| THE PEARS FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £650k |