WATFORD NEW HOPE TRUST
Watford New Hope Trust exists to serve homeless and vulnerably-housed people by providing accommodation and opportunities to rebuild damaged lives.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a year-end deficit of £575,645, primarily due to a one-off capital purchase of a freehold building. Excluding this capital expenditure, the charity achieved an operations surplus of £101,904, demonstrating continued financial resilience. The charity maintains free reserves of £642,995, which is slightly above its stated policy target of approximately three months of budgeted annual expenditure (£641,635).
What the accounts disclose
“During 2025 one employee earned in the bracket between £70,000 and £80,000, excluding company pensions”
“During 2025 one employee earned in the bracket between £70,000 and £80,000, excluding company pensions (2024: one employee earned in the bracket between £60,000 and £70,000.”
“This year, the Fundraising and Communications Team raised £818,663 for the work of New Hope with costs of £174,098.”
“The trustees have agreed to maintain a free reserves level of approximately three months of budgeted annual expenditure.”
“Donations received from trustees and other charities for which trustees act totalled £7,998 (2024: £10,710) during the reporting period.”
“The charity set up a wholly owned trading company, New Hope Retail Limited, in June 2011.”
Year-over-year changes
- Top pay band moved from more than £60,000 (FY2024) to £70,001 - £80,000 (FY2025).
- Reserves position vs the charity's own policy moved from "below" (FY2024) to "above" (FY2025).
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Matthew Heasman — Chief Executive
- Rob Edmonds — Deputy CEO
- John Ford — Chairman
Funders the charity credits
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (13/05/2022)
Trustees
- John Fordchair
- Andrew John Robertson
- Annette Susan Reeve
- Claire Elizabeth Logan
- David Stephen Evans
- Melanie Jane Sills
- Samuel Charles Patrick Meldrum
- Timothy William Robson OBE
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £3.0m | £3.6m |
| 31/03/2024 | £3.6m | £2.7m |
| 31/03/2023 | £2.5m | £2.3m |
| 31/03/2022 | £2.0m | £2.2m |
| 31/03/2021 | £2.4m | £2.4m |
Common questions
Is WATFORD NEW HOPE TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a year-end deficit of £575,645, primarily due to a one-off capital purchase of a freehold building. Excluding this capital expenditure, the charity achieved an operations surplus of £101,904, demonstrating continued financial resilience. The charity maintains free reserves of £642,995, which is slightly above its stated policy target of approximately three months of budgeted annual expenditure (£641,635). Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Dux Advisory Limited.
What does the highest-paid employee of WATFORD NEW HOPE TRUST earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £70,001 - £80,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds WATFORD NEW HOPE TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name WATFORD NEW HOPE TRUST as a grant recipient include THE SHANLY FOUNDATION, THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CHRIST CHURCH, CHORLEYWOOD, THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST LUKE, WATFORD.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE SHANLY FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £10k | |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CHRIST CHURCH, CHORLEYWOOD | FY2022 | £5k | |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST LUKE, WATFORD | FY2024 | £5k | Related party transaction / Grant to organisation where PCC member has close connection |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CHRIST CHURCH, CHORLEYWOOD | FY2021 | £4k | |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST LUKE, WATFORD | FY2025 | £4k | |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CHRIST CHURCH, CHORLEYWOOD | FY2023 | £3k | |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST LUKE, WATFORD | FY2023 | £2k | Related party transaction (PCC member connection) |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST LUKE, WATFORD | FY2022 | £2k | Related party donation/grant |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CHRIST CHURCH, CHORLEYWOOD | FY2024 | — |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crowdfunder | 30/12/2022 | £5k | Local Action Fund |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| FUND THEIR FUTURE | 1 | — |
| THE THALES CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | — |
| IRWIN MITCHELL CHARITIES FOUNDATION | 1 | £189k |
| THE BURDEN TRUST | 1 | £187k |
| THE NISBET TRUST | 1 | £87k |
| JOHN JAMES BRISTOL FOUNDATION | 1 | £65k |
| THE REED FOUNDATION | 1 | £58k |
| FEEDING BRISTOL | 1 | £55k |
Charities like this
- WATFORD FOODBANK AND COMMUNITY RELIEF TRUST
- WATFORD AND THREE RIVERS TRUST
- inHope (Bristol) Limited
- HOPE NORTH LONDON LIMITED
- NEW HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH
- RENEWED HOPE TRUST
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WATFORD NEW HOPE TRUST | £3.0m | £70,001 - £80,000 | 1 | above | 21.3% | no doubt |
| WATFORD FOODBANK AND COMMUNITY RELIEF TRUST | £814k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| WATFORD AND THREE RIVERS TRUST | £4.5m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| inHope (Bristol) Limited | £1.9m | Under £60,000 | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| HOPE NORTH LONDON LIMITED | £184k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NEW HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH | £128k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |