THE IDEAS FOUNDATION

Registered charity 1090451 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The advancement of education of young people in the creative arts and the promotion of creative industry for the public benefit

Causes: Education/training · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£357k
Latest spending
£373k
Registered
2002
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that total funds decreased from £115,593 to £99,295 due to a net expenditure of £181,164 against income of £356,556. The trustees report that the current situation is unsustainable in the long run and are considering options including mergers, emergency fundraising, or planned closure. Despite these challenges, unrestricted reserves of £65,897 remain above the stated policy target of £50,000.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: three months PAYE and any potential costs relating to closures (held: £66k)
To fulfil contractual obligations, the trustees strive to maintain minimum unrestricted funds to cover three months PAYE and any potential costs relating to closures. Even with the changes in staffing, the Board felt it prudent to leave the amount of reserves required at £50,000. — page 24
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: Simeon Quarrie received £500 for photography and videography services.
During the year, the charity paid £500 to Simeon Quarrie for photography and videography services provided to the charity, which were not related to their role as a trustee. — page 43
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Payment to trustee for services
During the year, the charity paid £500 to Simeon Quarrie for photography and videography services provided to the charity, which were not related to their role as a trustee. The payment was made under a contract approved by the board (2024: No related party transactions). In addition to the transactions disclosed above, one trustee donated £23 to the charity. The donation was made without conditions and on normal terms. — page 43
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2023)

Total income
£658k
Total spending
£639k
Cost of raising funds
£11k
Reserves (reported)
£95k
Employees
3

Reported reserves equal ~1.8 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 7.0 months; benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Throughout England

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/08/2025£357k£373k
31/08/2024£293k£474k
31/08/2023£658k£639k
31/08/2022£992k£891k
31/08/2021£677k£668k

Common questions

Is THE IDEAS FOUNDATION financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total funds decreased from £115,593 to £99,295 due to a net expenditure of £181,164 against income of £356,556. The trustees report that the current situation is unsustainable in the long run and are considering options including mergers, emergency fundraising, or planned closure. Despite these challenges, unrestricted reserves of £65,897 remain above the stated policy target of £50,000. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Government & lottery funding

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

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Community Fund12/07/2010£9kCreativity Summer School

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.

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with INSTITUTE OF IMAGINATION.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
THE IDEAS FOUNDATION£357k0aboveno doubt
INSTITUTE OF IMAGINATION FY2025£512k£80,001 - £90,0000belowno doubt
ARTIS FOUNDATION FY2025£1.0m0unclearno doubt
THE FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE FY2025£133k0aboveno doubt
The Framlingham Foundation Trust T/A The Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation FY2023£895k0unclearno doubt
THE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ARTS AND CULTURE FY2024£104k0unclearno doubt

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