THE COMEDY TRUST
Runs Community, Education and Mental Health and Wellbeing programmes throughout the year across Merseyside, NW England and the UK including the annual Liverpool Comedy Festival. The main focus is the ground breaking mental health and well-being programmes that aim to improve health and well-being, boost confidence, self-esteem and help to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity recorded a surplus of £1,534 for the year, with unrestricted reserves increasing to £15,086. The trustees consider that these reserves meet the lower target level of their policy, which requires maintaining funds equivalent to three to six months of expenditure. The charity remains dependent on securing future funding sources to sustain operations.
What the accounts disclose
“There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.” — page 16
“There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.” — page 16
“It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six months expenditure.” — page 5
Funders the charity credits
- Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership
Trustees
- GILLIAN MILLERchair
- Amina Ismail
- Dr Marie Caslin
- Freya Elizabeth Jones
- Iain Duncan Christie
- Jane Vicky Nuttall
- KEVIN DUNN
- Mark Fitzpatrick
- Prof Matthew James Ashton
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 30/04/2025 | £103k | £102k |
| 30/04/2024 | £95k | £94k |
| 30/04/2023 | £57k | £83k |
| 30/04/2022 | £65k | £75k |
| 30/04/2021 | £73k | £58k |
Common questions
Is THE COMEDY TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity recorded a surplus of £1,534 for the year, with unrestricted reserves increasing to £15,086. The trustees consider that these reserves meet the lower target level of their policy, which requires maintaining funds equivalent to three to six months of expenditure. The charity remains dependent on securing future funding sources to sustain operations. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
What does the highest-paid employee of THE COMEDY TRUST earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the Under £60,000 band.
Who funds THE COMEDY TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE COMEDY TRUST as a grant recipient include SIR HARRY PILKINGTON FUND.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIR HARRY PILKINGTON FUND | FY2022 | £2k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 08/11/2022 | £99k | "Laugh it Off: The Historical Role of Humour in Liverpool's Resilience" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 16/04/2021 | £10k | Feeling Funny Youth |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 01/02/2016 | £10k | "War and popular entertainment - The importance of entertainment during World War I" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 28/11/2012 | £18k | "Liverpool, Capital of Comedy - Why We Are Funny" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 17/05/2012 | £7k | Stand Out, A Six Week Workshop for Young People |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 18/12/2009 | £5k | Stand Out Residency |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 22/03/2005 | £5k | Stand out clubs |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE REED FOUNDATION | 2 | £50k |
| MIND (THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH) | 1 | £3.0m |
| HAMPTON FUEL ALLOTMENT | 1 | £40k |
| THE MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION | 1 | £38k |
| WILLIAM ADLINGTON CADBURY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £20k |
| THE GRIMMITT TRUST | 1 | £15k |
| THE LESLIE SMITH FOUNDATION | 1 | £7k |
| THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITED | 1 | £5k |
Charities like this
- Stockport County Community Trust
- MERLIN THEATRE TRUST LIMITED
- THE TEAMWORK TRUST
- MERSEY CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST CHARITY
- BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME THEATRE TRUST LIMITED
- ST AUGUSTINE'S COMMUNITY CARE TRUST
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE COMEDY TRUST | £103k | Under £60,000 | 0 | within | 0.0% | no doubt |
| Stockport County Community Trust | £976k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| MERLIN THEATRE TRUST LIMITED | £270k | — | 0 | above | 9.6% | no doubt |
| THE TEAMWORK TRUST | £1.2m | — | 1 | below | — | no doubt |
| MERSEY CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST CHARITY | £123k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME THEATRE TRUST LIMITED | £39.1m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |