WRITING ON THE WALL LIMITED

Registered charity 1098868 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as WOW

To alleviate disadvantage by the promotion of creative activities, particularly new writing, through the provision of activities and events, and through the promotion of new media with a view to promoting learning and encouraging new writing.

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Economic/community Development/employment · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£412k

Latest spending

£453k

Registered

2003

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit for the year of £41,680, with total income falling significantly to £411,700 from £810,355 in the prior year. Despite this deficit, the trustees confirm the charity remains a going concern, citing adequate reserves and liquidity to continue operations for the foreseeable future.

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

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £60,001 - £70,000 — in the top quarter for charities its size (median £60k)

“Two employee received emoluments of between £60,000 to £70,000 during the year (2024: nil)” — page 22

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Employees paid over £60,000: 2

“Two employee received emoluments of between £60,000 to £70,000 during the year (2024: nil)” — page 22

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: six months’ running costs, redundancy provision, lease commitments, staff training, festival (held: £393k)

“It is the policy of the charitable company to maintain unrestricted funds, which are free reserves at a level to cover redundancy provision, lease commitments, staff training, festival and six months’ running costs should no further funding be received.” — page 9

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

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

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Arts Council — “WoW is an Arts Council’s National Portfolio organisation” (source page)

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

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2024)

Total income

£810k

Total spending

£581k

Reserves (reported)

£670k

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~13.8 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 7.0 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (90% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (2.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Lisa McMullan
Lloyd Kofi Smith
Lynne Jones · trustee of 1 other charity
Margaret Christina O'Carroll
PENNY FEENY
Susan Oshikanlu

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

Operates in: Knowsley · Lancashire · Liverpool City · Sefton · St Helens · Wirral

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£412k	£453k
31/03/2024	£810k	£581k
31/03/2023	£536k	£528k
31/03/2022	£694k	£604k
31/03/2021	£672k	£436k

Common questions

Is WRITING ON THE WALL LIMITED financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit for the year of £41,680, with total income falling significantly to £411,700 from £810,355 in the prior year. Despite this deficit, the trustees confirm the charity remains a going concern, citing adequate reserves and liquidity to continue operations for the foreseeable future. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

What does the highest-paid employee of WRITING ON THE WALL LIMITED earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £60,001 - £70,000 band, and 2 employees earned over £60,000.

Government & lottery funding

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

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	17/09/2025	£198k	"Writing on the Wall: 25 Years of Creating Change Through the Power of Words"
The National Lottery Community Fund	26/05/2020	£45k	WOW CV19
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	12/01/2015	£41k	"Great War to Race Riots - Black Servicemen's struggle to survive at home and abroad"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	18/12/2012	£59k	"The George Garrett Archive"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	25/05/2010	£25k	"Liverpool Young Writers"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	06/06/2007	£38k	"WoW 2007"