THE BANISTER CHARITABLE TRUST
To promote the conservation, protection & improvement of the physical & natural environment in the UK and to further such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales in such manner as the Trustees think fit. Trust is open to applications. Please submit your application to https://funding.ludlowtrust.com
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity is in the process of winding up its activities, with the financial statements prepared on a basis other than going concern. The charity reports a deficit in free reserves of £172,739, although the trustees note this arises from the timing of liability recognition and transfers from the expendable endowment fund. The trustees confirm the trust will be fully distributed before the end of the year.
What the accounts disclose
“Given the availability of the expendable endowment fund the trustees do not consider that the charity needs to maintain any significant free reserves although they recognise that such reserves will arise from time to time.”
“The financial statements have been prepared on a basis other than going concern and no adjustments have been made to these financial statements in respect of the planned cessation.” — page 14
“During the year under review, Ludlow Trust Company Limited, a trustee, charged the charity £2,788 (2024: £11,610) for administrative services with £571 (2024: £1,700) accrued at the balance sheet date. These fees are authorised under section 6 of the trust deed.” — page 13
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)
Trustees
- CHRISTOPHER E BANISTER
- HUW BANISTER
- LUDLOW TRUST COMPANY LTD
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £214k | £63k |
| 31/12/2024 | £1.6m | £715k |
| 31/12/2023 | £4.5m | £3.5m |
| 31/12/2022 | £159k | £6.2m |
| 31/12/2021 | £493k | £715k |
Common questions
Is THE BANISTER CHARITABLE TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity is in the process of winding up its activities, with the financial statements prepared on a basis other than going concern. The charity reports a deficit in free reserves of £172,739, although the trustees note this arises from the timing of liability recognition and transfers from the expendable endowment fund. The trustees confirm the trust will be fully distributed before the end of the year. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| AKO FOUNDATION | 1 | £1.1m |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £1.0m |
| ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION FUND | 1 | £1.0m |
| CLEAN AIR FUND | 1 | £929k |
| LANCASHIRE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND LIMITED | 1 | £284k |
| The Brindle Foundation | 1 | £275k |
| THE JOSEPH ROWNTREE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £250k |
| THE VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST | 1 | £231k |
Charities like this
- ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND UK
- THE LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST
- WORLD LAND TRUST
- THE ENERGY SAVING TRUST FOUNDATION
- TRUST FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING
- PLATFORM (LONDON)
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE BANISTER CHARITABLE TRUST | £214k | — | 0 | below | — | not going concern |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND UK | £1.4m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST | £9.2m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| WORLD LAND TRUST | £9.7m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE ENERGY SAVING TRUST FOUNDATION | £211k | £60,001 - £70,000 | — | no_policy | — | no doubt |
| TRUST FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING | £1.1m | £70,001 - £80,000 | 1 | unclear | — | material uncertainty |