THE CHARLESTON TRUST (BLOOMSBURY IN SUSSEX)
Registered charity 1107313 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE CHARLESTON TRUST (BLOOOMSBURY IN SUSSEX)
Charleston is a house, garden and art gallery situated in the South Downs National Park. It was the home of twentieth century artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, who were key members of the Bloomsbury group. Charleston has a shop and cafe and is available for venue hire. It is open all year.
Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the charity delivered a deficit of £242,538 for the year ended 31 December 2024, following a deficit of £787,082 in the prior year. Per the trustees' report, the organisation holds £116,131 in free unrestricted reserves, which is significantly below the stated policy target of £764,000.
Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: at least six months’ overhead costs including salaries of permanent staff (held: £116k)
“The Reserves Policy as agreed by the Trustees is to target the build up of free reserves to a level equivalent to at least six months’ overhead costs including salaries of permanent staff, which we estimate is an amount of £764,000 based on the 2024 budget.” — page 21
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee Pippa Harris made an interest-free loan of £113,000 to the charity.
“During the year Pippa Harris, a trustee, made a loan to the charity of £113,000 in respect of a submitted MGETR claim. The loan was interest free and was outstanding at the year end and the full amount is included in other creditors.” — page 54
“During 2024 a total of £295,481 (2023 £273,300) was calculated as a Management Charge to cover staff time and given as a Gift in Kind from the Charity to Charleston Lewes Limited. Support and governance costs were also proportionally recharged in the sum of £59,716” — page 53
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Charleston Lewes Limited (related charity) received £295,481 in management charges (Gift in Kind) and £59,716 in support/governance cost recharges from the charity.
“During the year Pippa Harris, a trustee, made a loan to the charity of £113,000 in respect of a submitted MGETR claim. The loan was interest free and was outstanding at the year end and the full amount is included in other creditors.” — page 54
“During 2024 a total of £295,481 (2023 £273,300) was calculated as a Management Charge to cover staff time and given as a Gift in Kind from the Charity to Charleston Lewes Limited. Support and governance costs were also proportionally recharged in the sum of £59,716” — page 53
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Charleston Lewes Limited charged £100,627 to The Charleston Trust and £20,770 to Charleston Enterprises Ltd.
“During the year Pippa Harris, a trustee, made a loan to the charity of £113,000 in respect of a submitted MGETR claim. The loan was interest free and was outstanding at the year end and the full amount is included in other creditors.” — page 54
“During 2024 a total of £295,481 (2023 £273,300) was calculated as a Management Charge to cover staff time and given as a Gift in Kind from the Charity to Charleston Lewes Limited. Support and governance costs were also proportionally recharged in the sum of £59,716” — page 53
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Total donations from trustees amounted to £224,145.
“During the year Pippa Harris, a trustee, made a loan to the charity of £113,000 in respect of a submitted MGETR claim. The loan was interest free and was outstanding at the year end and the full amount is included in other creditors.” — page 54
“During 2024 a total of £295,481 (2023 £273,300) was calculated as a Management Charge to cover staff time and given as a Gift in Kind from the Charity to Charleston Lewes Limited. Support and governance costs were also proportionally recharged in the sum of £59,716” — page 53
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Charleston Enterprises Limited
“Operation of the shop and other commercial activity is carried out through its wholly owned subsidiary, Charleston Enterprises Limited.” — page 19
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts audited by Saffery LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.
Property (HM Land Registry)
5 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (3 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)
Cost of raising funds
£832k
Reported reserves equal ~0.4 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).
Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (56% 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: 26.6% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 5.2%) (benchmarks).
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (20/08/2024) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
- Received assets from another charity (03/02/2021) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: East Sussex
Income and spending
Common questions
Is THE CHARLESTON TRUST (BLOOMSBURY IN SUSSEX) financially healthy?
Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity delivered a deficit of £242,538 for the year ended 31 December 2024, following a deficit of £787,082 in the prior year. Per the trustees' report, the organisation holds £116,131 in free unrestricted reserves, which is significantly below the stated policy target of £764,000. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Saffery LLP.
Who funds THE CHARLESTON TRUST (BLOOMSBURY IN SUSSEX)?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE CHARLESTON TRUST (BLOOMSBURY IN SUSSEX) as a grant recipient include THE PILGRIM TRUST, THE FORTE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.
Government & lottery funding
Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).
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.
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Side by side with its peers
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