THE SHEILA MCKECHNIE FOUNDATION
The Foundation has established an Awards Scheme, currently with nine categories, as a means of identifying and developing the next generation of campaigners. A bespoke support programme is delivered to the winners of each category. More widely, the Foundation speaks out on behalf of the sector in order to champion the right to campaign.
Objects
TO PROMOTE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CHARITIES AND THE EFFECTIVE APPLICATION OF RESOURCES FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC BY RAISING THE STANDARD OF AND PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN CAMPAIGNING ON BEHALF OF CHARITABLE PURPOSES IN PARTICULAR BY:(A) AWARDING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CONDUCTED EFFECTIVE AND LAWFUL CAMPAIGNS THAT FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES;(B) RAISING AWARENESS OF GOOD PRACTICE IN CAMPAIGNING;(C) PROVIDING INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE CAMPAIGNING IN FURTHERANCE OF CHARITABLE PURPOSES.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that total income fell significantly to £543,332 from £828,425 in the prior year, while expenditure remained high at £612,384, resulting in a net deficit. The charity's total reserves dropped to £59,217, which the trustees acknowledge is lower than their stated policy target of £60,000. Despite these financial pressures and staff reductions, the trustees and auditors confirm there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“This does mean that SMK’s reserves at year-end are lower than our policy recommends.” — page 17
“The wholly-owned subsidiary, Sheila McKechnie Trading Limited, which is incorporated in England and Wales, pays its profits to the charity as a donation.” — page 45
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2025
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£70,001–£80,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2024
- Employees paid over £60,000: 2 (£60,001–£70,000: 1; £90,001–£100,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2023
- Government income: £1 — contracts £1 (1); under 1% of the £640,931 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£90,001–£100,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
In the news
Corporate structure
- Registered company of the charity Companies House 05331412 · Financial health read from its filings
- Trading subsidiary: SHEILA MCKECHNIE TRADING LTD Companies House 13248880 · Financial health read from its filings
- Amounts owed to group undertakings 15,945
Company officers (Companies House)
- WADE, David John on trustee list
- ITANO, Nicole Chaires on trustee list
- LAZONBY, Gillian Dawn on trustee list
- RUDZINSKAITE, Emilija on trustee list
- GICHKI, Sami on trustee list
- KENT, Alex on trustee list
- CAN, Juliet on trustee list
- BURTON, Anthony James Harris on trustee list
- LANE, Richard Stephen on trustee list
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Trustees
- Alex Kent
- Anthony Burton
- David John Wade
- Emilija Rudzinskaite
- Gillian Lazonby
- Juliet Can
- Nicole Chaires Itano
- Richard Lane
- Sami Gichki
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £543k | £612k |
| 31/03/2024 | £828k | £761k |
| 31/03/2023 | £641k | £661k |
| 31/03/2022 | £554k | £536k |
| 31/03/2021 | £434k | £478k |
Common questions
Is THE SHEILA MCKECHNIE FOUNDATION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total income fell significantly to £543,332 from £828,425 in the prior year, while expenditure remained high at £612,384, resulting in a net deficit. The charity's total reserves dropped to £59,217, which the trustees acknowledge is lower than their stated policy target of £60,000. Despite these financial pressures and staff reductions, the trustees and auditors confirm there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Fletcher & Partners.
Who funds THE SHEILA MCKECHNIE FOUNDATION?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE SHEILA MCKECHNIE FOUNDATION as a grant recipient include THE JOSEPH ROWNTREE CHARITABLE TRUST, JOHN ELLERMAN FOUNDATION, TRUST FOR LONDON, GLOBAL DIALOGUE, PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE JOSEPH ROWNTREE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £182k | Anti-oppression at SMK |
| THE JOSEPH ROWNTREE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2021 | £150k | Core costs |
| JOHN ELLERMAN FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £150k | To provide essential infrastructure for civil society campaigning nationwide |
| TRUST FOR LONDON | FY2024 | £55k | 2018-2024 strategy: Stronger voices |
| GLOBAL DIALOGUE | FY2024 | £39k | Funders' Initiative for Civil Society |
| PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £30k | Evidence and Learning |
| GLOBAL DIALOGUE | FY2023 | £19k | Hosting - Funders' Initiative for Civil Society |
| GLOBAL DIALOGUE | FY2022 | £10k | Funders' Initiative for Civil Society |
| JOHN ELLERMAN FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £10k | Towards the costs of the Defence of Civic Space in the UK project in partnership with a small consortium of funders, including Baring Foundation and the Funders |
| JOHN ELLERMAN FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £8k | Sponsorship of the Amplifying Voices Awards at their 2023 National Campaigner Awards |
| THE BARROW CADBURY TRUST | FY2025 | £8k | Sponsorship of Best Use of Law SMK National Campaigner 2024 |
| JOHN ELLERMAN FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £5k | Sponsorship of the Amplifying Voices Awards 2022 for the SMK National Campaigner Awards. |
| THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £4k | Human Rights (particularly access to justice) |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| A B Charitable Trust | 09/12/2021 | £4k | A grant to Sheila McKechnie Foundation |
| City Bridge Foundation | 26/09/2019 | £59k | Grant to Sheila McKechnie Foundation |
| City Bridge Foundation | 15/08/2018 | £17k | Grant to Sheila McKechnie Foundation |
| Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch | 06/08/2018 | £15k | The Sheila McKechnie Foundation |
| Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch | 25/10/2016 | £20k | The Sheila McKechnie Foundation |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 05/02/2014 | £67k | "The Mark of a Great Campaigner" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 17/01/2013 | £10k | Campaign Central: Supporting marginalised people to create change |
| City Bridge Foundation | 17/02/2011 | £60k | Grant to Sheila McKechnie Foundation |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE PARGITER TRUST | 1 | £400k |
| EG FOUNDATION | 1 | £210k |
| THE FRANK JACKSON FOUNDATION | 1 | £100k |
| ST EDMUNDS TRUST | 1 | £38k |
| THE THREE GUINEAS TRUST | 1 | £36k |
| THE WITHEREN FOUNDATION | 1 | £20k |
| THE FRANCIS WINHAM FOUNDATION | 1 | £10k |
| PAUL AND LOUISE COOKE ENDOWMENT | 1 | £10k |
Charities like this
- SPARKLE SHEFFIELD
- THE SHEFFIELD 1000-1 CHARITY
- MEHIEL FOUNDATION
- SUFFOLK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
- SKELTON BOUNTY
- THE ROBERT MCALPINE FOUNDATION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE SHEILA MCKECHNIE FOUNDATION | £543k | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| SPARKLE SHEFFIELD | £59k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE SHEFFIELD 1000-1 CHARITY | £64k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| MEHIEL FOUNDATION | £28k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SUFFOLK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | £6.8m | £90,000 - £99,999 | 1 | within | — | no doubt |
| SKELTON BOUNTY | £129k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |