THE LEEDS LIBRARY
The maintenance, development and making available of an historic subscription library. The preservation and making available of an historic library building.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity ended the year with an operational deficit of £80,326, a significant decrease from the previous year's surplus, largely due to a £179,000 loss on the sale of heritage books. Per the trustees' report, the charity continues to run at an operational deficit and has not yet met its reserves policy target of nine months' operational expenditure, which is estimated at approximately £420,000. The trustees note that the main risk to the going concern arises from the costs of redevelopment and the need to correct the long-standing operational deficit, though they consider it appropriate to continue using the going concern basis.
What the accounts disclose
“As a consequence of significant capital investments and operational challenges, free reserves at the end of 2025 remain below this target.” — page 7
“In 2018 the Library formed an agreement with the Thoresby Society, a registered Charity under which the Thoresby Society pays the Library £14,342 (2024: £12,595) for the use of the premises and the management of their library and archive.” — page 29
Funders the charity credits
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Trustees
- Paul Charles Ellischair
- Adrian Coltman
- Catherine Ruth Robbins
- IAN WILLIAM SHAW
- PHILIP ANDREW WALKER
- Pat Urry
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £735k | £815k |
| 31/12/2024 | £933k | £649k |
| 31/12/2023 | £538k | £653k |
| 31/12/2022 | £908k | £715k |
| 31/12/2021 | £480k | £578k |
Common questions
Is THE LEEDS LIBRARY financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity ended the year with an operational deficit of £80,326, a significant decrease from the previous year's surplus, largely due to a £179,000 loss on the sale of heritage books. Per the trustees' report, the charity continues to run at an operational deficit and has not yet met its reserves policy target of nine months' operational expenditure, which is estimated at approximately £420,000. The trustees note that the main risk to the going concern arises from the costs of redevelopment and the need to correct the long-standing operational deficit, though they consider it appropriate to continue using the going concern basis. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Thomas Coombs Limited.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 04/07/2023 | £250k | "The Leeds Library: The Next Chapter Project" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 06/07/2020 | £50k | "COVID19: The Leeds Library" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 07/06/2013 | £8k | "Leeds Library : meeting our future together with a stronger team" |