COTSWOLD LAKES TRUST
To provide facilities for the benefit of the public,and in particular the inhabitants of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, in the interests of social welfare for education, conservation, recreation and leisure time occupation at the Cotswold Water Park.
Latest income
£582k
Latest spending
£672k
Registered
2007
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a consolidated deficit of £89,954 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in a decrease in net assets. The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £2,634,658, which the trustees note are significantly higher than their policy target of 12 months of expenditure, although these reserves are fully represented by fixed assets that cannot be easily sold.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: 12 months of group total resources expended (held: £2.6m)
“CLT has a long-term aim of maintaining group reserves, in the form of unrestricted funds, equivalent to 12 months of group total resources expended.” — page 12
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Going concern: noted by the trustees or auditor
“The Trustees believe that the only uncertainty at present involves the sale of the compound at Cleveland Lakes held within Cotswold Water Park Society Limited which is included in our budget and cash flow forecasts and is required in order to meet loan obligations. The sale is dependent on planning permission being granted which the Trustees expect to happen soon. However, if the compound sale fails to complete, there are alternative plans to ensure the Group can repay their debts as they fall due.” — page 28
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Management charges charged from CLT to subsidiaries CWPS and CWPERS.
“During the year, management charges were charged from Cotswold Lakes Trust to Cotswold Water Park Society Limited and Cotswold Lakes Trading Limited, totalling £155,224 (2024: £155,224). At the year end, £333,602 (2024: £338,051) was owed to Cotswold Water Park Society Limited, and £95,810 (2024: £84,247) was included in amounts owed from Cotswold Lakes Trading Limited.” — page 52
“During the year ended 31 March 2024, a loan of £140,000 was made to the Cotswold Water Park Society from a company wholly owned by a trustee of Cotswold Lakes Trust at a rate of 1% below the Bank of England's bank rate. At the year end, £146,984 (2024: £141,469) was owed.” — page 52
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Loan from a company wholly owned by a trustee to a subsidiary.
“During the year, management charges were charged from Cotswold Lakes Trust to Cotswold Water Park Society Limited and Cotswold Lakes Trading Limited, totalling £155,224 (2024: £155,224). At the year end, £333,602 (2024: £338,051) was owed to Cotswold Water Park Society Limited, and £95,810 (2024: £84,247) was included in amounts owed from Cotswold Lakes Trading Limited.” — page 52
“During the year ended 31 March 2024, a loan of £140,000 was made to the Cotswold Water Park Society from a company wholly owned by a trustee of Cotswold Lakes Trust at a rate of 1% below the Bank of England's bank rate. At the year end, £146,984 (2024: £141,469) was owed.” — page 52
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Donations from trustees and connected parties.
“During the year, management charges were charged from Cotswold Lakes Trust to Cotswold Water Park Society Limited and Cotswold Lakes Trading Limited, totalling £155,224 (2024: £155,224). At the year end, £333,602 (2024: £338,051) was owed to Cotswold Water Park Society Limited, and £95,810 (2024: £84,247) was included in amounts owed from Cotswold Lakes Trading Limited.” — page 52
“During the year ended 31 March 2024, a loan of £140,000 was made to the Cotswold Water Park Society from a company wholly owned by a trustee of Cotswold Lakes Trust at a rate of 1% below the Bank of England's bank rate. At the year end, £146,984 (2024: £141,469) was owed.” — page 52
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Cotswold Lakes Trading Limited
“Cotswold Lakes Trading Limited (formerly Cotswold Water Park Estates and Ranger Services Limited) (CWPERS) is a trading subsidiary of the Cotswold Lakes Trust.” — page 8
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Total income
£582k
Total spending
£672k
Cost of raising funds
£39k
Reserves (reported)
£2.6m
Employees
11
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (20/12/2022)
Trustees
- PAUL MALCOLM HAZELchair
- Christopher Snook
- Heidi Thompson
- James Boulding
- Jeffrey Sissons
- Judith Mary Walpole
- Michael Brian John Low
- Philippa Mary Langford
- WILLIAM MARTIN KINGSTON
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £582k | £672k |
| 31/03/2024 | £451k | £618k |
| 31/03/2023 | £701k | £572k |
| 31/03/2022 | £609k | £558k |
| 31/03/2021 | £333k | £333k |
Common questions
Is COTSWOLD LAKES TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a consolidated deficit of £89,954 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in a decrease in net assets. The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £2,634,658, which the trustees note are significantly higher than their policy target of 12 months of expenditure, although these reserves are fully represented by fixed assets that cannot be easily sold. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport England | 03/06/2025 | £4k | Lakeside Link |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 05/07/2023 | £238k | "BASE" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 02/09/2022 | £10k | Cotswold Lakes Big Volunteering Weekend |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 06/07/2020 | £23k | "COVID19: Cotswold Water Park Trust" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 05/02/2020 | £35k | "Improving the resilience of The Cotswold Water Park Trust" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 11/01/2011 | £19k | "'If only they were still alive' - understanding and celebrating a changing historic landscape" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 17/07/2009 | £8k | Willo Lantern Pageant |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| BARNWOOD TRUST | 1 | £175k |
| The Neath Port Talbot Community Voluntary Service Limited | 1 | £35k |
| THE BAND TRUST | 1 | £30k |
| ROBERT LUFF FOUNDATION LIMITED | 1 | £20k |
| THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY | 1 | £18k |
| THE PENNIES FOUNDATION | 1 | £12k |
| The Ashley Family Foundation | 1 | £10k |
| EMERTON-CHRISTIE CHARITY | 1 | £6k |
Charities like this
- COTSWOLD COUNSELLING
- HEREFORDSHIRE AND GLOUCESTERSHIRE CANAL TRUST LIMITED
- WEST WALES RIVERS TRUST
- FRIENDS OF THE COTSWOLDS
- THE LAKE DISTRICT CALVERT TRUST
- COTSWOLD EDGE DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COTSWOLD LAKES TRUST | £582k | — | 0 | unclear | — | noted |
| COTSWOLD COUNSELLING | £374k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| HEREFORDSHIRE AND GLOUCESTERSHIRE CANAL TRUST LIMITED | £195k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| WEST WALES RIVERS TRUST | £884k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| FRIENDS OF THE COTSWOLDS | £173k | £30,001 - £40,000 | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE LAKE DISTRICT CALVERT TRUST | £2.0m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |