OPEN HANDS TRUST (LEICESTER)
Offering practical help to those in need in Leicester & beyond. This help currently includes food, clothing, household items & personal support & training.
Objects
TO PROMOTE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD:1 THE RELIEF OF SICKNESS, POVERTY AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND TO PROMOTE AND RESERVE GOOD HEALTH BY THE PROVISION OF FUNDS, GOODS OR SERVICES OF ANY KIND INCLUDING THROUGH THE PROVISION OF TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION, COUNSELLING AND SUPPORT IN SUCH PLACES AS THE DIRECTORS FROM TIME TO TIME MAY THINK FIT;2 THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION IN SUCH WAYS AND IN SUCH PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY AS THE DIRECTORS FROM TIME TO TIME MAY THINK FIT;2.1 THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION OF CHILDREN BELOW COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE BY PROVIDING SAFE AND SATISFYING GROUP PLAY AND NURSERY ACTIVITIES;2.2 FACILITIES FOR DAILY CARE, RECREATION AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE DURING OUT OF SCHOOL HOURS AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS;2.3 THE TRAINING OF PARENTS AND OTHER PERSONS IN THE PROVISION OF CHILD CARE AND PARENTING SKILLS;2.4 THE ENABLING OF DISABLED AND DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIFESTYLES BY PROVIDING EFFECTIVE TRAINING IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER RELEVANT OFFICE SKILLS; IN PARTICULAR TO ENHANCE THE PROSPECTS FOR SUCH TRAINED PEOPLE TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT BY ACTING AS A BRIDGE TO LINK THEM WITH EMPLOYERS AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING WHETHER WORK ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED IN A WORKPLACE, PLACE OF LEARNING OR AT HOME;2.5 RELIEF FROM AND SUPPORT TO PERSONS OF ALL AGES AFFECTED BY, PREGNANCY, DRUG ABUSE, ALCOHOL ABUSE, HARDSHIP, DISTRESS, DEPRIVATION, DESTITUTION AND HELPLESSNESS;2.6 THE TEACHING OF LIFE SKILLS TO CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS SO AS TO BETTER ENABLE THEM TO COPE WITH THE BUSINESS OF LIFE;2.7 TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR PERSONS OVER SCHOOL LEAVING AGE; AND2.8 THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE OR THOSE WHO BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABLEMENT, PROPERTY OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES, HAVE NEED OF SUCH FACILITY
Financial health, per its FY2026 accounts
The accounts state that the charity held unrestricted reserves of £317,028, which exceeds the stated policy target of three months of operating expenditure. The charity reported a net income surplus of £19,488 for the year, with total income of £565,635 against total expenditure of £546,147.
What the accounts disclose
“The Trustees of Open Hands Trust have adopted a reserves policy that aims to maintain unrestricted reserves equivalent to approximately three months of operating expenditure.” — page 17
“During the period £4,200 (2025: £4,235) of donations were received without conditions from trustees.” — page 34
“Open Hands Trust (Leicester) received £27,800 (2025: £32,800) donation from this charity.” — page 34
“During the period £4,200 (2025: £4,235) of donations were received without conditions from trustees.” — page 34
“Open Hands Trust (Leicester) received £27,800 (2025: £32,800) donation from this charity.” — page 34
“During the period £4,200 (2025: £4,235) of donations were received without conditions from trustees.” — page 34
“Open Hands Trust (Leicester) received £27,800 (2025: £32,800) donation from this charity.” — page 34
“During the period £4,200 (2025: £4,235) of donations were received without conditions from trustees.” — page 34
“Open Hands Trust (Leicester) received £27,800 (2025: £32,800) donation from this charity.” — page 34
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
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest 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 31/03/2026
- Volunteers: 150
- Government income: £259,111 — contracts £177,151 (1), grants £81,960 (3); 46% of the £565,635 total gross income on the same return
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2025
- Volunteers: 150
- Government income: £236,867 — contracts £217,317 (2), grants £19,550 (2); 46% of the £520,202 total gross income on the same return
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2024
- Volunteers: 130
- Government income: £175,618 — contracts £156,458 (1), grants £19,160 (4); 28% of the £620,310 total gross income on the same return
- Has a trading subsidiary
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2026)
Trustees
- ANDREW CHARLES ELTONchair
- Christina Ellen Gardiner
- Colin Jewitt
- DAVID HENRY BENNETT
- James Mark Saker
- REV DAVID HIND
- Robert James Radford
- Susan Elizabeth Hind
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2026 | £566k | £546k |
| 31/03/2025 | £520k | £516k |
| 31/03/2024 | £620k | £631k |
| 31/12/2022 | £422k | £440k |
| 31/12/2021 | £598k | £415k |
Common questions
Is OPEN HANDS TRUST (LEICESTER) financially healthy?
Per its FY2026 accounts: The accounts state that the charity held unrestricted reserves of £317,028, which exceeds the stated policy target of three months of operating expenditure. The charity reported a net income surplus of £19,488 for the year, with total income of £565,635 against total expenditure of £546,147. Its FY2026 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds OPEN HANDS TRUST (LEICESTER)?
Funders whose own accounts filings name OPEN HANDS TRUST (LEICESTER) as a grant recipient include THE HELEN JEAN COPE CHARITY.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE HELEN JEAN COPE CHARITY | FY2022 | £1k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 09/01/2025 | £20k | Open Hands Food Projects |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 28/11/2024 | £148k | Transforming Volunteering at Open Hands |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 30/08/2022 | £10k | Pilot Mentoring Programme |
| UK government | 18/06/2020 | £67k | Coronavirus Community Support Fund |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 26/11/2018 | £128k | Restore |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 25/02/2016 | £10k | The Six Degrees Coffee House |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 23/10/2013 | £447k | Open Hands Trust |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 10/05/2012 | £9k | Open Hands Information/Advice Centre & Furniture Restoration |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| HOLMFIELD CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £202k |
| ZURICH COMMUNITY TRUST (UK) LIMITED | 1 | £32k |
| CML - CHEVRAS MO'OZ LADOL | 1 | £21k |
| POSSUK LIMITED | 1 | £20k |
| THE SIMCHA TRUST LIMITED | 1 | £18k |
| YBP LIMITED | 1 | £15k |
| THE HOLDEN CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £13k |
| THE LONDON BOARD FOR SHECHITA | 1 | £13k |
Charities like this
- OPEN HANDS PROJECT SHEFFIELD
- OPEN HANDS REIGATE
- HELP THE HOMELESS LEICESTER
- THE OPENWORK FOUNDATION
- OPEN DOOR SOCIETY LIMITED
- LANCASTER & DISTRICT HOMELESS ACTION SERVICE LIMITED
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPEN HANDS TRUST (LEICESTER) | £566k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| OPEN HANDS PROJECT SHEFFIELD | £26k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| OPEN HANDS REIGATE | £28k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| HELP THE HOMELESS LEICESTER | £289k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE OPENWORK FOUNDATION | £1.2m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| OPEN DOOR SOCIETY LIMITED | £1.9m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |