THE LAUGHTER SPECIALISTS

Registered charity 1132987 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The Laughter Specialists Charitable Trust funds programmes of specially trained entertainers to visit sick children and vulnerable adults in hospital and those with special needs calling on their training and experience and using their artistic and entertainment skills to bring them laughter and fun thereby improving their well being. Other activities include talks and training workshops.

Objects

1) TO RELIEVE SICKNESS, PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS INCLUDING THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN THE UK BY PROVIDING SPECIALLY TRAINED ENTERTAINERS (KNOWN AS LAUGHTER SPECIALISTS) USING ARTISTIC AND ENTERTAINMENT SKILLS TO BRING LAUGHTER, FUN AND OTHER THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES FOR HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS. 2) TO RELIEVE ELDERLY PEOPLE IN NEED IN THE UK, BY PROVIDING TRAINED ENTERTAINERS KNOWN AS LAUGHTER SPECIALISTS FOR DAY CENTRES, CARE HOMES, NURSING HOMES AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS. 3) TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF THE SUBJECT OF LAUGHTER THERAPY

Area of benefit: THE UK

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Disability · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves have dipped below the trustees' target of £10,000–£15,000, with a reported balance of £5,905. The trustees acknowledge this shortfall and are actively seeking to increase unrestricted funding through fundraising events to cover fixed operational costs. Despite the low reserves, the charity reports increased income from corporate sponsorship and grants, indicating ongoing operational activity.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Discloses 3 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

• Conflicting interests
• Financial reserves policy and procedures
• Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
• Safeguarding policy and procedures
• Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
• Serious incident reporting policy and procedures

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — The Laughter Specialists Charitable Trust (matched by registered charity number).

Trustees · trustee networks

• GEORGE DAVID JAMES HOWARDchair
• Clare Thompson
• Edward John Rudd · trustee of 1 other charity
• Karen Louise Sheairs
• Madeleine Gardner

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Throughout England

Income and spending

Common questions

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).