ELY MUSEUM CIO

Registered charity 1156024 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The provision and maintenance of a museum in or near the City of Ely for the public exhibition of articles illustrative of the history of Ely and the fenland, and specimens of the fine and useful arts, ethnology, archaeology, geology, botany and natural history. The extension and preservation of the collection. The provision of lectures and other facilities of education. The promotion of research.

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£236k

Latest spending

£559k

Registered

2014

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net loss of £323,010 for the year ended 31 March 2025, primarily driven by increased payroll costs and a significant impairment of heritage assets following a theft. Despite this deficit, the trustees confirm the charity holds sufficient unrestricted funds to meet its reserves policy target of £36,000 and maintain a going concern basis for at least 12 months.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: three months' worth of general expenditure (calculated to be £36,000) (held: £2.0m)

“The reserves policy of the charity is to maintain three months' worth of general expenditure (calculated to be £36,000) in liquid unrestricted reserves at any one time” — page 6

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

The National Lottery Heritage Fund — “The National Lottery Heritage Fund” (source page)
East Cambridgeshire District Council — “East Cambridgeshire District Council through the Community Infrastructure Levy” (source page)
Thomas Parsons Charity — “Thomas Parsons Charity” (source page)
Garfield Weston Foundation — “Garfield Weston Foundation” (source page)
The Foyle Foundation — “The Foyle Foundation” (source page)
Ely Community Unit Trust — “Ely Community Unit Trust” (source page)
The Simon Gibson Charitable Trust — “The Simon Gibson Charitable Trust” (source page)
Phillip King Charitable Trust — “Phillip King Charitable Trust” (source page)
Sir John & Lady Baird — “Sir John & Lady Baird” (source page)

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Register events

Received assets from another charity (30/01/2019) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (30/01/2019) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

Hilary Christine Burkechair
Caoimhe Ni Dhonaill
Catriona Mary Wilson
Dr Lee Gilpin-Davies
Ellanor Jane Ponton-Hewitt
Jane Victoria Greaves
Joanne Clare Jolley
Richard James Taylor · trustee of 1 other charity
Samantha Hazel Bjorkegren
Victoria Jayne Teresa JAMESON

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

Operates in: Cambridgeshire

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£236k	£559k
31/03/2024	£163k	£265k
31/03/2023	£160k	£263k
31/03/2022	£155k	£322k
31/03/2021	£236k	£207k

Common questions

Is ELY MUSEUM CIO financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net loss of £323,010 for the year ended 31 March 2025, primarily driven by increased payroll costs and a significant impairment of heritage assets following a theft. Despite this deficit, the trustees confirm the charity holds sufficient unrestricted funds to meet its reserves policy target of £36,000 and maintain a going concern basis for at least 12 months. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds ELY MUSEUM CIO?

Funders whose own accounts filings name ELY MUSEUM CIO as a grant recipient include THE HEADLEY TRUST, THE ANNIE TRANMER CHARITABLE TRUST.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE HEADLEY TRUST	FY2024	£4k	The Headley Museums Archaeological Acquisition Fund.
THE ANNIE TRANMER CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2026	£1k

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	26/10/2023	£247k	"Ely Museum: Resilience through our collections."
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	03/08/2020	£27k	"COVID19: Ely Museum"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	08/12/2016	£1.8m	"Unlocking the potential of the Old Gaol: Re-connecting Ely Museum with its audiences"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	15/12/2011	£46k	"Origins of Ely"
The National Lottery Community Fund	05/05/2011	£10k	Ely Together
The National Lottery Community Fund	11/11/2008	£6k	Bringing History to Life
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	11/11/2008	£6k	"The Ely Museum Will Use An Award To Build On Their Successful Pilot Scheme Using Re-Enactors, A Musician And Food-Tasting Sessions In Their"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	16/05/2006	£50k	"What's in Store? Access to Collections at Ely Museum"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	23/06/2005	£84k	"Engendering Education in East Cambridgeshire"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	12/09/2002	£1k	"To Extend Physical And Intellectual Access To Ely Museum Through Improved Signs, Interactive Displays And Improved Access For All Visitors."
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	10/04/2000	£2k	"A 'Mystery Trail' leaflet linking Ely Prickwillow and Burwell stained glass and farmland museums."