LEVERHULME TRADE CHARITIES TRUST
Providing benefits for charities and individuals connected with Commercial Travellers, Grocers or Chemists by making grants to charities having connections with the three categories of beneficiaries and making undergraduate and postgraduate bursaries to individuals connected with the three categories.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity holds unrestricted reserves of £110.3m, which the trustees consider to be in line with their policy target of maintaining the real value of reserves over the long term. The charity reported total investment income of £3.1m and net expenditure of £5.4m, resulting in a net increase in funds. The trustees and auditors confirm there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“It is Trust policy to at least maintain the real value of the level of reserves over the long term and to maintain sufficient liquidity to meet its commitments.” — page 8
“In 2025, the Trust received dividend income of £1,938,000 from Unilever PLC (2024: £1,835,000). The Trust's investments include £53,994,000 of ordinary shares held in Unilever PLC (2024: £56,850,000).” — page 24
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Professor Anna Vignoles CBE FBA — Director
- Elizabeth Dymond CBE FCA — Director of Finance
- Sam White AIAB — Assistant Director of Finance
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (11/12/2015)
Trustees
- Alan Jopechair
- Conny Helena Maria Braams
- Dame Hayaatun Sillem DBE PhD
- Doug Baillie
- Graeme Pitkethly
- John Richard Slater
- Keith Weed
- Mhairi McEwan
- PROF KEITH GULL
- Paul McNicholl
- Quintin Rupert Salter Price
- Susan Bjorg Garrard
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £3.1m | £5.4m |
| 31/12/2024 | £2.3m | £2.8m |
| 31/12/2023 | £3.1m | £4.6m |
| 31/12/2022 | £3.0m | £2.7m |
| 31/12/2021 | £3.0m | £2.6m |
Common questions
Is LEVERHULME TRADE CHARITIES TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity holds unrestricted reserves of £110.3m, which the trustees consider to be in line with their policy target of maintaining the real value of reserves over the long term. The charity reported total investment income of £3.1m and net expenditure of £5.4m, resulting in a net increase in funds. The trustees and auditors confirm there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON FOR IMPROVING NATURAL KNOWLEDGE (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ROYAL SOCIETY) | 1 | £1.1m |
| JACK PETCHEY FOUNDATION | 1 | £24k |
| BEIS KOSOV | 1 | £2k |
Charities like this
- THE LEVERHULME TRUST
- LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY COMMERCIAL EDUCATION TRUST
- LORD LEVERHULME'S CHARITABLE TRUST
- The Leathersellers' Foundation
- LUBAVITCH EDUCATION TRUST
- JOHN AND PENELOPE LEBUS TRUST
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERHULME TRADE CHARITIES TRUST | £3.1m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| THE LEVERHULME TRUST | £124.5m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY COMMERCIAL EDUCATION TRUST | £246k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| LORD LEVERHULME'S CHARITABLE TRUST | £965k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| The Leathersellers' Foundation | £7.8m | £60,001 - £70,000 | 2 | above | — | no doubt |
| LUBAVITCH EDUCATION TRUST | £311k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |