SHIRE HALL (DORCHESTER) TRUST
Registered charity 1163252 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register
The Shire Hall (Dorchester)Trust is an independent charity that operates the Historic Courthouse Museum at Dorset's Shire Hall. Our mission is to make Shire Hall into a place that engages visitors with the history of justice and injustice in Dorset and beyond. It inspires people to make a difference to society, politics, and justice for all.
Causes: Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a total deficit of £148,454 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in a significant reduction in total reserves to £47,485. The trustees report material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern due to rising operational costs and reduced visitor numbers. Consequently, the trust has implemented organizational restructuring and is developing new operating models with support from partners to ensure future viability.
Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £47k; policy: sufficient funds to support the planned long-term maintenance of the Grade 1 Listed building for the original term of the lease (25 Years), and to build reserves for unforeseen circumstances)
“The Trust has agreed that, should circumstances result in not achieving an annual surplus that the temporary use of main reserve will be used to prevent self-imposed closure on the condition that it is considered that the prospect of improvement is possible.” — page 5
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Going concern: material uncertainty disclosed
“Its financial situation raises material concerns that Shire Hall does not remain a going concern.” — page 5
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.
Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Shire Hall (Dorchester) Trust (matched by registered charity number).
Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Dorset
Income and spending
Common questions
Is SHIRE HALL (DORCHESTER) TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a total deficit of £148,454 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in a significant reduction in total reserves to £47,485. The trustees report material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern due to rising operational costs and reduced visitor numbers. Consequently, the trust has implemented organizational restructuring and is developing new operating models with support from partners to ensure future viability. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Government & lottery funding
Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).
Funders of similar charities
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Charities like this
Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with NATIONAL JUSTICE MUSEUM.
Side by side with its peers
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