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THE READING LIST FOUNDATION

Registered charity 1164690 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

We generate and provide ?250 Scholarships to students from lower-income households in England about to start university. The Scholarship pays for all or nearly all of their reading list (textbooks) in the first year or study. This gives them some financial as well as emotional breathing space, as well as a welcome addition to their CV.

Causes: Education/training · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£144k
Latest spending
£95k
Registered
2015
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that total income rebounded to a record £144,484, driven by charitable trust grants and individual donations. Unrestricted reserves increased to £42,030, while the charity awarded over 300 scholarships during the year. The independent examiner confirmed that accounting records were kept and the accounts accorded with those records.

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

What the accounts disclose

Payments to trustees: Alan Terry received £5,500 for administration support services.
“As provided and predominantly funded by a specific grant, the Charity was able to commission administration support to the value of £5,500. This support is provided by Alan Terry, a Trustee.” — page 4
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Alan Terry, a Trustee, provided administration support to the charity valued at £5,500 under a Service Level Agreement.
“As provided and predominantly funded by a specific grant, the Charity was able to commission administration support to the value of £5,500. This support is provided by Alan Terry, a Trustee.” — page 4
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 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).

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

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Throughout England

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2025£144k£95k
31/12/2024£40k£82k
31/12/2023£78k£81k
31/12/2022£102k£68k
31/12/2021£20k£66k

Common questions

Is THE READING LIST FOUNDATION financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total income rebounded to a record £144,484, driven by charitable trust grants and individual donations. Unrestricted reserves increased to £42,030, while the charity awarded over 300 scholarships during the year. The independent examiner confirmed that accounting records were kept and the accounts accorded with those records. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds THE READING LIST FOUNDATION?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE READING LIST FOUNDATION as a grant recipient include THE TOLKIEN TRUST, THE BRITFORD BRIDGE TRUST, BNA CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION, THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITED, J S F POLLITZER CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT.

Known funders

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

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE TOLKIEN TRUSTFY2023£30k
THE TOLKIEN TRUSTFY2024£28k
THE TOLKIEN TRUSTFY2021£25k
THE BRITFORD BRIDGE TRUSTFY2025£10kSecondary
THE TOLKIEN TRUSTFY2022£10k
BNA CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATIONFY2025£6k
THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITEDFY2025£6kPoverty
J S F POLLITZER CHARITABLE SETTLEMENTFY2023£5kEducation, Science and Technology
THE LAWSON TRUST CIOFY2022£5k
THE FORRESTER FAMILY TRUSTFY2022£5kSMALLER GRANTS
THE LAWSON TRUST CIOFY2023£5k
BNA CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATIONFY2024£3k
CHARLES S FRENCH CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£3k
CHARLES S FRENCH CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£3k
J S F POLLITZER CHARITABLE SETTLEMENTFY2022£2kEducation, Science and Technology
THE HADFIELD CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£2kYouth & Employment
THE HADFIELD CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£2kYouth & Employment
WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF INSURERS CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£500Ad hoc grants
THE JESSIE SPENCER TRUSTFY2022£500Education
THE JESSIE SPENCER TRUSTFY2023£500

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
HUMAN APPEAL1£522k
PENNY APPEAL1£466k
DHAKA AHSANIA MISSION1£373k
THE YASS CHARITABLE TRUST1£106k
THE CMA WELFARE TRUST1£83k
HASENE HUMANITARIAN AID UK1£53k
THE COSARAF CHARITABLE FOUNDATION1£25k
MUSLIM COMMUNITY & EDUCATION CENTRE (MCEC)1£24k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with READING BLUE COAT AND ARCHBISHOP LAUD CHARITABLE TRUST.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
THE READING LIST FOUNDATION£144k—0unclear—no doubt
READING BLUE COAT AND ARCHBISHOP LAUD CHARITABLE TRUST FY2025£199k—0below—no doubt
The London Foundation for Banking & Finance FY2025£587k—0above—no doubt
READING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' UNION FY2025£5.6mmore than £70,0002above—no doubt
THE READING FOUNDATION FY2025£517k—0unclear—no doubt
DAVID YARROW FOUNDATION FY2023£972k—0unclear—no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.