THE BRISTOL SPORT FOUNDATION
Bristol Sport Foundation uses a combination of grant funding, donations, fundraising activities and revenue in return for services. By facilitating new partnerships with charities, local and national business, not-for-profit organisations and community groups in order to attract new funding to enhance and expand their work and the work of the group.
Latest income
£1.6m
Latest spending
£1.4m
Registered
2016
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that unrestricted reserves increased to £605,563, which the trustees consider to be within their targeted range, although they propose increasing the policy target from three to six months of running costs. The charity reported a net income of £139,986 for the year, driven by charitable activities, while noting that revenue from Forever Sport programmes fell by almost 5% and corporate partners are under pressure.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: three months of running costs (held: £606k)
“The trustees of Bristol Sport Foundation set a target to retain three months of running costs in reserves to provide an appropriate level of resilience for the charity.” — page 10
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: BSF paid £15,351 to Bristol Sport Ltd (BS Ltd) for professional services. Trustees Gavin Marshall, Lisa Knights-Hume, and Jon Lansdown are directors of BS Ltd. BSF also received £11,181 from BS Ltd.
“During the year BSF paid £15,351 to BS Ltd for professional services (2024: £15,768). Also in the year BSF received income of £11,181 for entry into corporate tournaments and donations. The amount payable from BS Ltd at 31 August 2025 was £1,023 (2024: £91 payable to BS Ltd).” — page 31
“During the year BSF paid £227 to BCRF for recharged staff time (2024: £9,629 for support for Sport Alliance). Also during the year BSF received income of £7,411 from BCRF for recharged staff time (2024: £100).” — page 31
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: BSF paid £227 to Bristol City Robins Foundation (BCRF) for recharged staff time and received £7,411 from BCRF. Trustees Lisa Knights-Hume and Jon Lansdown are trustees of BCRF.
“During the year BSF paid £15,351 to BS Ltd for professional services (2024: £15,768). Also in the year BSF received income of £11,181 for entry into corporate tournaments and donations. The amount payable from BS Ltd at 31 August 2025 was £1,023 (2024: £91 payable to BS Ltd).” — page 31
“During the year BSF paid £227 to BCRF for recharged staff time (2024: £9,629 for support for Sport Alliance). Also during the year BSF received income of £7,411 from BCRF for recharged staff time (2024: £100).” — page 31
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: BSF paid £1,450 to Bristol Flyers Ltd for the Ambassadors project and received £334 for provision of coaches. Trustees Gavin Marshall, Lisa Knights-Hume, and Jon Lansdown are directors of Bristol Flyers Ltd.
“During the year BSF paid £15,351 to BS Ltd for professional services (2024: £15,768). Also in the year BSF received income of £11,181 for entry into corporate tournaments and donations. The amount payable from BS Ltd at 31 August 2025 was £1,023 (2024: £91 payable to BS Ltd).” — page 31
“During the year BSF paid £227 to BCRF for recharged staff time (2024: £9,629 for support for Sport Alliance). Also during the year BSF received income of £7,411 from BCRF for recharged staff time (2024: £100).” — page 31
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Aggregate value of donations received from trustees and their close family members was £280,000.
“During the year BSF paid £15,351 to BS Ltd for professional services (2024: £15,768). Also in the year BSF received income of £11,181 for entry into corporate tournaments and donations. The amount payable from BS Ltd at 31 August 2025 was £1,023 (2024: £91 payable to BS Ltd).” — page 31
“During the year BSF paid £227 to BCRF for recharged staff time (2024: £9,629 for support for Sport Alliance). Also during the year BSF received income of £7,411 from BCRF for recharged staff time (2024: £100).” — page 31
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Year-over-year changes
- Reserves position vs the charity's own policy moved from "above" (FY2024) to "within" (FY2025).
In the news
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Steve Lansdown — Founder/Owner
- Sarah Farrar — Board of Directors
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2025)
Total income
£1.6m
Total spending
£1.4m
Cost of raising funds
£52k
Reserves (reported)
£606k
Employees
43
Trustees
- THERESA KINGSTONchair
- David Ian Resnekov
- JAMES DONALD MAPSTONE
- Jon Lansdown
- Nathan John Peacey
- Stephen Peter Taylor
- William Dempster White
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/08/2025 | £1.6m | £1.4m |
| 31/08/2024 | £1.6m | £1.5m |
| 31/08/2023 | £1.7m | £1.7m |
| 31/08/2022 | £1.4m | £1.2m |
| 31/08/2021 | £980k | £1.1m |
Common questions
Is THE BRISTOL SPORT FOUNDATION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted reserves increased to £605,563, which the trustees consider to be within their targeted range, although they propose increasing the policy target from three to six months of running costs. The charity reported a net income of £139,986 for the year, driven by charitable activities, while noting that revenue from Forever Sport programmes fell by almost 5% and corporate partners are under pressure. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Godfrey Wilson Limited.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 14/11/2025 | £20k | UNITE Programme |
| Sport England | 22/02/2021 | £399k | Bristol Active Families Programme |
| Sport England | 29/07/2020 | £100k | Bristol Active Families Programme |
| Sport England | 10/05/2017 | £126k | LDP Communities Funding |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE AMATEURS TRUST | 1 | £115k |
| THE MEDLOCK CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £48k |
| THE NISBET TRUST | 1 | £46k |
| THE WILFRED AND ELSIE ELKES CHARITY FUND | 1 | £24k |
| THE EDWARD GOSTLING FOUNDATION | 1 | £10k |
| The Keith Howard Foundation | 1 | £10k |
| STRATFORD-UPON-AVON TOWN TRUST | 1 | £2k |
Charities like this
- BRISTOL RUGBY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
- Bristol City Robins Foundation
- THE BRAKES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CIO
- COVENTRY SPORTS FOUNDATION
- THE BRADFORD BULLS FOUNDATION
- BEDFORDSHIRE AND LUTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE BRISTOL SPORT FOUNDATION | £1.6m | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |
| BRISTOL RUGBY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | £755k | Under £60,000 | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Bristol City Robins Foundation | £2.7m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE BRAKES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CIO | £299k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| COVENTRY SPORTS FOUNDATION | £12.2m | £140,001 - £150,000 | 3 | below | — | no doubt |
| THE BRADFORD BULLS FOUNDATION | £285k | — | 0 | unclear | — | noted |