Laidlaw Opera Trust

Registered charity 1175245 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as LAIDLAW FOUNDATION, THE IRVINE LAIDLAW FOUNDATION, THE LAIDLAW FOUNDATION

Laidlaw Opera Trust champions live music as a uniquely thrilling art form accessible to all. We invest in opera companies and houses who believe that opera should be part of everyones cultural capital. Through strategic support and grants, we aim to expand Operas reach and self-sufficiency.

Objects

THE OBJECTS OF THE FOUNDATION ARETHE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY THE EDUCATION OF DEPRIVED YOUNG PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR BY MEANS OF GRANTS AND OTHER FORMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INSTITUTIONS WHICH ARE ENGAGED IN THE PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD; ANDTHE ADVANCEMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IN PARTICULAR BY MEANS OF GRANTS AND OTHER FORMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity holds negative unrestricted reserves of £644,723, a deficit attributed to future grant commitments. Per the trustees' report, these commitments are fully funded by the sole sponsor, Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay, ensuring adequate resources for operational existence. The auditor confirmed no material uncertainties exist regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

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

What the accounts disclose

Accounts audited by Azets Audit Services. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

• Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
• Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
• Complaints policy and procedures
• Conflicting interests
• Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
• Financial reserves policy and procedures
• Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
• Internal risk management policy and procedures
• Investing charity funds policy and procedures
• Risk management
• Safeguarding policy and procedures
• Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
• Social media policy and procedures
• Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
• Trustee expenses policy and procedures
• Volunteer management

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)

Reported reserves equal ~0.0 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (98% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

• Lord IRVINE LAIDLAWchair
• Anne Marabini Young
• Julien Amand Van Mellaerts
• Lady Amanda Charlotte Haddon-Cave
• Mme Catherine Lomberg
• Rt Hon. Sir Charles Anthony Haddon-Cave
• Susanna Kempe

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

Operates in: Canada · Hong Kong · Ireland · Monaco · Rwanda · Scotland · Singapore · South Africa · Throughout England · United States

Income and spending

Common questions