THE SPECTACLE MAKERS' CHARITY

Registered charity 1186122 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The Charity 's main activity is grant-giving, principally for the relief of those in need by reason of vision impairment and/or sight loss and the advancement of study, knowledge and education in the field of optics for the public benefit, including the promotion of research in the field of optics and the publication of the useful results.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Disability · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£97k

Latest spending

£107k

Registered

2019

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a loss of £25,971 for the year ended 31 March 2025, primarily due to investment market volatility and increased grant levels. Free unrestricted reserves were significantly low at £15,186, well below the stated policy target of retaining sufficient funds to cover at least six months' operating costs. However, total funds remained substantial at £1,876,496, supported by endowment and restricted funds, with the trustees confirming adequate resources for going concern.

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: £15k; policy: six months' operating costs)

“At the year end the Charity held funds totalling £1,876,496 (2024: £1,902,467), of which free reserves were £15,186 (2024: £18,118).” — 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.

Register events

Received assets from another charity (16/09/2021) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (16/09/2021) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

David John Parkinschair
Dr Miriam Conway
Francis Drasar
Judith Anne Morris · trustee of 1 other charity
Lisa Jean Hopkins
Naz Raoof
Nicholas John Parker
Priti Kotecha
Rupal Lovell-Patel · trustee of 1 other charity
Seema Verma

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

Operates in: Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£97k	£107k
31/03/2024	£95k	£94k
31/03/2023	£152k	£125k
31/03/2022	£170k	£112k
31/03/2021	£176k	£123k

Common questions

Is THE SPECTACLE MAKERS' CHARITY financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a loss of £25,971 for the year ended 31 March 2025, primarily due to investment market volatility and increased grant levels. Free unrestricted reserves were significantly low at £15,186, well below the stated policy target of retaining sufficient funds to cover at least six months' operating costs. However, total funds remained substantial at £1,876,496, supported by endowment and restricted funds, with the trustees confirming adequate resources for going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds THE SPECTACLE MAKERS' CHARITY?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE SPECTACLE MAKERS' CHARITY as a grant recipient include THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST BRIDE FLEET STREET.

Known funders

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

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST BRIDE FLEET STREET	FY2024	£227
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST BRIDE FLEET STREET	FY2023	£171