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THE DISTILLERS' CHARITY

Registered charity 1193683 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

Latest income
£539k
Latest spending
£1.6m
Registered
2021
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves of £1,464,685 exceed the trustees' stated policy target of £1 million. The charity reported a net decrease in funds of £1,047,942 for the year, primarily due to the biennial nature of its main fundraising auction, which did not occur in this financial period.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: £1 million (held: £1.5m)
“trustees have agreed that the organisation aims to maintain a level of unrestricted reserves of £1 million.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The charity’s subsidiary is obliged to donate 100% of the Hammer Price (price paid before Buyers Premium) from the Distillers ‘One of One’ auctions to the charity, with 90% of this being restricted to the Youth Action Fund. The total donation for 2025 is £0 unrestricted with £0 restricted (2024: £1,786,582 with £1,601,100 restricted), of which £0 (2024: £740,720) remains outstanding at the balance sheet date.
“The charity’s subsidiary is obliged to donate 100% of the Hammer Price (price paid before Buyers Premium) from the Distillers ‘One of One’ auctions to the charity, with 90% of this being restricted to the Youth Action Fund. The total donation for 2025 is £0 unrestricted with £0 restricted (2024: £1,786,582 with £1,601,100 restricted), of which £0 (2024: £740,720) remains outstanding at the balance sheet date.” — page 22
“As detailed in the trustees report, the Worshipful Company of Distillers appoints the majority of the trustees of the Charity, and is also the corporate trustee of the old Distillers' Charity. The old Distillers Charity donated £9,513 (2024: £16,251) to the Charity during the year.” — page 22
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: As detailed in the trustees report, the Worshipful Company of Distillers appoints the majority of the trustees of the Charity, and is also the corporate trustee of the old Distillers' Charity. The old Distillers Charity donated £9,513 (2024: £16,251) to the Charity during the year.
“The charity’s subsidiary is obliged to donate 100% of the Hammer Price (price paid before Buyers Premium) from the Distillers ‘One of One’ auctions to the charity, with 90% of this being restricted to the Youth Action Fund. The total donation for 2025 is £0 unrestricted with £0 restricted (2024: £1,786,582 with £1,601,100 restricted), of which £0 (2024: £740,720) remains outstanding at the balance sheet date.” — page 22
“As detailed in the trustees report, the Worshipful Company of Distillers appoints the majority of the trustees of the Charity, and is also the corporate trustee of the old Distillers' Charity. The old Distillers Charity donated £9,513 (2024: £16,251) to the Charity during the year.” — page 22
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: During 2025 the Charity and its subsidiary paid the Worshipful Company of Distillers £9,428 management and administrative services and £1,995 for the Scottish Court & Livery Dinner in addition to items recharged at cost
“The charity’s subsidiary is obliged to donate 100% of the Hammer Price (price paid before Buyers Premium) from the Distillers ‘One of One’ auctions to the charity, with 90% of this being restricted to the Youth Action Fund. The total donation for 2025 is £0 unrestricted with £0 restricted (2024: £1,786,582 with £1,601,100 restricted), of which £0 (2024: £740,720) remains outstanding at the balance sheet date.” — page 22
“As detailed in the trustees report, the Worshipful Company of Distillers appoints the majority of the trustees of the Charity, and is also the corporate trustee of the old Distillers' Charity. The old Distillers Charity donated £9,513 (2024: £16,251) to the Charity during the year.” — page 22
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: The Distillers' Ventures Limited
“The Charity has a wholly owned trading subsidiary, The Distillers' Ventures Limited (DVL), the purpose of which is to raise funds for the Charity.” — page 3
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Begbies.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 30/09/2025)

Total income
£539k
Total spending
£1.6m
Cost of raising funds
£259k
Reserves (reported)
£1.5m
Employees
0

Reported reserves equal ~10.9 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Trustees

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

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

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
30/09/2025£539k£1.6m
30/09/2024£2.4m£1.5m
30/09/2023£1.3m£1.5m
30/09/2022£3.2m£893k
30/09/2021£0£22k

Common questions

Is THE DISTILLERS' CHARITY financially healthy?

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves of £1,464,685 exceed the trustees' stated policy target of £1 million. The charity reported a net decrease in funds of £1,047,942 for the year, primarily due to the biennial nature of its main fundraising auction, which did not occur in this financial period. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Begbies.

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
INSTITUTE OF ALCOHOL STUDIES1£441k
The William Brake Foundation1£25k
THE INNHOLDERS' CHARITABLE FOUNDATION1£15k
CORAM LIFE EDUCATION1£1k
THE WILLIAM ALLEN YOUNG CHARITABLE TRUST1£1k

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