MERSEY RIVERS TRUST
The Mersey Rivers Trust is a charity working in partnership with all those interested in improving our local rivers and waterways. As a member of the national Rivers Trust movement, it is the Rivers Trust for the River Mersey and its catchment. The Trust covers a large area of the North West River Basin District and includes the rivers Alt, Crossens, Irwell, Tame, Goyt, Bollin, Weaver and more.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net income of £35,109 for the year ended 31 March 2025, with total income of £1,177,767 and expenditure of £1,142,658. The trustees report a sound financial basis with positive cash flow, noting that unrestricted reserves of £343,003 are slightly above the stated policy target of £335,000.
What the accounts disclose
“Remuneration for key staff (Operations and Delivery Director and the Strategic Planning and Development Director) is aligned to the national Rivers Trust guidance “Pay Guide for Rivers Trusts October 2023”. The post of Director is designated as Grade 6 – “Director of a medium/large sized Trust”.” — page 11
“The principal source of funding is the Environment Agency through its Water and Environment Improvement Fund, Natural Flood Management Fund and Catchment Based Approach.” — page 8
“The trustees consider that due to the expansion and future growth plans for the Trust the ideal level of reserves as of 31st March 2025 would be in the region of £335,000 being 6 months (or 50%) of future annual base operating costs (2025/26) for salaries, insurance, accounting, governance and general administration costs.”
Year-over-year changes
- Reserves position vs the charity's own policy moved from "below" (FY2024) to "above" (FY2025).
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Clare Bullen — Chief Executive Officer
- Dr Keith Hendry — Chair
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (19/01/2023)
Trustees
- Dr Keith Hendrychair
- Alexander Jeremy Lawrence Clegg
- CHRISTOPHER FINDLEY
- David Michael Thompson
- Dr Janet Hooke
- Dr Stephen Boult
- Francesca Sullivan
- Nicolas Carter
- ROWENA BIRCH
- Sarah Jenner
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £1.2m | £1.1m |
| 31/03/2024 | £975k | £843k |
| 31/03/2023 | £683k | £655k |
| 20/06/2022 | £937k | £1.1m |
Common questions
Is MERSEY RIVERS TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net income of £35,109 for the year ended 31 March 2025, with total income of £1,177,767 and expenditure of £1,142,658. The trustees report a sound financial basis with positive cash flow, noting that unrestricted reserves of £343,003 are slightly above the stated policy target of £335,000. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Slade & Cooper Limited.
What does the highest-paid employee of MERSEY RIVERS TRUST earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the unclear band.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK government | 01/04/2024 | £11k | PGW 1056-CF2362 |
| UK government | 01/04/2024 | £5k | PGW 1084-CF2378 |
| UK government | 01/04/2024 | £14k | PGW 1140-CF2403 |
| UK government | 01/04/2024 | £4k | PGW 1084-CF2490 |
| UK government | 01/04/2024 | £14k | PGW 1084-CF2491 |
| UK government | 01/04/2024 | £85k | PGW 1118-CF2550 |
| UK government | 01/04/2024 | £38k | PGW 1140-CF2577 |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| JOHN SWIRE 1989 CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £52k |
| Community Foundation North East | 1 | £33k |
| LANCASHIRE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND LIMITED | 1 | £30k |
| THE HDH WILLS 1965 CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £20k |
| THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND'S CHARITY | 1 | £14k |
| THE LINDER FOUNDATION | 1 | £3k |
| THE NINEVEH CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £3k |
| THE WILLIAM LEECH CHARITY | 1 | £2k |
Charities like this
- EAST MERCIA RIVERS TRUST
- TYNE RIVERS TRUST
- MERSEY GATEWAY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
- SEVERN RIVERS TRUST
- TEES RIVERS CHARITABLE TRUST
- WYRE RIVER TRUST
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MERSEY RIVERS TRUST | £1.2m | unclear | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| EAST MERCIA RIVERS TRUST | £966k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| TYNE RIVERS TRUST | £1.4m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| MERSEY GATEWAY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST | £218k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SEVERN RIVERS TRUST | £2.9m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| TEES RIVERS CHARITABLE TRUST | £2.0m | more than £60,000 | 1 | above | — | no doubt |