THE FOLKESTONE LEAS LIFT COMPANY CIO

Registered charity 1197324 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE FOLKESTONE LEAS LIFT COMPANY, THE FOLKESTONE LEAS LIFT COMPANY CIC

Our intention is to restore and then maintain and operate the Leas lift for the benefit of the local community and visitors to preserve this historic water powered cliffside funicular railway and to introduce the history of the lift to the public.

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Latest income

£534k

Latest spending

£133k

Registered

2022

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves increased to £251,759, with a policy target of maintaining three months of expenditure. The trustees confirm that reserves are adequate to fund activities for at least the next year, and the independent examiner reported no material matters requiring attention.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: three months of expenditure incurred (held: £252k)

“The Trustees consider the appropriate level of free reserves should be maintained at a minimum of 3 months of expenditure incurred.” — 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.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram · linkedin

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/01/2025)

Total income

£534k

Total spending

£133k

Reserves (reported)

£240k

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~21.6 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (91% 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 (4.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Catherine Mary Bearechair
Adam Jay Coleman · trustee of 1 other charity
Daniel Ward Hulme · trustee of 4 other charities
Edwin Wallace Wealend
Harriet Jane Williams
James Walker-Osborn
Lewis Harold Biggs
Peter William Oetzmann
Rachel Louise Knight
Thomas James McGarry

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

Operates in: Kent

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/01/2025	£534k	£133k
30/01/2024	£630k	£74k
30/01/2023	£316k	£49k

Common questions

Is THE FOLKESTONE LEAS LIFT COMPANY CIO financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted reserves increased to £251,759, with a policy target of maintaining three months of expenditure. The trustees confirm that reserves are adequate to fund activities for at least the next year, and the independent examiner reported no material matters requiring attention. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds THE FOLKESTONE LEAS LIFT COMPANY CIO?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE FOLKESTONE LEAS LIFT COMPANY CIO as a grant recipient include JOHN SWIRE 1989 CHARITABLE TRUST, THE WARDENS AND ASSISTANTS OF ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN THE COUNTY OF KENT, THE HEADLEY TRUST, THE ROGER DE HAAN CHARITABLE TRUST, THE IAN ASKEW CHARITABLE TRUST.

Known funders

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

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
JOHN SWIRE 1989 CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£1.2m
JOHN SWIRE 1989 CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£50k
THE WARDENS AND ASSISTANTS OF ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN THE COUNTY OF KENT	FY2023	£25k	renovation of a historic carriage on the Folkestone Funicular Railway
THE HEADLEY TRUST	FY2024	£25k	Towards the restoration costs of the Leas Lift cliff funicular railway.
THE ROGER DE HAAN CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£20k	Heritage (incl. fabric of buildings)
THE IAN ASKEW CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£1k
THE IAN ASKEW CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£1k
FOLKESTONE MUNICIPAL CHARITY	FY2026	£1k
THE ROGER DE HAAN CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£700
THE WARDENS AND ASSISTANTS OF ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN THE COUNTY OF KENT	FY2023	£500	restoration of a passenger carriage for the funicular railway

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
UK government	01/04/2024	£100k	The Leas Lift, Folkestone
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	15/09/2021	£7.4m	"Leas Lift: Restoring Folkestone's gem for the community"