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THE WEST SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE STUDIES TRUST

Registered charity 1198212 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as GOODWOOD EDUCATION TRUST

The Trust provides facilities for and administers and delivers educational activities to promote awareness and knowledge of the natural environment, heritage and the business of managing the countryside. The principal area of operation is on the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex, in particular the organic farm, woodland nature trail, Goodwood House and other business areas.

Causes: Education/training · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£204k
Latest spending
£170k
Registered
2022
Accounts read
FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the charity holds total funds of £464,639, with available unrestricted reserves of £104,181. This reserve level exceeds the trustees' stated policy target of £60,000 (equivalent to six months of operating expenditure). The trustees report no material risks likely to affect financial performance and confirm that assets are sufficient to meet obligations.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: 6 months of operating expenditure (held: £104k)
“The Trustees consider an amount equal to 6 months of operating expenditure to be sufficient to be held in reserves. This would be equal to £60,000.” — page 6
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Payment to Goodwood Estate Company Limited for staff secondment, accommodation, catering, and utilities.
“During the period £128,693 (2023: £104,574) was payable to entities over which one of the trustees had a substantial interest and significant influence, for the provision of an education officer, accomodation, catering, light and heat and other expenditure.” — page 16
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — The Goodwood Education Trust (matched by registered charity number).

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2022)

Total income
£501k
Total spending
£79k
Cost of raising funds
£68k
Reserves (reported)
£0
Employees
0

Reported reserves equal ~0.0 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 7.0 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (88% 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: 13.5% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 2.9%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: West Sussex

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2024£204k£170k
31/12/2023£145k£136k
31/12/2022£501k£79k

Common questions

Is THE WEST SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE STUDIES TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity holds total funds of £464,639, with available unrestricted reserves of £104,181. This reserve level exceeds the trustees' stated policy target of £60,000 (equivalent to six months of operating expenditure). The trustees report no material risks likely to affect financial performance and confirm that assets are sufficient to meet obligations. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds THE WEST SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE STUDIES TRUST?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE WEST SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE STUDIES TRUST as a grant recipient include THE BOLTINI TRUST, FONTHILL FOUNDATION, JOAN AINSLIE CHARITABLE TRUST, The Patricia Routledge Foundation, THE NINEVEH CHARITABLE TRUST.

Known funders

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

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE BOLTINI TRUSTFY2025£8k
THE BOLTINI TRUSTFY2024£5k
FONTHILL FOUNDATIONFY2025£5kFarm and forest schools programme for disadvantaged young people
JOAN AINSLIE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£3k
JOAN AINSLIE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£3k
The Patricia Routledge FoundationFY2025£3k
THE NINEVEH CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£3k
LORD BARNBY'S FOUNDATIONFY2023£2k
The Patricia Routledge FoundationFY2024£2k
LORD BARNBY'S FOUNDATIONFY2024£2k
THE BASSIL SHIPPAM AND ALSFORD TRUSTFY2024£1k26.02.24 West Sussex Countryside Studies Trust
THE BASSIL SHIPPAM AND ALSFORD TRUSTFY2025£750

Government & lottery funding

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

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Community Fund11/04/2024£5kChildren in the Community