THE SHEARS FOUNDATION
Grant making to charitable organisations working in Tyne Wear & Northumberland; Bradford; Manchester; York and Harrogate and occasionally other areas. Priorities for funding are stronger communities, educational opportunities, protecting the environment, health & medicine research and culture & the arts.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that total unrestricted reserves stood at £17,861,481, which the trustees consider sufficient to cover approximately six months of administration costs. The charity reported a net movement in funds of a loss of £242,187 for the year, driven by investment management charges and grant expenditure exceeding investment income and donations. The trustees confirmed the charity remains a going concern with viable options available to sustain its activities.
What the accounts disclose
“Due to the nature of the Charity the Trustees consider the level of reserves to be minimal to cover six months administration costs including legal fees and travel expenses, this being approximately £90,000.” — page 16
“During the year, one trustee received remuneration for non-Trustee related services (2024: one), as disclosed in note 18. No other Trustees received an rumuneration of benefits in the current of previous year.” — page 41
“During the period fees of £38,480 (2024: £33,755) were paid to B Warnes, a trustee, for the provision of management services. Payment of these fees for services provided to the charity has been approved by the Charity Commission.” — page 45
“During the period the charity received £100,000 (2024: £80,000) from L G Shears OBE, a close family member of a number of the Trustees and a former Trustee of the predecessor charity. The charity was able to claim gift aid of a further £12,500 (2024: £20,000) on the total donated.” — page 45
“During the period fees of £38,480 (2024: £33,755) were paid to B Warnes, a trustee, for the provision of management services. Payment of these fees for services provided to the charity has been approved by the Charity Commission.” — page 45
“During the period the charity received £100,000 (2024: £80,000) from L G Shears OBE, a close family member of a number of the Trustees and a former Trustee of the predecessor charity. The charity was able to claim gift aid of a further £12,500 (2024: £20,000) on the total donated.” — page 45
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (29/11/2024)
Trustees
- Mark Andrew Hornerchair
- BRUCE CHARLES WARNES
- George Lyall
- Georgina Shears
- Louise Margaret Warnes
- Nallely Vanessa Lomas Cruz
- Peter John Randall Shears
- Richard Ian Fletcher Shears
- Susan Ann Maxey
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £489k | £930k |
| 31/03/2024 | £356k | £900k |
Common questions
Is THE SHEARS FOUNDATION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total unrestricted reserves stood at £17,861,481, which the trustees consider sufficient to cover approximately six months of administration costs. The charity reported a net movement in funds of a loss of £242,187 for the year, driven by investment management charges and grant expenditure exceeding investment income and donations. The trustees confirmed the charity remains a going concern with viable options available to sustain its activities. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by BHP LLP.
Who funds THE SHEARS FOUNDATION?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE SHEARS FOUNDATION as a grant recipient include HAEMOCHROMATOSIS UK.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAEMOCHROMATOSIS UK | FY2022 | £7k |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| DAVID LAING FOUNDATION | 1 | £141k |
| THE JOHN ARMITAGE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £140k |
| THE RANDAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £42k |
| THE SIMON & ELIZABETH BATEY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £32k |
| THE GEORGE CADBURY TRUST (GEORGE HENRY T AND LAURENCE J CADBURY SECTIONS) | 1 | £30k |
| Boodles Charitable Trust | 1 | £26k |
| THE WO STREET CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £20k |
| THE SWALLOW TRUST | 1 | £10k |
Charities like this
- SHEFFIELD TOWN TRUST
- THE HARRY BOTTOM CHARITABLE TRUST
- CHESHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LIMITED
- The Framlingham Foundation Trust T/A The Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation
- THE TOMPKINS FOUNDATION
- GRAFF FOUNDATION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE SHEARS FOUNDATION | £489k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SHEFFIELD TOWN TRUST | £420k | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |
| THE HARRY BOTTOM CHARITABLE TRUST | £271k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| CHESHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LIMITED | £2.3m | £60,001 - £70,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| The Framlingham Foundation Trust T/A The Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation | £895k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE TOMPKINS FOUNDATION | £397k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |