THE METROPOLITAN DRINKING FOUNTAIN AND CATTLE TROUGH ASSOCIATION

Registered charity 207743 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE DRINKING FOUNTAIN ASSOCIATION

We provide overseas aid for water based projects such as building bore holes or providing elephant pumps, irrigation for villages and water troughs for animals.

Objects

(1) TO PROMOTE THE PROVISION OF PURE DRINKING WATER FOR PEOPLE AND ANIMALS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OVERSEAS. (2) THE PRESERVATION OF THE ASSOCIATION'S DRINKING FOUNTAINS, CATTLE TROUGHS AND OTHER INSTALLATIONS

Area of benefit: NATIONAL AND OVERSEAS

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Overseas Aid/famine Relief · Animals · Environment/conservation/heritage · Economic/community Development/employment · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£53k

Latest spending

£40k

Registered

1962

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that total unrestricted reserves increased to £1,036,591, derived predominantly from investment income and unrealised gains. The Trustees consider the Association to be in a strong financial position with sufficient liquidity to meet ongoing commitments. No fixed reserves policy target is stated, as the Trustees seek to maintain reserves sufficient to generate reliable annual investment income.

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Investment Income (100% of income)

“The principal source of income continues to be investment income, which amounted to £52,424”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Administration costs paid to company with trustee interest

“Administration costs of £5,500 (2024: £5,500) are in respect of secretarial and administrative services which are provided by a company in which RP Baber, a member of the Committee, has an interest.” — page 4

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Risk management
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures

Trustees · trustee networks

ALDERMAN SIR MICHAEL BEAR
Laura Erith · trustee of 1 other charity
MARK ELLIOTT
MARK SLATER
Paul O'Connell
Ralph Baber
Richard Marks HHJ Judge
SOPHIE FULLER
Sir Alastair King · trustee of 3 other charities

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

Operates in: Bangladesh · Egypt · India · Thailand · Uganda

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£53k	£40k
31/12/2024	£50k	£21k
31/12/2023	£46k	£33k
31/12/2022	£44k	£23k
31/12/2021	£39k	£19k

Common questions

Is THE METROPOLITAN DRINKING FOUNTAIN AND CATTLE TROUGH ASSOCIATION financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total unrestricted reserves increased to £1,036,591, derived predominantly from investment income and unrealised gains. The Trustees consider the Association to be in a strong financial position with sufficient liquidity to meet ongoing commitments. No fixed reserves policy target is stated, as the Trustees seek to maintain reserves sufficient to generate reliable annual investment income. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.