THE EMBROIDERERS' GUILD
The Embroiderers Guild is a national educational charity with around 1500 members and a network of just over 100 affiliated independent stitch groups. It has a museum with a unique global collection and offers a programme of exhibitions, events, workshops and lectures. It also has a specialist library and publishes Embroidery the successful textile art magazine.
Objects
A) TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE THE ART OF EMBROIDERY AND RELATED AND ENCOURAGE THE CREATION OF FINE ARTICLES INCORPORATING THE USE OF OR ASSOCIATED WITH EMBROIDERY;B) TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN THE HISTORY AND ART OF EMBROIDERY AND TO UNDERTAKE OR SUPPORT RESEARCH IN THAT SUBJECT AND TO PUBLISH THE USEFUL RESULTS OF THAT RESEARCH; ANDC) TO COLLECT, DOCUMENT, PRESERVE, EXHIBIT AND INTERPRET EXAMPLES OF FINE EMBROIDERY WHICH ARE OF HISTORICAL OR EDUCATIONAL MERIT AND TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC SUCH ARTICLES.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity recorded a surplus of £25,122 for the year ended 31 August 2025, driven by legacies and new income sources like online workshops. Per the trustees' report, the charity holds free reserves of £203,181 and has designated funds to cover collection costs for at least three years and one year of operating costs, though the trustees note risks related to an ageing membership and rising living costs.
What the accounts disclose
“The main sources of income of the Guild are members' subscriptions, donations, legacies, and profit on the sale of magazines from the trading company EG Enterprises Limited, (EGE).” — page 8
“The Trustees have established a designated Collection fund to ensure that the costs of maintaining, storage, insurance and curation of the Collection can be covered for at least three years, this is £155,000. One years worth of operating costs £105,674 have also been designated.”
“Providing the Trustees continue to control costs and efficiently implement effective new income generation ideas for which there is sufficient support from members and volunteers the Guild may be able to break even in 2025-26.” — page 9
“The total amount of donations received from Trustees in the year totalled £2,270 (2024: £1,498), this included general donations and membership payments.” — page 25
“During the year Trustees were reimbursed only for travel and accommodation (excluding meals or subsistence) relating to transportation of exhibits and retail items to Shows and undertaking the Digitisation Project at Halton, Aylesbury. The total amount reimbursed was £13,464” — page 19
“The total amount of donations received from Trustees in the year totalled £2,270 (2024: £1,498), this included general donations and membership payments.” — page 25
“During the year Trustees were reimbursed only for travel and accommodation (excluding meals or subsistence) relating to transportation of exhibits and retail items to Shows and undertaking the Digitisation Project at Halton, Aylesbury. The total amount reimbursed was £13,464” — page 19
“The Guild's wholly owned subsidiary, EG Enterprises Ltd, continues to publish Embroidery magazine.” — page 10
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Conflicting interests
- Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Trustees
- ANTHEA GODFREY
- Alex Messenger
- Amanda Smith
- Anne Haigh
- Helen Miller
- Lucy Fitzpatrick
- Penny Hill
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/08/2025 | £167k | £141k |
| 31/08/2024 | £205k | £137k |
| 31/08/2023 | £140k | £83k |
| 31/08/2022 | £83k | £188k |
| 31/08/2021 | £265k | £482k |
Common questions
Is THE EMBROIDERERS' GUILD financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity recorded a surplus of £25,122 for the year ended 31 August 2025, driven by legacies and new income sources like online workshops. Per the trustees' report, the charity holds free reserves of £203,181 and has designated funds to cover collection costs for at least three years and one year of operating costs, though the trustees note risks related to an ageing membership and rising living costs. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 16/07/2007 | £2k | Embroidery For All |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 21/03/2006 | £1k | Outings |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 16/02/2006 | £4k | Workshop for adults and children |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 13/01/2006 | £1k | Making Visible |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 20/05/2004 | £5k | There is no project name available for this record |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE JOHN R. MURRAY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £20k |
| THE SAINTBURY TRUST | 1 | £4k |
| THE OAKDALE TRUST | 1 | £2k |
| The Ashley Family Foundation | 1 | £0 |
Charities like this
- THE QUILTERS' GUILD OF THE BRITISH ISLES
- THE BEADWORKERS GUILD
- THE ASSOCIATION OF GUILDS OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS AND DYERS
- THE MAKERS GUILD IN WALES
- THE LACE GUILD CIO
- THE GUILD OF HANDICRAFT TRUST
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE EMBROIDERERS' GUILD | £167k | — | 0 | unclear | — | noted |
| THE QUILTERS' GUILD OF THE BRITISH ISLES | £679k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| THE BEADWORKERS GUILD | £108k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE ASSOCIATION OF GUILDS OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS AND DYERS | £315k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| THE MAKERS GUILD IN WALES | £229k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE LACE GUILD CIO | £400k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |