THE EMBROIDERERS' GUILD

Registered charity 234239 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also registered in Scotland as SC040142 (OSCR)

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.

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

Latest income
£167k
Latest spending
£141k
Registered
1964
Accounts read
FY2025

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.

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Donations and legacies (58% of income)
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
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: three years of collection costs and one year of operating costs (held: £203k)
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.
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Going concern: noted by the trustees or auditor
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
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Donations from trustees
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
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee expense reimbursements
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
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: EG Enterprises Ltd
The Guild's wholly owned subsidiary, EG Enterprises Ltd, continues to publish Embroidery magazine. — page 10
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): instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Isle Of Man · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
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

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

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Community Fund21/03/2006£1kOutings
The National Lottery Community Fund16/02/2006£4kWorkshop for adults and children
The National Lottery Community Fund13/01/2006£1kMaking Visible
The National Lottery Community Fund20/05/2004£5kThere is no project name available for this record

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
THE SAINTBURY TRUST1£4k
THE OAKDALE TRUST1£2k
The Ashley Family Foundation1£0

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE QUILTERS' GUILD OF THE BRITISH ISLES.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
THE EMBROIDERERS' GUILD£167k0unclearnoted
THE QUILTERS' GUILD OF THE BRITISH ISLES FY2025£679k0belowno doubt
THE BEADWORKERS GUILD FY2025£108k0unclearno doubt
THE ASSOCIATION OF GUILDS OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS AND DYERS FY2025£315k0aboveno doubt
THE MAKERS GUILD IN WALES FY2025£229k0unclearno doubt
THE LACE GUILD CIO FY2024£400k0unclearno doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.