SHAPE LONDON
- To promote, maintain, improve and advance the education of the public in the arts generally and in particular by educational plays production and encouragement of the Arts including the arts of drama, mime, dance, singing and music- Provision for facilities for recreation to disabled or aged persons- To promote the relief of people with disability- Works throughout London and rest of UK
Latest income
£715k
Latest spending
£705k
Registered
1979
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that Shape London reported a net incoming resource of £9,824 for the year ended 31 March 2025, a significant improvement from the previous year's net outgoing resource of £107,827. Total income decreased to £715,283 from £874,150, while total expenditure fell more sharply to £705,459 from £981,977. The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £163,000, which the trustees consider equivalent to three months of key operating costs, within their stated policy target of three to six months.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: three to six months of key operating costs (held: £163k)
“The Board of Trustees considers the aim of holding of general reserves, in conjunction with relevant designated and restricted reserves available to support Shape’s delivery, equivalent to a range of between three to six months (2023/24: between three to six months) of key operating costs to be a prudent financial policy.” — page 34
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Chief Executive rents space in Folkestone... Shape's Programme and Projects contributed £6,000 being 100% of the total rent charge... During the year, the charity contributed £1,500 towards the cost of the refurbishment of the kitchen and toilet facilities
“The Chief Executive rents space in Folkestone and during 2024/25 the whole space provided a production base for DAM in Venice and NDMAC. Shape's Programme and Projects contributed £6,000 being 100% of the total rent charge in respect of the area for the period from 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025 (2023/24: £5,400). During the year, the charity contributed £1,500 towards the cost of the refurbishment of the kitchen and toilet facilities to support the delivery of the charity's activities at the improved space in Folkestone.” — page 59
“The Chief Executive's son, Liam Roden, acted as a freelancer who Shape engaged on various projects during 2024/25 on flexible contracts. In 2024/25 fees of £18,473 (2023/24: £40,350) and reimbursed delivery expenses of £341 (2023/24: £2,842) were paid in respect of the period to 12 July 2024. From 15 July 2024, Liam Roden was employed by Shape as Lead Content Producer,NDMAC on a full time fixed-term contract to 31 March 2026, earning £28,780 in salary and receiving £1,548 in employee expense reimbursements during 2024/25.” — page 59
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Chief Executive's son, Liam Roden, acted as a freelancer... fees of £18,473... and reimbursed delivery expenses of £341... From 15 July 2024, Liam Roden was employed by Shape... earning £28,780 in salary and receiving £1,548 in employee expense reimbursements
“The Chief Executive rents space in Folkestone and during 2024/25 the whole space provided a production base for DAM in Venice and NDMAC. Shape's Programme and Projects contributed £6,000 being 100% of the total rent charge in respect of the area for the period from 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025 (2023/24: £5,400). During the year, the charity contributed £1,500 towards the cost of the refurbishment of the kitchen and toilet facilities to support the delivery of the charity's activities at the improved space in Folkestone.” — page 59
“The Chief Executive's son, Liam Roden, acted as a freelancer who Shape engaged on various projects during 2024/25 on flexible contracts. In 2024/25 fees of £18,473 (2023/24: £40,350) and reimbursed delivery expenses of £341 (2023/24: £2,842) were paid in respect of the period to 12 July 2024. From 15 July 2024, Liam Roden was employed by Shape as Lead Content Producer,NDMAC on a full time fixed-term contract to 31 March 2026, earning £28,780 in salary and receiving £1,548 in employee expense reimbursements during 2024/25.” — page 59
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Tony Heaton (Chair of the trustees) received a £1,000 Shape grant (second instalment) and a £5,645 reimbursement of travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses for participating in the DAM in Venice project
“The Chief Executive rents space in Folkestone and during 2024/25 the whole space provided a production base for DAM in Venice and NDMAC. Shape's Programme and Projects contributed £6,000 being 100% of the total rent charge in respect of the area for the period from 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025 (2023/24: £5,400). During the year, the charity contributed £1,500 towards the cost of the refurbishment of the kitchen and toilet facilities to support the delivery of the charity's activities at the improved space in Folkestone.” — page 59
“The Chief Executive's son, Liam Roden, acted as a freelancer who Shape engaged on various projects during 2024/25 on flexible contracts. In 2024/25 fees of £18,473 (2023/24: £40,350) and reimbursed delivery expenses of £341 (2023/24: £2,842) were paid in respect of the period to 12 July 2024. From 15 July 2024, Liam Roden was employed by Shape as Lead Content Producer,NDMAC on a full time fixed-term contract to 31 March 2026, earning £28,780 in salary and receiving £1,548 in employee expense reimbursements during 2024/25.” — page 59
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Total income
£715k
Total spending
£705k
Reserves (reported)
£117k
Employees
5
Trustees
- Tony Heatonchair
- Caitlin Amber Garner McHugh
- Emma Marie Ruth Bowman
- James Hodgson
- Jennifer Elizabeth Clarke
- Jon Tibbits-Smyth
- Marian Dorthea Casey
- Michelle Duxbury
- Owen Kimm
- Philip O'Shaughnessy
- Rebecca Wymant
- Robert Davies
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £715k | £705k |
| 31/03/2024 | £874k | £982k |
| 31/03/2023 | £657k | £644k |
| 31/03/2022 | £1.3m | £1.6m |
| 31/03/2021 | £2.1m | £1.7m |
Common questions
Is SHAPE LONDON financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that Shape London reported a net incoming resource of £9,824 for the year ended 31 March 2025, a significant improvement from the previous year's net outgoing resource of £107,827. Total income decreased to £715,283 from £874,150, while total expenditure fell more sharply to £705,459 from £981,977. The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £163,000, which the trustees consider equivalent to three months of key operating costs, within their stated policy target of three to six months. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Borough of Southwark | 01/04/2020 | £4k | Grant to Shape Arts |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 27/11/2019 | £982k | "The National Disability Movement Archive And Collection (NDMAC)" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 29/01/2013 | £953k | "National Disability Arts Collection and Archive (NDACA)" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 04/12/2009 | £10k | A new Shape Tickets Service - a pilot project |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 11/08/2009 | £636k | Creative Steps |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 16/06/2009 | £500k | Articulate |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 15/03/2007 | £10k | Shape Tickets - Volunteer Development Programme |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 23/11/2005 | £225k | Open the Door |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 28/02/2003 | £50k | "Art Signs" |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE HAROLD HYAM WINGATE FOUNDATION | 2 | £13k |
| CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £9k |
| VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FOUNDATION | 2 | £8k |
| THE JOHN THAW FOUNDATION | 2 | £3k |
| THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER FOUNDATION | 1 | £116k |
| THE FOYLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £100k |
| THE JOHN R. MURRAY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £80k |
| The Portal Trust | 1 | £58k |
Charities like this
- SOUTH LONDON THEATRE CENTRE LIMITED
- DEAL MUSIC AND ARTS LIMITED
- BIRMINGHAM CENTRE FOR ARTS THERAPIES
- DISABILITY ARTS IN SHROPSHIRE
- MOUNTVIEW ACADEMY OF THEATRE ARTS LIMITED
- ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHAPE LONDON | £715k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SOUTH LONDON THEATRE CENTRE LIMITED | £183k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| DEAL MUSIC AND ARTS LIMITED | £242k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BIRMINGHAM CENTRE FOR ARTS THERAPIES | £704k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| DISABILITY ARTS IN SHROPSHIRE | £316k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| MOUNTVIEW ACADEMY OF THEATRE ARTS LIMITED | £9.0m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |