GRAND ORDER OF WATER RATS CHARITIES FUND

Registered charity 292201 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The GOWR Charities Fund was founded to help members of the theatrical profession, or their dependents, who due to old age or ill health are in need. Other charitable organisations and individuals can also be helped if there are sufficient funds available.

Objects

TO RELIEVE OR ASSIST IN THE RELIEF OF POOR OR NECESSITOUS MEMBERS OF THE GRAND ORDER OF WATER RATS AND WIDOWS AND DEPENDANTS OF SUCH MEMBERS OR NECESSITOUS PERSONS ENGAGED OR CONCERNED OR FORMALLY ENGAGED OR CONCERNED AS THEATRICAL ENTERTAINERS MUSIC HALL AND VARIETY ARTISTES OR IN OTHE ASSOCIATIED ENGAGEMENTS AND THE WIDOWS AND DEPENDANTS THEREOF. (FOR DETAILS SEE CLAUSE 1 OF TRUST DEED).

Area of benefit: WORLDWIDE

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

Causes: The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Disability · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£155k

Latest spending

£184k

Registered

1985

Accounts read

FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted funds amounted to £4,507,084, which the trustees consider adequate and above their policy target of six months' unrestricted expenditure. The charity reported a net decrease in funds of £37,047 for the year, driven by charitable expenditure exceeding incoming resources, although this was offset by significant investment gains and a property revaluation.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: six months unrestricted expenditure (held: £4.5m)

“It is the policy of the charity to maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the charity, at a level which equates to at least approximately six months unrestricted expenditure.” — page 5

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Payments to trustees: Mr K Kaye received £8,200 for bookkeeping services.

“During the year, the charity paid £8,200 (2023 - £8,400) to Mr K Kaye, a trustee, for bookkeeping services.” — page 6

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Payment to trustee for services

“During the year, the charity paid £8,200 (2023 - £8,400) to Mr K Kaye, a trustee, for bookkeeping services.” — page 6

“As at 31 December 2024, other debtors include £1,711 (2023 - £2,658) due from Grand Order of Water Rats General Fund.” — page 6

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Debt due from related party

“During the year, the charity paid £8,200 (2023 - £8,400) to Mr K Kaye, a trustee, for bookkeeping services.” — page 6

“As at 31 December 2024, other debtors include £1,711 (2023 - £2,658) due from Grand Order of Water Rats General Fund.” — page 6

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 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.

Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — The Grand Order of Water Rats (matched by registered charity number).

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

Alan Brown
Chris Emmett
David Brock
KAPLAN KAYE
Richard Gauntlett
Rick Wakeman

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

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£155k	£184k
31/12/2024	£142k	£186k
31/12/2023	£137k	£178k
31/12/2022	£167k	£158k
31/12/2021	£128k	£192k

Common questions

Is GRAND ORDER OF WATER RATS CHARITIES FUND financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted funds amounted to £4,507,084, which the trustees consider adequate and above their policy target of six months' unrestricted expenditure. The charity reported a net decrease in funds of £37,047 for the year, driven by charitable expenditure exceeding incoming resources, although this was offset by significant investment gains and a property revaluation. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.

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.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
BREAKTHROUGH FOUNDATION	1	£2.0m
ACTING FOR OTHERS	1	£10k
THE MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION	1	£10k
MUKUL MADHAV FOUNDATION UK	1	£10k
The Patricia Routledge Foundation	1	£8k
THE GEORGE CADBURY TRUST (GEORGE HENRY T AND LAURENCE J CADBURY SECTIONS)	1	£3k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE ACTORS' BENEVOLENT FUND.

THE ACTORS' BENEVOLENT FUND income £1.9m
THE ROYAL THEATRICAL FUND income £679k
GOFUNDME.ORG.UK income £227k
GRAND CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE ORDER OF WOMEN FREEMASONS income £107k
THE LATE GWYNETH MON WILLIAMS CHARITABLE TRUST income £135k
THE MISS BERYL BILLINGS (KNOWN AS MARGOT BOYD) CHARITABLE TRUST income £106k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
GRAND ORDER OF WATER RATS CHARITIES FUND	£155k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
THE ACTORS' BENEVOLENT FUND FY2025	£1.9m	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE ROYAL THEATRICAL FUND FY2025	£679k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
GOFUNDME.ORG.UK FY2025	£227k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
GRAND CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE ORDER OF WOMEN FREEMASONS FY2025	£107k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE LATE GWYNETH MON WILLIAMS CHARITABLE TRUST FY2025	£135k	—	0	no_policy	—	no doubt

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