THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF PORTRAIT PAINTERS

Registered charity 327460 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

Promoting practice and furthering excellence in painted portraiture

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Latest income
£57k
Latest spending
£82k
Registered
1987
Accounts read
FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure deficit of £25,551 for the year ended 31 December 2024, resulting in total funds decreasing from £87,754 to £62,203. The trustees acknowledge a shortfall in unrestricted reserves and have stated an intention to address this by either reducing expenditure or defining aims for an increase. Despite the deficit, the management committee confirmed the charity has adequate resources to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future.

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Donated prize income (49% of income)
The main sources of income were commissions income on member and non-member portrait comissions of £24,437 (2023: £28,286) and donated prize income of £27,590 (2023: £37,500).
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £42k; policy: between one and two years unrestricted fund expenditure)
The Council of Management considers it most appropriate to retain unrestricted reserves of between one and two years unrestricted fund expenditure, the council are aware of the shortfall and will address this as an area for action by the council, either reducing it or defining aims for an increase.
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Mall Galleries are used for the annual exhibition of the Society. The Society has limited ongoing expenditure and does not incur any other expense without having sufficient funds to meet it's liabilities in advance.
Other than the security of the Society's bank balances, which are held in accounts with reputable institutions, the only significant risk to undertaking it's activities is the ability to continue to use the Mall Galleries which are currently leased by the Federation of British Artists, a related charity to the Society. The Mall Galleries are used for the annual exhibition of the Society. The Society has limited ongoing expenditure and does not incur any other expense without having sufficient funds to meet it's liabilities in advance. — page 5
There were £4,007 of travel expenses were reimbursed to Trustees within the year (2023: £2,581). There were no amounts outstanding to Trustees at the year end. — page 18
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Travel expenses reimbursed to trustees.
Other than the security of the Society's bank balances, which are held in accounts with reputable institutions, the only significant risk to undertaking it's activities is the ability to continue to use the Mall Galleries which are currently leased by the Federation of British Artists, a related charity to the Society. The Mall Galleries are used for the annual exhibition of the Society. The Society has limited ongoing expenditure and does not incur any other expense without having sufficient funds to meet it's liabilities in advance. — page 5
There were £4,007 of travel expenses were reimbursed to Trustees within the year (2023: £2,581). There were no amounts outstanding to Trustees at the year end. — page 18
Per its FY2024 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): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2024£57k£82k
31/12/2023£66k£74k
31/12/2022£43k£89k
31/12/2021£91k£17k
31/12/2020£9k£18k

Common questions

Is THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF PORTRAIT PAINTERS financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure deficit of £25,551 for the year ended 31 December 2024, resulting in total funds decreasing from £87,754 to £62,203. The trustees acknowledge a shortfall in unrestricted reserves and have stated an intention to address this by either reducing expenditure or defining aims for an increase. Despite the deficit, the management committee confirmed the charity has adequate resources to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.

Government & lottery funding

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

FunderDateAmountPurpose
Northern Rock Foundation20/12/2005£10kGrant awarded to Royal Society of Portrait Painters (North East)