DURHAM WILDLIFE TRUST
Protection of wildlife and natural features and promotion of nature conservation within our area. Acting as a main focus for nature conservation within our area and providing means by which communities and individuals can become involved.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that unrestricted net current asset funds were £720,335 at the year end, providing 8 months of cover against the stated policy target of six months of unrestricted expenditure. The charity reported a total surplus of £947,728 for the year, with total income of £4,285,760 and total expenditure of £3,338,032. The Trustees confirmed that resources are adequate to continue as a going concern with no material uncertainties identified.
What the accounts disclose
“The Trustees have set the reserves policy such that the target for unrestricted net current asset funds equates to six months unrestricted expenditure.” — page 14
“Durham Wildlife Services (DWS) is a private company limited by shares and is a wholly owned trading subsidiary of Durham Wildlife Trust.” — page 14
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Jim Cokill — CEO
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (03/11/2025)
Trustees
- Clare June Butcher
- Dr Vivien Kent
- Harvey Neve
- Ian Robert Cole
- Michael Andrew Coates
- Nigel Bell
- Paul William Davidson
- Professor Stephen Geoffrey Willis
- Professor William Mark Oxbury
- Richard Francis Joseph Arrowsmith
- Simon David Bell
- Stephen Kumar Bhowmick
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £4.3m | £3.3m |
| 31/03/2024 | £5.3m | £2.3m |
| 31/03/2023 | £6.8m | £2.6m |
| 31/03/2022 | £3.1m | £2.3m |
| 31/03/2021 | £2.0m | £1.5m |
Common questions
Is DURHAM WILDLIFE TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted net current asset funds were £720,335 at the year end, providing 8 months of cover against the stated policy target of six months of unrestricted expenditure. The charity reported a total surplus of £947,728 for the year, with total income of £4,285,760 and total expenditure of £3,338,032. The Trustees confirmed that resources are adequate to continue as a going concern with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Robson Laidler Accountants Limited.
Who funds DURHAM WILDLIFE TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name DURHAM WILDLIFE TRUST as a grant recipient include THE VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST, ROYAL SOCIETY OF WILDLIFE TRUSTS, THE BANISTER CHARITABLE TRUST, THE ALA GREEN CHARITABLE TRUST, THE LINDER FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 02/04/2026 | £20k | Community Ecologist: Connecting People and Nature in Northeast England |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 17/12/2025 | £327k | City of Nature: Sunderland |
| Sport England | 11/06/2025 | £7k | Active in Nature |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 25/04/2024 | £17k | Durham Wildlife Trust Volunteer Support Assistant |
| UK government | 01/12/2023 | £99k | NCS Trust EPP Grant NE Durham Wildlife Trust |
| UK government | 01/12/2023 | £35k | NCS Trust EPP Grant NE Groundwork North East |
| UK government | 01/12/2023 | £43k | NCS Trust EPP Grant NE Durham Wildlife Trust |
| UK government | 01/08/2023 | £16k | Water Vole Conservation in the North East of England |
| UK government | 01/08/2023 | £11k | Water Vole Conservation in the North East of England |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £26k | NEIRF2074CLAIM6 |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £19k | PGW 0851-CF2237 |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £25k | PGW 0828-CF2236 |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £15k | PGW 0800-CF2235 |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £14k | NEIRF2074CLAIM5 |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £19k | CCC 040-CF2186 |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £23k | NEIRF2074CLAIM3 |
| UK government | 01/04/2023 | £11k | NEIRF2074CLAIM4 |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 18/11/2022 | £10k | Brinkburn Pond Champions |
| UK government | 04/11/2022 | £8k | Connecting Communities: people enabling change |
| Community Foundation North East | 11/08/2022 | £3k | Grant to Durham Wildlife Trust |
| Community Foundation North East | 26/05/2022 | £2k | Grant to Durham Wildlife Trust |
| Community Foundation North East | 28/04/2022 | £6k | Grant to Durham Wildlife Trust |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 17/03/2022 | £1.1m | "LinkTogether" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 22/06/2020 | £46k | "COVID19 Durham Wildlife Trust" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 11/09/2018 | £601k | "Naturally Native" |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION | 2 | £379k |
| THE DERBYSHIRE ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST LIMITED | 2 | £116k |
| THE ACCOMPLISHMENT TRUST | 2 | £26k |
| THE HISCOX FOUNDATION | 2 | £16k |
| THE THOMAS RAWCLIFFE CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £2k |
| THE REECE FOUNDATION | 1 | £271k |
| THE BADUR FOUNDATION | 1 | £242k |
| THE SANDERSON FOUNDATION | 1 | £215k |
Charities like this
- ESSEX WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED
- THE WILDLIFE TRUST OF SOUTH AND WEST WALES LIMITED
- NORFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST
- HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT WILDLIFE TRUST
- NORTHUMBERLAND WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED
- DEVON WILDLIFE TRUST
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DURHAM WILDLIFE TRUST | £4.3m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| ESSEX WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED | £10.0m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| THE WILDLIFE TRUST OF SOUTH AND WEST WALES LIMITED | £5.3m | £60,001 - £70,000 | 1 | above | — | no doubt |
| NORFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST | £9.4m | £80,001 - £90,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT WILDLIFE TRUST | £9.9m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NORTHUMBERLAND WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED | £5.5m | — | 0 | unclear | 8.0% | no doubt |