BENDRIGG TRUST

Registered charity 508450 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

Bendrigg Trust runs high quality courses for disabled and disadvantaged people who come to Bendrigg from all parts of the UK for a day, weekend or a week.We aim to promote inclusion, encourage independence and build self-confidence through the use of residential experience and the safe provision of adventurous activities delivered by dedicated, qualified staff.

Causes: Education/training · Disability · Amateur Sport · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£1.8m

Latest spending

£1.9m

Registered

1979

Accounts read

FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported an overall surplus of £195,055 for the year ended 31 December 2024, driven by a restricted funds surplus of £233,458 which offset an unrestricted deficit of £38,403. Total reserves stood at £3,996,423, with free unrestricted reserves of £561,224, which the trustees note are below their stated policy target of £600,000. While the balance sheet shows strong cash reserves, the trustees acknowledge ongoing challenges with rising costs and expect continued unrestricted deficits in the short term.

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

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: Under £60,000 — below the median for charities its size (£70k)

“No employee received remuneration of more than £60,000 during the current or prior year.” — page 46

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £561k; policy: £600,000)

“The unrestricted fund reserves stand at £561,224 at 31 December 2024, meaning that the Charity is now carrying less free reserve than is required by the Reserves Policy.” — page 26

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Donation from Bendrigg Support Trust

“A specific donation grant of £35,075 (2023: £25,000) was received during the year. Mr J Holmes, Mr T Lowe and Miss R Hodgson, Trustees, are also Trustees of the Bendrigg Support Trust along with an independent Trustee, Mr R Brownson.”

“The charity also has a close relationship with The Mary Kinross Charitable Trust through an influential member who is also on the Bendrigg Alternative Committee. Total grants received during the year total £95,000 (2023: £105,000).” — page 28

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Grants from Mary Kinross Charitable Trust

“A specific donation grant of £35,075 (2023: £25,000) was received during the year. Mr J Holmes, Mr T Lowe and Miss R Hodgson, Trustees, are also Trustees of the Bendrigg Support Trust along with an independent Trustee, Mr R Brownson.”

“The charity also has a close relationship with The Mary Kinross Charitable Trust through an influential member who is also on the Bendrigg Alternative Committee. Total grants received during the year total £95,000 (2023: £105,000).” — page 28

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by MHA. Discloses 6 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Bendrigg Trust (matched by registered charity number).

Property (HM Land Registry)

2 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (2 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

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

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)

Total income

£1.8m

Total spending

£1.9m

Cost of raising funds

£177k

Reserves (reported)

£489k

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~3.1 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (56% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 9.9% of total income — above the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Received assets from another charity (24/02/2025) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (14/07/2023) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (15/02/2023) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (19/02/2015) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

Adrian Walterchair
Anne Fleck
Brian McDonough
Claire Connor
DAVID KIM PARRY
JOHN HOLMES · trustee of 1 other charity
Kay Foster
PETER JAMES BATES
Rachael Hodgson · trustee of 1 other charity
Richard Huxley
Stuart Woodall
TIMOTHY LOWE

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

Operates in: Cumbria

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£1.8m	£1.9m
31/12/2024	£1.9m	£1.7m
31/12/2023	£1.5m	£1.5m
31/12/2022	£1.4m	£1.3m
31/12/2021	£923k	£1.0m

Common questions

Is BENDRIGG TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported an overall surplus of £195,055 for the year ended 31 December 2024, driven by a restricted funds surplus of £233,458 which offset an unrestricted deficit of £38,403. Total reserves stood at £3,996,423, with free unrestricted reserves of £561,224, which the trustees note are below their stated policy target of £600,000. While the balance sheet shows strong cash reserves, the trustees acknowledge ongoing challenges with rising costs and expect continued unrestricted deficits in the short term. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by MHA.

What does the highest-paid employee of BENDRIGG TRUST earn?

Per its FY2024 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the Under £60,000 band.

Who funds BENDRIGG TRUST?

Funders whose own accounts filings name BENDRIGG TRUST as a grant recipient include THE MARY KINROSS CHARITABLE TRUST, THE EDWARD GOSTLING FOUNDATION, THE FRIEDA SCOTT CHARITABLE TRUST, THE BRITFORD BRIDGE TRUST, FRANCIS C SCOTT CHARITABLE TRUST.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE MARY KINROSS CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£105k	Salary of Alternative Coordinator, Sponsorship Fund and fundraising team
THE MARY KINROSS CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£100k	Youth
THE MARY KINROSS CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£95k	Youth
THE EDWARD GOSTLING FOUNDATION	FY2025	£75k	Grant
THE MARY KINROSS CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£50k	Youth
THE EDWARD GOSTLING FOUNDATION	FY2024	£50k
THE FRIEDA SCOTT CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£36k
THE BRITFORD BRIDGE TRUST	FY2024	£30k	Primary
THE BRITFORD BRIDGE TRUST	FY2025	£30k	Primary
FRANCIS C SCOTT CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£20k
FRAZER TRUST	FY2023	£16k	Children
THE FRIEDA SCOTT CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£15k
THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2023	£14k
THE 29TH MAY 1961 CHARITY	FY2022	£12k	costs of running outdoor activity centres in Cumbria catering for adults and children with disabilities
THE COTTON INDUSTRY WAR MEMORIAL TRUST	FY2025	£10k
THE FRIEDA SCOTT CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£10k
JOHNNIE JOHNSON TRUST	FY2024	£6k
THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITED	FY2024	£5k	Youth
THE BARBOUR FOUNDATION	FY2023	£5k
LORD BARNBY'S FOUNDATION	FY2024	£5k
THE DAVID SNOWDON TRUST	FY2024	£5k
THE HADFIELD CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£5k	Youth & Employment
THE DAVID SNOWDON TRUST	FY2025	£4k
FRANCIS C SCOTT CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£4k
THE BARBOUR FOUNDATION	FY2024	£3k
FRANCIS C SCOTT CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£3k
SKIPTON BUILDING SOCIETY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2023	£3k
THE FRIEDA SCOTT CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£3k
SIR JULES THORN CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£3k
THE WO STREET CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	FY2024	£3k
THE HADFIELD CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£3k	Social Needs
LORD BARNBY'S FOUNDATION	FY2023	£2k
THE HOLEHIRD TRUST	FY2024	£2k
FRAZER TRUST	FY2022	£2k
SIR JULES THORN CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£2k	Ann Rylands Small Donations
THE SIR JAMES ROLL CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£1k
THE SIR JAMES ROLL CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£1k
The Caledonia Investments Charitable Foundation	FY2024	£1k
CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£1k
THE HAROLD AND ALICE BRIDGES CHARITY	FY2025	£0

Government & lottery funding

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

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Community Fund	20/05/2026	£300k	Someone Like Me - volunteering opportunities for disabled people
The National Lottery Community Fund	16/04/2026	£20k	Solar Panels at Bendrigg
Sport England	09/08/2024	£15k	Canoeing for All
The National Lottery Community Fund	29/06/2023	£10k	Adventure Accessible to All
The National Lottery Community Fund	11/02/2022	£10k	Adventure for All
Sport England	24/04/2020	£8k	COVID-19 CEF
Sport England	03/03/2017	£10k	Bendrigg Triathlon Project
Sport England	12/03/2014	£9k	Bendrigg Canoe Club
The National Lottery Community Fund	20/09/2012	£8k	Aiming High Nature Trail
The National Lottery Community Fund	13/01/2011	£10k	Bendrigg Trust Expeditions and Adventure
Northern Rock Foundation	13/10/1998	£10k	Grant awarded to Bendrigg Trust (Northern)

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
CULLUM FAMILY TRUST	1	£125k
THE F GLENISTER WOODGER TRUST CIO	1	£50k
THE JOHN COATES CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£20k
SPIELMAN CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£19k
THE HIVE PORTSMOUTH	1	£12k
The Patricia Routledge Foundation	1	£12k
DUCHY HEALTH CHARITY LIMITED	1	£5k
THE HELEN ROLL CHARITY	1	£3k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE PENDERELS TRUST LIMITED.

THE PENDERELS TRUST LIMITED income £9.5m
THE BRANDON TRUST income £77.6m
DISABILITY CORNWALL AND THE ISLES OF SCILLY income £2.5m
THE ALDINGBOURNE TRUST income £9.4m
BRIDGEWOOD TRUST LIMITED income £7.8m
THE LAURIE BREWIS TRUST income £736k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
BENDRIGG TRUST	£1.8m	Under £60,000	0	below	—	no doubt
THE PENDERELS TRUST LIMITED FY2025	£9.5m	—	1	above	—	no doubt
THE BRANDON TRUST FY2025	£77.6m	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
DISABILITY CORNWALL AND THE ISLES OF SCILLY FY2025	£2.5m	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE ALDINGBOURNE TRUST FY2025	£9.4m	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
BRIDGEWOOD TRUST LIMITED FY2025	£7.8m	—	—	above	—	no doubt

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