WEST MIDLANDS HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST

Registered charity 516158 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The WMHBT was established in 1985, with specialists in the field of building conservation serving as Trustees. It's purpose is to safeguard buildings, at risk, within the West Midlands that are of historical or architectural importance. Where this cannot be achieved by simply raising awareness to the issues the Trust will consider carrying out a conservation project itself.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£244k

Latest spending

£264k

Registered

1985

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that total funds decreased from £488,668 to £468,542, driven by a net expenditure of £20,126 against income of £243,681. The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £7,339, which is below the stated policy target of maintaining sufficient reserves for ongoing maintenance and staff employment. The filing confirms the entity is prepared on a going concern basis with no material uncertainties identified.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Donations and legacies (79% of income)

“Donations and legacies 4 2,720 191,455 194,175 216,932” — page 11

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: sufficient to ensure the continued operation of Trust activities including ongoing maintenance of property owned by the Trust, for which a restricted fund has been established, and sustaining the future employment of core staff (held: £7k)

“It is the policy of the Board to maintain a level of reserves sufficient to ensure the continued operation of Trust activities including ongoing maintenance of property owned by the Trust, for which a restricted fund has been established, and sustaining the future employment of core staff.” — page 8

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

National Lottery Heritage Fund — “Willow Court Farmhouse will be ‘Safe as Houses’ thanks for a £2.3 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded in Spring 20…” (source page)

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 · linkedin

Trustees · trustee networks

Andrew Foster
EDWARD GRAHAM BARRON · trustee of 3 other charities
Hayley Andrews · trustee of 1 other charity
IAN WILSON · trustee of 1 other charity
Lewis Thomas Hobbs · trustee of 2 other charities
NICOLAS CROMBIE
Philip Adams
Robin Sellers · trustee of 3 other charities

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

Operates in: Birmingham City · Coventry City · Dudley · Sandwell · Solihull · Walsall · Wolverhampton · Worcestershire

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£244k	£264k
31/03/2024	£262k	£239k
31/03/2023	£145k	£168k
31/03/2022	£95k	£86k
31/03/2021	£88k	£73k

Common questions

Is WEST MIDLANDS HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total funds decreased from £488,668 to £468,542, driven by a net expenditure of £20,126 against income of £243,681. The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £7,339, which is below the stated policy target of maintaining sufficient reserves for ongoing maintenance and staff employment. The filing confirms the entity is prepared on a going concern basis with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds WEST MIDLANDS HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST?

Funders whose own accounts filings name WEST MIDLANDS HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST as a grant recipient include THE PILGRIM TRUST.

Known funders

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

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE PILGRIM TRUST	FY2025	£15k	Urgent repair work to St Michael’s Chapel and The Master’s House, Saltisford, Warwick.

Government & lottery funding

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

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	07/06/2023	£3.0m	"Heritage Enterprise: A Homely Future for St Michael's Place, Warwick"
UK government	01/04/2023	£15k	3 Trusts BAR App uplift (increase to main CB Grant)
UK government	01/04/2022	£53k	The Three Trusts - Heritage development and support officers
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	23/09/2021	£81k	"The 3 Trusts: Resilience and Engagement"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	17/08/2020	£17k	"COVID19: West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	20/02/2017	£52k	"Himley Hall Kitchen Garden Project: test bed for a new strategic plan for WMHBT"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	22/11/2012	£1.1m	"The Lye & Wollescote Cemetery Chapels building conservation project"
The National Lottery Community Fund	27/05/2009	£10k	The Lye & Wollescote Cemetery and Chapels Building
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	19/09/2003	£627k	"The Harris & Pearson Office Building Restoration Project"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	20/11/1995	£64k	"19-20 High Street, Kinver, near Stourbridge"