CATALYST SCIENCE DISCOVERY CENTRE AND MUSEUM TRUST LIMITED
Registered charity 518850 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as CATALYST: SCIENCE DISCOVERY CENTRE, HALTON CHEMICAL INDUSTRY MUSEUM TRUST LIMITED
Science Discovery Centre and Museum
Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £44,931 for the year, resulting in free reserves of £141,401, which is below the stated policy target of approximately £380,000. The trustees acknowledge the reserves fall below the policy level but assert that the charity can be funded for the next 12 months and that deficits are being brought under control.
Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £141k)
“The free reserves of the charity were £141,401 at the year end. Trustees recognise this falls below the policy’s level” — page 6
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 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).
- The National Lottery Heritage Fund — “We are delighted to have been awarded £1 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver the Synergy Project” (source page)
- Wellcome Trust — “In the last few years, Catalyst has undergone some major developments thanks to funding from the Wellcome Trust – Inspiring Science Project.” (source page)
Property (HM Land Registry)
1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 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 31/03/2025)
Cost of raising funds
£106k
Reported reserves equal ~1.9 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).
Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (49% 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: 12.3% of total income — above the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (22/09/2025) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
- HUGH GORDON DOWDINGchair
- BRYAN WILLIAM DAVIES
- Danielle Jeaneane Ryder
- Dr DIANA LEITCH
- Dr DONALD WESTWOOD
- Dr MICHAEL ROBERT PITTS
- HOWARD HOPWOOD
- JAMES THOMAS TIERNAN
- JAY MARK WIEGAND
- Jennifer Wilson Hart
- KEVAN PETER WAINWRIGHT
- LUKE GERARD WILLIAMS
- MELISSA MARY LORD
- Stephanie Davies
- Timothy John Hughes
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Halton
Income and spending
Common questions
Is CATALYST SCIENCE DISCOVERY CENTRE AND MUSEUM TRUST LIMITED financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £44,931 for the year, resulting in free reserves of £141,401, which is below the stated policy target of approximately £380,000. The trustees acknowledge the reserves fall below the policy level but assert that the charity can be funded for the next 12 months and that deficits are being brought under control. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds CATALYST SCIENCE DISCOVERY CENTRE AND MUSEUM TRUST LIMITED?
Funders whose own accounts filings name CATALYST SCIENCE DISCOVERY CENTRE AND MUSEUM TRUST LIMITED as a grant recipient include BARNSBURY CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.
Government & lottery funding
Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).
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.
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Side by side with its peers
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