THE SILK HERITAGE TRUST
Registered charity 519521 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as MACCLESFIELD MUSEUMS TRUST, MACCLESFIELD SILK MUSEUM
The objects of the Association are as stated in the Annual Report:(1) The advancement of the education of the public by the provision of museum and ancillary facilities(2) any other charitable purpose for the benefit of the public.
Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · Recreation · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure of £34,837 for the year, resulting in a decrease in total net assets from £1,513,212 to £1,478,375. The trustees acknowledge that uncertainty regarding future funding may affect the charity's going concern status, although they remain confident in securing alternative income streams long-term. The independent examiner confirmed that no material matters came to their attention during the examination of the financial statements.
Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Going concern: noted by the trustees or auditor
“However, at the date of signing these accounts, the trustees acknowledge that this uncertainty may affect the Charity's going concern status as we advance.” — page 24
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.
Corporate structure
Company officers (Companies House)
Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.
- FARRIS, Ruth Helen Sevink — director, appointed 21/07/2026on trustee list
- HOGBEN, James — director, appointed 17/02/2026on trustee list
- GUBBINS, Robert — director, appointed 17/02/2026on trustee list
- JUDGE, Ruby Kathleen — director, appointed 16/02/2026on trustee list
- HARDING, Clare, Dr — director, appointed 01/12/2025not on trustee list
- BOWDEN, Benedict — director, appointed 31/10/2025on trustee list
- SPURRELL, Simon John — director, appointed 25/09/2025on trustee list
- COOKSON, Elizabeth — director, appointed 17/07/2025on trustee list
- MCKENNA, Fattori May — director, appointed 16/04/2025on trustee list
- BARBER, James William — director, appointed 01/04/2025on trustee list
- MEDCALF, Rebecca Mary — director, appointed 30/01/2024on trustee list
- HAYWARD, Joanna — director, appointed 27/06/2022on trustee list
- COLE, Philip — director, appointed 07/05/2021on trustee list
- WILLIAMSON, Hannah — director, appointed 25/04/2019on trustee list
- POWNALL, Roy Douglas — director, appointed 19/06/2017on trustee list
Official officers record.
Property (HM Land Registry)
1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold); recorded price paid £152k. 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
£17k
Reported reserves equal ~26.5 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).
Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (63% 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: 2.7% of total income — below the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (14/05/2025) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
- Simon John Spurrellchair
- Benedict Arthur Clement Bowden
- Elizabeth Ann Braithwaite
- Elizabeth Anne Cookson
- Fattori McKenna
- Hannah Williamson
- JANET JACKSON
- James Hogben
- James William Barber
- Joanna Clare Hayward
- Olivia Mary Rudkin
- Philip Cole
- Rebecca Mary Medcalf
- Robert Gubbins
- Roy Douglas Pownall
- Ruby Kathleen Judge
- Ruth Farris
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Cheshire East
Income and spending
Common questions
Is THE SILK HERITAGE TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure of £34,837 for the year, resulting in a decrease in total net assets from £1,513,212 to £1,478,375. The trustees acknowledge that uncertainty regarding future funding may affect the charity's going concern status, although they remain confident in securing alternative income streams long-term. The independent examiner confirmed that no material matters came to their attention during the examination of the financial statements. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds THE SILK HERITAGE TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE SILK HERITAGE TRUST as a grant recipient include THE HEADLEY TRUST, THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE FUND.
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.
Charities like this
Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with PEAK DISTRICT MINES HISTORICAL SOCIETY LIMITED.
Side by side with its peers
Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.