CHETHAM'S HOSPITAL SCHOOL AND LIBRARY
Registered charity 526702 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as CHETHAM'S LIBRARY, CHETHAM'S SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Provision of a musical and academic education to young prople between the ages of 8 and 18. To provide, under the terms of Humphrey Chetham's will, a "Library within the Town of Manchester, for the use of scholars, and others well affected, to resort unto". Maintenance and improvement of the School, Library and Hospital premises and the award of allowances and other financial assistance.
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Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the Foundation recorded an overall deficit on unrestricted funds of £490,012 for the year ended 31 August 2025, reducing total unrestricted reserves to £8,368,092. Per the trustees' report, the Feoffees and School Governors do not consider there to be any issues for the organisation as a going concern, citing continued Department for Education support and increasing visitor numbers.
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: £8.4m)
“At present, the level of reserves is equivalent to over four month’s unrestricted expenditure. The Governors’ aim to increase the level of free reserves to at least 9 months’ expenditure”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Donations from Feoffees
“During the year, there were donations from Feoffees totalling £35,000 (2024: £Nil).” — page 49
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Governance: The charity breached a covenant attached to its bank loan facility. As a result of the breach, the lender had the contractual right to demand immediate repayment of the outstanding balance at the reporting date.
“The charity breached a covenant attached to its bank loan facility. As a result of the breach, the lender had the contractual right to demand immediate repayment of the outstanding balance at the reporting date.” — page 35
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Chetham’s Hall Limited, Chetham’s Trading Limited
“Chetham’s Hall Limited is a subsidiary undertaking that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chetham’s Hospital. Chetham’s Trading Limited is a subsidiary undertaking that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chetham’s School of Music.” — page 6
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts audited by Saffery LLP. Discloses 3 of 6 completeness components.
Corporate structure
CHETHAM'S HALL LIMITED — per its own Companies House accounts
- Amounts owed to group undertakings 5,800
CHETHAM'S TRADING LIMITED — per its own Companies House accounts
- Profit before tax: £-153k
- Amounts owed to group undertakings: £547,114
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2025)
Cost of raising funds
£1.3m
Reported reserves equal ~6.0 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).
Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (87% 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: 9.3% of total income — above the median for charities its size (3.8%) (benchmarks).
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Manchester City
Income and spending
Common questions
Is CHETHAM'S HOSPITAL SCHOOL AND LIBRARY financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the Foundation recorded an overall deficit on unrestricted funds of £490,012 for the year ended 31 August 2025, reducing total unrestricted reserves to £8,368,092. Per the trustees' report, the Feoffees and School Governors do not consider there to be any issues for the organisation as a going concern, citing continued Department for Education support and increasing visitor numbers. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Saffery LLP.
Who funds CHETHAM'S HOSPITAL SCHOOL AND LIBRARY?
Funders whose own accounts filings name CHETHAM'S HOSPITAL SCHOOL AND LIBRARY as a grant recipient include OGLESBY CHARITABLE TRUST, THE HAWORTH CHARITABLE TRUST, THE BEAVERBROOKS CHARITABLE TRUST, THE ALBERT AND EUGENIE FROST MUSIC TRUST CIO, WILLIAM WALTON AND LA MORTELLA 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
Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.