LEICESTER ARTS CENTRE LIMITED
Registered charity 701078 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as PHOENIX ARTS
Our vision is to enrich lives and celebrate diversity and ambition in film and art. Our mission is to be a dynamic artistic and creative centre where everyone can enjoy, learn about and make inspirational film and art; enriching individual lives and stimulating economic growth in Leicester and beyond. (Leicester Arts Centre operates under the brand name Phoenix).
Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Economic/community Development/employment · Recreation · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported an operating deficit of £449,186 for the year ended 31 March 2025, driven by increased costs and reduced commercial income from venue hires due to building works. While unrestricted reserves of £406,484 currently meet the stated policy target of £400,000, the auditors have identified a material uncertainty regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern due to the potential withdrawal of local authority funding and slower-than-expected audience recovery.
Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Largest income source: Trading subsidiary income (41% of income)
“Income from the trading subsidiary increased from £877,723 (2023/24) to £947,683.” — page 7
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: £400,000 (held: £406k)
“The current Reserves policy is to retain a minimum of £400,000 free reserves”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Going concern: material uncertainty disclosed
“As set out in that note there are conditions that indicate a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Firebird Trading Limited
“The consolidated financial statements combine the financial statements of the Leicester Arts Centre Limited and its’ wholly owned subsidiary company, Firebird Trading Limited” — page 19
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts audited by TC Group. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.
Year-over-year changes
- Going concern: no going-concern doubt (FY2024) → material uncertainty (FY2025).
Comparing this charity’s FY2024 and FY2025 accounts as analysed by this site.
Funders the charity credits
Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).
- British Film Institute — “Awarding funds from the National Lottery, the BFI supports Phoenix so that we can expand the reach, depth and breadth of people’s experience…” (source page)
- Arts Council England — “Phoenix receives regular funding from the Arts council England under the National Portfolio programme.” (source page)
- Leicester City Council — “Leicester City Council is a founding stakeholder of Phoenix and continues to support the organisation’s contribution to the city.” (source page)
- De Montfort University — “DMU is a founding stakeholder of Phoenix, and supports Phoenix through sponsorship.” (source page)
- Foyle Foundation — “Grant funding from Foyle Foundation supports the delivery of our cultural programme and our charitable activities.” (source page)
- European Regional Development Fund — “The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) supported our REAL Initiative project, which provided dedicated facilities, business support a…” (source page)
Property (HM Land Registry)
3 registered titles 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
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Cost of raising funds
£491k
Reported reserves equal ~1.7 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).
Per its annual return, largest income source: Other trading activities (39% 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: 20.2% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 5.2%) (benchmarks).
- ALI SINCLAIRchair · trustee of 1 other charity
- Adam Clarke
- CATHERINE JANE KERSEY · trustee of 2 other charities
- Colin Geoffrey Sharpe · trustee of 1 other charity
- Dilip Kavi
- Dr James Russell
- Kaaeed Mamujee
- Kamlesh Purohit
- Professor Justin Smith
- SUZANNE MELODY BRADLEY OVERTON-EDWARDS
- William Wells
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Leicester City · Leicestershire · Rutland
Income and spending
Common questions
Is LEICESTER ARTS CENTRE LIMITED financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported an operating deficit of £449,186 for the year ended 31 March 2025, driven by increased costs and reduced commercial income from venue hires due to building works. While unrestricted reserves of £406,484 currently meet the stated policy target of £400,000, the auditors have identified a material uncertainty regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern due to the potential withdrawal of local authority funding and slower-than-expected audience recovery. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by TC Group.
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 LEICESTER THEATRE TRUST 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.