THE NATIONAL MANUSCRIPTS CONSERVATION TRUST

Registered charity 802796 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as N M C T

The National Manuscripts Conservation Trust was set up in 1990 to provide financial assistance to owners and custodians in the UK in preserving the nation's written heritage. In addition to giving grants, we advise applicants on matters relating to potential applications, including specific preservation policies and strategies and to best practice in preservation.

Causes: Arts/culture/heritage/science · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£228k

Latest spending

£205k

Registered

1990

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that total net assets increased to £2,835,010, driven by significant unrealised investment gains. The charity reported an operating result of £23,360 and holds unrestricted reserves of £340,990, which the trustees consider adequate to meet current liabilities and ongoing grant commitments.

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Donations (47% of income)

“The Charity enjoys two streams of income: investment income, which at £107,934 was very similar to the £110,080 received in 2024; and donations, which amounted to £120,421 (2024: £65,900), of which £44,271 was restricted.”

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 Dulverton Trust — “The Trustees of NMCT, and the recipients of NMCT grants, are enormously grateful to the following funders for their generous support and als…” (source page)

Trustees · trustee networks

PROFESSOR DAVID JOHN MCKITTERICKchair · trustee of 4 other charities
Dr NORMAN JAMES
Gabriel Mary Sewell · trustee of 1 other charity
Philip Tansey FCA · trustee of 1 other charity
Victoria Kate Stevens ACR

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

Operates in: Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£228k	£205k
31/12/2024	£176k	£158k
31/12/2023	£200k	£172k
31/12/2022	£182k	£190k
31/12/2021	£129k	£124k

Common questions

Is THE NATIONAL MANUSCRIPTS CONSERVATION TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total net assets increased to £2,835,010, driven by significant unrealised investment gains. The charity reported an operating result of £23,360 and holds unrestricted reserves of £340,990, which the trustees consider adequate to meet current liabilities and ongoing grant commitments. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds THE NATIONAL MANUSCRIPTS CONSERVATION TRUST?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE NATIONAL MANUSCRIPTS CONSERVATION TRUST as a grant recipient include THE PILGRIM TRUST, THE DULVERTON TRUST, COLWINSTON CHARITABLE TRUST, THE GEORGE AND ESME POLLITZER CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT.

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	£120k	Funding towards its grants scheme for the care and conservation of manuscripts in the UK.
THE PILGRIM TRUST	FY2022	£120k	Three year funding (2023-2025) towards the conservation of manuscripts in the UK
THE DULVERTON TRUST	FY2026	£105k	Developing Skills Through Manuscript Conservation
COLWINSTON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£10k	A grant of £10,000 was offered to support the Cambrian Pottery Archive at Swansea Museum.
COLWINSTON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£7k	Support the restoration of the William Burges collection.
THE GEORGE AND ESME POLLITZER CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT	FY2024	£5k	Grant category header
THE GEORGE AND ESME POLLITZER CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT	FY2025	£5k	Disabled and elderly

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.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
THE HEADLEY TRUST	2	£206k
THE JOHN S COHEN FOUNDATION	2	£20k
The SVH Foundation	1	£8.2m
THE VINEHILL TRUST	1	£7.7m
THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£5.3m
THE BRITISH COUNCIL	1	£1.9m
THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED	1	£1.5m
THE ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION	1	£1.3m

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES TRUST.

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES TRUST income £374k
THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY income £766.2m
INTERNATIONAL NATIONAL TRUSTS ORGANISATION income £1.1m
THE NATIONAL GALLERY TRUST income £8.4m
THE NOSTELL TRUST income £156k
NATIONAL TRACTION ENGINE TRUST income £105k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
THE NATIONAL MANUSCRIPTS CONSERVATION TRUST	£228k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES TRUST FY2025	£374k	Over £60,000	1	unclear	—	no doubt
THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY FY2025	£766.2m	—	—	unclear	6.3%	no doubt
INTERNATIONAL NATIONAL TRUSTS ORGANISATION FY2024	£1.1m	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE NATIONAL GALLERY TRUST FY2025	£8.4m	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE NOSTELL TRUST FY2025	£156k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.