Overall Score: 30 based on 20 data points
Finance: 5
Governance: 9
Support: 16
Strong growth: +2, Fundraising costs low: +3,
Good trustee age range: +3, Dynamic board: +3, Gender balanced board: +3,
Large volunteers +3, Award winner, Supporters: +13

TREES FOR CITIES 

Overview

Trees for Cities work at a national and international scale to improve the lives of those living in cities by planting thousands of trees in urban areas each year. With support from local authorities and volunteers they revitalise forgotten spaces, creating healthier environments and getting people excited about growing, foraging, and eating healthy food. There is no better example of this than in schools where they seek to educate children about the benefits of growing healthy food by establishing edible playgrounds.

Support given from these schools has enabled the charity to expand programmes and their corporate partners have provided funding to sustain momentum during the pandemic.

They plan to increase tree planting in urban areas to over 100,000 per year and make the most of enthusiasm of the next generation of conservationist by bringing edible playgrounds to more areas of the UK.

Source: Giving is Great

Mission:

Planting trees in urban areas to make them greener and healthier and educating children by providing edible playgrounds.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • This charity has been successful in attracting volunteers relative to its size
  • This charity is a recent Award Winner
  • There has been strong growth in spending over the last 5 years
  • There have been no material income shortfalls in recent years
  • Fundraising costs are low relative to funds raised
  • A significant proportion of recent income was derived from major grant makers including the Government
  • The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and gender and dynamic in terms of composition

How you can help

Established: 30 years

www.treesforcities.org

info@treesforcities.org

02075871320

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTube
UN SDGs
?

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?
Sources of Income ?
Y/E Income
£k
Spending
£k
Surplus/
Deficit
Fundraising
Cost £k
Total
Funds £k
Unrestricted
Funds £k
Mths
Rsrvs
Staff Volun-
teers
31/03/22£3,915£4,042£-127£348£1,413£1,0313.1483,457
31/03/21£2,790£3,423£-633£330£1,553£8493502,479
31/03/20£3,621£3,312£310£289£2,109£2,0247.3477,280
31/03/19£3,836£2,875£962£288£1,812£6472.74110,721
31/03/18£2,124£1,756£368£205£850£5293.6284,713
31/03/17£1,501£1,447£53£132£482£4733.9230
31/03/16£1,173£1,225£-53£121£429£4294.2190
31/03/15£1,141£1,132£9£183£481£4815.1190
31/03/14£1,335£1,328£7£184£473£4734.3210
31/03/13£1,404£1,491£-87£245£465£4653.7260
31/03/12£1,702£1,698£4£260£552£5523.9260
31/03/11£1,486£1,477£9£251£548£5484.5270
31/03/10£1,505£1,519£-15£268£539£5394.3240
31/03/09£1,736£1,679£56£264£559£5594250
31/03/08£1,607£1,586£21£106£503£5033.8180
31/03/07£1,336£1,230£106£156£482£4824.7180
31/03/06£966£924£42n/an/an/an/an/a0
31/03/05£946£892£54n/an/an/an/an/a0
31/03/04£996£912£84n/an/an/an/an/a0

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 9%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 8.7%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 4%
Liabilities/Assets: 59%
Liabilities/Income: 53%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 86%
Reserves/Spending: 3.0621884035524 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 3 months
Quick Ratio: 0.9
Asset Split ?
Comment: Trees for Cities have seen a doubling in corporate partners funding during the pandemic that allowed them to sustain programmes. Major partnerships have included Bulb, Clear Channel, npower and Tideway that have spanned multiple years.

Income growth was also aided by schools' contributions that have increased in line with their expanding Edible Playgrounds programme.

Source: Giving is Great

What it does
  • Economic/Community Development/Employment
  • Education/Training
  • Environment/Conservation/Heritage
  • The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Trees for Cities is an independent charity working with local communities on tree planting projects. Our aim is to tackle global warming, create social cohesion and beautify our cities through tree planting, community, education and training initiatives in urban areas of greatest need.
Who works here?
  • 48 employees
  • 3,457 volunteers
Who it helps
  • The General Public/Mankind
How it operates
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides buildings/facilities/open space
  • Provides services
Where it operates
  • Kenya, Rwanda, Throughout England,

Who's supporting them? ?

Awards received
  • Charity Awards 2021 Environment & Conservation
Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following significant donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years:
Greater London Authority£578,088
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs£418,222
DCMS£373,950
The National Lottery Community Fund£226,615
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation£150,000
The Dulverton Trust£115,000
Guy's and St Thomas' Charity£89,935
John Ellerman Foundation£75,000

Specific Donations

Amount When
Months
To be used for
John Ellerman Foundation
£75,000 28/09/2023
Core staff salaries within our charity, to include our Development, Marketing & Communications and Community Engagement teams.
Greater London Authority
£50,000 02/12/2022
This project will transform three primary school playgrounds in areas of high flood risk. The project will include new landscaping, planting trees and depaving grey areas to create raingardens and ....more
Greater London Authority
£20,000 02/12/2022
This project will create a woodland in Uxbridge. The project will plant 8,600 whips and 45 standard trees at Philpot’s Farm and Stonefield Park and provide community planting days and volunteering ....more
Greater London Authority
£320,000 28/09/2022
Trees for Streets offers Londoners the opportunity to select, sponsor and look after trees outside their homes. The Mayor will match fund 1,000 trees to plant in priority areas of boroughs where ....more
The EQ Foundation
£10,000 15/02/2022
Big Give Champion Pledge
Greater London Authority
£40,000 11/12/2021
Connecting children to nature in Newham
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
£271,136 04/11/2021
The UTCF provides funding for anyone who wants to plant trees in urban or peri-urban areas.
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
£250,000 16/07/2021
The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is a short-term competitive fund to kick-start environmental renewal whilst creating and retaining a range of jobs. It is open to environmental charities and their ....more
The Dulverton Trust
£10,000 09/06/2021
Planting Healthy Cities for Future Generations - Big Give Green Match Fund 2021
LUND TRUST
£73,320 02/04/2021
Towards trees for Cities international work planting trees with urban communities in East Africa.
City Bridge Trust
£2,600 22/02/2021
£2,600 (6.5 days) to provide an eco-audit
The EQ Foundation
£1,310 15/02/2021
Big Give Christmas Challenge 2020
DCMS
£123,950 11/11/2020
Green Recovery Challenge Fund 2020-21. The wider aim of the scheme is: The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is a short-term competitive fund to kick-start environmental renewal whilst creating and ....more
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£150,000 02/11/2020
24
Towards Project costs towards 6 tree-planting projects in 6 towns/cities across the four UK countries, within the Forgotton Places programme and as part of Esmee's 60th Birthday tree-planting ....more
Guy's and St Thomas' Charity
£32,800 21/06/2020
Planting healthy air - grange primary extension
City Bridge Trust
£50,000 11/06/2020
£50,000 to Trees for Cities to engage consultants to review the business plan, financials, consult and engage with councils and local London communities and website development, enabling the charity ....more
City Bridge Trust
£18,294 11/06/2020
£18,294.00 towards three months of costs as outlined in your application
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
£35,706 01/04/2020
To increase and help sustain community forest and woodland outreach activities being delivered to school children, particularly those in disadvantaged areas, to benefit their mental health & ....more
Guy's and St Thomas' Charity
£57,135 07/01/2020
Pilot to test the efficacy of changing the physical place in a school
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
£111,381 17/12/2019
Urban Tree Challenge Fund Urban Tree Challenge Fund Urban Tree Challenge FundUrban Tree Challenge FundUrban Tree Challenge Fund
Greater London Authority
£10,000 02/10/2019
Jolly's Green Community Tree Planting
Greater London Authority
£40,500 02/10/2019
Beckton District Park South Woodland Creation
Greater London Authority
£50,000 02/10/2019
Goodmayes Park Woodland Creation
Greater London Authority
£17,500 02/10/2019
Barley Lane Community Tree Planting
Greater London Authority
£18,088 23/09/2019
Community support programme
Greater London Authority
£2,000 13/03/2019
Contribution to the Lost Words project
Greater London Authority
£10,000 01/03/2019
Buzzin' A nature-based volunteering programme that will work with 2 cohorts of young people for 6 months each. Young people will be trained in bee keeping skills and will volunteer at the community ....more
The Dulverton Trust
£105,000 13/02/2019
Sustainable Green Futures
The National Lottery Community Fund
£226,615 01/02/2019
36
Big Green Estate Project
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
£4,300 02/10/2018
Restoring local tree heritage in Seven Kings Park for the community of Redbridge
Greater London Authority
£40,500 16/08/2018
Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority
£43,904 16/08/2018
Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority
£22,295 16/08/2018
Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority
£17,000 16/08/2018
Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority
£13,125 16/08/2018
Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority
£13,125 16/08/2018
Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority
£17,000 16/08/2018
Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority
£22,295 16/08/2018
Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority
£43,904 16/08/2018
Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority
£40,500 16/08/2018
Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority
£13,125 16/08/2018
Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority
£17,000 16/08/2018
Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority
£22,295 16/08/2018
Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority
£43,904 16/08/2018
Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority
£40,500 16/08/2018
Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority
£13,125 16/08/2018
Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority
£17,000 16/08/2018
Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority
£22,295 16/08/2018
Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority
£43,904 16/08/2018
Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority
£40,500 16/08/2018
Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority
£13,125 16/08/2018
Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority
£17,000 16/08/2018
Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority
£22,295 16/08/2018
Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority
£43,904 16/08/2018
Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority
£40,500 16/08/2018
Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority
£13,125 31/07/2018
Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority
£22,295 31/07/2018
Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority
£40,500 31/07/2018
Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority
£43,904 31/07/2018
Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority
£17,000 31/07/2018
Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority
£43,904 31/07/2018
Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority
£13,125 31/07/2018
Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority
£22,295 31/07/2018
Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority
£40,500 31/07/2018
Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority
£17,000 31/07/2018
Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority
£17,000 31/07/2018
Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority
£43,904 31/07/2018
Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority
£40,500 31/07/2018
Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority
£22,295 31/07/2018
Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority
£13,125 31/07/2018
Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority
£50,000 31/01/2018
Planting Healthy Air in Schools
Greater London Authority
£15,000 18/01/2018
St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority
£15,000 18/01/2018
St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority
£15,000 18/01/2018
St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority
£15,000 18/01/2018
St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority
£15,000 18/01/2018
St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority
£15,000 31/12/2017
St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority
£15,000 31/12/2017
St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority
£15,000 31/12/2017
St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority
£10,190 01/10/2017
Sutcliffe Park: Planting a Leafy Legacy
Greater London Authority
£15,000 01/10/2017
Isleworth Orchards
Greater London Authority
£15,000 01/10/2017
Loxford Park: Community Tree Planting
Greater London Authority
£15,000 01/10/2017
Racecourse Estate Greening Project
Greater London Authority
£25,000 01/10/2017
Horsenden Hill Working Woodland
Greater London Authority
£10,190 01/10/2017
Sutcliffe Park: Planting a Leafy Legacy
Greater London Authority
£15,000 01/10/2017
Isleworth Orchards
Greater London Authority
£15,000 01/10/2017
Loxford Park: Community Tree Planting
Greater London Authority
£15,000 01/10/2017
Racecourse Estate Greening Project
Greater London Authority
£25,000 01/10/2017
Horsenden Hill Working Woodland
Greater London Authority
£10,190 01/10/2017
Sutcliffe Park: Planting a Leafy Legacy
Greater London Authority
£15,000 01/10/2017
Isleworth Orchards
Greater London Authority
£15,000 01/10/2017
Loxford Park: Community Tree Planting
Greater London Authority
£15,000 01/10/2017
Racecourse Estate Greening Project
Greater London Authority
£25,000 01/10/2017
Horsenden Hill Working Woodland
Greater London Authority
£15,000 30/09/2017
Isleworth Orchards
Greater London Authority
£15,000 30/09/2017
Racecourse Estate Greening Project
Greater London Authority
£10,190 30/09/2017
Sutcliffe Park: Planting a Leafy Legacy
Greater London Authority
£25,000 30/09/2017
Horsenden Hill Working Woodland
Greater London Authority
£15,000 30/09/2017
Loxford Park: Community Tree Planting
Greater London Authority
£10,190 30/09/2017
Sutcliffe Park: Planting a Leafy Legacy
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How do they operate?

Urban Tree Planting

Objectives: To create high quality green spaces in the more socially and environmentally deprived parts of cities and towns

Intervention period: Ongoing

Beneficiaries: General public

Description: Trees for Cities work with local organisations and community groups to focus their tree planting projects on delivering long-term, practical solutions to green polluted city environments and provide local people with the skills and ability to secure sustainable livelihoods. Their tree-planting efforts have not only positively affected communities in London but have far reach to 13 other countries including Ica in Peru, Nairobi in Kenya and Pokhara in Nepal.

Edible Playgrounds

Objectives: To give all children the opportunity to plant and learn about trees

Intervention period: Ongoing

Beneficiaries: School Children

Description: Edible Playgrounds offer a lively, engaging, multi-sensory way to teach children about growing and eating healthy food. Aside from the physical health benefits that eating well brings, learning in an outdoor environment combats Nature Deficit Disorder and has been shown to increase mental health by boosting mood, confidence and self-esteem. Furthermore, allowing the children to connect with nature develops attentiveness and self-reliance in the pupils, leading to more sustainable behaviours in the long term.

Comment: Trees will be maintained by the charity for up to 2-3 years after planting before handing them over to the landowners (normally the local council) to nurture.

Source: Giving is Great

How effective are they?
Main mission: Planting trees in urban areas to make them greener and healthier and educating children by providing edible playgrounds.
Outputs
Outcomes
Y/ETrees planted
31/03/2021167,174
31/03/202099,302
Y/EEdible playgrounds builtSchool children engaged
31/03/20212628,343
31/03/20204116,456
See what you could achieve with a donation of: £
Documents

Who works here?

  • DAVID ELLIOTT
    CEO
    Appointed: January 2016
David has worked in the non-profit sector for a number of international organisations, prior to which he was a management consultant for Accenture. He is a Commissioner for the London Sustainable Development Commission, a Trustee for the African Conservation Foundation and a previous Trustee for the International Tree Foundation. He holds BSc degrees in Biological Sciences from Edinburgh University and Politics and International Relations from ....more
  • KATE SHELDON
    Development Director/ Deputy Chief Executive
    Appointed: August 2004
Kate is responsible for developing the organisation’s work programmes. Her team works closely with landowners and partners, and raises funds from trusts, foundations and the lottery. She is a Trustee for Bankside Open Space Trust (BOST) and holds an MPhil in Restoration of Landfill Sites, an MSc (distinction) in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture from Reading University, and a BSc in Biology with Italian from Manchester University.
  • RORY FIELD
    Corporate Partnerships Director
    Appointed: July 2015
Rory and his team lead on identifying, building and managing mutually beneficial partnerships with corporate partners and he has worked in senior roles within the charity sector for 18 years. He has served on regional, national and international disability sport governance bodies for 20 years and has B COM degrees in Business Management and Sport Management.
  • SUZANNE SIMMONS
    Projects Director
    Appointed: August 2018
Suzanne is responsible for ensuring Trees for Cities’ projects are delivered to the highest standards, on time and to funders’ and end users’ expectations. Her team covers the full range of Trees for Cities’ services that include community/volunteer consultation and engagement, landscape design and build, and the design and delivery of our urban forest initiatives. She joined the team from the Construction Industry Research and ....more

How is it governed?

Trustees (8)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split

Age Range of Trustees: 39-69
  • JANINE CAPON (Chair)
    Appointed: 2015
    Occupation: Executive Coach
Janine is an experienced Board Advisor and CEO, and a specialist in business strategy, marketing and international brand building. She was previously Global CEO of WPP’s marketing consultancy Added Value, and now works as a NED, advisor and mentor with a variety of enterprising individuals and businesses. She has worked with Trees for Cities for....more
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 27/01/1994, number: 1032154
  • Registered at Companies House on 24/11/1993, number: 02874642
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Policies in force
  • Complaints handling
  • Conflicting interests
  • Investment
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Volunteer management
Main office

TREES FOR CITIES
PRINCE CONSORT LODGE
KENNINGTON PARK PLACE
LONDON
SE11 4AS

Objectives

To advance the education of the public in the appreciation of trees and nature, particularly with regard to their social and environmental value by the planting, protection and promotion of trees and green spaces everywhere and in particular in towns and cities

Defined Area of Benefit: NOT DEFINED

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving
CharityBase

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