Finance Score: 1

Governance Score: 9

Support Score: 17

Low unrestricted reserves: -2
Strong growth: +2
Multiple Deficits: -2
Fundraising costs low: +3

Good trustee age range: +3
Dynamic board: +3
Gender balanced board: +3

Large volunteers +5
Award winner
Grant maker support: +12

Overall GiG Score: 27

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 very 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
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

Financial issues to consider:

Unrestricted reserves appear to be dangerously low at the latest year end
On several occasions in recent years income has been less than spending

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
31/03/23		£6,648	£6,212	£436	£457	£1,838	£1,351	2.6	58	8,716
31/03/22		£3,915	£4,042	£-127	£348	£1,413	£1,209	3.6	48	3,457
31/03/21		£2,790	£3,423	£-633	£330	£1,553	£1,328	4.7	50	2,479
31/03/20		£3,621	£3,312	£310	£289	£2,109	£2,024	7.3	47	7,280
31/03/19		£3,836	£2,875	£962	£288	£1,812	£1,707	7.1	41	10,721
31/03/18		£2,124	£1,756	£368	£205	£850	£827	5.7	28	0
31/03/17		£1,501	£1,447	£53	£132	£482	£482	4	23	0
31/03/16		£1,173	£1,225	£-53	£121	£429	£429	4.2	19	0
31/03/15		£1,141	£1,132	£9	£183	£481	£481	5.1	19	0
31/03/14		£1,335	£1,328	£7	£184	£473	£473	4.3	21	0
31/03/13	*	£1,404	£1,491	£-87	£245	£465	£465	3.7	26	0
31/03/12		£1,702	£1,698	£4	£260	£552	£552	3.9	26	0
31/03/11		£1,486	£1,477	£9	£251	£548	£548	4.5	27	0
31/03/10	*	£1,505	£1,519	£-15	£268	£539	£538	4.3	24	0
31/03/09	*	£1,736	£1,679	£56	£264	£559	£559	4	25	0
31/03/08	*	£1,607	£1,586	£21	£106	£503	£488	3.7	18	0
31/03/07	*	£1,336	£1,230	£106	£156	£482	£468	4.6	18	0
31/03/06		£966	£924	£42	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/05	*	£946	£892	£54	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/04	*	£996	£912	£84	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0

Show more rows -->

Show financials table -->

Download accounts

Financial Ratios

Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 6.9%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 7.4%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 6%
Highest pay band: £80,000-£90,000
Liabilities/Assets: 62%
Liabilities/Income: 44%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 74%
Reserves/Spending: 2.6 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 3 months
Quick Ratio: 0.7

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

Established: 30 years

www.treesforcities.org

info@treesforcities.org

02075871320

Charity Commission for England and Wales

Tweets

How you can help

What it does

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.

Listed activities

Economic/Community Development/Employment
Education/Training
Environment/Conservation/Heritage
The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives

GiG Classification

Environment conservation & animal welfare advocacy

How it operates

Provides advocacy/advice/information
Provides buildings/facilities/open space
Provides services

Where it operates

Kenya, Rwanda, Throughout England,

Who it helps

The General Public/Mankind

Who works here?

58 employees
8,716 volunteers

Who's supporting them? ?

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

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	£1,049,115
Greater London Authority	£886,088
DCMS	£373,950
Esmee Fairbairn	£150,000
Guy's and St Thomas' Charity	£89,935
John Ellerman Foundation	£75,000
LUND TRUST	£73,320
City Bridge Trust	£70,894

Specific Donations

Amount	When Months	To be used for
John Ellerman Foundation - Core staff salaries within our charity, to include our Development, Marketing & Communications and Community Engagement teams.
£75,000	28/09/2023	Core staff salaries within our charity, to include our Development, Marketing & Communications and Community Engagement teams.
Greater London Authority - Lewisham SuDS for Schools
£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 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 outdoor classrooms. It will also support 145 teachers through on the ground training.
Greater London Authority - Community Tree Planting at Philpot’s Farm Open Space
£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 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 opportunities.
Greater London Authority - Trees for Streets
£320,000	30/09/2022	For every tree sponsored by a resident or local business in a participating Borough, the Mayor sponsored one further tree in a priority area (up to a total of 1000 trees).
Greater London Authority - Trees for Streets
£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 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 trees have been sponsored. In addition the Mayor will support the first year fee for councils wishing to join the Trees for Streets programme to help encourage Londoners and businesses to sponsor and look after trees
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - UTCF-09-19-20
£99,156	01/04/2022	The UTCF provides funding for anyone who wants to plant trees in urban or peri-urban areas.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - UTCF-657009-22-23
£224,211	01/04/2022	The UTCF provides funding for anyone who wants to plant trees in urban or peri-urban areas.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - UTCF-04-21-22
£307,525	01/04/2022	The UTCF provides funding for anyone who wants to plant trees in urban or peri-urban areas.
The EQ Foundation - Grant to TREES FOR CITIES
£10,000	15/02/2022	Big Give Champion Pledge
Greater London Authority - Trees for Cities
£40,000	11/12/2021	Connecting children to nature in Newham
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Trees for Cities
£271,136	04/11/2021	The UTCF provides funding for anyone who wants to plant trees in urban or peri-urban areas.
DCMS - GRCF2021: Forgotten Places: increasing canopy cover in deprived urban areas
£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 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 partners to deliver projects in England.The aim of the fund is to support projects that are ready to deliver and focus on nature restoration, nature-based solutions and connecting people with nature, delivering against the goals of the Governments 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP), whilst helping to sustain and build capacity in the sector.
Dulverton Trust - Planting Healthy Cities for Future Generations - Big Give Green Match Fund 2021
£10,000	09/06/2021	Planting Healthy Cities for Future Generations - Big Give Green Match Fund 2021
LUND TRUST - Towards trees for Cities international work.
£73,320	02/04/2021	Towards trees for Cities international work planting trees with urban communities in East Africa.
City Bridge Trust - Eco audit to Trees for Cities
£2,600	22/02/2021	£2,600 (6.5 days) to provide an eco-audit
The EQ Foundation - Grant to Trees for Cities
£1,310	15/02/2021	Big Give Christmas Challenge 2020
DCMS - GRCF2020: Trees for Streets - a NEW national street tree sponsorship scheme
£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 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 retaining a range of jobs. It is open to environmental charities and their partners to deliver projects in England.The aim of the fund is to support projects that are ready to deliver and focus on nature restoration, nature-based solutions and connecting people with nature, delivering against the goals of the Governments 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP), whilst helping to sustain and build capacity in the sector.
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Trees for Cities (TfC)
£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 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 initiative
Guy's and St Thomas' Charity - planting healthy air
£32,800	21/06/2020	Planting healthy air - grange primary extension
City Bridge Trust - Grant to Trees for Cities
£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 £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 to apply for social investment.
City Bridge Trust - Grant to Trees for Cities
£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 - ALB-Natural England-Grant for Community Forest and Woodland Outreach Project
£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 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 & wellbeing, engagement with school and other programme outcomes. Objective 1: To increase community forest and woodland outreach with schools in areas of disadvantage and/or special schools and/or APIs. Objective 2: To increase community forest and woodland outreach in ways that are designed specifically to help sustain the use of community forest and woodlands by schools/special schools/APIs beyond the end of the project. Objective 3: To gather evidence to complete project monitoring and reporting, and support evaluation.
Guy's and St Thomas' Charity - Pilot playground design
£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 - Urban Tree Challenge Fund - Trees for Cities
£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 - Grant to Trees for Cities
£10,000	02/10/2019	Jolly's Green Community Tree Planting
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£40,500	02/10/2019	Beckton District Park South Woodland Creation
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£50,000	02/10/2019	Goodmayes Park Woodland Creation
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£17,500	02/10/2019	Barley Lane Community Tree Planting
Greater London Authority - Trees for Cities
£18,088	23/09/2019	Community support programme
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£2,000	13/03/2019	Contribution to the Lost Words project
Greater London Authority - Grant to St Mary's Secret Garden
£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 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 garden. Participants will develop entrepreneurial skills, making beauty and wellbeing products to sell at local markets e.g scented candles and lip balms.
Dulverton Trust - Sustainable Green Futures
£105,000	13/02/2019	Sustainable Green Futures
National Lottery Community Fund - Big Green Estate Project
£226,615	01/02/2019 36	Big Green Estate Project
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Trees for Cities
£4,300	02/10/2018	Restoring local tree heritage in Seven Kings Park for the community of Redbridge
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£40,500	16/08/2018	Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£43,904	16/08/2018	Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£22,295	16/08/2018	Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£17,000	16/08/2018	Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£13,125	16/08/2018	Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£13,125	16/08/2018	Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£17,000	16/08/2018	Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£22,295	16/08/2018	Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£43,904	16/08/2018	Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£40,500	16/08/2018	Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£13,125	16/08/2018	Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£17,000	16/08/2018	Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£22,295	16/08/2018	Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£43,904	16/08/2018	Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£40,500	16/08/2018	Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£13,125	16/08/2018	Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£17,000	16/08/2018	Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£22,295	16/08/2018	Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£43,904	16/08/2018	Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£40,500	16/08/2018	Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£13,125	16/08/2018	Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£17,000	16/08/2018	Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£22,295	16/08/2018	Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£43,904	16/08/2018	Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£40,500	16/08/2018	Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£13,125	31/07/2018	Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£22,295	31/07/2018	Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£40,500	31/07/2018	Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£43,904	31/07/2018	Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£17,000	31/07/2018	Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£43,904	31/07/2018	Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£13,125	31/07/2018	Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£22,295	31/07/2018	Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£40,500	31/07/2018	Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£17,000	31/07/2018	Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£17,000	31/07/2018	Montagu Whip Planting Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£43,904	31/07/2018	Big Green Estate Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£40,500	31/07/2018	Forest Road Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£22,295	31/07/2018	Seven Kings Park
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£13,125	31/07/2018	Beckenham Place Park Community Edible Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£50,000	31/01/2018	Planting Healthy Air in Schools
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	18/01/2018	St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	18/01/2018	St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	18/01/2018	St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	18/01/2018	St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	18/01/2018	St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	31/12/2017	St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	31/12/2017	St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	31/12/2017	St Patrick's Edible Playground
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£10,190	01/10/2017	Sutcliffe Park: Planting a Leafy Legacy
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	01/10/2017	Isleworth Orchards
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	01/10/2017	Loxford Park: Community Tree Planting
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	01/10/2017	Racecourse Estate Greening Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£25,000	01/10/2017	Horsenden Hill Working Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£10,190	01/10/2017	Sutcliffe Park: Planting a Leafy Legacy
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	01/10/2017	Isleworth Orchards
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	01/10/2017	Loxford Park: Community Tree Planting
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	01/10/2017	Racecourse Estate Greening Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£25,000	01/10/2017	Horsenden Hill Working Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£10,190	01/10/2017	Sutcliffe Park: Planting a Leafy Legacy
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	01/10/2017	Isleworth Orchards
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	01/10/2017	Loxford Park: Community Tree Planting
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	01/10/2017	Racecourse Estate Greening Project
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£25,000	01/10/2017	Horsenden Hill Working Woodland
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	30/09/2017	Isleworth Orchards
Greater London Authority - Grant to Trees for Cities
£15,000	30/09/2017	Racecourse Estate Greening Project

Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (9)

Current Trustees appointed

Gender Split

Age Range of Trustees: 39-69

ALEXANDER WILLIAM MACGILLIVRAY Appointed: 2021 Occupation: Director

BELLA BARDSWELL Appointed: 2022 Occupation: It Consultant / Founder

JULIA ANN THRIFT Appointed: 2021 Occupation: Director

MANDIP SINGH HAYER Appointed: 2024 Occupation: Executive Director Of People & Org. Development

BRYAN MILLER Appointed: 2017 Occupation: Marketing Strategist

DAVID MARK WOODBINE Appointed: 2020 Occupation: Chartered Accountant

STEVEN WILLIAM WORKMAN Appointed: 2017 Occupation: Consultant/Phd Student

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

PROFESSOR SELENA GRAY Appointed: 2017 Occupation: Academic/Doctor, Other trusteeship: AVON GARDENS TRUST,

Legal constitution

Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 27/01/1994, number: 1032154
Registered at Companies House on 24/11/1993, number: 02874642

Gift Aid

Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid

Policies in force

Complaints handling
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Social media policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Filing Record

20 returns made; AR13: 35 days late, AR10: 25 days late, AR09: 80 days late, AR08: 1 days late, AR07: 2 days late, AR05: 1 days late, AR04: 53 days late,

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