Overall GiG Score: 24 based on 19 data points
Finance: 2
Governance: 9
Support: 13
Poor Liquidity: -1, Accounts overdue, Fundraising costs low: +3, Future income +5,
Good trustee age range: +3, Dynamic board: +3, Gender balanced board: +3,
Supporters: +13

ASHDEN CLIMATE SOLUTIONS 

Overview

Ashden accelerate transformative climate solutions by elevating organisations and projects that boost green innovations and build a more sustainable society.

Their annual Ashden Awards are the catalyst for pioneering interventions and drive progress towards green skills and livelihoods. Dedication of several corporate and charitable trusts to their awards has given them credibility and solidified their offer in establishing new green solutions. This is aided by their ability to elevate organisations post-award from connections they have with new investors, local and region authorities, and schools.

They have aided hundreds of innovators in gaining new recognition already and helped them implement solutions with over £100,000 awarded annually and thousands more leveraged post award.

Source: Giving is Great

Mission:

To accelerate transformative climate solutions and build a more just world
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • The charity has received backing from several prominent grant makers recently and there are significant future grants due to be received
  • There have been no material income shortfalls in recent years
  • Fundraising costs are low relative to funds raised
  • The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and gender and dynamic in terms of composition

Financial issues to consider:

  • Liquidity appears to have been slender at the latest year end
  • There has been a change of accounting period recently, so trends may be hard to determine
  • Latest accounts are overdue for filing
Established: 20 years

www.ashden.org

info@ashden.org

02074100330

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
31/12/21£2,073£2,058£15£187£608£2251.3280
31/12/20?£3,139£2,930£209£463£597£1370.6260
31/08/19£1,900£2,228£-328£195£413£4132.2240
31/08/18£2,985£2,193£792£184£742£5833.2320
31/08/17£2,216£2,236£-20£180£3£30310
31/08/16£1,922£1,958£-35£158£22£0n/a210
31/08/15£1,725£1,738£-13£135£58£0n/a130
31/08/14£1,526£1,495£31£105£71£310.2120
31/08/13£1,548£1,510£38£63£40£170.1110
31/08/12£1,419£1,435£-16£72£1£-12-0.190
31/08/11£1,215£1,274£-59£48£17£-6-0.180
31/08/10£1,287£1,241£46£38£77£750.760
31/08/09£1,277£1,232£45£51£31£1050
31/08/08£1,151£1,140£11£5£-14£-15-0.240
31/08/07£898£925£-28£4£-25£-25-0.330
31/08/06?£775£736£38n/an/an/an/an/a0
05/04/05£704£452£252n/an/an/an/an/a0
Show more rows -->

Download accounts
Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 9.8%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 9.1%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 17%
Highest pay band: £90,000-£100,000
Liabilities/Assets: 31%
Liabilities/Income: 13%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 37%
Reserves/Spending: 1.3 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 3 months
Quick Ratio: 3
Asset Split ?
What it does
  • Economic/Community Development/Employment
  • Education/Training
  • Environment/Conservation/Heritage
  • The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
  • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
To contribute to the protection of the environment, the advancement of education and relief of poverty for the public benefit in developing countries, UK and elsewhere, by promoting the use of local sustainable and renewable energy sources.
Who works here?
  • 28 employees
Who it helps
  • The General Public/Mankind
How it operates
  • Acts as an umbrella or resource body
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides other finance
  • Sponsors or undertakes research
Where it operates
  • Costa Rica, India, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, Tanzania, Throughout England,

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
LUND TRUST£295,000
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation£258,300
Garfield Weston Foundation£240,000
John Ellerman Foundation£211,474
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust£120,000
JAC Trust£60,000
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months		 To be used for
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£8,300 06/02/2023
Towards unrestricted core costs as a Cost of Living Uplift
John Ellerman Foundation
£90,000 26/01/2023
Core operating costs of the Sustainable Towns and Cities programme
LUND TRUST
£270,000 16/01/2023
Towards the costs of a new award for climate adaptation solutions co-developed and co-managed by communities in the UK.
OVO Foundation
£346,369 28/11/2022
This grant will support the expansion of the Let's Go Zero schools campaign and the creation of a 'Nature Prize' where schools have the chance to win a small cash prize to implement a nature project, ....more
JAC Trust
£60,000 08/06/2022
Towards the costs of the Ashden Award for Energising Refugee Livelihoods
Barrow Cadbury Trust
£20,000 01/06/2022
To fund a Summit and associated activities to stimulate and coordinate public engagement in activites to mitigate climate change.
John Ellerman Foundation
£20,000 26/05/2022
Grant to Ashden
LUND TRUST
£25,000 15/12/2021
To support core costs and the Ashden Awards for sustainable energy projects
Garfield Weston Foundation
£80,000 24/09/2021
UK Green Skills Award
Garfield Weston Foundation
£80,000 11/09/2020
UK Green Skills Award
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
£120,000 10/07/2020
36
Liveable Cities Programme
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£250,000 13/02/2020
36
Towards core costs to support an award recognising exemplary citizen engagement in climate issues and for work with the North of Tyne Combined Authority, demonstrating how climate policy can deliver ....more
John Ellerman Foundation
£101,474 30/09/2019
24
Salary of a Liveable Cities team member to coordinate the Just Transition project
Garfield Weston Foundation
£80,000 04/09/2019
UK Sustainable Building Awards
The Bromley Trust
£20,000 23/07/2019
12
Ashden reward and promote excellent local sustainable energy solutions in the UK and the developing world. This is a one year grant restricted to the Liveable Cities Programme in the UK.
The Bromley Trust
£20,000 01/08/2018
12
Ashden reward and promote excellent local sustainable energy solutions in the UK and the developing world. This is a one year grant restricted to the UK Ashden Awards Programme.
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£40,000 14/05/2018
12
Towards the Ashden Award for UK market disruptors 2018 with a focus on innovation to improve renewable energy systems.
Wates Family Enterprise Trust
£15,000 26/04/2018
To support Ashden's LESS CO2 programme, supporting participating schools with reducing energy use and building sustainable energy more effectively into their running and teaching.
The Bromley Trust
£20,000 01/11/2017
12
Ashden reward and promote excellent local sustainable energy solutions in the UK and the developing world. This is a one year grant restricted to the UK Ashden Awards Programme.
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£10,000 24/04/2017
12
Towards sponsorship of the 2017 Ashden Award for Clean Air in Towns and Cities.
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£130,000 21/12/2016
36
Towards core costs to enable the organisation to scale up its work on renewable energy in UK cities, towns and regions and towards the sponsorship of the 2017 Ashden Award for Clean Air in Towns and ....more
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£40,000 14/12/2015
12
Towards the Ashden Award for Sustainable Communities 2016 which recognises and promotes community initiatives that show innovation and potential for replication in locally-generated and owned ....more
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£40,000 20/04/2015
12
Towards the Ashden Award for Sustainable Communities 2015 which recognises and promotes community initiatives that show innovation and potential for replication in locally-generated and owned ....more
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£25,000 08/11/2011
Towards a network of 'Ashden Alumni' and a series of five seminars involving award winners and Esmée Fairbairn grantees.
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£50,000 17/12/2008
12
Towards Project costs Towards research costs into sustainable local energy generation.
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How do they operate?

Sustainable Schools

Objectives: To help schools lead the UK's low-carbon transformation through campaigns and practical support

Location: UK

Description: Ashden's LESSCO2 sustainable schools campaign is a free energy efficiency programme, available to any school in the UK that wants to mitigate its impact on climate change and save money, while teaching students the impact of energy use on the environment. Through a series of half day workshops spread through the year, peer mentoring, expert advice and resources, staff are empowered and equipped to make changes and improvements to their school to reduce their energy usage, save money on bills and lower their CO2 emissions.

Ashden leads Lets Go Zero, a national campaign uniting UK schools working to cut their carbon emissions to zero by 2030. Every school that joins

....more
Ashden Awards

Objectives: To accelerate transformative climate solutions and support climate innovation in the UK and developing countries

Location: Worldwide

Description: The Ashden Awards are given to climate solutions focused on initiatives reaching the most vulnerable people in the UK or in the least developed parts of the world. They support solutions directly with cash grants and opportunities including links to investors, service providers, policy makers and potential customers. They also raise their profile within and outside the climate sector, and use their stories to inspire change. Awards have previously helped people across the globe access light, cleaner cooking, improved communications, and better livelihoods and health. In the UK, they have supported solutions tackling fuel poverty and air quality, and helped to create sustainable schools.

Fair Cooling Fund

Objectives: To bring affordable, sustainable cooling innovations to those at greatest risk from higher temperatures

Location: Worldwide

Description: The Fair Cooling Fund (supported by KCEP) selects Ashden Award winners and finalists who have developed initiatives bringing affordable, sustainable cooling to those at greatest risk from higher temperatures. Innovations have included new products and payment systems for marginalised farmers to the support for cooler housing in low income communities and these have stretched across Asia, Africa and Latin America. Those businesses and academia involved will co-develop new initiatives that will widen access to cooling and grants will allow them to turn their plans into reality. As their projects are enacted, they will also benefit from a communications campaign that will boost global awareness of

....more
Sustainable Towns and Cities

Objectives: To help UK local authorities collaborate and implement sustainable solutions

Location: UK

Description: Ashden are bringing local authorities together to share best practice, highlight opportunities, and create connections and partnerships. They are helping to build strong networks and have created a host of programmes and projects linking councils, climate innovators and local communities. Demand for ‘shovel-ready’ sustainability projects is greater than ever and their networks connect policy makers and funders with inspiring examples of proven success, boosting knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

International Climate Solutions

Objectives: To support innovation in the world’s most marginalised communities

Location: Worldwide

Description: The International Climate Solutions programme prioritises supporting frontline enterprises alongside partner organisations. They co-host donor summits to stimulate investment, run investor pitching events that help Ashden Award winners seek support and share their learning and insights via webinars and reports. Their linking of enterprises to investors gives solutions the space to grow and thrive.

Who works here?

  • HARRIET LAMB
    CEO
    Appointed: May 2019
Harriet was CEO at peacebuilding organisation International Alert and spent 15 years leading Fairtrade in the UK and globally. She has always worked for NGOs with a focus on international development, peace and the environment. She also worked in the UK on refugee and low pay issues, and lived in India for six years. Her book Fighting the Banana Wars and Other Fairtrade Battles was published in 2008.
  • JOANNA WALTON
    Director of Communications and People
    Appointed: 2005
Jo is a member of the Executive Management team with particular responsibility for HR. In her time at Ashden she has overseen the smooth delivery of 15 Ashden Awards ceremonies with speakers including former US Vice President Al Gore, Sir David Attenborough and Ashden’s Patron HRH The Prince of Wales.
  • EDWARD DEAN
    Director of Business Development
    Appointed: December 2013
Ed leads on building the funding partnerships Ashden needs to deliver its mission and create impact.
  • GILES BRISTOW
    Director of Programmes
    Appointed: April 2017
Giles leads work with local authorities transforming the UK’s towns and cities, directs a campaign to decarbonise the UK’s 32,770 schools (and further FE and HE colleges), and Ashden's work with enterprises, NGOs and policy makers to accelerate the delivery of universal access to sustainable energy in the developing world. Before working with Ashden, he was Director of Programmes at Forum for the Future with responsibility for its systems ....more
  • LUCY BLACKBURN
    Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer
    Appointed: September 2017
Lucy is responsible for the stewardship of Ashden’s corporate partners and fostering new relationships, both in the UK and internationally. At its heart this means the development of partnerships that are mutually beneficial and based on a shared commitment to sustainability.

How is it governed?

Trustees (11)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split

Age Range of Trustees: 35-69
  • NICK MABEY Appointed: 2017, Occupation: Company Director
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 04/06/2004, number: 1104153
  • Registered at Companies House on 03/03/2004, number: 05062574
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Policies in force
  • Complaints handling
  • Conflicting interests
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Main office

THE PEAK
5 WILTON ROAD
LONDON
SW1V 1AP

Objectives

1. THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND WORLDWIDE IN RELATION TO SUSTAINABLE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL ISSUES; AND2. TO RELIEVE POVERTY AND TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH BY PROMOTING THE USE OF SUSTAINABLE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND WORLDWIDE.

Defined Area of Benefit: NATIONAL AND OVERSEAS

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving
CharityBase

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