Finance Score: -9
Governance Score: 1
Support Score: 11
  • Poor Liquidity: -1
  • Pension deficit: -1
  • Multiple Deficits: -2
  • Fundraising costs high: -5
  • Narrow trustee age band: -2
  • Gender balanced board: +3
  • Overall weighted support: +11
Overall GiG Score: 3 ?

CANAL & RIVER TRUST

Canal & River Trust is the charitable operator and guardian of 2,000 miles of historic waterways across England and Wales. In addition to caring for the waterways so that they are available for the public to enjoy, the Trust maintains the nations' third largest collection of listed heritage structures, as well as museums, archives, and hundreds of important wildlife sites.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • Spending has increased over the last 3 years relative to the previous period
  • 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 gender

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

  • The Board has little diversity in terms of age

Financial issues to consider:

  • Liquidity appears to have been slender at the latest year end
  • There is a pension deficit of £33,600,000
  • On several occasions in recent years income has been less than spending
  • Fundraising costs are extremely high relative to funds raised

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?
Sources of Income ?
Y/E Income
£k
Spending
£k
Surplus/
Deficit £k
Fundraising
Cost £k
Total
Funds £k
Unrestricted
Funds £k
Mths
Rsrvs
Staff Volun-
teers
31/03/23£225,100£247,900£-22,800£29,500£875,200£3,4000.21,8104,306
31/03/22£214,600£221,800£-7,200£28,200£1,042,300£10,7000.61,7293,748
31/03/21£215,400£221,300£-5,900£26,700£881,700£19,30011,5902,204
31/03/20£216,100£232,800£-16,700£29,000£876,100£26,8001.41,6093,606
31/03/19£210,000£201,000£9,000£35,900£845,300£53,7003.21,6543,551
31/03/18£204,900£198,200£6,700£25,400£791,200£44,9002.71,6980
31/03/17£202,900£198,100£4,800£24,800£721,100£43,3002.61,6890
31/03/16£189,700£187,900£1,800£23,400£734,700£31,90021,6600
31/03/15£193,300£172,600£20,700£21,800£660,000£31,7002.21,6040
31/03/14£164,600£156,700£7,900£21,200£595,800£21,2001.61,5550
31/03/13£150,400£126,200£24,200£17,500£560,000£20,60021,5120

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 50.3%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 16.7%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 4%
Highest pay band: £200,000-£250,000
Liabilities/Assets: 23%
Liabilities/Income: 124%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 0%
Reserves/Spending: 0.2 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 2 months
Quick Ratio: 0.4
Asset Split ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 13 years

www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

customer.services@canalrivertrust.org.uk

0303 040 4040

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseFacebookInstagramX
UN SDGs
?
Listed activities
  • Arts/Culture/Heritage/Science
  • Economic/Community Development/Employment
  • Education/Training
  • Environment/Conservation/Heritage
  • Other Charitable Purposes
  • Recreation
GiG Classification
  • Museums, parks, historical sites
How it operates
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides buildings/facilities/open space
Where it operates
  • Throughout England And Wales,
Who it helps
  • The General Public/Mankind

Who supports them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

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

Major supporters in last 5 years
Postcode Earth Trust£5,100,000
DCMS£1,795,066
National Lottery Heritage Fund£1,004,414
Sport England£327,084
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£362,691 07/09/2023
Ellesmere Yard - Forging Ahead
Postcode Earth Trust - Regular Grant 2023
£2,600,000 07/02/2023
Regular unrestricted award
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£574,123 28/11/2022
Engineering the Future
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal and River Trust
£61,200 07/07/2022
Camlas Abertawe 225 / Swansea Canal 225
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - PGW 0896-CF1895-Tees Barrage 2223
£13,920 01/04/2022
Partnership Grants for England (PG) is a payment mechanism enabling us to provide capital and revenue grants to third sector organisations for projects which protect and enhance the water environment
Sport England - COVID-19 Tackling Inequalities Fund
£167,116 01/03/2022
Funding under Sport England's COVID-19 Together Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled COVID-19 Tackling Inequalities Fund. This project lists its main activity as Sport participation and capacity building.
DCMS - ALB-Sport England-COVID-19 Tackling Inequalities Fund
£167,116 01/03/2022
Funding under Sport England's COVID-19 Together Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled COVID-19 Tackling Inequalities Fund. This project lists its main activity as Sport participation and capacity building.
Postcode Earth Trust - Regular Grant 2022
£2,500,000 10/02/2022
Regular unrestricted award
Greater London Authority - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£55,000 11/12/2021
Water quality nature solutions project - Brent Reservoir
National Lottery Community Fund - Homegrown Homespun
£142,700 04/10/2021
The project’s aim is to create a community-driven regenerative textile ecosystem which would enable the community to become aware of the fashion and fabric choices they make and give them an opportunity to make different choices. The project will ....more
Sport England - TGC CF Let's Paddle
£9,968 19/07/2021
12
This project will provide a paddleboarding programme to 100 inactive women and girls 16+ through 12 sessions between June and October.
Sport England - Active Ageing Cheshire Canals
£10,000 17/12/2020
51
Funding under Sport England's Active Ageing funding programme for a Revenue project titled Active Ageing Cheshire Canals. This project is a Multi-Skill Coaching project, with a focus on older beneficiaries.
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal and River Trust
£6,400 12/11/2020
#15Step by Step Canal Heritage (Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal)
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - RTP0015-CF1084 - Nob End
£8,267 02/10/2020
The purpose of the funding is to deliver tree planting in England in 2020/21, contributing towards national efforts to increase tree planting across the UK to 30,000 hectares per year by 2025
Sport England - COVID-19 Tackling Inequalities Fund
£140,000 04/08/2020
3
Funding under Sport England's COVID-19 Tackling Inequalities Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled COVID-19 Tackling Inequalities Fund. This project lists its main activity as Sport participation and capacity building
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - PGW0535-CF967 - Tees Barrage
£16,475 01/04/2020
Partnership Grants for England (PG) is a payment mechanism enabling us to provide capital and revenue grants to third sector organisations for projects which protect and enhance the water environment
DCMS - Creative People and Places Loneliness Projects
£31,000 01/04/2020
We are the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Lets Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and ....more
DCMS - ALB-Historic England-Canal & River Trust
£1,596,950 01/04/2020
The Canal & River Trust is the guardian of a remarkable historic network of waterways and related heritage assets and buildings as well as operating two national waterways museums. We also look after 75 reservoirs, which are among the most ....more
Quartet Community Foundation - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£3,500 05/09/2019
Grant to Canal & River Trust
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£71,000 25/07/2019
Trainer: Fashion Football Faith
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£10,000 29/03/2019
Enfield History Detectives
Sport England - Active Ageing Cheshire Canals
£191,280 07/01/2019
51
Funding under Sport England's Active Ageing Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled Active Ageing Cheshire Canals. This project is a Multi-Skill Coaching project, with a focus on older beneficiaries.
Co-Op Foundation - Youth Community Spaces offer
£10,000 20/12/2018
Creating a space outdoors that is currently underused land they own, and planning activity other organisations can deliver there
Sport England - Towpath Trail Improvements
£126,000 13/11/2018
20
Funding under Sport England's Community Asset Fund funding programme for a Capital project titled Towpath Trail Improvements. This project lists its main activity as Multi Sports
Cheshire Community Foundation - Waterways Action Squad: Shropshire Union Canal
£5,000 23/07/2018
The project will recruit young people to take social action in response to the devastating breach on the Shropshire Union Canal near Middlewich. Young people will take on roles from participant to Leader, engaging in diverse activities that improve ....more
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£10,000 09/05/2018
Discover Limehouse: An Edible Social History of the Limehouse Basin
Sport England - Active Ageing Cheshire Canals
£31,025 03/10/2017
12
Funding under Sport England's Active Ageing Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled 'Active Ageing Cheshire Canals'. This project lists its main activity as Multi-Skill Coaching.
Sport England - Active Ageing Cheshire Canals
£31,025 03/10/2017
51
Funding under Sport England's Active Ageing Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled Active Ageing Cheshire Canals. This project is a Multi-Skill Coaching project, with a focus on older beneficiaries.
Sport England - Towpath Trail Improvements
£7,500 11/08/2017
20
Funding under Sport England's Community Asset Fund funding programme for a Capital project titled Towpath Trail Improvements. This project lists its main activity as Multi Sports
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£1,332,900 22/06/2017
Lancaster to Kendal Towpath Trail Phase 2 (Stainton to Sedgwick)
Birmingham City Council - Cycle City Ambition Grant
£20,000 27/03/2017
CYCLE CITY AMBITION GRANT; Environment and sustainability;
Birmingham City Council - Cycle City Ambition Grant
£421,000 03/10/2016
CYCLE CITY AMBITION GRANT; Environment and sustainability;
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£50,000 27/04/2016
The Art in Manufacturing
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£11,400,300 19/04/2016
Unlocking the Severn for People and WildLIFE
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£1,627,000 17/03/2016
Restoring and revealing the Wendover Arm Canal for local communities
Birmingham City Council - Cycle City Ambition Grant
£3,000,000 04/01/2016
CYCLE CITY AMBITION GRANT; Environment and sustainability;
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£36,300 03/12/2015
127 Mileposts - A celebration of the Leeds Liverpool Canal Bicentenary 2016
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£398,100 16/06/2015
Soulbury Three Locks pumping station
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£75,000 10/06/2015
Saul Junction Lock, Gateway to the River Severn
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£60,700 27/03/2015
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal Limekilns Trail ( Phase 1 )
Sport England - Market Development
£135,879 13/11/2014
Funding under Sport England's National Programme - Market Development funding programme for a Revenue project titled 'Market Development'. This project lists its main activity as Sports Development.
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£2,516,200 30/09/2014
Finsley Gate Restoration
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£756,000 17/09/2014
Carpenter's Road Lock - Heritage from the shadow of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£248,612 24/06/2014
Towards community engagement projects along the canals in Birmingham, Rochdale and Huddersfield.
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£543,700 27/11/2013
The Pocklington Canal - A Gem In The Landscape
National Lottery Community Fund - Brightwork, Bright Future (Burnley)
£180,861 20/11/2013
36
The aim is to work with local people to provide an outdoor work programme that will result in uplifting the canal environment, changing people's perceptions of the waterway, whilst upskilling them and increasing local community connections. The ....more
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£2,685,200 24/09/2013
Restoring the Montgomery Canal as a resource for people and wildlife
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to Canal & River Trust
£607,200 21/05/2013
Waterway Heritage Skills
National Lottery Community Fund - Dewsbury Water Linked
£157,822 15/06/2011
48
Local communities will be brought together via Dewsbury's waterways with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyles through the use of open spaces. Activities and events on Dewsbury's waterways, run by British Waterways and other local organisations ....more
Sport England - Tees White Water Course
£800,000 18/02/2011
Funding under Sport England's Community Programme funding programme for a Capital project titled 'Tees White Water Course'. This project lists its main activity as Canoeing. This funding has contributed towards a Water Sports - Water Sports (Water ....more
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (11)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split
Based on 10/11 persons

Age Range of Trustees: 51-68
  • BRONAGH KENNEDY Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Company Secretary And Legal Counsel
  • CLAIR JENNIFER PRICE Appointed: 2018, Occupation: Director
  • DAME JENNY ABRAMSKY DBE Appointed: 2016
  • DAVID ORR CBE (Chair) Appointed: 2022
  • IAN PETERS Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Company Director
  • JANET HOGBEN Appointed: 2016, Occupation: Chief People Officer
  • NIGEL ANNETT Appointed: 2016, Occupation: Non Executive
  • SIR CHRISTOPHER KELLY KCB Appointed: 2017
  • SUSAN WILKINSON Appointed: 2017, Occupation: None
  • SARAH WHITNEY Appointed: 2018, Occupation: Director
  • TIM REEVE Appointed: 2016, Occupation: Chief Operating Officer
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 04/04/2012, number: 1146792
  • Registered at Companies House on 12/10/2011, number: 07807276
Gift Aid
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Event History
Policies in force
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • Complaints handling
  • Complaints policy and procedures
  • Conflicting interests
  • Financial reserves policy and procedures
  • Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
  • Internal risk management policy and procedures
  • Investing charity funds policy and procedures
  • Investment
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding policy and procedures
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
  • Social media policy and procedures
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
  • Trustee expenses policy and procedures
  • Volunteer management
Filing Record
11 returns made; all on time
Recent reorganisation events:
  • Asset transfer in from THE WATERWAYS MUSEUM SOCIETY on 13/09/2021
Main office

CANAL & RIVER TRUST
National Waterways Museum
South Pier Road
Ellesmere Port
Cheshire
CH65 4FW

Objectives

2.1 TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, OPERATE AND MANAGE INLAND WATERWAYS FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT: 2.1.1 FOR NAVIGATION; AND2.1.2 FOR WALKING ON TOWPATHS; AND2.1.2 FOR RECREATION OR OTHER LEISURE-TIME PURSUITS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE INTEREST OF THEIR HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE;2.2 TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT SITES, OBJECTS AND BUILDINGS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL, ARCHITECTURAL, ENGINEERING OR HISTORIC INTEREST ON, IN THE VICINITY OF, OR OTHERWISE ASSOCIATED WITH INLAND WATERWAYS;2.3 TO FURTHER FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT THE CONSERVATION PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND LANDSCAPE OF INLAND WATERWAYS;2.4 TO PROMOTE, FACILITATE, UNDERTAKE AND ASSIST IN, FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT, THE RESTORATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF INLAND WATERWAYS;2.5 TO PROMOTE AND FACILITATE FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT AWARENESS, LEARNING AND EDUCATION ABOUT INLAND WATERWAYS, THEIR HISTORY, DEVELOPMENT, USE, OPERATION AND CULTURAL HERITAGE BY ALL APPROPRIATE MEANS INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF MUSEUMS;2.6 TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE VICINITY OF ANY INLAND WATERWAY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, IN PARTICULAR BY:2.6.1 THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN SUCH VICINITY; AND2.6.2 THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE MEANS OF ACHIEVING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND REGENERATION AND THE PRUDENT USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES; AND2.7 TO FURTHER ANY PURPOSE WHICH IS EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE UNDER THE LAW OF ENGLAND AND WALES CONNECTED WITH INLAND WATERWAYS;PROVIDED THAT IN EACH CASE WHERE THE TRUST UNDERTAKES WORK IN RELATION TO PROPERTY WHICH IT DOES NOT OWN OR HOLD IN TRUST, ANY PRIVATE BENEFIT TO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY IS MERELY INCIDENTAL.

Defined Area of Benefit:

ENGLAND AND WALES

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

Tips for Selecting Charities

Which areas of philanthropy are most effective?
The text of this post is taken from an article on the Effective Altruism forum. It suggests that you can achieve the most impact by supporting causes that fight extreme poverty, improving animal welfare....more
Our Top Tips for Philanthropy
Here are some ideas to help you gain more satisfaction from your philanthropy and confidence that the causes you have selected are impactful. Engage your brain, as well as your heart You....more
How to become a Philanthropist
In this Blog we outline a strategy to help people who are new to philanthropy and for those who feel dissatisfied with the impact they are having. Effective philanthropy is immensely rewarding for donors,....more

Giving is Great