Canal & River Trust
Notable UK charityAlso known as: Crt; Canal and River Trust; Glandwr Cymru
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.
Activities & Mission
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.
Areas of Operation
Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.
Region
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 46% of UK Environment charities with income over £10M (sample: 48). How is this calculated?
Higher than 29% of UK Environment charities with income over £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 25% of UK Environment charities with income over £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?
Latest Financial Breakdown
Income Sources
Expenditure Categories
Financial Trend
Annual Returns
As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | £232,600,000 | £233,400,000 | £184,800,000 | £855,600,000 | £852,600,000 | 1805 / 5489 |
| 2024 | £237,300,000 | £252,400,000 | £208,600,000 | £832,900,000 | £830,900,000 | 1796 / 4566 |
| 2023 | £225,100,000 | £247,900,000 | £199,500,000 | £875,200,000 | £3,400,000 | 1810 / 4306 |
| 2022 | £214,600,000 | £221,800,000 | £180,200,000 | £1,042,300,000 | £10,700,000 | 1729 / 3748 |
| 2021 | £215,400,000 | £221,300,000 | £183,300,000 | £881,700,000 | £19,300,000 | 1590 / 2204 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about Canal & River Trust
What does Canal & River Trust do?
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.
How much income did Canal & River Trust report in 2025?
Canal & River Trust reported total income of £232.60m and reported expenditure of £233.40m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is Canal & River Trust?
Canal & River Trust has a program ratio of 79.4%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 46% of UK Environment charities with income over £10M (sample of 48 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was Canal & River Trust registered as a charity?
Canal & River Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 4 April 2012 as charity number 1146792. It has been registered for 14 years.
Who runs Canal & River Trust?
Canal & River Trust is governed by a board of 11 trustees. The chair of trustees is David Orr CBE. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does Canal & River Trust operate?
Canal & River Trust operates in England And Wales, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.
Is Canal & River Trust a registered charity?
Yes — Canal & River Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1146792.
Details
National Waterways Museum
South Pier Road
Ellesmere Port
Cheshire
CH65 4FW
Registry Information
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Trustees
Sectors & Classifications
Also Known As
- Crt; Canal and River Trust; Glandwr Cymru
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated