Collections Trust

Also known as: M D a (europe), The Museum Documentation Association Limited

The Collections Trust is the UK's independent organisation for cultural collections. We campaign for the public right to access and engage with collections.We do this by:-Promoting best practiceEncouraging InnovationRepresenting the interests of the sector

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Activities & Mission

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.

Country

Scotland

Region

England And Wales

Financial Information

Latest Income

£535,092

Latest Expenditure

£480,271

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 89.8%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 51% of UK Charitable activities charities with income £100K to £1M (sample: 1431). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 100.0%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 100% of UK Charitable activities charities with income £100K to £1M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 2.7%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 50% of UK Charitable activities charities with income £100K to £1M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £0

Charitable Activities £528,837

Other Trading £0

Investments £6,255

Other Income £0

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £480,271

Raising Funds £0

Governance £13,014

Grants to Institutions £0

Other Expenditure £0

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	£535,092	£480,271	£480,271	£253,511	£253,511	6 / 0
2024	£452,150	£378,465				0 / 0
2023	£372,301	£364,906				0 / 0
2022	£379,642	£362,953				0 / 0
2021	£359,825	£340,810				0 / 0

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about Collections Trust

What does Collections Trust do?

How much income did Collections Trust report in 2025?

Collections Trust reported total income of £535k and reported expenditure of £480k for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is Collections Trust?

Collections Trust has a program ratio of 89.8%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 51% of UK Charitable activities charities with income £100K to £1M (sample of 1431 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was Collections Trust registered as a charity?

Collections Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 26 July 1977 as charity number 273984. It has been registered for 49 years.

Who runs Collections Trust?

Collections Trust is governed by a board of 13 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does Collections Trust operate?

Collections Trust operates across 2 areas: Scotland and England And Wales.

Is Collections Trust a registered charity?

Yes — Collections Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 273984.