Laidlaw Opera Trust
Also known as: Laidlaw Foundation, The Irvine Laidlaw Foundation, The Laidlaw Foundation
Laidlaw Opera Trust champions live music as a uniquely thrilling art form accessible to all. We invest in opera companies and houses who believe that opera should be part of everyones cultural capital. Through strategic support and grants, we aim to expand Operas reach and self-sufficiency.
Activities & Mission
Laidlaw Opera Trust champions live music as a uniquely thrilling art form accessible to all. We invest in opera companies and houses who believe that opera should be part of everyones cultural capital. Through strategic support and grants, we aim to expand Operas reach and self-sufficiency.
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.
Show all 10 areas of operation Hide areas of operation
Region
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 9% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 780). How is this calculated?
Higher than 100% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 88% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £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 2024.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | £5,264,496 | £2,446,790 | £2,446,790 | -£704,386 | £0 | 2 / 0 |
| 2023 | £10,850,965 | £9,619,367 | £9,619,367 | -£3,525,947 | £0 | 3 / 2 |
| 2022 | £8,161,915 | £7,764,326 | £7,764,326 | -£4,680,746 | £0 | 4 / 2 |
| 2021 | £10,249,163 | £16,357,772 | £16,278,853 | -£5,078,335 | £0 | 2 / 2 |
| 2020 | £13,334,894 | £5,336,264 | £4,720,958 | £2,715,774 | £0 | 2 / 2 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about Laidlaw Opera Trust
What does Laidlaw Opera Trust do?
Laidlaw Opera Trust champions live music as a uniquely thrilling art form accessible to all. We invest in opera companies and houses who believe that opera should be part of everyones cultural capital. Through strategic support and grants, we aim to expand Operas reach and self-sufficiency.
How much income did Laidlaw Opera Trust report in 2024?
Laidlaw Opera Trust reported total income of £5.26m and reported expenditure of £2.45m for the financial year ending 2024, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is Laidlaw Opera Trust?
Laidlaw Opera Trust has a program ratio of 46.5%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 9% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 780 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was Laidlaw Opera Trust registered as a charity?
Laidlaw Opera Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 19 October 2017 as charity number 1175245. It has been registered for 9 years.
Who runs Laidlaw Opera Trust?
Laidlaw Opera Trust is governed by a board of 7 trustees. The chair of trustees is Lord IRVINE LAIDLAW. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does Laidlaw Opera Trust operate?
Laidlaw Opera Trust operates across 10 areas, including Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland and 7 others. The full list is shown on its profile.
Is Laidlaw Opera Trust a registered charity?
Yes — Laidlaw Opera Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1175245.
Details
Chancery Lane
London
EC4A 1JQ
Registry Information
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Trustees
Also Known As
- Laidlaw Foundation
- The Irvine Laidlaw Foundation
- The Laidlaw Foundation
- Laidlaw Opera Trust
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated