The City Literary Institute
Also known as: City Lit, The City Lit
PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO OVER 50,000 PEOPLE A YEAR. OFFER GUIDANCE & GIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT. HELP ADULTS TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES THROUGH LEARNING FROM BASIC SKILLS IN ENGLISH AND MATHS TO SKILLS FOR WORK, FROM PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHMENT, PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT OR CAREER CHANGE.
Activities & Mission
PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO OVER 50,000 PEOPLE A YEAR. OFFER GUIDANCE & GIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT. HELP ADULTS TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES THROUGH LEARNING FROM BASIC SKILLS IN ENGLISH AND MATHS TO SKILLS FOR WORK, FROM PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHMENT, PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT OR CAREER CHANGE.
Grants
The City Literary Institute makes grants as part of its work.
- Gives grants to
- individuals
- Total spending (2025)
- £21,318,000
- Only charities with income over £500,000 file a separate grants figure.
- Who it helps
- people with disabilities and the general public
- What it supports
- education and training
As recorded with the Charity Commission. To ask about applying, use the contact details and check the trustees and latest accounts below.
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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 79% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income over £10M (sample: 314). How is this calculated?
Higher than 100% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income over £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 94% of UK Beneficiary group 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 | £21,274,000 | £21,318,000 | £21,318,000 | £7,185,000 | £0 | 662 / 0 |
| 2024 | £19,881,000 | £19,994,000 | £19,941,000 | £7,387,000 | £0 | 614 / 0 |
| 2023 | £18,274,000 | £19,199,000 | £18,335,000 | £7,715,000 | £0 | 602 / 0 |
| 2022 | £18,100,000 | £18,306,000 | £18,306,000 | £1,650,000 | £0 | 633 / 0 |
| 2021 | £18,720,000 | £19,796,000 | £19,796,000 | -£12,455,000 | £0 | 748 / 0 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The City Literary Institute
What does The City Literary Institute do?
PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO OVER 50,000 PEOPLE A YEAR. OFFER GUIDANCE & GIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT. HELP ADULTS TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES THROUGH LEARNING FROM BASIC SKILLS IN ENGLISH AND MATHS TO SKILLS FOR WORK, FROM PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHMENT, PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT OR CAREER CHANGE.
How much income did The City Literary Institute report in 2025?
The City Literary Institute reported total income of £21.27m and reported expenditure of £21.32m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is The City Literary Institute?
The City Literary Institute has a program ratio of 100.2%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 79% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income over £10M (sample of 314 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was The City Literary Institute registered as a charity?
The City Literary Institute was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 1 March 1990 as charity number 803007. It has been registered for 36 years.
Who runs The City Literary Institute?
The City Literary Institute is governed by a board of 16 trustees. The chair of trustees is Lindsay Nicholson MBE. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The City Literary Institute operate?
The City Literary Institute operates in London, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.
Is The City Literary Institute a registered charity?
Yes — The City Literary Institute is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 803007.
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Registry Information
Other notable Beneficiary group charities
Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 2 other charities
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 3 other charities
Also governs 1 other charity
Sectors & Classifications
Also Known As
- City Lit
- The City Lit
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 9 November 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated