The Food Museum
Also known as: Museum of East Anglian Life
Museum of rural life and educational and training centre
Activities & Mission
Museum of rural life and educational and training centre
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.
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 12% of UK Economic and community development charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 829). How is this calculated?
Higher than 13% of UK Economic and community development charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 10% of UK Economic and community development 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 2025.
One or more years show a significant change in income (over ±100%) compared with the prior year. This usually reflects a merger, transfer of activities, restated accounts, or a one-off legacy — not necessarily a real change in operating scale. See the methodology for context.
The Commission record shows this related event on the register:
- Asset transfer in in 2019 — The Friends of the Museum of East Anglian Life (organisation 251909)
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | £2,062,815 | £1,681,730 | £1,322,300 | £4,200,331 | £277,019 | 45 / 200 |
| 2024 | £1,739,192 | £1,245,389 | £941,725 | £3,857,945 | £182,980 | 47 / 150 |
| 2023 | £1,332,141 | £1,310,217 | £1,170,602 | £3,527,571 | £20,000 | 48 / 80 |
| 2022 | £1,628,837 | £1,414,113 | £1,310,923 | £3,279,244 | £20,000 | 41 / 100 |
| 2021 | £796,544 | £682,175 | £637,074 | £3,064,520 | £68,710 | 21 / 15 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The Food Museum
What does The Food Museum do?
Museum of rural life and educational and training centre
How much income did The Food Museum report in 2025?
The Food Museum reported total income of £2.06m and reported expenditure of £1.68m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is The Food Museum?
The Food Museum has a program ratio of 64.1%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 12% of UK Economic and community development charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 829 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was The Food Museum registered as a charity?
The Food Museum was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 19 December 1985 as charity number 293033. It has been registered for 41 years.
Who runs The Food Museum?
The Food Museum is governed by a board of 14 trustees. The chair of trustees is Richard Lister. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The Food Museum operate?
The Food Museum operates across 3 areas: Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Is The Food Museum a registered charity?
Yes — The Food Museum is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 293033.
Details
Crowe Street
STOWMARKET
Suffolk
IP14 1DL
Registry Information
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Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Also governs 2 other charities
Also governs 1 other charity
Sectors & Classifications
Also Known As
- Museum of East Anglian Life
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated