The Wordsworth Trust

Our charitable activities fall into two categories.(1) Custodianship: of Dove Cottage; of our collection of manuscripts, books & fine art; and of the historic environment of Town End, Grasmere(2) Access and learning: visitor operations; exhibitions and publications; education; and contemporary literature.

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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.

Region

England And Wales

Financial Information

Latest Income

£2,204,000

Latest Expenditure

£1,917,000

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 80.2%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 30% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 780). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 84.7%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 23% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 15.3%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 21% 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

Donations & Legacies £1,303,000

Charitable Activities £432,000

Other Trading £2,000

Investments £246,000

Other Income £41,000

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £1,623,000

Raising Funds £294,000

Governance £0

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	£2,204,000	£1,917,000	£1,623,000	£21,451,000	£667,000	29 / 32
2024	£1,488,000	£1,925,000	£1,430,000	£21,199,000	£442,000	36 / 43
2023	£1,362,000	£1,934,000	£1,467,000	£21,229,000	£91,000	39 / 14
2022	£2,924,660	£2,108,251	£1,676,065	£22,349,625	£411,954	39 / 19
2021	£2,912,588	£1,367,922	£1,076,087	£19,691,586	£177,521	38 / 17

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about The Wordsworth Trust

What does The Wordsworth Trust do?

How much income did The Wordsworth Trust report in 2025?

The Wordsworth Trust reported total income of £2.20m and reported expenditure of £1.92m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is The Wordsworth Trust?

The Wordsworth Trust has a program ratio of 80.2%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 30% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 780 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was The Wordsworth Trust registered as a charity?

The Wordsworth Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 24 November 1997 as charity number 1066184. It has been registered for 29 years.

Who runs The Wordsworth Trust?

The Wordsworth Trust is governed by a board of 12 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does The Wordsworth Trust operate?

The Wordsworth Trust operates in England And Wales, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.

Is The Wordsworth Trust a registered charity?

Yes — The Wordsworth Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1066184.