THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Charity number: 222879
Charity reporting is up to date (on time)

Charity overview

Activities - how the charity spends its money

The RHS was founded in 1804 to inspire passion and excellence in horticulture. We want to enrich everyone's life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. To achieve our aim we undertake scientific research; provide education, training and horticultural advice; support community horticulture projects; and share our renowned gardens and shows with the public.

Income and expenditure

Data for financial year ending 31 January 2024

Charitable expenditure

Charitable expenditure

Some charities generate all, or a substantial part, of their income from investments which may have been donated to the charity as endowment or set aside by the charity from its own resources in the past. Such investments usually take the form of stocks and shares but may include other assets, such as property, that are capable of generating income and/or capital growth.

In managing their spending and investments charities need to strike a balance between the needs of future and current beneficiaries. They also need to take account of spending commitments that may stretch over a number of future years. To do this, charities will normally adopt an investment strategy designed to generate both income and capital growth. To maximise returns trustees may commit to investment strategies for several years.

Investments can experience large swings in value so trustees may, in a particular year, decide to realise and spend part of their charity’s capital or to invest part of its income.

By clicking the investment gains checkbox the charitable spending bar is adjusted to take account of capital growth as well as income. This shows the balance the charity is striking, between spending on current beneficiaries and retaining resources for future beneficiaries.

Fundraising

No information available

Trading

One or more trustees are also directors of the subsidiaries

Trustee payments

One or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity for providing services to the charity and another benefit.

What, who, how, where

What the charity does:
  • Education/training
  • Arts/culture/heritage/science
  • Environment/conservation/heritage
  • Economic/community Development/employment
Who the charity helps:
  • Children/young People
  • The General Public/mankind
How the charity helps:
  • Makes Grants To Individuals
  • Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
  • Provides Advocacy/advice/information
  • Sponsors Or Undertakes Research
Where the charity operates:
  • Throughout England And Wales
  • Northern Ireland
  • Scotland

Governance

Registration history:
  • 09 June 1995: Standard registration
Organisation type:
Other
Other names:
  • R H S (Working name)
  • RHS (Working name)
Company number:
Gift aid:
Recognised by HMRC for gift aid
Other regulators:
No information available
Policies:
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • Complaints handling
  • Complaints policy and procedures
  • Conflicting interests
  • Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
  • Financial reserves policy and procedures
  • Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
  • Internal risk management policy and procedures
  • Investing charity funds policy and procedures
  • Investment
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding policy and procedures
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
  • Social media policy and procedures
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
  • Trustee expenses policy and procedures
  • Volunteer management
Land and property:
This charity owns and/or leases land or property

Trustees

Trustees are the people responsible for controlling the work, management and administration of the charity on behalf of its beneficiaries. Generally trustees are treasurer, chair, board member etc. The trustees are responsible for keeping this list up to date and can do this by updating their details as they happen through the online service

16 Trustee(s)

Name Role Date of appointment Other trusteeships Reporting status of other trusteeships
Keith Charles Frederick Weed CBE Chair 31 July 2020
BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY
Received: On time
THE SHROPSHIRE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (WISLEY TRAINEE) CHARITABLE TRUST
Received: On time
Elizabeth Margaret Nicholson Trustee 10 July 2024
None on record
Susan Jane Beesley Trustee 14 July 2023
None on record
Claire Rose Austin Trustee 14 July 2023
None on record
Anthony Kirkham Trustee 14 June 2022
None on record
Darren Share Trustee 14 June 2022
None on record
Tazim Essani Trustee 14 June 2022
None on record
Pamela Maynard Trustee 25 June 2021
None on record
Prof Nicola Spence Trustee 25 June 2021
THE ASSOCIATION OF APPLIED BIOLOGISTS
Received: On time
THE MOUNT SCHOOL (YORK)
Received: On time
Wesley Albert Kerr Trustee 25 June 2021
THE ROYAL PARKS [LIMITED]
Received: On time
Ruth Willmott Trustee 25 June 2019
None on record
Nicholas Dunn Trustee 25 June 2019
None on record
Kate Lampard Trustee 12 June 2017
None on record
Matthew Philip Lindsey-Clark Trustee 27 June 2016
THE SHROPSHIRE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (WISLEY TRAINEE) CHARITABLE TRUST
Received: On time
PROFESSOR MICHAEL JOHN CRAWLEY FRS Trustee 25 June 2015
None on record
DR DAVID A H RAE Trustee 25 June 2015
None on record

Financial history

" role="img"> Text alternative for this canvas graphic is in the data table below.

Financial period end date

Income / Expenditure 31/01/2020 31/01/2021 31/01/2022 31/01/2023 31/01/2024
Total gross income £102.14m £67.36m £110.52m £122.10m £120.50m
Total expenditure £93.66m £66.87m £102.89m £120.42m £124.82m
Income from government contracts £1.11m N/A N/A N/A N/A
Income from government grants £3.99m £4.13m £588.51k £621.26k £240.57k
Income - Donations and legacies £16.82m £11.59m £12.18m £19.06m £14.96m
Income - Other trading activities £412.00k £17.03m £31.68m £30.85m £38.87m
Income - Charitable activities £56.43m £32.14m £64.82m £71.43m £65.32m
Income - Endowments £0 £8.00k £3.50k £0 £0
Income - Investment £586.00k £220.00k £37.00k £106.00k £598.00k
Income - Other £27.89m £567.00k £1.85m £656.00k £747.00k
Income - Legacies £2.59m £1.46m £833.19k £4.98m £2.53m
Expenditure - Charitable activities £72.22m £50.77m £80.23m £96.27m £93.97m
Expenditure - Raising funds £21.31m £15.86m £22.15m £23.60m £30.36m
Expenditure - Governance £1.21m £914.00k £254.00k £1.24m £1.27m
Expenditure - Grants institution £0 £0 £15.00k £0 £0
Expenditure - Investment management £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Expenditure - Other £125.00k £239.00k £516.00k £559.00k £486.00k

Assets and liabilities

Definitions for assets and liabilities
Own use assets

These are assets, other than investments, which are held for more than 12 months and used to run and administer the charity such as buildings, offices, exhibits and fixtures and fittings.

Long term Investments

Investments are assets held by the charity with the sole aim of generating income which will be used for their charitable purposes such as deposit accounts, shares, rental property and unit trusts.
Investment assets are re-valued every year and included in the balance sheet at their current market value.
Long term investments are held for more than 12 months.

Other assets

These are assets held generally for less than 12 months such as cash and bank balances, debtors, investments to be sold within the coming year and trading stock.

Defined benefit pension scheme asset or liability

This is a surplus or deficit in any defined benefit pension scheme operated and represents a potential long-term asset or liability.

Total liabilities

These are all the amounts owed by the charity at the balance sheet date to third parties such as bills due but not yet paid, bank overdrafts and loans and mortgages.

" role="img"> Text alternative for this canvas graphic is in the data table below.
Asset / Liability 31/01/2020 31/01/2021 31/01/2022 31/01/2023 31/01/2024
Own use assets £146.87m £170.12m £149.44m £175.08m £171.13m
Long-term investments £60.78m £35.76m £74.62m £50.84m £51.30m
Other assets £17.26m £18.42m £19.92m £21.72m £16.72m
Defined benefit pension scheme asset or liability -£5.94m -£7.66m -£5.47m -£320.00k £0
Total liabilities £42.91m £39.96m £50.41m £52.14m £51.43m

Accounts and annual returns

This table shows the charity's record of submitting annual returns, accounts and trustees' annual report (TAR) for the last five financial periods.
Title Reporting year Date received Received Download
Annual return 31 January 2024 12 November 2024 On Time
Accounts and TAR 31 January 2024 12 November 2024 On Time Download Open in new window
Annual return 31 January 2023 28 November 2023 On Time
Accounts and TAR 31 January 2023 28 November 2023 On Time Download Open in new window
Annual return 31 January 2022 02 November 2022 On Time
Accounts and TAR 31 January 2022 02 November 2022 On Time Download Open in new window
Annual return 31 January 2021 29 November 2021 On Time
Accounts and TAR 31 January 2021 29 November 2021 On Time Download Open in new window
Annual return 31 January 2020 30 November 2020 On Time
Accounts and TAR 31 January 2020 30 November 2020 On Time Download Open in new window
Submit annual return Open in new window

Linked charities

Linked charities
Governing document
SCHEMES OF THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS OF 29 JULY 1910, 16 JULY 1926 AND 6 MARCH 1959
Charitable objects
TO PAY ALL PROPER COSTS CHARGES AND EXPENSES OF AND INCIDENTAL TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY INCLUDING THE INSURANCE PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE LIBRARY AND THE EXTENSION THEREOF BY PURCHASE OF BOOKS AND OTHERWISE
Area of benefit
NOT DEFINED
Registration history
  • 09 June 1995 : Standard registration

Contact information

Address:
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
80 VINCENT SQUARE
LONDON
SW1P 2PE
Phone:
020 3176 5800