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Rating for THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION

74/100 Clarity Score · 2 stars · Charity Commission filings · How we score

74/100

Clarity score

Needs improvement

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Cambridge · CB2 1HF Reg 1120608 Registered charity Official website Charity Commission register

Mission

THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION is a registered UK charity (1120608) working in children & youth in Cambridge · CB2 1HF. CharityCompare scores the organisation from public Charity Commission annual accounts — financial efficiency, transparency, and filing compliance — not programme outcomes.

In short: THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION scores 74 out of 100 (2 stars). 99% average program spend (3-year average). Review the pillar breakdown below.

Overview

THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION has a Clarity Score of 74 out of 100 on CharityCompare (2 stars, Needs improvement). Charity Commission registration number 1120608. Status: Registered. Primary cause area: Children & youth. Latest accounts year 2021: total income £24m, with 99% of expenditure on charitable activities. Accounts filing: up to date. Reserves: approximately 2 months of operating costs. No major red flags from our filing review. Scores are independent and based on official filings — not a donation recommendation.

Data from Charity Commission register, last updated .

Overall score

74/100

2★ · Needs improvement

Cause spend

99%

3-yr avg · charitable activities

Accountability

93/100

Finance beacon

Income

£24m

Latest year 2021

Reserves

2 mo

Months of running costs

Accounts filing

On time

Charity Commission

£164.3 raised per £1 fundraising (3-yr avg) · 1% overhead · Website on register · Confidence: high

Data & confidence

Source
Charity Commission (E&W)
Accounts year
2021
Filing date
2026-06-24 00:00:00.0000000
Profile reviewed
2026-06-24

High confidence — complete filing data

Scores reflect the latest annual accounts on the register. Impact, leadership, and culture beacons require information beyond public filings.

Beacon report

Detailed accountability and finance metrics from Charity Commission filings — structured for transparency in our four-beacon report.

Accountability & Transparency

Baseline trust from filing discipline, board oversight, and declared governance policies.

93/100

Accountability & Transparency metrics for THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION
Metric Score Value
Filing history (5 years)

100% on-time over five years = 15 pts · one late filing = 5 pts · two or more = 0 pts.

100% 15/15 pts
Trustee oversight

Three or more trustees on the register = 15 pts · one or two = 0 pts (governance red flag).

100% 19 trustees · 15/15 pts
Declared policies

Safeguarding (4) · conflict of interest (3) · volunteer management (3) — from Charity Commission annual return.

70% 7/10 pts

Financial Health

Stability and solvency — reserves, revenue trend, and debt from Charity Commission accounts.

57/100

Financial Health metrics for THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION
Metric Score Value
Reserves (months of cash)

3–24 months = 15 pts · 1–3 months = 7 pts · under 1 month or over 3 years (hoarding) = 0 pts.

47% 2 months · 7/15 pts
Income stability / growth

Positive or stable three-year revenue trend = 10 pts · sustained decline = 0 pts.

100% 10/10 pts · 3-year average
Liabilities to assets

Low debt (< 30% liabilities to assets) = 5 pts · high debt = 0 pts.

0% 53% · 0/5 pts

Financial Efficiency

How efficiently funds reach the cause — program spend and fundraising cost ratios.

100/100

Financial Efficiency metrics for THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION
Metric Score Value
Program expense ratio

≥ 75% on charitable activities = 10 pts · 60–75% = 5 pts · below 60% = 0 pts.

100% 99% · 10/10 pts (3-year average)
Fundraising efficiency

Spends ≤ £0.20 to raise £1 = 10 pts · £0.21–£0.35 = 5 pts · above £0.35 = 0 pts (fundraising cost ÷ income).

100% 1p per £1 income · 10/10 pts (3-year average)

Community Support

Grassroots backing from Charity Commission workforce data — volunteers vs paid staff.

0/100

Community Support metrics for THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION
Metric Score Value
Volunteer-to-staff ratio

More volunteers than paid staff = 10 pts · equal mix = 5 pts · no volunteers = 0 pts.

0% Not reported · 0/10 pts

How we calculate beacon scores →

Clarity Score

74/100 total · Needs improvement · 2 of 4 stars

Four pillars (40 + 30 + 20 + 10 points) from Charity Commission filings — see methodology for full weightings.

93/100
Accountability & Transparency
57/100
Financial Health
100/100
Financial Efficiency
0/100
Community Support

Accountability & Transparency

Baseline trust from filing discipline, board oversight, and declared governance policies.

93/100

Filing history (5 years)15/15 pts
Trustee oversight19 trustees · 15/15 pts
Declared policies7/10 pts

Financial Health

Stability and solvency — reserves, revenue trend, and debt from Charity Commission accounts.

57/100

Reserves (months of cash)2 months · 7/15 pts
Income stability / growth10/10 pts · 3-year average
Liabilities to assets53% · 0/5 pts

Financial Efficiency

How efficiently funds reach the cause — program spend and fundraising cost ratios.

100/100

Program expense ratio99% · 10/10 pts (3-year average)
Fundraising efficiency1p per £1 income · 10/10 pts (3-year average)

Community Support

Grassroots backing from Charity Commission workforce data — volunteers vs paid staff.

0/100

Volunteer-to-staff ratioNot reported · 0/10 pts

Revenue & expenses

Latest filed year 2021 · Source: Charity Commission annual accounts

THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION revenue and expenses for 2021
Category Amount % of spend
Total income £24m
Total expenditure £23m
Charitable activities £23m 99%
Fundraising £141k 1%
Governance & admin £118k 1%
99%On charitable activities

Where the money goes

Latest accounts (2021) · £23m spent

  • Charitable activities99%
  • Fundraising1%
  • Governance1%

Trust indicators

Pulled from the Charity Commission register — filing behaviour, board size, and workforce where reported.

  • Accounts filed on time

    up to date · last filing 2026-06-24 00:00:00.0000000

  • Trustee board size (3–12)

    19 trustees on the Charity Commission register

Fundraising Regulator

Not listed as member

Separate from our financial scores — shows whether the charity follows the Code of Fundraising Practice.

Check Fundraising Regulator →

Official register

Reg 1120608

Full trustee list, accounts, and regulatory history on the Charity Commission.

View on Charity Commission →

Trustees & officers

  • MUNISH DATTA since 2019
  • Ray Anderson since 2020
  • Alexander Francis Routh Prof since 2022
  • Janet Magee since 2023
  • Lavinia Abell since 2023
  • Sara Russo since 2023
  • Simon Thorley since 2023
  • Michael Windmill Chair · since 2024
  • Dr Nathaniel Segaren since 2024
  • Jonathan Onions since 2024
  • Romane Thomas since 2024
  • Dr Richard Brookes since 2024
How we score charities +

The Clarity Score is a 100-point rating from UK Charity Commission data. Four pillars — Accountability & Transparency (40), Financial Health (30), Financial Efficiency (20), and Community Support (10). A statutory inquiry sets the score to 0 automatically.

Full methodology →

Accountability & Transparency

Scored from filings

40 points — filing history (15), trustee oversight (15), declared policies (10).

Financial Health

Scored from filings

30 points — reserves (15), income stability (10), liabilities to assets (5).

Financial Efficiency

Scored from filings

20 points — program expense ratio (10), fundraising efficiency (10). Kept at 20% to avoid punishing legitimate infrastructure costs.

Community Support

Scored from filings

10 points — volunteer-to-staff ratio from Charity Commission workforce data.

Overall score

Sum of all pillar points. Translated to stars: 90–100 Exceptional (4★), 75–89 Good (3★), 60–74 Needs improvement (2★), below 60 Poor (1★).

Five-year trends

£0k £8700k £17400k £26100k £34800k 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Income 2021: £24,430k Spending 2021: £22,774k Cause spend 2021: £22,633k Income 2022: £27,188k Spending 2022: £25,131k Cause spend 2022: £24,937k Income 2023: £30,417k Spending 2023: £29,594k Cause spend 2023: £29,390k Income 2024: £33,315k Spending 2024: £34,466k Cause spend 2024: £34,262k Income 2025: £33,861k Spending 2025: £31,874k Cause spend 2025: £31,687k
  • Income
  • Spending
  • Cause spend

Values in £ thousands · Source: Charity Commission accounts

Key facts

Overall score
74/100 (2★)
Income
£24m
Cause spend
99% of expenditure
Reg number
1120608
Scope
Local (cambridge)
Reserves
2 months
Trustees
19
Accounts year
2021
Filing
up to date

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Frequently asked questions

Common questions about THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION's rating, finances, and Charity Commission status.

What is THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION's charity rating? +

THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION scores 74 out of 100 on CharityCompare (2 stars — Needs improvement). The Clarity Score V1 sums four pillars from Charity Commission filings: Accountability & Transparency (40 pts), Financial Health (30), Financial Efficiency (20), and Community Support (10).

Is THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION a legitimate UK charity? +

Yes — THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales under registration number 1120608. You can verify the entry on the official register.

What is THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION's Charity Commission registration number? +

THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION's registration number is 1120608. Official register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1120608

How much income does THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION receive? +

THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION reported £24m total income in its 2021 accounts, based on Charity Commission filings. Five-year trend: declining.

What percentage of THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION's spending goes to charitable activities? +

Approximately 99% of total expenditure went to charitable activities in the latest filed year. Fundraising was 1% and combined overhead (fundraising plus governance) was 1%.

Are THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION's accounts up to date? +

Filing status: up to date (last filing 2026-06-24 00:00:00.0000000). CharityCompare flags late or missing accounts separately from the financial score.

Where is THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION based? +

THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION is listed at Cambridge · CB2 1HF, focused on children & youth.

How does CharityCompare score THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION? +

We analyse Charity Commission annual accounts using three-year averages for program expense, fundraising efficiency, and overhead; working capital from reserves vs average expenditure; liabilities-to-assets from the latest balance sheet when available. Impact, leadership, and culture beacons are not yet assessed from public data alone. See our methodology for weights and thresholds.

Does CharityCompare recommend donating to THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION? +

No. CharityCompare provides independent scores and facts from official filings. We do not tell you where to donate or earn commission from charities.

How can I compare THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION with other charities? +

Use our free compare tool to put THE STEPHEN PERSE FOUNDATION side-by-side with other UK charities on scores, finances, and filing status.