Big Issue Trust — Charity Commission profile

01 Identity

Registration and reporting

Registration status: Registered
Reporting status: Submission Received
Charity type: Charitable company
Registered: 30 November 1994
Removed: Not supplied
Company number supplied: 02995859
Financial period: 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025
Latest income: £971,725
Latest expenditure: £1,734,728
Gift Aid: No
Owns or uses land: No
In administration: No
Insolvent: No
CIO: No

Public contact address: Big Issue Trust, The Big Issue, 113-115 Fonthill Road, LONDON, N4 3HH

Website recorded by the regulator: https://www.bigissue.com/invest/big-issue-invest-trust/ (displayed as text)

02 Activities

What the charity does

The Social Enterprise Loan Fund aims to promote charitable purposes by the provision of loans and other financial assistance. We aim to support the growth of financially viable social enterprises.

03 Official extract

Charity Annual Return History

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2025
Ar Cycle Reference: AR25
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2026
Date Annual Return Received: 20 January 2026
Date Accounts Received: 20 January 2026
Total Gross Income: £971,725
Total Gross Expenditure: £1,734,728

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2024
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2025
Date Annual Return Received: 20 December 2024
Date Accounts Received: 10 January 2025
Total Gross Income: £2,573,198
Total Gross Expenditure: £1,438,330

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2022
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2023
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2024
Date Annual Return Received: 31 January 2024
Date Accounts Received: 31 January 2024
Total Gross Income: £338,872
Total Gross Expenditure: £604,718

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2021
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2022
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2023
Date Annual Return Received: 22 March 2023
Date Accounts Received: 22 March 2023
Total Gross Income: £833,408
Total Gross Expenditure: £394,426

Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2020
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2021
Ar Cycle Reference: AR21
Reporting Due Date: 31 January 2022
Date Annual Return Received: 28 January 2022
Date Accounts Received: 28 January 2022
Total Gross Income: £847,508
Total Gross Expenditure: £515,700

04 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Parta

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: Yes
Fin Period Order Number: 1
Ar Cycle Reference: AR25
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2025
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2026
Ar Received Date: 20 January 2026
Total Gross Income: £971,725
Total Gross Expenditure: £1,734,728
Grant Making Is Main Activity: Yes
Count Govt Contracts: 0
Count Govt Grants: £0
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: Yes
Count Volunteers: 0

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 2
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2024
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2025
Ar Received Date: 20 December 2024
Total Gross Income: £2,573,198
Total Gross Expenditure: £1,438,330
Grant Making Is Main Activity: Yes
Count Govt Contracts: 0
Count Govt Grants: £0
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: Yes
Count Volunteers: 0

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 3
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2022
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2023
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2024
Ar Received Date: 31 January 2024
Total Gross Income: £338,872
Total Gross Expenditure: £604,718
Grant Making Is Main Activity: Yes
Count Govt Contracts: 0
Count Govt Grants: £0
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee: No
Trustee Receives Payments Services: No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Count Volunteers: 0

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 4
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2021
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2022
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2023
Ar Received Date: 22 March 2023
Total Gross Income: £833,408
Total Gross Expenditure: £394,426
Charity Raises Funds From Public: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants: No
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: No
Count Volunteers: 0

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 5
Ar Cycle Reference: AR21
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2020
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2021
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2022
Ar Received Date: 28 January 2022
Total Gross Income: £847,508
Total Gross Expenditure: £515,700
Charity Raises Funds From Public: Yes
Charity Professional Fundraiser: No
Charity Commercial Participator: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants: No
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: No
Count Volunteers: 0

05 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Partb

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: Yes
Fin Period Order Number: 1
Ar Cycle Reference: AR25
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2025
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2026
Ar Received Date: 20 January 2026
Income Donations And Legacies: 92233
Income Other Trading Activities: 0
Income Charitable Activities: 879492
Income Investments: 0
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 971725
Income Legacies: 92233
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £24,000
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £1,686,304
Expenditure Other: 24424
Expenditure Total: 1734728
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 0
Expenditure Governance: 0
Expenditure Support Costs: 0
Expenditure Depreciation: 0
Gain Loss Investment: 0
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £202,586
Assets Total Fixed: 81491
Assets Own Use: 0
Assets Long Term Investment: 81491
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £1,023,825
Assets Total Liabilities: £16,025
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £1,089,291
Creditors One Year Total Current: 16025
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 0
Assets Cash: £953,544
Funds Endowment: 0
Funds Unrestricted: 202586
Funds Restricted: 886705
Funds Total: 1089291
Count Employees: 0
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 2
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2024
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2025
Ar Received Date: 20 December 2024
Income Donations And Legacies: 521498
Income Other Trading Activities: 0
Income Charitable Activities: 2051700
Income Investments: 0
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 2573198
Income Legacies: 500000
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £24,000
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £1,384,795
Expenditure Other: 29535
Expenditure Total: 1438330
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 0
Expenditure Governance: 0
Expenditure Support Costs: 0
Expenditure Depreciation: 0
Gain Loss Investment: 0
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £287,950
Assets Total Fixed: 60533
Assets Own Use: 0
Assets Long Term Investment: 60533
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £1,829,260
Assets Total Liabilities: £37,500
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £1,852,293
Creditors One Year Total Current: 37500
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 0
Assets Cash: £1,829,260
Funds Endowment: 0
Funds Unrestricted: 287950
Funds Restricted: 1564343
Funds Total: 1852293
Count Employees: 0
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 4
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2021
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2022
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2023
Ar Received Date: 22 March 2023
Income Donations And Legacies: 833408
Income Other Trading Activities: 0
Income Charitable Activities: 0
Income Investments: 0
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 833408
Income Legacies: 0
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £0
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £357,300
Expenditure Other: 37126
Expenditure Total: 394426
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 357300
Expenditure Governance: 0
Expenditure Support Costs: 0
Expenditure Depreciation: 0
Gain Loss Investment: 0
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £0
Assets Total Fixed: 0
Assets Own Use: 0
Assets Long Term Investment: 0
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £1,003,944
Assets Total Liabilities: £20,673
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £983,271
Creditors One Year Total Current: 20673
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 0
Assets Cash: £988,572
Funds Endowment: 0
Funds Unrestricted: 172881
Funds Restricted: 810390
Funds Total: 983271
Count Employees: 0
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 5
Ar Cycle Reference: AR21
Fin Period Start Date: 1 April 2020
Fin Period End Date: 31 March 2021
Ar Due Date: 31 January 2022
Ar Received Date: 28 January 2022
Income Donations And Legacies: 846008
Income Other Trading Activities: 0
Income Charitable Activities: 0
Income Investments: 1496
Income Other: 4
Income Total Income And Endowments: 847508
Income Legacies: 0
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £0
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £515,700
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 515700
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 479000
Expenditure Governance: 36700
Expenditure Support Costs: 36700
Expenditure Depreciation: 0
Gain Loss Investment: 0
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £467,629
Assets Total Fixed: 6623
Assets Own Use: 0
Assets Long Term Investment: 6623
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £563,916
Assets Total Liabilities: £26,250
Assets Current Investment: 10418
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £544,289
Creditors One Year Total Current: 19627
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 6623
Assets Cash: £553,482
Funds Endowment: 0
Funds Unrestricted: 467629
Funds Restricted: 76660
Funds Total: 544289
Count Employees: 0
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

06 Official extract

Charity Area Of Operation

Geographic Area Type: Region
Geographic Area Description: Throughout England
Welsh Ind: No

07 Official extract

Charity Classification

Classification Code: 107
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Accommodation/housing

Classification Code: 105
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

Classification Code: 104
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Disability

Classification Code: 103
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives

Classification Code: 303
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Provides Other Finance

Classification Code: 113
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Economic/community Development/employment

Classification Code: 205
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies

Classification Code: 110
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Amateur Sport

Classification Code: 102
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Education/training

08 Official extract

Charity Event History

Charity Name: Big Issue Trust
Charity Event Order: 2
Event Type: Asset transfer in
Date Of Event: 2023-09-15T00:00:00
Assoc Organisation Number: 1049077
Assoc Registered Charity Number: 1049077
Assoc Charity Name: THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION

Charity Name: Big Issue Trust
Charity Event Order: 1
Event Type: Standard registration
Date Of Event: 1994-11-30T00:00:00

09 Official extract

Charity Governing Document

Governing Document Description: MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES INCORPORATED 29/11/1994AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION(S) DATED 28/10/1998AS AMENDED BY CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION ON CHANGE OF NAME DATED 11/06/2008NOW ARTICLES ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED 30/06/2010AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION REGISTERED AT COMPANIES HOUSE ON 08 FEB 2018 as amended on 22 Mar 2018 as amended on 24 Apr 2025 as amended on 01 May 2025 as amended on 23 May 2025
Charitable Objects: The charity's objects ("Objects") are to promote charitable purposes by the provision of grants, financial loans and other assistance in any of the following ways: (a) the provision or assistance in the provision of recreational facilities for persons who by reason of their youth age infirmity or disablement poverty or social and economic circumstances have need of such facilities or for members or the female members of the public at large, (b) the relief of poverty age and disability by the provision of housing for rental to those in need, (c) the advancement of education by the provision of charitable schools places of learning and educational facilities, (d) the advancement of education training and retraining particularly among the unemployed and the provision of work experience to the unemployed, (e) the advancement of education training and retraining and (in cases of need) financial support in setting up in a trade business or vocation or preparing for entering a profession trade business or employment generally or amongst the unemployed, (f) the promotion of such other charitable purposes as the directors may think fit.
Area Of Benefit: NOT DEFINED

10 Official extract

Charity Other Names

Charity Name Id: 599296
Charity Name Type: Previous name
Charity Name: BIG ISSUE INVEST TRUST

Charity Name Id: 178601
Charity Name Type: Previous name
Charity Name: THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE LOAN FUND

Charity Name Id: 178595
Charity Name Type: Previous name
Charity Name: THE LOCAL INVESTMENT FUND

11 Official extract

Charity Policy

Policy Name: Serious incident reporting policy and procedures

Policy Name: Complaints policy and procedures

Policy Name: Safeguarding policy and procedures

Policy Name: Financial reserves policy and procedures

Policy Name: Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures

Policy Name: Social media policy and procedures

Policy Name: Complaints handling

Policy Name: Conflicting interests

Policy Name: Bullying and harassment policy and procedures

Policy Name: Trustee expenses policy and procedures

Policy Name: Investing charity funds policy and procedures

Policy Name: Internal risk management policy and procedures

Policy Name: Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures

Policy Name: Investment

Policy Name: Risk management