01 Identity
Scottish charity record
- OSCR charity number
- SC035697
- Status
- Active
- Regulatory type
- Standard
- Designated religious body
- No
- Geographical spread
- Operations cover all or most of Scotland
- Volunteers
- 1-50 volunteers
- Staff
- 1
- Postcode
- EH1 1SR
02 Purpose and work
What the charity exists to do
In 2004, Edinburgh became the first UNESCO City of Literature in the world. The concept was created in Edinburgh, and as the founding Creative City, we play a leading role in the growth and diversification of the international network, encouraging others to join, assessing applications and supporting newly designated cities. We have grown to become a preeminent voice in the Scottish, UK and international literary scene. There are now 63 UNESCO Cities of Literature from six continents. The wider Creative Cities Network runs to 403 cities and seven creative art forms. We exist to inspire connection through writing, reading and the exploration of ideas. We are a driving force in the sector in Edinburgh and Scotland, creating campaigns and projects to develop Edinburgh as a literary city, devising new ways for us all to be inspired by books, and placing Edinburgh at the heart of the international literary community.
Charitable purposes
- the advancement of education
- the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science
Beneficiaries
- No specific group, or for the benefit of the community
Activities
- It carries out activities or services itself
Constitutional objectives
The objects of the Trust are: (a) the furtherance of education by promoting knowledge and understanding about Scotland's and Edinburgh's literary heritage, and the historic and contemporary literary life of Scotland and Edmburgh. and (b) to promote such purposes, objects or institutions charitable in law and in such proportions and manner as the Trustees shall think fit.
03 Annual returns
Income and expenditure history
| Year end | Income | Expenditure | Staff | Return received |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2025 | £118,967 | £126,623 | 1 | 12 December 2025 |
| 31 March 2024 | £183,192 | £249,522 | 1 | 15 January 2025 |
| 31 March 2023 | £177,140 | £234,170 | 1 | 13 December 2023 |
| 31 March 2022 | £201,619 | £140,984 | 1 | 15 December 2022 |
| 31 March 2021 | £189,226 | £121,984 | 1 | 2 December 2021 |
Figures are those reported by the charity and supplied in the OSCR bulk download. Blank facts remain distinct from zero.
04 Contact record
Principal office or trustees address
- Address supplied to OSCR
- John Knox House, Top Floor Office, 45 High Street, Edinburgh
- Website supplied to OSCR
- www.cityofliterature.com
- Parent charity
- Not supplied
No direct external links on this profile. The official OSCR record and source documentation are available through BritDB’s dedicated source page.
05 Provenance
Source for this profile
© Crown Copyright and database right 2026. Contains information from the Scottish Charity Register supplied by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. BritDB is an independent service and does not claim to be the Scottish Charity Register.