Ipswich Institute – Reading Room & Library

Registered charity 304772 · since 1971ipswichinstitute.org.uk·Ipswich·Updated 30 October 2026

At a glance

£146

Annual giving, year to 31 December 2025

From filed accounts

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Your work is a fit if it benefits the community of Ipswich and its neighbourhood, which is the focus the register gives, and if it connects to the Institute's aims of science, literature, fine arts or adult education.
Only organisations are invited to apply, so individuals should not.
The Institute's annual giving was £146 in its latest annual report and no grant range is stated, so ask for a small, modest sum.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but trustees consider each one on its merits and are not obliged to pay if no suitable applications arrive, so apply early with a clear link to its educational objectives and do not plan on a grant.

Overview

Ipswich Institute – Reading Room & Library is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 304772).

The Institute exists to advance the education of people in Ipswich and its neighbourhood, through a library and reading room and by promoting science, literature, fine arts and adult education. It runs leisure-learning courses, talks, workshops and visits alongside the library and reading room. It grew out of a Mechanics' Institution, set up to make knowledge available to the 'artisans' of Ipswich. Its annual giving was £146 in its latest annual report.

What they fund

Profile based on the charity's Charity Commission register entry and annual report (year to 31 December 2025) only. Every statement is checked against them. Sources read on 30 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Institute’s charitable object is to advance the education of people in Ipswich and its neighbourhood, through a library and reading room and by promoting science, literature, fine arts and adult education. It delivers its objectives through leisure-learning courses, talks, workshops and visits, alongside the library and reading room. For grants, it invites applications from organisations for small grants to benefit the community in ways that fit its educational objectives. Trustees set aside a sum annually and consider each application on its merits; the Institute is not obliged to make payments if no suitable applications are received.

Themes

Adult instruction
Science
Literature
Fine arts

Geographic Focus

Ipswich And Neighbourhood.

How to apply

Organisations can apply for small grants to benefit the community in ways that fit the Institute’s educational objectives. The trustees set aside an annual sum and consider each application on its merits.

Who can apply:

Applications are invited from organisations.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

Ipswich

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to Ipswich Institute – Reading Room & Library.

Institute of Daughters of Mary Help of ChristiansNo public processGave £6,276 The Annie Tranmer Charitable TrustInvitation onlyGave £146k The Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music FoundationInvitation onlyGave £315k The Mrs L D Rope Third Charitable SettlementRollingGave £1.3M Lincs InspireNo public process The Belstead Ganzoni Charitable SettlementRollingGave £711k The Pople Charitable TrustNo public processGave £229k Eastern Counties Educational TrustFixed deadlinesGave £273k The Overstall Charitable TrustNo public processGave £94,000 The Baldwin’s Bridge TrustRollingGave £61,625

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 December 2021	£304,546	£369,593	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
year to 31 December 2022	£385,903	£480,910	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2022
year to 31 December 2023	£474,370	£615,526	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2023
year to 31 December 2024	£517,791	£632,249	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2024
year to 31 December 2025	£559,813	£617,918	£146	Accounts for year to 31 December 2025

Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.

— No grants figure for that year.

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.