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Oxford Preservation Trust Annual Report 2024

Oxford Preservation Trust has preserved and enhanced Oxford's built heritage and green setting since 1927, owning 850 acres of land and managing historic buildings including Oxford Castle & Prison, The Painted Room and the Rewley Road Swing Bridge. In 2024 Oxford Castle welcomed 67,315 visitors (a new high), the Open Doors weekend opened 140 venues to 30,000 people with 111 volunteers, and 73 volunteer work parties delivered nature conservation across the charity's green spaces. Formal planning comments were submitted on 61 cases. Total income was £838,712 and net assets £8.05 million. Key 2024 milestones include the Oxford Open Doors expanding to its widest-ever range of partners and the completion of the Wood Farm Community Project.

Report snapshot
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About

Green Spaces (850 acres including Heyford Meadow, Boars Hill, Kennington, Hinksey Meadow, Wolvercote, Marston, Rewley Road Swing Bridge, Larkins Lane — nature conservation, grazing, habitat management, volunteer work parties); Heritage Buildings (Oxford Castle & Prison, 3 Cornmarket/Painted Room, Victoria Arms, Rewley Road Swing Bridge, Turn Again Lane, East St Helen's Street Abingdon, Conduit House North Hinksey); Planning Advocacy (250+ applications reviewed, 61 formal comments submitted, consultation responses on NPPF, Oxford City Local Plan, South Oxfordshire Local Plan, Oxford to Cambridge rail link); Oxford Open Doors weekend (140 venues, 30,000 visitors, 111 volunteers); Public Programme (43 events including lectures, walks, site visits, special Painted Room experiences); Heritage Awards (annual scheme since 1977 — 2024 winners include Jackson Library Exeter College, Frewin Garden Building Brasenose, Lemond and Fignon Bridges, Holywell Cemetery); Wood Farm Community Project (history walk, school resources, OCC Community Insight Profile collaboration); Slade Army Camp Community Project partnership; Walton Well Drinking Fountain restoration fundraising; Membership scheme (300+ members) Custom geography from upload: Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 850 acres of land managed in and around Oxford; 67,315 visitors to Oxford Castle & Prison (up from 61,376 in 2023); 4,146 school visits to Oxford Castle (up from 3,762); 30,000 visitors to Oxford Open Doors weekend
Key Metric 2 73 volunteer work parties carried out nature conservation tasks; 244 people on volunteer green spaces mailing list (89 joined in 2024); 111 volunteers supported Open Doors weekend; 140 buildings, green spaces and monuments opened
Key Metric 3 £838,712 total income (2023: £790,741); total assets £8,045,138; investments £4,004,767; net surplus of £240,546 (including £246,830 investment gains); net deficit on ordinary activities £6,284

Key Outcomes

  • Covered Market units restored and let to Hamblin Bread; new boardwalk at Larkins Lane Field funded by Oxfordshire County Council improving accessibility; shallow pond created at Wolvercote Lakes with £2,833 grant from Grundon Waste Management
  • Oxford Open Doors 2024 celebrated as largest Heritage Open Days event outside London — 140 venues including Slade Camp, Florence Park Community Centre, North Parade Market, Reuben College opening for first time; Farming Recovery Payment £8,125 received due to flooding at Kennington
  • Secretarial of State CPO decision awaited on Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (OPT objected to destruction of rare MG4 grassland); planning permission granted by Oxfordshire County Council for scheme in July 2024; freeholder covenants on 250 acres of South Park protected against major events damage

Geography

Other

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
Total income £138,600,000 and total expenditure £108,350,000 (year ended 31 March 2025, charity no. 1068852); 5 million people welcomed through palace gates; £138.6m income...
Key Metric 2
Over 160,000 members making 300,000+ visits generating £5.8m membership income plus £814k Gift Aid; 217,400 £1 Universal Credit tickets sold; 304,000 visitors to Untold...
Key Metric 3
89% of visitors gained a better understanding of stories (discovery); 83% felt happier after their visit (joy); 76% were inspired to learn more; 28,365...
83% of visitors felt happier after their visit; 89% gained better understanding of palace stories; 94% charitable activities allocation of total expenditure; Tomorrow's Tower campaign secured £1.9m including £1m from Sandys Trust and National Lottery Heritage Fund development grant
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
3,943 young people reached across 279 learning sessions in 16 programmes; 46 public performances reaching 8,517 audience members
Key Metric 2
100+ Emerging Professionals supported with 159 paid performance opportunities; 32% from regions beyond London; 32% from African, Asian, Caribbean or Mixed Heritage backgrounds
Key Metric 3
46% of Under-18 participants receive bursaries; 46% benefit from free access (Pupil Premium, free school meals or low-income families)
Largest single concert audience of 1,500 for British Standard Time at Berlin's Konzerthaus; NYJO Under 18s alumni have gone on to Birmingham Conservatoire, Leeds Conservatoire and Cambridge University
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
1,363 young members attended Future Yard's youth and community music programmes in 2024/25
Key Metric 2
166 participants enrolled on the Sound Check live-events training programme, the highest cohort yet
Key Metric 3
1,091 free tickets distributed through the Neighbourhood Tickets Scheme, a 50%+ increase on the prior year
90% of Sound Check participants reported an increase in skills and sector awareness, and 91% an increase in confidence
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
10,224 pupils supported through Theatre and Film Festivals and workshops in 2023/24
Key Metric 2
8,775 young people performed across 67 partner theatres in the Theatre Festival
Key Metric 3
604 teachers supported to develop their skills through resources and workshops
100% of surveyed teachers reported their students had greater pride in themselves following the Theatre Festival