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ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

(A Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity)

Company Number: 03847936 Registered Charity Number: 1088537

REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

Legal and Administrative Information

For the year ended 31[st] December 2024

Directors and Trustees

Stephen Aldridge FAcSS Professor Tim Allen FAcSS Professor Lisa Anderson FAcSS Professor Linda Bauld FAcSS (June 2024 - ) Professor Nic Beech FAcSS (rtd June 2024) Professor Richard Black FAcSS Professor Tim Blackman FAcSS Professor Tony Crook CBE FAcSS (rtd June 2024) Professor Simin Davoudi FAcSS (June 2024 - ) Tricia Dodd MBE (June 2024 - ) Professor Bobby Duffy FAcSS Professor Eileen Green FAcSS Will Hutton FAcSS (President)

Professor Simon Marginson FAcSS (rtd June 2024 Dame Jil Matheson FAcSS (rtd June 2024) Professor Tony McEnery FAcSS Professor Christopher Millward FAcSS (June 2024 - ) Dr Utsa Mukherjee (June 2024 - ) Professor Judith Phillips OBE FAcSS Professor Sally Power FAcSS Professor Vicky Pryce FAcSS (rtd June 2024) Professor Ian Rivers FAcSS Professor John Scott CBE FAcSS Professor Imogen Tyler FAcSS Professor Kavita Vedhara FAcSS

Company Registered Number

03847936

Charity Registered Number

1088537

Registered and Administrative Office

c/o Knox Cropper LLP, 65 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 2AD

Secretary

Dame Jil Matheson FAcSS (rtd June 2024) Professor Richard Black FAcSS (June 2024 - )

Independent examiner

James Holland-Leader FCA, Knox Cropper LLP, 65 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 2AD

Investment Advisors

Evelyn Partners, 17th Floor, 6 New Street Square, New Fetter Lane London, EC4A 3BF

Bankers

CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ

Metro Bank 1 Southampton Row, London, WC1B 5HA

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

AcSS Directors’ Report 2024

Contents

From the President
From the Chief Executive
About the Academy
Key highlights in numbers
Embedding social science evidence and mindsets
Safeguarding the health of the social sciences
Fostering strong, skilled and diverse pipelines of social scientists
Growing the public’s understanding of social science
Recognising and supporting excellence in social sciences
Ensuring a sustainable future 11. Financial overview
Our supporters
Our people 14. Governance

The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st December 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

1. From the President

I’m delighted to introduce the Academy’s Annual Report for 2024, a year marked by much contextual change with elections taking place in more than 60 countries around the world and new government administrations taking office, both in the UK and overseas. 2024 also marked the first year of activity in the Academy’s new 2024-2029 strategy and the mid-point of my presidency.

With so much change taking place this past year and an increasing number of complex challenges for society to face, the value of the social sciences cannot be overstated. Notably, in their understanding and insight into socio-economic, geo-political, education and environmental issues; their innovation in identifying and developing solutions to real-world problems; and the positive contributions they make to policy focused on providing better outcomes for citizens,

The Academy’s work in 2024 served to highlight this value – to those working in policy and the civil service, to the wider public, and to others beyond the social science sector. Five well-received reports were published throughout the year, underpinning our advocacy work, enhancing our visibility, engaging the media, strengthening relationships and drawing on our Fellows’ research. Elsewhere, the Academy’s We Society podcast continued to go from strength to strength, inviting a range of expert guests to discuss the latest research and evidence on topical issues, further demonstrating how the social sciences contribute positively to all of our lives. 2024 also saw the beginnings of a new Academy project exploring Whitehall’s use of evidence to inform impactful policy, and the groundwork was laid for a new careers project which aims to showcase the many varied and impactful careers that studying social science can lead to.

Reflecting back on the past three years as President, I am heartened by the progress that the Academy has made in such a short space of time. Whether embarking on new projects and initiatives to further promote the social sciences, raising our profile with new audiences, and strengthening our networks and influence in order to be a collective voice on behalf of the social science community, we

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

have worked collaboratively with our communities. What has been achieved to date would not be possible without our trustees and committee members, our small but dedicated staff team, our esteemed Fellowship, our member social science societies and Campaign supporters, and our other donors and funders. I thank them all for their unwavering guidance, advice and support in all that we do to promote the social sciences for public benefit.

Will Hutton FAcSS

2. From the Chief Executive

2024 marks the Academy of Social Sciences’ 25th anniversary year – and what a year it has been. Our foundations as an Academy exist in our member learned societies, our Fellows and our purpose. 25 years on they are stronger and more vibrant than ever and continue to underpin our work and much of our strength as an organisation.

A small number of leading member societies formed the pre-cursor organisation to the Academy, as the social sciences champion they felt was needed at the time. Today, 48 member societies, including all of the main disciplines and many of the sub-disciplines, provide a vital disciplinary complement to the Academy’s social science sector remit and, alongside the Academy’s Fellows, a large and powerful network of social science expertise. In 2024 the Academy and member societies worked together effectively in targeted advocacy, in furthering EDI in the sector (in partnership with ESRC (UKRI)), and in sharing knowledge and expertise and building capacity across the learned societies. We have yet to realise the full potential of the member societies and the Academy working together for public benefit, but it is growing all the time.

Our Fellows are the lifeblood of the Academy in a different and complementary way. In 2024 our Fellowship reached 1,662. All are leading experts in their fields, whether as academics, and/or in the professional practice of social sciences in the public, private and third sectors. This expertise is a tremendous resource, and the Academy continues to draw widely upon it to help shape and support our publishing, events, consultation responses, briefings, policy and other reports, grant awards, and much more both under the Campaign for Social Science’s work and for wider Academy activities. In 2024, as in previous years, Fellows also led our governance as trustees and committee members, provided fantastic support and advice, and contributed the largest single source of funding for the Academy through their subscriptions.

Our purpose continues to drive the Academy as can be seen in the new strategy published in 2024. We champion the social sciences first and foremost for public benefit. We are inclusive in so doing; we see ourselves as here for the whole community. A tall order for a modestly sized organisation, but that is our ethos.

There is much to champion. Around 47% of university students in the UK graduate with a social sciences degree, and four social science disciplines are among the ten most studied subjects at A Level in England and Wales. Most companies depend on the social sciences professions, including law and accountancy, and on much more besides. The public sector employs many thousands of social scientists as specialists in analysis, policy, evidence, and evaluation, unsurprisingly as governments face challenges in economic productivity, health, social welfare, regeneration of places and regions, sustainability and so on, all of which are heavily informed by the social sciences and associated data. In terms of business, social science expertise fuels much of the services sector, which generated 80% of the UK’s economic output in 2024.

Social science research receives just 10% of the total research funding pot in the UK, a remarkably consistent proportion over the past ten years and yet it produced the greatest number (2,400) of

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

research impact case studies (REF 2021), 80% of which was recognised to be world leading or internationally excellent. Moreover, the social sciences, and in particular business management and economics Masters’ programmes, contributed disproportionately to the financial wellbeing of many HE institutions, bridging the funding gap until 2024/25.

Despite those successes, the need for effective championing of the social sciences, to promote their research insights, their contributions to society, education and skills, and to public, business and third sectors, for public benefit, is as strong now as it was when the Academy was formed. The President has already mentioned some of our initiatives and activities to support that in 2024 and more follows in the body of the report.

We also act to help safeguard the health of the social sciences. In 2024, for example, we advocated successfully for the use of learned society expertise in REF 2029 and responded to selected consultations. This work is ramping up in 2025 given the challenging financial circumstances in which UK universities are now operating and which are rapidly reaching a crisis point in some. The Academy has since added its weight to the voices calling for more than just a more welcoming tone from the UK Government and from the devolved parliaments to match the significant and difficult efforts being made by the HE sector to reduce costs.

Last, but not least, in the following pages you will also read about several significant internal projects in 2024 to enhance our operations and future capabilities. Notably, commissioning and implementing a new data management system; restructuring our financial reporting to enhance accountability and clarity, with reporting linked to our strategic objectives; and a significant uplift in sustained communications work to engage wider and larger audiences with social science and to develop our core messaging.

2024 was a very productive year for the Academy and its Campaign for Social Science. I’m incredibly proud of the hard work, innovation and dedication shown by our small, committed staff team in 2024 (7.25 FTE) - and appreciative of the huge support, collaboration and contributions from our Fellows, member social science societies, Campaign supporters, other donors, trustees and other committee members. It’s a great team. Warm thanks to all.

Dr Rita Gardner CBE FAcSS

3. About the Academy

The Academy of Social Sciences is the UK’s national academy for academics, practitioners and learned societies in the social sciences. We exist, as a charity, to promote the social sciences in the UK for public benefit. We showcase, champion and advocate for the social sciences and their applications, raising awareness – in policy, business and with the public – of their immense value in understanding and managing our contemporary human world, and helping to secure their flourishing future.

Our distinguished Fellowship, which comprises 1,600 leading social scientists from academia, the public, private and third sectors, has expertise covering the breadth of the social sciences, and their practice and research addresses some of the major challenges facing communities, society, places and economies.

The Academy’s Campaign for Social Science demonstrates how social science improves public policy, society and all our lives. It highlights the value of applied social science research and advocates for its greater use in decision-making and in government.

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

Our Vision :

The social sciences flourish in the UK and sustain their world leading stature. They are widely valued for their contributions to society, economy, environment and well-being; and led by confident and capable communities of academics and other professionals, learned societies and students.

Our Mission :

To enhance and safeguard the social sciences in research, professional practice, and education; and to champion and foster the understanding and application of social sciences in policy, business and public life.

Our strategic objectives for 2024-2029 :

The Academy’s strategy for the period 2024-2029 is underscored by six objectives which set the medium-term framework for our work in delivering our charitable purpose.

Embed social science evidence and mindsets more fully across governments and decision-makers , enhancing awareness of, demand for, and use of social science evidence and building greater parity of esteem between the social sciences and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).
Safeguard the social sciences: seeking to sustain their ‘health’ in secondary education, higher education and research, and their funding, in a complex setting subject to changing political pressures.
Foster strong, skilled and diverse pipelines of social scientists for the benefit of the social sciences, society, employers and individuals.
Grow the public image and understanding of social science with the long-term aim of achieving parity of public recognition with science and technology.
Recognise and support excellence in the social sciences , recognising that the UK is a world leader in this sector and that the social science ‘ecosystem’ needs nourishing.
Ensure a sustainable future for the Academy and its work to ‘promote social sciences in the UK for public benefit’.

The first five objectives all directly serve our purpose and provide public benefit in doing so; the sixth supports the Academy’s capability to deliver its purpose now and in the future. In 2024 our work addressed all of these objectives.

4. Key highlights in numbers

86 new Fellows elected

48 member social science societies

38 new comment pieces across our Campaign hubs

20+ in person and online events

141,000+ website visits

£80,000+ in funding awarded as part of our collaborative EDI Project

188,000+ downloads of articles in Contemporary Social Science journal published

1 in Apple Science and Social Science podcast charts for the We Society

5 major new reports published

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

5. Embedding social science evidence and mindsets

Social science lies at the heart of many of the UK Government’s priorities, exemplifying how vital the social sciences are to enhancing decision-making, society and our lives. For social science insights to more directly contribute to the UK’s technological, social, economic and environmental priorities, it is vital that decision-makers understand the importance and relevance of robust and objective social science evidence and seek it out to help address many of the local, national and global challenges we face. Throughout our activities in 2024, the Academy worked to engage with policymakers, forming new relationships and building our networks, enhancing our visibility and therefore raising and reinforcing awareness of the importance of social sciences in this arena.

Social science policy insights in the run up to a General Election

As part of our work to showcase the value of social science research, evidence and perspectives to key policy areas, in the run up to the UK General Election, the Campaign for Social Science continued its project, Election 24: ideas for change based on social science evidence, for the first half of the year. The online hub expanded with 34 new comment pieces offering constructive evidence-based policy recommendations and positive ideas for change across many of the main election issues including immigration; fiscal policy reform; housing; net zero; energy policy; education policy; ageing; social care; trust in evidence used in public debate; mental health in the workplace, and more. Six online and in-person events also took place under the project’s banner, covering topical issues including welfare, AI, climate change, housing, equality in the northeast (with Newcastle University), and policy priorities in Wales (with the University of Swansea). All these events attracted a broad audience from academic, public and policy spheres.

The Campaign concluded the project in May 2024 in readiness for the UK General Election. All content related to the project is available to view on the Election 24 hub as a record of its activity between September 2023 and May 2024.

Beyond the ballot: social science insights on eight key policy challenges

To further engage with policymakers and civic society, the outputs from the Election 24 project, comprising the evidence-led insights of over 100 social scientists, were drawn together in a new report , Beyond the ballot: social science insights on eight key policy challenges, which was published jointly with Sage Publications. Launched in November, the report covers aspects of health & social care, inequalities & welfare, housing, macroeconomics, regional equity & growth, borders & migration, knowledge & technology, and energy & climate. These evidence-based contributions draw on a wide range of social science methodologies and underline the great potential of social science research, from across a very wide range of disciplines, to help inform and shape policy and practice. The launch event drew an audience of senior civil servants, influential thinktanks and key academics. In addition, a modest parliamentary launch under the umbrella of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Social Science & Policy, took place in early January 2025. The report will be an important part of our evidence base for engaging with policymakers in the future, supporting the Academy’s work to showcase the breadth and relevance of social science research to contemporary policy debates.

Engaging policymakers through our reports

The Academy launched two of its policy reports at the beginning of 2024 and used these throughout the year to engage with policymakers and the civil service, the media and to enhance our visibility. Reimagining the Recipe for Research & Innovation: the secret sauce of social science , positioned the social sciences as the ‘secret sauce’ which helps STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) research to be applicable to the wider world, and emphasised the need for a research culture that reflects that symbiosis. The report opened up new relationships for the Academy, enabling us to further engage with more STEM-orientated organisations, and it was cited positively by Professor

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

Dame Angela McLean, the UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, in the months which followed its release.

The SHAPE of Research Impact , published in collaboration with the British Academy, examined the entire set of impact case studies from REF 2021 across SHAPE (social sciences, humanities and the arts) disciplines and emphasised the ways in which SHAPE impact occurs beyond preconceived boundaries. In the months following its publication, the Academy used the report to highlight good practice examples of applied social science research across a breadth of geographical, disciplinary and institutional boundaries. The Academy has also used the report to engage with a number of policymakers, ministers and civil servants across the UK nations. Both reports will continue to be important advocacy tools for the Academy.

Understanding Whitehall’s use of evidence to inform impactful policy

The complex challenges facing society all relate to and have an impact on people, behaviours, place, society and economy in one form or another. Social scientists have an important role to play owing to their evidence-led insights into each of these areas. The Institute for Government (April 2023) highlighted the opportunity to harness socio-economic evidence and insights more fully across government to ensure that such evidence was being used to best effect. Against this background, in 2024, the Academy commenced a new project which aims to understand how scientific evidence – including that from the social sciences – is, and could be better, utilised in policymaking and implementation, across UK Government, to help provide better outcomes for citizens.

The Academy commissioned Jonathan Breckon FAcSS, of Breckon Consulting, working with Stephen Meek, of the University of Nottingham (working in an independent capacity), to work in close collaboration with the Academy to conduct a research and mapping exercise to gather insights into the current structures and processes through which evidence is utilised in policy and decision-making in Whitehall. In doing so, they also identified possible ways of making such systems more effective in the future. The Academy will consult on the findings and plans to publish a report with recommendations in 2025. This will focus on the potential opportunities for better harnessing social science evidence more fully, consistently and effectively within a broader evidence-led policymaking and implementation process.

6. Safeguarding the health of the social sciences

With the social sciences underpinning much of our understanding of the human world, training over 47% of our graduates, and providing professional expertise essential to the running of most businesses and governments, sustaining the health of the sector across the UK, and its supporting ecosystem, is key to securing the benefits that social science provides for everyone. Throughout 2024, the Academy continued to provide evidence and advocate for decisions to support the UK in retaining its world-leading reputation across the breadth of social science research and education.

Documenting trends in social science research funding

The social sciences is one of the largest of the UK higher education (HE) sectors and features, to varying extents, in almost all higher education institutions. Governments, business and charities draw heavily on social science research, including the knowledge base in universities and insights among practitioners. This documents, for example, changing socio-economic, demographic and geo-spatial contexts, it informs an understanding of inter-relationships and dependencies such as between education attainment and poverty, and it aids in policy and strategy development and implementation, innovation and business growth, and evaluation. To that end, sustained research and development funding in the social sciences is essential in underpinning social science research and its applications.

In order to provide a reference study for the documentation of change in the future and to highlight any areas of particular concern in specific social science disciplines, the Academy published a new

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

report summarising the scale and trends in research funding for the social sciences across UK higher education. Drawing largely on annual Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) research funding data for the nine academic years between 2013/14 and 2021/22, the report analyses the social sciences sector in comparison with the medical and biological sciences sector, the physical sciences, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sector and the arts and humanities sector. It also provides insight into the quantity, distribution and change over time of research funding for the social science sector as a whole and across disciplines and discipline clusters within it. As a result, the report raises questions about what the UK wants from its social science sector research and the appetite for its funding. The Academy continues to monitor, analyse and report social science research funding data at regular intervals in the future.

Advocating for social science

To be a strong collective voice for the social sciences, the Academy responded to several consultations in association with our member learned societies as part of our work to advocate for the health of the social sciences in the UK, at various levels. Submitted consultation responses included the REF2029 Open Access consultation led by the Academy’s Open Access advisor Sally Hardy, the UK Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review and the former government’s consultation on the Advanced British Standard.

So as to ensure social science expertise was thoroughly embedded within the Research Excellence Framework (REF), the Academy took a positive, pro-active role in engaging with the REF 2029 team on behalf of the social sciences, advising on the Panel C Chair selection, and in helping to make a successful case, with our learned society members, for the REF team to make use of the independent discipline-based expertise that sits within the learned societies in advising at the Sub-panel level.

The Academy’s advocacy work also extended to individual relationships with leaders and decision makers relevant to the sector.

Strengthening relationships

The Academy further strengthened its relationships with our various networks in order to share information, build capacity and, where relevant, to act as a collective advocacy voice. The Academy continued to convene meetings of our member learned societies CEOs and chief officers on a termly basis to discuss various pertinent issues including Charity Commission guidance during an election year, the REF2029 panel appointment process and Open Access, and the UK Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review.

The Academy’s Forum for Leaders in Social Science, chaired by Professor Nick Vaughan-Williams FAcSS, continued to meet termly to share knowledge and insights and discuss challenges being faced by the community in the higher education sector. These meetings were well attended and were positively received by those in the forum.

7. Fostering strong, skilled and diverse pipelines of social scientists

In 2024, the Academy continued its work to raise awareness among decision makers, employers and students of the skills and employability of social science graduates; and to promote and share good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity (EDI) in education and higher education. The Academy’s EDI partnership project, a joint programme between the Academy of Social Sciences, its member social science societies and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC, UKRI), undertook a full programme of activity in its second year to share resources, learning and to increase the potential to effect real and positive change.

Supporting a second round of EDI initiatives in the higher education sector

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

Following a successful first round of EDI grants being awarded in 2023, the Academy was delighted to award £81,032, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), to support eight EDI initiatives and interventions put forward competitively by the Academy’s member social science societies.

In this second round of grant funding, an independent external assessment panel awarded funding to the British Academy of Management, the British Association for Applied Linguistics and UK Association for Language Testing and Assessment (joint bid), the British International Studies Association, the Development Studies Association, the Political Studies Association, the Royal Economic Society’s Discover Economics programme, the Royal Statistical Society and the Society for the Advancement of Management Studies. The projects encompass a range of initiatives, aimed at specific areas of challenge in each of the discipline areas and their learnings have the capacity to be transferred and scaled up throughout the wider community, providing invaluable insight to support EDI progress across and beyond the social science community.

Sharing good practice through events

To further enhance the Academy’s offer in sharing good practice knowledge and learning efficiently with our member social science societies, the EDI Project commenced its training and knowledge sharing events programme. Focused on empowering social science societies to build capacity and move EDI forward in their own organisations, the events delivered in 2024 included sessions from the Royal Economic Society on both their Women’s Committee Mentoring Programme and Active Bystander Programme, which they developed as part of their EDI small grants funding; two introductory sessions on EDI in the work/volunteer place; and an EDI Champions roundtable discussion with representatives from the Academy’s member social science societies who act, or wish to act, as EDI champions within their own organisations.

Reporting on the state of EDI in the social sciences

Following a request from the Academy’s member social science societies, in 2024 the Academy published a new report which draws on 2021/22 Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data to present a top-level summary of EDI data for the social sciences. The report includes an overview of selected protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, and provides some socio-economic indicators, which allows for comparisons to be made between the social sciences sector and the UK’s total academic staff and student populations, in addition to comparisons between disciplines within the social sciences sector.

The report was featured in an article by Research Professional upon publication, and paves the way for the Academy’s member social science societies to conduct further discipline-level analyses to support their own EDI activities.

Promoting careers with social science

Following some desk based research into existing careers information, as part of our work towards sustaining the pipeline of diverse social science talent, in 2024 the Academy embarked on a project to refresh our careers in social science webpages to help promote the skills, knowledge and diversity of careers available through studying social science at school and beyond.

Aimed at secondary school students choosing their GCSEs and post-16 qualifications, and university students of the social sciences, the new webpages were soft launched in January 2025. They provide a range of information including what to expect when studying social science at secondary school and beyond, the transferable skills gained, and indications of potential earnings in different careers, as well as links to useful resources from other organisations, including the Academy’s member learned societies.

As part of the updated careers hub, a suite of interviews with professional social scientists working in a variety of roles across a number of sectors provides real world insight into some of the diversity of

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

careers studying the social sciences can lead to. The Academy will continue to add to the I’m a social scientist profiles on a regular basis, providing more inspirational insights to enthuse the next generation of social scientists.

8. Growing the public’s understanding of social science

The social sciences are important to us all in their applications, and so, throughout 2024, the Academy sought to further raise awareness with those outside of academic circles, especially the public and civic audiences, of the value that the social sciences provide to all of our lives - to business, society, communities, and to individual citizens.

Engaging the public through the We Society podcast

Season five and six of the Academy’s podcast, the We Society, saw host and Academy President, Will Hutton, invite leading social scientists, practitioners and public figures to explore, using their evidence, the stories behind the news and hear their solutions to some of society’s most pressing problems. Guests included Professor Saul Becker FAcSS uncovering the hidden world of the UK’s child carers, Professor Neil Chakraborti FAcSS and Professor Matthew Williams sharing their research on how to address hate crime, Dr Ella Cockbain highlighting the most current research on human trafficking and exploitation, Professor Anna Lawson FAcSS and Dr Shani Dhanda discussing how to embrace the social model of disability, and Professor Lord Richard Layard FAcSS on the social science of wellbeing. The podcast reached the top spot in both the Apple podcast science chart and the social science chart, with the total number of listens exceeding 112,000 in 2024.

Promoting social science through our events

In addition to the Campaign’s Election 24 project (page 7), the Campaign for Social Science offered a full programme of events in 2024. These included webinars on the topics of transport, policing and the evaluation of AI usage, the latter of which was in collaboration with the UK Evaluation Society and the Social Research Association. The Campaign also collaborated with several Campaign Supporters to deliver in-person events across the country, not only to be more inclusive and engage with the public and civic communities outside of London, but also to showcase the strength of social science research and practice throughout the UK nations and regions. Event collaborations took place with the University of Exeter on building resilience in rural communities, with the University of Stirling for an exploration of UK politics post-election as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science, and with the University of Essex looking at how social science is helping society navigate its way through a digital age.

During the year the Campaign also collaborated once again with Sage and The Conversation to deliver three events in the Social Science Perspectives series. These focused on the emergence of the far right, rethinking economic growth, and the US election.

The Campaign for Social Science Annual Sage Lecture was delivered in November with 150 people registering to hear Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government, explore what the future might hold for the UK against a backdrop of a changing geopolitical landscape following a year of elections.

Our flagship event of the year, the Academy’s Annual Lecture, was delivered by the Academy’s President, Will Hutton FAcSS, marking both our 25th anniversary year and the mid-point of his presidency. In a wide-ranging and inspiring talk, well attended by Academy Fellows, decision-makers, leaders of sister bodies and members of the public, Will drew on over 40 years of political commentary and insights from his recently published book, This Time No Mistakes , to share his personal views for a new way forwards and how the social sciences can and must contribute to building a better future through the concept of a ‘We Society’.

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

All of these events were attended by members of the public, as well as those from academic, media and policy circles, with the aim of raising awareness of the important contribution social science makes to us all.

9. Recognising and supporting excellence in social sciences

The Academy’s networks of academic and practitioner Fellows and member learned societies remain vital to our mission, as sources of expertise, as exemplars of excellence, and as social science ambassadors. We recognise and celebrate excellence in social science research and application through these networks, which are also essential parts of the social science ecosystem.

At the close of 2024 the Academy membership comprised 1,662 Fellows and 47 member social science societies.

Fellowship

Fellowship of the Academy is a visible sign of the importance of the social sciences and the excellence of its expert research and practitioner communities in contributing knowledge, understanding and actions in support of society, the economy, people and places. The Academy welcomed 86 new Fellows during 2024 from across academia and the public and private sectors, conferred for their eminence, impact and wider contributions to social science. All Fellowship proposals were peer reviewed by the Nominations Committee before being approved by the Council, to ensure the Academy continued to sustain excellence in its professional community. New Fellows were conferred in two rounds during the year. The Fellowship retention rate overall remained high at 93%.

Of the 86 newly conferred Fellows 22% self-identified as from ethnic communities; 42% identified as women; and 88% were from the academic sector, many of whom are actively engaged in applied social science. The number of nominees residing in England was 64%, with 20% residing in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 16% residing overseas.

We are grateful for the work of our Nominations Committee (chaired by Professor John Scott CBE FBA FAcSS) and our Practitioner and Academic Fellow Search Committees, chaired respectively by Andy Ross FAcSS and Professor Ian Rivers FAcSS. We also thank our Fellows and member learned societies for their nominations. Fellows are also warmly thanked for contributing their expertise to a range of the Academy’s activities throughout the year, including speaking at events, submitting comment pieces to our themed Campaign hubs, as guests on the We Society podcast, featuring in our ‘Meet our Fellows’ series, as journal contributors, as committee members and much more.

2024 Public honours

We congratulate our Fellows who were recognised with public honours for their contributions to the social sciences in 2024.

Professor Michaela Benzeval FAcSS , Professor of Longitudinal Research and Director of Understanding Society at the University of Essex, who received Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to social science.
Professor Harriet Bulkeley FBA FAcSS , Professor of Geography and Deputy Executive Dean, Research, Durham University, who received Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to geography and to environmental governance.
Jenny Dibden FAcSS , Director, Intervention Delivery, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, who received Companion of the Order of the Bath for public service.
Professor Peter Fonagy OBE FAcSS , Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, who received Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to mental health care for children and young people.

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

Professor Roger Goodman FAcSS , Nissan Professor of Modern Japanese Studies and Warden, St. Antony’s College at the University of Oxford, who received Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to social science.
Professor Qing Gu FAcSS , Director, University College London Centre for Educational Leadership, who received Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to education.
Professor Emmanuel Ogbonna FAcSS , Professor of Management and Organisation, Cardiff University, who received Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to people from ethnic minority backgrounds and anti-racism.
Professor Henry Overman FAcSS , Professor of Economic Geography, London School of Economics and Director, What Works Centre, who received Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to local growth.
Professor Judith Petts CBE FAcSS , Vice-Chancellor at University of Plymouth, who received Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to higher education and to sustainability.
Professor Gareth Stansfield FAcSS , Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean at the University of Exeter, who received Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to UK interests in Iraq.
Professor Matthew Woollard FAcSS , Professor of Data Policy and Governance, UK Data Archive, University of Essex, who received Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to data science.

Member Learned Societies

Learned societies and professional bodies in the social sciences are at the heart of the Academy as independent bodies affiliated to the Academy through membership, and enable us to provide a strong collective voice in support of the social sciences. The Academy actively engaged with its member learned societies throughout the year to encourage networking, knowledge sharing, capacity building and collaboration on advocacy. In 2024 we retained membership of 48 societies. These include the lead learned societies for the major social science disciplines, together with many of those representing sub-disciplines and cross-disciplinary areas. We thank them for being part of the Academy.

The CEOs and Chief Officers of the societies continued to meet on a termly basis and the Academy and its member societies continued to work closely together to help advance Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) in the social sciences, in collaboration with the ESRC; and in collectively responding to consultations. The subgroup Virtual Conferences Network met monthly to exchange insights on operational challenges of running events.

Our Member Learned Societies in 2024:

Association for Psychosocial Studies (APS) Association of Law Teachers (ALT) Association of Professors of Social Work (APSW) Association of Social Anthropologists of the UK (ASA) Behavioural Science and Public Health Network (BSPHN) British Academy of Management (BAM) British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA) British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL) British Association for International and Comparative Education (BAICE) British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies (BASEES) British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society (BELMAS) British Educational Research Association (BERA) British International Studies Association (BISA) British Psychological Society (BPS) British Society for Population Studies (BSPS) British Society of Criminology (BSC)

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

British Society of Gerontology (BSG) British Sociological Association (BSA) British Universities Industrial Relations Association (BUIRA) Council for Hospitality Management Education (CHME) Development Studies Association (DSA) Economic History Society (EHS) European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP) Government Social Research Profession (GSR) Housing Studies Association (HSA) Leisure Studies Association (LSA) Media, Communications and Cultural Studies Association (MeCCSA) Political Studies Association (PSA) Regional Science Association International, British and Irish Section (RSAI) Regional Studies Association (RSA) Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) Royal Economic Society (RES) Royal Geographical Society (RGS with IBG) Royal Statistical Society (RSS) Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scottish Economic Society (SES) Social Policy Association (SPA) Social Research Association (SRA) Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) Society for Studies in Organizing Healthcare (SHOC) Society for the Advancement of Management Studies (SAMS) Society of Legal Scholars (SLS) Society of Professional Economists (SPE) Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) UK Association for Language Testing and Assessment (UKALTA) UK Association for Public Administration (UKAPA) UK Evaluation Society (UKES) University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES)

Contemporary Social Science Journal

To continue to showcase excellence in research from the social sciences community, the Academy’s interdisciplinary and international journal, Contemporary Social Science , continued an active programme of work throughout 2024. Editor, Professor David Bailey FAcSS, published highly topical, themed issues on enabling a just transition and beyond levelling up, as well as a general issue, all of which featured papers from leading scholars across the world.

The journal has seen increasing levels of engagement throughout 2024, receiving 188,000 downloads, being ranked sixth in the social sciences in the emerging sources citation index (ESCI), and achieving a Quartile 1 ranking for both Impact Factor and Citescore for the first time. The Academy extends its thanks to publishers Taylor & Francis and to David and the editorial board.

10. Ensuring a sustainable future

As the only organisation in the UK which exists solely for the promotion of social sciences for public benefit, in 2024 the Academy continued to work to ensure its future as an independent, effective and respected champion of social science in the UK, with sufficient and sustainable funding, and strong community support.

Publishing a new strategy

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

The Academy launched its new five-year strategy for 2024-2029 which outlines our objectives for promoting social science in the UK for public benefit. Informed by consultations with Academy Fellows, Council members, Executive Committee, our member learned societies, Academy staff and external stakeholders, our new strategy builds on our current work and guides our activities in achieving our vision to see the social sciences flourish in the UK, sustain their world leading stature and help make the world a better place. We look forward to working with our communities over the next five years in realising our ambitious plans in promoting and advocating for the social sciences in education and research, policy, business, and public life.

Strengthening our internal processes

To further improve the Academy’s efficiency in internal processes, 2024 saw the Academy embark on a major project to implement a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database. This project is already yielding significant benefits in streamlining essential administrative processes, in supporting communications, and in enabling more accurate and efficient monitoring and updating of the Academy’s membership and supporter data.

The Academy also restructured the end of year financial statements to show for the first time how funds being spent map onto our strategic objectives, thus enhancing accountability and clarity for our supporters, and aiding our internal monitoring.

Raising our profile

Throughout 2024, the Academy significantly increased its communications outputs through a sustained pipeline of consistent and regular content through our various channels, as well as strengthening our relationship with the media. This work has been pivotal in further building our profile with existing and new audiences; helping our various stakeholders to fully understand the extent of our activities in the promotion of the social sciences. As a result, in 2024, the Academy saw a significantly higher number of visits to our website, increased and sustained engagement with our content on social media, and a significant increase in media mentions compared to previous years.

11. Financial overview

The Academy’s financial statements are presented to show clearly how expenditure relates to our main areas of work in the year, which in turn relate directly to our strategy objectives. Thus, there is alignment for the reader between strategy, work accomplished, and expenditure. Thanks to strong support from those who fund our work, and to our prudent budgeting and well managed cost controls, we ended the year with a modest positive outturn on both the Academy’s unrestricted operations and the Campaign’s dedicated (restricted) operations. The joint EDI project with ESRC operated within budget, as did the ESSI project.

Incoming resources totalled £774,945 (2023: £702,371) split between core (unrestricted) £392,260 (2023: £373,653) and restricted £382,685 (2023: £328,718) funds. The major income sources are shown in Figure 1, with member subscriptions comprising 45% of total income and around 90% of the unrestricted income. Donations/project funding and Campaign Supporter sponsorships account for the majority of the restricted income.

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

Fig. The proportions of income, by source, received by the Academy in 2024

The small increase in unrestricted income, compared with 2023, reflects a modest increase in Fellowship subscriptions (below CPI rates) and increased income from investments. The increase in restricted income largely reflects the donation to support the new ESSI programme. Once again, we had strong, sustained and very welcome support from those funding our core work: our Fellows (93% subscription renewal rate); social science society members (100% retained); and Campaign supporters and sponsors (100% renewal rate). We are immensely grateful to those who believe in what we do to promote the social sciences and we thank you all warmly.

Total expenditure in 2024 was £728,208 (2023: £643,681). Of that, the unrestricted expenditure was £382,206 (2023: £348,977) and restricted funds expenditure £346,002 (2023: £294,704). The increase in unrestricted expenditure included costs associated with the production of the podcast series the We Society. The increase in restricted expenditure included costs of the ESSI project and a new junior post to support the Campaign for Social Science activities. Staff costs across the organisation were, as usual, the single largest item of expenditure.

Fig. 2 The proportions of expenditure, by strategic objective and support costs, in 2024

The total expenditure is displayed across the main areas of Academy strategic and support operations in Figure 2. Broadly equal sums were expended in our work to showcase social science, on policy and advocacy for the ‘health’ of the social sciences, our EDI project which was the focus of work to foster a diverse and strong pipeline of social science talent, and public engagement and

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

communications. 2024 saw a modest increase in expenditure on fundraising activities. Remaining areas of expenditure were on the supporting excellence – predominantly on the administration of Fellowship and membership. Support costs, including IT and professional services, are distributed across these operating areas in ratio to the staff costs.

At the end of 2024, the balance sheet stood at £709,568 (2023: £654,134), of which restricted funds comprised £408,288 (2023: £367,865). The majority of the latter relates to the Campaign for Social Science (£243,703) reserves; the remainder to income received on grants and donations for specific projects that is budgeted to be spent in subsequent years. The 2024 surplus of income over expenditure in the restricted fund of £40,423 relates largely to the funds received in 2024 under the EDI and ESSI programmes of work and which are to be spent in subsequent years.

The unrestricted general fund reserves stood at £286,269 (2023: £258,255). The Academy will continue to maintain sufficient reserves (a minimum of 50% of annual expenditure) against the significant risks in its funding environment, both in general and specifically to the risks associated with the funding of the Campaign for Social Science which is supported solely by donations from Campaign Supporters, almost all of whom are universities. These risks will be heightened in the next three years or so given the financial pressures in the higher education sector.

12. Our supporters

The Academy maintained and strengthened its working relationships with Fellows, member social science societies, Campaign supporters, and other funders and supporters throughout the year. All four communities are pillars of the Academy’s future and add substantially to our work. The Academy’s retention levels for its Fellows, learned society members and Campaign supporters remained very strong in 2024.

In 2024, the Academy’s work was supported by its Fellows, in numerous ways, including sharing their knowledge and expertise, using their contact networks, assisting us in matters of good governance and in making Fellowship nominations, ensuring our professional community is continually renewed. Their time, energy and effort are freely given and we warmly thank them for their support. Fellows’ subscriptions also underpin the core funding of the Academy and its work.

The Campaign for Social Science was sponsored in 2024 by 33 UK universities from across England, Scotland and Wales, the British Sociological Association, and by lead commercial sponsor, Sage Publishing. Without this support the Campaign would not have been able to progress its activities this year to promote the social sciences; particularly in showcasing the role of social science evidence relevant to public policy. Nor would the Academy have been able to be as active in its policy work. We thank them all, particularly Sage for supporting and publishing our policy report, Beyond the ballot: social science insights on eight key policy challenges , and for partnering on the Campaign Annual Lecture and other Campaign events. We also extend our thanks to those Campaign supporters who partnered with us on numerous events as part of the Election 24: ideas for change based on social science evidence project.

The ESRC (and its parent body UKRI) is gratefully acknowledged for the £110,000 received in 2024 to support the EDI Project. The Academy matches the ESRC staff support contribution with in-kind staff and website support.

Finally, we warmly thank the donor whose gift continues to support our strategic development, and the new donor who is supporting the ESSI project. We respect their wishes to remain anonymous, in line with the approved Council policy on fundraising and donations.

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

Campaign supporters in 2024:

Sage (Campaign sponsor) Anglia Ruskin University (Silver supporter) Arden University (Silver supporter) British Sociological Association (Silver supporter) Brunel University London (Silver supporter) City University London (Bronze supporter) Durham University (Bronze supporter) King’s College London (Silver supporter) Lancaster University (Silver supporter) Newcastle University (Gold supporter) Royal Holloway University of London (Bronze supporter) Swansea University (Silver supporter) The London School of Economics and Political Science (Bronze supporter) The Open University (Silver supporter) The University of Edinburgh (Silver supporter) The University of Manchester (Silver supporter) The University of Sheffield (Silver supporter) The University of Warwick (Silver supporter) UCL (Silver supporter) University of Aberdeen (Silver supporter) University of Birmingham (Silver supporter) University of Bristol (Silver supporter) University of East Anglia (Silver supporter) University of Essex (Bronze supporter) University of Exeter (Gold supporter) University of Glasgow (Gold supporter) University of Leeds (Bronze supporter) University of Oxford (Silver supporter) University of Southampton (Gold supporter) University of St Andrews (Silver supporter) University of Stirling (Gold supporter) University of Strathclyde (Silver supporter) University of Sussex (Silver supporter) University of the West of England (Silver supporter) University of York (Bronze supporter)

13. Our people

The Academy is governed by its Council (Board of Trustees) (p2) and supported by six specialist committees, all consisting of eminent social scientists mostly drawn from the Academy’s Fellowship.

The Academy’s Council has overall responsibility for the charity and its members act as Directors for the company. They have responsibility for ensuring the Academy operates within its charitable objectives, providing strategic direction and monitoring of the Academy’s performance against annual workplans. The planning, organisation and delivery of the work of the Academy is delegated to the Chief Executive and her staff team. The Council is chaired by the President and comprises 21 members, onethird of whom are elected by the Fellowship, one-third by member social science societies, and onethird are appointed by the Council. Trustees serve a three-year term, renewable for one further term of three years. The Council met, as planned, on three occasions in 2024, chaired by President, Will Hutton FAcSS. The meeting in February 2024 agreed the refreshed strategy for 2024-2029 and the associated action plan, together with the workplan and budget for the year. The meeting in May approved the Annual Directors’ Report and Accounts; and the meeting in October approved a new category of Fellowship; Honorary Fellowship which will commence in 2025. The Council approved new conferments for Fellowship in February and August, following careful scrutiny by the Nominations Committee.

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

Committees of Council

Council was supported in its governance role by expert committees of Council, the Chairs of which are all Council members. All committee meetings took place as planned. The main committees of Council in 2024 remained unchanged:

Audit and Risk Management Committee
Campaign for Social Science Board
CEOs-Chief Officers of Learned Societies Committee
Executive Committee
Nominations Committee
Remunerations Committee

There were a number of changes to the membership of the Academy’s committees in 2024.

At the AGM, the Academy welcomed five new trustees. Professor Linda Bauld, Professor Simin Davoudi, Tricia Dodd, Professor Chris Millward and Dr Utsa Mukherjee who were all elected in June 2024 and all of whom bring a wealth of experience with them. We also said farewell to Dame Jil Matheson (Honorary Secretary), Professor Nic Beech (Honorary Treasurer), Vicky Pryce, Professor Simon Marginson and Professor Tony Crook. We were also deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Tony Crook in November. Tony supported the Academy brilliantly and in many different, and ever thoughtful, ways over the many years he was a Fellow. He has left a strong mark on the organisation, not least as the first chair of both the Campaign and the Practitioner Fellows Search Committee. Professor Richard Black was appointed as Honorary Secretary, and Professor Judith Phillips was appointed as Honorary Treasurer for one year until June 2025. They both join the Executive Committee alongside the President and Chair of the Campaign for Social Science. There were also several changes to the Campaign Board with Professor Rob Ford, Gillian Prior, Professor Jo Swaffield, Carol McNaughton Nicholls and Jo Adetunji joining following the completion of terms for Desiree Lopez, Professor Patrick Diamond, Rachel Neaman, Professor Jonathan Portes and Dr Chris Tyler. The Audit & Risk Committee welcomed Professor Chris Millward, with Professor Tony McEnery remaining as chair.

We thank all our committee members for their ongoing guidance, commitment and support.

The Academy’s staff

In 2024 the Academy’s staff comprised an average of 9 (7.25 FTE) staff: the Chief Executive, Director of Operations and Head of Policy and Public Affairs forming the senior leadership team; Senior Campaign Manager, Senior Communications Manager, Membership and Database Manager, EDI Programme Manager, Finance Manager and until July 2024 an Events and Engagement Officer and from November 2024 a Campaign and Events Officer.

14. Governance

The Academy of Social Science is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 24 September 1999, and is registered as a charity. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association, which established the objects and powers of the charitable company, and is governed by its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up, members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.

There were no changes to the Academy’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and Operating Rules in 2024 and all statutory reporting to Companies House, the Charity Commission and HMRC were completed on time.

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

Will Hutton FAcSS remained President of the Academy, entering his second term. The President’s role combines that of figurehead for the Academy with active leadership including chairing the meetings of Council and of the CEOs of Learned Societies Group; overseeing the proceedings of the Annual General Meeting; representing the Academy at ceremonial occasions and at high profile external meetings and events; managing relationships with selected high profile stakeholders; and appointing the Chief Executive of the Academy, subject to approval by Council.

Induction and Training of new Trustees

New Trustees are subject to a formal induction process, which includes introductions to their legal obligations under Charity and Company Law, the relevant Charity Commission’s guidance, such as on public benefit and on advocacy and campaigning, the Charity’s governing documents, the committee structure and decision-making processes, and recent financial performance of the charity.

Trustees are recruited based upon their skills, sector knowledge and experience and may attend relevant courses as training to enhance their knowledge and the undertaking of their role. The Trustees confirm that they have had regard for the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit when reviewing and planning activities in 2024 and for future years.

Key management remuneration

The trustees receive no remuneration for their services other than the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. The pay of staff, including senior staff, is reviewed annually by the Remunerations Committee and normally increased to reflect inflation, taking into account CPI, the inflation increase applied to Fellows’ subscriptions, and the Academy’s resources as a charity. Academy salaries are benchmarked against pay and conditions data available from similar organisations of a similar size, run on a voluntary basis. Performance related increases are awarded on an individual basis, following review by line managers and consideration of the Remuneration Committee.

Risk management

The trustees understand their duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. Guidance is provided to the trustees by the Audit and Risk Management Committee, of which the Chair sits on the Council.

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the company is exposed, in particular those related to the operations, reputation and finances of the company and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.

Going Concern

The Trustees consider that there are no uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Board have made this assessment in respect of the period of one year from the date of approval of these financial statements, having considered the level of reserves held and the forecast results for the next 12 months.

Responsibilities in Relation to the Financial Statements

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

Academy of Social Sciences (a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity) Directors’ Report for the year ended 31st December 2024

observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
prepare financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue to operate.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with relevant legislation and the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Will Hutton FAcSS President

By Order of the Board pursuant to a resolution of Council 21 May 2025

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF

THE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Academy of Social Sciences (‘the Company’) for the year ended 31[st] December 2024, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and related notes.

This report is made to the Trustees, as a body, in accordance with the terms of my engagement. Our work has been undertaken so that we might carry out an Independent Examination of the financial statements in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity’s Trustees, as a body, for our work or for this report.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your Charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accounts in England and Wales (‘ICAEW’), which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

I have no concern and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

James Holland-Leader FCA Knox Cropper LLP Chartered Accountants

65/68 Leadenhall Street London, EC3A 2AD

21 May 2025

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

(INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

	2024	2023	Total £ 656,511 26,868 18,992
Unrestricted £ 351,650 22,901 17,709 392,260 10,110 372,096 382,206 4,957 15,011 - 15,011 286,269 £301,280	Restricted £ 369,326 - 13,359 382,685 10,441 335,561 346,002 3,740 40,423 - 40,423 367,865 £408,288	Restricted £ 320,927 - 7,791 328,718 9,612 285,092 294,704 2,323 36,337 - 36,337 331,528 £367,865
			702,371
			14,362 629,319
			643,681
			5,661
			64,351 -
			64,351 589,783
			£654,134

All the activities reported above represent continuing operations.

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

		2024	2024	2023	2023
	Notes	£	£	£	£
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets	11		10,529		1,646
Investments	12		269,220		258,054
			279,749		259,700
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors	13	14,774		7,320
Cash at Bank		471,020		419,246
		485,794		426,566
CREDITORS:Amounts falling due
within one year	14	(55,975)		(32,132)
Net Current Assets			429,819		394,434
NET ASSETS			£709,568		£654,134
CHARITY FUNDS
Unrestricted Funds	16		301,280		286,269
Restricted Funds	15		408,288		367,865
			£709,568		£654,134

For the year ending 31[st] December 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and that an independent examination is needed.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The Directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The Financial statements were approved by the Directors on 21 May 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

Will Hutton FAcSS, President

Registered Company Number: 03847936

Professor Judith Phillips FAcSS, Hon. Treasurer Registered Charity Number: 1088537

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2024 Notes NET CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES A CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from sale of investments Purchase of investments Purchase of tangible fixed assets Interest received TOTAL CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF THE YEAR CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF THE YEAR A CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Surplus/(deficit) for the year Depreciation Investment Income (Increase)/Decrease in debtors Increase/(Decrease) in creditors Investment gains Net cash(used in)/provided by operating activities COMPONENTS OF CASH Cash at Bank Cash held by investment managers	AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2024	2024 £ 37,863 21,645 (19,014) (11,534) 27,914 19,011 - 56,874 424,290 £481,164 55,434 2,651 (27,914) (7,454) 23,843 (8,697) 37,863 471,020 10,144 £481,164	2023 £ 48,220 117,522 (360,871) (2,471) 18,992
			(226,828)
			-
			(178,608) 602,898
			£424,290
			64,351 1,640 (18,992) 30,934 (24,052) (5,661)
			48,220
			419,246 5,044
			£424,290

B ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET DEBT

Cash Loan	At 1st January 2024 Cash Flows At 31st December 2024 £ £ £ 424,290 56,874 481,164 (10,000) - (10,000) £414,290 £56,874 £471,164

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Company Status

The Academy is a charitable company limited by guarantee and incorporated in England and Wales. The members of the company are the Fellows and Learned Societies listed in the membership register. In the event of the company being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the company. A description of the nature of the charitable company’s operations and its principal activity is disclosed in the Directors’ Report. The charitable company’s registered office is stated on page 1.

Basis of Preparation and Assessment of going concern

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. They have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective January 2019) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The accounts have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair view’ and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) Second Edition issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

The Charity constitutes there are no uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

General Funds

General Funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the company and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted Funds

Restricted Funds are those funds which may only be applied to purposes specified by the donor. Details of Restricted Funds are set out in Note 15 to the financial statements.

Income

All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably. Subscriptions from members are payable on 1 January each year and are recognised in the year in which they are received. Donations are recognised when received. Other income is recognised when received.

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular activities they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Allocation and apportionment of costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include backoffice costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the Academy’s programmes and activities. These costs have all been allocated to expenditure on charitable activities. The bases on which support costs have been allocated are set out in notes 6 and 7.

Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Computer equipment is stated at cost less depreciation.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost or value of tangible fixed assets to their estimated residual values over their expected useful lives on a straight line basis at the following rate:

Computer Equipment: 33% Per Annum

Investments

Investments are a form of basic financial investment and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price. The statement of financial activities includes the net gains and losses arising on revaluations and disposals throughout the year.

Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and their opening carrying value or their purchase value if acquired subsequent to the first day of the financial year. Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the fair value at the year end and their carrying value.

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settled the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Financial instruments

The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

2. DONATIONS, LEGACIES & SUBSCRIPTIONS

	2024	Total £ 187,326 351,650 182,000 -
Unrestricted £ - 351,650 - - £351,650	Restricted £ 187,326 - 182,000 - £369,326 2023
		£720,976
		Total £ 139,761 335,584 181,166 -
Unrestricted £ - 335,584 - - £335,584	Restricted £ 139,761 - 181,166 - £320,927
		£656,511

3. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

	2024	Total £ 7,474 15,427 -
Unrestricted £ 7,474 15,427 - £22,901	Restricted £ - - - £- 2023
		£22,901
		Total £ 7,040 18,828 1,000
	Restricted £ - - - £-
		£26,868

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

4. INVESTMENT INCOME

VESTMENT INCOME
Bank Interest Income from investments Bank Interest Income from investments	Unrestricted £ 1,798 15,911 £17,709	2024	Total £ 3,154 27,914
		Restricted £ 1,356 12,003 £13,359 2023
			£31,068
			Total £ 7,831 11,161
	Unrestricted £ 4,618 6,582 £11,200	Restricted £ 3,213 4,579 £7,792
			£18,992

5. TOTAL EXPENDITURE

OTAL EXPENDITURE
Note Charitable expenses 6 Support costs 7 Raising funds Total expenditure	2024 £ 560,467 147,190 707,657 20,551 £728,208	2023 £ 479,518 149,801
		629,319 14,362
		£643,681

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

6. RESOURCES EXPENDED

RESOURCES EXPENDED
Room hire and events Journal Promotion & marketing Research Staff costs Sundry Donation Subscriptions Grants Professional fees Irrecoverable VAT Support costs (note 7)	Charitable expenses 2024 Showcase Social Science Policy & Health Social Sciences Fostering Pipeline Social Sciences Public engagement and Communications Supporting excellence in Social Science Total £ £ £ £ £ £ 8,019 - - - 6,772 14,791 16,275 - - - - 16,275 - - - 39,083 - 39,083 - - - - - - 91,708 75,397 47,743 76,600 57,051 348,499 12 - 2,241 760 1,035 4,048 - 5,000 - - - 5,000 - 3,980 - - - 3,980 - - 81,032 - - 81,032 - 28,200 400 10,246 1,992 40,838 1,413 301 154 4,483 570 6,921
	117,427 112,878 131,570 131,172 67,420 560,467 38,734 31,844 20,164 32,352 24,096 147,190
	£156,161 £144,722 £151,734 £163,524 £91,516 £707,657

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

6. RESOURCES EXPENDED (continued)

Room hire and events Journal Promotion & marketing Research Staff costs Sundry Donation Subscriptions Grants Irrecoverable VAT Support costs (note 7)	Charitable expenses 2023 Showcase Social Science Policy & Health Social Sciences Fostering Pipeline Social Sciences Public engagement and Communications Supporting excellence in Social Science Total £ £ £ £ £ £ 4,187 - - - 4,187 15,220 - - - - 15,220 - 12,500 - 47,500 - 60,000 - 12,500 5,931 - - 18,431 75,831 44,775 43,100 68,581 62,362 294,649 - - - 930 383 1,313 - 5,000 - - - 5,000 - 3,903 - - - 3,903 - - 68,780 - - 68,780 1,722 1,455 526 4,297 35 8,035
	96,960 80,133 118,337 121,308 62,780 479,518 38,553 22,764 21,912 34,867 31,705 149,801
	£135,513 £102,897 £140,249 £156,175 £94,485 £629,319

Room hire and events
Journal
Promotion & marketing
Research
Staff costs
Sundry
Donation
Subscriptions
Grants
Irrecoverable VAT
Support costs (note 7)

Charitable expenses 2023
Showcase
Social
Science
Policy &
Health
Social
Sciences
Fostering
Pipeline
Social
Sciences
Public engagement
and
Communications
Supporting
excellence in
Social Science
Total
£
£
£
£
£
£
4,187
-
-
-
4,187
15,220
-
-
-
-
15,220
-
12,500
-
47,500
-
60,000
-
12,500
5,931
-
-
18,431
75,831
44,775
43,100
68,581
62,362
294,649
-
-
-
930
383
1,313
-
5,000
-
-
-
5,000
-
3,903
-
-
-
3,903
-
-
68,780
-
-
68,780
1,722
1,455
526
4,297
35
8,035

96,960
80,133
118,337
121,308
62,780
479,518
38,553
22,764
21,912
34,867
31,705
149,801

£135,513
£102,897
£140,249
£156,175
£94,485
£629,319

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

6. RESOURCES EXPENDED (continued)

The total grants paid to institutions during the year was as follows:

Royal Statistical Society British Psychological Society Royal Economic Society Leisure Studies Association Royal Town Planning Institute Development Studies Association British International Studies Association British Association for Applied Linguistics Society for the Advancement of Management Studies Political Studies Association British Academy of Management Total expenditure 7.SUPPORT COSTS Room hire and events Salaries and wages Recruitment and training Storage costs Travel costs IT and website costs Professional fees Sundries Bank Charges Irrecoverable VAT Depreciation Investment management fee Governance costs	2024 £ 21,451 - 6,050 - - 7,200 13,748 6,500 5,983 15,000 5,100 £81,032 2024 Total £ 647 59,900 3,334 3,086 5,431 25,291 3,354 3,085 4,060 3,080 2,651 2,018 31,253 £147,190	2023 £ 24,000 5,000 24,780 5,000 10,000 - - - - - - £68,780 2023 Total £ 547 68,080 4,129 2,969 5,343 19,538 - 2,819 4,074 3,851 1,640 2,339 34,472
		£149,801

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

8. RESTRICTED FUNDS 2024 Staff Costs Annual Campaign Lecture Promotion Donation Website and IT Research Sundry expenses Campaign for Social Science Staff Costs Sundry Website and IT Grants Fostering Pipeline Promotion Strategic Development Professional fees ESSI 2023 Staff Costs Annual Campaign Lecture Promotion Donation Website and IT Research Sundry expenses Campaign for Social Science Staff Costs Sundry Website and IT Grants Fostering Pipeline Promotion Strategic Development	Charitable Activities £ 163,172 8,053 2,338 5,000 10,318 3,319 9,351 201,551 23,001 3,852 400 81,032 108,285 9,166 9,166 27,000 27,000 £346,002 Charitable Activities £ 126,846 4,188 12,500 5,000 7,880 12,500 10,464 179,378 20,012 603 5,931 68,780 95,326 20,000 20,000 £294,704	2024 Total £ 163,172 8,053 2,338 5,000 10,318 3,319 9,351
		201,551 23,001 3,852 400 81,032
		108,285 9,166
		9,166 27,000
		27,000
		£346,002
		2023 Total £ 126,846 4,188 12,500 5,000 7,880 12,500 10,464
		179,378 20,012 603 5,931 68,780
		95,326 20,000
		20,000
		£294,704

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

9. NET INCOME

NET INCOME
	2024	2023
This is stated after charging	£	£
Depreciation	£2,651	£1,640

The Independent examiner’s remuneration of £1,660 (2023: £1,760) related solely to the examination. Fees in respect of company secretarial amounted to £500 (2023: £500).

10. STAFF AND CONTRACTOR COSTS AND NUMBERS

The average number of employees during the year was 9 (7.25 FTE), 2023: 10 (8 FTE)

Key management personnel consist of the CEO, the head of administration and the head of policy and public affairs. Total employment benefits of the key management personnel were £237,878.

One employee had emoluments within the range of £90,000 - £100,000.

The Charity Trustees were not paid or received any other benefits from employment with the Charity (2023: £Nil). During the year 4 trustees (2023: 5) were reimbursed expenses for meeting attendance totalling £461 (2023: £412).

Gross salaries Social Security costs Pension costs Total Payroll Costs	2024 £ 396,004 36,717 14,579 £447,300	2023 £ 351,284 37,014 11,204
		£399,502

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

11. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Computer equipment Cost: Balance at 1st January 2024 Additions Disposals Balance at 31st December 2024 Depreciation: Balance at 1st January 2024 Disposals Charge for the year Balance at 31st December 2024 Net Book Value At 31st December 2024 12.FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS Market value at 1st January 2024 Additions Disposals Net investment (losses)/gains Market value at 31st December 2024 Cash held by managing agent Historical cost at 31st December 2024	2024 £ 19,134 11,534 - £30,668 17,488 - 2,651 £20,139 £10,529 2024 £ 253,010 19,014 (21,645) 8,697 259,076 10,144 £269,220 £245,261	2023 £ 16,663 2,471 -
		£19,134
		15,848 - 1,640
		£17,488
		£1,646
		2023 £ 4,000 360,871 (117,522) 5,661
		253,010 5,044
		£258,054
		£246,126

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

13. DEBTORS

DEBTORS
Due within one year Trade and supporter scheme debtors Prepayments and accrued income Other debtors	2024 £ 14,774 - - £14,774	2023 £ 7,320 - -
		£7,320

14. CREDITORS: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year

Loan Creditor Prepaid Subscriptions & Event Income Accruals HMRC VAT Liability	2024 £ 10,000 1,824 40,097 4,054 £55,975	2023 £ 10,000 2,108 18,284 1,740
		£32,132

The loan is interest free and repayable when aggregate donations, excluding those for specific appeals, have been received totalling more than £20,000.

Deferred income reconciliation

Balance brought forward Amount released to Statement of Financial Activities Amount deferred in the year Balance carried forward	2024 £ 2,108 (2,108) 1,824 £1,824	2023 £ 13,353 (13,353) 2,108
		£2,108

Member subscriptions and event income received in advance is deferred to the period to which it relates.

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

15. RESTRICTED FUNDS

ESTRICTED FUNDS
2024		International			EDI
		Advisory	Making The		Partnership	Strategic
	CfSS	Group	Case	ESSI	Project	Development	Total
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Balance at 1st January 2024	218,829	1,225	12,638	-	17,174	117,999	367,865
Income	222,685	-	-	50,000	110,000	-	382,685
Expenditure	(201,551)	-	-	(27,000)	(108,285)	(9,166)	(346,002)
Gains on Investments	3,740	--	-	-	-	-	3,740
Balance at 31st December 2024	£243,703	£1,225	£12,638	£23,000	£18,889	£108,833	£408,288

2023		International
		Advisory	Making The	EU Pro Res		Strategic
	CfSS	Group	Case	Project	SPRE	Development	Total
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Balance at 1st January 2023	179,666	1,225	12,638	-	-	137,999	331,528
Income	216,218	-	-	-	112,500	-	328,718
Expenditure	(179,378)	-	-	-	(95,326)	(20,000)	(294,704)
End of project return (note 2)	2,323	-	-	-	-	-	2,323
Balance at 31st December 2023	£218,829	£1,225	£12,638	£-	£17,174	£117,999	£367,865

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

The restricted funds comprise the monies collected for and expended on projects and the Campaign for Social Science.

Campaign for Social Science (CfSS): This fund supports the outward-facing, advocacy voice of the Academy of Social Sciences. The Campaign works to showcase social science and to amplify the voice of social science in policy issues affecting all social science disciplines and higher education activities. This work contributes to the Showcasing Social Science and the Policy and Health of Social Sciences objective.

Embedding Social Science Infrastructure (ESSI): This fund supports research and advocacy into how to enhance outcomes and decision-making through improved use of evidence in government in the UK.

EDI Partnership Project: This project is a partnership with ESRC and the Academy’s member learned societies, led by the Academy, with the aim of supporting learned societies in the social sciences in their work to embed EDI more fully in their own operations and in discipline communities. This work contributes to the Fostering Pipeline in Social Sciences objective.

International Advisory Group: This group works with Fellows, UK and international bodies in organising events, preparing briefings and supporting consultation responses on the international dimension of social science research and policy, beyond the UK. This work contributes to the Policy and Health of Social Sciences objective.

Making the Case: This fund focuses on work to exemplify social science research that has made a difference to policy or practice. This work contributes to the Policy and Health of Social Sciences objective.

SPRE (Scottish Policy and Research Exchange): aims to help policy makers and research hers in Scotland work together more effectively. With the approval of the Academy’s Council, SPRE became an independent SCIO and ceased to operate as part of the Academy from 01 January 2024.

Strategic Development Fund: this represents a donation received from an individual to forward the future of the Academy. This fund is to support strategic development across all objectives.

16. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS

16.UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
2024 Designated Development Fund General Fund Total £ £ £ 1 January 2024 18,838 267,431 286,269 Income - 392,260 392,260 Expenditure (1,200) (381,006) (382,206) Investment gains - 4,957 4,957 31 December 2024 £17,638 £283,642 301,280	2023 Designated Development Fund General Fund Total £ £ £ 18,838 239,417 258,255 - 373,653 373,653 - (348,977) (348,977) - 3,338 3,338
	£18,838 £267,431 £286,269

The Designated Development Fund has been established to support data analysis and other activities that investigate, exemplify and further the health of social sciences.

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

17. TAXATION

The Academy is a registered charity and is not subject to UK Corporation Tax on its Charitable Activities and Investment Income.

18. NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Fixed Assets Current Assets Creditors Amounts Falling due within one Year Fixed Assets Current Assets Creditors Amounts Falling due within one Year		2024 Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total £ £ £ £ 163,984 - 115,765 279,749 175,633 17,638 292,523 485,794 (55,975) - - (55,975)
		£283,642 £17,638 £408,288 £709,568
		2023 Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total £ £ £ £ 153,898 - 105,802 259,700 140,136 18,838 267,592 426,566 (26,603) - (5,529) (32,132)
		£267,431 £18,838 £367,865 £654,134

19. GOING CONCERN

The Charitable Company’s Directors believe it is appropriate to draw up these accounts on a going concern basis as they believe that adequate sources of funding will be forthcoming in the normal course of events to allow the charity to continue to operate.

In making this assessment the Directors have considered the period to June 2026.

20. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The following Related Party Transactions occurred in the year to 31 December 2024:

Professor Tim Allen (Trustee) served as Professor in Development Anthropology in the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science. During the year AcSS received £2,400 (£1,920) in supporter scheme income from London School of Economics and Political Science.

Professor Linda Bauld (Trustee) served as Chair in Public Health at the University of Edinburgh. During the year AcSS received £6,000 (£5,000) in supporter scheme income from the University of Edinburgh.

Professor Timothy Blackman (Trustee) served as Vice Chancellor to the Open University. During the year AcSS received £6,000 (2022: £5,000) in supporter scheme income from the Open University.

Professor Anthony Crook (Trustee) is a Trustee of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). During the year AcSS received a membership subscription from RTPI amounting to £2,062 (2023: £2,062). Also served as Emeritus Professor of Town & Regional Planning, Sheffield University. During the year AcSS received £6,000 (£5,000) in supporter scheme income from the University of Sheffield.

Professor Simin Davoudi (Trustee) served Chair of Town Planning, School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape, Co-Director, Centre for Researching Cities at Newcastle University. During the year AcSS received £12,000 (£10,000) in supporter scheme income from Newcastle University.

Patricia Dodd (Trustee) is a Trustee of Royal Statistical Society (RSS). During the year AcSS made a grant of £21,451 to the Royal Statistical Society and received a membership subscription from RSS amounting to £850 (2023: £850)

Professor Bobby Duffy (Trustee) served as Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Policy Institute at Kings College London. During the year AcSS received £6,000 (£5,000) in supporter scheme income from the Kings College London.

Dr Rita Gardner (Chief Executive) served as a Trustee of Brunel University. During the year AcSS received £6,000 (£5,000) in supporter scheme income from Brunel University.

Professor Simon Marginson (Trustee) served as Professor of Higher Education at the University of Oxford. During the year AcSS received £6,000 (£5,000) in supporter scheme income from Oxford.

Professor Anthony McEnery (Trustee) served as Distinguished Professor of English Language and Linguistics at Lancaster University. During the year AcSS received £6,000 (£5,000) in supporter scheme income from Lancaster University.

Professor Chris Millward (Trustee) served as Professor of Practice in Education Policy, Birmingham University. During the year AcSS received £6,000 (£5,000) in supporter scheme income from Birmingham University. Also served as a Trustee for Society of Research into Higher Education (SRHE). During the year AcSS received a membership subscription amounting to £536 (2023: £536) from SRHE.

Dr Utsa Mukherjee (Trustee) served as Senior Lecturer, Education at Brunel University. During the year AcSS received £6,000 (£5,000) in supporter scheme income from Brunel University.

Professor Judith Philips (Trustee) served as Deputy Principal (Research) at the University of Stirling. During the year AcSS received £12,000 (2022: £10,000) in supporter scheme income from the University of Stirling.

Professor Sally Power (Trustee) served as a Trustee of the British Educational Research Association. During the year AcSS received a membership subscription amounting to £2,125 (2023: £2,125)

Professor Ian Rivers (Trustee) served as Associate Principal and Executive Dean of the Faculty and Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of Education for Social Change at the University of Strathclyde. During the year AcSS received £6,000 in supporter scheme income from the University of Strathclyde.

Professor Imogen Tyler (Trustee) served as Professor of Sociology at Lancaster University. During the year AcSS received £6,000 (£5,000) in supporter scheme income from Lancaster University.

2024-12-31-accounts

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Legal and Administrative Information

For the year ended 31[st] December 2024

Directors and Trustees

Company Registered Number

Charity Registered Number

Registered and Administrative Office

Secretary

Independent examiner

Investment Advisors

Bankers

AcSS Directors’ Report 2024

1. From the President

2. From the Chief Executive

3. About the Academy

Our Vision :

Our Mission :

Our strategic objectives for 2024-2029 :

4. Key highlights in numbers

1 in Apple Science and Social Science podcast charts for the We Society

5. Embedding social science evidence and mindsets

Social science policy insights in the run up to a General Election

Beyond the ballot: social science insights on eight key policy challenges

Engaging policymakers through our reports

Understanding Whitehall’s use of evidence to inform impactful policy

6. Safeguarding the health of the social sciences

Documenting trends in social science research funding

Advocating for social science

Strengthening relationships

7. Fostering strong, skilled and diverse pipelines of social scientists

Supporting a second round of EDI initiatives in the higher education sector

Sharing good practice through events

Reporting on the state of EDI in the social sciences

Promoting careers with social science

8. Growing the public’s understanding of social science

Engaging the public through the We Society podcast

Promoting social science through our events

9. Recognising and supporting excellence in social sciences

Fellowship

2024 Public honours

Member Learned Societies

Our Member Learned Societies in 2024:

Contemporary Social Science Journal

10. Ensuring a sustainable future

Publishing a new strategy

Strengthening our internal processes

Raising our profile

11. Financial overview

12. Our supporters

Campaign supporters in 2024:

13. Our people

Committees of Council

The Academy’s staff

14. Governance

Induction and Training of new Trustees

Key management remuneration

Risk management

Going Concern

Responsibilities in Relation to the Financial Statements

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF

THE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024

Responsibilities and basis of report

Independent Examiner’s Statement

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

(INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Company Status

Basis of Preparation and Assessment of going concern

General Funds