2024-12-31-accounts - British Philosophical Association

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

	Period start date	Period start date			Period end date	Period end date
From	1	1	2024	To	31	12	2024

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name British Philosophical Association

Other names charity is known by

Registered charity number (if any) 1208038

Charity's principal address c/o Philosophy, Lancaster University

Bailrigg Lancaster Postcode LA1 4YL

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for wholeyear	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any)
Fiona Macpherson	President
Simon Kirchin	Director
Garrath Williams	Treasurer
Julian Baggini		From 13.9.2024	Co-opted byelected trustees
Derek Brown		From 13.9.2024
Sophie-Grace Chappell		From 13.9.2024
Jennifer Corns		From 13.9.2024
Joshua Forstenzer		From 13.9.2024
Ian Kidd		From 13.9.2024
Rosanna Keefe		From 13.9.2024
Martin O’Neill		From 13.9.2024
Robert Penney		From 13.9.2024	Co-opted byelected trustees
Heather Widdows		From 13.9.2024
Fiona Woollard		From 13.9.2024

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Checking of accounts	David Crayston	Accounts Manager, Edge of the World Ltd, Merchant House, Market Square, Kirkby Lonsdale, LA6 2AN

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document Constitution (eg. trust deed, constitution)

How the charity is constituted Charitable Incorporated Organisation (eg. trust, association, company) Trustee selection methods 12 trustees elected, 4 trustees nominated (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

The BPA decided to apply for CIO status at its Annual General Meeting on 9 September 2022. It became a registered charity on 29 April 2024. The BPA then held its first Annual General Meeting as a registered charity on 13 September 2024.

The first three trustees of the BPA were named in the application for CIO status, as approved at the AGM held on 9 September 2022:

Fiona Macpherson – President
Simon Kirchin – Director
Garrath Williams – Treasurer

The following trustees were elected officers of the BPA prior to its recognition as a CIO, and formally took up post as CIO trustees on 13 September 2024, with the approval of the Association’s Annual General Meeting, in line with the resolution to apply for CIO status in September 2022:

Jennifer Corns
Martin O’Neill
Heather Widdows

The following trustees were elected officers of the BPA prior to its approval as a CIO. Having come to the end of their first terms of office, they successfully stood for re-election in June 2024. Again, they took up their posts following the Association’s Annual General Meeting on 13 September 2024, in line with §13.1.c of the constitution:

Derek Brown
Ian Kidd
Fiona Woollard

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The following trustees were elected by the membership in June 2024, and again took up their posts following the Association’s Annual General Meeting on 13 September 2024, in line with §13.1.c of the constitution: • Sophie-Grace Chappell • Josh Forstenzer
Rosanna Keefe
The following nominated trustees were appointed in 2024, in line with §13.2 of the constitution: • Julian Baggini • Robert Penney

Section C Objectives and activities

For the public benefit the advancement of education, specifically by the Summary of the objects of the promotion of excellence in the teaching of, study of, and research in the charity set out in its academic discipline of Philosophy in the United Kingdom within higher governing document education and also within the wider community. The British Philosophical Association is a learned society which was formally recognised as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 29 April 2024, having previously operated as an unincorporated association. Our activities for 2024 reflected the pattern set out in our application for charitable status. Through these activities, the trustees aim at the public benefit by supporting and promoting the discipline of philosophy in the UK, taking regard of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Summary of the main activities undertaken for the One of the BPA’s main aims to is make access to the formal study of public benefit in relation to philosophy at all levels from post-16 as inclusive as possible. To this end these objects (include within the BPA has collaborated with other societies and with representatives this section the statutory from university departments. With other philosophical societies and declaration that trustees have associations, we have raised substantial funds and commissioned had regard to the guidance research into EDI in philosophy, to: issued by the Charity - produce detailed demographic information on participation in Commission on public philosophy in the UK; benefit)

	The British Philosophical Association is a learned society which was
	formally recognised as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 29
	April 2024, having previously operated as an unincorporated association.
	Our activities for 2024 reflected the pattern set out in our application for
	charitable status. Through these activities, the trustees aim at the public
	benefit by supporting and promoting the discipline of philosophy in the
	UK, taking regard of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public
	benefit.
	Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
	One of the BPA’s main aims to is make access to the formal study of philosophy at all levels from post-16 as inclusive as possible. To this end the BPA has collaborated with other societies and with representatives from university departments. With other philosophical societies and associations, we have raised substantial funds and commissioned research into EDI in philosophy, to: - produce detailed demographic information on participation in philosophy in the UK; - report on the experience of people from all backgrounds of their
	participation in philosophy in the UK;
	- make recommendations to address any problems identified in the
	research.
	The first part of this research was conducted by the Eleanor Glanville
	Institute, University of Lincoln, and concluded in August 2024. The
	findings has been shared with members (both departments and
	individuals) and other philosophical associations, in order to stimulate
	informed discussion of the measures our profession can take to address
	under-representation and exclusion. We are currently considering what
	follow-up research and activities are called for.

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This work aims to ensure that philosophy education offers benefits to as wide an audience as possible, regardless of race, sex and other protected characteristics.

Philosophy Matters and British Philosophy Fortnight

A significant activity in 2024 was designing and preparing the launch of this campaign, to prepare for the first British Philosophy Fortnight. (This took place successfully in March 2025, including schools philosophy prizes sponsored by two exam boards, the AQA and OCR.)

This campaign aims to show the broad public relevance of philosophy as an academic discipline and to promote its study and teaching.

Departments Under Threat

The BPA has continued to assist colleagues and departments where there has been the threat of significant cuts in provision. Of necessity, most of this work goes on “behind the scenes,” e.g. to lobby managers who are considering cuts to philosophy provision or to support colleagues who may be facing threats of redundancy.

This work aims to support the continuing health of higher educational provision in philosophy.

Philosophy in Schools

Since the successful launch of the Association for Philosophy Teachers in 2023, the BPA has continued a close working relationship. The APT chair, Robert Penney, is a co-opted trustee of the BPA; the BPA Director, Simon Kirchin, liaises regularly with the APT.

Our trustees also contribute to the discussions relating to the AQA A- level in Philosophy, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)’s Subject Benchmark Statement for Philosophy, the Cambridge OCR exam board and its philosophy-related provisions.

The BPA and Association for Philosophy Teachers made an extensive joint submission to the DfE's call for evidence as the curriculum up to 18 takes shape under a new government. This builds on joint work regarding the AQA A-Level in Philosophy and the discussions around a potential GCSE in Philosophy.

We also contribute to broader discussions within the Arts and Humanities Alliance, to promote the profile and contributions of philosophy within the broader humanities.

Again, this work aims to support educational provision in philosophy.

Resources for Early Career Philosophers

Provision of philosophy education naturally depends on the continued entry of qualified philosophers into professional teaching and research. However, the situation for PhD philosophy students seeking careers in philosophy is especially difficult at the moment. The BPA has therefore created and published extensive resources and tip sheets for philosophers starting their careers:

https://bpa.ac.uk/resources-for-early-career-philosophers/

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By supporting the entry of new members into the profession, this activity also supports the continuing health of educational provision in philosophy.

Additional Activities

BPA trustees liaise with other relevant bodies concerned with education and research – for example, with the British Academy concerning future plans for the Research Excellence Framework.

In 2024 we also commenced plans for prizes to recognise outstanding work and initiatives in philosophy, to support the public profile of philosophy. (The first round of prizes is anticipated for 2026.)

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

The BPA has no grantmaking programme. It also has no investments.

The BPA does not have a volunteer scheme, although our members are involved in many activities, alongside the trustees – for example, in planning/organising events as part of British Philosophy Fortnight.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

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Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

Publication of Research on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion The final reports and findings can be found on our website, at: https://bpa.ac.uk/2024/12/12/edi-in-philosophy-2024-report/

Philosophy Matters and British Philosophy Fortnight We laid the ground for our #PhilosophyMatters campaign and prepared for the first British Philosophy Fortnight (held in March 2025).

Resources for Early Career Philosophers

We created and published extensive resources and tip sheets for philosophers starting their careers: https://bpa.ac.uk/resources-for-early-career-philosophers/

Philosophy in Schools

With the Association for Philosophy Teachers, we made a joint submission to the DfE's call for evidence on the curriculum up to 18.

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Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the The BPA aims to hold approximately one to two year’s income in reserve, charity’s policy on reserves to offset any fluctuations in income or expenditure.

Details of any funds materially None in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include We do not engage in any fundraising – all income is derived from additional information, where membership payments. relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
We do not hold any investments.
sources of funds (including any fundraising); The accounts were prepared by Garrath Williams, as BPA Treasurer.
• how expenditure has The accounts were then checked by David Crayston, Accounts Manager
supported the key objectives at Edge of the World Ltd, and also formerly Director of the Westmorland
of the charity; County Agricultural Society Ltd (2016-20, 2022-5).
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

This report was approved by the trustees at their meeting of 14 October 2025.

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Simon Kirchin Garrath Williams Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)[Director ] Treasurer Date 26 October 2025 26 October 2025

26 October 2025

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Charity Name			No (if any)
British Philosophical Association			1208038
Receipts andpayments accounts				CC16a
For the period from	01/01/2024 Period start date	To	31/12/2024 Period end date

Section A Receipts and payments	Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £	Restricted funds to the nearest £	Endowment funds to the nearest £	Total funds to the nearest £	Last year to the nearest £
Individual memberships	2,654	-	-	2,654	2,325
Institutional memberships	3,160	-	-	3,160	4,720
Contributions to EDI research(restricted)	-	-	-	-	47,700
BPA contribution to EDI(unrestricted)	-	-	-	-	11,000
	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	5,814	-	-	5,814	65,745

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
[None]	-
	-				-
*Sub total*	-				-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
					65,745

Adminstrator	1,636	-	-	1,636	1,076
Meetingexpenses	92	-	-	92	1,125
Website and email account	862	-	-	862	1,068
Insurance	716	-	-	716
Banking, paypal, postal,misc charges	43	-	-	43	14
Election expenses	66	-	-	66
M/shipFoundation for Science & Tech'y	273	-	-	273	258
PhilosophyMatters campaign	2,400		-	2,400
EDI research	3,817	22,408	-	26,225	370
**Sub total **	9,905	22,408	-	32,313	3,911

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
[None]	-
	-
**Sub total **	-				-
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
					3,911

	- 4,091				61,834
	-				-
	22,376				8,242
	18,285				70,076

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

CCXX R1 accounts (SS) Categories B1 Cash funds	1 Cash at bank, less EDI research commitment Paypal funds Funds reserved for EDI research Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))	Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 10,633 839 6,813 18,285 OK	26/10/2025 Restricted funds Endowment funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - 25,292 - 25,292 - OK OK	Endowment funds to nearest £
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Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets	Signature Details Funds owed by BSPS toward EDI research Details Details Details	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - 1,000 - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Garrath Williams	Endowment funds to nearest £
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			Date of approval
		Garrath Williams	14-Oct-25

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

26/10/2025