**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**
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20|**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||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
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## **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**|**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 £**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|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 £**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**When due**
**(optional)**|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
||||Date of approval|
|||Garrath Williams|14-Oct-25|
|||||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
26/10/2025
2