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2025-03-31-accounts

British Science Association Annual Report (2024/25)

The British Association for the Advancement of Science Trading as The British Science Association (BSA)

Trustees’ Annual Report

1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025

Charity registration number: 212479 Scotland charity registration number: SC039236

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British Science Association Annual Report (2024/25)

Foreword from the Chair of Trustees and Chief Executive

We are pleased to present the Trustees’ Annual Report for the British Science Association (BSA), covering the period from 01 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. In our roles as Chair of Trustees and Chief Executive, we are continually inspired by the Association’s programmes, working with partners across the UK to bring people and science together in meaningful ways that will have a lasting positive impact on communities, research and society.

Our work continues to demonstrate that science is not an isolated endeavour, but a collective journey in which everyone has a role to play. Through our strong networks and partnerships, we work to ensure that science is connected, relevant, and representative of the diverse society we serve. By nurturing curiosity and opening doors to opportunities, we aim to foster a culture where science belongs to us all.

Through our work we see time and again the impact that inclusive approaches can have – inspiring young people through CREST and British Science Week to see themselves as scientists for the first time, empowering communities to engage with research and develop solutions tailored to their needs, and bringing together diverse audiences and researchers in a different UK city each year through the British Science Festival. The BSA remains steadfast in its commitment to breaking down barriers and ensuring that all of society is included in science.

As we look back on the achievements of the past year, we also acknowledge the challenges and uncertainties facing our sector and society as a whole. Science has a crucial role to play in addressing pressing issues, from health and wellbeing to climate change and technological innovation. As part of this work we have been delighted this year to be awarded the UKRI contract for the Public Attitudes to Science survey, working in partnership with Ipsos Mori and the new UKRI contract for Sciencewise, working in partnership with Involve and the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE).

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Senior Management Team, we extend heartfelt thanks to our partners, funders, volunteers, staff, and all those who share in our mission. Your contributions, insights, and commitment enable the BSA to thrive and adapt in a rapidly changing world. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to our President for 2024/25, Professor Kevin Fenton, for his unwavering support throughout the year.

Together, we look forward with optimism – confident that by working collaboratively and inclusively, we can help shape a society in which science is truly for everyone.

Hilary Newiss, Chair of Trustees

Hannah Russell, Chief Executive

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British Science Association Annual Report (2024/25)

Overview of the BSA

Founded in 1831, the British Science Association is a registered charity that works with partners across the UK to bring people and science together.

We improve young peoples’ experiences of science in their education

We work with community groups and grassroots organisations to give them opportunities to be involved with science.

We showcase the amazing work of researchers and academics through our events and activities.

We advocate for a more inclusive science community.

Our vision

A future where science is more relevant, representative and connected to society.

Our mission

The BSA believes that all of society should be included in science.

We bring people and science together in ways that will have a lasting, positive impact on communities, research and society.

Our goals put our audiences at the heart of what we do – we will be led by their needs first.

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Section One: Objectives and Achievements

Our ten-year objectives are:

A) For more people, especially those from currently underrepresented groups, to feel that science is relevant to their lives

B) For more people, especially those from currently underrepresented groups, to play a bigger role, have a more powerful voice, and build stronger relationships in/with the STEM sector

C) Build the capacity of the BSA and the science community to:

Objective C was broadened from its original version in March 2023, reflecting the BSA’s work to support EDI across the wider science community as well as within the science/research engagement sector[1] .

These objectives are supported by a three-year business plan covering the period April 2024 to March 2027. This sets out the following five goals:

1 Previous wording for Objective C:

To build the capacity of the BSA and the science/research engagement sector to:

• Understand and address structural inequalities in science engagement.

• Advocate for the adoption of a more participatory and transformative form of science engagement. • Improve the BSA’s/sector’s diversity and inclusivity .

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change, rooted in lived experience, for funders, partners, and other leaders in the sector to use.

We also have an additional internal business goal (Goal 6) to increase visibility and profile for the BSA.

The following pages provide an overview of our key achievements for the period April 2024 to March 2025 set against our business plan goals.

Goal 1 – Transform science education for all young people

a. British Science Week (BSW)

An annual grassroots celebration of science with events and activities taking place in schools, local community groups and national cultural institutions across the UK. As well as free resources, we provide ‘micro grants’ to schools and community groups to enable them to participate.

British Science Week 2025 took place from March 7-16 2025, with the theme of 'change and adapt'. Core funded by UKRI, with support from many of the partners listed in this report, highlights from this year included:

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b. CREST and the Engage Network

CREST is the BSA’s flagship education programme, which inspires young people to think and behave like scientists and engineers. CREST recognises young people’s achievement in STEM project work and is available at a range of levels to suit students aged 3 to 19.

Engage is a community of teachers in schools in challenging circumstances who share ideas, access inspiring resources and apply for grants to help bring science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to life for all young people.

Approximately 56,000 submissions were made for CREST Awards from April 2024 to March 2025 (an increase from 50,000 submissions in 2023/24), of which over 50% were from girls.

Our Engage Network has also continued to grow and now includes over 2,700 teachers from schools in challenging circumstances working to transform access to relevant and meaningful science work for all children and young people, especially those typically underrepresented in STEM.

We received 192 applications for this year’s Engage Grants and awarded 77 grants to support schools in challenging circumstances to undertake CREST Awards. Examples included:

We also supported an additional 55 Engage schools to undertake CREST Awards with ‘Simply CREST’ support.

Our CREST kit box offering has also continued to grow. With thanks to funding from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 we have provided upper primary boxes to 25 schools in challenging circumstances across the UK and have developed two new early years boxes. Demand for the boxes has been huge, with 500 expressions of interest for the 25 upper primary boxes sent out in October 2025, and feedback has also been excellent.

International CREST has been a particular success this year, with an increase of 5,000 awards compared to the previous year, reflecting growing recognition of the value of CREST outside the UK. We continue to work closely with Pearson to deliver CREST in China.

Alongside these activities, we have also been working to develop a new CREST website , which will be launched in summer 2025.

c. Education policy

Drawing on our experience and expertise in delivering science education programmes, we work with policy makers and other key stakeholders across the sector to advocate for changes to the science education landscape, particularly around practical work, projectbased learning and equity, diversity and inclusion.

In 2024/25 this work has included contributing to the Department for Education Curriculum and Assessment review led by Professor Becky Francis. We have also been pleased to

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support a new programme of work on gender pathways into engineering and technology led by Engineering UK, British Computing Society, the Chartered Institute for IT, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) and Women into Science and Engineering (WISE). As part of this programme six working groups have been established, with the BSA co-leading the project-based learning group in partnership with Orbyts.

Goal 2 – Put communities at the heart of research and innovation

The British Science Association is committed to supporting community organisations who work with groups underserved and under-represented in science. Since 2015, the BSA has supported communities to feel more involved with science. We run a range of programmes providing communities with an opportunity to engage with science, have a voice in science and explore science-related issues in a way that is relevant to them.

a. Community Engagement Network

Our Community Engagement Network aims to support, connect and inspire community organisations interested in providing science content to their audiences/users. We work with over 1,500 community representatives as part of the network, enabling us to reach a diverse range of audiences across the UK.

Our Community Leaders and Buddies programmes harness the passion and ideas of individuals who work with underserved audiences, enhance their skills to enable them to become leaders in science engagement in their communities and support them to access local researchers who they can work together with in their engagement activities .

Although the funding for the Community Leaders and Buddies programmes in their current form has now come to an end, the grant funded phase of the final round of Community Buddies continued into 2024/25, where with funding from UKRI we supported nine grant funded collaborative projects with community organisations and researchers/research organisations to deliver projects involving joint approaches to science engagement.

b. Community-led Research Pilot (CLRP)

This UKRI-funded project, exploring an approach to more equitable, community-driven research, is nearly complete. Six grassroot community groups and researchers have worked together to deliver a diverse range of projects, for example:

The programme evaluation will be published in 2025/26.

c. Ideas Fund:

The Ideas Fund launched in January 2021 with the aim of enabling the UK public to develop and try out ideas that address problems related to mental wellbeing, by working in partnership with researchers. Supported by Wellcome, the Fund has offered an exciting opportunity to test out a different approach, of community-led collaboration with researchers,

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with individuals, community groups and charities being invited to apply for and hold the funds, and supported to build relationships with researchers on their own terms.

A key strand of work for The Ideas Fund this year has been building the evidence base around community-led approaches to working with researchers. We have awarded £1.73m in Evidence Building grants to 13 projects. These projects will run over the next three years.

The rest of the portfolio of work has continued to be delivered on time and within budget, and we are continuing to explore opportunities for wider partnerships.

d. Community Engaged Research essays series

With funding from UKRI we published a new series of essays (Creating Knowledge Together) exploring the power of community-engaged research. The essays were written as collaborations between researchers and community partners, with each speaking directly to the urgent challenges facing our society and the role of community-engaged research in shaping policies and driving change to improve impact. Examples of subjects covered in the essay series include: the advancement of equity for Black communities through community research; the importance of listening to lived experience in health inequalities research; an exploration of the dynamic between scientists and communities; and how power between public research partners and communities can be fair and equitable.

e. Highlands and Islands Grant Programme

The Highlands and Islands Climate Change Community Grant scheme, funded by UKRI and delivered by the BSA and Science Ceilidh, has supported community groups in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to work with a researcher and run a project on a local climate change issue that matters to them.

The 15 projects supported through this programme (9 Building Capacity and 6 New Voices) came to an end in 2024 and the project evaluation has now been completed. Groups and researchers have been invited to join Science Ceilidh's Community Knowledge Matters Network, to ensure continued share learning around community-led approaches to research and consider the potential for future partnership. UK Antarctic Heritage Trust community grants

On behalf of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust we are awarding micro grants to grassroots community groups for them to run activities inspired by Antarctica. This is the second round of grants through this partnership.

Goal 3 – Give the public a voice on science decisions

a. Sciencewise

Sciencewise is a public dialogue programme providing insights into what people think about science & emerging technology.

We were pleased to be selected this year as the successful bidders for the renewed UKRI Sciencewise contract as part of a consortium led by Involve and also including the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE). The contract covers delivery of Sciencewise until 2030.

In 2024/25 we published the second of our reports on Engineering Biology (focusing on food – the first report had focused on health) and a new report on Ultra-Processed Foods. Both reports have been well received and widely quoted.

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British Science Association Annual Report (2024/25)

b. Public Attitudes to Science Survey (PAS)

PAS produces detailed, representative evidence of public opinion that policymakers and the science community use to support decisions about science - from AI to health to climate - and ensure more voices are listened to.

We were delighted to have been awarded the UKRI contract for the Public Attitudes to Science survey this year, working in partnership with Ipsos Mori. This funding will cover the period 2024-2030. The work is supported by an Advisory Group of experts in science policy and engagement, co-chaired by Professor Chris Johnson, Chief Scientific Adviser in the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), and Catherine Day, Deputy Director in the Cabinet Office.

c. For Thought

A thought leadership programme which gives leaders from business, policy, science and civil society a platform for cross-sector discussion and collaboration around the role of science in solving the greatest challenges of the day, and how science can better work alongside other sectors.

This year’s For Thought summit was held in January 2025 at the Royal Society, supported by MSD. Through a series of short talks, a panel discussion, and networking, our speakers and 200 guests explored what leaders in our boardrooms, higher education institutions, and in Government, are doing, or could be doing, to foster agile and responsible innovation that responds to peoples’ values and expectations. Chaired by Samira Ahmed, speakers included the Science Minister, Lord Patrick Vallance (by video), Tera Allas CBE, Professor Sarah Harper CBE, Madhumita Murgia, Lord David Willetts, Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas, Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Dame Melanie Dawes and Dr Virginia Acha.

d. Future Forum

Empowering young people to share their views on cutting-edge innovations that will affect their futures.

Despite continued interest in our youth voice work, we unfortunately weren’t able to secure funding for a new Future Forum project in 2024/25. However we are excited to be working in partnership with LEGO in 2025/26 to conduct a new Future Forum on their sustainability strategy.

Goal 4 – Drive towards a more representative science community

APPG on Diversity & Inclusion in STEM

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) in STEM aims to promote inclusion and progression of people from diverse backgrounds in STEM, and to encourage government, parliamentarians, academics, businesses, and other stakeholders to work towards a STEM sector that is representative of the population. The Group is funded by a wide range of sponsors. The BSA has provided the Secretariat for the Group since its inception in 2018/19.

In accordance with government rules, the APPG was disbanded ahead of the 2024 General Election and has now been re-registered. The number of Officers has also been reduced from 9 to 4 in accordance with new APPG guidelines. The group currently has 34 members, including 19 MPs and 15 Lords/Baronesses, and 12 sponsors, with new sponsors this year

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British Science Association Annual Report (2024/25)

including the British Society for Immunology and Society for Experimental Biology. Samantha Nibblett MP has taken over as Chair of the APPG from Chi Onwurah.

Following a call for ideas for new topics, the focus for this year’s APPG project was on EDI strategies in STEM, leading to a new report published in March 2025, accompanied by an event on the same topic including an address by Baroness Brown of Cambridge.

Other activities

In December 2024 the British Science Association partnered with the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) on a parliamentary event bringing together a panel of business and policy experts to discuss the recent RAEng EDI Engine report and experiences of how EDI benefits engineering and the wider STEM sector.

Goal 5 – Champion the role of science festivals

a. British Science Festival

An annual celebration of the people, stories and ideas at the heart of science, hosted by a different city each September

The 2024 British Science Festival was hosted by the University of East London, with over 100 events across five days and multiple venues on and off campus, including arts venues and the Westfield Shopping centre. The event reached over 5,000 people, including strong representation from groups typically under-represented in science. The 2025 Festival will be held in Liverpool, hosted by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.

b. UK Science Festivals Network (UKSFN) and Making Connections

Core funded by UKRI, the BSA manages and chairs the UK Science Festivals Network (UKSFN), including science festivals and other festivals featuring science content. The Network aims to unite, celebrate and grow the science festivals sector in the UK .

The UK Science Festivals Network brings together around 40 of the key UK Science Festivals which collectively engage hundreds of thousands of children and adults with STEM in 800,000 to 1 million participant interactions every year. The UKSFN supports around 40 Festivals, with regular meetings and events held throughout the year on topics ranging from VR space experiences to careers guidance and the role of Festivals in supporting local industry. We led a session at the BIG Science Communicators conference in July 2024 and awarded the Josh Award in collaboration with BIG and the Association of Science and Discovery Centres. This award recognises early-career science communicators.

The 2025 UKSFN conference was held in Bristol in February 2025, welcoming approximately 60 attendees from across the festivals sector and beyond. The conference included sessions on working with activists, widening participation and inclusion, event risk management, art/science collaborations, community voice and more.

Making Connections provides UKSFN members with the opportunity to facilitate the engagement of audiences underserved and underrepresented in science with research by bringing them together with active researchers. The 2024 round of Making Connections made nine awards to a range of Festivals, including two that had not received grants from us before. This year we have also introduced new opportunities for awardees to share progress and learnings with each other.

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British Science Association Annual Report (2024/25)

Goal 6 (Internal business goal) Increase visibility and profile for the BSA

The last 12 months have seen a period of political change and economic uncertainty within and outside the UK. We recognise the need to increase the visibility and profile of our work and the importance of our Mission and Vision to maximise our impact and ensure long term sustainability.

In 2024/25, we developed new corporate communications and fundraising strategies for the BSA, nested within the new business plan.

The evolving social media landscape has led to changes in content regulation, engagement and many organisations moving platforms. In December 2024, we launched our BSA BlueSky account and have begun to use LinkedIn more regularly, and have seen our followers increase to 13,250. As part of our new corporate communications plan we will be reviewing our social media presence to ensure we are best positioned to engage with audiences effectively.

We also took the decision to decommission and close www.sciencelive.net , a listings website for science events and presenters that had not been widely used over recent years. The British Science Festival and British Science Week continue to be high profile events that gain local, regional and sector media interest and engagement on social media.

The British Science Festival 2024 in East London was widely covered by British media, including the Evening Standard, Londonist, New Scientist, The Times, Daily Mail – among the most popular stories being research news of a realistic touch device which allows you to virtually ‘hold a loved one’s hand from thousands of miles away’.

Our Smashing Stereotypes campaign during British Science Week 2025 received industry recognition in campaign of the week features from Creative Moment and PR Week . The Voice highlighted Black scientists in the campaign and visually impaired astronomer Nic Bonne appeared on ITV Meridian and in the Portsmouth News , as well as across Guide Dogs for the Blind’s social media.

In November 2024 , following a BSA event with 3M on the future of AI and innovation in the UK, 3M’s media partner the New Statesman released a podcast of the panel discussion on their website and YouTube – viewed over 3,000 times.

Following our annual For Thought event, Professor Sarah Harper – one of the event speakers – was interviewed for BBC London 94.9 (appearing across BBC regional radio) in January 2025, mentioning that she’d just been speaking ‘at the British Science Association’ on improving productivity in the UK in an ageing population with a low birth rate.

In February 2025, we announced £1,725,755 in Ideas Fund Evidence Building Grants for community projects, with the news picked up by local media across three of our four regions, including the Oldham Chronicle , Oldham Times , Derry Journal , and Shetland News

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British Science Association Annual Report (2024/25)

Section Two: Our future plans

As set out in Section One, in April 2024, we launched our new three-year business plan , covering the period April 2024 to March 2027.

This includes the following five goals as we head towards the next phase of our 10-year strategy:

We also have an additional internal business goal to increase visibility and profile for the BSA.

In order to support the delivery of these goals, we will also continue to prioritise the following cross-cutting themes and enablers:

Section Three: Financial Review

The Statement of Financial Activities shows a net deficit for the year of £30,322 (2024: net deficit of £24,358) excluding net gain on investment assets of £50,087 (2024: £83,755 gain).

Key funders of activities during the year include UKRI, East London University and the Wellcome Trust.

Total income of £6.45 million was higher than last year (2024: £4.77 million).

Total expenditure of £6.48 million was higher than last year (2024: £4.80 million).

The expenditure on individual programmes shown on the SOFA is dependent on the activities within the programmes and the funding received.

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British Science Association Annual Report (2024/25)

Funders / sponsors:

3M All About STEM Applied Microbiology International British Society for Haematology British Society for Immunology Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC) Collins Digital Catapult Engineering UK Fujitsu Fun Science Institution of Engineering and Technology James Weir Foundation Learning Through Landscapes Mammal Society Mewburn Ellis MSD NFU Education OKIDO Pearson China Physiological Society Primary Science Teaching Trust Radio Society of Great Britain Ricardo Royal Academy of Engineering Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Royal Museums Greenwich Royal Society Royal Society of Chemistry Science Council Society for Experimental Biology STEM Learning Sustrans Medical Research Council (Adolescent Health Study) The Institute of Cancer Research, London The Worshipful Company of Horners University College London UK Antarctic Heritage Trust UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) University of East London University of Reading (SEE & EAT) University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol Urenco VICTA Wellcome Trust Wellcome Connecting Science Welsh Government WWF-UK

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British Science Association Annual Report (2024/25)

Risk Management

The purpose of the BSA’s Risk & Issue Register is to enable the British Science Association’s Trustees to identify the main risks and issues the charity faces and record how to deal with them. The information in this framework is reviewed quarterly by the Senior Management Team, Finance Director and Finance, Audit & Risk Committee. Principal risks and issues (those identified as ones that would have a significant impact on ability to deliver our charitable objectives) are reported by default at each Council meeting, alongside other risks and issues where ratings have changed significantly since the last meeting.

Each section of the register is divided into five areas based on Charity Commission guidance (CC26[2] ):

  1. Strategic risks and issues

  2. Operational risks and issues

  3. Financial risks and issues

  4. Governance risks and issues

  5. Compliance and legislative risks and issues

Principal risks identified for the organisation and associated mitigations include:

2 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charities-and-risk-management-cc26/charities-and-risk-managementcc26#annex-1-risk-register-template-with-examples-of-use

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British Science Association Annual Report (2024/25)

completed by senior leaders, and the BSA is a member of the Funder Safeguarding Collaborative for expert support.

Reserves policy

At their meeting in July 2025, Council reviewed the existing, risk-based reserves policy, proposed by the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. Reserves are based on the following key principles:

  1. Working capital provision - £500k to 800k

  2. Loss or delay in funding - £775k

  3. Wind down costs - £300k - £500k

On this basis, the BSA opted to continue to aim for unrestricted reserves between £1.6m and £2.1m.

The reserves policy is reviewed annually by the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee to confirm the calculations and agree the policy for the coming year.

The Trustees recognise that the current reserves are £2m and will continue to aim to work towards holding unrestricted reserves within the above range in the coming years.

The BSA’s Trustees are satisfied that there are no concerns about the BSA’s existence as a going concern for at least the next 12 months and will continue to investigate opportunities to increase unrestricted funding.

Section Four: Structure, Governance and Management

The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

Charter, statutes and rules

The British Association for the Advancement of Science was founded in 1831 and is incorporated by Royal Charter. The Charter is dated 21 April 1928 and there have been Supplemental Charters dated 15 August 1960, 10 February 1997. The Association’s Statutes were revised and approved by the Privy Council in May 2006. In April 2020, the Privy Council approved an updated version of the BSA’s Charter and Statutes.

Council has approved Rules which are reviewed regularly by Council and may be altered by a majority vote in Council.

Registered and operating names

The British Science Association is the operating name for (and a registered trademark of) the British Association for the Advancement of Science. The registered name of the charity remains as the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

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Council

The governing body of the British Science Association is Council. Members of Council

comprise the following people who are entitled to vote at Council meetings:

In addition, the President, President-elect and immediate Past President, if not Trustees, are entitled to attend Council but not to vote.

Council normally meets four times a year, once per quarter. Its function is to agree a vision and strategy for the charity and to direct all the affairs and business of the organisation. Council may delegate its powers to the staff or its sub committees.

Members of Council normally serve for a period of three years with the option of being reappointed for a further three years so long as any continuous period in office does not normally exceed six years. In exceptional circumstances, by two thirds majority vote in Council of all members present, a further year’s extension is permitted.

Trustee induction and training

Following their election or appointment, induction information is sent to all new Trustees before they attend their first Council meeting. This comprises relevant Association and Charity Commission documents and information including the Charity Governance Code. External training opportunities for new and existing Trustees are offered in addition to away days and ad hoc meetings. Council members are invited to many of the Association’s external events.

Finance Committee ( April – June 2024)

Finance Committee was chaired by the Treasurer and comprised between four and six Council members, plus the Chief Executive as voting members, with the Finance Director also attending meetings as a non-voting member. Meetings were held four times per year. The purpose of the Committee was to assist Council in supervising the broad direction of the Association’s financial affairs at a strategic level, providing a forum for more detailed consideration of the financial strategy and financial risk, acting as a sounding board for discussion with management and for the supervision and control of the Association’s investments.

Audit & Risks Committee (April – June 2024)

The Audit & Risks Committee comprised three members of Council, including the Treasurer. Council was able to co-opt further persons if needed to provide additional expertise or an external perspective, provided they did not outnumber the Council appointees. The Committee met at least twice a year and meetings were attended by the Finance Director and Chief Executive.

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British Science Association Annual Report (2024/25)

Finance, Audit & Risk Committee (from June 2024)

In June 2024 it was agreed by Council that the existing Finance Committee and Audit & Risks Committee should be combined into a single Finance, Audit & Risk Committee (FarCom). The role of FarCom is to assist Council in supervising the broad direction of the Association’s financial affairs at a strategic level, providing a forum for more detailed consideration of the financial strategy, and risks and risk management, acting as a sounding board for discussion with management, for the supervision and control of the Association’s investments, and monitoring of the annual audit process. The Treasurer and the FarCom advise Council on resource matters, ensure that resources are allocated and managed in accordance with Council policy and Charity Commission requirements, and that the Association’s financial affairs are conducted with probity, accountability and transparency. FarCom is chaired by the Treasurer and comprises a minimum of three and maximum of six Council members including the Treasurer as voting members. The Chief Executive and Finance Director attend meetings as non-voting members. Council has the power to co-opt further persons if needed to provide further expertise or an external perspective, provided they do not outnumber the Council appointees.

Council has appointed a professional auditor of the Association, who is qualified for appointment as auditor of a company in accordance with the provisions of the Charities Act. The auditor attends meetings of the Committee as and when required.

Council Members

Council member roles and terms of office

Name Role Elected Retiring
/appointed
HilaryNewiss Chair March 2022 March 2028(2)
Neil Greenwood Treasurer March 2024 April 2027(1)
Heather King VP Education October 2021 Nov 2027(2)
Sarah Chaytor VP Policy,Partnerships & Impact March 2023 March 2026(1)
Matthew
Howard		 VP Engagement March 2024 March 2027(1)
Joe de Sousa Trustee(appointed) August 2020 August 2026(2)
Rubina Ahmed Trustee(appointed) August 2020 August 2026(2)
Kevin Coutinho Trustee (appointed) March 2023 March 2026(1)
Phil Smith Trustee (appointed) March 2023 March 2026(1)
Turi King Trustee (appointed) March 2025 March 2028(1)
Rachel
Honeyghan-
Williams		 Trustee (appointed) March 2025 March 2028(1)

(1) Indicates the end of the first term of office

(2) Indicates the end of the second term of office (where Council members have been reappointed at the end of the first term).

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Council membership of sub-committees


Honorary
Name Finance, Audit & Nominations
Fellowships
Risk Committee Committee Committee
HilaryNewiss Y Y(Chair) Y (Chair)
Rubina Ahmed Y
Joe de Sousa Y Y
Heather King Y Y
Sarah Chaytor Y
Kevin Coutinho Y Y
Phil Smith Y
Neil Greenwood Y(Chair)
Matthew Howard Y
Turi King*
Rachel Honeyghan-
Williams*

President

September 2023 to August 2024 – Professor Dame Jane Francis – Director of the British Antarctic Survey

September 2024 to August 2025 – Professor Kevin Fenton – public health physician and infectious disease epidemiologist

2024 Honorary Fellows

Professor Tom Crick – Professor of Digital Policy at Swansea University and Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Alom Shaha – science teacher, writer and broadcaster

Gisela Abbam – business leader and former BSA Chair of trustees

Royal Patron

Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, for the 20242025 year we did not have a Royal Patron.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Equity, diversity and inclusion are key to delivering the BSA’s Mission and Vision. In addition to embedding EDI through our programmes, we also work to ensure EDI is embedded through our organisational culture, policies and processes. In 2024/25 we began work on developing a new EDI strategy, which will be published in 2025.

The BSA has been monitoring staff EDI data since 2017 and trustee EDI data since 2019. We published this for the first time in 2020 and believe this is an important indication of our commitment to EDI. Our most recent data, from our 2024/25 survey can be found at www.britishscienceassociation.org/diversity-data

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Section Five: Reference and Administrative details

Senior Staff

Hannah Russell Chief Executive Gill Riches Director of Programmes Vijay Jassal Director of Development & External Relations Dave Lloyd Director of Finance (outsourced) Advisors Bankers NatWest Bank plc, 208 Piccadilly, London, W1A 2DG Solicitors Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP, 45 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1SZ Accounting TC Group, Kent Office (formerly Crossley Group), Star House, Star Hill, Rochester, ME1 1UX

Independent auditors Sayer Vincent, 110 Golden Lane, London, EC1Y 0TG Investment advisors James Hambro Partners LLP, 45 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5JG

Principal and registered office

Wellcome Wolfson Building 165 Queen’s Gate London SW7 5HD

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the BSA’s Council

Signature:

Name: Hilary Newiss Position: Chair Date: 29.10.25

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British Science Association independent Auditor’s Report (2024/25)

Independent Auditor’s report to the members of The British Association for the Advancement of Science

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The British Association for the Advancement of Science (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on The British Association for the Advancement of Science's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other Information

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for

20

British Science Association independent Auditor’s Report (2024/25)

the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and report in accordance with regulations made under that Act.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are

21

British Science Association independent Auditor’s Report (2024/25)

considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are set out below.

Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

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British Science Association independent Auditor’s Report (2024/25)

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity's trustees as a body, in accordance with section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. 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 audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Judith Miller (Senior statutory auditor) Date: 6 November 2025

Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor 110 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TG

Sayer Vincent LLP is eligible to act as auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006

23

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Statement of financial activities

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Note
Income from:
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
Engagement programmes
3
Education programmes
3
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
3
Grants Programme
3
Investments
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
5
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Engagement programmes
5
Education programmes
5
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
5
Grants Programme
5
Regions, branches and sections
5
Total expenditure
Net (expenditure) / income before net
gains on investments
Net gains on investments
Net expenditure for the period/year
Transfers between funds
7
19
Total funds carried forward
18
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
115,938
-
115,938
175,093
-
175,093
880,140
601,404
1,481,544
109,283
1,566,026
1,675,309
1,146,739
45,970
1,192,709
216,581
1,017,080
1,233,661
258,939
-
258,939
149,606
-
149,606
-
3,365,268
3,365,268
-
1,504,908
1,504,908
32,676
-
32,676
34,676
-
34,676
2025
Total
£
2024
Total
£
Unrestricted
£
Restricted
£
Unrestricted
£
Restricted
£
2,434,432
4,012,642
6,447,074
685,239
4,088,015
4,773,253
200,943
-
200,943
156,750
-
156,750
763,129
593,754
1,356,883
196,642
1,558,726
1,755,368
1,006,540
107,210
1,113,750
56,689
1,007,127
1,063,816
381,689
-
381,689
310,734
-
310,734
-
3,417,170
3,417,170
-
1,503,951
1,503,951
-
6,960
6,960
-
6,993
6,993
2,352,301
4,125,094
6,477,396
720,815
4,076,797
4,797,612
82,131
(112,452)
(30,322)
(35,577)
11,219
(24,358)
50,087
-
50,087
83,755
-
83,755
132,218
-
(112,452)
-
19,765
-
48,178
(2,300)
11,219
2,300
59,397
-
132,218
(112,452)
19,765
45,878
13,519
59,397
1,868,181
251,568
2,119,749
1,822,303
238,049
2,060,352
2,000,398
139,116
2,139,514
1,868,181
251,568
2,119,749

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 18 to the financial statements.

24

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2025

Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Total unrestricted funds
Total charity funds
Current assets:
Debtors
14
Cash at bank and in hand
Note
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets
12
Investments
13
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
15
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
17
Total net assets
18
The funds of the charity:
19
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted income funds:
Designated funds
General funds		 2,791,457
1,107,751

£		 1,436,826
2,656,158
(1,904,128)
1,619,090
3,055,916
(916,402)
2,139,514
139,115
2,000,399
2,139,514
1,682,216
973,942


2025
£

29,284
1,407,542




954,861
913,320		 2024
£
13,191
1,354,527
1,367,718


752,030
3,899,208
(2,280,118)
1,067,458
932,941
2,119,748
2,119,748
251,567
1,868,181
2,119,748

Approved by the trustees on 29.10.25

and signed on their behalf by

Hilary Newiss Chair of Council

Neil Greenwood General Treasurer

25

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 March 2025 For the year ended 31 March 2025 For the year ended 31 March 2025

Cash flows from operating activities
Note
21
2025
£
£
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
143,008
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities
5,169
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the period
148,177
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
981,342
1,129,519
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
22
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Purchase of fixed assets
Proceeds from sale of investments
Purchase of investments
32,676
(38,948)
567,573
(556,132)		 (702,122)
(3,299)
(705,421)
1,686,763
981,342
2024
£
£
34,676
(3,010)
360,218
(395,183)
148,177
981,342		 (705,421)
1,686,763
1,129,519 981,342

26

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

British Association for the Advancement of Science is an unincorporated charity registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales and Scotland. The registered office address is Wellcome Wolfson Building, 165 Queen’s Gate, London, SW7 5HD.

b) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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) - (Charities SORP FRS 102). The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK 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 has 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 (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value except that investments held as fixed assets are carried at market value as at the balance sheet date.

The Association meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

d) Going concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Association's ability to continue as a going concern.

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

e) Income

Income is recognised when the Association has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.

Income received for general purposes of the Association is credited to unrestricted funds. Income subject to specific wishes of the donor is credited to relevant restricted funds.

Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

Gross income received from the Association's investment portfolio is reinvested with the Association's portfolio fund managers for the acquisition of further stocks.

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Association; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the Association has control over the item or received the service, any conditions associated with the donation have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the Association of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), volunteer time is not recognised. The trustees’ annual report sets out more information about their contribution to the work of the Association.

g) Fund accounting

Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund.

Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for charitable purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.

27

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost to Overheads

Grants payable are made to third parties in furtherance of the charity's objects. Single or multi-year grants are accounted for when either the recipient has a reasonable expectation that they will receive a grant and the trustees have agreed to pay the grant without condition, or the recipient has a reasonable expectation that they will receive a grant and that any condition attaching to the grant is outside of the control of the charity.

Resources expended are allocated to a particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, support cost (the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function) is apportioned on the bases of an estimate, based on staff time, of the amount attributable to each activity.

Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the Association. These costs are associated with constitutional and statutory requirements and include any costs associated with the strategic management of the Association’s activities. These costs are allocated to each activity based on staff time.

Cost of Raising Funds: 9% Engagement programmes: 34% Education programmes: 28% Policy, Partnerships & Impact 12% New Grants programme 17%

k) Operating leases

Where assets are financed by leasing agreement that give rights approximating to ownership ("finance leases"), the assets are treated as if they had been purchased outright. The amount capitalised is the present value of the minimum lease payments during the lease term. The corresponding leasing commitments are shown as obligations to the lessor.

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

m) Listed investments

Investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price. Any change in fair value will be recognised in the statement of financial activities. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and shown in the heading “net gains/(losses) on investments” in the statement of financial activities. The Association does not acquire put options, derivatives or other complex financial instruments.

The Association's Investment Fund is invested in accordance with the Powers of Investment set out in the Schedule to the 1977 Supplemental Charter, which requires that at least 15% of the fund must comprise investments in Government and/or fixed interest securities, including interest-bearing cash deposits. Council has determined that the primary objective of investment policy should be to maintain the capital value of the fund in real terms over the long term.

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.

28

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

o) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at 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. Cash balances exclude any funds held on behalf of service users.

p) Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the Association 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 settle 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.

The Association 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.

The Association operates under an auto enrolment scheme and auto enrols the new employees into the Government's NEST scheme. Pre 1 July 2014, employees are in an AEGON pension scheme. The Association matches the minimum 1% contribution and pays (on a sliding scale) up to two times the contributions made by employees to the schemes which can range between 1% and 5% of gross salary. The pension charge recorded in these financial statements is the amount of contributions payable by the Association in the accounting year.

2 Income from donations and legacies

Income from donations and legacies
Subscriptions and donations
Donated services and facilities - office space
Other income		 Unrestricted
£
9,907
74,311
31,720		 Restricted
£
-
-
-		 2025
Total
£
9,907
74,311
31,720		 Unrestricted
£
5,682
72,428
96,983		 Restricted
£
-
-
-		 2024
Total
£
5,682
72,428
96,983
115,938 - 115,938 175,093 - 175,093
British Science Festival
Other engagement programmes
Education programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Grants Programme
Sub-total for engagement programmes
Total income from charitable activities		 40,000
840,140
Unrestricted
£		 601,404
-
Restricted
£		 641,404
840,140
2025
Total
£		 34,000
75,283
Unrestricted
£		 399,354
1,166,672
Restricted
£		 433,354
1,241,955
2024
Total
£
1,146,739
258,939
-
880,140		 45,970
-
3,365,268
601,404		 1,192,709
258,939
3,365,268
1,481,544		 216,581
149,606
-
109,283		 1,017,080
-
1,504,908
1,566,026		 1,233,661
149,606
1,504,908
1,675,309
2,285,818 4,012,641 6,298,460 475,470 4,088,014 4,563,484

4 Income from investments

Dividends
Interest		 16,555
16,121
Unrestricted
£		 -
-
Restricted
£		 16,555
16,121
2025
Total
£		 17,239
17,437
Unrestricted
£		 -
-
Restricted
£		 17,239
17,437
2024
Total
£
32,676 - 32,676 34,676 - 34,676

29

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

5a Analysis of expenditure (current year)

Cost of
raising funds
£
120,669
2,544
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Charitable activities Charitable activities 26,617
-
(26,617)
Governance
costs
£
24,960
-
-
1,657
-
-
-
-
-
-		 852,033
(852,033)
-
Support costs
£
255,984
-
11,356
295,854
22,855
25,180
69,904
152,951
15,511
2,438
Engagement
programmes
£
483,889
573,591
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 864,903
241,309
7,538
Education
programmes
£
386,311
478,592
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 279,163
99,420
3,106
Policy,
Partnerships &
Impact
£
159,162
120,001
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 6,960
-
-
Regions,
branches and
sections
£
-
6,960
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 241,668
025,360
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,267,028
145,594
4,548
Grants
Programme
£
3,
123,213
75,376
2,355		 1,057,479
290,334
9,070

30

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

5b Analysis of expenditure (prior year)

Support costs
Governance costs
Total expenditure 2024
Staff costs (Note 8)
Direct costs
Investment managers' fees
Office costs
Depreciation and disposals
Legal and professional
Irrecoverable VAT
Office service charge
Insurance
Marketing and PR		 Cost of raising
funds
£
83,383
3,301
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Charitable activities 1,350,448
148,471
5,032
1,503,951
Grants
Programme
£
213,090
1,137,358
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Governance
costs
£
27,990
-
-
1,784
-
-
-
-
-
-		 69,827
-
10,466
80,782
15,474
24,811
26,917
23,813
14,454
11,860
Support costs
£
2
2
1
1		 2024
Total
£
1,558,530
2,627,871
10,466
282,566
15,474
24,811
126,917
123,813
14,454
11,860
Engagement
programmes
£
506,828
890,737
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Education
programmes
£
332,839
491,209
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Policy,
Partnerships &
Impact
£
124,573
96,423
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Regions,
branches and
sections
£
-
8,843
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
86,684
58,097
1,969		 1,397,565
353,134
11,969		 824,048
231,907
7,860		 220,996
86,796
2,942		 8,843
-
-		 29,774
-
(29,774)		 878,404
(878,404)
-		 4,796,762
-
146,750 1,762,668 1,063,815 310,734 8,843 - - 4,796,762

31

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Cost
Wellcome Trust grants
Engagement Grants
Education Grants
At the end of the year		 2025
£
2,735,017
162,352
86,950
2024

£

845,754

292,816

87,271
2,984,319 1,225,842

This is stated after charging :

2025 2024
£ £
Depreciation 22,855 15,474
Operating lease rentals:
Property 78,640 51,385
Auditors' remuneration (excluding VAT):
Audit 15,170 14,450

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Employer’s contribution to defined contribution pension schemes		 2025
£
1,461,843
147,741
63,058
2024

£

1,357,988

138,343

62,199
1,672,642 1,558,530

The following number of employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) during the period between:

2025 2024
No. No.
£60,000 - £69,999 1 1
£70,000 - £79,999 2 1
£80,000 - £89,999 - -

The total employee benefits including pension contributions of the key management personnel were £258,921 (2024: £236,187).

The Council members were not paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the Association in the year (2024: £nil). No Council member received payment for professional or other services supplied to the Association (2024: £nil).

Council members' expenses represent the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £918 (2024: £925) incurred by 3 (2024: 4) members relating to attendance at Council meetings.

32

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the period was as follows:

Fundraising, marketing and public relations
Engagement programmes
Educational programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Ideas Fund
Support and Governance		 5.8
8.1
6.9
5.0
3.6
8.6
2025
No.
5.7

8.8

6.8

6.0

3.4

6.6


2024
No.
38.0
37.3

10 Related party transactions

There are no related party transactions to disclose for 2025 (2024: none).

There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.

11 Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

12 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets
Cost
At the start of the year
Additions in year
Disposals in year
At the end of the year
Depreciation
At the start of the year
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposal
At the end of the year
Net book value
At the end of the year
At the start of the Year		 Fixtures and
fittings
£
30,576
-
(7,900)		 Computer
equipment
£
46,223
38,948
(12,352)		 Total

£

76,799

38,948

(20,252)
22,676 72,819 95,495
29,423
600
(7,900)		 34,185
22,255
(12,352)
63,608

22,855

-
22,123 44,088
66,211
553 28,731
29,284
1,153 12,038
13,191

All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.

33

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Fair value at the start of the year
Additions at cost
Disposal proceeds
Net (loss)/gain on change in fair value
Historic cost at the end of the year
Investments comprise:
Shares listed on the London Stock Exchange
Cash
Cash held by investment broker pending reinvestment
Fair value at the end of the year		 1,347,127
556,132
(567,573)
50,087
2025
£
1,228,408

395,182

(360,218)

83,755


2024
£
1,385,773
21,769		 1,347,127

7,400
1,407,542 1,354,528
1,199,057 1,145,475
1,385,773
21,769
2025
£		 1,347,127

7,400


2024
£
1,407,542 1,354,528

14 Debtors

Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments
Accrued income		 500,833
2
57,639
2,232,983
2025
£
443,734

915

74,159

1,163,409


2024
£
2,791,457 1,682,216

15 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals
Grant accruals
Deferred income		 142,916
193,620
80,386
139,442
1,096,204
627,550
2025
£
144,139

72,474

61,487

188,037

677,285

760,707


2024
£
2,280,118 1,904,128

34

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

16 Deferred income

Deferred income comprises both fees received in advance of the delivery of the services and grants received for future financial periods.

Balance at the end of the period
Balance at the beginning of the period
Amount released to income in the period
Amount deferred in the period		 2025
£
2024
£
760,707
299,250
(760,707)
(299,250)
627,550
760,707
627,550
760,707

17 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year

Grant Commitments 916,402
2025
£		 -


2024
£
916,402 -

At 31 March 2025, the charity had made grant commitments for which a constructive obligation exists and the payment is due beyond one year. These relate to grants awarded in the year to projects extending over multiple years. Amount due within two years are £556,795 (2024: £nil). Amount due between two and three years is £359,607 (2024: £nil).

18a Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)

Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Long Term Liabilities
Net current assets
Net assets at the end of the year		 29,284
-
903,657
503,885
-
-
-
563,573
General
£
Designated
£		 -
29,284
-
1,407,542
(916,402)
(916,402)
1,055,517
1,619,090
Restricted
£
2025 Total
£
932,941
1,067,458		 139,115
2,139,514
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Long Term Liabilities
Net current assets
Net assets at the end of the period		 13,191
900,128
-
-
General
£
-

454,399

-

500,462


Designated
£		 -
-
-
251,567
Restricted
£
13,191

1,354,527

-

752,029


2024 Total
£
913,319 954,861 251,567 2,119,748

The charity has designated a portion of its unrestricted funds based on a worst-case scenario approach. This assumes that certain risks could materialise simultaneously, requiring the charity to draw down on these funds.

In reality, the likelihood of such events occurring at the same time is low. As such, this designation does not reflect forecasted financial performance, but represents a conservative measure to safeguard against risk and support the charity’s financial resilience.

35

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

19a Movements in funds (current year)

19a
Movements in funds (current year)
Restricted funds:
Engagement programmes
British Science Festival
Other engagement programmes
Education programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Grants programme
Sections and regions
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
Designated funds:
Engagement programmes
British Science Festival
Other engagement programmes
Education programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Contingency for wind-down costs
Innovation Fund
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
19b
Movements in funds (prior period)
Restricted funds:
Engagement programmes
British Science Festival
Other engagement programmes
Education programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Grants programme
Sections and regions
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
Designated funds:
Engagement programmes
British Science Festival
Other engagement programmes
Education programmes
Policy, Partnerships & Impact
Contingency for wind-down costs
Innovation Fund
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
Total designated funds
General funds
Total designated funds
General funds		 At 31 March
2024
£
-
-
79,356
-
148,981
23,230

Incoming
resources &
gains

£

601,404

-

45,970

-

3,365,268

-


Outgoing
resources &
losses

£

(593,754)

-

(107,210)

-

(3,417,170)

(6,960)		 Transfers
£
(7,650)
-
-
-
-
7,650
At 31 March
2025

£

-

-

18,116

-

97,079

23,920
251,567 4,012,642 (4,125,094) - 139,115
-
100,000
209,000
130,000
500,000
15,861
40,000

840,140

1,146,739

258,939

-

-
(18,678)

(744,451)

(1,006,540)

(381,689)

-

-		 (11,322)
14,312
(156,602)
131,750
-
-
10,000

210,000

192,597

139,000

500,000

15,861
954,861
2,285,818
(2,151,359)		 (21,862)
1,067,458
913,320
198,701
(200,943)		 21,862
932,940
1,868,181 2,484,519 (2,352,302) -
2,000,398
2,119,748 6,497,161 (6,477,396) -
2,139,513
At 1 April
2023
£
-
-
69,403
-
148,024
20,623

Incoming
resources &
gains

£

399,354

1,166,672

1,017,080

-

1,504,908

-


Outgoing
resources &
losses

£

(392,054)

(1,166,672)

(1,007,127)

-

(1,503,951)

(6,993)		 Transfers
£
(7,300)
-
-
-
-
9,600
At 31 March
2024

£

-

-

79,356

-

148,981

23,230
238,049 4,088,014 (4,076,797) 2,300 251,567
100,828
90,000
120,001
205,000
500,000
15,861
34,000

75,283

303,559

149,606

-

-
(188,713)

(7,929)

(56,689)

(310,734)

-

-		 53,885
(57,354)
(157,871)
86,128
-
-

100,000

209,000

130,000

500,000

15,861
1,031,690
562,449
(564,065)		 (75,212) 954,861
790,613
206,545
(156,750)		 72,912
913,320
1,822,303 768,994 (720,815) (2,300) 1,868,181
2,060,352 4,857,008 (4,797,612) -
2,119,748

36

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

20 Movements in funds - descriptions

Purposes of restricted funds

British Science Festival

These are funds received specifically to deliver the British Science Festival and have been fully spent in the year.

Grants Programme

These are funds received directly to deliver the Ideas Fund programme. At the year end some grant funding had not been fully spent and has been carried forward.

Education

These are funds received predominantly to deliver work relating to Educational programmes including CREST Awards. At the year end some grant funding from 1851 remains unspent, which is to be spent in 2025/26.

Sections

Sections raise their own funds as well as receive contributions from the engagement programmes. The majority of the balances are restricted funding from the British Science Festival.

Purposes of designated funds

Engagement

These are funds set aside by management in order to support the activities of the Engagement team in the coming financial year if required.

Education

These are funds set aside by management in order to support the activities of the Education Team in the coming financial year if required. There are also funds designated towards CREST Digital Development, CREST Kit Boxes and the continuing development of the CREST Website

Policy, Partnerships & Impact

These are funds set aside by management in order to support the activities of the PPI Team in the coming financial year if required.

Contingency for wind-down costs

We currently hold £500,000 in designated reserves as a contingency in the case of wind down.

Innovation Fund

The availability of this fund encourages our staff to develop and implement ideas that contribute to our strategic goals during the year.

Transfers between funds

Transfers have been made between funds to enable the right reserves to be available in the right areas as described above.

37

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Net income / (expenditure) for the reporting period
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Depreciation charges
(Profit)/loss on the disposal of fixed assets
(Gains)/losses on investments
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors		 19,765
59,396
22,855
15,474
-
-
(50,087)
(83,755)
(32,676)
(34,676)
(1,109,241)
71,897
1,292,392
(730,459)
2025
£
2024
£
143,008
(702,122)

22 Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

Total cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash awaiting investment		 At 31 March
2024
£
973,942
7,400		 Cash flows
£
At 31 March
2025
£
(133,809)
1,107,751
14,369
21,769
981,342 (119,440)
1,129,520

23 Operating lease commitments

The charity's total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows for each of the following periods.

The charity's total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases
following periods.		 is as follows for each of the
Less than 1 year
1 - 5 Years
Over 5 years		 Property
2025
£
2024
£
81,417
69,115
325,668
276,460
1,058,420
967,610
1,465,505
1,313,185

The commitment relates to the service charge due under the Wellcome Wolfson Building lease. The term of the lease is for 40 years from 29 September 2003 increasing by inflation each year.

38

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

24 Detail of branches, and sections and regions restricted funds

Total sections and regions
restricted funds
Sections and regions
Agriculture & Food
Anthropology
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Economics
Education
Engineering
General
Geography
Geology
History of Science
Mathematics
Medical Sciences
Physics
Psychology
Science & The Arts
Sociology		 At 31 March
2024
23,230
845
121
323
3,205
2,196
1,739
3,099
881
2,568
1,457
547
936
1,245
469
2,223
937
439		 Incoming
resources &
gains
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Outgoing
resources &
losses
(101)
(347)
(1,015)
(101)
(760)
-
(500)
(101)
(203)
-
-
(990)
(401)
(101)
(1,332)
(1,008)
-		 Transfers
450
450
693
(1,293)
450
450
450
450
450
450
450
450
450
450
450
1,950
450
















 At 31 March
2025
1,194
224
-
1,811
1,886
2,189
3,049
1,230
2,815
1,907
997
396
1,294
818
1,341
1,880
889
(6,960) 7,650 23,920

39