English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth
Also known as: English Speaking Union of the Commonwealth, English-Speaking Union
The promotion of good communication in the English language through public speaking and debate; running educational programmes; initiating and administering scholarships; youth and academic exchanges. The charity focuses on oracy development in schools, promoting social equality and international understanding and facilitates and assists in the establishment of independent ESUs worldwide.
Activities & Mission
The promotion of good communication in the English language through public speaking and debate; running educational programmes; initiating and administering scholarships; youth and academic exchanges. The charity focuses on oracy development in schools, promoting social equality and international understanding and facilitates and assists in the establishment of independent ESUs worldwide.
Areas of Operation
Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.
Show all 65 areas of operation Hide areas of operation
Country
Region
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 44% of UK Education charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 2063). How is this calculated?
Higher than 11% of UK Education charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 5% of UK Education charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?
Latest Financial Breakdown
Income Sources
Expenditure Categories
Financial Trend
Annual Returns
As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | £2,589,501 | £3,159,615 | £2,417,909 | £56,045,791 | £2,555,056 | 27 / 550 |
| 2024 | £2,753,942 | £3,343,828 | £2,722,775 | £50,813,178 | £2,974,210 | 22 / 360 |
| 2023 | £2,535,000 | £2,046,000 | £1,486,000 | £51,145,420 | £4,163,000 | 18 / 95 |
| 2022 | £2,297,000 | £1,391,000 | £857,000 | £42,833,000 | £3,575,000 | 10 / 95 |
| 2021 | £2,149,000 | £2,348,000 | £2,343,000 | £40,951,000 | £1,616,000 | 10 / 0 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth
What does English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth do?
The promotion of good communication in the English language through public speaking and debate; running educational programmes; initiating and administering scholarships; youth and academic exchanges. The charity focuses on oracy development in schools, promoting social equality and international understanding and facilitates and assists in the establishment of independent ESUs worldwide.
How much income did English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth report in 2025?
English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth reported total income of £2.59m and reported expenditure of £3.16m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth?
English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth has a program ratio of 93.4%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 44% of UK Education charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 2063 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth registered as a charity?
English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 29 March 1977 as charity number 273136. It has been registered for 49 years.
Who runs English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth?
English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth is governed by a board of 9 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth operate?
English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth operates across 65 areas, including Albania, Argentina, Armenia and 62 others. The full list is shown on its profile.
Is English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth a registered charity?
Yes — English- Speaking Union Of The Commonwealth is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 273136.
Details
37 CHARLES STREET
LONDON
W1J 5ED
Registry Information
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Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Also governs 6 other charities
Sectors & Classifications
Also Known As
- English Speaking Union of the Commonwealth
- English-Speaking Union
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated