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the british council

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Activities & Mission

The British Council creates friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with. We reach millions of people across the world, working with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society.

Fundraising

See where The British Council is active and find local fundraising opportunities.

Financial Information

Latest Income
£989,335,930
Latest Expenditure
£1,054,737,848

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 105.0%
% of income going directly to charitable activities
Overall Efficiency 98.5%
% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)
Administrative Ratio 0.5%
Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £173,000,000
Charitable Activities £786,752,360
Other Trading £293,167
Investments £12,457,670
Other Income £16,832,733

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £1,038,567,801
Raising Funds £45,181
Governance £5,149,261
Grants to Institutions £23,174,655
Other Expenditure £16,124,866

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

Financial YearIncomeExpenditureCharitable SpendingNet AssetsReservesStaff
2024£989,335,930£1,054,737,848£1,038,567,801£333,445,822£09490 / 0
2023£873,334,827£925,158,978£914,099,463£401,752,837£39,841,5919209 / 0
2022£896,655,974£942,310,549£935,228,553£447,469,268£92,607,3979861 / 0
2021£924,965,472£1,015,114,434£1,008,239,961£332,570,351£3,607,94311131 / 0
2020£1,288,716,795£1,295,819,317£1,282,076,569£404,584,503£86,593,99311523 / 0

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Details

Address
1 Redman Place
Stratford
London
United Kingdom
E20 1JQ
Registration Date
3 January 1963
Status
Registered

Registry Information

Organisation Number
209131
Charity Number
209131

Trustees

Fiona Salzen
Professor Malcolm Colin Press
Richard Mark Hookway
Dr David John Lefevre
Professor Wendy Cowan Alexander
Paul Woodgates
Dr Paul Thompson
Sushil Kumar Saluja
David Andrew Thompson Todd
Mariella Frostrup
Alfred Yaw Oduro Nsarkoh
Kate Marsh
Desmond Patrick Neil Wigan CVO OBE