The Cambridge Union Society

Advance education by promoting debating, hosting educational events, training members and public in debating for debating competitions. Encourage the exchange of ideas and provide access by the public to the Charity's facilities and events; provide workshops for local school children to introduce them to debating and enable students and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate.

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Activities & Mission

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.

Local Authority

Cambridgeshire

Financial Information

Latest Income

£2,470,951

Latest Expenditure

£2,697,171

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 40.6%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 6% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 3130). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 37.2%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 3% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 63.8%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 2% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £0

Charitable Activities £356,524

Other Trading £1,940,719

Investments £166,584

Other Income £7,124

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £1,002,525

Raising Funds £1,694,646

Governance £25,200

Grants to Institutions £0

Other Expenditure £0

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.

One or more years show a significant change in income (over ±100%) compared with the prior year. This usually reflects a merger, transfer of activities, restated accounts, or a one-off legacy — not necessarily a real change in operating scale. See the methodology for context.

The Commission record shows this related event on the register:

Asset transfer in in 2011 — Cambridge Union Society (organisation 282774)

Financial Year	Income	Expenditure	Charitable Spending	Net Assets	Reserves	Staff
2025	£2,470,951	£2,697,171	£1,002,525	£10,034,881	£300,000	7 / 350
2024	£2,362,229	£2,476,003	£960,594	£8,828,136	£550,000	47 / 132
2023	£2,123,918	£2,463,803	£2,457,973	£8,935,727	£300,000	42 / 440
2022	£2,185,278	£2,301,435	£891,476	£9,992,728	£878,000	48 / 320
2021	£645,315	£994,203	£677,227	£9,339,853	£1,943,788	35 / 25

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about The Cambridge Union Society

What does The Cambridge Union Society do?

How much income did The Cambridge Union Society report in 2025?

The Cambridge Union Society reported total income of £2.47m and reported expenditure of £2.70m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is The Cambridge Union Society?

The Cambridge Union Society has a program ratio of 40.6%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 6% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 3130 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was The Cambridge Union Society registered as a charity?

The Cambridge Union Society was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 20 May 2010 as charity number 1136030. It has been registered for 16 years.

Who runs The Cambridge Union Society?

The Cambridge Union Society is governed by a board of 12 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does The Cambridge Union Society operate?

The Cambridge Union Society operates in Cambridgeshire, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.

Is The Cambridge Union Society a registered charity?

Yes — The Cambridge Union Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1136030.