Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
Analysis
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Cambridge. It was registered in July 2008, 18 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 06564642). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides services.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research reported income of £626k and spending of £750k, spending 120% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £481k to £626k (+30%), an average of +6.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 17%. Over the whole period it spent 102% of the income it received.
Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Number 8 (£625k), 20 Stories High (£627k) and Peer Productions (£625k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 94%, donations and legacies 4.7% and investments 1.3%. Charitable activities took 100% of spending and raising funds 0.4%. Reserves of £566k would cover about 9 months of spending at that rate. It employed 6 people.
Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 4.7%
- Charitable activities 94%
- Investments 1.3%
In the charity's own words
The charity has two main objectives: a) advance and promote scientific knowledge, understanding and education on any aspect of; and b) initiate, facilitate, co-ordinate and encourage international scientific research activity in; i)the Antarctic region;ii)on the role of the Antarctic region in the Earth system; and iii)on the effect of global change on the Antarctic region.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Number 8 | Pershore | £625k |
| 20 Stories High | Liverpool | £627k |
| Peer Productions | Guildford | £625k |
| Royal Ballet School Endowment Fund | London | £627k |