Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society

Analysis

Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Hexham. It was registered in August 2013, 13 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society reported income of £817k and spending of £833k, spending 102% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £546k to £817k (+49%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2022, when income rose by 35%. Over the whole period it spent 99% 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, Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society sits at the 94th percentile: it is larger than about 94% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 93rd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Race Council Cymru (£816k), Ballet Lorent Limited (£817k) and The UK Association for Music Education - Music Mark (£816k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 65%, donations and legacies 26% and trading 8.0%. Charitable activities took 96% of spending and raising funds 3.2%. Reserves of £87k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 18 people.