Freshwater Biological Association

Analysis

Freshwater Biological Association is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Ambleside. It was registered in May 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover 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 00263162). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides human resources and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Freshwater Biological Association reported income of £1.0m and spending of £906k, spending 89% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £631k to £1.0m (+61%), an average of +13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 30%. 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, Freshwater Biological Association sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Colchester Arts Centre (£1.0m), The Bulldog Trust Limited (£1.0m) and Science Museum Foundation (£1.0m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 63%, investments 19% and donations and legacies 18%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £175k. Charitable activities took 88% of spending and raising funds 12%. Reserves of £311k would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 18 people.