The Plymouth Athenaeum

Analysis

The Plymouth Athenaeum is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Plymouth. It was registered in May 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00019639). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Plymouth Athenaeum reported income of £29k and spending of £53k, spending 184% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £53k to £29k (-46%), an average of -14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 239%. Over the whole period it spent 133% 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, The Plymouth Athenaeum sits at the 58th percentile: it is larger than about 58% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 52nd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Bettws-Y-Crwyn Village Hall (£29k), The Cardiff U3a (£29k) and Penkridge Peace Memorial Hall (£29k).

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.