The British Federation of Film Societies

Analysis

The British Federation of Film Societies is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Sheffield. It was registered in November 1978, 48 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 company (Companies House number 01391200). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The British Federation of Film Societies reported income of £279k and spending of £335k, spending 120% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £263k to £279k (+6.1%), an average of +1.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income dropped by 15%. Over the whole period it spent 109% 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 British Federation of Film Societies sits at the 88th percentile: it is larger than about 88% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 85th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation UK (£278k), St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society (£279k) and Theatre-Rites (£278k).

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.