THE BRISTOL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY
Provides information and promotes knowledge about the peoples and countries of the Commonwealth, providing a meeting place for members, maintains library, holds meetings, talks and lectures on the Commonwealth, supports young people and students in studies relating to the Commonwealth, cooperates with other organizations interested or working in Commonwealth countries.
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net loss of £63,727 for the year ended 31 December 2024, primarily driven by a £56,775 loss on the valuation of its investments. Despite this reduction in net assets, the charity holds unrestricted reserves of £443,601, which the trustees consider sufficient to meet day-to-day requirements. The independent examiner confirmed that proper accounting records were kept and no matters requiring attention were identified.
What the accounts disclose
“The Trustees believe the Society’s level of reserves to be sufficient to meet its day to day requirements. As a matter of policy, each year the Trustees review the value of the reserves required to be held in investments, cash and cash equivalents not restricted to any particular purpose.” — page 4
Trustees
- Dr KAY BARNARDchair
- Athanasis Lazarides
- Janet Mary Kirk
- Janis Purdy
- Nicholas Stephen John Watts
- Robin Danny Elms
- Sibusiso Tshabalala
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2024 | £112k | £176k |
| 31/12/2023 | £82k | £72k |
| 31/12/2022 | £60k | £77k |
| 31/12/2021 | £65k | £51k |
| 31/12/2020 | £72k | £45k |
Common questions
Is THE BRISTOL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY financially healthy?
Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net loss of £63,727 for the year ended 31 December 2024, primarily driven by a £56,775 loss on the valuation of its investments. Despite this reduction in net assets, the charity holds unrestricted reserves of £443,601, which the trustees consider sufficient to meet day-to-day requirements. The independent examiner confirmed that proper accounting records were kept and no matters requiring attention were identified. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| IGY FOUNDATION | 1 | £710k |
| THE JMCMRJ SORRELL FOUNDATION | 1 | £50k |
| CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS' LIVERY CHARITY | 1 | £11k |
| GRAFF FOUNDATION | 1 | £1k |
Charities like this
- ASSOCIATION OF COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITIES
- COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION (UNITED KINGDOM BRANCH)
- Commonwealth Jewish Council
- BRISTOL AND AVON ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
- The British Omani Society
- ENGLISH- SPEAKING UNION OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE BRISTOL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY | £112k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| ASSOCIATION OF COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITIES | £8.1m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION (UNITED KINGDOM BRANCH) | £3.3m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Commonwealth Jewish Council | £181k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BRISTOL AND AVON ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY | £20k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| The British Omani Society | £394k | £48,897 | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |