WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Latest income
£27.4m
Latest spending
£26.7m
Registered
2006
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that WEA delivered an operational surplus and ended the year with free unrestricted reserves of £5.1m, which exceeds the trustees' stated minimum requirement of £3.5m to £4m. The trustees confirm the charity has adequate resources to continue as a going concern through July 2027, with no material uncertainties identified by the auditors.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: between £3.5m and £4m (held: £5.1m)
“In all scenarios a range of between £3.5m and £4m was considered to be sufficient.” — page 19
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Pension scheme deficit: £605k
“This provisional triannual actuarial valuation for September 2023 shows a deficit of £605,000.” — page 73
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: WEA Trading Limited
“The trading company, WEA Trading Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of WEA, has not traded to date.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)
Total income
£27.4m
Total spending
£26.7m
Reserves (reported)
£5.1m
Employees
528
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (01/03/2023)
Trustees
- John Widdowsonchair
- AMANDA WOODVINE
- Andrew Law
- Catherine Armor
- Christine Grant
- Colin Finlay
- Geoffrey Mark Layer
- Jamey Johnson
- Kevin Michael Doyle
- Matthew Pointon
- Robin Cook
- Ronald Marks
- Stephanie Mason
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/07/2025 | £27.4m | £26.7m |
| 31/07/2024 | £32.7m | £28.7m |
| 31/07/2023 | £27.5m | £26.1m |
| 31/07/2022 | £28.5m | £27.7m |
| 31/07/2021 | £30.3m | £25.5m |
Common questions
Is WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION financially healthy?
The accounts state that WEA delivered an operational surplus and ended the year with free unrestricted reserves of £5.1m, which exceeds the trustees' stated minimum requirement of £3.5m to £4m. The trustees confirm the charity has adequate resources to continue as a going concern through July 2027, with no material uncertainties identified by the auditors. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 04/05/2023 | £63k | "Routes of Social Change" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 23/06/2021 | £98k | "Women on the Land: The Land Girls and LumberJills in South Yorkshire" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 12/04/2017 | £98k | "The Story of Painted Fabrics" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 27/10/2016 | £71k | "Educational campaigning within the WEA and affiliated organisations in the North East 1918 - 1928" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 25/07/2016 | £96k | "Bringing to life the meaning of conscientious objection across Scotland" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 03/03/2016 | £10k | "Cinema to Synagogue" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 24/11/2014 | £60k | "The WEA in WW1 in the North East" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 29/09/2014 | £8k | "Exploring the Impact of WW1 on Herefordshire" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 31/03/2014 | £8k | "Chronicles of War: Edinburgh's experiences of World War I on the Home Front" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 06/11/2013 | £76k | "The heritage of learning: the Workers' Educational Association story in the South West" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 28/10/2013 | £95k | "Breaking the Mould: Celebrating 100 years of women's history and experiences in Scotland" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 12/10/2012 | £9k | "Beside the Seaside Beside the Sea: The History of the Seaside in North Somerset" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 05/10/2012 | £10k | "100 years of adult and worker education: celebrating the WEA story" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 08/09/2010 | £200k | "Inclusive Archaeology Education Project" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 26/07/2010 | £45k | "Mapping the history of popular politics in the north east region" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 09/02/2007 | £50k | "South Yorkshire Community Archaeology Project" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 30/01/2007 | £19k | "Vivendo Discimus (We Learn by Living Together): The Life and Times of Riddle's Court" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 31/03/2006 | £40k | "Exploring Your Past" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 29/10/2003 | £5k | "This group work with the WEA Scotland to promote educational opportunities for adults in Ross-shire, Caithness and Sutherland. Grant will a" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 23/10/2002 | £30k | "Scotland Centenary Exhibition and Publication" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 22/01/2002 | £5k | "The Cumbria branch of the Workers Educational Association is planning to compile a historic booklet and exhibition relating to the old Castl" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 26/09/2001 | £233k | "Heritage Education for All: Widening Participation for Disabled People" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 11/10/1999 | £5k | "This group aims to record life in rural communities at the millennium. They will record historic buildings and sites of importance to villag" |