THE PRINCIPAL AND FELLOWS OF SOMERVILLE COLLEGE

Registered charity 1139440 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

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Latest income
£20.0m
Latest spending
£18.4m
Registered
2010
Accounts read
FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves are negative at £(0.4)m, though the College holds significant designated unrestricted reserves of £133m for fixed assets. The College reports a surplus on unrestricted funds and notes that pressure on costs eased during the year, resulting in an overall increase in net assets to £238m.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: sufficient free reserves to enable it to meet its short-term financial obligations in the event of an unexpected revenue shortfall (held: £-400k)
The College's reserves policy is to establish, and thereafter maintain sufficient free reserves to enable it to meet its short-term financial obligations in the event of an unexpected revenue shortfall. — page 13
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee donations
Donations totalling £2k were received from Trustees of the College (2023: £6k) — page 39
The College hosted summer courses for Universify Education at a cost of £13k. S Rayner is a Trustee of Universify Education — page 39
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee service provider
Donations totalling £2k were received from Trustees of the College (2023: £6k) — page 39
The College hosted summer courses for Universify Education at a cost of £13k. S Rayner is a Trustee of Universify Education — page 39
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Somerville College Trading Limited, Somerville College Developments Limited
The College also has two wholly owned non-charitable subsidiaries: Somerville College Trading Limited, and Somerville College Developments Limited — page 7
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Crowe U.K. LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)

Total income
£20.0m
Total spending
£18.4m
Cost of raising funds
£1.3m
Reserves (reported)
£136.6m
Employees
290

Reported reserves equal ~89.0 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Trustees

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Oxfordshire

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/07/2025£20.0m£18.4m
31/07/2024£17.6m£15.7m
31/07/2023£16.3m£17.1m
31/07/2022£13.6m£17.1m
31/07/2021£12.1m£14.2m

Common questions

Is THE PRINCIPAL AND FELLOWS OF SOMERVILLE COLLEGE financially healthy?

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves are negative at £(0.4)m, though the College holds significant designated unrestricted reserves of £133m for fixed assets. The College reports a surplus on unrestricted funds and notes that pressure on costs eased during the year, resulting in an overall increase in net assets to £238m. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.