SCIENCE MEDIA CENTRE

Registered charity 1140827 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as SMC

PROMOTE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC ACCURATE, EVIDENCE-BASED INFORMATION ON SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING IN THE MEDIA, PARTICULARLY ON CONTROVERSIAL NEWS STORIES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WORKING WITH SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, SUPPORTING THEM TO ENGAGE WITH THE MEDIA; WORKING WITH JOURNALISTS, PROVIDING THEM WITH INFORMATION ABOUT SCIENCE; SUPPORTING PRESS OFFICERS WORKING ON DIFFICULT SCIENCE NEWS STORIES

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The charity reported a deficit of £96,623 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in unrestricted reserves of £770,731. These reserves are in excess of the trustees' stated policy target of approximately £750,000, which is equivalent to twelve months' expenditure. The trustees consider there to be no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Corporate structure

• Registered company of the charity Companies House 07560997

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

• Wellcome Collection — “With thanks to Wellcome Collection for use of their image library” (source page)

Company officers (Companies House)

Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.

• KHAN, Ashlee — director, appointed 15/10/2025on trustee list
• STEPHENSON, James — director, appointed 15/10/2025on trustee list
• SUMMERS, Charlotte, Professor — director, appointed 23/10/2024on trustee list
• OPENSHAW, Peter John Morland, Professor — director, appointed 23/10/2024on trustee list
• FISHER, Richard Douglas — director, appointed 31/10/2023on trustee list
• GHANI, Azra Catherine Hilary, Prof — director, appointed 31/10/2023on trustee list
• BORTON, Amanda — director, appointed 20/10/2022on trustee list
• MANNING, Joanne — director, appointed 14/10/2021on trustee list
• HILLIER, Nicholas James — director, appointed 14/10/2021on trustee list
• HENCHLEY, Alice Claire — director, appointed 14/10/2021on trustee list
• KEENLYSIDE, Alex — director, appointed 08/10/2020on trustee list
• BRÜÜN, Jonathan — director, appointed 08/10/2020not on trustee list

Official officers record.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Reported reserves equal ~10.7 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (93% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 5.4% of total income — above the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

• Nicholas James Hillierchair
• AMANDA BORTON · trustee of 1 other charity
• Alex Keenlyside
• Alice Claire Henchley
• Ashlee Khan
• James Stephenson
• Joanne Manning
• John Davidson · trustee of 1 other charity
• Jonathan Bruun
• Prof Azra Catherine Hilary Ghani
• Prof Peter John Morland Openshaw
• Professor Charlotte Summers · trustee of 2 other charities
• Richard Douglas Fisher

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

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Common questions

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.