DURHAM STUDENTS' UNION

Registered charity 1145400 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as DSU

Durham Students' Union provides representation, advice, support and activities for over 17,000 students of Durham University. Alongside seeking to improve students' education, we also work with students to ensure they have sufficient, varied and appropriate opportunities to develop their skills and qualities, while also providing broader community and cultural developmental opportunities.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Disability · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Economic/community Development/employment · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£2.6m

Latest spending

£2.7m

Registered

2012

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves stood at £190,877, which is below the trustees' stated policy target of three months of operating costs. The charity reported a net deficit of £46,593 for the year, driven by a reduction in fixed staffing costs and a withdrawal from retail trading, though the trustees anticipate a surplus in the following budget to rebuild reserves.

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

What the accounts disclose

Fundraising cost ratio: 47.2% of fundraised income, as disclosed

“Fundraising costs in the year were £93904 with total donations of £199039.” — page 13

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £191k; policy: three months operating costs in free reserves)

“At £190878, unrestricted reserves are currently just short of two months operating costs” — page 12

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Payments to trustees: Sabbatical officers (trustees) received remuneration of £76,594. External trustees received no remuneration.

“sabbatical trustees were paid £76,594 (2024 - £121,127) as permitted by the Students' Union's Ordinance and Regulations. No trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity” — page 38

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Durham University lease and balance

“Durham University owns the building occupied by Durham Students' Union; a peppercorn rent is charged on this lease. £0 (2024 - £0). At the year end, the Union owed the University a balance of £2,269 (2024 - £0).” — page 45

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Armstrong Watson Audit Limited. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Durham Students' Union (matched by registered charity number).

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

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

Total income

£2.6m

Total spending

£2.7m

Cost of raising funds

£29k

Reserves (reported)

£836k

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~3.8 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (59% 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: 1.1% of total income — below the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Emma Caroline Clarke
Francesca Lundi Brandon-Higgs
Graeme Aaron Osborn · trustee of 1 other charity
Helen Cutting

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

Operates in: Durham · Stockton-on-tees

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/07/2025	£2.6m	£2.7m
31/07/2024	£2.6m	£2.7m
31/07/2023	£2.6m	£2.5m
31/07/2022	£2.4m	£2.4m
31/07/2021	£1.7m	£1.5m

Common questions

Is DURHAM STUDENTS' UNION financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted reserves stood at £190,877, which is below the trustees' stated policy target of three months of operating costs. The charity reported a net deficit of £46,593 for the year, driven by a reduction in fixed staffing costs and a withdrawal from retail trading, though the trustees anticipate a surplus in the following budget to rebuild reserves. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Armstrong Watson Audit Limited.

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with NORTHUMBRIA STUDENTS' UNION.

NORTHUMBRIA STUDENTS' UNION income £4.2m
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' UNION income £7.6m
DERBY COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION income £223k
City St George's Students' Union income £4.5m
UNIVERSITY OF DERBY STUDENTS' UNION income £2.7m
THE STUDENTS' UNION AT BU LTD income £4.2m

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
DURHAM STUDENTS' UNION	£2.6m	—	—	below	47.2%	no doubt
NORTHUMBRIA STUDENTS' UNION FY2025	£4.2m	£77,252	—	unclear	—	no doubt
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' UNION FY2025	£7.6m	£90,000 - £100,000	4	unclear	—	no doubt
DERBY COLLEGE STUDENTS' UNION FY2025	£223k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
City St George's Students' Union FY2025	£4.5m	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
UNIVERSITY OF DERBY STUDENTS' UNION FY2025	£2.7m	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.