FOREST SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

Registered charity 1155616 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as FSA

The FSA is the professional body and dedicated voice for Forest School (FS) within the UK. We are devoted to promoting quality Forest School for all.Communicate a strong, clear vision of what FS is; development of FS qualification curriculum content; support the increase of FS opportunities; a focus of FS good practice/research and a commitment to work alongside others with similar aims

Causes: Education/training · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£143k

Latest spending

£154k

Registered

2014

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the Forest School Association reported an operating deficit of £10,299 for the year ended 31 August 2025, primarily due to high staffing costs including a CEO redundancy. However, the trustees report that the organisation's financial position remained secure throughout the period due to the availability of reserves, which stood at £20,545. The management report indicates that the financial position has stabilised since July 2025 and expects the deficit to be recovered by the end of the accounting period.

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.

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

Register events

Received assets from another charity (12/12/2024) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

Matthew Harderchair
Ashley Wilson
Danielle Earley
Dr Frances Harris
Emma Briscoe
James William Trotman
Lily Horseman
Richard Charles Smith

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

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/08/2025	£143k	£154k
31/08/2024	£130k	£75k
31/08/2023	£96k	£149k
31/08/2022	£179k	£178k
31/08/2021	£87k	£86k

Common questions

Is FOREST SCHOOL ASSOCIATION financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the Forest School Association reported an operating deficit of £10,299 for the year ended 31 August 2025, primarily due to high staffing costs including a CEO redundancy. However, the trustees report that the organisation's financial position remained secure throughout the period due to the availability of reserves, which stood at £20,545. The management report indicates that the financial position has stabilised since July 2025 and expects the deficit to be recovered by the end of the accounting period. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds FOREST SCHOOL ASSOCIATION?

Funders whose own accounts filings name FOREST SCHOOL ASSOCIATION as a grant recipient include THE AURORA TRUST.

Known funders

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

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE AURORA TRUST	FY2022	£55k	To fund the Nature Premium Campaign.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Community Fund	18/06/2014	£10k	Forest School local groups development