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THE NEEDHAM RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Registered charity 311459 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE EAST ASIAN HISTORY OF SCIENCE TRUST

Building on the late Dr Joseph Needham's foundation, the Institute facilitates, promotes and develops academic research, publication and teaching in the fields of the history of science, medicine and technology in East Asia.

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

Latest income
£583k
Latest spending
£723k
Registered
1968
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that total net assets increased to £18,097,779 from £17,652,156 in the prior year, driven by investment gains and income. The charity maintains unrestricted reserves of £4,049,665 and holds a provision of £24,309 for pension deficit recovery plan contributions. The auditors confirmed that the financial statements give a true and fair view and that there are 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

Highest-paid employee band: £80,001 - £90,000 — in the top quarter for charities its size (median £60k)
“The total number of employees whose total salaries exceeded £60,000 is as follows: 2025 £80,000 ~ £90,000 1” — page 20
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Employees paid over £60,000: 1
“The total number of employees whose total salaries exceeded £60,000 is as follows: 2025 £80,000 ~ £90,000 1” — page 20
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: sufficient to maintain the day to day costs of running and servicing the Institute (held: £4.0m)
“The Trustees have considered that the most appropriate policy is to maintain all surplus funds split between investments held with Cazenove Capital and also a level of balances held as cash at bank sufficient to maintain the day to day costs of running and servicing the Institute.” — page 6
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Pension scheme deficit: £24k
“The Institute has a potential liability relating to the employees who are in the ‘Universities Superannuation Scheme’. Note 16 and 22 to the accounts set out the basis of a provision that has been made of £24,309 (2024: £28,101).” — page 6
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Prentis & Co LLP. Discloses 6 of 6 completeness components.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 30/09/2025)

Total income
£583k
Total spending
£723k
Cost of raising funds
£54k
Reserves (reported)
£4.0m
Employees
9

Reported reserves equal ~67.2 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Investments (66% 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: 9.2% of total income — above the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
30/09/2025£583k£723k
30/09/2024£633k£730k
30/09/2023£666k£712k
30/09/2022£551k£628k
30/09/2021£801k£515k

Common questions

Is THE NEEDHAM RESEARCH INSTITUTE financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total net assets increased to £18,097,779 from £17,652,156 in the prior year, driven by investment gains and income. The charity maintains unrestricted reserves of £4,049,665 and holds a provision of £24,309 for pension deficit recovery plan contributions. The auditors confirmed that the financial statements give a true and fair view and that there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Prentis & Co LLP.

What does the highest-paid employee of THE NEEDHAM RESEARCH INSTITUTE earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £80,001 - £90,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.

Who funds THE NEEDHAM RESEARCH INSTITUTE?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE NEEDHAM RESEARCH INSTITUTE as a grant recipient include THE SINO-BRITISH FELLOWSHIP TRUST.

Known funders

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

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE SINO-BRITISH FELLOWSHIP TRUSTFY2021£88kGrants to Chinese academics for study visits to Great Britain – object (b)
THE SINO-BRITISH FELLOWSHIP TRUSTFY2025£76kGrants to Chinese academics for study visits to Great Britain – object (b)
THE SINO-BRITISH FELLOWSHIP TRUSTFY2024£18kGrants to Chinese academics for study visits to Great Britain – object (b)
THE SINO-BRITISH FELLOWSHIP TRUSTFY2021£16kGrants to British academics for study visits to China – object (a)
THE SINO-BRITISH FELLOWSHIP TRUSTFY2025£2kGrants to British academics for study visits to China – object (a)
THE SINO-BRITISH FELLOWSHIP TRUSTFY2024£2kGrants to British academics for study visits to China – object (a)