FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL

Registered charity 313364 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · Wikidata: Q5446957 · Wikipedia · also known as F S C · also registered in Scotland as SC039870 (OSCR)

Our charitable activities are the 'bringing of environmental understanding to all'. We do this by the advancement of outdoor education, the protection of the environment and the pursuit of field studies.

Objects

(A) TO PROMOTE THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY THE PURSUIT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF FIELD STUDIES IN THE ARTS AND THE SCIENCES WITH WHICH SUCH STUDIES ARE CONSISTENT OR IN THE OPINION OF THE COUNCIL CAN BE ADVANTAGEOUSLY OR USEFULLY CARRIED OUT. (B) TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN EVERY KIND OF FIELD WORK IN ANY SUCH ARTS AND SCIENCES AND TO ESTABLISH, EQUIP AND MAINTAIN IN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES, NORTHERN IRELAND OR ELSEWHERE A CENTRE OR CENTRES FOR FIELD STUDIES, RESEARCH, MEETINGS AND LECTURES, INSTRUCTION OR BY ANY OTHER CHARITABLE MEANS AS THE COUNCIL DETERMINE. (C) TO PROMOTE THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT INCLUDING EDUCATING THE PUBLIC IN THE BENEFITS TO THE ENVIRONMENT OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES.

Area of benefit: ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES, NORTHERN IRELAND OR ELSEWHERE

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

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

Registered contact address: Shropshire, West Midlands, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£18.4m

Latest spending

£18.6m

Registered

1963

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a total income of £18.4m and total expenditure of £18.6m, resulting in an operating deficit of £211k for the year. Per the trustees' report, the organisation holds total net assets of £16.2m, with a stated reserves policy target of £1.5m to £2.5m, though free unrestricted funds excluding fixed assets were in a deficit of £0.14m at year-end.

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

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £163,641 — above the median for charities its size (£130k)

“In 2025 the salary paid to him was £163,641 (2024: £159,673).”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: £1.5m - £2.5m (reserves figure: £15.3m)

“The Trustees have undertaken a review of these risks and decided that the appropriate level of reserves required is in the range of £1.5m - £2.5m.” — page 17

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by WR Partners. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Year-over-year changes

Top pay band moved from £150,001 - £160,000 (FY2024) to £163,641 (FY2025).

Comparing this charity’s FY2024 and FY2025 accounts as analysed by this site.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)

Answers and figures the charity gave in Part A of its annual return to the Charity Commission. They are self-declared: not verified by the Commission or by this site. Only positive answers and figures are listed; items not listed are simply not shown.

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025

Volunteers: 30
Government income: £102,916 — grants £102,916 (2); under 1% of the £18,421,415 total gross income on the same return
Employees paid over £60,000: 9 (£60,001–£70,000: 4; £70,001–£80,000: 1; £100,001–£110,000: 3; £150,001–£200,000: 1)
Has a trading subsidiary

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024

Volunteers: 15
Government income: £141,260 — grants £141,260 (1); under 1% of the £18,669,723 total gross income on the same return
Employees paid over £60,000: 8 (£60,001–£70,000: 4; £90,001–£100,000: 2; £100,001–£110,000: 1; £150,001–£200,000: 1)
Has a trading subsidiary

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023

Volunteers: 165
Government income: £39,620 — contracts £39,620 (1); under 1% of the £17,529,957 total gross income on the same return
Employees paid over £60,000: 6 (£70,001–£80,000: 1; £80,001–£90,000: 1; £90,001–£100,000: 3; £140,001–£150,000: 1)
Has a trading subsidiary

Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

In the news

Recent coverage mentioning this charity by name (automated match; headlines belong to their publishers).

Field Studies Council backs MPs ‘vital’ outdoor education bill uknewsgroup.co.uk · 15/07/2026
Fieldwork Opportunities in your Local Area - Jo Harris, Field Studies Council youtu.be · 18/06/2026
Field Studies Council Opens Applications for 2026 Young Darwin Scholarship news.fundsforngos.org · 22/05/2026
Princess Anne tours Field Studies Council centre on Cumbrae largsandmillportnews.com · 29/04/2026
Shropshire charity The Field Studies Council announces plans to build nation of adventure learners shropshirestar.com · 13/03/2026
Field Studies Council launches +Adventure residential programme schooltravelorganiser.com · 06/03/2026
Field Studies Council hails 'landmark’ moment as Scotland guarantees outdoor residentials for all pupils fenews.co.uk · 18/12/2025
Field Studies Council welcomes outdoor learning focus for school curriculum as a positive step fenews.co.uk · 12/11/2025

Funders the charity credits

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

Ørsted — “A generous grant from Ørsted is helping develop skills for STEM careers.” (source page)

Property (HM Land Registry)

24 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (14 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)

Total income

£18.4m

Total spending

£18.6m

Cost of raising funds

£788k

Reserves (reported)

£16.2m

Employees

320

Reported reserves equal ~10.5 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 4.3% of total income — above the median for charities its size (3.7%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Received assets from another charity (30/01/2015) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

Jeff Sissonschair · trustee of 2 other charities
Amanda Craig · trustee of 1 other charity
Christopher Brook
David Westgate
Delia Garratt
Dr Mohammad Sadegh Farhadinia
Dr Ruth Copeland-Phillips
Gill Miller
Jane Elizabeth Eckford
Jessica Maingay
Keith Goddard
Lynette Miriam Huntley
Nicholas Peter O'Loughlin
Nicola Lynes
Philip Charles Wilson
Prof PETER HIGGINS

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

Operates in: Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£18.4m	£18.6m
31/12/2024	£18.7m	£18.6m
31/12/2023	£17.5m	£16.8m
31/12/2022	£17.0m	£16.0m
31/12/2021	£12.4m	£14.1m

Common questions

Is FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a total income of £18.4m and total expenditure of £18.6m, resulting in an operating deficit of £211k for the year. Per the trustees' report, the organisation holds total net assets of £16.2m, with a stated reserves policy target of £1.5m to £2.5m, though free unrestricted funds excluding fixed assets were in a deficit of £0.14m at year-end. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by WR Partners.

What does the highest-paid employee of FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £163,641 band.

Who funds FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL?

Funders whose own accounts filings name FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL as a grant recipient include ROYAL SOCIETY OF WILDLIFE TRUSTS, THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED, THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY, JOHNNIE JOHNSON TRUST, THE GORDON GRAY TRUST.

Known funders

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

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
ROYAL SOCIETY OF WILDLIFE TRUSTS	FY2021	£152k	Nature Friendly Schools
ROYAL SOCIETY OF WILDLIFE TRUSTS	FY2021	£46k	Our Bright Future
THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED	FY2025	£45k
THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY	FY2021	£10k	Environment
THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY	FY2025	£4k	Environment
THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY	FY2024	£4k	Environment
THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY	FY2023	£4k	Environment
THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY	FY2022	£4k	Environment
JOHNNIE JOHNSON TRUST	FY2025	£4k
THE GORDON GRAY TRUST	FY2025	£3k
COMMUNITY & VOLUNTARY SUPPORT CONWY	FY2022	£2k
THE HADFIELD CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£926	The Environment
THE GORDON GRAY TRUST	FY2024	£500

Government & lottery funding

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

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
Greater London Authority	01/05/2019	£450	Grant to Field Studies Council
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	29/09/2015	£1.3m	"BioLinks 2"
The National Lottery Community Fund	08/11/2012	£10k	Community Facilities Enhancement
The National Lottery Community Fund	17/04/2012	£17k	Vision North West
The National Lottery Community Fund	14/04/2011	£5k	Eco-Adventure Out Of School Club
City Bridge Foundation	09/09/2010	£89k	Grant to Epping Forest Field Centre
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	16/03/2010	£221k	"Invertebrate Challenge"
The National Lottery Community Fund	05/11/2009	£10k	Day Care and Residential Provision
The National Lottery Community Fund	21/05/2009	£98k	Outdoor Education for Visually Impaired Young People in North Wales
The National Lottery Community Fund	17/11/2008	£3k	Rhyd y Creuau Community Composting
The National Lottery Community Fund	04/09/2008	£9k	Community Facilities Enhancement
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	06/06/2008	£32k	"Green Ambassadors Project"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	28/02/2008	£200k	"Schools In the Parks"
The National Lottery Community Fund	26/07/2007	£2.0m	Eco Challenge
The National Lottery Community Fund	14/03/2007	£10k	Community Facilities Enhancement
The National Lottery Community Fund	22/11/2006	£96k	Outdoor education for visually impaired young people in Wales
The National Lottery Community Fund	27/07/2006	£44k	Eco Challenge
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	08/03/2006	£25k	"Heritage Ambassadors Project"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	06/12/2005	£221k	"Biodiversity Training"
The National Lottery Community Fund	08/06/2005	£4k	community wildlife garden
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	03/12/2003	£50k	"Enhancing Access & Understanding at Flatford Mill"

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
ASPEN TRUST	1	£2.2m
THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION	1	£390k
THE ADRIAN SWIRE CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£110k
THE NFU MUTUAL CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£70k
YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY	1	£69k
DARTINGTON CATTLE BREEDING TRUST	1	£59k
BRCK Foundation	1	£45k
THE LINDER FOUNDATION	1	£30k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with EARTH TRUST.

EARTH TRUST income £2.6m
SCIENCE PROJECTS income £1.2m
FIELDNOTES income £25k
CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY income £1.1m
CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RURAL ENGLAND income £4.3m
ASHFIELD VOLUNTARY ACTION income £178k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL	£18.4m	£163,641	—	unclear	—	no doubt
EARTH TRUST FY2025	£2.6m	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
SCIENCE PROJECTS FY2025	£1.2m	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
FIELDNOTES FY2025	£25k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY FY2025	£1.1m	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RURAL ENGLAND FY2025	£4.3m	—	—	above	—	no doubt

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