FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL
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.
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.
What the accounts disclose
“In 2025 the salary paid to him was £163,641 (2024: £159,673).”
“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
Year-over-year changes
- Top pay band moved from £150,001 - £160,000 (FY2024) to £163,641 (FY2025).
In the news
- Field Studies Council Opens Applications for 2026 Young Darwin Scholarship
- Princess Anne tours Field Studies Council centre on Cumbrae
- Shropshire charity The Field Studies Council announces plans to build nation of adventure learners
- Field Studies Council launches +Adventure residential programme
- Field Studies Council hails 'landmark’ moment as Scotland guarantees outdoor residentials for all pupils
- Field Studies Council welcomes outdoor learning focus for school curriculum as a positive step
- Working with the Field Studies Council
- Field Studies Council offers support to schools caught up in Kingswood closures
Funders the charity credits
- Ørsted
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (30/01/2015)
Trustees
- Jeff Sissonschair
- Amanda Craig
- 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
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 THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED, THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY, THE GORDON GRAY TRUST, COMMUNITY & VOLUNTARY SUPPORT CONWY, THE HADFIELD CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED | FY2025 | £45k | |
| THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY | FY2021 | £10k | 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 |
| 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
| 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 | 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
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE NINEVEH CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £9k |
| THE OAKDALE TRUST | 2 | £3k |
| THE BANISTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £379k |
| THE FRANCIS WINHAM FOUNDATION | 1 | £238k |
| ISEAL ALLIANCE | 1 | £159k |
| CLARK FOUNDATION | 1 | £62k |
| CHARITY OF CHARLES CLEMENT WALKER (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE WALKER TRUST) | 1 | £11k |
| THE ANTON JURGENS CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £5k |
Charities like this
- HILL END OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE
- CONSERVATION EDUCATION & RESEARCH TRUST
- GRENVILLE HOUSE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE
- CARYMOOR ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
- AQUACULTURE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
- THE ENVIRONMENT CENTRE LTD
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 |
| HILL END OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE | £738k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CONSERVATION EDUCATION & RESEARCH TRUST | £4.1m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| GRENVILLE HOUSE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE | £534k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| CARYMOOR ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST | £328k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| AQUACULTURE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL | £13.5m | — | — | within | — | no doubt |